Gu Qichi was led into the temple by Bo Yu.

Probably because it was a tranquil Buddhist sanctuary, the closer they got, the more peaceful Gu Qichi’s state of mind became. The woods were deeply shaded. As dusk fell and weary birds returned to their nests, their wings stirred up waves of rustling wind in the air.

A massive bronze censer stood before the entrance, filled with burning incense. Layers of ash had settled at the bottom of the cauldron, and the scent of sandalwood drifted softly on the breeze.

Bo Yu didn’t rush to take him inside the temple to worship. Instead, he turned around, leading him past the front hall and toward the rear of the temple grounds.

The backyard was spacious, dominated by an incredibly thick and rugged locust tree.

Its roots were twisted and gnarled, and its branches stretched upward. Although it currently lacked lush, green foliage, one could easily imagine the spectacular sight this locust tree would present in the spring.

Tied to the branching, sprawling limbs were countless red silk ribbons, fluttering ceaselessly in the brisk eastern wind.

Beneath the locust tree was a circular wooden fence, similarly adorned with numerous red ribbons.

On the red silk, black ink had slightly smudged. They were densely packed with the hopes and wishes of visiting devotees. They prayed for everything: marriage, wealth, peace, health, academic success…

They took up almost all the available space on the fence and the tree.

In a flash, Gu Qichi seemed to understand why Bo Yu had brought him here. He pursed his lips, the corners of his eyes curving upward, a hint of subtle teasing hidden in the depths of his gaze.

Just as he expected, as soon as Bo Yu entered the back gate, he went to the monk in charge and bought a blessing ribbon.

Holding a brush from the monk’s desk, he was currently writing both of their names on it.

Watching Bo Yu’s movements, Gu Qichi teased, “Didn’t you say you were a staunch materialist who didn’t believe in gods and Buddhas? Why are you here hanging a blessing ribbon and making a wish?”

Bo Yu’s hand moved quickly. In an instant, the five large characters for “Bo Yu, Gu Qichi” were elegantly spread across the blessing ribbon, followed by a line of tiny, fly-head-sized characters. Because Bo Yu was blocking it with his hand, Gu Qichi couldn’t see it clearly.

Just as he was about to lean in for a closer look, Bo Yu rolled the blessing ribbon up.

Bo Yu wrapped the ribbon around his hand, glanced at the amused Gu Qichi, and said slowly, “I don’t believe that marriages are predestined by heaven; I only believe that human effort achieves things.”

But what he was doing right now completely contradicted his words, making his statement entirely unconvincing. Bo Yu coughed gently, his tone carrying a rare hint of helplessness. “Today is a Ten-Day Fasting day. My mother used to say that wishes made today are far more likely to be answered than usual.”

Gu Qichi looked up at him. “So you came here today to ask the gods to bless our marriage?”

Bo Yu nodded, his tone uncharacteristically serious. “Wait for me here. I’m going to tie the blessing ribbon to the tree.”

Gu Qichi frowned. “The branches are too high, it’s a bit dangerous. You can just tie it to the fence below.”

Bo Yu shook his head. “No, ours must be tied to the tree.”

He was always overly stubborn about certain things. Knowing he couldn’t persuade him, Gu Qichi dropped his joking demeanor and watched as Bo Yu walked over to the locust tree.

He bypassed the fence at the bottom, stood before the roots, and frowned as he surveyed the tree.

After selecting a spot at a suitable height, Bo Yu finally stopped. He stood on his tiptoes, reaching up as high as he could toward the spot he was satisfied with. Dust from the tree fell down with a smack, but Bo Yu didn’t pause for a second.

Watching his movements, Gu Qichi frowned. Just as he was about to go over and help him, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.

“Do you know why he insists on tying that silk ribbon so high up?”

Gu Qichi turned his head, following the source of the sound, only to find a kind-faced and remarkably vigorous old man standing behind him to the right.

