Luzhou Moon - Chapter 51
Tang Yanchu's gaze darkened as he looked towards the courtyard hidden behind the lush sycamore leaves. Lian Junqiu, having finished speaking, left quickly without lingering. Yue Ruzheng had felt a sense of oppression ever since arriving on the island, and despite its unique scenery, she had no interest in admiring it. She cautiously glanced at Tang Yanchu, noticing his cold expression and, dressed in white, icy demeanor.
Tang Yanchu initially wanted to say something to her, but then turned her head away with a hint of disappointment and whispered, "I'm sorry, Ruzheng. I shouldn't have let you come."
Yue Ruzheng's heart skipped a beat, but she still smiled and walked up to him, saying, "I came of my own accord."
"I won't be happy these next few days," he said dejectedly, and then walked out of the yard.
As evening fell, Yue Ruzheng walked along the path beneath the trees to a courtyard lined with sycamores. The courtyard was deserted and quiet. Just as she was about to leave, she heard some movement inside the closed door and tentatively knocked. After a moment, the door opened, and Tang Yanchu stood behind it, still appearing calm.
"Xiao Tang, it's not dark yet, why did you close all the doors?" she asked as she stepped into the house and moved behind Tang Yanchu.
He slowly turned around, his tone flat: "I'm eating."
Yue Ruzheng paused, then noticed the bowls and chopsticks on the half-open bedroom table. She forced a smile and said, "Then you go eat, I'll sit here."
"It's not that I'm afraid you'll see," Tang Yanchu said, sitting to the side, looking at her feet and laughing self-deprecatingly. "I feel like I'm standing on a stage here."
Yue Ruzheng slowly squatted down, supporting his knees, her face pale, her voice hoarse: "I'm sorry, it's because of me that you were forced to come back."
He shook his head, leaned down and nudged her with his shoulder, whispering, "Don't say these things, Ruzheng. I'm glad you're willing to come here with me."
Yue Ruzheng felt her palms were a little cold.
Afterwards, she closed the door for Tang Yanchu, sat down in front of him, and watched him eat slowly. The sunset on the island seemed particularly crimson, shining through the window onto him, making his pure white clothes appear as if they were smeared with a faint vermilion.
As dusk settled, she and he sat side by side on the edge of the bed. Outside the window, the sycamore leaves rustled, casting dappled shadows on the paper windowpane. Tang Yanchu suddenly seemed to remember something, rose, walked to the window, and turned back, saying, "Ruzheng, come here."
Yue Ruzheng didn't know what he wanted. She walked behind him, and he opened the window, then turned and pushed her to the window, smiling again as he said, "Look at the ground outside."
Yue Ruzheng looked down and saw that the courtyard was empty except for the shadows of the trees cast on the clean brick floor, which changed shape with the sea breeze.
"Back when I lived here, I would watch these shadows every night to make the time pass faster." He looked at the dark shadows of the trees and said with a hint of pride, "Look, doesn't that look like a bird flying under the eaves over there? And that one over there, doesn't it look like a cat hiding?"
As he spoke, the coldness of the day vanished from his eyes, making him seem as if he were still somewhat childish. But Yue Ruzheng only felt bitterness.
She originally wanted to ask him what he did back then besides watching the shadows of the trees every night, but looking at Tang Yanchu's joyful smile that hadn't been seen for a long time, she couldn't bear to bring up that matter again.
She couldn't imagine how nine-year-old Tang, after having both arms cut off, lived in seclusion in this quiet courtyard, or how he sat alone by the window, only able to watch the constantly swaying shadows of the trees, searching for the only way to pass the time.
But he regarded it as a childhood joy. That ordinary shadow was a precious memory for him, and he even proudly shared this happiness with her.
Yue Ruzheng's tears were almost spilling out. She quickly lowered her head, took a few deep breaths, and forcefully held back her tears. Tang Yanchu noticed her change and hurriedly turned around, bending down to look at her, and asked, "Ruzheng, what's wrong?"
