In the morning, Madam Gu was leisurely sitting on the sofa, holding a bone china cup, taking small sips of black tea while reading the day's newspaper.
Gu Chengyu walked in from the backyard.
He sat down casually on the sofa opposite his mother, picked up an apple and weighed it in his hand, his gaze somewhat unfocused.
"Mom," he began, his voice sounding no different than usual, carrying a hint of laziness.
"Hmm?" Madam Gu looked up from the newspaper at her son.
"Have you been... quite anxious about me getting married lately?" Gu Chengyu asked offhandedly, tossing the apple back and forth in his hand as if just making casual conversation.
Madam Gu raised an eyebrow slightly, put down her teacup, wondering why her son would suddenly bring this up, but she played along:
"What do you think? You've been dragging your feet for almost a year now. Not a word about marriage, not even a hint of an engagement. How could I not be anxious?"
Gu Chengyu nodded, as if it were just a passing thought. "It's just that recently, I seemed to hear someone mention a place called Lingyuan Temple? They say it's quite effective for praying for a good marriage."
After saying this, he immediately took a bite of the apple, turning his gaze towards the window, though the tips of his ears were slightly red.
Madam Gu's hand holding the newspaper paused, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
Lingyuan Temple? Praying for marriage?
Her son, who was arrogant, haughty, and only ever believed in himself, never in fate—he actually heard about such a thing?
Madam Gu studied Gu Chengyu carefully.
On the surface, he still wore that careless, proud expression, but his evasive eyes, which simply refused to meet hers, betrayed his little scheme.
Madam Gu's mind suddenly became perfectly clear. She felt both amused and touched.
It seemed that young woman, Su Qianqian, really had him wrapped around her finger.
She could even make this stubborn stone start considering praying to Buddha for a good marriage.
Suppressing the smile at the corner of her mouth, she didn't expose him. Instead, she went along with his words, putting on an expression of deep agreement. "Oh, Lingyuan Temple. Yes, I've heard of it. Its reputation seems quite good."
She saw her son's eyes instantly brighten a little, which she found even more amusing.
After a moment's thought, she made a suggestion: "Speaking of which, it's been a while since I last went to offer incense. The weather is quite nice today. How about you accompany me there? Consider it a little outing?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyu felt a thrill of excitement inside, but his face still showed a very reluctant expression. "Me? Accompany you to a temple? I'm very busy..."
"Not too busy for half a day."
Madam Gu stood up, speaking in a tone that brooked no refusal. "Go change your clothes quickly. It's settled."
Gu Chengyu clicked his tongue, putting on an appearance of reluctance as he slowly stood up and headed upstairs.
But the moment he turned away, the furrow between his brows smoothed out. Things were going according to plan.
Lingyuan Temple was serene and quiet, with ancient trees reaching for the sky.
Due to the Gu family's connections, the temple was cleared for the day, and the abbot was already waiting personally.
Madam Gu piously offered incense, knelt, prayed, and asked for a grandson.
Gu Chengyu just stood to the side, hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant.
After finishing her prayers, Madam Gu stood up, looked at her son, and deliberately asked, "Chengyu, aren't you going to pray?"
Gu Chengyu's gaze swept over the butler and several servants standing nearby. He lifted his chin slightly, his tone arrogant. "No, not interested."
Madam Gu gave a knowing smile and didn't press him. She waved her hand at the butler and the others. "You all accompany me outside first to see that century-old marriage tree."
The entourage understood and immediately followed Madam Gu respectfully out of the main hall.
The hall was suddenly left with only Gu Chengyu inside.
Almost the instant his mother's figure disappeared, Gu Chengyu's proud, impatient demeanor vanished.
He walked to the prayer mat, knelt down, pressed his palms together, and closed his eyes.
Bodhisattva above...
He silently prayed, his mind filled entirely with Su Qianqian's every smile and glance.
Your humble devotee, Gu Chengyu...
I wish for Su Qianqian to genuinely like me—not just out of gratitude, not just dependence—but sincerely and truly like only me.
I wish to marry her, to make her my rightful, honorable, and glorious wife, Gu Chengyu's wife.
I wish to become the number one person in her heart, above anyone else.
I wish to have a child with her, a child that blends the blood of us both.
He made his wishes with extreme seriousness, even silently repeating the most important words—'genuinely like'—several times in his mind, afraid the Bodhisattva might miss them.
If Madam Gu or anyone who knew him well saw him now, kneeling before the Buddha with a piety that couldn't be more devout, their jaws would surely drop in shock.
Who would have thought that the arrogant, domineering, unrivaled young master of the Gu family would also have a day where he placed his hopes so carefully in the hands of the divine?
After finishing his prayers, he respectfully kowtowed before standing up.
He walked out of the main hall with a composed stride and saw his mother looking at him with a knowing, amused smile.
Gu Chengyu's expression remained unchanged. "Finished? Can we go back now?"
Madam Gu nodded with a smile. "Yes, let's go back."
Sunlight spilled onto the temple's marriage tree and also quietly shone into someone's heart, secretly brimming with anticipation.
