Song Fengwan was just shocked by Cheng Lan, and now she was shocked again by what the little monk said. She blinked and stared at the back of Fu Chen’s head, and her breathing almost stopped.

“Huai Sheng, I…”

“Big Sister, you said just now that you liking Third Uncle has nothing to do with that aunt? Did you forget?” Huai Sheng’s eyes were dark and bright, exuding innocence.

“I was just…” I was just forced into a corner.

“Big Sister, you’re only seventeen, but your memory is declining like my master’s?”

“Third Master, don’t listen to his nonsense!”

“We monks don’t lie!” Huai Sheng looked serious. “You clearly said it, but you’re still not admitting it?”

“I did say it, but the situation was different. You can’t say they mean the same thing. In different contexts, the same words have different meanings,” Song Fengwan explained to him patiently.

Fu Chen’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly. He was so excited just now that his heart flew up, but now it crashed down again.

She’s explaining it like this to a child?

There’s even context analysis popping up.

“So you still said it.” Huai Sheng lowered his head and drank his bubble tea, looking as if he wouldn’t budge no matter what she said. “If you said it, you should admit it. Little monks don’t lie!”

Apart from doing good deeds, helping people form marriages is also accumulating merit and virtue.

Song Fengwan was furious. Why is this little monk so unreasonable?

“Third Master, let me tell you what happened at the time…”

“There’s a child around. This topic is inappropriate for children. Let’s talk about it when we get home.”

Song Fengwan’s heart thumped. It’s clearly not like that.

I bought so many things for him, yet he actually messed with me?

“Huai Sheng, your master called me just now. Call him back.” Fu Chen dialed the number and passed the phone to Huai Sheng.

Not long later, the call connected. He held the phone and said happily, “Master!”

Meanwhile, Song Fengwan had a bitter expression on her face as she looked out of the window without saying a word, fearing that Third Master would find her to settle scores with her again.

***

When the three of them arrived home, they were just in time for lunch.

Qiao Xiyan was helping Uncle Nian serve the dishes in the dining room. Seeing the two of them enter, he was just about to call out for Song Fengwan when he saw a child following behind Fu Chen, carrying a bunch of stuff.

He was looking at the unfamiliar environment and was a little timid.

How did they bring a child back after going out once?

Could this child be Fu Chen’s…

“Oh, isn’t this Huai Sheng!” Uncle Nian was still wearing an apron and wiped his hands while walking toward them.

“Hello, Grandpa Nian.” Huai Sheng knew him. Uncle Nian had followed Fu Chen to the mountains before, especially during Lunar New Year. Everyone wanted to go there to offer incense and pray for a year of peace and prosperity.

“Why are you here?”

“I came here to study. Master said that after I gain more knowledge and become cultured, I can go back and be the abbot.” Huai Sheng was exceptionally obsessed with becoming the abbot.

“Studying is good. If Old Madam knows that you came down the mountain, she’ll definitely be happy.” Uncle Nian smiled while helping him put his things aside. “Who bought your clothes? They’re very good-looking.”

“Big Sister.” Huai Sheng called Song Fengwan sweetly.

Song Fengwan smiled awkwardly and ignored him.

“Take off your coat and hat. I’ll take you to wash your hands. We’ll be eating right away.” Fu Chen was brought up by Uncle Nian since he was young, so Uncle Nian knew how to take care of children better than the others.

When he took off his hat, under the light, his little head…

… shone!

Qiao Xiyan was stunned. He’s a young novice monk?

“Cousin.” Song Fengwan had unspeakable trouble, so she could only act cute to him and ask for comfort. Her tone was soft and sweet, making Fu Chen raise his eyebrows.

“Are you feeling aggrieved? Were you bullied?”

“I just met someone and found out that everything that happened recently had to do with her…”

When the cousins talked to each other intimately, Fu Chen could only watch them. Suddenly, he felt something rubbing against his leg. He looked down and saw Fu Xinhan acting cute to him.

Fu Chen couldn’t be bothered with him. He took his phone to call Duan Linbai and went upstairs to change clothes.

***

Duan Linbai was currently at home, being an around-the-clock filial son and massaging his father’s shoulders and back.

“Hey, Third Fu.” At least he has a conscience. He knew I left, so he took the initiative to call me.

“Get your family’s mall’s manager to send me some stuff for kids later, including bedding and toiletries.”

“F*ck. Third Fu, when did you have a child?!” Duan Linbai immediately exploded in shock.

Sitting on the sofa, his father turned to look at him but didn’t say anything.

“Why did you have a child behind my back?!

“You bastard, you unforgivable sinner!”

“Huai Sheng, the kid from the monastery on the mountain. I’ve mentioned him to you before.” Fu Chen pinched the space between his eyebrows. My head hurts.

“Oh, that little monk…” Duan Linbai had never been to the monastery before. When Fu Chen went there, he would sometimes take some items for children. He asked, “You’re not related to him. Why did you bring him home? ”

“I hit it off well with him.”

