CHAPTER 10
(PAST LIFE OF LING HUN)
Youya de:
The light of the setting sun reflected on the golden sequins of my skirt glinting the surrounding area. The abendrot was at its peak and each colour; red, lilac, orange and yellow reminded me that everything came to an end eventually, including the life of day.
Dancing and singing hymns by the lotus pond I could see an image of myself that came from the moonlight's reflection.
The red veil which elegantly decorated my hair, blew with the chaste wind and keeled into the water.
In the dark of night, I placed my hands to reach the veil. A black serpent crawled onto the bracelets of my hand and stung the forehead. I leaned to the pond in agony. The petals of the lotus touched the forehead. The sight of a pink lotus patterned forehead marking (huadian) was engraved in lieu of dripping blood from the venomous serpent.
(Present life)
Xiao xu:
"Welcome back Ms.Hong!"
"We all missed you so much!"
"Ms.Hong I bought you this card and a bunch of roses!"
"White Pearl ltd. could not have been the same without you!"
They all were so elated to Ling hun's return. A few strings were pulled and Ling hun managed to get me a job as her assistant in White Pearl Ltd. Basically bringing her a few cups of coffee, making sure she has lunch and really anything that she needs.
"Xiao xu, this is the Manager of the marketing sector, Mr. Fang Ju who is also my boss."- Ling hun
"Pleasure to meet you sir."- Xiao xu
"Ling hun should we discuss the new advertisement we would like you to be in?"- Mr. Fang Ju
"The red lantern rouge is out for sale. We need it to be on the largest billboard in Beijing. More girls would purchase this if they see a cute boy hence we hired model, Zai xin to take some shoots with you."- Mr Fang Ju
A tall figure entered the studio and all of the girls, *even some boys* rushed to welcome him.
"Is that really Zai xin!?"
"His eyes are so piercing it can stab a girl right in the heart."
"I swear he is from the heavenly realm. Just looking at his physique is so bewitching."
"My lips are always open to him!"
The shocked and hypnotised voices each uttered something about "Zai Xin". I did not see the catch with him. So what if he had a symmetrical face with the perfect six pack and spotless skin!?
He took off his sunglasses and handed them to me as if I were a peasant worker.
They began the photoshoot, the burgundy backdrop complimented the hanging lanterns and Ling hun was the centre of attention with her diaphanous golden fabric halter dress which allowed for her gauzy and pale stomach to show. The only thing that was interrupting the frame was Zai Xin, with his bare skin merely concealed with black leather pants. The thing that covered him more was kiss marks from the rouge.
"Now put your hands on his chest, and give us that smile!"- photographer
I felt her hands slowly creeping up onto my chest. Her red lips stamped marks on my neck, chest and cheek. My hands were placed on the golden fabrics around her waist.
Reality had awoken me from that imagination to Zai Xin and Ling hun. Though the photoshoot was over the photos were just about to be spread through magazines, advertisements, articles and what else? Maybe the largest billboard in Beijing!
I gathered all of Ling hun belongings while she went to change and prepared to leave. She was walking in the distance when a co-worker stopped her.
"Ling hun, White Pearl has bought tickets for all their workers to go see the peking opera tomorrow evening. You have the option of taking two tickets, which do you prefer?"- Co-worker
"I would like the two please." Ling hun politely stated.
"Here you go, see you tomorrow!"- Co-worker
"So guess what? Tomorrow we get to spend the entire evening together! We are going to the peking opera!"- Ling hun
"Oh great." I faintly said.
"You do not seem surprised, is everything okay? How do you like your new job?"- Ling hun
"Of Course my "new" job. You see that is the problem with me. I cannot even find a fixed job nor can I provide enough for my girlfriend. From the very start, it was you who employed me, it was you who bought me an expensive Versace tux, it was you who took me out on saunas and it was you who got me this new job. Don't you feel embarrassed that you are with me? Do you not want to be seen with someone so impeccable like Zai Xin?"- Xiao xu
"Xiao xu are you really pulling this card right now? Have you ever considered what you have done for me or did you just disregard all of the moments we shared? From the very start, you took care of me when I was severely injured, you supported me at the most down time of Aunt Qu's death, you gave me love and made me feel appreciated. This may sound strange but you were the first boy who appreciated the faults in me and not focus on the perfections. Xiao xu, I love you always know that…" She remorsefully said.
"I love you too… Well the good news is I am actually excited to go with you to the peking opera!"- Xiao xu
Ling hun:
Scrolling through Instagram, I came across this mesmerizing butterfly, its wings were purely white and the thorax had a silver lustre.
"Xiao Xu if you are able to catch me a butterfly like this, you would get a free kiss!"- Ling hun
"Ling hun… your forehead marking is…." He frantically said.
"What did you say?" I asked.
"Ling hun look in the mirror!"- Xiao xu
I looked at the mirror, the intricate petals of the lotus birthmark were slowly fading away. Why was this happening to me?
With a deep breath in and out I told Xiao xu we needed to go to the Buddhist temple.
"I am looking for a Monk called Kai tufu?"- Ling hun
"Ling hun what is going on?"- Xiao xu
"Xiao xu I never told you this because I never wanted to alarm you, but whatever he is about to tell us is 100% true. I would fill you in on the rest later!"- Ling hun
""Ēmítuófó" Kai tufu greeted us
"Greetings monk, I have come to you because I really need answers. My lotus patterned birthmark which was on my forehead disappeared. I have no knowledge of what is going on."
"Children have a seat. I have searched for answers and at last I have found them and I have been expecting your return."- Kai tufu
"The weakest point for the soul is during death. At this point, the soul does not have an embodiment. The soul has to cross the bridge of death to enter a new body. Sometimes there may be hindrances while crossing. Both of you may have switched souls due to the high vulnerability of it. In this lifetime there is a ritual to perform which can switch your souls. It can only occur if you find a powerful talisman. However the quicker you find the talisman to conduct the ritual is better. Coming to the next point. There would be ten white butterflies, each representing the ten layers of the soul. Once you have encountered these ten and failed to perform the ritual, your souls would be embedded in each other for every lifetime onwards which can be detrimental. Each sight of these may cause things such as fading marks, jewelery may fall off the body and once the tenth one comes, you would forget everything around you including your name because you would not have your original soul embedded in you…"