Lies and Dreams (2)
"Hurry up, what's wrong with you? You're about to go on stage, hurry up and get back to your seat." The teacher couldn't help but tap Wen Yushen's forehead with his finger as he looked at him blankly. "You're more worried than the emperor."
Wen Yushen was tapped twice by the teacher, neither too lightly nor too lightly, before she came to her senses. Seeing that time was running out, she ran backstage.
"Watch where you're going!" The teacher looked at him with great concern. "This child is usually so composed. What's wrong with him today? Is he too nervous?"
But there's no time to dwell on that now. The next group will be on stage, so the teacher hurried towards the audience. She needed to get there early to secure the best spot for conducting.
"I hope everything goes smoothly," she muttered to herself, rambling on and on.
...
"Why are you so late?" Jiang Moyun couldn't help but ask when she saw Wen Yushen rushing over in a panic, clutching the hem of her clothes.
"I was delayed a bit," Wen Yu said, panting heavily as she bent over and supported herself with her legs.
"Alright, it'll be our turn soon. I'll go first, and you remember to time your entrance perfectly." Jiang Moyun didn't ask any further questions, as it was her debut and she was understandably a little nervous.
For some reason, perhaps because there were many people backstage and the air wasn't well-ventilated, or maybe because her stage makeup was too heavy, she felt stuffy and her breathing was a little labored. She went over the process of going on stage in her mind over and over again, her clenched hands already sweating profusely.
"Don't be nervous." Wen Yushen held her hand and gently massaged her tense fingers. He had just run all the way here and was still slightly out of breath, but his eyes shone brightly—"You will be the most outstanding dancer tonight."
His tone was calm.
Jiang Moyun looked at him in surprise upon hearing this.
There was not a hint of jest in Wen Yushen's words, as if this was not an ignorant and arrogant prediction of the future, but an inevitable truth that had been verified thousands of times.
He calmly met Jiang Moyun's gaze and said, "Moyun, you were born for dance."
He spoke so naturally, so matter-of-factly.
Jiang Moyun calmed down from this seemingly childish and ridiculous "naturalness". She also grasped Wen Yushen's hand in return, and the flamboyant smile that Wen Yushen was familiar with reappeared on her face. "Yushen, I'll be waiting for you on stage."
Wen Yushen suddenly realized that, without them noticing, it was already time for them to go on stage. He watched Jiang Moyun's back as she gracefully walked to the center of the stage. The surroundings were dim, with only one beam of light shining on her. As she danced, her white veil fluttered, making her look like a goddess descending to earth.
Today is their debut performance. The two of them have been practicing hard day and night for more than two months for this dance. Although the teacher said that he hoped they would return victorious, he often comforted them, saying, "You are newcomers, so don't put too much pressure on yourselves. It's already very good to make it to the finals. The important thing is to participate."
They wanted to win, they only wanted to win.
It sounds like the delusional fantasies of a young and ignorant person.
But what is most vibrant and precious about young people is that foolish courage and almost laughable youthful ambition.
"Arrogant and proud"
Wen Yushen certainly knew that many people on the field today had made such comments about them.
He watched Jiang Moyun's retreating figure, seeing her graceful steps walk to the center of the stage. The surroundings were dim, with only a single beam of light shining on her. At that moment, regardless of one's inner thoughts—whether to cheer or criticize—one's gaze was inevitably drawn to her. Jiang Moyun stood there quietly, head bowed, like a beautifully crafted statue.
As the music began, Jiang Moyun moved as well. Her white veil fluttered and her skirt blossomed, seemingly flowing with brilliance under the lights.
Her every smile and gesture was captivating, as if she were a goddess descended to earth.
The music gradually faded and then suddenly soared. At that moment, Jiang Moyun threw her water sleeves towards Wen Yushen, like a winding river, or perhaps... an invitation.
Wen Yushen then entered the stage, but at this moment he was no longer Wen Yushen, but merely an ordinary mortal in a theatrical performance...
I first saw the goddess under the moon; she danced on the moonlight.
I saw the goddess again by the stream, where she wept.
I saw the goddess three times in the mortal world, but she married another man...
I was captivated by the goddess at first sight, regretted it upon seeing her a second time, and was utterly devastated upon seeing her a third time—I hate that the goddess doesn't see me!
Ordinary people harbor evil thoughts, and common people have lustful desires.
