CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 397: DESERVING THE BEST

The two of them couldn’t stop laughing, as if no one knew why they were laughing, but it was just so funny, until Ruby Sullivan’s stomach started to hurt and she waved her hand continuously, "I can’t take it anymore, I really can’t."

Cindy Sterling took a deep breath, "I can’t either." However, when she glanced at Ruby Sullivan who was trying to suppress her laughter, she burst out laughing again.

They went back and forth like this, silly laughing for a long time before they finally calmed down.

Cindy Sterling paused and asked, "Did you have a fight with my brother in the car? I felt like your face looked a bit off after you got out."

Actually, the most obvious one was Seth, but Honey, that cheerful woman, was as happy as always. If she didn’t understand the nephew’s personality so well, she would have thought Ruby Sullivan was upset because of her son.

Ruby Sullivan was a bit surprised by the question, "Was it that obvious?"

"A little bit of absent-mindedness."

Ruby Sullivan raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and felt it wasn’t a big deal, so she straightforwardly said, "It’s nothing, Ethan Sterling’s girlfriend just called him on the way, and I felt a bit uncomfortable, that’s all."

Cindy Sterling blinked, thinking this wasn’t a minor issue at all. She had always firmly believed they were temporarily apart due to some small conflicts and would eventually get remarried. Her brother finding a girlfriend now, how is that not betrayal?

"If it were me, I would definitely smash his phone." After saying that, she thought about it for a moment and felt that wouldn’t be satisfying enough, "Maybe I’d even do a display of affection during the call."

Ruby Sullivan turned to look at the blue sky and said lightly, "I just feel the kids don’t know about this yet. If they find out in this way that their father has a new girlfriend, it will inevitably affect their mood."

"And what about you? Are you alright with it?"

"No standpoint." Because she had no standpoint, she could only remain silent, though even without the kids, she still felt extremely uncomfortable.

She saw Vivian and Uncle Tim coming out with the kids, so she stood up and dusted off her pants, "Let’s go."

Because Uncle Tim was acquainted with the abbot here, after speaking with the managing monk, they were led to a courtyard not open to tourists. Uncle Tim said he had a special gift for the two children.

To everyone’s surprise, Master Valerius was very young, looking like he was only in his twenties, dressed in a beige cassock, with delicate features, very elegant. Although he was very handsome, he gave off a cold feeling, as if he had his own small world, even standing face to face, he seemed like someone from a different world.

Master Valerius was the final disciple of the previous abbot, grew up in the temple, and possessed great insight. After the abbot passed away two years ago, he took over the temple management.

Since Uncle Tim and the previous abbot were great friends, he had watched Master Valerius grow up, so their relationship wasn’t the usual one between an abbot and a pilgrim.

"Uncle Tim," Master Valerius greeted, and the isolated features were instantly touched with a hint of worldly warmth due to a slight smile.

"This is the Vivian and her family I told you about," Uncle Tim, holding Vivian’s hand, introduced them joyfully.

Master Valerius raised his palm, and gently bowed, considered it as a greeting to all, then smiled at the children, "These must be Honey and Seth, our little patrons?"

"Hello, Master." Honey imitated and gave a slight bow, looking at Master’s handsome face, and couldn’t help but beam a bright smile.

As for Seth, he simply returned the courtesy without speaking.

It was Master Valerius’s first time seeing such cute children, and his smile widened. He then asked everyone to sit in the outer hall and wait for a bit before returning to an inner room.

Vivian pinched Uncle Tim’s hand and whispered, "What are you up to?"

Uncle Tim beamed with pride over the situation, "You’ll soon find out."

Soon enough, Master Valerius emerged from the inner room, holding two red brocade pouches, one embroidered with a small peony for Honey and the other with a delicate leaf for Seth.

"These are two Bodhi Seeds for which this humble monk has prayed for forty-nine days and been consecrated, as a gift to our little patrons."

"Thank you, Master!" Honey received the gift, her eyes smiling in happiness, so overjoyed she forgot protocol, until she noticed her brother bow politely in thanks and remembered to do the same.

Afterward, Master Valerius invited everyone to stay for a vegetarian meal, however, Uncle Tim, knowing Honey’s taste for meat, feared she’d dislike the vegetarian food, politely declined, promising to visit another day.

Then, as the group bid farewell to Master Valerius and exited the temple, Seth lagged behind, suddenly saying something to his mom and turning around to run back.

Ruby Sullivan didn’t know what was up, but since her son only said "wait a moment," she didn’t chase after him.

The sun was about to set, and the wind here felt a bit chilly. Worried that Honey might catch cold, Ruby Sullivan asked the others to take Honey to the car while she stayed behind to wait for Seth.

"Where did he go?" Vivian asked.

"Maybe he dropped something," Ruby Sullivan replied with a casual excuse, not knowing why her son left suddenly, "You all go, I’ll go check."

"Let’s go together." Though Vivian felt cold, she was also reluctant to stay behind alone.

"No need, there are so many of us, we’d fill up their small room." Recalling the earlier scene, Ruby Sullivan felt it might cause inconvenience if everyone went in.

"Yes, let’s go," Uncle Tim decided.

"Go find Dad." Ruby Sullivan told Honey.

"I want to wait here with mom for brother."

"The wind here is too cold; if you catch a cold, it won’t be good, and it might spread to your brother," Ruby Sullivan gently coaxed, "Go find Dad."

Honey reluctantly went to find her dad.

Ethan Sterling held his daughter’s hand and advised before leaving, "Call if there’s anything."

"Okay," Ruby Sullivan replied softly, then headed towards the room they had visited earlier.

However, she didn’t enter. After seeing the others walk off, she found a spot where the setting sun was shining and remained standing, waiting.

On the other side, Master Valerius was surprised to see Seth return, asking, "What’s wrong?"

Seth had run so fast that he stood at the door panting for quite a while before speaking, "Master, can I give this Bodhi Seed to my mom?"

Master Valerius, thinking Seth was expressing filial piety, was touched by the seriousness on Seth’s face, despite being an orphan found by the previous abbot who grew up in the temple with less longing for parents, "What’s yours is yours, but I’m willing to give another to your mom. Do you know your mom’s name and birth date?"

"I know her name, and her birthday... I’ll go ask!" After saying this, Seth quickly turned around and ran out, spotting his mom standing in the sunlight, enveloped in a layer of light, incredibly beautiful.

A mom like this deserves the best, whatever it may be.