Qin Kai slowly descended the stone steps. The smell of burning incense grew fainter and fainter in the air. He could no longer see monks in simple robes moving about silently with their heads bowed in prayer.
Qin Kai leaned against his car as he looked toward the temple one last time. He didn't know why but felt this place's tranquility touching. He opened the door of the car and put the small pouch that he received from little Wanwan on the passenger seat. He paused when his eyes fell on the papers that were placed on the seat.
With a moment's hesitation, he picked up the documents which read, 'Divorce Agreement.'
He stared at it long and hard before he opened the glove compartment and took out a silver lighter. He lit the flame with a click and set the papers on fire.
He got into the car and buckled his seatbelt only after seeing the papers burning. He started the car and drove away from there. Before he went on the business trip, he was determined to get a divorce, and that's why he asked his lawyer to prepare the papers. But since he left the next day and didn't come back until today, he only received the papers today at the airport from his assistant.
Qin Kai was determined to get a divorce from Su An but today, something changed. After visiting the temple or maybe after seeing that adorable little girl, he changed his mind. He wanted to give this marriage another chance. He never gave up easily in life. He didn't know why he was ready to give up on Su An so easily every single time.
The drive back was uneventful at first, the winding roads bathed in twilight. Qin Kai's thoughts were wandering around as he drove, replaying his mother's insistence on sending him to personally collect the prayer beads from the temple.
"Kai, you need to understand that Maple Temple is very spiritual. I have seen many miracles happen there. You should show some respect when you go there. Don't be perfunctory as always," she had said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I hope that the temple will bless you."
He sighed, shaking his head. "Superstition," he murmured, though he couldn't deny that he always felt peaceful whenever he visited that place.
Suddenly, a flash of movement caught his eye. A figure darted onto the road and Qin Kai instinctively swerved to avoid it. The car skidded, tires screeching against the asphalt before it veered off the road and crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch.
Dazed, Qin Kai gripped the steering wheel with his heart pounding. The airbag deployed, cushioning the impact, but his head throbbed and his vision blurred momentarily. He blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Outside, the forest was eerily quiet, save for the rustle of the leaves in the breeze. The figure he had seen was nowhere to be found. Groaning, he unfastened the seatbelt but his hand seemed to be cut with something sharp and it stung.
With difficulty, Qin Kai tried to look for his phone and dialed the number of his assistant but before he could speak, his vision grew black and he fainted. What he didn't notice was that as he was looking for his phone, his hand touched the pouch that contained the blessing talisman in it, the blood from his hand seeped into the pouch and seemed to be injected into the runes making them light up.
Slowly, the talisman turned into a golden light and floated over to Qin Kai's head before disappearing between his brows.
....
<
"There aren't any serious injuries."
Qin Kai heard a serious voice speak.
"Then why hasn't President Qin woken up yet? He had been unconscious for two days already," asked another voice that seemed to contain some concern and worry.
"Assistant Shen, although we don't know why President Qin has yet to wake up, his reports are in front of you. He really didn't receive any life-threatening injuries. He does have a minor concussion but that's it."
With a groan, Qin Kai forced himself to open his eyes and squinted because of the bright lights that blinded his vision.
When the people in the room heard the faint groan, they moved to his side hurriedly.
"Kai, you're awake."
Qin Kai didn't get to see who spoke as the person was pushed out by the doctors who started examining Qin Kai in a professional manner. Qin Kai seemed to be in a daze as he couldn't make sense of the situation in front of him and only answered whatever question he was asked mechanically.
After half an hour, the doctor in a white coat met Shen Qi and told him, "Let's keep President Qin for observation for another day. For now, there doesn't seem to be any problem."
Shen Qi didn't care about anything else and rushed to Qin Kai's side. He punched his arm saying, "You are really something. Why did you send the driver back? Did you have to drive by yourself? Look at the result. You sent yourself to the hospital. You are lucky that nothing happened to you."
Seeing Qin Kai just staring at him in a daze with no response, Shen Qi's brows knitted up. "Kai? What's wrong?"
[He didn't go crazy, did he?]
Qin Kai's pupils dilated when he heard that voice in his head and looked around the room. But clearly, only Shen Qi was in the room aside from him. And he just saw that Shen Qi didn't speak so where did that voice in his head come from?
Shen Qi also followed his lead and looked around trying to see what Qin Kai was looking for.
[What is he really looking for?]
Qin Kai heard that voice again and pursed his lips as his frown deepened. The voice sounded like Shen Qi but Shen Qi didn't open his mouth. Did that mean... he could hear his thoughts?
"Where is this?" asked Qin Kai after a moment's pause.
"City hospital," answered Shen Qi.
"Who are you?" Shen Qi thought he was joking but before he could say anything, Qin Kai added, "And who am I?"
"No fucking way!" Shen Qi's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.