I traveled far and wide seeking answers, scheming and plotting every possible avenue.
I've spent most of my life busy and preoccupied, yet I've foolishly dreamt of a goddess entering my arms...
Who would have thought that he would finally wake up one day...
Only the moonlight and flowing water remain.
Where is there even a trace of the goddess?
It turned out to be just a pipe dream.
...
The audience erupted in applause, and they naturally got what they wanted.
To achieve fame at a young age is truly a source of great pride.
Years have passed in the blink of an eye.
This is the fourth year since the dance "The Yellow Millet Dream".
Two years ago, Wen Yushen formally confessed his feelings to Jiang Moyun.
A love letter was revised again and again, but not a single word could fit on the thin sheet of paper; it was full of sentimentalities.
While hesitating, Wen Yu looked out the window. It was deep winter, the wind was biting, and all he could see was a vast expanse of desolation, devoid of any sign of life.
This makes one especially miss spring—the wind presses down on the clouds, swallows vie for mud, willows are deep green, and when the willow catkins fly, the flowers in the capital must be in full bloom.
When the peach blossoms turn a deep pink, and spring banners flutter and flowers bloom, it will be time for another spring banquet.
Thinking about her, several hours passed without him realizing it. When he came to his senses, the paper was filled with these rambling words. Wen Yu sighed, used to it, put away the scraps of paper, and started writing a new letter.
By the time he finally finished writing the love letter, the end of the year was approaching. This period was a rare moment of leisure, but after the New Year, he would have to rush to practice the next piece of music.
This secret, tantalizing thought tormented him day and night, making him ponder Jiang Moyun's every move, wishing he could dissect and savor every word, and causing him to toss and turn all night, unable to sleep...
"I can't delay any longer. It's all the same whether I stick my neck out or not, so I might as well get it over with quickly." He thought to himself, his hand rubbing the envelope in his pocket, and he broke out in a light sweat despite the cold weather.
"What is it you want to tell me? Why are you being so mysterious? Why don't you go home in this freezing weather? Did you go crazy from being sick the other day?" Jiang Moyun muttered, reluctantly, but still followed him slowly.
It had just snowed that morning, leaving a thick layer on the ground. Few people usually come here, and now only two people's deep and shallow footprints were left behind.
Wen Yushen walked forward silently, and Jiang Moyun followed him, looking at the direction they were heading, feeling increasingly uneasy. "What are you doing here? It's normal dismissal time today, we don't need to go this way, we can just go through the main gate." Jiang Moyun huddled up, burying her face in her thick fur collar, her voice muffled.
Wen Yushen remained silent, his hands in his pockets, and walked forward in silence.
It was already cold, and Wen Yushen inexplicably became a mute, unable to utter a single word for a long time. Jiang Moyun couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. "Wen Yushen!"
The piece of wood in front of him seemed to snap out of its daze, exclaiming, "Hey!"
When Jiang Moyun saw his appearance, her anger subsided by more than half. Wen Yushen's face was red from the cold, and he seemed completely oblivious to what he was thinking. He looked silly no matter how you looked at him. She couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What are you doing? You've been acting like you don't have a brain these past few days?"
Wen Yushen simply looked up, scratched his head, and gave a憨厚 smile—this was truly bizarre. Wen Yushen usually maintained a refined, gentlemanly demeanor. Although in Jiang Moyun's eyes, because of his constant jerkiness, he wasn't exactly dashing or debonair, he was certainly not the honest type. It felt as absurd as… as if one day the law would suddenly mandate that everyone must wear a suit and tie to work in the fields.
"Could it be that I'm still half asleep?" Jiang Moyun looked up in surprise and examined Wen Yushen from head to toe. The sharp, cold wind that swept across her face the next second made her immediately deny the possibility.
She turned back into that cowardly turtle.
Wen Yushen stopped under a bare tree—Jiang Moyun remembered this tree. In spring, it would bloom with beautiful peach blossoms, their pink faces radiating spring. When the wind blew, a pretty pink rain would fall from the tree. In summer, after the flowers fell, they would grow into round fruits with short fuzz. A bite would burst with rich juice and a refreshing, sweet peach aroma.
However, it is deep winter now, and there is nothing on the branches except for the white snow.
