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“Song Qiao, did you seduce me just to get back at him? Fine… as you wish.”
“Song Qiao, you’ve broken up with Chen Yang. Will you marry me?”
“Song Qiao, your taste in men is terrible, but you sure know how to play me!”
Song Qiao jolted awake from her dream. Ever since her car accident a while ago, she’d constantly been dreaming of an athletic, broad-shouldered man entangled with her in bed — passionate and relentless.
In her dreams, the man would cling to her, asking over and over if she loved him, if she would marry him. Yet every time she was about to see his face clearly, she’d wake up.
Once or twice, it could be called a steamy dream — but after so long, it was more like a nightmare!
With a pounding headache, Song Qiao dialed her best friend, Shen Yao — the type who’d even visit a temple if she bit her tongue from sneezing.
“Shen Yao, I dreamt of that man again. It’s freaking me out!” Song Qiao got straight to the point.
Shen Yao perked up with interest. “Qiao Qiao, listen to me. Go to the temple and get a divination reading. Maybe it’s a leftover romance from a past life. Especially after your car accident, you should have gone ages ago.”
“I still don’t buy that stuff.”
“Nanshan Temple’s master gives the most accurate readings. Why else would so many people flock there? Just go — and don’t let Chen Yang find out.”
“Got it.” As Song Qiao was about to hang up, Shen Yao added,
“By the way, didn’t Dr. Wang say you might have post-traumatic amnesia after the accident? Maybe you forgot some… romantic debt?”
Song Qiao froze, but Shen Yao quickly dismissed it.
“Ah, forget I said that. You and Chen Yang have been together for years, and you’ve never even crossed the line — you’d never do something like that with another man. But honestly, Qiao Qiao… Chen Yang sure has some self-control.”
Shen Yao then muttered, “Qiao Qiao… you don’t think there’s something wrong with Chen Yang, do you?”
Song Qiao frowned. “Shen Yao, don’t badmouth Chen Yang. He respects me!”
“Okay, okay, don’t get mad. I’m teasing. Back in college, everyone knew how attentive and gentle he was with you. He’s like a model boyfriend.”
Though Shen Yao seemed to be praising Chen Yang, Song Qiao could hear the sarcasm. Shen Yao had never liked him, and she was used to it.
Seeing Song Qiao go quiet, Shen Yao quickly wrapped up.
“Aren’t you going dress shopping with Chen Yang this afternoon? I’ll meet you there. Go quickly, I’m hanging up.”
After the call, Song Qiao sat in uneasy silence. She couldn’t deny she’d wondered the same thing as Shen Yao.
She and Chen Yang had dated nearly six years. Other than hand-holding, hugging, and kissing, he had never crossed the line. Even in heated moments, he’d always whisper,
“Qiao Qiao, you’re my dearest treasure. I’ll only touch you after we’re married.”
Song Qiao’s gaze dimmed. Did Chen Yang have a problem? She had seen him half-naked after showers — his muscular, sculpted body radiated testosterone, making her blush to her ears. He was clearly fine.
Did he not love her? Impossible.
He’d been the top student and heartthrob in college, a grad student at Tsinghua-Peking. He could have become a professor or researcher, but gave it all up to join her family’s business, starting from the bottom as a salesman. In two years, he’d risen to general manager, earning her parents’ respect.
Song Qiao shook away her irrational doubts. In an age of fast-food romance, genuine love was rare. Meeting someone like Chen Yang was a blessing. How could she question him?
Except for his poor family background and difficult mother, he was perfect.
As she pondered, the driver reminded her they’d arrived at Nanshan Temple.
After paying and entering the courtyard, she noticed the grounds were eerily empty — except for a row of luxury cars. The most notable was a Rolls-Royce with a plate of all eights — Xie Yanli’s car.
The Xie family was among Beijing’s most powerful — wealthy and influential. Xie Yanli’s father, Xie Changfeng, was CEO of Xie Group, and his uncle, Li Xin, was a political heavyweight. Xie Yanli was known as the Crown Prince of Beijing’s elite.
Years ago, the Song and Xie families were close. But after Xie Yanli’s mother passed and the Xie family grew even stronger, their contact dwindled.
Not to mention… Song Qiao and Xie Yanli had dated briefly in their youth, but it ended badly — making them bitter enemies now.
Song Qiao muttered, “What a small world,” and headed for the main hall — but was stopped by a monk.
The monk explained that on the first of each month, Xie Yanli came to offer prayers for his late mother. On those days, the temple was closed to other visitors.
Song Qiao knew the Xies donated heavily, but reserving the entire temple was excessive. Still, she didn’t want to deal with Xie Yanli, so she turned to leave — only to hear a gentle woman’s voice call out.
“Qiao Qiao?”
She turned to see Lin Xue, who smiled warmly.
“Aunt Lin, what a coincidence!”
Lin Xue, Xie Yanli’s stepmother, was a graceful woman in her fifties, always gentle and approachable. Song Qiao liked her very much.
“Yanli, you know Qiao Qiao — why aren’t you saying hi?”
Only then did Song Qiao notice Xie Yanli at the altar. He glanced coldly at her, then returned to his incense offering.
Though they were enemies, Song Qiao had to admit Xie Yanli was handsome. His tailored camel suit accentuated his tall frame and lean waist. He exuded an air of nobility, though his cold gaze made him seem distant.
Knowing his usual indifference, Song Qiao ignored him.
Lin Xue smiled and asked,
“Qiao Qiao, what brings you here today?”
Song Qiao gave an embarrassed smile.
“Aunt Lin, I came to pray and get a reading, but I didn’t realize the temple was closed today.”
“You’re just in time. Master Yunqing is here. Let him give you a reading.”
Grateful for her kindness, Song Qiao agreed. After offering incense and shaking divination sticks, she approached Master Yunqing and explained her troubling dreams.
He spoke solemnly,
“Karma cycles endlessly; fate intertwines all beings. You and the man in your dreams share a bond spanning three lifetimes.”
Song Qiao frowned. She was about to marry Chen Yang — how could she be fated with another man? Three lifetimes, no less.
Sensing her confusion, Master Yunqing folded his hands and said,
“Marriages are destined. The heavens’ secrets cannot be revealed. That is all I can say.”
Though skeptical, Song Qiao thanked him politely.
Next to her, Lin Xue stepped forward with her own divination slip.
“Master Yunqing, my father’s health has declined. His greatest wish is for Yanli to marry and have children. But Yanli has been single for years. Could you advise us?”
Master Yunqing accepted the slip and smiled meaningfully.
“Old Mr. Xie’s wish should soon be fulfilled — and there will be double blessings. Congratulations.”