He was wearing a plain monk’s robe and had a tall stature. His energetic spirit seemed entirely inconsistent with his age.

But judging by his attire, it was easy to guess that the other party was a monk from this temple.

Gu Qichi took a step back, nodded respectfully to the other party, then shook his head in response. “I’m also here for the first time, so I’m not too clear on the specific customs here.”

He paused for a moment, his tone sincere. “Could I ask you to enlighten me on the reasoning behind it?”

The old man smiled amiably and brushed a speck of dust off Gu Qichi’s shoulder, offering him the explanation. “In our temple, it’s not just the wishing shrine that is effective; this marriage tree is no less potent. But just as the wishing shrine has its rules, the marriage tree naturally has its own customs.”

“Our predecessors said that the higher the blessing ribbon is hung on the marriage tree, the closer it is to heaven. And the closer to heaven it is, the easier it is for the heavens to see the wish, which naturally increases the chances of it coming true.”

“It would be one thing if he were wishing for something else, but what the marriage tree is most effective for is the affection and destiny between two people…”

No wonder Bo Yu refused to tie the red silk to the fence and insisted on making the effort to climb higher.

Gu Qichi nodded in understanding.

During the time he spent talking with the old man, Bo Yu had finally reached his desired spot and securely tied the blessing ribbon to a branch.

He even tugged on it several times to make sure it wouldn’t fall.

Gu Qichi stared at him, terrified he might slip and fall.

More than half of his face was buried in his scarf. The winter wind was always bitingly cold, especially up here on the mountain. His face had long since turned red from the freeze.

In the distance, the blessing ribbons rustled loudly in the wind, their trailing ends fluttering wildly. At a glance, it looked as if the thousand-year-old locust tree had caught fire in mid-air. In an instant, the thousands of red blessing ribbons on the branches could easily be mistaken for raging flames.

The sinking sun dipped toward the west, its golden-orange glow dyeing the entire sky. It merged with the swaying “flames” on the mountain, creating a dazzling, blinding spectacle.

“Child, you share a deep affinity with this place.”

While Gu Qichi was lost in thought, the old man spoke up again out of the blue.

Not understanding what the other party meant, he slowly let out a confused “Ah?”.

Before he could say anything else, the old man looked at him closely, his eyes and brows crinkling with a smile. “If the heart is sincere, the heavens will answer. The wish he made has already come true.”

Gu Qichi was left thoroughly baffled by his words. Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask what he meant, he saw the old man gracefully take a few steps back and begin walking toward the front hall.

He didn’t speak to him again.

His voice was swallowed up by the howling wind, but Gu Qichi still heard it very clearly.

“Once the dust settles on everything, remember to come back and fulfill your vow…”

On the other side, Bo Yu finished tying the blessing ribbon, dusted off his hands, and strode over.

When he drew near, the crisp scent of his cologne lingered at the tip of Gu Qichi’s nose, and the chill of his palms pressed against the side of Gu Qichi’s neck.

Gu Qichi didn’t pull away, compliantly letting Bo Yu use him for warmth.

Bo Yu cupped his face, asking with amusement, “Who were you just talking to?”

Gu Qichi shook his head again, the smile in his eyes simple and bright. “I don’t know him either. He seemed to be a master here.”

His eyes clearly reflected Bo Yu’s image—his hair blown messy by the wind, his deep, striking features, and a gentleness on his face that couldn’t be concealed.

Gu Qichi unwound half of the scarf from his own neck and wrapped it twice around Bo Yu before continuing, “He said that the wish you wrote up there has already come true, and told us to come back next time to redeem your vow.”

Bo Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing in the direction the old man had left, and merely smiled.

It’s probably just another new trick the temple uses to coax donation money out of people, he thought.

But it was better to believe it than not. Tossing in some extra incense money was no big deal—he’d just treat it as buying some good fortune.

