The old abbot

At about seven-thirty, a light blue Ferrari came toward the Green Villa. Ava's housing community was full of rich people so it was normal to often see a Ferrari around but the light blue color was very rare and it got Ava's attention. When the car came closer to her house she saw Erika who was sitting on the passenger seat wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Erika saw Ava and Sarah were standing there she leaned toward the window and waved her hand at them.

Ava looked at Erika confused, why was she in the passenger seat, who was driving the car then? Suddenly Ava's face turned pale at the thought of Sam driving the car, and she was right there he was wearing a pair of sunglasses and smiling at her politely. Ava cursed herself for not asking Erika earlier if it was only them. If she knew Sam would go with them she would make an excuse and refuse to go hiking.

"Mr. Evan!" Sarah cried out in surprise. She stood there open mouth and even forgot Erika was there.

Erika was also surprised that Sarah knew Sam, she looked at Sarah and with a smile asked, "Hey Sarah, Do you know each other?"

"Oh hi, Ms. Knight. Yes.. yes, Mr. Evan is my department head." Sarah said after recovering.

Ava froze in place and wanted to slap herself, she was too stunned to react seeing Sam here that she forgot to warn Sarah about their little situation.

"Hello Sarah, How are you doing? Enjoying your vacation?" Sam said with a smile and gave her a meaningful look.

Sarah understood the look and immediately closed her mouth.

Erika didn't notice anything unusual so she smiled at Sarah. They have already met before when Erika accidentally bumped Sarah with her car but back then she didn't know about Ava and Oliver's relationship. And now that she found Sarah was Sam's student, she thought it was fate that they all were connected together.

After everyone got into the car Samuel started the car. Ava saw Sarah took out her mobile phone and was checking her microblog. She quickly sent her a WeChat message.

Ava: Sarah, Erika doesn't know me and Sam knows each other so don't say anything in front of her.

Sarah: Yeah, I already got that by the way you two were talking just now. Don't worry I won't say anything.

Ava was relieved. What a headache was this, a simple lie turned out to be a mountain of lies and keep involving more people in it. How would she end this game now?

The car passed through the busy urban area, towards the mountain road, and finally reached the destination, The Fragrant Hill.

The air in the mountains was very fresh and cold. It was refreshing. They got out of the car and Erika took out her DSLR to capture the morning beauty of the mountain. From time to time, she took pictures of Ava, Sarah, and Sam.

Ava walked forward, pulled Erika to the side, and said hesitantly, "Rika, can you not tell your brother about today's hiking plan, please? I had a heatstroke yesterday and he asked me to stay home and have some rest. If he found out I came out he will be worried and angry."

Erika immediately said in understanding, "Don't worry, Av's I won't tell him."

Now it's the end of August. So there are no flowers on the cherry blossom trees but still, the scenery around the mountain was beautiful, the fresh air and murmuring water on the mountain makes people feel very peaceful. They were climbing one of the popular ones and there was a temple not far away. They could hear the voice of chanting sutras even from where they were.

Ava proposed to visit the temple, and everyone agreed. Ava was not a very religious person, but every time she passed by a temple she would always pay her respect.

The temple on The Fragrant Hill was called Baoguo temple. There was a lot of incense in the temple as many people come here every day to pay their respects and pray.

Ava and Erika brought some incense and candles and gathered in the main hall. They saw an old abbot there who was sitting and reading quietly, the rest of the monks have already left. Seeing the old abbot, Erika went to him and said with a smile, "Abbot, can I get a reading please?"

The old abbot said with a smile: "It's fate that brought you here today, so I am willing to read for you."

Erika hurriedly went to one side and picked up the bamboo tube. She had seen this last time she came here and always wanted to draw a divination card.

Erika shook the bamboo tube and a bamboo stick fell from inside, Erika quickly picked it up and handed it to the abbot.

The abbot looked at the bamboo stick Erika had drawn and said, "it's a good omen."

"What do you want to know, child?" The old abbot opened the book and said with a smile.

"Marriage. Please tell me if I have any fate with this gentleman here?" Erika said with a smug smile as she took a look at Sam who was standing beside her.

Samuel heard what she said he was a bit annoyed and embarrassed, he quickly pulled Erika and said softly in a helpless tone, "Rika, what are you doing?"

"Sam, please don't stop me. I want to know if we are destined to be together." Erika said firmly.

Samuel felt helpless and looked away, his eyes hid all this thought deep inside them.

Ava and Sarah stood there silently listening and waiting for the abbot's reading.

"To know about marriage, I need to know the exact time you were born in. Do you think you can provide that?" The old abbot said solemnly.

"I don't know that." Erika's face fell and she said regretfully.

The old abbot said with a smile, "Don't worry child, in fact, marriage is not necessarily about fate. As long as two people are willing to give in to a relationship and cherish each other they could make any marriage their fate."

"Thank you for your answer," Samuel said politely.

The old abbot nodded and left the main hall slowly.

They left the temple and went back to the mountain road and head toward the 'Cherry Blossom resort.'