Chapter 312 The temple

“The medical standards there are higher; if you go, the treatment might be more effective.”

Her grandmother paused for a moment. To be honest, she had never left her village in her entire life, let alone visited another city.

She’d heard that the capital was a bustling metropolis, far more vibrant than this place.

Everyone wants to venture out, to go to better, more bustling places to see the world.

But she was getting old; she didn’t yearn for those things. She just wanted to tend to her own little plot of land and live out the rest of her days in peace.

Lately, she’d felt her body growing weaker day by day.

Perhaps it was because of the two surgeries she’d undergone, or perhaps it was simply old age, her body was gradually giving out.

She didn’t know when she might pass away, it could happen suddenly.

Grandma fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly. “Lana, Grandma knows you’re doing this for my own good. But won’t taking me to the city for treatment cost even more money?”

“I’m doing just fine right now. I’ll just stay here, follow my treatment plan, and wait to be discharged. You don’t need to go to all that trouble for me.”

Alana took her grandmother’s hand, her beautiful features radiating sincerity.

“Grandma, but going to the city will be more effective for your treatment. I also hope you’ll recover as soon as possible, stay healthy, and live a long, happy life.

Money isn’t an issue. I just want you to be well.”

Grandma smiled. “Silly girl. I’m doing just fine right now? As long as I stay here and follow the doctors’ orders, everything will be fine. Don’t worry, I’m looking forward to seeing you get married.”

Alana felt a pang of sadness. “Grandma...”

Seeing Alana’s reaction, Grandma had a hunch. Having watched her grow up, how could she not know what was on her mind?

“Tell me the truth, are you secretly hoping to go back to the city with your boyfriend?”

Alana bit her lip. “No.”

Grandma patted her hand. “Don’t lie to Grandma. I can tell. If you want to go back, just go. Don’t worry about me. I’ve come through the surgery safely now, what else could possibly happen? Besides, you can’t stay with Grandma forever. You have your own life to live, and so does he. You can’t put your own lives on hold just for my sake.”

Alana shook her head. “I still think staying with you is more important.”

Grandma sighed. “Oh, you silly girl.”

Alana thought to herself, So be it if she was silly.

Grandma was getting old, and she didn’t know how much longer she could be with her.

She just wanted to spend as many days with her as she possibly could.

Grandma had taken care of her since she was a child; now that she was grown up, it was her turn to take care of Grandma.

Stephan had been listening at the door and had heard enough; he slowly walked in.

“Grandma, actually, I was planning to take Lana back to meet my parents to discuss things. This might take some time. If you could go with us for further treatment, Alana wouldn’t have to make the back-and-forth trips, which would save a lot of trouble.”

Hearing this, Grandma looked at Stephan in surprise. “Is that why?”

Stephan nodded. “Yes. I want to marry her as soon as possible, I’m not just saying this.”

Grandma understood. “So that’s the reason.”

She looked at Alana, both exasperated and amused. “You silly girl, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Alana kept her head down, too embarrassed to speak.

Stephan walked over to Alana, patted her on the shoulder, and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, don’t worry about the medical expenses in the city, I’ll cover them all.”

Upon hearing this, Grandma immediately shook her head. “But... how can I let you cover all of that? You’ve already done more than enough for us.”

Stephan said earnestly, “This is nothing. From now on, we’re family. It’s only natural for family to help one another.”

Besides, he was genuinely grateful to Grandma.

He was grateful that she had raised Alana to be so wonderful, gentle yet strong.

Grandma’s eyes welled up with emotion. “You’re such a sweet man...”

Alana blushed and seized the moment to say, “Grandma, just agree to it. Give him a chance to prove himself.”

Grandma thought to herself, now that she’d said that, she couldn’t very well refuse.

After all, she couldn’t possibly stand in the way of her granddaughter’s happiness.

She nodded. “All right, I agree.”Grandma hasn’t been to the capital either, so this is a good chance to go take a look.”

Hearing Grandma’s agreement, Alana and Stephan couldn’t help but exchange a smile.

However, when Miranda and the rest of the relatives found out about Grandma’s plan to go to a hospital in the capital for treatment, their first reaction was to refuse.

After all, medical expenses in the capital would be much higher.

But once they learned that Stephan would cover all the medical expenses, they readily agreed.

After all, it wasn’t coming out of their pockets, so they figured Grandma could go to whichever hospital she wanted.

Besides, they’d never even been to a big city like the capital.

Now, they could see that Stephan was truly wealthy, and not just moderately so.

They figured that since Alana had married such a wealthy man, they might be able to get a little something out of it too.

After all, they were family.

Surely Alana wouldn’t just fly up to the top of the tree and become a phoenix, only to forget about her relatives?

After all, they’d known her since she was a child; she couldn’t possibly be so heartless and ungrateful.

And so, the decision to transfer Grandma to a hospital in the city was finalized.

Stephan even arranged a private jet, planning to have Grandma fly to the city on the private plane.

When Miranda and the other relatives heard that Stephan even owned a private jet, they were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Goodness gracious, they’d never even had the chance to fly on a plane.

This man actually owns a private jet, just how much money, wealth, and status does he have?

They hadn’t seen much of the world and dared not even imagine it.

Arranging a private jet takes some time.

During the few days Stephan stayed on, the family treated him like a prized piece of meat, going out of their way to flatter him.

They brought him tea and poured him water, practically treating him like a deity.

Even toward Alana, they were all smiles and deference.

Day after day, they kept repeating how they were all one loving family, trying to brainwash Alana.

Alana ignored it all.

When she was struggling, they had mocked and scorned her, eager to keep their distance.

Now that she was doing well, they were all fawning over her. The speed of their changed behavior was unbearable to her.

After shaking off those shameless and clingy relatives, Alana turned to Stephan and said, “By the way, Stephan, before we leave, I want to take you somewhere.”

Stephan asked, “Where?”

Alana gave a mysterious smile. “You’ll find out once you come with me.”

Soon enough, Stephan would find out exactly where Alana was taking him. It was a temple.

And it’s a temple with nine hundred and ninety-nine steps.

Stephan recalled that Cole had once boasted to him that Alana had climbed a temple with 9,999 steps to get him a string of sandalwood prayer beads.

Could this be the very one standing before them?

Alana led him to the temple entrance and said earnestly, “Stephan, I remember I promised you I’d get you a string of sandalwood beads for good luck. Since I’m back here, I want to get you a set.”

“I’ve heard this temple is particularly powerful. As long as you make a sincere wish from the heart, the deities inside will grant your wish.”

Stephan shot Alana a glance. “That’s clearly superstition, unrealistic and nihilistic. You actually believe in that?”

Hmph. Just thinking about how this woman had once sincerely prayed for a string of beads for another man made him furious.

Alana pouted. “I’ve also heard that if a couple comes together and sincerely prays for a pair of sandalwood beads for each other, vowing to stay together for a lifetime, they’ll be together forever, until they grow old, until death do them part, and remain together through life and death.”

Stephan’s expression immediately softened. He took Alana’s small hand. “Come on, let’s go inside and get a set together.”

Her expression changed in an instant.

The temple wasn’t large, but it was well-maintained, and many people came every day to burn incense and pray.

Alana and Stephan bought incense outside the gate. At every Buddha statue, they lit incense and earnestly made wishes from the bottom of their hearts.

Finally, they each received a string of sandalwood beads and placed them on each other’s wrists.