A Film Queen of Two Worlds
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Chapter 211 Stephanie’s Apprenticeship
Anthony and Jonathan were over the moon, crowding around Milly with broad smiles. “Wow, Milly, you’re truly something special!”
“Did you catch what the Master said? You’re nobility, and nobility has its own path! I always had a feeling Milly was no ordinary person!”
Caught off guard, Milly could only offer a forced smile, unsure how to handle the flood of compliments.
But then why the divination stick was blank?
Is it possible that fate, as the monk hinted, is already set in stone?
Meanwhile, Stephanie couldn’t help but feel bitter. The divin
tick she thought was promising now
felt like a bad joke. Assuming it was a positive omen, only to be met with a blank slate!
Ugh!
Xavier, who was close by, watching over her, looked concerned. “Stephanie, don’t listen to that nonsense. A blank divination stick means nothing; no one knows if it’s good or bad,”
His attempt to comfort didn’t clear Stephanie’s troubled look, but she forced a smile.
“Xavier, you’ve got it wrong. The nature of the divination stick, good or bad, is fixed. I’m not upset. Finding out Milly is of noble blood made me happy for her. After all she’s been through, Milly deserves some good fortune.”
Xavier sighed, his voice filled with sadness and affection. “Stephanie, you’re always so caring and generous, even towards people like Milly, who never return the favour. It’s going to get you hurt.”
His comment was tinged with a hint of sadness.
Indeed, Stephanie always puts others first, even going as far as defending Milly, who didn’t care about their sisterly bond and pushed her down the stairs, which is an act of pure naivety.
Being family, Milly should have treated Stephanie fairly. Instead, she chose to play dirty and mistreat her, completely losing Xavier’s respect and earning his disdain.
Stephanie could feel Xavier’s growing dislike for Milly, precisely what she was aiming for. A subtle smirk appeared as she glanced at Milly, thinking, The real show is about to start!
The ancient rituals of the Burnetts and Tates lasted two days, complete with overnight stays in the temple and evening sessions led by the monks.
Milly was sitting on a cushion holding a Buddhist scripture, feeling entirely out of her depth.
In her college entrance exam, the language section was the biggest hurdle; the only points she lost were in that area. Now, she was involved in ancestral ceremonies, needing to interpret traditional texts!
Was I doomed to be haunted by ancient scripts in a past life?
After what felt like forever, just as Milly was about to drift off, the sound of the wooden fish stopped. Master Karuna stood up, bowed respectfully, and announced, “Honoured guests, tonight’s session has
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Chapter 213 Stephanie’s Apprenticeship
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Milly let out a sigh of relief, stretched her neck, and was about to get up when someone’s clear voice stopped her.
“Master Karuna, the scripture you shared was thought–provoking, but I’m struggling to grasp its deeper meaning. Could you maybe explain it a bit more and answer some questions?”
Milly was shocked.
She looked frustrated towards Stephanie, who was sitting next to her. Seriously, did she always have to be the centre of attention?
With class almost over, why drag the lesson probably frowned upon it.
in any regular school, her classmates would have
Yet, Master Karuna seemed genuinely delighted and warmly said, “Amitabha, go ahead, dear lady.”
Stephanie intertwined her fingers and began calmly, “As the Buddha said, names are made up by us, and what we see comes from our thoughts. Everything in this world is basically an illusion. If your mind doesn’t budge, nothing does. If your mind doesn’t change, nothing changes. But then, the Buddhist teachings also say that cause leads to effect, and our minds shape everything. These ideas seem to clash, and I’m stuck wondering which one to follow.”
Master Karuna looked pleasantly taken aback by Stephanie’s solid grasp of Buddhist teachings, his eyes twinkling with approval.
After pondering briefly, he said, “The mind can create and dissolve various phenomena. Sticking to one path is unnecessary as it’s against the natural flow.”
Stephanie’s eyes lit up with understanding, and she clasped her hands. “Amitabha, thank you, Master Karuna.”
Master Karuna nodded approvingly, saying, “Amitabha, nicely done. It looks like you’ve got a solid grasp on the Buddhist scriptures, which you don’t see every day.”
Stephanie replied with a gentle smile, “My grandfather’s belief in Buddhism had me fall in love with the scriptures since I was little. But I often feel my knowledge isn’t enough. Meeting you today, Master Karuna, is sheer luck. I’m eager to learn more.”
“It might be tough continuing your studies away from the temple,” observed Master Karuna, his respect for Stephanie growing.
“Amitabha, you’re always welcome to ask for my guidance on Buddhist teachings,” he offered.
Stephanie responded with gratitude, “Thank you, Master Karuna, but…
She hesitated before saying, “I’ve tried to meet you before but was told you’re too busy, which was disappointing.”
Master Karuna looked slightly embarrassed, realising he might have overlooked his duties.
A young monk beside him said, “Master, weren’t you considering taking a lay disciple? Ms. Stephanie seems to strongly connect with Buddhism; she might be a good fit.”
Stephanie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Really? Becoming your disciple would mean a lot for my scripture studies. It’d be a dream come true to learn from you.”
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Chapter 213 Stephanie’s Apprenticeship
Master Karuna initially hesitated since Lotus Temple had not accepted female disciples.
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Seeing his hesitance, Stephanie earnestly said, “Master Karuna, my love for the scriptures and Buddhism is profound. It would be a great honour to learn under your guidance.”
Master Karuna sighed. Well, he hadn’t expected a secular woman to see so clearly. Now, seeing this young lady’s deep interest in the scriptures and her fondness for Buddhism, she seemed to have some affinity with it. “If you’re truly committed to the Buddhist way, we’d be honoured to have you.”
Stephanie beamed with joy. “Thank you, Master. I’m all in for this journey as your disciple.”
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