The moon is temporarily dark
With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the air is already thick with the sweet aroma of syrup, dried fruit, and a faint osmanthus fragrance, blending with the city's ever-lasting exhaust fumes to create a unique festive scent. In the evening, just before dusk, a huge, pale moon hangs high above the towering buildings in the east, yet it hasn't yet taken on a golden hue, like a forgotten, translucent paper cutout.
Chen Xu, carrying an overly exquisite multi-layered bamboo lunch box, almost broke open the door of Ye Shu's apartment.
"Ye Shu! Look! This is a gift from a client of my dad's! A super luxurious mooncake! Eight flavors! It's got to be this big!" He panted as he placed the heavy food box on the long table, gesturing exaggeratedly, his face filled with a sense of pride and excitement, as if he had crafted these mooncakes himself. "We're in for a treat tonight!"
Ye Shu was sitting in his usual spot by the window, undeterred by his intrusion. His gaze fell on the pale moon outside the window. Hearing this, he turned back very slowly, his eyes passing over the ornately carved food box as if it were a roadside stone.
"High in sugar. High in oil. High in calories." He spat out three words, as precise as a nutritional label.
Chen Xu's enthusiasm was dampened by this cold shower, but he was used to it and immediately retorted, "It's a festival! It only comes once a year! A sense of ritual! Get it? Besides, it's called sharing joy!" He unbuttoned the lid of the food box, revealing individually wrapped, glittering golden mooncakes. "Look! Lotus seed paste with egg yolk! Lava custard! Snow skin mango! And this... uh, five-nut mooncake? It looks amazing anyway!"
The sweet aroma spread even more strongly, forcefully invading the originally cool air in the room.
Ye Shu wrinkled his nose almost imperceptibly, as if he had smelled something too strong and inappropriate. He turned his gaze out the window again, no longer looking at the box of "Joy".
Chen Xu didn't care about him. He excitedly opened a lava custard cake and handed it to Ye Shu: "Try it! Just one bite! I heard that this brand costs dozens of yuan in one bite!"
The golden crust was crispy and soft, and one could almost imagine the hot and oozy filling inside. Ye Shu lowered his eyes to take a look, but didn't take it.
"Tired." One word lightly negated the value of dozens of dollars.
Chen Xu's hand froze in mid-air. He pouted, but didn't force it. Instead, he took a big bite, squinted his eyes in satisfaction, and said vaguely: "Hmm... delicious! You'll be at a big loss if you don't have it!" He finished one in no time and went to open another flavor, like a busy and happy squirrel.
Ye Shu no longer paid attention to the sounds and smells he created, but just watched quietly as the sky darkened little by little. The lights in the city lit up one by one, competing with the moon in the sky that was gradually turning warm yellow.
After eating two mooncakes, Chen Xu patted his belly contentedly before noticing Ye Shu's concentration. "What are you looking at? What's so good about the moon? Isn't it the same every year?" He moved closer to the window and followed Ye Shu's gaze.
The moon had completely turned a warm golden yellow, round and full, hanging low in the sky, as if within reach. The traffic on the street below had become a river of light, and the festive neon lights were more brilliant than ever.
"It's different," Chen Xu said, suddenly feeling a sense of emotion as he watched. "There are so many people on the street, probably all rushing home to celebrate the holidays." A rare hint of envy lingered in his tone. "I guess we'll have another huge table full of people at home tonight, and it'll be so noisy that it'll give me a headache... But it's also good, so lively."
Ye Shu remained silent. His gaze seemed to extend even further, past the warm lights and the clamor of traffic, towards a place even more distant and empty.
"The moon is full," he suddenly said, his voice very soft, as if he was afraid to disturb something, "people gather together. It's common sense."
Chen Xu nodded: "Yes, it's a reunion!"
"A circle at its extreme will eventually crumble, and a long gathering will inevitably disperse," Ye Shu continued, his tone as calm and natural as the statement "water flows to the lowest point." "The circle at this moment reflects the crumbling at that moment. The gathering at this moment contains the seeds of separation."
