TBWE Chapter 7

Broken Incense

“So, you had a nightmare two days ago, and when you woke up, you saw Huo Xiu staring at you like he was possessed by a ghost?”

Soothing music flowed through the café. Xin Tong swallowed a bite of strawberry mousse and looked at Chu Li with an expression that said “you were just confused from sleep.”

Chu Li absentmindedly poked at the cherry cake in front of her. The bright red juice mixed with snow-white cream reminded her of her previous nightmare, and she instantly lost her appetite, pushing it away.

“Something like that… There happened to be lightning at the time, and I also saw many shadows in the room. Like vines, they were everywhere—on the walls, floor, ceiling.”

“Wait a moment, let me ask my friend at the hospital.” Xin Tong bit her spoon and bent her head to type. After a while, she looked up and said, “She says that since you just recovered your sight, seeing things blurry or having distorted light and shadows is normal. It was late at night with no lights on, just lightning flashing by—it’s normal to see things wrong.”

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunlight was perfect, and well-dressed pedestrians came and went. This was the commercial center of Leyang District.

Shadows of varying lengths covered the ground.

Was it really a mistake?

But that scene was too clear—she couldn’t forget it no matter what.

The young man’s handsome face was half snow-white, half immersed in darkness. His expression was full of concern, but his eyes stared straight ahead without moving, like a monster wearing human skin.

“…Li Li, Li Bao!”

A hand waved several times in front of Chu Li before she snapped back to reality. “Ah? What were you just saying?”

Seeing her distracted state, Xin Tong couldn’t help but sigh. “I said, let’s go to a temple later to burn incense and pray. We’ve been having too much bad luck lately. You fell into water and say you’re seeing ghosts, I got in a car accident—so let’s go pray together and ward off the bad luck.”

****

Next to the commercial center was a cluster of ancient-style old buildings. After government planning, it was named Yongle Square. The bluestone alleys led in all directions—it was Hai City’s cultural landmark.

Taiqing Temple was hidden in an inconspicuous corner. The temple interior was simple and serene, housing the Three Pure Ones, with a sense of finding tranquility amidst the bustle.

Chu Li hadn’t expected there to be a Taoist temple hidden here.

“My classmate said this place is very efficacious.” Xin Tong pulled her into the main hall to burn incense.

There were few worshippers on a weekday. Chu Li held three sticks of incense, bowed respectfully, and sincerely prayed for those chaotic hallucinations to quickly disappear and return her peaceful life.

Light smoke curled upward. She steadily inserted the incense into the burner, then donated money with Xin Tong to the merit box, feeling much lighter at heart.

The two linked arms and left the main hall.

Xin Tong: “Now that your eyes are better, when do you plan to get engaged?”

Chu Li shook her head. “Let’s wait a while longer, until Dr. Chen says my condition has stabilized again before holding the ceremony.”

“That’s right.” Xin Tong snorted, “I thought it was too early before. You haven’t even graduated yet—what’s the rush with engagement? I really don’t know what he’s so anxious about. And you too, you shouldn’t have agreed so quickly. I always feel… never mind, never mind. Anyway, major life decisions should be carefully considered.”

Seeing her hesitate to speak, Chu Li lightly patted her. “If you have something to say, just say it. I hate it most when people say half and hide half.”

Xin Tong’s expression was somewhat complex. After struggling for a while, she spoke. “Li Bao, do you know why I’ve never liked him?”

Chu Li joked. “Because he and I are going abroad together?”

Green trees provided shade in Taiqing Temple, with occasional bird calls.

“That’s not entirely the reason. To be fair, he treats you quite well and is attentive in every way.” Xin Tong’s steps slowed, “But from the first time you brought him to meet me, I felt he was somewhat fake.”

Chu Li frowned. “Fake?”

“I don’t know how to describe it. Sometimes the way he looks at you is strange.” She thought for a long time and uttered two words. “Like a snake.”

“It’s as if he’s not really this kind of person but insists on pretending to be gentle. But since you’ve known each other since childhood and are neighbors, I figured you definitely understand his character better than I do, so I never said anything.”

Chu Li was momentarily dazed.

The former Huo Xiu was solitary and taciturn. After he went abroad, they had lost contact.

They met again two years ago, during her summer vacation after high school graduation. By then, he had already completed his studies early and obtained his diploma, taking over part of the Huo family business and returning to China to expand the market.

When they met again, Huo Xiu had become a gentle and composed young man, very much like his brother Huo Li.

She naturally had a favorable impression of this type of man.

At that time, something had happened to the Chu family. She couldn’t quite remember the specifics—it seemed there was conflict at home, and in a fit of anger, she had moved out.

It was Huo Xiu who helped with the move and comforted her emotionally. He was also the first to discover that her mental state was problematic, caring for her day and night without rest.

Getting together was natural and logical.

Chu Li couldn’t find any fault with him.

A person hurrying by accidentally bumped into the distracted Chu Li, nearly knocking her over.

The person reacted quickly and caught her wrist in time.

“What’s wrong with you? Don’t you watch where you’re going?” Xin Tong brushed away that hand and protected Chu Li. She was tall with rather heroic features, and when angrily questioning someone, she had quite an imposing presence.

