Chapter 646: A Million Times for You (8)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
An Xiaoning did not sleep peacefully that night.
Nun Jingxin really did appear in her dreams, making An Xiaoning feel overjoyed even during her sleep.
During the dream, Nun Jingxin was still the same as when she was alive, and so was her tone.
Just like the elderly lady mentioned, Nun Jingxin gave her a nod of approval regarding the matter of An Xiaoning becoming her protege.
She thought that it would be a good idea for An Xiaoning to further her skills and abilities.
It was already daybreak by the time An Xiaoning woke up.
She took a look at her watch to discover that it was already past six o’clock in the morning.
Days were shorter and nights were longer during the winter. She decided to get out of bed since she was no longer sleepy.
After washing up, she sat by the dressing table to put on some makeup. Lin Mingxi, too, woke up soon after.
Lin Mingxi moved her body upwards and leaned against the headboard. Staring at An Xiaoning, the sleepy-eyed Lin Mingxi asked, “Why are you up so early?”
“It’s already past six o’clock. Keep sleeping for a while longer if you’re still tired,” An Xiaoning answered, looking at her reflection in the mirror while drawing her eyebrows.
“I’m not going to sleep anymore. It was snowing so heavily last night, there must be plenty of snow outside, enough to build a snowman,” said Lin Mingxi as she lifted the duvet and got out of bed.
“Go downstairs and build one then. I’ll go down once I’m done with my makeup.”
“Wait for me, I’ll go back to my room to change and freshen up.” Lin Mingxi then skipped out of the room merrily.
An Xiaoning finished doing her makeup soon. By the time she was standing on the snow with some tools for building a snowman, Lin Mingxi was still yet to come downstairs.
Thus, An Xiaoning began piling the snow on her own with the shovel. A few minutes later, Lin Mingxi came forth together with Gu Beicheng.
“Xiaoning, let’s compete and see who can build the best snowman in the shortest possible time,” Lin Mingxi suggested.
“But whoever completes it in the quickest time will still lose if his or her snowman is the uglier one. I think we should compete for the best-looking snowman. How will the winner be rewarded?” An Xiaoning asked while squatting on the ground.
“He or she shall be rewarded with a kiss.”
An Xiaoning stood up and looked at Gu Beicheng while smiling. “Did you see that? Your wife keeps wanting to take liberties with me after sleeping with me last night. Aren’t you going to take her in hand?” she jested.
“If she falls for a man, I’ll definitely beat her into a pulp. But if her lover is a woman, how am I supposed to intervene? I think I’ll cry for a long time instead,” Gu Beicheng answered.
Staring at the couple, An Xiaoning said, “If my snowman turns out to be the best-looking one, you two shall treat me to some hotpot tonight. I’m sure Beicheng knows which restaurant to go to for the best hotpot in town since he’s a glutton. If I lose, I’ll treat you guys instead. You’ll pick the place.”
That was not a reward at all…
Gu Beicheng smiled and said, “You make it sound as if I don’t already treat you to meals regularly…”
“Aren’t we just playing a game? The process is the most important. What matters is we have fun,” said An Xiaoning, blinking her eyes.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
An Xiaoning took a long time to build her snowman. However, she did not build a typical snowman and instead sculpted the balls of snow into the figure of a young lady.
She used the vegetables that she had brought to decorate her snow sculpture, giving it a nose, mouth, a pair of eyes, and eyebrows. It looked incredibly realistic.
On the other hand, Lin Mingxi built an unsightly snow sculpture that looked nothing like a snowman at all. As expected, she lost.
However, the three of them thoroughly enjoyed themselves and even took several pictures together while standing in front of their masterpieces.
They then proceeded to have breakfast after having had their fun.
Recalling the petty argument Gu Beicheng and Lin Mingxi had last night, An Xiaoning mocked, “You two are really something. You actually slept in separate rooms all because of an argument over the heater.”
“In hindsight, it was indeed a little petty and childish… it was merely a trivial matter,” said Lin Mingxi, turning to look at her husband.