Chen Xu choked, the sweet mooncake he'd just eaten feeling like it was stuck in his chest. He turned his head and glared at Ye Shu, "...Brother, it's Mid-Autumn Festival! Can you say something auspicious? Something about missing or scattered sounds really unpleasant."
Ye Shu finally withdrew his gaze from the moon and glanced at him calmly: "It's just a pattern."
Chen Xu's shoulders slumped, his temper completely gone. Talking to Ye Shu about the festive atmosphere was like talking to a wall. He looked around bored, his eyes fixed on the gorgeous yet unloved mooncake box, then at the bustling street outside the window, then at the man beside him, as quiet as a still life painting.
An idea suddenly popped up in his mind, and his eyes lit up.
"Ye Shu!" He suddenly grabbed Ye Shu's arm (the latter's body stiffened almost imperceptibly), "Stop meditating here! Let's get out!"
Ye Shu tried to pull his hand back, but Chen Xu held it tightly, with a gleam in his eyes that brooked no refusal.
"Out? Where to?"
"Let's go see the moon! Really see it!" Chen Xu said excitedly. "Let's go to the riverside park! The view there is great, there's no obstruction, and there will definitely be a lot of activities tonight, like flying lanterns and guessing lantern riddles. It's a million times better than just sitting here! Let's go!"
"Too many people. Noisy." Ye Shu immediately gave a negative answer and tried to stay where he was.
"You have to go to a crowded place! Soak up some popularity! If you keep staying like this, you'll really become an immortal!" Chen Xu insisted, almost dragging Ye Shu up from the ground. "Just think of it as accompanying me! Okay? It's a holiday! How miserable it would be for me to go to the river alone! How could you have the heart to do that?"
He used his trump card - pretending to be pitiful, and with those eyes that were always too bright, there was indeed a kind of plea that was hard to refuse.
Ye Shu looked at him, then glanced at the increasingly bright moon outside the window, and remained silent for a moment. That silence wasn't hesitation, but more like... an acceptance of a predetermined fate.
"...half an hour." He finally compromised and spit out an extremely harsh time limit.
"Deal!" Chen Xu immediately beamed. As long as he was willing to go out, half an hour could be turned into a whole night! "Hurry, hurry! Put on a coat, it's windy by the river at night!"
Ye Shu was practically half-pushed, half-shoved out of the door by Chen Xu. As the elevator descended, he leaned against the wall, watching the jumping numbers. His face was expressionless, but even Chen Xu could sense the subtle discomfort of being "forced to leave his nest."
However, as soon as I stepped outside, the unique atmosphere of Mid-Autumn Festival night hit me. The cool evening breeze carried the scent of fireworks and the faint fragrance of flowers. The streets were indeed crowded with people, many of them families, laughing and talking. Children held various lanterns, their lights shimmering. In the distance, the sound of lively music drifted.
Chen Xu was like a fish back in water, instantly full of energy. He looked around and chattered non-stop: "Wow! Look at that rabbit lantern! It's so big! There seems to be a lantern riddle over there! Should we go over and take a look? ...Uh, or should we go to the riverside and grab a good spot first?"
Ye Shu followed him half a step behind, his pace still unhurried, yet it felt like he was traversing an invisible minefield. The cacophony of voices, the crushing crowds, the mingled smells... all of this formed a vast torrent of information, assaulting his overly sensitive perceptions. He frowned slightly, his gaze habitually passing over the specific faces, catching only the traces of light and movement, as if for self-protection.
To get to the river, you have to cross a busy pedestrian square. In the center of the square, a makeshift stage has been set up, where a traditional lion dance performance is being performed, accompanied by gongs and drums, and the place is packed with people.
Chen Xu loved to join in the fun, so he pulled Ye Shu and tried to squeeze in: "Look! Lion dance! I haven't seen that in ages!"
Ye Shu's footsteps were rooted to the spot, refusing to be dragged into the center of the clamor. "Too noisy." His voice was barely audible over the din, but the rejection in his eyes was clear and unmistakable.
