Bai Yun Temple was located in the suburbs, with fewer worshippers than temples closer to the city center. Perhaps because it was the weekend, besides leisurely worshippers, there were also some tourists.

The temple was quiet, with most people lowering their voices even when conversing. Their group unconsciously fell silent upon entering. Zhou Tingzhao had often come here with his family to burn incense, so he could serve as a guide.

Temples of various sizes were arranged in a staggered layout. Sang Ru secretly tugged at Zhou Tingzhao’s sleeve when the others weren’t paying attention: “Which hall are we going to?”

“The main hall.”

They headed straight for the most magnificent hall, with Tan Ying and Chen Yichun leading the way.

Someone in front had just finished kowtowing and was getting up, walking around to the back of the hall. The wooden fish sound ceased, followed by some faint, hushed conversations.

Chen Yichun turned back to ask the two behind them: “So is the master at the back?”

Judging by the sounds, yes. Sang Ru nodded: “Mm-hmm.”

“So we pay our respects first, then go to the back to draw divination lots and get good luck charms?” Tan Ying asked.

Tan Ying was the one sitting in front of Zhou Tingzhao, the source of the love letter gossip. She was also the one who had first suggested that Sang Ru and Zhou Tingzhao lead them here again—they would pray for blessings while the other two fulfilled their vow.

She now found these two people intriguing, no matter how she looked at them, thinking they were a perfect match. Her eyes had been intermittently and inadvertently drifting toward them the entire way.

Sang Ru didn’t know she already had a shipper fan. Hearing this question and unable to confirm, she nudged Zhou Tingzhao and calmly said: “That’s right, isn’t it?”

Zhou Tingzhao caught her plea for help, a faint smile appearing in his eyes: “Yes.”

Observing all these small gestures and dialogues, Tan Ying exchanged a glance with Chen Yichun, forcibly suppressing the smile that rose from “shipping” them, then turned to burn incense and pay respects.

The prayer mats were limited in length, making it crowded if everyone kowtowed at once, so they went two at a time.

When Sang Ru and Zhou Tingzhao were kowtowing and praying together, they suddenly heard a strange exclamation from the side. They only stood up after completing the final step, turning to see Tan Ying covering Chen Yichun’s mouth, displaying a “friendly” smile.

Going around from the side to the back, the sound of shaking the lot tube became more evident, followed by a lot falling to the ground with a thud.

It was a young woman who looked around twenty. After reading the lot, her expression changed slightly, and she handed the lot to the old monk: “Master, please interpret.”

The old monk took the lot, studied it for a moment, and said: “If it’s not in your destiny, don’t force it.”

“So there’s no turning point for me and him?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yichun whispered to Tan Ying: “So she was asking about romantic fate.”

The whisper wasn’t quiet enough. Sang Ru heard it but didn’t think much of it until someone hooked her pinky finger.

Zhou Tingzhao deployed his teasing techniques. Sang Ru looked at him and hooked back, but thought to herself—

Romance, how childish.

Tan Ying turned around to see Sang Ru with raised corners of her mouth, and Zhou Tingzhao also appeared to be in a good mood. Curious, she asked: “Why so happy?”

“Nothing,” Sang Ru cleared her throat and said, “Listen to the master’s interpretation.”

Chen Yichun also turned around: “Ah, it’s already finished.”

Sang Ru fell silent, hearing Zhou Tingzhao laugh inappropriately, and she quietly nudged his arm.

“Who wants to draw a lot first?” Tan Ying asked.

Sang Ru thought for a moment: “You go first.”

“Mm,” Zhou Tingzhao said, “Studies come first.”

“Aren’t you two asking about studies?”

Zhou Tingzhao paused, and Sang Ru was also silent. After a moment, she finally found an excuse to save the situation: “We asked about studies last time. This time we’re asking about something else.”

Chen Yichun probed: “What else are you asking about? We’d like to know.”

Sang Ru: “Career, family…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Tingzhao suddenly interrupted: “Romantic fate.”

The two girls immediately started teasing them, their excitement causing their suppressed voices to nearly increase by several levels. Sang Ru faced the three with an exasperated expression. Without a doubt, if they weren’t in a temple, she suspected those two could have taken the roof off.

She also wanted to take the roof off—to throw Zhou Tingzhao out.

“Devotees, it’s your turn. Who’s first?” an aged but kind voice sounded. While they were talking, the previous young woman had already left. The old monk didn’t turn around, but his words were directed at them.

“Yingying, you go first. I didn’t do well on the last test, and I’m too nervous,” Chen Yichun said with a worried face.

“Alright.”

The two drew lots in succession, both getting average readings. The old monk gave them two sayings: “Sit quietly and reflect on your faults” and “Read widely but take selectively, accumulate abundantly but use sparingly.”

They didn’t sound particularly bad. Chen Yichun returned with the two phrases and quietly asked: “How come they aren’t giving out those little red string bracelets like yours?”

Sang Ru thought for a moment and answered: “Maybe it was a special promotion during that period.”

Chen Yichun thoughtfully responded with an “oh,” then said: “Your turn now.”

Just then, the old monk’s voice came again: “The remaining two devotees, please come together.”

Previously, people had gone one by one, but now he wanted them to go together. Sang Ru didn’t know what this meant. She exchanged a glance with Zhou Tingzhao, then they went forward together, palms joined and bowing respectfully, sitting on the cushions in front of the old monk like those before them.

“Who will draw the lot?”

Zhou Tingzhao said to Sang Ru: “You go first.”

Before Sang Ru could say anything, the old monk smiled and shook his head: “One of you two devotees should draw.”

Sang Ru frowned slightly, confused: “One lot for both of us?”

“All living beings have their destinies, naturally, one person gets one lot,” the old monk nodded, his smile looking dignified and benevolent. “But if you’re asking about romantic fate, you two devotees here are both distinct and identical, coexisting together. Having one lot for two people is not inappropriate.”

Sang Ru was inwardly shocked, raising her eyes to look directly at him.

The old monk’s eyes were clear, yet one couldn’t see through them at all.