Jiang Moyun was staring absently at the peach tree when a pair of hands suddenly appeared in her line of sight, holding a letter. The fingertips were so tight they were white, and the hand was trembling slightly, whether from the cold or nervousness. Then she heard Wen Yushen's stammering voice, "I hope you can accept this. This is... what I want to say to you. I... I like you, Jiang Moyun."
It was so cold that his voice would fog up, obscuring his expression, making it difficult for Jiang Moyun to see him clearly.
To be honest, Jiang Moyun was a little reluctant to reach out and take it. She was always afraid of the cold and would stay home as much as possible after winter started. If it weren't for Wen Yushen's sake, she would never have come.
"Couldn't you have picked a nicer place to confess your feelings? It's freezing cold. Is Wen Yu Shen crazy?" she couldn't help but complain in her mind. But even though she was thinking that, she immediately reached out and took the love letter. With her hands that were almost frozen, she carefully opened the envelope and began to read it seriously.
As Jiang Moyun read, she felt a slight flush rise to her face. The words in the letter weren't overly explicit, but the intense emotions were overflowing, permeating every inch of the paper, brimming with affection between the lines. Coupled with Wen Yushen's ardent gaze, it was truly overwhelming.
After reading the letter, Jiang Moyun was hesitant to look up at him. She kept her head down and hesitated for a long time before stammering, "I agree."
This was truly one of the rare moments of timidity she had ever experienced in her life. Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, she tried to distract herself by scrambling her feet across the snow.
After receiving no response for a while, Jiang Moyun was about to secretly glance at Wen Yushen when she was suddenly hugged tightly. Wen Yushen hugged her so tightly that both of them staggered back several steps, their backs hitting the peach tree.
Fortunately, Wen Yushen's arm cushioned her back, and the impact wasn't too fast, so it didn't hurt. In the chaos, the envelope slipped from her hand and fell into the pure white snow—the branches trembled, and the accumulated snow fell all over her, bringing a slight chill.
Jiang Moyun looked at Wen Yushen's fluttering eyelashes, and felt a tingling sensation in her heart. She couldn't help but raise her hand and hug Wen Yushen back.
The two pressed themselves even closer together, whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears. Suddenly, Jiang Moyun heard Wen Yushen say, "Moyun, do you think this means... growing old together?"
Jiang Moyun caught sight of his smiling eyes, thought for a moment and realized what he meant, then teased, "You chose such a cold place, it wasn't just for this, was it?"
Wen Yushen wasn't embarrassed at all when he was exposed. He kissed Jiang Moyun on the cheek, then lowered his head and buried it in her neck, readily admitting, "Mmm."
As she spoke, her warm breath brushed against his ear, and Jiang Moyun's ear tips turned slightly red. "What's the rush?" she said, then couldn't help but chide her, "Besides, you're so silly. Couldn't we have waited until spring and found a pear tree? It's freezing here."
Wen Yu straightened up, then took her hand in his. A soothing warmth flowed through their fingers, making her almost frozen fingers feel a little more alive.
His eyes and brows were brimming with an irrepressible smile. "But I really can't wait a moment longer. You have no idea how much I miss you. We see each other every day, but as soon as we part, I can't stop thinking about you. Every night I'm lost in thought about you. Every smile, every gesture you make during the day makes me anxious. It's like I have a strange illness; only seeing you can relieve my anxiety."
"Mo Yun, you have no idea how much I love you."
Jiang Moyun was stunned into silence. Young people's feelings are always like this, straightforward and passionate, without any attempt at concealment. Just as she was about to respond, she saw the fine snowflakes falling, interrupting her thoughts. She excitedly exclaimed, "Yu Shen, it's snowing!"
"Mmm." Wen Yushen took her hand, then squeezed his fingers into hers one by one to interlock them. He picked up the love letter from the ground and slowly led her back. "It's snowing."
...
When the people around them learned that the two were together, not a single person was surprised. They all seemed to expect it. The few who were surprised were actually astonished that the two hadn't been together before.
This left them both at a loss for words, neither laughing nor crying.
It seems that apart from their blushing faces when they look at each other and their hands being secretly held when no one is around, everything is the same as before.
They continued their tedious schoolwork, practiced dancing day after day, and then participated in competitions of all sizes, winning one award after another...
However, things don't always go smoothly for people. Sometimes, despite their best efforts, they only end up as runners-up. Whenever this happens, a barrage of sharp questions and sarcastic remarks from reporters follows, and various media outlets rush to predict their downfall.
