She Comes Into My Dreams Every Night - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Don’t Believe Roadside Sales Pitches

“Did you study art?” Su Huaiwang asked her in the hallway leaving the art gallery.

“…” Fragmented memories offered no answer, so Lin Jue finally replied, “No.”

Fortunately, Su Huaiwang rarely doubted her, only laughing: “Then you might have a talent for art. I don’t. I can’t feel anything about those works except that they’re genuinely beautiful.”

“Then perhaps I should find time to learn.”

“Sure, it’s easy to find painting tutorials online now.”

“Could you teach me? If you have time.”

“Me?” Su Huaiwang pointed to herself, slightly surprised: “While I did learn art, I’m just a dabbler.”

“The most important thing about painting is enjoying it. With a friend accompanying you, it should be much happier than painting alone.” Here, Lin Jue paused, her eyelashes drooping slightly, giving her a delicate, pitiful look: “If I paint by myself, I don’t know if I can stick with it…”

“That’s true, it’s hard to stick with painting alone.” After her parents stopped forcing her to paint, she rarely touched the easel. But she always felt that Lin Jue should be different from her.

Although Lin Jue claimed not to have studied art, the scrutiny and passion in her eyes when looking at the works on the wall were impossible to miss.

Su Huaiwang hesitated for a moment: “I guess I could teach you, but I only know the most basic things. If that’s okay…”

“Of course, it is!” Lin Jue’s face immediately broke into a dazzling smile. Su Huaiwang was utterly charmed and kept nodding, “Mhm, mhm…”

After leaving the art gallery, both were in high spirits. Once in the car, Lin Jue naturally asked:

“Where’s the next stop?”

“Baiyang Temple.”

Lin Jue’s hand, fastening the seatbelt, froze.

Su Huaiwang was busy checking the navigation, distractedly saying: “I heard this temple is quite effective. Is there anything you want to wish for?”

“I have nothing to wish for,” Lin Jue lowered her head, securely fastened the seatbelt, and masked the look of sarcasm in her eyes: “What about you? Are you going because there’s something you want to wish for?”

Su Huaiwang’s finger on the screen stiffened momentarily. She replied a bit awkwardly: “I also… don’t have anything specific I want to wish for. I just saw on social media that it’s a famous check-in spot…”

She couldn’t possibly tell her wet-dream partner that she wanted to beg the gods and Buddhas to give her peace, seal her desires, and stop having sacrilegious dreams!

“Then let’s go take a look.” Lin Jue chuckled, the meaning unclear, but Su Huaiwang, preoccupied with her embarrassment, didn’t notice the strangeness.

The car quickly started, following the navigation and traffic. Buildings gradually became sparse, and the temple, built against the mountain, revealed itself.

Even on a weekday, there were quite a few cars in the temple’s parking lot, showing its popularity.

Lin Jue followed Su Huaiwang out of the car, looking at the glittering realm of gods and Buddhas before her.

The light was too dazzling, forcing her to squint. Su Huaiwang, unable to see the golden light, thought she was bothered by the sun and quickly pulled an umbrella from her bag.

With a pop, the sun umbrella opened. Su Huaiwang moved closer to her, sharing the shade.

“Thank you, I can hold it.” Lin Jue offered, but Su Huaiwang refused: “No need, I’m taller. It’s only for a moment, we’ll be inside soon.”

“Okay.” Lin Jue nodded.

Stepping over the temple threshold, a fluctuation flashed across Lin Jue. That look of sarcasm involuntarily reappeared on her face.

She was a Grudge Spirit, not an Evil Spirit. The realm of gods and Buddhas couldn’t stop her; it only made her more resentful.

That black, resentful aura shrouded her brow, making her otherwise exquisite and pure face appear gloomy. On the other side, Su Huaiwang folded the umbrella, sneezed, rubbed her arms, and looked up at the sky: “Why does it suddenly feel so cold…?” The sun was still out, wasn’t it?

Right after she said this, the coldness vanished, as if it had only been her imagination.

“It might be because we just got out of the air-conditioned car. You’ll be fine in a moment,” Lin Jue said lightly, her amber eyes returning to a clear hue.

“True, one shouldn’t constantly blast the air conditioning.” Su Huaiwang didn’t pay it much mind and walked towards the main hall.

The main hall was huge and majestic. The statues of gods and Buddhas were covered in gold leaf, looking down on all beings with pity and compassion. Anyone standing between the massive statues felt small and frail.

Su Huaiwang sighed: “Although I don’t believe in gods or Buddhas, coming to these religious places always feels very impactful.”

“Mhm, me too.” Lin Jue also looked up at the deities, but her few words were deeply meaningful.

Not believing in gods and Buddhas was the right approach. Gods and Buddhas never saved people.

Lin Jue clenched her hands, her nails almost digging into her flesh. The formless deity met her gaze, and the compassion in its colorless eyes made her feel nauseous.

There was a spirit residing in the statue. The spirit was silent but possessed a discerning heart, wanting to caress Lin Jue’s head with its broad hand, but she refused. So instead, it reached out to virtually touch Su Huaiwang’s head.

Su Huaiwang was completely oblivious, and Lin Jue made no move to stop it.

Gods and Buddhas only favored those who were without malice. To be blessed by its touch meant several months of good fortune afterward, which Su Huaiwang deserved.

