Chapter 47: The Evening Breeze Is Gentle, But You Are Gentler

“So… today… be my girlfriend, and let me walk the road ahead with you.” Lin Shenlu tried his best to keep his tone calm, hoping this would be a natural confession.

An Muxi gently raised her head, gazing at Lin Shenlu. This time, there was not a hint of surprise in her eyes; once cold and distant, her gaze had become incomparably gentle.

A shimmer of tears welled up in those flickering eyes.

At that moment, Lin Shenlu no longer hesitated.

He softly leaned in.

And kissed An Muxi.

…

Did I… manage to steal that moment?

…

An Muxi lifted her head slightly as the song in the café abruptly ended.

A new melody began to play.

The hands of the clock pointed to twelve.

A new day had begun.

“How bright the weather is today…
How fresh the air feels.
There’s a touch of happiness in the air.
I can’t recall exactly when I met you,
The first time I saw your photograph,
How interesting life became.
I find myself thinking of you,
Only you by my side.
Perhaps there’s a hint of emotion,
Please don’t be upset.
Was I a little careless,
To bring tears to your eyes?
Could you look at me once more?
My world holds only you.
I admit I’m thinking of you,
Quietly sharing the seasons with you.
Will you believe again,
In a love like the one we once knew?
Are you worth my trust,
After seeing all that was false before?
Would you get to know
The me who’s always been the same?
No matter how deep my feelings,
I am still as I first was…”

The two sat quietly, looking at each other, listening to this little-known song.

In Dali, one was always bound to hear these unfamiliar folk tunes.

The melody was catchy, gentle, yet strangely unfamiliar. Lin Shenlu asked curiously, “How come I’ve never heard this song before?”

It seemed he had a special fondness for obscure songs.

An Muxi replied softly, “I know this one. It’s called… ‘From the Moment I First Met You I Knew You Were My Little Fairy…’”

“Are you sure?” Lin Shenlu was momentarily taken aback. Aside from that time by the seaside with the beer, did such long song titles really exist?

“Of course.”

“But I really like this title. It’s perfect, just like us… From the moment I first met you, I knew you were my little fairy.” Lin Shenlu smiled as he spoke.

…

“Lu’er, I still need a little time… Please believe me, I will give you the answer you’re longing for… I truly will…” An Muxi’s voice was both resolute and tinged with helplessness.

Lin Shenlu nodded.

“I’ll wait for you. I just hope you won’t keep running away from me… Don’t suddenly disappear, don’t keep your distance, don’t make me unable to find you, or leave me to embrace only a pillow on nights when I miss you.” Lin Shenlu’s words were gentle.

“All right, I promise.” An Muxi continued resting her head lightly on Lin Shenlu’s shoulder.

The two remained silent for a long while, savoring the rare tenderness after reuniting.

“By the way, I had your necklace fixed. Let me give it back to you.” Lin Shenlu suddenly remembered the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace in his pocket.

It wasn’t cheap; it didn’t feel right just keeping it.

As soon as he took out the necklace, An Muxi shook her head.

“It’s not time to take it back yet, Lu’er. When I do, it’ll mean we’re saying goodbye forever. Do you remember what I told you?” An Muxi spoke softly.

“Hmm?” Lin Shenlu tried to recall.

“You said… because I broke the necklace, I would have to take responsibility…”

“Yes, I didn’t want to say it. Have you thought it through?” An Muxi replied.

…

On the way walking An Muxi back to rest,

Lin Shenlu kept pondering her words.

But he couldn’t quite grasp their meaning.

Yet where there was confusion, there was also happiness.

At last, his wish was coming true; in this moment, love felt so close.

Even though An Muxi hadn’t agreed to be with him today,

Lin Shenlu felt that day wasn’t far off.

She was so beautiful, ethereal, almost otherworldly.

Like a fairy: coldly radiant, glowing with light.

That sense of unattainable distance was slowly being drawn closer, bit by bit.

…

An Muxi’s inn was not far from the café.

It was nestled among a cluster of small buildings by Erhai Lake.

When the door swung open, Lin Shenlu was greeted by an aged, all-wood inn reminiscent of a traditional courtyard house.

But the rooms here were all two stories.

As the breeze drifted past, a row of wind chimes hanging from the eaves tinkled melodiously.

It was a most charming inn.

The courtyard’s center was paved with cobblestones, and right in the middle stood a leafless, withered old tree.

From its bare branches, one couldn’t tell what species it was.

Strangely, at the base of the tree, a thick wisteria vine twined around the dead trunk,

as if granting the old tree new life once more.

Under the courtyard lights, clusters of pale purple blossoms bloomed profusely.

In the gentle night breeze, the soft petals brushed against each other with a rustling sound, mingling with the chimes—truly pleasant to the ear.

As Lin Shenlu moved, three or four cats darted from the edge of the courtyard, black shadows leaping onto the tree.

“This place is quite unique,” Lin Shenlu whispered.

Almost as if in response to his voice,

Several cages draped in black cloth beneath the eaves gave off a few birdsongs.

“The innkeeper here isn’t very old, but has a real flair for life. These days, with nothing to do, I lie on the rocking chair in the sun, holding a cat,” An Muxi said softly.

“The flowers are lovely here. In the daytime, the cats meow, the birds sing, the wind chimes sound so nice, except…” An Muxi was interrupted by Lin Shenlu.

“Except you miss me, right?” Lin Shenlu smiled.

An Muxi lowered her head and said nothing. The two climbed the stairs in silence.

The old wooden staircase creaked beneath their feet.

“All right, I’m here. You should go find a place to rest,” An Muxi said after a moment’s thought.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in for a glass of water?” Lin Shenlu teased.

“Are you thirsty?” An Muxi asked seriously.

“Hmm… Not really, I just drank so much coffee…” Lin Shenlu laughed.

“Be good and listen, or else… I’ll ignore you,” An Muxi said, head down.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Go on in, I’m leaving now.”

“Then… where will you go?”

An Muxi’s voice carried a hint of worry.

“I’ll just be nearby… I want to keep watch over dusk and the stars, and then… gather a whole night’s tenderness to greet you at dawn!” Lin Shenlu replied with a smile.

For a moment, both of them laughed.

It was as if time had turned back to that night—

That morning when, after gathering all their tenderness, they ran toward each other from both sides.

“Good night, Muxi.”

“Good night, Lu’er.”

…

Three in the morning.

Lin Shenlu wandered alone by the shores of Erhai Lake.

That night, he simply couldn’t sleep.

Carrying a can of beer, he walked along the lakeside.

The night breeze remained ever gentle.

He strolled on, alone.