After giving the pendant to Fang Yusheng, Qiao Jiusheng rushed upstairs to remove her makeup and take a shower.
Fang Yusheng called Qi Bufan over. “Go buy a necklace for this pendant.”
Qi Bufan looked at the pendant and did not ask further. He turned around and went to buy a chain.
Meanwhile, Fang Yusheng went to the meditation room and offered Bodhisattva some incense.
He pressed his palms together and said, “Bodhisattva, I’m going to stop my worship.”
He had finally found his faith. Now, leaving Buddhism and returning to the mortal world was the right path for him. Fang Yusheng left the meditation room, then said to Aunt Jin, “Aunt Jin, please burn incense for Bodhisattva at fixed intervals every morning and evening.”
Aunt Jin asked him in surprise, “Young Master Yusheng, what’s wrong? Didn’t you do all these things yourself in the past?”
Fang Yusheng curled his lips and replied, “Not in the future.”
After saying that, he went upstairs, leaving Aunt Jin standing alone at the entrance of the meditation room, looking like a confused monk.
***
When she lay down to sleep at night, Qiao Jiusheng thought about Qiao Yunfan’s words.
Grandpa said he dreamed that I was calling for help. He dreamed that I had my tongue cut out.
After thinking about many things in a daze, Qiao Jiusheng fell asleep.
Fang Yusheng had held back on eating at the main house. After ten o’clock, he ate supper. Then, he went upstairs to call Qiao Jiusheng to have supper too. Just as he pushed open the door, he heard her crying. This stunned Fang Yusheng, and he quickened his pace toward the bed.
Due to Qiao Jiusheng’s situation, he took bigger strides than usual. He made a mistake while walking and accidentally knocked his head against the screen.
Fang Yusheng rubbed his head and composed himself before continuing to walk to the bed.
Qiao Jiusheng’s crying voice did not stop. She sobbed and whispered something.
Fang Yusheng fumbled around the bed. He was about to wake her up when he heard her say, “Sister, don’t cut my tongue. Please, don’t cut my tongue!”
Qiao Jiusheng’s pleas were filled with fear and despair.
Fang Yusheng’s hand landed on Qiao Jiusheng. He could not see her expression, but he could feel her body trembling.
He moved his hand to Qiao Jiusheng’s face and felt a patch of moisture.
His heart ached. Fang Yusheng quickly bent down and hugged Qiao Jiusheng.
Qiao Jiusheng was still crying, but she did not speak anymore. However, she kept letting out painful, intermittent cries. That voice was like a mute cry of pain. She could not cry out even if she wanted to.
“Ah Sheng, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. It’s just a nightmare.”
No matter how Fang Yusheng comforted her, Qiao Jiusheng did not wake up from her nightmare.
Fang Yusheng could not allow this to go on. He thought about it and hummed a tune.
In her dream, Qiao Jiusheng knelt on the ground, grabbed her hair, and cried out in grief. However, no matter how much she screamed, she could not utter a single word. Only blood gushed out of her mouth. She was in so much pain that she wanted to die.
Suddenly, a comforting tune entered her ears.
Ta… ta ta ta ta ta…
Ta… oh oh oh oh…
This low tune was Fang Yusheng’s voice. He was not proficient in humming and was bumpy. Nonetheless, Qiao Jiusheng listened to it in a daze and vaguely felt that she had heard this tune before. However, she could not remember where. Still, strangely, this tune actually comforted her fearful heart.
When Fang Yusheng sensed that the girl in his arms was gradually calming down, he was finally relieved.
He hugged her and slept the entire night.
The next morning, Qiao Jiusheng woke up in Fang Yusheng’s arms for the first time since they got married.