Reborn in 2006, I met Mr. Zhou from the past.

Zhou Chenyu and Su Fengnan paid their respects to Buddha in the main hall. He took out a wad of cash from his wallet, put it in the donation box, and then got up and walked straight toward the old abbot.

Su Fengnan was still kneeling on the prayer mat with her eyes closed, making a wish, unaware that Zhou Chenyu had already left. After making her wish, she also added two hundred-yuan bills to the incense money before getting up.

As she walked out of the main hall, she saw Zhou Chenyu and the abbot standing at the door, so she quickly walked over.

Just as she reached him, Zhou Chenyu asked in a low voice, "Nannan, would you like to come with me to the Guanyin Temple, or wait for me here?"

Without thinking, Su Fengnan blurted out, "I'll go with you."

How could she possibly miss Guanyin Bodhisattva, who saves people from suffering? Although I'm not superstitious, it's good to have peace of mind.

Zhou Chenyu looked at her, a slight, almost imperceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Then let's go."

The two followed the old abbot toward the Guanyin Hall at the highest point.

The mountain path was steep, and it took about ten minutes to climb the stone steps to reach the top. The Guanyin Hall was independent, surrounded by iron railings. Su Fengnan thought to herself that this was probably to prevent wild animals from the mountains from coming in and causing damage.

Stepping into the courtyard, Su Fengnan looked around. This place was located halfway up the mountain; Nan Jing Temple was surrounded by mountains and lush trees, a truly secluded and tranquil spot. If one didn't know there was a temple here, it would probably never have been discovered.

Upon entering the hall, Su Fengnan noticed that the incense smoke was not strong, but the place was spotless, and fresh flowers and fruits were readily available.

"Amitabha, Benefactor Zhou, please make yourself at home." The old abbot said with his hands clasped together, then walked to the offering table and rhythmically began to strike the wooden fish.

Zhou Chenyu put down the white chrysanthemum in his hand, put his hands together, and bowed respectfully to the old abbot: "Thank you, Abbot Master."

Afterwards, Su Fengnan and Zhou Chenyu bowed three times in front of the Guanyin Bodhisattva statue and added incense money before getting up.

Su Fengnan thought it was over and was about to leave when she saw Zhou Chenyu pick up the white chrysanthemum from the ground, walk to the longevity tablet on the left, and gently place the pot of brightly blooming white chrysanthemum on the offering table.

"Mom, I've come to see you." He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply three times.

Mom? This is Zhou Chenyu's mother... Is he gone? Su Fengnan stood there, stunned, a strange pang of sadness rising in her heart. No wonder she felt so uneasy when she saw him carrying white chrysanthemums into the temple earlier; so that's why...

"Mom, I'm fine, and Grandma is fine too. The truth about what happened back then is about to come out. I'll tell you the good news as soon as I hear it..."

Zhou Chenyu's voice suddenly choked. He closed his eyes tightly, biting his lower lip hard, trying his best to suppress the sob that was about to escape his throat.

Su Fengnan was extremely perceptive. Although she was standing not far behind him, she clearly sensed his emotional breakdown. She wanted to go over and offer him some comfort, but after thinking about it, she stopped—no one wants to expose their vulnerable side to others.

She turned and walked out of the Guanyin Hall to the railing. The tranquil valley scenery unfolded before her eyes. The temple, built against the mountain, was surrounded by peaks. Mountains, rivers, bamboo forests, and vegetation intertwined, inspiring an impulse to escape the mundane world and live in seclusion here.

However, Su Fengnan quickly shook her head and came to her senses. True freedom requires financial independence. It's likely that Zhou Chenyu chose this location to set up his mother's longevity tablet because of its good feng shui and the fact that he would rarely be disturbed.

She didn't wait long outside before Zhou Chenyu came out.

"What are you looking at?"

Su Fengnan turned around and saw Zhou Chenyu right behind her, her expression already calm. She smiled faintly, "The scenery and air here are so wonderful, it's perfect for a short retreat."

Zhou Chenyu gently tapped her head, his tone tinged with helplessness: "So young, why are you acting so mature? There's nothing here, it's so deserted, what girl would like that?"

"Ouch..." Su Fengnan frowned, rubbing the spot where she had been hit. "Just because other girls don't like it doesn't mean I don't."

Seeing her frown, Zhou Chenyu genuinely thought he had hurt her and quickly reached out to rub it for her, but he restrained himself and lowered his hand halfway through. He clearly hadn't used any force...

"I'm sorry, Nan Nan, did I hurt you?" he asked softly, his eyes full of apology.

Su Fengnan relaxed her brows as if to ease the tension, and smiled sweetly, "It's nothing, I was just kidding."

After saying that, she ran away in a flash.

Despite being teased by the little girl, Zhou Chenyu wasn't annoyed. He followed behind her with a doting expression. The downhill stone steps were narrow to begin with, and Su Fengnan was hopping and skipping. Afraid she would fall, he quickly called out, "Slow down, be careful not to fall!"

Su Fengnan turned to look at him, smiled, and said, "It's alright!"

Before long, the two exited the temple gate. Seeing that Zhou Chenyu's emotions seemed to have calmed down, Su Fengnan felt somewhat relieved.

A stone tablet at the temple entrance bore an introduction to Nanjin Temple, which Su Fengnan glanced at briefly. It turned out that Nanjin Temple's history could be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, and it had once been a thriving place of worship. It was later destroyed during the "Destroy the Four Olds" campaign, and although some parts have been restored, it has never regained its former glory.

"Don't you think the scenery here is beautiful? Why don't you take a walk around and look at the surrounding area?" Zhou Chenyu stood next to her, also looking at the stone tablet.

Su Fengnan looked up at the sky but couldn't see the sun.

Zhou Chenyu noticed her subtle movements and said gently, "It's still early, you can make it back in time."

Su Fengnan looked at him and smiled: "Alright then, let's walk along the river and see if we can find any treasures."

"Okay." Zhou Chenyu's lips curled up, and her mood seemed to brighten as well.

The two strolled along the river path, and the occasional clear birdsong gave Su Fengnan a sense of tranquility and serenity.

Just as she was immersed in this wonderful moment, she suddenly heard Zhou Chenyu say, "Thank you for coming with me to see my mother today."

Su Fengnan paused. Seeing this, Zhou Chenyu also stopped.

She turned her head to look at him, her bright, deep eyes filled with inquiry: "Did you always come alone, Brother Zhou?"

Zhou Chenyu met her eyes and said calmly, "I came with my grandmother when I was in middle school. After that... I've been alone ever since."

For a moment, Su Fengnan's eyes stung with tears. She quickly looked away and walked forward, barely managing to hold back her tears.

She is an exceptionally empathetic person. Having been a mother in a past life, she knows all too well how lonely and aggrieved a child feels growing up without a mother's presence. Having been a left-behind child herself, how could she not feel it?

Zhou Chenyu's words really hit her sore spot.

Zhou Chenyu followed up and continued, "When I was little, I missed her a lot, but as I grew up... I got used to it."

He gazed into the distance, lost in memories. In his childhood, his mother, though busy, loved and doted on him. But then, she was beaten to death right before his eyes. That pain still haunts him to this day.

Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal.

Zhou Chenyu's words only made Su Fengnan want to cry more. She bit her lip, trying her best to hide her emotions, but she couldn't utter a word.