Shen Yi could no longer stand; his legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground with a "bang."
He felt that he was about to die from the pain, but it wasn’t because of the impact of his knees on the ground; it was the pain in his heart that was unbearable.
Shen Yi clenched his teeth, veins popping on his forehead, sweat pouring out densely, as if he’d just emerged from the water.
He hugged the Rebirth Plaque tightly to his chest, his whole body curled up on the ground without any semblance of dignity.
Master Wangchen continued to watch from the side, seemingly unaffected by any emotions, yet in the depths of his eyes, there was unmistakable compassion.
Before leaving the hall, Master Wangchen, with his back to Shen Yi, spoke, "The old monk will pray daily for benefactor Shen and Mrs. Shen. You will surely share a loving and enduring bond through the years."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi halted, turned around to look at Master Wangchen, who had already begun meditating in front of the Buddha, and knelt down beside the master, imitating the gestures of worship he remembered.
Although it was somewhat unrefined, his expression was utterly devotional. Shen Yi kowtowed to Master Wangchen, his voice hoarse and steady as he said, "Please protect her and ensure her well-being and smooth passage."
Compared to her living a healthy life in this world, nothing else is more important.
After paying his respects to Master Wangchen, Shen Yi turned and gave a deeply devout bow to the Buddha statue that looked down upon all beings with eyes of mercy, then bowed once again.
Shen Yi had never believed in gods and Buddhas, but now he did. He didn’t ask for fame or fortune, only for Ye Wanwan’s safety and smooth passage in life.
Shen Yi thought, as long as she was safe, he didn’t care about anything else.
After completing the ritual, Shen Yi stood up and walked toward the exit of the hall.
Assistant Chen had been chatting with a young monk in the courtyard the whole time, a monk who, despite being seventeen or eighteen years old, had the innocence of a child only a few years old.
It wasn’t due to a lack of intelligence but because he had grown up without ever leaving the mountain. His interactions were limited to those like Shen Yi’s party when they came to stay.
Thus, he knew little beyond the monastery, and even common things like cell phones were only something he’d seen.
Therefore, Assistant Chen found it very engaging to chat with the young monk in the courtyard, as if there were endless topics to cover.
When Assistant Chen noticed Shen Yi coming out from the corner of his eye, he quickly stood up, especially when he saw Shen Yi’s disheveled appearance, his brow furrowed involuntarily with a hint of concern, "President Shen!"
Shen Yi had arrived in impeccable business attire, ready at any moment to attend a finance conference, but now his previously spotless black suit was covered in dust.
"Let’s go," Shen Yi said indifferently, as if he hadn’t noticed Assistant Chen’s expression.
"Okay," Assistant Chen hurriedly agreed, turned to leave, smiled back at the young monk, and waved his hand in farewell.
The young monk waved back with a smile, then watched as they left in a hurry.
After getting into the car, Assistant Chen drove while glancing at Shen Yi through the rearview mirror.
Realizing what Assistant Chen wanted to ask, Shen Yi preemptively explained, "It’s just a small scratch."
"Understood, President Shen," Assistant Chen quickly responded, indicating that he understood.
Shen Yi glanced at his watch; it was already past four in the afternoon. By this time, Ye Wanwan would probably be out shopping.