Chapter 1626: Reunion with an Old Friend

Chapter 1626: Chapter 1585: Reunion with an Old Friend

The mountaintop temple in the scenic area is built with a simple grandeur. The temple, which began over a century ago, has gradually expanded and passed down through generations, forming a certain scale. For years, people have come here to pray for love, career, peace, and all sorts of things.

Marcus Quinn doesn’t really believe in these things, but he comes with a sincere heart to pay respects, wishing for their harmonious marriage.

However, Athena believes in it a bit more. Over her twenty-some years of life, she has seen great evil and encountered great kindness. Unconsciously, she has come to believe in it somewhat. She sincerely knelt and prayed in front of every main hall, and then drew a fortune stick, asking for a good marriage.

The one interpreting the fortune sticks is an elderly monk. The old monk, frail and thin, has been sitting under the ancient tree in front of the main hall for years, setting up a small table. A long line of people waiting to have their fortunes interpreted extends before him. It is said that the temple’s fortune sticks are quite accurate, so most people come to have their fortunes interpreted here.

However, this old monk does not have a very good temper. Athena watched as he silently looked at several fortune sticks, yet those leaving seemed quite happy. From the quiet chatter of the two people in front of her, Athena understood that the monk seldom explained the fortune sticks. If he says nothing, it means they have drawn a moderate fortune. Only the worst fortunes would get a hint of trouble.

When it was Athena’s turn, the old monk looked at the fortune stick she had drawn and then at her face, furrowed his eyebrows, noticing her calm demeanor and simple attire. He nodded, and for once, spoke: “A scholar’s place for leisure, suddenly encounters someone, white hair yet childlike, smiling fills with spring. An excellent fortune. Do you seek a marriage or career, benefactor?”

“Marriage,” Athena said softly.

The old monk smiled silently; if it’s marriage she seeks, it’s even more auspicious. Her face suggests prosperity in youth, followed by adversity, but now past a major calamity, she is destined for a life of fortune ahead, with a harmonious and prosperous marriage.

“Go, and donate some incense money,” the old monk smiled, saying nothing more, only prompting her to make a donation.

Athena, holding the fortune stick, walked out of the line, saw Marcus Quinn waiting on the side, smiled sweetly, walked over, grabbed Marcus Quinn’s hand, and said: “The old monk told me to donate more incense money. My fortune is probably extremely good; let’s go donate.”

Athena heard the old monk say she would meet a benefactor in her life and believed it somewhat. With such an excellent fortune, their marriage should proceed without any issues.

“Hmm,” Marcus Quinn, seeing her obtain an excellent fortune and smiling sweetly, felt uplifted too. They returned to the main hall, found the monk, and donated ten thousand yuan. The young monk’s eyes widened at the amount, feeling it was quite large. Though there is no upper limit on donations for incense money, most temples at historical sites usually received more donations, yet their small county temple, despite being nearly a century old, usually only receives a thousand or so. This seemingly stern man, who actually believes in Buddha, donated this much money without a word and then left.

The young monk didn’t even have time to call out.

After burning the incense, the two walked hand in hand down the mountain, appreciating the beautiful scenery along the way, and then returned to the holiday village to pack their bags. The next day, they flew to the Imperial City.

Before Athena left, she entrusted the shop matters to Irving Spencer.

Early the next morning, Irving Spencer drove them to Suton to catch their flight, reaching the Imperial City by the afternoon.

Athena had traveled to the Imperial City before, during her senior year of high school, her father took her along while on a business trip here. This was her second visit.

Athena originally thought that Old Mr. Quinn had left Marcus Quinn a small courtyard house. After all, Marcus Quinn only mentioned it as a place to rest. Upon reaching the courtyard and realizing it was within the Second Ring with a three-entry door and two hundred-year-old trees planted in front, she was stunned for a moment.

Marcus Quinn had already opened the door and entered. Inside was a wonderfully designed courtyard space, covering a large area, with leisure stone benches and tables placed in the center. Lush flora and fauna flourished intensely, with covered walkways leading to all four parts of the house.

Athena counted the rooms; there were more than a dozen in total. She immediately tugged at Marcus Quinn and asked, “Is this your place to rest?”

Although she wasn’t very familiar with the property prices in the Imperial City, she had heard her father mention them. During her senior year, if she hadn’t gone studying abroad, she would have attended university in the Imperial City. At that time, her father was inquiring about property prices here. Courtyard houses cost as much as two million yuan per square meter, depending on the location. Later, because she studied abroad, her father didn’t buy a courtyard house.