Chapter 81: Seeking Divination

The male worshipper nodded awkwardly, his gaze following the slender figure ahead.

Had he misremembered?

When did Gu Hansheng from the Gu family get married?

As they ascended, the snow on the ground grew thicker.

Step by step, the long stairs stretched upward towards the sky, amidst a multitude of worshippers, the world seemed blanketed in white.

Liang Shu suffered from mild snow blindness.

Usually manageable, but on these endless stairs covered in snow, visual discrepancies arose. When Liang Shu reached the back, a moment of distraction led to a misstep, and she stumbled, falling to the ground without question.

Someone helped her up, and Liang Shu murmured her thanks.

When Gu Hansheng caught up, she was already brushing the snow off herself. This act didn't escape his notice, and he made no move to help, merely standing aside and watching. "Your devotion seems not to have moved the Buddha."

She kept her head bowed, silent.

After cleaning herself off, Liang Shu glanced at him and continued forward.

After a couple of steps, someone caught up from behind. This time, he firmly held her hand, guiding her up the long stairs together.

Liang Shu made a token resistance, but didn't pull away.

Glancing at her knee, Gu Hansheng teased in a gentle tone, "If you were truly stumbling from devoutness, then that would be the Buddha's fault."

"In essence, it's your fault, Gu Hansheng."

With that, Liang Shu lightly tapped his palm twice, neither painful nor ticklish, more like scratching an itch.

"Where did I go wrong? Tell me."

Though Liang Shu walked briskly, Gu Hansheng's long legs kept pace. She glanced around, feeling a bit hesitant to speak.

Finally, she said, "Mr. Gu, you're the most insightful. I refuse to believe you can't discern it."

She claimed her stumble was due to a sudden weakness in her legs, not because she didn't want him to hold her hand.

Why did her legs suddenly weaken?

It stemmed from someone's excessive indulgence the night before.

In the latter half of the journey, Liang Shu clearly showed signs of fatigue.

She slowed down, sweat beading on her forehead.

Releasing Gu Hansheng's hand, she stood two steps below him, looking up at him, her face slightly flushed, panting softly. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit."

Gu Hansheng chuckled, "Are you sure you'll catch up?"

The woman's gaze rose to the grand temple covered in white snow amidst the misty mountains, close yet far.

"I will," she replied.

Gu Hansheng pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Leaning slightly down, his back turned to her, he glanced sideways, his voice gentle, "Come up."

This action startled Liang Shu. Holding her breath, she hesitated a bit, resisting, "I'm not that delicate."

He replied, "As Mrs. Gu, you're allowed to be delicate."

To avoid embarrassment and the prying eyes of onlookers, Liang Shu reluctantly climbed onto Gu Hansheng's back.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her gaze falling on his short hair with a slightly stiff texture. The faint woody fragrance entered her nostrils, and it felt as if a soft dust had suddenly settled on her heart, altering the rhythm of her heartbeat ever so slightly.

On December 17th, Mr. and Mrs. Gu of the Gu family hiked to the highest peak in Yucheng to visit Cold Mountain Temple. In the latter half of the journey, Mr. Gu carried his petite wife on his back.

This action inevitably drew attention from others.

Like the young couple a few meters behind them.

The girl clung tightly to her boyfriend's clothes, her face filled with envy as she looked ahead, "Look at them, so romantic. And there's still such a long way to go, the boyfriend just carries her..."

Her boyfriend interrupted her, "Can romance feed you?"

Perhaps the two ahead were too conspicuous, the boyfriend continued irritably, "Coming to burn incense and getting all fancy like this, climbing up peacefully shows more sincerity, doesn't it?"

The four individuals were not too far apart, and Liang Shu and Gu Hansheng naturally heard the conversation.

Liang Shu felt a bit embarrassed, burying her face in his back as she muttered, "I think he's right."

"Where is he right?" The man didn't turn his head.

"You carrying me up the mountain, how can that show sincerity?"

Liang Shu had been supported by him for a while now, and her complexion had improved significantly compared to before, but her weight hadn't increased, and her physical fitness was average.