Chen Xu looked at his tightly pursed lips, then at the lively performance, weighed the pros and cons, and finally gave up: "Okay, okay, I'm scared of you. Let's go to a place with fewer people nearby."
He led Ye around the crowd and walked to a relatively quiet tree at the edge of the square. Here they could also see the performance, but the distance was far enough that the sound was diluted into a vague background noise.
The lion dance team's nimble leaps and swift movements drew cheers from the crowd. Chen Xu watched with rapt interest, clapping and cheering from time to time.
Ye Shu's gaze also fell on the lion dance, but he wasn't just watching the show. He followed the movements of the lion's head, watching its every precise step, every nimble roll, and watching how the two people hidden beneath the lion's body coordinated in perfect harmony, making the dance without props come alive.
"Good coordination," he suddenly said softly, as if doing a technical analysis. "Steady footwork, synchronized breathing."
Chen Xu was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was commenting on the lion dancers, not the performance itself. He couldn't help but laugh: "You really...see everything differently from others."
At this moment, a louder cheer rang out, and the lion dancer climbed up the stacked stools and made a difficult reaching movement, picking up the "green" (lettuce and red envelopes) hanging high up.
The crowd cheered loudly.
Amid the clamor, Ye Shu's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the side and back of the stage. There, a young boy in a performance costume, seemingly a backup player, clutched his abdomen, his face pale as he leaned against a prop box. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, and his expression was painful. Everyone around him was focused on the success of the center stage, and no one noticed the unusual situation in this corner.
Ye Shu's gaze stayed on the boy's face for two seconds.
Chen Xu was still immersed in the success of his performance. He turned around excitedly to talk to Ye, but saw that Ye was looking away. "What are you looking at?"
Ye Shu withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Nothing. It's just a sign of excessive joy leading to sorrow."
Chen Xu didn't understand, and didn't delve into it. He pulled him again: "Okay, okay, now that we're done, let's go to the river!"
The closer we got to the river, the stronger the wind became, bringing a cool, damp breeze. More and more people gathered, most heading in the same direction—the best moon-viewing spot. Quite a few people had already gathered on the embankment, laying out mats, setting out snacks, and chatting cheerfully.
Chen Xu finally found a gap and pulled Ye Shu to the railing. "Wow! So comfortable! Watching the moon here is truly amazing!"
The river's vast, shimmering surface reflected the increasingly radiant and full moon in the sky, swaying like fragments of gold. The city lights on the other side shone like a galaxy of stars. The evening breeze caressed my face, carrying the scent of water and the faint fragrance of osmanthus, dispelling the previous heat and bustle.
Chen Xu took a deep breath and opened his arms, as if to embrace the entire night: "Awesome!"
Ye Shu stood beside him, his hand on the cool metal railing. The river breeze blew his hair into a tangle. He didn't express his emotions like Chen Xu did, but simply stared at the moon reflected in the water, shattered by the waves.
"The moon in the water," he said suddenly, his voice a little disjointed by the wind, "is more fragile than the one in the sky, and yet more vivid."
Chen Xu lowered his arm and looked at him: "You started again. But... there seems to be some truth to it? It breaks and then becomes round, then becomes round and then breaks again, it goes on and on."
"It's just an illusion," Ye Shu said. "You can't pick it up, you can't hold it. But everyone loves to see it."
"Because it looks good!" Chen Xu said confidently, "Does it matter if it's real or not? The most important thing is to be happy!"
Ye Shu seemed to smile very lightly, or rather, the corners of his lips were only slightly curved by the wind. He did not refute it.
The two stood side by side, speechless for a moment. Chen Xu enjoyed the cool river breeze and the magnificent scenery, feeling relaxed. Ye Shu, like a tree, quietly absorbed the moonlight, the water vapor, and the sound of the wind.
Suddenly, a faint sobbing sound, muffled by the wind, floated over.
Chen Xu was so engrossed that he didn't notice, but Ye Shu tilted his head slightly.
