Chapter 15: Wherever the Moonlight Shines, There Lies Home

Lin Shenlu did not mention that today was the first time she had heard this song, nor did she say that she had gone to the bar in the afternoon specifically to learn it and memorize its name.

An Muxi didn’t ask Lin Shenlu how she felt about the song or how she knew it.

In An Muxi’s mind, for such an obscure song—so obscure that almost no one knows it—for Lin Shenlu to like it, she must be someone similar to herself, sharing something in common.

Perhaps just because of this, An Muxi found Lin Shenlu much more agreeable.

“Dali is so beautiful,” An Muxi turned around, hands behind her back, fingertips touching, speaking softly.

In this moment, An Muxi was no longer the aloof, unapproachable woman.

Lin Shenlu’s instincts didn’t deceive her.

Those five words, “Dali is so beautiful,” spoken just now, were a sigh after letting go of her disguise and defenses—a heartfelt sigh from deep within.

Lin Shenlu smiled, “It’s only the first day. The beauty of Dali is still ahead. Trust me, there’s always more beauty in the world waiting for you to discover. Keep your eyes open; don’t overlook everything and everyone around you.”

She paused, then asked earnestly, “Let me ask something I probably shouldn’t—did you come here with something weighing on your mind?”

An Muxi was startled but didn’t reply.

“You know you shouldn’t ask, so don’t ask.” An Muxi’s expression returned to normal, but quickly relaxed again.

“I don’t want to think about unhappy things. I came here to be happy. Once I entered Dali’s borders, nothing in the world has anything to do with me,” An Muxi said, breathing deeply.

Lin Shenlu laughed.

Indeed, this woman’s heart wasn’t so easily unlocked.

Lin Shenlu was clever, and clearly so was An Muxi.

Clever people least like dealing with other clever people.

…

“Come, follow me.” Lin Shenlu patted An Muxi’s shoulder.

With that, Lin Shenlu cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone.

“To hell with work! To hell with life! I want freedom!” Lin Shenlu shouted toward Erhai Lake.

Behind them, several guesthouses with voice-activated lights were startled into illumination…

Lin Shenlu didn’t care, picked up a stone and hurled it hard into the distance. It landed far away, making a splash and sending ripples across the lake.

An Muxi stared in disbelief…

“Are you sure?” An Muxi asked.

“Of course. It’s the best way to let go of frustration and vent your feelings—feels amazing!” Lin Shenlu nodded.

Picking up a second stone, Lin Shenlu waved it in front of An Muxi.

An Muxi slowly let her guard down.

She chose to trust Lin Shenlu.

A bit awkwardly, she cupped her hands around her mouth.

“To… hell…”

“Oh, I can’t shout it out…” An Muxi deflated.

“Then try a different way!”

Lin Shenlu was excited—dragging a good girl into mischief was thrilling.

“Different how?” An Muxi asked curiously.

“Well… for example, ‘to hell with his father… to hell with your uncle!’” Lin Shenlu didn’t finish before An Muxi interrupted—

“Your uncle! Are you cursing me?” An Muxi shot Lin Shenlu a glare.

“Hey, that’s it! I wasn’t talking about you. Isn’t it easier to shout those three words?” Lin Shenlu laughed.

An Muxi rubbed her hands. Maybe…

“Let me try…”

An Muxi took up the stance again: “To hell with… your uncle!”

“What about the rest?” Lin Shenlu was surprised.

“The rest? That’s it…” An Muxi smiled.

“That’s it? Isn’t the whole phrase ‘to hell with your uncle’s life, to hell with your uncle’s love, to hell with your uncle’s Kinder Egg?’” Lin Shenlu pressed on.

An Muxi shook her head. “I don’t complain about the world like you do. I’m already… quite comfortable!”

She took the stone from Lin Shenlu’s hand and threw it out forcefully.

“To hell… with your uncle!” An Muxi shouted again.

The stone sent new ripples across Erhai Lake.

“Whew…” An Muxi exhaled deeply.

Just then, someone in the guesthouse behind them called out, “Hey! Why are you yelling in the street at night instead of sleeping?”

An Muxi quickly crouched down…

Lin Shenlu couldn’t help but laugh.

“All right, stand up, no one noticed you…”

An Muxi stayed crouched; Lin Shenlu, curious, squatted down beside her.

Silent, quiet.

“Lin Shenlu, I miss home,” An Muxi whispered.

After venting her emotions, she missed home.

“You’ve only been away a day…”

Lin Shenlu sighed, “Look, the setting sun casts shadows, the moonlight brings the wind, and every encounter is a journey home…”

“Wherever the moonlight falls, it’s home; wherever your feet tread, it’s just the past. Even after weathering all its phases, the stars and moon still shine together for you,” Lin Shenlu comforted her.

An Muxi nodded, wherever the moonlight falls, it’s home.

“I want to go back and sleep,” An Muxi stood up.

The night had deepened; it was getting cold by Erhai Lake.

An Muxi still wore her nightdress and a jacket.

“Can you sleep?” Lin Shenlu suddenly asked.

An Muxi didn’t reply.

“The night isn’t just for sleeping. It’s for insomnia, for thinking, for reflecting on life. That’s why nights are more exhausting than days,” Lin Shenlu said behind her.

An Muxi sighed, but still prepared to leave.

“Even if I can’t sleep, I’ll sleep till dawn, sleep till I wake naturally,” An Muxi said with a smile.

“Instead of loving midnight dreams, learn to love the dawn wind. Tomorrow morning I’ll knock on your door right on time,” Lin Shenlu smiled as well.

“For what?” An Muxi asked, puzzled.

“Morning run!” Lin Shenlu kept pace with An Muxi.

“No way!” An Muxi broke into a jog, Lin Shenlu following behind.

One after the other, they entered the house.

The first-floor lobby was empty.

They went up to the third floor. An Muxi stood at her door, looking at Lin Shenlu a meter away.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

An Muxi opened her door and went in, closing it and leaning against it with her eyes shut.

Of course, she couldn’t sleep.

Leaning against the door for a minute, An Muxi opened her eyes, took off her jacket, and let out a long breath.

Outside the curtains was the moon over Erhai Lake.

An Muxi quietly walked over, drew the curtains open.

She opened the glass door.

Stepped outside.

Stood in the night breeze.

Looked at Erhai in the distance.

From this angle, Erhai was even more dreamy and beautiful.

An Muxi stood quietly, saying nothing, as if lost in thought.

Just a wall away was Lin Shenlu’s room.

“Twilight sells the dusk…”

An Muxi suddenly heard someone speaking from Lin Shenlu’s balcony.

Was that Lin Shenlu’s voice?

“The night sells the stars…”

An Muxi softly called, “Lin Shenlu? Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“You’re still up—what are you saying?” An Muxi asked curiously.

From the other side of the wall, Lin Shenlu replied in a gentle voice, “Twilight sells the dusk, night sells the stars, and I… will gather all my tenderness to meet you at dawn.”