He walked neither fast nor slow, his steps steady, and Liang Shu felt no discomfort at all.

He remarked, "After all this time, your weight hasn't changed? Perhaps I should take you running one day, so you won't feel tired after climbing a few stairs."

Liang Shu knew that Gu Hansheng had a habit of morning runs. If the weather was good, he'd be on the track at the Villa Zero residential area at five or six in the morning, or in his own home gym if the weather was bad.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Villa Zero has all kinds of facilities.

There's a gym, a small home theater, an indoor heated swimming pool, and even a library.

Of course, Liang Shu still hadn't explored these places thoroughly.

But she wasn't fond of exercising. Hearing Gu Hansheng's words, she frowned and couldn't help but refuse, "Is there any exercise that isn't tiring?"

One day, Liang Shu asked if there was an exercise that wasn't tiring, but Gu Hansheng didn't answer her.

It wasn't until evening that he said, "There's an exercise that doesn't require you to move."

Liang Shu sincerely wanted to get a talisman for Wen Mingting's safety, but she also had another purpose: to find an opportunity to settle the matter with Jiang Pingsheng.

To her, Gu Hansheng was a troublemaker.

This man was astute; nothing escaped his notice.

Although he accompanied her to pray for blessings, in reality, Gu Hansheng didn't have any true faith in the Buddha. He only believed in himself.

She drew a divination stick inside while Gu Hansheng waited outside for her.

When Liang Shu came out, she happened to see Gu Hansheng talking to a middle-aged man under the corridor. She didn't want to interrupt, but Gu Hansheng had already spotted her and waved to her.

She walked over, and the man held her left hand, looking down at her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm waiting to interpret my divination stick. It might take a bit of time. Why don't you wander around nearby? I heard that Cold Mountain Temple not only has spiritual divination but also beautiful scenery."

"Okay." He squeezed her hand lightly, responding promptly.

Liang Shu pursed her lips, smiled, let go of his hand, and turned to walk a few steps inside.

After her figure disappeared behind the crimson gate, Gu Hansheng turned back to the man opposite him and smiled, "Sorry for the inconvenience."

The man rubbed his hands. Although Gu Hansheng didn't introduce her, she must be Mrs. Gu.

"I didn't expect Mr. Gu to be married already. I've only ever paid attention to your achievements in the financial world. I never thought you were already married."

Gu Hansheng smiled, "Currently, it's still a secret marriage. We'll announce it on an appropriate day."

Meanwhile, Liang Shu returned to the temple.

She drew a very auspicious divination stick for Wen Mingting, which was a good sign.

Liang Shu waited for him to finish interpreting the stick before handing over Jiang Pingsheng's birth information to the master.

She wanted to draw a stick for Jiang Pingsheng, but she was stopped. The master, dressed in monk's robes, held prayer beads in his hand and closed his eyes, shaking his head solemnly at Liang Shu.

Liang Shu didn't understand. "Master, why won't you let me draw a stick?"

The master kept his eyes closed, counting the prayer beads rhythmically. When he spoke, his voice carried a sense of worldly detachment, "Young lady, for those who have departed from the world, why bother with divination?"

He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Liang Shu. "Even if you draw one, it will be without resolution."

Liang Shu was shocked. "I only gave you his birth information. How could you know..." Pausing, she continued, "Master, could you help me choose an auspicious date? His ashes haven't been buried yet, and he's been trapped in this world for three years. I want to find a good day to bury him properly."

The master remained calm and said, "How do you know he isn't here by choice? There are still things in this world that he hasn't let go of."

"But I hope he can rest in peace and not become a wandering ghost in this world."

Liang Shu had always known that the Ni family attached great importance to Jiang Pingsheng. To some extent, this pair of highly intellectual individuals had reached a level of obsession.

After Jiang Pingsheng's death, they initially refused to cremate him, but then suddenly they compromised.

It wasn't until much later that she realized it wasn't really a compromise.

It was just another way of keeping Jiang Pingsheng trapped by their side.

So, upon hearing news about Jiang Pingsheng's ashes again, she went to Wencheng. With something the Ni family valued, she could definitely bring Jiang Pingsheng's ashes back.