The crying sounded intermittently, coming from a dark corner under the embankment not far away, near the stone steps by the water.
Chen Xu finally heard it and looked in the direction of the sound. With the help of moonlight and distant lights, he vaguely saw a small figure curled up there, with his shoulders shrugging.
"Huh? It looks like a child?" Chen Xu frowned. "Why is he crying there alone?"
Being enthusiastic by nature, he immediately wanted to go over and take a look, but after looking at the dim location and the slippery stone steps, he hesitated.
Ye Shu's eyes were fixed on the figure. He didn't move immediately, just watched. After a few seconds, he said calmly, "A girl. About five or six years old. Wearing a pink jacket. Her right shoe is off."
Chen Xu looked at him in astonishment: "...Your eyesight is too good, isn't it?" At such a distance and in dim light, he couldn't even tell the difference between men and women.
"It's not my eyesight," Ye Shu replied simply, then walked in that direction. His pace remained steady, not even quickening, but with a strange certainty.
Chen Xu hurried to follow.
As I got closer, I could see it was a little girl with pigtails. Her face was covered in tears and her nose was red from crying. One foot was bare, and the other was covered in a red, muddy soft-soled shoe. She looked at the two approaching strangers with fear and shrank back.
"Little sister, what's wrong with you? Why are you here alone? Where are mom and dad?" Chen Xu squatted down and tried to make his voice sound gentle and friendly.
The little girl sobbed and could not finish her sentences: "...Wuuu...I can't find my mother...Wa ...
Chen Xu suddenly felt overwhelmed. He was most afraid of crying children. "Don't cry, don't cry. I'll help you find your mother, okay? What's your name? Do you remember your mother's phone number?"
The little girl just shook her head and cried even harder.
Chen Xu was in a panic. He wanted to take out a tissue but found that he didn't bring any. He wanted to hug her but was afraid of scaring her. He was completely at a loss. He looked at Ye Shu for help.
Ye Shu didn't squat, but stood a step away, looking at the little girl quietly. His eyes were neither oppressive nor overly eager, just a calm gaze.
After crying for a while, the little girl seemed tired, her voice became softer and turned into sobs, and she glanced at the two strangers with tearful eyes.
Only then did Ye Shu slowly squat down and look the little girl in the eye. He didn't try to comfort her, nor did he ask any further questions. He just extended his index finger and gently pointed at the little red shoe she had dropped on the muddy ground not far away.
The little girl followed his finger and sniffed.
Ye Shu walked over, picked up the dirty little shoe, brushed off the large pieces of mud on it with his hand, then walked back and placed it in front of the little girl.
Then he pointed to the little girl's bare foot, the sole of which was already stained black.
The little girl looked at him, then at the shoes, and seemed to understand a little. She hesitated for a moment, picked up the shoes herself, and put them on her feet clumsily.
Chen Xu wanted to help, but was stopped by Ye Shu with a very slight look.
The little girl managed to put on her shoes, albeit crookedly. After doing this, her attention was diverted and her crying stopped completely, but she was still gasping for air.
Ye Shu finally spoke, his voice not loud but unusually clear and calm: "Is the moon beautiful?"
The little girl was stunned for a moment, raised her tear-stained face, looked at the shattered moonlight on the river, and nodded ignorantly.
"Your mother is also looking at the moon." Ye Shu continued, his tone firm, as if stating a fact, "She can't find you and is very anxious. Let's take you to a brighter place where she can see you more easily, okay?"
No cajoling, no complicated explanations, just a simple, clear, and promising-sounding option.
The little girl looked at his eyes which seemed exceptionally calm in the night, and seemed to be infected by this calmness. She hesitated for a moment and then nodded slowly.
Ye Shu stretched out his hand. The little girl timidly placed her muddy little hand on his clean, slender fingers.
Chen Xu was stunned watching from the side. Just like that... it's done?
Ye Shu pulled the little girl to her feet and said to Chen Xu, "Go to the radio station. Or find someone in uniform."