The young man wore a baseball cap, had fair skin, and when he smiled, looked refined and handsome. His gaze briefly lingered on Chu Li’s wrist. “Sorry, I was in a hurry and didn’t see clearly. I’m really sorry.”

After apologizing, he hurried away. Xin Tong glared at his retreating figure and said irritably, “Such a wide path and he still manages to bump into someone. What a nutcase.”

After this commotion, the two lost interest in continuing to explore Taiqing Temple and prepared to head home.

Chu Li sighed. “This temple isn’t efficacious. Right after praying, we continued having bad luck.”

“I think so too… Should we try another one? I heard the one at Baiyun Mountain is also efficacious.”

They muttered and whispered for a while. Just as they were about to step out of the temple gate, a voice called from behind.

“You two, please wait.”

The Taoist priest who caught up wore a gray robe, had a long beard, and graying hair. He looked somewhat like a sage. He handed them two talismans folded into triangular shapes. “These are for keeping safe—everyone who burns incense gets one.”

Chu Li and Xin Tong exchanged glances, both feeling a bit awkward.

They had just said the temple wasn’t efficacious, and immediately after, the temple’s Taoist priest came to give them talismans. They wondered if he had heard them.

“Thank you, Master.” She reached out to accept them and politely thanked him.

A thin red string encircled her fair wrist, with a copper coin dangling from it.

The Taoist priest glanced at it twice and smiled. “Miss, where did you get what you’re wearing on your hand?”

“My parents gave it to me. I’ve worn it for many years.”

The Taoist priest nodded thoughtfully, said nothing more, and smiled as he watched them leave the temple.

After seeing off the worshippers, he returned to the main hall and saw three sticks of incense in the altar’s burner, all broken in the middle. His expression was unreadable.

****

After leaving Taiqing Temple, Chu Li and Xin Tong took a taxi to Baiyun Temple, which was also rumored to be very efficacious.

This was a famous Taoist temple in Leyang District. Even on a weekday, worshippers came in an endless stream.

They queued to burn incense, each drew fortune sticks, and listened to the Taoist priest interpret the fortunes. The interpretations were all good words that made them feel cheerful.

Huo Xiu’s company had partners visiting today, and the meeting would end at six o’clock. He would drive to pick them up.

He first dropped Xin Tong off at home, then took a route without traffic jams to go home.

Chu Li’s phone case was semi-transparent. Huo Xiu glanced at the slightly bulging phone case and that hint of yellow, smiling. “What did you pray for?”

“For safety and good fortune.” She began complaining. “We’ve been having such bad luck lately. Tong Tong and I first went to a small Taoist temple in Yongle Square. Right after praying for good fortune, someone bumped into me as we left. We felt it wasn’t very efficacious, so we went to this one.”

Huo Xiu’s smile disappeared. He pulled the car over to the side, leaning over from the driver’s seat. “Where did you get bumped? What kind of person was it?”

He checked her thoroughly from head to toe, gripped her wrist, and stared intently for a moment, slowly frowning.

“You’re as nervous as Tong Tong. I didn’t fall or get hurt—it was just someone passing by who accidentally bumped into me.” Chu Li gave him a reproachful look and raised her hand to push him. “You can’t park here. Drive away quickly.”

Unexpectedly, this playful push sent Huo Xiu falling back into the driver’s seat.

Chu Li was stunned, then saw that his hand had a small purple-red mark, like it had been struck by a heavy object or burned.

“I didn’t use any force…” She put down her phone, pulled his hand over to blow on it, and gently rubbed it. “Did my phone hit you?”

Huo Xiu looked down at the phone lying on Chu Li’s lap, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. He nimbly withdrew his hand. “It’s nothing, doesn’t hurt.”

The black Bentley started again, gliding like a fish into the traffic flow.

Chu Li stared blankly, rubbing her fingertips. The icy touch still lingered.

When she had just rubbed Huo Xiu’s bruise, that small patch of skin seemed to be ice-cold.

Her phone screen lit up, showing a message from the class group.

Chu Li suppressed her doubts and picked up her phone to read carefully, when her palm was suddenly burned.

She had stuffed the peace talisman the Taoist priest from Taiqing Temple gave her into her phone case.

At this moment, the edges were slightly blackened and burning hot.

Chu Li suddenly turned her head.

The car’s interior light was on. Under the light, Huo Xiu’s profile was three-dimensional and distinct. Even the shadow cast by his gold-rimmed glasses was just right. His fingers were slender, and when gripping the steering wheel, it was pleasing to the eye. That small bruise didn’t affect his handling of the wheel.

Noticing the intense gaze, he slightly turned his head. Behind his glasses, his eyes smiled warmly as he asked softly, “What’s wrong, Li Li?”

The burning sensation of the peace talisman seemed like an illusion—it was only momentary, and now it had returned to calm.

Chu Li sat in the passenger seat, her knuckles white as she gripped her phone. Outside the car window, the smooth highway stretched endlessly, with unceasing traffic. The last rays of sunlight sank below the horizon as dusk fell.

A subtle, omnipresent sense of eeriness enveloped her. Cold sweat gradually soaked her back.

“It’s… nothing.” She heard herself speak calmly.