Chapter 62: Holding Hands Together, Grow Old, Gentle Years, Clouds and Moon Accompany, Return to Earth
This time, Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue were filled with a mixture of emotions, a profoundly complex experience. They finally understood why some people, after leaving their homes, never return, because their hometowns are no longer what they once were. The hometowns of their dreams have become fragments in their memories. Time has gradually ripped away the soul of their hometowns, leaving only a strange shell, turning those returning home into strangers who can't find their true origins. That homesickness, ultimately shattered by the tides of time, has been shattered.
After returning to New York, the two often discussed their trip to the mainland.
Xiao Xiangyue felt that the mainland prioritized economic development over environmental protection. And... that aesthetic was questionable... Luo Guyun believed that objectively speaking, people's lives were better than before. The government was also eager to make progress. After all, there was so much work to be done, and there were many shortcomings that needed to be addressed. Xiao Xiangyue agreed with her brother that it was inevitable to compromise when development was just beginning, just like a toddler who, though he might stumble, was always making progress... Finally, they reached a consensus: a son should not despise his mother for being ugly, and a son should not despise his family for being poor. Since some aspects of our hometown were not satisfactory, we should work hard to change it, to make it better...
From the 1980s to the 1990s, Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue would schedule time to return to China almost every year, sometimes for a month or more, sometimes for two or three months. Each time they returned, they would visit Alsophila Valley to pay respects to their ancestors. Luo Guoyun wanted to erect a new stele at the Anyang Mausoleum. Xiao Xiangyue, however, didn't want to disturb her parents' peace, assuring him that they had come through life together, so it didn't matter whether Yue'er's name was on it...
The Yunyue Foundation has invested heavily in healthcare, education, the environment, emergency rescue, ancient architecture, and animal protection. The Moren Foundation has also gradually shifted its focus to China. Leveraging its strong capital base and extensive international financing channels, it has injected significant capital into several key sectors in China. It has spared no effort in introducing cutting-edge foreign technologies to China, dispatching international experts to the mainland for technical guidance and training, and funding overseas study for outstanding domestic talent, contributing to the nation's rejuvenation.
In addition to returning abroad every year, I also go to Moon Lake Villa to escape the cold in winter and go to Anlebao Winery to pick grapes in autumn.
Media reports claimed that Mr. Xiangyue seemed to be living in seclusion near the town of Cenon. Many moon lovers traveled thousands of miles to live in the hope of encountering him. Cenon gradually prospered and became bustling. Over the past decade, it had transformed from a remote town into a city with a rich musical atmosphere. Sisters Emily and Aurelie married young men who had come to the town, opened several hotels and restaurants, and had many children. They grew from graceful young women to middle-aged women, enjoying a peaceful and happy life.
Xiao Xiangyue had always been sensible and never lost her temper. But as she aged, she became more willful. When the two of them worked at the Anlerburg Manor, Luo Guyun allowed Xiao Xiangyue to do whatever she pleased, but he never let her carry oak barrels, fearing he might strain his back. He could easily carry dozens of barrels a day.
After turning seventy, Xiao Xiangyue forbade Luo Guyun to carry oak barrels anymore. Once, he forgot Yue'er's instructions and accidentally carried dozens of barrels filled with red wine to the wine cellar, stacking them neatly. Xiao Xiangyue was furious and ignored him all night. Luo Guyun tried to persuade him, "Good Yue'er, dear Yue'er, I was wrong. I won't do it again next time..." After a night of apologizing, he finally managed to calm him down a bit.
Once, Princess Elsa and her children came to the winery to visit Xiao Xiangyue. Princess Elsa later married into the Dutch royal family, had several children, and always maintained a good relationship with him. Luo Guoyun felt that Princess Elsa, having come all this way, must have some personal conversations to share, so he deliberately avoided the visit and took Princess Elsa's three children and their entourage to play in the town.
Xiao Xiangyue and Princess Elsa chatted for a while in the vineyard, then went to town. From afar, she saw Luo Guyun chatting and laughing with a group of people at Emily and her sister's bar. She didn't show any displeasure at the time, but she ignored him all night. Luo Guyun pleaded softly, "Brother, I was wrong. Yue'er, please be magnanimous and forgive me this time..." Xiao Xiangyue was unreasonable: "Brother, do you hate Yue'er? Are you so obsessed with pushing me to Princess Elsa?"
