After Rebirth, My Ex-Girlfriend Became Obsessive - Chapter 38
“Bomi Temple is a renowned temple located on Bomi Mountain, famous for its fortune-telling and blessings.
It’s a must-visit for every traveler who comes to hike Bomi Mountain. This afternoon’s activity is to visit Bomi Temple for blessings.
It’s already afternoon, and the temperature at the summit has dropped. Everyone should prepare their belongings before heading out.” Qiao Qingzhou held a megaphone, kindly reminding the group.
After speaking, she dismissed everyone from the dining hall to gather their things. An Yu planned to go to her room to fetch some warm clothes for Lin Duxi. But as soon as she took a step, her wrist was caught by a soft, warm hand.
An Yu turned and saw Lin Duxi.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Lin Duxi had mostly recovered. After resting and replenishing her energy, her complexion had regained its rosy hue. However, she was wearing her own clothes, which weren’t warm enough.
A window on one side of the dining hall had been opened, and the wind blew in, lifting the hem of Lin Duxi’s thin inner shirt.
An Yu’s eyes darkened slightly. Before she could speak, Lin Duxi said,
“Ah Yu’s warm clothes are still with me. It’s cold outside now-come back with me, and I’ll return them to you.” Her tone was firm, devoid of any ulterior motives. Her eyes, clear as autumn water, reflected An Yu’s figure. Yet, her fingers subtly slid between An Yu’s, interlacing tightly.
Seeing how little Lin Duxi cared for herself, An Yu could only sigh helplessly. “I have other warm clothes. You’re still weak-you can’t afford to catch a chill.” With that, she released Lin Duxi’s hand and zipped up her jacket to preserve warmth.
“Go back to your room first. I’ll get your medicine.” An Yu pulled the zipper all the way up to her neck, adjusted her collar, then turned and walked out of the dining hall, leaving Lin Duxi standing alone in the center, watching her retreating figure with a faint smile.
Outside, the sky was gradually darkening. The wind howled through the corridor, carrying a biting chill. An Yu instinctively tightened her coat.
She returned to her room, opened her backpack, and rummaged through her remaining supplies. There was still some painkiller left, as well as unfinished ginger brown sugar tea. However, the heating pads had been used up during the hike.
An Yu poured hot water into a thermos with the ginger tea, then took the painkillers to Lin Duxi’s room.
She knocked and, finding the door unlocked, pushed it open and stepped inside.
Lin Duxi was sitting on a chair by the bed, wearing An Yu’s thick coat, fiddling with her phone. When she noticed An Yu enter, she quickly locked the screen.
“Ah Yu, you’re here.” She smiled, standing up.
An Yu handed her the thermos and medicine. “This is hot water. Keep the painkillers with you-if the pain comes back, take one.”
Lin Duxi: “Aren’t you staying with me?”
An Yu paused. “No.” Then, her expression grew serious. “If I kept the painkillers, you’d only ask for them when the pain became unbearable. It’s better if you have them-take one as soon as you feel discomfort.”
Lin Duxi listened, her eyes curving into crescents. She leaned in slightly, her gaze bright and intense. “Ah Yu, are you worried about me?”
An Yu stiffened, then turned to look out the window. “I just don’t want to delay filming.”
Lin Duxi chuckled. “Mm, Ah Yu is so professional.”
An Yu: “…”
After An Yu left, Lin Duxi looked at the items she had placed by the bedside, her lips curling into a soft smile. She picked up her phone-the private messages on Weibo were still open, frozen on the message she had sent.
Bomi Temple was close to the homestay rented by the production crew. During her earlier stroll, An Yu had already caught a glimpse of the temple.
Following the director’s route, the group slowly made their way toward the destination. The wind at the summit lashed at them mercilessly. Even bundled in thick clothing, An Yu shivered. She instinctively glanced ahead at Lin Duxi.
Lin Duxi was wearing the warmest coat An Yu owned, so she should be fine. Just as An Yu was about to look away, she saw Lin Duxi unscrew the thermos and take a sip of hot water.
An Yu couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Beside her, Xie An’an happened to notice her gaze and the way she looked at Lin Duxi. Her expression immediately twisted with complexity, and she turned away with a soft “tsk.”
The production team had hired a tour guide from the foot of the mountain. She stood waiting by the temple entrance, microphone in hand.
“Welcome to Bomi Temple! I’m your guide-you can call me Xiao Zhou.” She stepped aside, allowing the group to enter through the side gate while explaining the temple’s history to them and the live audience.
Bomi Temple was vast. As soon as An Yu stepped inside, the scent of incense filled her nose-not unpleasant, but calming.
The courtyard was shrouded in the haze of burning incense, with dappled shadows from the trees. In the center stood a large incense burner, its smoke curling upward from the offerings of previous visitors.
“Bomi Temple’s blessings are quite potent. Feel free to try them,” Xiao Zhou said, gesturing to the various halls housing different deities.