Round after round, it was exhausting.
"Mo Yun".
It was an ordinary evening. They were chatting and laughing when Wen Yushen's expression gradually turned serious. The rich sunset outside the window filled his eyes. "If in the future..."
Jiang Moyun looked at him with a puzzled expression, quietly waiting for him to continue.
"What if I can't dance anymore?" He lowered his head, the brilliant afterglow in his eyes disappearing with it. "What if? After all, there are always so many accidents in this world, illness, injury, or, if I'm lucky, the inevitable aging... But if I can't dance anymore, what can I do?" His eyes were filled with an overwhelming sense of confusion, making him look like a helpless and pitiful little animal.
"Are you going to leave me?" Jiang Moyun smiled gently, took one of his hands in her own, raised it to her chest, and said with feigned grievance, "But I don't want you to leave me."
The heavy atmosphere was slightly dispelled.
"But what if? There are so many uncontrollable things in the world, and no one dares to say it will last forever."
“Then let’s live in the moment.” Jiang Moyun leaned on the railing like him, propping her head up and looking into the distance—the sky was a surging sea of clouds, with vibrant red, deep orange, and dazzling gold intertwined, outlining a full circle, and spreading out layers of rosy clouds—she turned her head to look at Wen Yushen, “If there really comes a day when I can no longer dance, then I want the best seat in the audience for you, and then… I’ll give you the first bouquet of flowers at every performance.”
The sunset glow fell upon her, blurring her features and adding a dreamlike touch to her appearance. Wen Yushen saw her tiptoe, her hand resting on his shoulder, then felt a gentle touch on his cheek, her warm breath carrying a voice that brushed against his ear, "You'll save some for me, won't you?"
"Anyway, if it were me, I would definitely save some for you. And besides my father, sister, and Aunt Xue, I would only accept your flowers." Jiang Moyun smiled mischievously, her eyes crinkling.
Wen Yushen quietly looked at her, deciding to stop worrying about these unfounded concerns. He simply held Jiang Moyun in his arms, a few indistinct words escaping from their intertwined lips, mingling with the soft sounds of water as they drifted away on the passing wind, finally carried quietly into the distance—
It's a deal.
It's a deal.
Wen Yushen has always been a man of his word.
In the end, he only received one letter, along with all the gifts, big and small, that he had sent over the years.
Later, there was always an empty seat in the audience during his performances.
He never accepted another bouquet of flowers.
Wen Yushen danced one dance after another.
But that person was no longer by my side.
When they finally parted, they looked at each other in silence. Pear blossoms fell as promised, covering their heads, but from then on they became strangers, and no more letters were sent.
...
They did win the gold medal that time, but Wen Yushen didn't receive the belated trophy. While arguing with the organizers, he received news of Jiang Moyun's marriage.
So he had someone make an exact replica of it, and hurriedly returned to China, trying every possible way to see her.
"I'm just going to offer my blessings," he thought.
Although he ultimately messed things up, his behavior was far from dignified.
Fortunately, the fake trophy was still given out, and he was certain that Jiang Moyun would not find out.
later……
Later, he kept one promise after another that would never be fulfilled, counting the vows that had fallen through the cracks, year after year passing by alone...
Wen Yushen's life, neither long nor short, ultimately condensed into a mismatched necklace and four short sentences, which were sent to the person who left early.
After all the twists and turns, Wen Yushen and his lies only became a mark in Jiang Moyun's heart, which was then covered by time into a dark and rugged scar. In the end, it would only bring a dense itching and a subtle pain when accidentally touched.
"Yu Shen, I'll be waiting for you on stage."
"Yu Shen, let's get married if we win the gold medal."
"Yu Shen, don't wait for me anymore."
"I am...very happy."
...
"Wen Yushen!"
"Hurry up, we're going to be late."
The revolving lantern of Wen Yushen's life finally captured that beautiful spring: the petals fluttering under the peach tree, the noisy streets all around, the hair that the girl tossed across his cheek as she turned around, and the radiant smile on her face.
This time he took the initiative to extend his hand.
Grasp that little bit of warmth.
"Mo Yun..."
I haven't seen you wear a red dress yet.
I love you.
Wen Yushen slowly closed his eyes.
The dream is over.
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