After paying a visit to the temple, instead of feeling her knots untied, Ning Anmiao found herself with even more questions in her heart.
On the contrary, Lu Yan seemed refreshed, as if he had gained some enlightenment.
She was quite annoyed.
On the way back in the car, she was still pondering over what the abbot had said at last—
"Do you think the master really likes that cat?" Unable to bear the boredom any longer, Ning Anmiao poked Lu Yan beside her and asked.
Lu Yan was silent for a moment and then replied, "I guess he does."
If he didn't like it, why would he have kept it by his side for seven years?
He could have just driven Big Orange away and let it be a wild cat, roaming freely in the mountains.
"If he likes it, then why did he keep talking about the temple's rules?"
Ning Anmiao pursed her lips. "If he really likes it, he shouldn't have considered so much."
Shouldn't have considered so much?
Lu Yan turned his head and glanced at her, but didn't answer for a long time.
He knew clearly that this trip today was not in vain. He had suddenly found his direction.
—
After they got back, Lu Yan took the initiative to cook dinner for Ning Anmiao.
His cooking skills were gradually improving, and he was becoming more and more proficient in cooking. By the time Ning Anmiao finished tidying up, the food was already on the table.
Not bad. He was increasingly showing the qualities of a good husband and father.
Ning Anmiao sat down at the table as usual, waiting for Lu Yan to bring out the last dish. She didn't start eating until he was seated.
Lu Yan looked at Ning Anmiao, wanting to imprint her deeply in his eyes.
He always felt that she was just like that cat which could have chosen freedom but still stayed in the temple.
And he was that old monk who kept talking about following the precepts but still let the cat stay in the temple for seven years.
Did he love her?
He didn't know.
But he had kept her by his side for three years.
"Miaomiao." His expression was calm, but he suddenly called her name. "I remember in college, you asked me a question."
Ning Anmiao stopped with her chopsticks in mid-air. She looked at him for a while before saying, "I've asked a lot of questions."
What she meant was that she didn't want to reminisce with him.
Lu Yan was silent for a moment and then still said, "You asked me a philosophical question back then."
"In a relationship, when the passion fades away, will it surely come to an end?"
Lu Yan's voice was soft. "The answer is that when the passion fades, the true love will emerge."
Ning Anmiao put down her chopsticks. "So? What are you trying to say?"
"I want to say," Lu Yan paused for a moment, "suppose after we switch back our bodies, you can return to the Ning family, and I can handle my mother. Can we not get divorced?"
He really didn't want to get divorced.
This feeling was growing stronger and stronger. He even regretted many times that he had answered so decisively that day.
Ning Anmiao was stunned for a moment, and then her expression returned to normal. "Don't have such wild fantasies. How could the Ning family still recognize me?"
She seemed to have already figured it out, and her answer was very calm. "Moreover, you can't handle your mother. You're her own son."
Ning Anmiao said half-jokingly, "Are you going to let me compete with your mother for your affection?"
"Miaomiao, trust me." Lu Yan's face stiffened, but he still tried to persuade her. "I will surely find a way to solve the problem. Then you can think carefully about our marriage again."
Seeing his eager look, Ning Anmiao couldn't help laughing. "How are you going to solve it?"
"Three years have passed, and you never thought about solving it. Now you say you can solve it just like that. Wouldn't all the sufferings I endured in those three years be a joke?"
"Miaomiao..." His eyes were filled with pain. He didn't expect Ning Anmiao to be so determined.
Ning Anmiao lowered her head and looked at the dishes on the table. For a moment, she had no appetite at all. "Lu Yan, I know you're very good to me, but I've seen the reality clearly in these three years."
Ning Anmiao pushed aside the stray hairs in front of her forehead. "I'm full. I'll go back and rest first."
"Miaomiao!" Seeing that she was about to leave, Lu Yan rushed forward quickly and tried to grab her, but she was obviously stronger and broke free directly.
"Why can't we understand each other?" Lu Yan couldn't figure it out. He said in a deep voice, "Miaomiao, can't you show some concern for me?"
Ning Anmiao stopped and fixed her gaze on him.
She nodded slightly and thought for a while before answering, "Just think of me as selfish."
After saying that, she walked into the guest room without looking back.
That night, Ning Anmiao sent a message to Lu Yan, saying that she would sleep in a separate room from him until they switched back their bodies and got divorced.
Looking at the mechanical words sent by Ning Anmiao, Lu Yan was so angry that he almost threw his phone.
Miaomiao, what on earth are you thinking!
At this moment, in the guest room next door.
Ning Anmiao was lying on the bed. Tears welled up in her eyes and dripped onto the pillow one by one. She gritted her teeth tightly, not wanting the sobbing sound to be heard.
She wasn't stupid.
During this period of time, she naturally knew that Lu Yan loved her.
She even realized that actually Lu Yan's love for her was much deeper than she had originally thought.
But love couldn't solve all the problems.
If it had been before she knew about Lu Yan's past, maybe she could have considered giving up the divorce; but now she couldn't be so selfish.
Although what Lu's mother said was harsh, it was the truth.
Lu Yan had worked so hard for so many years. He had climbed to his current position under great pressure and criticism. He really needed to give his mother and the Lu family an explanation.
But she had done nothing and just enjoyed his love for her without a care.
This was too selfish.
That wasn't all. He had even said just now that he would handle his mother for her and find a way to let her return to the Ning family.
In this way, she would owe him even more.
Ning Anmiao closed her eyes resignedly.
From the very beginning, she shouldn't have provoked him.
...
In the following days, the two of them tacitly didn't talk to each other. They just went about their own work as usual.
Although they were under the same roof, the number of times they talked was pitifully small.
Because of the regular routine, Ning Anmiao was almost getting used to this kind of life.
One afternoon, Lu Yan's secretary pushed the door open and walked in with a beaming face. "Mr. Lu, the land you negotiated before has started to be invested in and constructed."
"Yeah, that's good news." "Lu Yan" nodded slightly, as calm as ever. "Got it. Go and get back to work."
After the secretary finished reporting, she didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. She continued happily, "Several senior executives in the company said they wanted to take this opportunity to have a team-building activity to enhance the relationship among colleagues."
"Mr. Lu, our Xinghe Company hasn't had a team-building activity this year." The secretary blinked her eyes, looking very expectant.
"Lu Yan" raised his eyes and glanced at "Ning Anmiao".
The other person pursed her lips and nodded slightly, which meant she agreed.
Only then did "Lu Yan" look away. He coughed lightly. "Then start making arrangements. It will be this week. I'll inform you of the exact date later."
"Okay, thank you, Mr. Lu!" The secretary went out happily to share this good news with the other employees.
As soon as the beaming secretary left, the office returned to its cold atmosphere.