Far away, Bai Heng, the wage earner slaving away at the Bo Consortium, received an instruction from his boss after a long absence.

The content was exceptionally simple and crude. Translated, it meant: Donate 50 million in incense money to the temple on Yuling Mountain. Bo Yu is embracing Buddhism.

Bai Heng, the wage earner, looked bitterly at the mountain of documents piled on his desk, then glanced at his computer screen where the two husbands were flaunting their affection as if no one else existed. He shed tears of bitter resentment.

Bai Heng logged onto his burner account and issued an angry roar in the live stream: “Despicable and heartless capitalist!”

No one in the bullet comments paid him any mind. Everyone was frantically and obsessively shipping the couple.

[Bo Yu is so smooth, he deserves to have a wife [Crying] Did anyone clearly see what he wrote?]

[Didn’t see it clearly, and the cameraman didn’t dare get closer. Besides, that tiny line of text Bo Yu wrote, I wouldn’t be able to read it even if it were shoved in my face. [Emoji Bye Bye]]

[Didn’t see clearly +1, but it must be some super cheesy couple stuff.]

[This dog of a man, it’s one thing to hide it from us, but why hide it from his wife too [Husky Emoji]]

[Carrying his wife up the mountain on his back, then taking him to the marriage tree to personally tie a blessing ribbon and make a wish… he’s so romantic [Crying] Real married couples are the best to ship. Compared to this, the other pairs really bombed the “This Little Thing Called Romance” task.]

[I originally thought it was romantic for Best Actor Han to take Han Li back to their university to reminisce about their youth, but now I think Bo Yu is the absolute master of romance.]

[The ‘Yu Qin Gu Zong’ super topic has started deciphering it again. They’ve figured out the three characters for ‘Never Separate’ now. I have to say, when it comes to shipping, you guys are leading the pack. Even Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wasn’t as meticulous as you.]

[Speaking of which, it seems like the day after tomorrow is Gu Qichi’s birthday! I really want to know what birthday present Bo Yu prepared for him.]

[Damn it [Going Crazy] Starting tomorrow, they’re switching to recorded broadcasts. I’m going to go crazy without the live stream [Going Crazy]]

[Where is the production team?! I have money, change it back to a live stream!!!]

[@Wen Xi @Wen Xi, Sister Wen Xi!!! I know you’re there. At the very least, you have to hold a live stream with the fans for Chi Chi’s birthday, otherwise, the Firmiana Trees will wither [Heartbreak]]

Wen Xi, who was secretly lurking in the live stream, jumped in fright when she suddenly saw her name.

But Bo Yu had started planning Gu Qichi’s birthday proposal three months ago; there was no way Wen Xi could just butt in.

Fortunately, Bo Yu was somewhat considerate—he had invited her and Luo Qianqian to travel to City X to celebrate Gu Qichi’s birthday together.

……

When the two of them left, it happened to be the final moment before the sun set.

The golden light slowly sank below the mountain peaks, and the clouds spread out. The noisy tourists had dispersed, replaced by a completely deserted silence.

Atop the stone steps, the old man who had chatted with Gu Qichi earlier was standing at the highest point, watching the two figures descend the mountain.

He was holding the hand of a little child with round, wide eyes, who asked in confusion, “Master, do you know that pretty older brother?”

The Abbot shook his head, a smile in his voice. “I don’t know him.”

The child grew even more confused. Scratching his smooth, bald head, he muttered softly, “If you don’t know him, why did you talk to the older brother?”

Hearing his words, the Abbot looked up toward the mountain peak and unhurriedly led his little disciple back into the temple. As he walked, he muttered to himself, “The Buddha says, it cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken…”

…………

…………

…………

During the recorded broadcast the next day, the production team didn’t rush them to set off immediately. Instead, they assigned the two of them to different rooms to record a new teaser trailer.

Since this recorded episode would be broadcast on a major satellite TV network, unlike the previous live streams, the production team needed to cooperate with the network to edit together a teaser trailer.