“Further ahead, near the exit, there’s a stone where visitors pray for love and marriage.”
[Love! I’m praying for my ship!]
[Praying for two!]
[What if they secretly went to pray together without anyone noticing? That’s totally something they’d do.]
An Yu stopped before one of the halls, where a “No Entry” sign and railing blocked the entrance. She knelt on the cushion in front, clasped her hands together, and bowed three times with deep reverence.
Ever since learning that her world was a fictional one and that she was merely a character in a novel, An Yu had grown more respectful of deities. Anything seemed possible now.
“May I uncover the truth behind my parents’ deaths. May they rest in peace, knowing their daughter is living well. Please watch over them.” She prayed silently.
Then she stood and turned to look at Lin Duxi, who stood in the courtyard holding burning incense, bowing devoutly to the Buddha with utmost sincerity.
An Yu turned back, her lashes lowering like crow’s feathers, obscuring the emotions in her eyes. She bowed again.
May Lin Duxi live freely, unbounded, following her heart’s desires.
After finishing her prayers, An Yu wandered around. The temple’s solemn atmosphere enveloped her. Visitors spoke in hushed tones, silently offering blessings for themselves and their loved ones.
An Yu walked to a tree at the back, where dappled light filtered through the leaves onto her body. The rustling of leaves in the wind was the only sound, soothing her restless heart.
Gazing at the incense-filled temple, she returned to the cushion and knelt once more, hands clasped in prayer.
Do people always remain trapped by things they dislike or resist? How can I break free from this?
An Yu remained kneeling for a long time.
Finally, she stood-only to find Lin Duxi standing behind her.
“Lin Duxi, what are you doing here?” The questions from her prayers still lingered, and rare confusion flickered in her usually calm eyes.
Lin Duxi looked at her, her heart aching at the emotion in An Yu’s gaze. She handed An Yu a red prayer plaque.
An Yu took it, examining the blank plaque in confusion. “This is…?”
Lin Duxi smiled, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning closer.
“Qiao Dao gave it to me. She asked everyone to write their names on it so Hello, Friends can collectively pray for blessings.” Her voice was soft.
An Yu accepted it without suspicion, taking the pen Lin Duxi offered and carefully writing her name.
With no surface to lean on, she focused intently to keep her handwriting neat. She didn’t notice Lin Duxi’s darkened gaze or the way her fingers, hidden behind her back, nervously intertwined, damp with sweat.
“Done.” An Yu handed the plaque and pen back to Lin Duxi. As their hands brushed, An Yu felt Lin Duxi’s slightly warmer skin. Her brows furrowed.
“Are you still feeling unwell?” she asked.
Lin Duxi was carefully examining the plaque. An Yu’s handwriting was elegant, beautifully inscribed. At the question, she looked up, her dark, beautiful eyes overflowing with tenderness.
“What’s wrong, Ah Yu?” she asked gently.
An Yu repeated herself. Lin Duxi smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m warm because Ah Yu’s coat is so cozy-I don’t want to take it off.”
She tugged the collar higher, nestling into the scent that carried An Yu’s presence.
Having learned from past mistakes, An Yu didn’t take her words at face value. She pulled Lin Duxi closer, pressing a hand to her forehead before finally relaxing.
“I told you, Ah Yu-I would never lie to you.” Lin Duxi let her check her temperature, nuzzling into her palm with affectionate warmth.
“What were you thinking about earlier? Can you tell me what you prayed for?” Lin Duxi asked softly, her voice laced with concealed tension. She had seen An Yu’s devout expression and longed to know her innermost thoughts.
An Yu merely withdrew her hand. Lin Duxi looked up, meeting her gaze unexpectedly.
An Yu smiled faintly, recalling the wish she had made for Lin Duxi. She raised a finger to her lips, mysterious.
“If you say your wish out loud, it won’t come true.”
Lin Duxi’s expression fell slightly. ” If you say your wish out loud, it won’t come true ,” she repeated-whether echoing An Yu’s words or consoling her own yearning heart, it was unclear.
An Yu was called away by staff to film promotional footage for Bomi Mountain. Left to wander the temple alone, Lin Duxi soon encountered a staff member searching for her.
“Teacher Lin!” The staff member hurried over. “Did Director Qiao ask you to collect the prayer plaques with everyone’s signatures?”
Lin Duxi tilted her head, her expression unreadable. After a pause, she spoke slowly.
“I’m sorry. I lost the prayer plaque.”
The staff member waved it off. “It’s fine! I’ll just ask everyone to sign again.”
“Thank you for the trouble,” Lin Duxi said softly, bowing slightly.
Her voice was cool and clear, like a mountain spring. The staff member’s heart fluttered, and she hastily assured her it was no problem before scurrying away.
As the footsteps faded, Lin Duxi lowered her gaze, her lashes trembling. Slowly, she reached into her coat pocket, where the outline of the plaque pressed against the fabric, leaving sharp creases.
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Zei_An
She’ll… pray for it y’all