Chapter 451: Chapter 449: What’s the Use of Being Handsome? Can You Eat It or Drink It?
As for the time Si Xuan had stopped her from self-harming, Xu Su was determined not to tell a soul.
’Being bullied by Shen Chen to the point of wanting to disfigure myself... It’s too humiliating to tell anyone.’
But Sika found the loophole. She went, "Ooh," and asked, "Why was it inconvenient for you to come back and get your own bag? You were with that guy who came to the private room to find you—"
"Ji Xixi!" Xu Su cut her off quickly. "Don’t talk nonsense!"
Xi Zirong, who had overheard their entire conversation, seemed to think of something, and the smile that had appeared when Xu Su got in the car slowly vanished.
Xi Zirong fell silent. But Jiang Chusheng, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly spoke up. "Xu’s love life seems quite exciting."
Jiang Chusheng’s voice was on the colder side, carrying a sharp, arresting quality.
Xu Su was in no mood to appreciate his voice. When she heard the name "Xu," goosebumps immediately broke out all over her arms.
"Don’t call me that!" Xu Su rubbed her arms and turned to look back at Jiang Chusheng, her face filled with undisguised disgust. She advised, "You can call me Xu Su, or just ’classmate’ is fine, but just don’t call me ’Xu’."
’It reminded her of Shen Chen. He loved to call her ’Xu’ in that flippant, cynical tone of his, even when he was tying her up and bullying her...’
Her reaction was so strong it startled Jiang Chusheng. He hadn’t expected his form of address to hit such a nerve. The young man lowered his gaze, pursed his lips, and said no more.
It was the first time Sika had ever seen Xu Su lose her temper. Noticing something was wrong, she forgot all about her crush losing face and leaned in to ask with concern, "What’s going on? Are you okay?"
Xu Su took a deep breath and shook her head. "I’m fine."
Realizing her reaction had been too extreme, Xu Su turned around again and offered a stiff apology to Jiang Chusheng in the back seat. "Sorry, it’s not you. I just really don’t like that name."
’Shen Chen, and all the memories associated with him—Xu Su wanted to forget them all.’
Jiang Chusheng lifted his eyes to look at her, his gaze empty of emotion. He grunted in acknowledgment. "Got it," he said flatly.
Xu Su: "..."
’What does Sika even like about such a cold person?’
’Does she like that he comes with his own personal freezer?’
Xu Su shot Sika an uncomprehending look, only to meet her friend’s leisurely, waiting gaze.
Seeing her look over, Sika mouthed, "Hot, right?"
Xu Su shot her an annoyed glance. ’What’s the use of being hot? Can you eat it? Can you drink it?’
’Besides, is he the only one who’s good-looking? Is Zhou Mochen not handsome? Is Xi Zirong not handsome?’
At that thought, Xu Su tilted her head to look at Xi Zirong, who was driving.
The daytime temperature was warm, so he wasn’t wearing a jacket. A black wristband covered the scar on his wrist. His hand gripping the steering wheel was large, and he was still wearing the silver ring she had given him on his ring finger. His skin wasn’t as fair as it had been back in school, but he looked more powerful now...
’In short... still very handsome.’
’Very handsome!’
Xu Su pulled her gaze away and looked out the window. The convoy of cars moved forward at a steady pace. Whenever they came across a scenic spot worth stopping for, the group would get out and explore.
Xi Zirong and Jiang Chusheng joining them midway didn’t cause any disruption. They were all around the same age and quickly blended in with the group.
As usual, whenever they got out of the car, Xu Su and Sika would meet up with Liu Yun and Tang Feifei. The girls would huddle together, chattering away, which meant Xu Su didn’t have any time alone with Xi Zirong—a development she was happy about.
At night, they mostly found campsites and stayed in tents, though they would occasionally check into guesthouses when they passed through towns.
As they got closer and closer to the Holy City, they finally began to see Tibetan pilgrims making their journey.
The Tibetan Area might lack oxygen, but it never lacks faith. In this place known as the last pure land, the devotion of the people was beyond imagination.
They prostrated themselves all along the way, never looking back, their determination moving all who saw them.
Even the ever-jovial Sika stopped joking when she saw these pilgrims. They might not have understood it, but they absolutely respected it.
After twenty days of leisurely travel since leaving Beijing, and twelve days after meeting Xi Zirong, Xu Su finally reached her destination.
Once they arrived in Lhasa City and checked into their hotel, the group stopped traveling together. Instead, they broke off into small groups of friends to explore on their own. For many, the first place they wanted to visit was naturally the Potala Palace—the true Holy Palace, a world-renowned Holy Hall.
But Xu Su had a different idea. The first place she wanted to go was Zhaohui Temple.
After all, the saying goes that Zhaohui Temple came first, and then Lhasa City.
Perhaps because she was living her second life, she held a certain belief in such things. This was especially true after Zhou Mochen had given her the Buddha Beads, as her sleep had grown steadily more peaceful, which said it all.
’They say if you believe, it exists; if you don’t, it doesn’t.’
’But for her, it was no longer a question of belief. The very fact that she existed in this world was proof that ’it’ exists!’
’Since she was in a Buddhist Holy Land, wouldn’t it be a shame not to pay respects to a true Buddha?’
’She wondered if any enlightened monks would be able to see that she was a reborn soul.’
’Probably not, right? After all, last time at Pu Hua Temple, when Zhou Mochen took her, that high-ranking monk didn’t seem to notice anything, did he?’
With this in mind, the four of them had a vegetarian meal early in the morning and set out for Zhaohui Temple on foot.
Compared to the devotees who prostrated themselves every three steps, the most they could do was not drive there.
Inside the temple, aside from the visiting incense-burners and devotees, the most numerous figures were the monks in their red robes.
She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but the moment Xu Su stepped into the temple, she felt a mysterious power wash over her.
It was a gentle yet profound power, one that could cleanse the soul.
"What’s wrong?" Xi Zirong, on her right, noticed her pause and tilted his head to ask, "Are you tired from walking?"
They had walked for about an hour from the hotel to get here. However, after all the hiking and trekking on this trip, Xu Su was no longer the girl from a month ago who would get winded after just a few steps.
She shook her head. "I’m not tired. I just... I find it really awe-inspiring."
It really was awe-inspiring.
In addition to the solemn dignity of an ordinary temple, this place carried a unique sense of desolation—a desolation that had settled after witnessing a thousand years of history.
Xu Su had the good fortune to witness the legendary monastic debates, listened quietly to the monks’ chanting for a long time, and drank a bowl of blessed tea. Satisfied, the group began to wander through the renowned temple.
The hall for consecrating jewelry was the liveliest. Xu Su and Sika both took out the Agate Bracelets they had bought from a Tibetan mother and son during their journey and joined the fun, queuing up with other tourists to wait for a high-ranking monk to come and bless them.
Xi Zirong and Jiang Chusheng didn’t join the crowd; they waited outside the hall.
The one performing the consecration was an elderly monk in red robes, his eyes closed as he continuously chanted scriptures. The hall was crowded, the line was long, and there was no telling how long they would have to wait...
For a fleeting moment, the thought of using her "money power" crossed Xu Su’s mind, but she quickly suppressed it.
’What a sin,’ she thought. ’I’ve really been corrupted by that capitalist Zhou Mochen. How could I even think of using worldly means to cut in line in such a solemn place?’