She silently shook her head, not wanting the tears to fall.
Tang Yanchu asked blankly, "Are you bored?"
Yue Ruzheng tried her best to calm herself down, raised her head, and smiled slightly, saying, "No."
"Let's go see the sea together," Tang Yanchu said softly, looking into her eyes.
The beach was exceptionally deserted and quiet at night. The salty sea breeze carried the distant tide, causing their clothes to flutter. Tang Yanchu looked up at the high cliff not far away, told Yue Ruzheng, "Wait here," and then ran over quickly.
After Yue Ruzheng saw his figure disappear behind the cliff, she wondered what he was going to do next, so she waited for him where she was. Not long after, she heard his voice calling from the cliff.
"Like a zither!"
She looked up and saw a figure flash by. Tang Yanchu had actually swooped down from the high cliff, her sleeves fluttering. She pushed off the rock face twice with her feet and landed on the sand.
She rushed over and asked, "What are you doing now?"
Tang Yanchu smiled and said, "I just wanted to see if I could still get used to wearing clothes like this."
His sleeves fluttered in the sea breeze, and Yue Ruzheng gently pressed them down for him, feeling a pang of sympathy. Seeing his slightly unfamiliar appearance, she forced a smile and said, "I've always been used to seeing you in short-sleeved shirts and trousers, but you actually look quite good like this. You look more mature than before."
Tang Yanchu looked down at herself and said, "But I really don't like it. My older sister forced me to wear it."
"Then go and tell her not to force you," Yue Ruzheng said calmly.
Tang Yanchu smiled and said, "But since you said it looks good, I'll wear it."
Yue Ruzheng pursed her lips, tapped his brow with her finger, and said, "Little Tang, you're getting better and better at talking. I'm really afraid you'll become a different person."
Tang Yanchu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "How could that be? I was just telling you some things from my heart. If you don't like it, I'll never say them again."
Yue Ruzheng felt a warmth in her heart. Tang Yanchu looked behind her, then suddenly used his upper arm to push her shoulder, urging her to turn around, and said, "Ruzheng, come with me!"
He pushed Yue Ruzheng a few steps, and the two ran to the shore. The waves were spreading out in layers of silver moonlight, boundless, vast and deep, the most tranquil and magnificent scene in the world.
A wave crashed in, and Yue Ruzheng, never having seen anything like it, was terrified and tried to run away, but Tang Yanchu stood in front of her, shielding her with his body. The wave whipped up white spray that instantly dissipated, washing over him. Yue Ruzheng grabbed his sleeve, saying, "It's dangerous, Xiao Tang!"
Tang Yanchu, her face still damp with water droplets, smiled and said, "It's alright, I know these waves won't be high. It's not high tide yet."
Yue Ruzheng frowned as she wrung out the water from his clothes. Her bangs brushed against his chin. Tang Yanchu lowered his head and touched them, then suddenly asked, "Ruzheng, will you marry me in the future?"
Yue Ruzheng shuddered, her hand stopped abruptly, and for a moment she even forgot to breathe, forgot what she was supposed to do, and could only hear the rumbling sound of the tide.
She didn't dare look up at him, nor did she dare speak. She simply listened to the incessant sound of the tide and the low cries of the seagulls.
Tang Yanchu was silent for a moment. Seeing no reply, he took a step back, gave a self-deprecating laugh, and said softly, "It's okay if you don't want to… just pretend I was joking. Sometimes I can be a bit whimsical." He paused slightly, then added, "Actually, I'm already very happy that you've stayed with me for so long, really. If you ever decide to leave, remember to tell me…"
After saying that, he didn't wait for her to speak again, and turned around and slowly walked towards the sand.
Yue Ruzheng wanted to chase after him, but her legs seemed too heavy to lift.
Chapter Thirty-Six: A Fleeting Boat Returns Home
For the next two days, Yue Ruzheng rarely saw Tang Yanchu. She didn't go to that courtyard to look for him, and he didn't show up either.