"Oh! Right! Broadcast!" Chen Xu finally realized what was happening and quickly led the way, trying to tease the little girl. "Don't be afraid, little sister. You'll find your mother soon! I'll take you to find her!"
They took the little girl back to the brightly lit main road and quickly found the patrolling security guard. He immediately understood what was going on and contacted her via intercom.
While they waited, Chen Xu bought a bottle of water and a pack of wet wipes. Ye Shu took the wipes, pulled out one, and handed it to the little girl, motioning for her to wipe her face. Then he pulled out another and, naturally and carefully, wiped the remaining mud from her hands and shoes. His movements were gentle and focused, without a trace of impatience.
Chen Xu looked at this scene, and the strange feeling in his heart emerged again - Ye Shu's way of treating the world was always so different.
Less than five minutes later, an extremely anxious young woman came running over, hugged the little girl, burst into tears, and thanked her incoherently. It turned out that she had been separated by the crowd.
The mother and daughter left with many thanks. The excitement was over and the people around them dispersed.
Chen Xu let out a long sigh, feeling as if he had fought a battle, exhausted both physically and mentally, yet strangely fulfilled. He looked at Ye Shu, who was watching the mother and daughter disappear into the crowd, his eyes still expressionless, just watching quietly.
"Of course, Ye Shu!" Chen Xu patted his shoulder vigorously. "I didn't expect you to be so good at coaxing children! I thought you would scare her to tears!"
Ye Shu retracted his gaze and said calmly, "She didn't cry."
"That's because you're awesome!" Chen Xu said sincerely, then checked the time. "Oh no, we're overtime! We agreed on half an hour, and it's already been over an hour! ... But I did a good thing, so it was worth it!"
The moon had risen higher, becoming brighter and clearer, its light spreading across the river and onto the two of them.
On the way back, Chen Xu was still chattering excitedly about what had just happened. Ye Shu walked in silence for most of the time, occasionally responding with a simple one or two words.
When they were almost at the bottom of the apartment building, Chen Xu suddenly remembered something and took out a small item from his pocket and handed it to Ye Shu: "Here, I just bought it."
Ye Shu looked down and saw a piece of individually wrapped candy in the shape of a little rabbit in his palm. The candy wrapper reflected the moonlight.
"It's a holiday, so we have to eat something sweet." Chen Xu scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "If you don't want mooncakes, this should be okay, right? I can't afford the rabbit lanterns, but I can still afford the rabbit candies."
Ye Shu looked at the small, childish candy in his palm. He didn't throw it away immediately, nor did he say anything.
Chen Xu looked at him. Under the moonlight, Ye Shu's face looked paler and clearer, and the sense of alienation seemed to be neutralized a little by the soft moonlight.
"Actually..." Chen Xu's voice suddenly lowered, and his tone became serious, "Thank you for what you did just now."
Ye Shu raised his eyes and looked at him.
"I'm not thanking you for helping me soothe the child," Chen Xu smiled, "I'm thanking you... for coming out. Accompanying me... to watch the moon."
Although the process was tortuous and the ending was unexpected, it was indeed a very different and even a little warm Mid-Autumn Night for him.
Ye Shu looked at him silently, his pale pupils like two pieces of transparent amber in the moonlight. After a long moment, he closed his fingers and grasped the bunny candy.
"The moon," he turned his head and looked at the icy disk in the sky, his voice as soft as a dream, "if you look at it for too long, you'll feel lonely too."
Chen Xu was stunned.
Ye Shu had already withdrawn his gaze and walked into the door of the apartment building.
Chen Xu stood there, watching his figure disappear, thinking about those words, and his heart suddenly felt as if it was burned by the moonlight, warm and sour.
He looked up at the full moon for a long time.
The moon is bright tonight and everyone is looking at it.
And some people, perhaps throughout their entire lives, spend their lives learning how to coexist with that eternal silence, and occasionally allow a trace of human sweetness to quietly fall into that bottomless sea.
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