“You also know how to be kindhearted?” Duan Linbai was speechless. “How old is that kid? I’ll get someone to send you the things later.”

The Duan family established its commercial empire with shopping malls. Duan Linbai knew this aspect better than him, so he wouldn’t miss anything.

“Five and a half.”

Duan Linbai hung up the phone and kept shaking his head.

“Dad, shall I continue massaging your shoulders?”

“Let’s eat. You have to go on a blind date in the afternoon.”

Duan Linbai’s lips trembled.

“By the way, don’t wear that eagle-like clothes of yours. It’s too ugly.”

Wearing a mink coat is ugly?

What’s with Dad’s taste? This is the trend this year.

***

Yunjin Prime Manor…

Huai Sheng just came to Fu Chen’s house, and this place was different from the mountains. The monastery was poor, but there was everything here. He found it novel, but he was too embarrassed to look or touch too much, so he obediently followed as Uncle Nian brought him around.

When the two of them came out of the bathroom, Huai Sheng almost cried.

He didn’t have much luggage, and most of it was gifts from his senior brothers. He originally placed them at the side, yet now they were being ruined by the dog. There was still half a steamed bun inside.

Fu Xinhan was chewing on the steamed bun when he heard a stranger’s voice. He looked up and barked loudly at him. “Woof woof!”

Huai Sheng was frightened and hurriedly dodged.

This yellow-furred dog is so fierce.

He stole my steamed bun and even wants to bite me.

“Fu Xinhan!” Uncle Nian chided.

Song Fengwan was talking to Qiao Xiyan and totally didn’t notice that Fu Xinhan had dragged Huai Sheng’s things out, and his mouth had steamed bun crumbs all over.

“Woof—” Fu Xinhan stopped barking, but he still stared tightly at the ‘stranger’ he had never seen before.

“Don’t be afraid. This dog doesn’t bite.” Uncle Nian patted Huai Sheng’s shoulder and turned to tell Fu Xinhan, “Don’t bite anyone, and don’t bark anymore. You hear me?”

Fu Xinhan squatted on the ground and licked the crumbs at the corner of his mouth, looking as though he hadn’t had enough.

“Huai Sheng, don’t be afraid.” Although Song Fengwan felt that this little monk was very naughty, seeing his face pale from fright, she still pulled him and walked to Fu Xinhan’s side. “Touch him. He’s very obedient. He doesn’t bite, really.”

Fu Xinhan lay on the ground and let Song Fengwan caress him however she liked. Huai Sheng followed suit and also caressed him a few times.

There were a few mutts at the back of the monastery that helped keep guard. They were all chained up with metal chains and extremely fierce. Huai Sheng never dared to run to the back of the monastery.

This dog…

He’s fatter than the dogs in the backyard. He’s definitely well-fed.

“See? He doesn’t bite.” Song Fengwan smiled and got up. “Let’s go. I’ll help you put away your things.”

Fu Xinhan felt very comfortable being caressed and closed his eyes in enjoyment.

Caught off guard, he was suddenly slapped in the face.

Although the slap wasn’t strong… he blinked.

The little monk had already grabbed Song Fengwan’s hand and walked away.

Fu Xinhan squatted on the spot.

He was dumbfounded.

***

Uncle Nian didn’t know that Huai Sheng was coming over. Other than the lightly stir-fried greens, there wasn’t another vegetarian dish. Huai Sheng was holding chopsticks and didn’t know where to start.

“Your body is growing. Eat some meat.” Song Fengwan took a braised prawn for him.

“This chicken isn’t bad either. The chicken thighs are very tender.

“Shredded pork with garlic, and this…”

In any case, they were still children. Song Fengwan didn’t hold grudges much either and was busy putting food in his bowl throughout.

“Big Sister, monks don’t eat meat.”

“Monks can’t eat meat?”

“Only the secular disciples or…” Huai Sheng said seriously.

“You’re not in the monastery right now. You need to grow taller, so it’s okay to break your precepts.”

“Really?” Actually, Huai Sheng was already swallowing his saliva when he smelled the fragrance of the meat.

“Yes, I promise.”

Huai Sheng pressed his palms together and closed his eyes.

Buddha, Goddess of Mercy, Master… I have sinned and am about to break my precepts. You all see it. I want to grow taller, so please forgive me. When I return, I will definitely repent and atone for my sin properly.

He opened his eyes, lowered his head, and started to eat the meat.

He kept saying in his heart, I have sinned. I have sinned.

But his mouth never stopped moving.

Song Fengwan lowered her head and smiled. She felt the phone in her pocket vibrate and took it out to take a look.

It was a message from Fu Chen.

Let’s talk after we finish eating.

At our usual place.

I’ll wait for you.

Song Fengwan glanced at him. He had his head turned and was talking to Uncle Nian. Then she glanced at Qiao Xiyan.

Usual place? What usual place do we have?

His room?

I somehow…

… have the illusion that I’m going there to have an affair again.