"You gay?"
Ying Yue shakes her head casually. "No, I don't think so."
"So, you like guys then?"
She shakes her head again. "I don't think so either."
"What? You like both then?"
Ying Yue tilts her head.
"Maybe."
She then appear to be thinking as she lowers her head and starts tapping her lips with her index finger. After a while, she simply adds in, "I guess I just like cute girls better than boys."
The old man laughs. He seems to be genuinely amused by her respond.
"Why?"
"Because girls are cuter than boys."
The old man "..."
Why does he feel like she just plays him around without giving an actual answer? She just answers it in a roundabout way. She doesn't seem to care much about it.
The old man chuckles. He's been reading her since their eyes met and this child is interesting!
Just like her name Jiang, she's exactly like a riverflow following the course wherever it may take. No grand ambition, no particular expectation for the future, just flowing peacefully 'till the end where she may find the vast sea. Even then, she'll probably continue to flow with the waves.
The old man smacks his thigh as he cracks in laughter. "Hahaha! I like you girl!"
Ying Yue raises an eyebrow. She smiles.
"Likewise."
"Good! You can help this old man then!"
His eyes brim with hopefulness while staring at Ying Yue as if he just sees an angel of his salvation. Being stared at so intensely like that, Ying Yue is quite taken aback. She somehow feels a little awkward.
She has been clamored by her fans and even come face to face with them while taking a stroll, but never been alone and so close like this. It's a lie if she's not suddenly become alerted and suspicious of this old man.
"Help with what?" she asks warily.
"You can take over this old man's place!" he exclaims excitedly.
"Pardon?"
Now, she's absolutely confused. However, her face stays expressionless and she carries herself calmly. The only thing that changes is her aura as she becomes colder and a little bit hostile towards the old man. Nevertheless, the old man's still grinning as if he doesn't notice the changes in Ying Yue's attitude.
"Here take this!"
He tosses a jade emblem towards her and Ying Yue catches it out of reflex. It's a very well-crafted emblem with an intricate design tied in a red string and red tassel dandling at the bottom.
There are words carved on the surface of the jade, "月下老人" (Yuè Xià Lǎorén) as in 'old man under the moon'.
"What is this?"
"Consider it your identity as God of Marriage and Love."
"Um...what?"
Before Ying Yue can make sense of the situation, the old man's index finger has already tapped on her forehead. Suddenly, a spasm of pain stings her head and she falls into a state of dizziness.
Something seems to have entered her body and she begins to feel warm all over like being basked under the sunlight.
"Good luck, young one! Make sure you decide wisely."
In a blur, she hears the old man's laughter before he turns and vanishes.
"S...sh..shit."
Then, the whole world swirls around as her vision's gradually shrouded into a complete darkness.
Ying Yue blacks out.