True Love Waits

"Oh, I can't make any promises! It depends." Evelyn's smile was as beautiful as a blooming white orchid, instantly warming Sheffield's heart.

They continued to walk deeper into the forest and just when Evelyn thought that there was nothing more ahead, a high arched door appeared in front of them. The words "Temple of Dharma" were engraved on it with large letters.

According to Buddhist beliefs, Sangharama Bodhisattva and Skanda Bodhisattva were regarded as the two protectors of Buddhism temples. Sangharama Bodhisattva was the right guardian and Skanda Bodhisattva was the left guardian.

Evelyn glanced at Sheffield and snickered. "Are you really going to become a monk?"

"Yes, I am disillusioned with love," he said, pretending to be serious. In fact, Sheffield wasn't even aware that there was a temple so deep inside the woods.

Evelyn giggled, deeply amused. "You? A monk? You can't even control your lustful desires."

Sheffield put his hands together and pretended to look devout. "Oh female benefactor, the truth is, I had been disillusioned with love, up until the moment I met you. You are the only reason I can't insulate myself from the world of love! Amitabha. Form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form."

'Has he finally lost his mind?' Evelyn wondered. "Seriously? Have you been practicing in secret so that you can speed up the process of becoming a monk?"

"Yes, if you dump me and marry another man one day, I will become a monk. But if you come to regret marrying someone else, you can come here to find me! For you, I will be willing to return to the secular life."

Evelyn couldn't take anything of what he had just said with any seriousness. She simply laughed and said, "Mr. Tang, you quoted the Heart Sutra of Buddhism, but do you even understand what it means?" "Of course, I do." Sheffield wasn't happy about being belittled.

Evelyn couldn't stop laughing, but when she remembered that they were in a sacred place, she straightened her back and looked at Sheffield in a serious manner. "Tell me, what do those words mean?" Sheffield put his hands down and said, "Listen to me carefully! 'Form' means substance and phenomena, like the things we see, hear and feel. 'Emptiness' means immaterial. It appears easy to understand, but difficult to really comprehend the meaning."

Soon after, they saw a man, who looked like the abbot, coming over their way. The temple was small and relatively remote, which was why very few people visited it on ordinary days, let alone on lunar December 30th, the day before New Year. Upon seeing them, the abbot walked to them with great enthusiasm. "Amitabha! Are you going inside to worship?"

politely and then Sheffield asked Evelyn, "Now that we're here, shall

Evelyn nodded.

her hand and said to the abbot, "Yes, we're going

"Amitabha, please come in!"

Evelyn had showed some interest, he decided to go along with the moment. They walked

pray with her eyes closed. Then he whispered to the Buddha in his heart, "Buddha, I'm Sheffield Tang. The woman next to me is Evelyn Huo. Please let her become my wife. If you bless me with this gift, I will renovate this temple and make a generous donation. If

into the

Sheffield bowed down

behind the hall, which

first, but then something dawned upon him and he dragged Evelyn along with

confusion. "Do you want to buy

more inclined to believe in Buddhism, he

they came out of the temple, they met the abbot again. "Amitabha, are you leaving? The road back can be very slippery in this

smiled and waved his hands at them. "Don't forget to redeem

said Sheffield. After all, if his wish were granted, he would worship the Buddha in every festival. However, the fact that this old monk

thought of it excited

already getting dark, but the people inside the Huo family manor were still

here? You all went easy on him and now what did he do? It's Lunar New Year's Eve. He tricked Evelyn into going out with him and he still

new year, and she was just replying

a lot more relaxed. It was a nice change of

in the Huo family. "What's so outrageous about it? Evelyn is also celebrating the festival." Debbie pursed her