Chapter 490: Boys Change Dramatically at Eighteen
"Please wait, both of you, may I take a look at the necklace the lady is wearing on her neck..."
Cecilia Vaughn turned around in astonishment, her eyes meeting an elder with graying temples dressed in a red and yellow robe. The elder had white hair and beard, yet his eyes were sharp and astute, even more vigorous than those of some young people.
Indeed like an eminent monk from the outside world.
...
Cecilia hesitated for half a second, then lowered her head reluctantly, only to see a corner of her Purple Moon Charm necklace revealed during her hike, and the light-colored white dress she wore today allowed the deep purple color of the pendant to be seen in the sunlight.
"Monk, are you calling us?"
Cecilia frowned, looking at him in confusion and instinctively grasped Adrian Law’s hand, her gaze towards the white-haired monk not as friendly.
Cecilia never believed in ghosts and gods; were it not for director Arthur Chapman of "There are branches on the mountain" favoring to host the opening ceremony at Sage’s Mercy Temple, she wouldn’t have come to worship at the temple.
She suspected this sudden interception by a kind-looking, high-and-mighty-looking monk was nothing but a scam to extract money.
Cecilia had seen such tricks many times; back when her mother Wendy Sutton was alive, she also liked to believe in Buddhas and frequent temples, where those pretending to be enlightened monks would emerge and target her, pointing out ominous signs and predicting great disasters.
They persuaded Wendy to donate a lot of incense money, claiming with their temple’s Buddha’s blessing, calamities could be averted.
Wendy had a kind heart and was easily swayed, fearing disasters. Under coaxing, she spent thousands of dollars and left a good jade bracelet there.
She never retrieved it.
...
Cecilia was young then; now older, she was reluctant to settle accounts with those so-called monks. Looking back, Wendy had likely lost over tens of thousands there.
Could this monk, seeing her and Adrian well-dressed and looking decent, plan to mimic those fraudsters and urge her to donate the necklace?
One cannot be too guarded; Cecilia, with her vivid imagination, watched him with caution.
"Miss, I..."
Seeing him about to speak, Cecilia quickly interjected, showing herself as hard to deceive.
"Master, if you intend to say I have ominous signs on my forehead, you should at least come up with some decent phrases. Also, if you’re going to ask my husband and me to donate incense money and place the necklace at your temple for blessing and disaster prevention, then save your words."
The white-haired monk couldn’t help but find it amusing, seeing Cecilia clearly determined not to be fooled.
He simply shifted his gaze and looked at Adrian beside Cecilia.
"Young man, it’s been several years, and you’ve grown so much; how have you been?"
The elderly monk’s gaze carried a trace of benevolent empathy, somewhat showcasing a halo of sacred virtue.
Unfortunately, Cecilia was completely unimpressed by this; she hesitated and tugged at Adrian’s sleeve.
"Do you know him?"
"No." Adrian shook his head directly.
"I have never been to Sage’s Mercy Temple."
Not even once.
...
"Definitely a fraud!"
Cecilia glared angrily at the monk, ready to tug Adrian’s sleeve and leave without further conversation.
Until a gentle call sounded from behind.
"You must be the eldest son of the Law Family? It’s normal you don’t recognize me. Do you remember your mother once..."
The elderly monk’s words reached her ears, causing Cecilia to hesitate and turn around. Although Adrian often remained elusive in social circles, if someone truly wished to inquire about him, knowing his appearance wouldn’t be impossible.
After all, Adrian not only wasn’t common-looking but was distinctly handsome.
...
"Cecilia, wait..."
Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly; he gazed at the white-haired monk, a furrow appearing on his brow, making one want to smooth it out.
"Are you Master Serenus?"
Serenus?
Why did this name sound somewhat familiar?
Cecilia froze for two seconds; her mind swiftly raced, suddenly recollecting something.
"Are you the current abbot of Sage’s Mercy Temple?"
She looked at him in surprise; unfamiliar with the figures of Buddhism, she naturally wouldn’t recognize the appearance of the temple’s abbot. However, the name Serenus had been constantly mentioned by tourists since she got off the plane.
Everyone only spoke of how reputable, impressive, and divine this monk was, her ears had nearly grown calluses listening to it, thinking it was just people exaggerating.
After all, a person’s piety can be as blind as their vision.
...
"Serenus is my ordained name."
The self-proclaimed Serenus, the white-haired monk, nodded to Cecilia and Adrian, his expression empathetic, nodding again to Adrian.
"I’ve seen a portrait of you with your mother before, for she has clearbright eyes and a fine bone structure; it’s apparent she’s no ordinary person. Coupled with the necklace worn by the lady here, that’s why I boldly approached you."
Cecilia was taken aback, wondering if Master Serenus wasn’t lying. Then the portrait he saw of Adrian would have been of a boy, roughly ten years old. It’s said women change drastically growing up, and it’s the same with men!
Moreover, a necklace alone, seeing it from a distance, could it truly stir such distant memories?
...
Cecilia pondered secretly, recalling how this monk once declared the Purple Moon Charm to be inauspicious. Adding to it, he mentioned Adrian was meant to be with Rosalind White, who saved him; her impression of this master was far from favorable.
"Abbot Serenus, you have quite a memory."
Cecilia twitched her lips, half-smiling.
Seeing Cecilia still full of disbelief, treating him like a charlatan, Master Serenus didn’t show any anger, only smiling slightly, nodding again to Adrian and Cecilia.
"The humble monk unexpectedly meets the child of a former acquaintance, melancholy fills me; whether you believe or not, the humble monk wishes to give a reminder."
"That necklace... it’s indeed an ominous item; I hope both of you stay away from it. If you can destroy it, it would be best and help you avert misfortune and seek fortune. Having said that, feel free to deliberate."
Adrian held Cecilia’s hand, politely nodding in farewell to Master Serenus.
"Thank you for the reminder, Abbot, but this was an item my mother entrusted to me before she passed away. Seeing it reminds me of her, I dare not lose it and fear to waste the Master’s kind intentions."
"Cecilia, let’s go."
"Alright."
...
Master Serenus watched their departing figures for a long time, recalling an astonishingly beautiful face in his mind, ultimately letting out a sigh.
"If it’s a blessing, it’s not a disaster; if it’s a disaster, it cannot be avoided..."
So be it.