Because Liang Shu knew the Ni family wouldn't give Jiang Pingsheng a proper resting place.

Think about it, a person has died, their body turned to ashes, but instead of returning them to the earth, they keep the ashes at home. Is that normal?

Three years ago, on the night before Jiang Pingsheng's cremation, Liang Shu overheard a conversation between the Ni couple.

She had just had a fight with them a moment ago, and now things had calmed down.

Mrs. Ni choked up as she said to Mr. Ni, "Old man, let them cremate him. We won't see his real body anymore, but at least we can keep his ashes."

Liang Shu didn't understand the meaning of those words at the time. It wasn't until the day of Jiang Pingsheng's funeral that she accidentally knocked over Jiang Pingsheng's urn and found it filled with lime powder. Then she suddenly understood.

The reason the Ni couple initially opposed cremation was because they had considered renting a refrigerated coffin to preserve his body forever at home. How crazy was that idea?

But that was obviously not practical, so the Ni couple eventually took his ashes and retired to the town of Nanchuan in Wencheng.

Three years was a turning point, and it was also Liang Shu's bottom line.

Jiang Pingsheng had been with them for three years, which was enough.

Liang Shu wanted the master to help her choose an auspicious date, but the master shook his head, saying, "When a person dies, they are like smoke vanishing into thin air. They become nothing, or they turn into wind, rain, or anything in this world. There's nothing special about it. Whatever you want will happen."

After the master finished speaking, he smiled faintly and gestured with one hand towards the divination stick in front of him. "Miss, draw one for yourself."

Liang Shu hesitated as she looked at the divination sticks in front of her, but after a while, she smiled and declined, "No need, thank you."

As she got up to leave, she accidentally knocked over the container of divination sticks, causing one stick to pop out. Liang Shu quickly put it back, bowed to the master with her hands clasped together, and said, "Thank you."

After she left, the master calmly picked up the stick that had fallen out of the container and looked at the words on it, shaking his head silently, a sigh escaping his lips.

The words on the stick clearly read: Very Unfavorable.

When Liang Shu found Gu Hansheng, he was smoking.

In this icy and snowy landscape, the smoke lingered around the man's lips, making him seem out of place with his surroundings.

Seeing this scene, she hurried over, furrowing her brows as she looked at him. "Gu Hansheng, how can you smoke in a place like this? This is a sacred Buddhist site. Show some respect."

He smiled, took the cigarette out of his mouth, and held it between his fingers. "Do you see those monks eating, drinking, and relieving themselves? Do they seek the worldly pleasures of the mundane world?"

"That's not the same thing at all."

Gu Hansheng didn't argue with her about this topic, nor did he continue smoking. Instead, he changed the subject. "How did the master interpret the divination?"

"I drew a very auspicious divination stick for my mother. The master said it's a good sign."

He then extinguished the cigarette in his hand and spoke with a pleasant tone, "Did the master say anything about the future being filled with descendants for the old lady?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"The old lady probably has only this one wish now. If we work hard, we still have a good chance."

Liang Shu rarely talked to him like this. She lowered her head and looked at the yellow talisman in her hand, folded into a triangular shape.

She contemplated, planning to tear a piece of red cloth to sew it up when she returned, and then bring it to Wen Mingting when she visited the Gu family's old house.

The journey downhill would indeed be easier compared to going uphill.

However, this time, Liang Shu voluntarily hooked Gu Hansheng's arm. If she were to stumble down these stairs again, it could be fatal with just a slight lack of attention.

The following day marked the wedding of Gu Hansheng's close friend, Jingyu.

Two days prior, Gu Hansheng had almost meticulously sent over the formal attire, which Liang Shu had opened and inspected—a decent and conventional evening gown.

Beforehand, she had inquired whether Gu Hansheng's wedding would be private or public.

Gu Hansheng glanced at her and said, "With such media hype, what do you think?"

Liang Shu understood the implication.

It wasn't time yet to disclose their relationship. If she were to accompany Gu Hansheng to the wedding tomorrow, their relationship would inevitably be exposed.