In Lin Jue’s vision, the golden-glowing hand gently touched Su Huaiwang’s head, yet Su Huaiwang was still innocently looking around. She had to admit, despite her annoyance at the spirit’s impertinence, the scene was rather endearing.

So, Lin Jue crossed her arms and took a step forward: “You’re going to be very lucky for the next few months.”

Su Huaiwang’s first reaction was: “Did you pick up a lottery ticket sales job?”

“?” Lin Jue was startled, covering half her mouth as she laughed. Su Huaiwang then realized the absurd thing she had just said. Her entire face felt like it was on fire, bright red.

She accidentally treated Lin Jue like Tu Zhuozhuo…

“I haven’t picked up a lottery ticket sales job…” Lin Jue was still chuckling, the curve of her lips visible past her hand: “I just wanted to tell you that good people like you, when you come here to pay respects, They will bless you.”

“Oh, oh…” Su Huaiwang was extremely embarrassed, hiding her face, unwilling to look at her, and could only vaguely assent.

“That’s right, what this young lady says is absolutely correct.”

A voice came from behind Lin Jue, and the smile on Lin Jue’s face immediately vanished.

She turned around, and Su Huaiwang also looked up. They both looked at the person who had just spoken.

Facing the two pairs of eyes, the person showed no sign of shyness, but instead smiled: “Hello, I am an employee of the organization that runs this temple.” She then pulled out an employee ID to show them.

Su Huaiwang looked at the genuine employee ID, then at the person’s very lush hair, the confusion in her eyes couldn’t be clearer.

“I’m not a nun!” The person also noticed Su Huaiwang’s confusion and quickly explained: “I’m a civil servant! I just happened to be here today!”

Su Huaiwang understood.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but what you were saying was very interesting, so I couldn’t help but chime in.” The person scratched her cheek, looking a little apologetic.

“It is indeed true. Miss, you will be very lucky in the coming months. Make sure to seize the opportunity, okay?” The woman winked at her, smiling heartily.

Su Huaiwang glanced at Lin Jue, then at the “civil servant” who looked heroic and not like a bad person, and asked: “…So where are the incense and candles you want us to buy?”

The woman’s smile froze on her face: “Incense, incense and candles? I, I don’t sell those things! If the two of you want to buy some, the shop to the east sells them…”

“Right,” Su Huaiwang conceded, nodding to herself: “Civil servants can’t run small businesses.”

“I’m really not selling anything, I just met someone who shared the same view, so I was a little curious…” the woman said dejectedly, raising her eyes to briefly look at Lin Jue. The scrutiny in her eyes made Lin Jue feel slightly uncomfortable.

“I remember civil servants are supposed to be materialists, aren’t they…” Su Huaiwang continued to ponder.

Lei Yinyin wanted to beg her to stop talking. Was she studying for the civil service exam to remember so clearly? Heaven knew she was just trying to discreetly check out the beautiful girl next to her, feeling suspicious and wanting to test the waters. Did she have to be so difficult? She thought she had a trustworthy, public-official-type face! Yet, the first thing they did was suspect her of being a salesperson!

After an internal struggle, and with her target remaining completely silent, Lei Yinyin decisively gave up: “Apologies! I have work to do! Gotta go! Have fun!”

With that, she scurried out of the main hall like lightning, leaving Su Huaiwang frowning curiously in place: “What was that about…? What was she trying to sell?”

Lin Jue leaned in, her expression finally relaxing. She smiled and looked up, teasing: “Maybe she was trying to pick you up?”

Su Huaiwang suddenly understood: “Did I ruin her chances?” She subconsciously assumed the person was trying to pick up Lin Jue.

Lin Jue only smiled at this, the colors in her amber eyes wavering: “Is that so? Maybe she was aiming for you all along?”

“Me…?”

“If it were me, of course, I’d rather talk to you.” Lin Jue reached out and lightly touched Su Huaiwang’s pinky finger. It was intimate, a brief touch that felt slightly ticklish.

The tickle spread from her skin to her heart, and Su Huaiwang temporarily stalled. Even though she knew Lin Jue said ambiguous things without any deep meaning, this level of ambiguity… well, it wasn’t the first time, but Su Huaiwang just couldn’t handle it. Her heart thumped wildly, as if it had a mind of its own, following Lin Jue’s words.

In contrast, Lin Jue was as unperturbed as ever. She turned her head, saw the place for hanging prayer plaques, and called out: “It looks like there’s a place for prayers over there. Want to go take a look?”

“Okay, okay.” Su Huaiwang was dizzy from their conversation, her mind frantically searching for “Do straight girls talk like this?” “What does it mean when a straight girl talks like this?”, while her body automatically followed Lin Jue’s steps.

Fortunately, the prayer plaques were free, and no one was trying to sell them anything.

Su Huaiwang chose a plaque that read “All Wishes Come True,” and looked up to find Lin Jue staring intently at her.

“What are you going to wish for?” Lin Jue asked her, her voice gentle as a spring breeze.

“Hmm… many things. I’ll just wish for them all for now. What if they come true?” Su Huaiwang avoided her gaze.

The prayer plaque was hung on the rack. Su Huaiwang closed her eyes and began to list her wishes.

Stop having wet dreams, stop getting aroused, don’t fall for a straight girl, and be good friends with Lin Jue…