This time, the two swapped locations. Bo Yu went to the room Gu Qichi had previously used for recording, and Gu Qichi went to Bo Yu’s room.

To be honest, Gu Qichi had never actually stepped foot in this bedroom.

The reason was much simpler than one might imagine: this guest room was the one originally intended for him to sleep in.

Using the excuse that the renovations would take a long time, Bo Yu had completely eliminated the possibility of Gu Qichi sleeping here.

After the room was finally finished, Gu Qichi was too lazy to even check it out. He was perfectly content nesting in Bo Yu’s room for a good night’s sleep and had long since tossed the matter to the back of his mind.

Entering the room now, he wasn’t quite used to it.

The bedroom had indeed been renovated entirely according to his aesthetic tastes; living here would probably have been quite nice.

“Teacher Gu, we are about to start recording now.”

The accompanying PD’s voice abruptly interrupted Gu Qichi’s train of thought. He lifted his eyelashes, sat down on the sofa, and accepted the question card the production team had prepared in advance.

[Please recall your first meeting.]

“First meeting.” Gu Qichi read the phrase aloud, rubbing his thumb against the task card, unable to stop himself from recalling how Bo Yu had been that day.

Outwardly cold and ascetic, but in reality, he had acted like a wild puppy, leaving marks all over him as if claiming his territory.

Gu Qichi smiled, the corners of his eyes curving slightly, his under-eye bags puffing up as he spoke slowly, “The first time we met was at a banquet. My situation at the time wasn’t great because I had run into some unsolvable trouble. Right at that moment, Bo Yu happened to appear there.”

“He was very good-looking,” Gu Qichi narrowed his eyes, tossing the task card aside. He glanced at the recording camera, his tone filled with undisguised praise. “The kind of good-looking that perfectly hits every single one of my aesthetic preferences.”

The director and the staff present chuckled upon hearing this. The PD even teased, “Teacher Gu, if you were to set aside Boss Bo’s face, would you still be willing to marry him?”

Gu Qichi shot him a sidelong glance, his tone pausing slightly. “…I can’t set it aside.”

He chose to be honest.

After all, no one could refuse Bo Yu’s face. Oh, and Bo Yu’s body is also really nice, Gu Qichi thought with lowered eyes.

The topic was quickly diverted, and he continued to recount the details of his first meeting with Bo Yu. However, Gu Qichi definitely couldn’t say exactly what happened later.

He couldn’t exactly tell everyone on camera that he and Bo Yu had a passionate one-night stand that very day.

So, he had to gloss over it quickly, focusing the narrative on their subsequent encounters.

Things went smoothly on Gu Qichi’s end, and Bo Yu’s side was no exception.

The moment he received the task card, Bo Yu’s brow furrowed unconsciously, then smoothed out again.

The directing team intentionally staggered the timing. After gathering some information from Gu Qichi’s side, they reminded Bo Yu, “Teacher Gu’s answer over there was a bit too vague. You need to describe it in detail.”

The camera’s viewfinder was focused on Bo Yu, and the director waited eagerly on the sidelines to record, wanting to hear exactly how Bo Yu had helped Gu Qichi solve his trouble.

The man sitting on the sofa straightened his posture and lowered his eyelashes, masking the emotions in his eyes.

“The first time we met was in Country Y.”

He gave an answer that was completely different from Gu Qichi’s.

---

Author’s Note:

Bo Yu: Wifey, if you set aside my face, would you still like me?

Chi Chi: …I can’t set it aside (just kidding).

Bo Yu: [Sad Puppy.JPG]

Chi Chi: But you have many other good qualities!

Bo Yu: [Puppy Wagging Tail.JPG] Like what?!

Chi Chi: Broad shoulders, long legs, and a great waist. (whispering)

Bo Yu: Understood. It turns out my most outstanding feature is my body.