In mid-December in Yucheng, the outdoor temperature had long dropped below freezing.

That evening, Liang Shu chose to shower with cold water.

Although indoors were warm, the water temperature in this season was evident. She turned on the cold water side of the shower, standing beneath it. The excessively low water temperature made her lips turn purple, and she shivered, hugging herself.

After continuously standing under the cold water for a full ten minutes, she felt it wasn't enough, so she continued for another five minutes.

In the last five minutes, Liang Shu used warm water for her shower.

As expected, she developed a high fever in the middle of the night.

Gu Hansheng noticed the person in his arms burning up. He turned on the light and saw the person lying in the bed with flushed cheeks, pale and chapped lips, and a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.

He patted Liang Shu's face gently. "Ar Shu, Ar Shu..."

Liang Shu opened her eyes slightly, looking at the blurry figure in her line of sight. She raised her hand, placing it on her forehead, and said somewhat plaintively, "Gu Hansheng, I think I have a fever."

He removed her hand from her forehead, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Hmm, I'll call the doctor."

Qu An was also awakened by the commotion.

When Gu Hansheng returned to the room, he helped her sit up to drink water. Liang Shu's consciousness was somewhat unclear due to the fever. She leaned weakly against him, barely managing to drink two sips of water, and said softly and hoarsely, "It's such a pity. I have such a serious fever; I probably can't accompany you to the wedding tomorrow."

He placed the cup aside, took the hot towel handed to him by Qu An, and placed it firmly on her forehead. "So, you did this intentionally, hmm?"

Liang Shu wanted to explain but felt somewhat weak, making her appear even more distressed.

Qu An felt very distressed watching from the side and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "Sir, Madam is feeling so uncomfortable; please don't say anything to upset her further. Who would willingly harm their own body?"

"I don't know about others, but Mrs. Gu might."

"Gu Hansheng, you... don't accuse me falsely."

In her current state, anyone would feel sorry for her, let alone Gu Hansheng.

He tucked her in with the blanket. "Don't talk. I should have known better than to let you go to temples and pray like this."

...

In the middle of the night, the family doctor came to give Liang Shu an IV drip and prescribed a lot of medicine.

It was just a cold, but it came on a bit severely.

Liang Shu had a very poor physical foundation and hadn't paid much attention to her health before. She was already severely malnourished, and her symptoms of anemia had not improved much since she had lost a lot of blood in one go previously. Blowing cold air and sweating after visiting the temple during the day, the alternation of hot and cold, naturally led to her catching a cold.

However, Gu Hansheng didn't expect the cold to be so severe.

It wasn't until almost dawn that Liang Shu's fever subsided slightly.

The next morning, Wen Mingting called Gu Hansheng. "I heard that Ar Shu suddenly had a high fever last night. What happened?"

Due to Liang Shu's illness and fever, Gu Hansheng didn't even go to the company that day. When the old lady called, he was in the study dealing with matters.

Gu Hansheng threw down his pen. "Your information came quickly."

It's quite a coincidence that the family doctor was going to deliver medicinal herbs to Wen Mingting today. Without much thought, he mentioned the incident at Zero Mansion to Wen Mingting.

Upon hearing that Liang Shu was ill, Wen Mingting immediately called Gu Hansheng.

Seeing that Gu Hansheng was so calm yet obviously worried, she asked again, "Hurry up and tell me, what's wrong with Ar Shu? How did she suddenly get a high fever in the middle of the night?"

"The weather was still fine yesterday. She insisted on going to the temple to pray for your safety during the day, in the middle of winter, up and down the mountain, caught a cold, and then developed a fever at night."

"Oh, this child, why does she have to go at such times?" Wen Mingting felt both happy and reproachful after hearing this.

Gu Hansheng got up from his chair and walked towards the bedroom, reminding her, "Mom, Christmas is coming soon."

The implication was that the timing of the prayer was right.

Wen Mingting hadn't thought about this before, but now she was deeply moved. She said, "Today is Ayu's wedding. With Ar Shu in this condition, she definitely can't attend. You go by yourself. You may be delayed by Ayu's side for who knows how long. Today, I'll come over to take care of Ar Shu."

