Chapter 54: Encounter at the Temple
A Lai carefully observed the person following him and was startled to realize who it was. This was Wu Ma, the middle-aged woman who had accompanied the young girl Han Han when he had bumped into them at the temple before his college entrance exam. He had been dressed as a monk at that time, and neither Han Han nor Wu Ma seemed to recognize him then. But why was she tailing him now?
A Lai's mind raced, trying to piece together the situation. Had they really not recognized him back then? If they had, Wu Ma would surely have exposed him as the street performer who had flirted with Han Han while selling trinkets. So what was she up to now?
Gathering his courage, A Lai approached Wu Ma to see what she would do.
Wu Ma scrutinized A Lai as he neared. He hesitantly touched his face, wondering aloud, "Do we know each other?"
Wu Ma responded bluntly, "Yes, we do. You injured my child when you bumped into her here."
A Lai, always one to take responsibility for his actions, nodded, recalling the incident. He clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect. "Amitabha, may goodness prevail."
Wu Ma, sensing she had confirmed her suspicions, smiled slyly and said, "Little monk, you need to come with me to check on my child's internal injuries and discuss compensation."
"Injuries?" A Lai was taken aback. "It's been quite some time. What injuries could she still have?"
Wu Ma's expression darkened. "Don't talk nonsense. If you're too scared to take responsibility, the Bodhisattva will punish you. I can also take this matter to the abbot."
A Lai hadn't anticipated such a response and was at a loss for words. Wu Ma pressed on, "Are you the type to do something wrong and not take responsibility?"
Stunned and unable to argue in front of a crowd, A Lai realized that trying to explain himself might only make things worse. He wondered if Han Han was indeed unwell. Remembering her delicate health, his concern grew, and he agreed to follow Wu Ma to a secluded area in the temple.
They arrived at the temple's release pond, where Wu Ma gleefully called out, "Han Han, I've caught the suspect!"
Han Han sat by the pond, gazing at the lotus flowers in the water. Hearing Wu Ma's voice, she turned to look at A Lai.
Seeing her, A Lai immediately asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Instead of answering, Han Han simply studied A Lai. She recognized him despite the short black hair and slight changes in his appearance. His face, still fair and clear-eyed, now held a slightly mischievous smile that belied the same aura she had noticed before—the unique scent of osmanthus that seemed to linger around him.
Han Han said nothing, but she smiled as she took a small box from her bag and handed it to A Lai.
A Lai opened it to find the note he had hurriedly written for her at the Bodhisattva's altar: "May the Bodhisattva of Compassion bless this young girl with success in her exams and a lifetime of happiness and health. Signed, Master of Three Palms."
A Lai couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, I wrote this. It's my signature."
Wu Ma, standing off to the side, said flatly, "You were hard to find. We've spent a week searching every corner of this temple."
Han Han then gently asked, "Wu Ma, could you let me speak to Master of Three Palms alone for a moment?"
Wu Ma nodded and wandered off to admire the scenery.
Once Wu Ma was out of earshot, Han Han smiled warmly. "So, you're the Master of Three Palms. Your wish came true."
"You got accepted?" A Lai asked, surprised.
"Yes, I was accepted to a top university in XX City. As soon as I got the notice, I opened this box immediately," Han Han replied.
"Too bad I forgot to include myself in the wish. No wonder heaven played tricks on me," A Lai blurted out.
"What do you mean? Did you not pass? How did heaven trick you?" Han Han asked, her curiosity piqued.
A Lai's face fell, and he stood up slowly, mumbling to himself, "Maybe it's better that I didn't pass. Even if I had, I couldn't afford to attend."
Though he spoke softly, Han Han heard every word. She didn't press him further, instead turning back to gaze at the lotus flowers. Her mood seemed to match the somber beauty of the scene. She murmured, "The wind in the leaves invites distant guests, and the tears in the pear blossoms mourn the beauty that is lost."
A Lai praised her words, to which Han Han responded by complimenting his calligraphy, noting its fluid, cloud-like elegance.
Their conversation flowed from there. Han Han shared a story from her childhood when she visited her grandmother's home in the countryside and mistook a melon for a tree fruit, which led to much laughter—and her tears—among the adults.
In return, A Lai shared a strange, almost unbelievable story about himself: how he was orphaned and taken in by a monk, how he narrowly survived a lightning strike that caused bizarre reactions in his body, and how his exam paper had mysteriously caught fire due to static electricity during the test, resulting in a zero for math. He told it with a laugh, but his laughter was tinged with bitterness.
But Han Han didn't laugh. Her face grew pale, and her eyes filled with sorrow. Finally, unable to hold back her emotions, she began to cry.
A Lai was taken aback, unsure of what to do.
Through her tears, Han Han said, "I know that the little monk in your story is you. You've had such a tough life."
A Lai replied, "Do you really believe that far-fetched story?"
"I do. Your eyes tell me it's true," she said.
A Lai took a deep breath and continued, "Do you know who found me? It was the elder of this temple. Unfortunately, he has passed away. And the man who raised me is named Lei Zhengteng. He never married and waited his whole life for me. We've been living together ever since."
Hearing this, Han Han's eyes brimmed with tears. "You've really had it hard, juggling school and working on the side."
When A Lai heard her mention working on the side, he was immediately alarmed. "So you recognized me all along? Why didn't you expose my identity?"