At these words, Hua Manman subconsciously turned to look at the spot where she had just knelt.
So the voice she had heard just now hadn’t been her imagination.
System: "You and he are from two different worlds to begin with.
Even if you risk everything to return to the ancient past, you might not end up with him in the end."
A gentle breeze swept by, swaying the wishing plaques on the branches and causing the red silk ribbons to flutter.
From the distance came the long, drawn-out toll of a bell.
An endless stream of worshippers milled about around her.
Only Hua Manman stood rooted to the spot, completely still.
After a long while, she finally spoke.
"You’re not the System. Who are you?"
She had been with the System for so long that they knew each other very well.
At first, the System was just a tool that only executed tasks according to its programming. Later, it gradually developed various emotions, becoming more and more like a living person.
But the "System" currently in Hua Manman’s mind was more like a lofty being, looking down upon the world and all its creatures.
The System’s voice gradually became ethereal and distant.
"I have no name.
I exist neither in the past, nor will I appear in the future.
If you insist on giving me a title, you may call me the Main God."
Hua Manman had already anticipated this outcome, so she appeared quite calm.
"I’m so honored to have you descend in person."
Main God: "I am very curious.
Just what kind of person could make the System itself change its stance?
This has never happened before."
Hua Manman: "Well, now you’ve seen for yourself, haven’t you? I’m just an ordinary person, nothing more."
Main God: "You are indeed more ordinary than I expected."
Hua Manman: "You didn’t come all this way just to confirm how ordinary I am, did you?"
Main God: "I want to confirm your wish one last time."
Hua Manman: "I’ve already told you. My wish is to return to the time with Li Ji and Li Xun. I want to be reunited with my family."
Main God: "I don’t quite understand you humans’ logic.
Li Ji and Li Xun are your family, but are your parents not your family as well?
Even if your parents wronged you in the past, they have already repented.
They will spend the rest of their lives making it up to you.
Your past will be healed, and your future will be bright.
Isn’t that a good thing?"
Hua Manman could clearly sense that the Main God didn’t want her to return to the ancient past.
"You’re not thinking of backing out, are you? Can a Main God go back on their word?"
Main God: "It’s true that I don’t want you to return to the ancient past, but I never go back on my promises. As long as you insist, I will honor my commitment."
Hua Manman relaxed slightly. "That’s good."
The Main God reminded her, "You still haven’t answered my question."
Hua Manman: "You just said that Li Ji and I are people from two different worlds.
For people who originally belonged to different worlds to cross time and space, meet, and fall in love...
...isn’t that the best possible arrangement of fate?"
The Main God was silent for a long time before finally speaking in a faint voice.
"But in the end, fate tore you apart. Your love did not come to a happy conclusion."
Hua Manman: "Separation is just part of the process, not the final result.
The wheel of fate is always turning. Sooner or later, we will meet again.
Don’t you agree?"
The Main God couldn’t disagree.
Because it had promised Manman it would send her back to the ancient past.
A promise must be kept.
The Main God suddenly chuckled. "I’ve discovered you’re not so ordinary after all."
Hua Manman replied politely.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Song Yixian walked out of the Great Hall, a new string of Buddha Beads and a fortune-telling slip in her hand.
She smiled happily. "I just drew a fortune for Hua Yusen. It’s an excellent one! The monk who interpreted it said the surgery will be very successful."
She then handed the Buddha Beads to Hua Manman.
"I just got these Buddha Beads. They’ve been blessed. Wearing them will ward off evil and keep you safe."
Hua Manman slipped the Buddha Beads onto her wrist. "Thank you."
"Let’s go back."
"Okay."
Before leaving, Hua Manman glanced back one more time at the spot where she had been praying.
Someone else was already kneeling on the prayer cushion, praying for blessings.
But Hua Manman still remembered what the Main God had said.
It said that Li Ji was in a similar place, doing the same thing.
’So Li Ji came to burn incense and pray to Buddha, too?’
’But hasn’t he always disbelieved in gods and Buddhas?’
The Main God’s voice sounded again, its tone tinged with a hint of pity.
"He didn’t believe in gods or Buddhas before because he felt there was nothing in this world he couldn’t solve on his own.
Now, he has tasted the bitterness of being separated by death.
He understands that life and death are matters in this world that he is powerless to influence.
He can only turn to the gods and Buddhas for help."
Hua Manman tore her gaze away and walked down the steps.
As she passed the Wishing Tree, the hanging red silk ribbons brushed lightly across the top of her head.
The Main God’s voice carried a tempting power.
"If he had never met you, he would not have tasted the pain that love brings.
In a way, you are the source of his suffering."
Hua Manman: "That’s why I once hesitated and struggled.
I didn’t dare let my heart be moved; I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to be with him for the rest of our lives.
But in the end, I still fell in love with him.
Even knowing the outcome might not be good, I still wanted to try, like a moth drawn to a flame.
I suppose that’s the ’fate’ you mentioned earlier, isn’t it?"
For a moment, the Main God was at a loss for words.
Hua Manman gave a light smile, pulled open the car door, and slipped into the passenger seat.
Once she fastened her seatbelt, Song Yixian started the car and drove back toward the City Hospital.
The next morning, Hua Yusen’s surgery began as scheduled.
The surgery was a great success.
The tumor in his brain was successfully removed.
What followed was a long recovery.
Hua Manman got a psychologist’s contact information from Wang Shiye.
Once Hua Yusen had mostly recovered physically, Hua Manman took him to see the psychologist.
At first, Hua Yusen was quite resistant to seeing a psychologist. Although he never said anything, he would become exceptionally quiet every time they went to the clinic.
After several visits, Hua Yusen gradually accepted the reality of his mental illness. On his psychologist’s recommendation, he signed up for a dessert-making class and joined a club for astronomy enthusiasts.
He gave the first cake he made by hand to Manman, asking her to try it.
He and the friends he made at the club also took their equipment and drove out of town for some stargazing.
He now had his own hobbies and circle of friends. His worldview expanded, and he no longer needed to rely on violence to vent his pent-up frustration.
Hua Manman opened the picture of the night sky that Hua Yusen had sent her.
Against the pitch-black curtain of night, the galaxy shone brilliantly.
It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight, one that could never be seen from the city.
Putting her phone away, Hua Manman lay down on her bed. She couldn’t help the hope that bloomed in her heart. ’I hope I can see Li Xun in my dreams tonight.’
But she quickly changed her mind.
The last two times she had seen Li Xun in her dreams, he had been in danger.
She didn’t want Li Xun to face danger again.
’So it’s better if we don’t meet again.’