Gu Hansheng originally didn't want the old lady to go through the trouble, but after some thought, he agreed.

After a night of tossing and turning, Liang Shu woke up close to noon.

She no longer had a fever, but she felt completely drained.

She lay there, looking at the ceiling, and soon footsteps sounded in the bedroom.

"Ay Shu, you're finally awake."

This voice—

Liang Shu turned her head to look and saw Wen Mingting.

She struggled to sit up, but due to her lack of strength, she fell back onto the bed. "Mom..."

Wen Mingting hurried over, placed a glass of water aside, and helped her up. "Ay Shu, what do you need? Mom will get it for you. Why are you trying to get up?"

"Mom, why did you come over?"

Wen Mingting sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. "You silly child, you're so seriously ill. How could I not come and see you?"

"It's just a little cold, and it brought you here. I..." Liang Shu looked pale and sorry, making Wen Mingting feel even more distressed.

She handed Liang Shu the water to drink and said, "Silly child, Hansheng already told me everything. How do you always manage to make people love you so much?"

After drinking the water, Liang Shu's throat felt less dry.

She knew Gu Hansheng must have told her about yesterday's events.

In fact, Liang Shu felt guilty.

She sincerely prayed for Wen Mingting's safety with the amulet, but her motives were not just that; they were primarily for Jiang Pingsheng...

Glancing at the bedside clock, Liang Shu asked, "Mom, where's Hansheng?"

Wen Mingting said, "He's gone to attend the wedding. He probably won't be back for a while. Tell me if you need anything."

Gu Hansheng had once casually mentioned to Liang Shu about his relationship with Jingyu and Jingxing. Reading between the lines, Liang Shu knew Wen Mingting's relationship with Jingyu and Jingxing. It wasn't good for Wen Mingting to miss Jingyu's grand wedding.

So Liang Shu said, "Mom, I'm fine now. You should go to the wedding."

But Wen Mingting shook her head. "I'm not going. I don't like or approve of this commercial marriage. It's a pity for that child Jingyu."

At this, Liang Shu suddenly realized. She pursed her lips. "Is Master Jing's marriage a commercial union?"

"Yes." Wen Mingting suddenly remembered something, patting Liang Shu's shoulder. "It's time for your medicine. I'll ask Qu An to bring in some food for you to eat first, and then we'll take the medicine."

Saying so, Wen Mingting left.

That day, Liang Shu witnessed the grand wedding of the Jing and Wei families on Weibo's hot search and various entertainment news platforms.

The bride and groom were both outstanding, but with Wen Mingting's words in mind, Liang Shu could still see some signs of a loveless marriage.

Due to Jingyu's relationship with Gu Hansheng, the media not only reported on Jingyu but also took the opportunity to capture Gu Hansheng's attention.

The marriage between the Jing and Wei families had invited many social elites, from wealthy businessmen to high-ranking officials, from A-list celebrities to reputable figures outside the circle. The wedding scene was filled with celebrities.

The most eye-catching figure among them was Gu Hansheng.

Even Ruan Yunyun was present at this wedding.

The media had previously interviewed her about her current relationship with Gu Hansheng and the progress of their relationship. Before Ruan Yunyun could respond, the person who could make a scene with just a glance appeared in her line of sight.

This time, Gu Hansheng had given Jingyu considerable face. He made quite a grand entrance.

Unlike before, he was accompanied by a glamorous woman.

Not Secretary Shi Qing.

But a woman no one had seen before.

Ruan Yunyun was shocked when she saw her, her face turning pale.

The media that had interviewed her immediately changed their focus. A few of them even held up their microphones to ask Ruan Yunyun if she and Gu Hansheng had broken up and if he had a new relationship now.

However, Ruan Yunyun couldn't answer these questions.

Today, the woman by Gu Hansheng's side also made it into the entertainment news.

Su Qin flipped through rumors about her and Gu Hansheng on her phone. "Mr. Gu, being rumored with you is quite exciting."