Their identities were a secret known only to each other, yet the old monk’s words seemed deeply profound. Neither Sang Ru nor Zhou Tingzhao had anticipated this development, as if their souls could be perceived by these aged eyes.

After a moment, Sang Ru looked at Zhou Tingzhao and said, “You, or me?”

Zhou Tingzhao laughed softly and said in a low voice, “The initiative between us has always been in your hands, hasn’t it?”

“Not really,” Sang Ru said. “Then you do it this time.”

Zhou Tingzhao gave her a deep look: “Have you decided?”

Sang Ru nodded: “Yes.”

“Has the devotee made up their mind?”

“I have,” Zhou Tingzhao respectfully took the lot tube. “I’ll do it.”

The lots swayed erratically with the shaking motion of the tube, the writing on them drawing blurry ink lines through the air.

Although Zhou Tingzhao often accompanied his elders to burn incense, he had never tried drawing lots. If human destiny could be determined by these few words, it would be too ridiculous. But now, with so many things happening that couldn’t be explained by ordinary logic, he found himself secretly harboring some expectations about what the drawn lot would reveal.

After some commotion, good or bad fortune was settled with a crisp sound.

Zhou Tingzhao picked it up, examined it for a moment, then handed it to Sang Ru. She took it and saw written on it: “Lotus roots gained through lotus flowers, with apricots there’s no need for plums.”

It was a poem she hadn’t seen before, and Sang Ru couldn’t understand it. She turned her head and glanced at Zhou Tingzhao.

Zhou Tingzhao shook his head imperceptibly and said to the old monk: “Please interpret the lot, Master.”

How much profound meaning could there be in a narrow wooden strip with just two lines of poetry?

Sang Ru unconsciously tensed up when returning the lot to the old monk.

Age had formed ravines on his face and spots on his hands, yet the old monk didn’t resemble others of the same age. The hand holding the lot showed no sign of trembling. He lowered his gaze to look at the writing, his other hand calmly fingering prayer beads. After a long while, he spoke: “Great fortune.”

Their anxious hearts suddenly eased, and they waited for a detailed explanation like awaiting a verdict. The old monk raised his eyes, smiling slightly, easily bringing to mind the Buddha statue behind him.

He said: “Times change and the world transforms, but human effort makes things happen. When destiny is ripe, good things are approaching.”

“What do you think the old master’s words meant just now?” After leaving the temple, Tan Ying seemed to have forgotten that she had made a wish and drawn a lot, and instead pondered others’.

Chen Yichun also chattered to the two: “Good things are approaching… does that mean you two are getting married?”

Sang Ru choked, then heard Tan Ying lightly tap Chen Yichun’s head, saying: “What marriage? They’re only in their third year of high school!”

Chen Yichun rubbed her head and complained: “I was just saying! Besides, isn’t the phrase ‘good things approaching’ generally used before weddings?”

Sang Ru suddenly spoke up: “So you’re just assuming we’re together?”

“What else?”

“Even if you weren’t together, you should be. Look, the master even had you two draw a love divination together!”

Sang Ru: …

She fell silent. Suddenly, someone took her hand. Sang Ru followed their clasped hands and saw Zhou Tingzhao openly holding her hand, looking forward with a composed expression.

Glimpsing that the other two spectators were already covering their mouths in excitement, Sang Ru held her forehead, then simply raised their joined hands and said: “Let me introduce, Zhou Tingzhao, my boyfriend.”

Zhou Tingzhao curled his lips in good spirits and said to the two: “Keep it a secret?”

The two nodded vigorously. Tan Ying calmed her excitement at finding a real couple and said, “But for you two, everyone in class who should know already knows.”

Chen Yichun added: “And those who shouldn’t know probably do too.”

Sang Ru: “Was it that obvious?”

The front-row spectators both nodded.

“But why do you still get red strings this time! We didn’t get any!” Chen Yichun pouted.

Tan Ying: “That’s their destined love string.”

After they had their lots interpreted, the old monk took out two red strings for them before they left. Sang Ru instinctively asked how much they cost, but the old monk said, “Destined love strings are gifts for those with affinity, no money needed.”

They put them on each other, and they truly resembled the red strings they had exchanged as gifts before. It seemed like destiny in some mysterious way.

The two lively spectators walked ahead, while the person beside her slowed his pace. Sang Ru also stopped and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Tingzhao suddenly bent down to her ear: “The highest fortune, destined love strings…”

Sang Ru’s ears inexplicably turned red, but she calmly said: “So what?”

Zhou Tingzhao straightened up again, pulling her forward, and said with certainty—

“We’re a match made in heaven.”

The four parted ways at the transfer bus stop. Tan Ying and Chen Yichun were going shopping and out to eat, while Sang Ru said she wanted to go home to rest, and Zhou Tingzhao naturally followed.

The bus continued to move slowly. After a few more stops, the sound indicating the next stop played. Sang Ru, who had been leaning her head on Zhou Tingzhao’s shoulder, suddenly raised it. She stood up and said: “Let’s get off.”

“Not going home?”

Sang Ru laughed and leaned close to him: “Boyfriend, won’t you go on a date with me alone?”