“This is life, I guess.”
An Xiaoning tied her hair up into a bun, revealing her bright and clean forehead.
She was dressed in a long, feathered jacket with a scarf wrapped around her neck and a pair of black boots on her feet. She looked extremely eye-catching.
“Do you have any idea who you’d like to cast as the male and female lead for the upcoming television drama?” An Xiaoning asked Lin Mingxi.
“Beicheng thinks you should take on the role as the female lead,” Lin Mingxi answered while scooping some porridge into her bowl.
“Me?” An Xiaoning questioned, pointing at herself. “I’ve never thought of casting myself in the role.”
“Why not? I think the female lead’s character is very similar to yours. I’ve read the script, it’s marvelous. If you plan to film a seamless drama, then you have to pay attention to every detail, especially the casting of the actors. There shouldn’t be any flaw or blunder in that,” Gu Beicheng said while eating slowly.
“Of course the drama has to be an excellent piece of work. Otherwise, Mingxi and I wouldn’t have invested in it. Since we’ve decided to join the filming production, we ought to make it the best. I’m not interested in starring as the female lead, but I’ll pick an actress who’s closely similar to the main female character.”
“I’m not as good as you when it comes to judging people. You shall decide who to cast for the main roles and I’ll just take a brief look at the candidates you’ve chosen.”
An Xiaoning agreed with a nod, “Alright, I’ll make a trip down to the theater arts academy when I’m free.”
“I think you should hire a famous and capable male actor for the main role,” Gu Beicheng suggested.
“I think so too. The male lead has to be suave and charming enough. I’ve decided to cast a newbie for the female lead,” An Xiaoning agreed.
After breakfast, An Xiaoning drove toward Beijia Bay.
This was her second visit to the elderly lady’s home.
The elderly lady was not surprised at all to hear that she was agreeing to become her disciple. “Follow me inside.”
The elderly lady led the way while An Xiaoning followed closely behind her.
They entered the ritual room.
Beside the praying mats laid a small wooden table, on which there were necessities for the acknowledgment ceremony, which were prepared beforehand.
“Seems like you’ve already gotten everything ready beforehand.”
“That’s because your mentor also visited me in my dreams last night. How rare of her to bury the hatchet and allow me to take you as my disciple. Well, you belong to the same clan as us anyway. Some skills just can’t be leaked to outsiders. Being able to keep it within the clan is something worth celebrating as well.”
“Oh, I see,” said An Xiaoning, staring at her in astonishment.
“We’ll just hold a simple acknowledgment ceremony.”
“Sure.”
An Xiaoning was familiar with the procedure since she had gone through a similar ceremony when Nun Jingxin first took her under her wing.
An Xiaoning knelt down onto the praying mat and kowtowed thrice to the Buddha statue before saying earnestly, “I, An Xiaoning, shall formally become the apprentice of my new master, Nun Jingyu. To my dear ancestors and deities, please be the witness of this ceremony where I sincerely take Nun Jingyu to be my master. A teacher for a day, a mother forever. Nun Jingyu will forever be my mother.”
An Xiaoning then picked up the incense stick from the wooden table and walked toward the high altar, after which she lit up the incense stick and placed it inside the joss urn.
She then bowed thrice.
The elderly lady helped her up and said, “From now onward, I’ll be your mentor. The very fact that you can’t read your own fortune is Heaven’s way of telling you that you’re not invincible — you may be able to read others’ fortunes and even help them alter their fate, but you can’t make any changes to your own. But I’m sure you’re aware that committing more kind deeds will definitely help improve your luck. Since you’ve acknowledged me as your mentor, I shall hereby emphasize that moral ethics come first in fortune-telling. You’re not to commit any unethical deeds, but, of course, exceptions can be made when it comes to defending yourself against those who do evil to you.”
An Xiaoning straightened her back and said, “I have a lot of things I’m going to be busy with. I’m afraid I can’t stay by your side all the time, Teacher.”