The Seven Sorrows of Life

The next day, early in the morning.

As soon as Lin Hanxing opened the door, she saw a man sleeping at her doorstep. All she could see was that he had both his hands stuffed into his trouser pockets and one of his legs was slightly bent. His eyelashes fluttered as though he had heard something.

The deep abyss of his pupils appeared momentarily unfocused—it looked like he was still deep in his slumber. However, Lei Xiao’s eyes returned to their usual indifference very quickly.

“Why are you sleeping here?” Lin Hanxing asked.

‘Had he been outside my door the whole night?’ she wondered.

“Every time you get mad, you get Uncle Dumb to toss me outside. This time, I decided to do it myself!”

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Lei Xiao stretched out his muscles and showed no signs of tiredness. At that moment, Lin Hanxing had no way to refute him!

“You tossed and turned till quite late last night,” Lei Xiao said as he stretched out his hand to touch the top of her head, ruffling it as one does to a small child.

“It looks like you didn’t sleep too well…”

Lin Hanxing’s eyes twitched but she did not deny it. Her sleeping pattern was terrible. If she could get three hours of sleep in one night, it would be considered good.

When he saw that Lin Hanxing did not speak but instead lowered her head, Lei Xiao’s gaze softened subconsciously.

“Pack up your things.”

All of a sudden, Lin Hanxing spoke up. Lei Xiao was stunned. Was she planning to kick him out?

“I’m going to stay at Tea hill tonight. Uncle Dumb will send the things over later.” Lin Hanxing added another sentence very quickly.

“There’s nothing worth packing up,” Lei Xiao replied in a serious tone as he tried to make sense of what she said.

Lin Hanxing stared at Lei Xiao but still, she did not say more.

“Where are you going?”

As he noticed that she looked as though she was about to leave, Lei Xiao blocked Lin Hanxing’s path.

As soon as she saw his body language that seemed to say ‘as long as you don’t tell me, I’m not going to let you go’, Lin Hanxing felt torn between laughter and rage.

“Come with me if you want but don’t ask questions,” Lin Hanxing said simply and did not bother to explain herself.

…

The road leading up the hill was small and tortuous.

On the first and fifteenth day of each month, the usually deserted small road would look different compared to normal days.

Lin Hanxing silently walked ahead. Lei Xiao followed behind her in silence as well.

Since she did not allow him to ask questions, naturally he did not enquire further into it.

At the end of the road, there was a temple.

The scent of incense was always strong and cloying throughout the year, perhaps because the Mengsong people were particularly devoted followers of Buddha.

At the entrance stood seven giant dragon statues.

The seven dragons represented the

seven sorrows of life

which were birth, aging, illness, death, grievances, separation from love, and unfulfilled desires.

It was obvious that Lin Hanxing was a frequent visitor of this temple.

As soon as she entered, a young monk walked over and led her to the other side of the main temple hall. There were clearly fewer people there.

All this while, Lin Hanxing had still not uttered a word.

To enter the main temple hall, one needed to remove their shoes.

Lin Hanxing quietly completed a series of actions before she slowly knelt before the gold-plated Buddha statue in the center of the main temple hall.

Lei Xiao stood watching her by the door. Her slender wisp of a figure appeared even tinier within the large temple hall.

The morning light shone in slowly from the other end.

The golden light made even the dust specks appear as though they were also gold-plated. This was also true for Lin Hanxing who was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue.

Her entire being looked like it was enveloped in a godly light. Her soft and slightly wavy hair draped across both her shoulders. Her bright white skin looked like exquisitely carved jade. Her slender fair fingers were clasped together and she looked humbly sincere beyond compare as she bowed before the Buddha statue. Silently she knocked her head against the ground.

An inexplicable sense somehow made Lei Xiao feel extremely upset.

He had seen many sides of her.

Whether it was calm, anger, disdain, teasing, or taunting, and many more…

He had never seen one like this that could move his heart like this!

Perhaps it was Lin Hanxing’s sincere piety…

It made Lei Xiao who had never believed in God, take off his shoes and walk toward her…

1. Seven Sorrows or Suffering of life is a Buddhist concept-dukkha/duhkha. The Buddhist tradition focuses on developing insight into the nature of duḥkha, the conditions that cause it, and how it can be overcome.