Luo Guyun complained: "How could that be? I was wrong... Next time, no matter who comes to see Yue'er, I will stay by her side and won't let her out of my sight for even a moment!" Xiao Xiangyue still ignored him. Luo Guyun tried to coax her: "What on earth are you so angry about, Yue'er? Are you suspecting something is going on between me and the Emily sisters? Then, I will avoid them from now on, okay?"
Xiao Xiangyue figured it out early in the morning and her anger subsided. She realized she was being unreasonable. She then blamed Luo Guyun: "Brother, you did nothing wrong. Why are you rushing to apologize to Yue'er?" Luo Guyun said seriously: "No matter who is right or wrong, if Yue'er is unhappy, it's my fault."
Luo Guoyun also had his share of misunderstandings about Xiao Xiangyue. For a while, Xiao Xiangyue frequently invited students to the private clubhouse in the Morn Building to discuss music. Luo Guoyun's calls for him to go to bed early went unheeded. Knowing he was simply engrossed in the music conversation and had no other intentions, he felt a sense of disappointment, secretly thinking that Yue'er still preferred the company of young people...
The day before his 80th birthday, Xiao Xiangyue took him out, acting mysteriously and not saying where they were going.
Captain Wu Fang, the captain of the imperial guard, was already aging, and his son, Wu Kai, had inherited the position. Xiao Xiangyue pulled him into the car driven by Wu Kai. The car pulled up to the entrance of Carnegie Hall. Upon entering, the hall was packed with friends and family, as well as many distinguished guests from around the world. Everyone stood up and clapped rhythmically, welcoming Luo Guoyun into the hall.
It turns out that Xiao Xiangyue had composed a piece for her brother's birthday every year for sixty years, starting at age twenty. She had organized her students to compose a variety of performances, including symphonies, jazz, instrumental solos, and vocals, for this concert, specifically for him, with the intention of giving him a surprise. Luo Guyun was overjoyed, laughing like a child, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't help but complain about Yue'er's deep thoughts, how she had been able to keep them secret from him...
Xiao Xiangyue has become stronger through exercise these years than when he was young. However, he will feel sore and uncomfortable in the waist after sitting for a long time. Luo Guyun deeply regretted that he was too indulgent when he was young, which caused Yue'er to suffer from waist pain. In recent years, he has been used to sitting for a while, and then he would reach out and massage his waist. The two of them have been well taken care of for a long time, and their mental state is very good. They are also full of sexual interest in their age. But when they are making love, Luo Guyun's movements are mostly gentle, not as wild as when they were young. Sometimes, it is Xiao Xiangyue who feels unsatisfied and lies on top and moves violently. Luo Guyun is always so comfortable that he feels unbearable, but at the same time he is worried: "Yue'er, go slowly, watch out for your waist..."
Of the next generation, Sun Xu and Qin Ling are the most stable and mature. Sun Xu is well-known in the business world. Qin Ling is a master of both Chinese and Western medicine. Dr. Jefferson passed away a few years ago, and Qin Ling has taken over the entirety of his laboratory and also serves as the director of his private hospital.
Luo Tianci had become a typical playboy. Put in charge of the racing team, he was either drunk and driving recklessly, injuring others, or resorting to knife-wielding in jealous strife over women. Luo Guyun initially bribed him into settling his affairs, but later, feeling the need to teach him a lesson, he cruelly sent him to jail for two days after he shot someone in the head in a bar. Unable to handle his sister's cries and fuss, he quickly had him rescued. Luo Gulan worried heartbrokenly for her son. Conversely, she envied Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue, who had no obsession with having children and lived a carefree life in their old age...
Sun Xi loves art and works as a screenwriter in Hollywood. She's had countless boyfriends, but she refuses to get married. Madame Wang is helpless, hoping Luo Guyun and Xiao Xiangyue can discipline her. Sun Xi always says, "I'll get married when I meet the perfect men like my third uncle and my little uncle..." Yi Han teases them, "Third brother and Yue'er might be fine with their own happiness, but they're ruining the women around them! Daxue, Xiaoxue, Xiaoxi—none of them are getting married! Their standards are ridiculous! You know, most men in this world are like us, falling in love with every woman they meet... but then they don't really love anyone, only their own desires..."
When Roy grew up, Daxue returned to Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue. Xiaoxue devoted all her energy to her basketball career, completely disregarding personal concerns. Roy, a tall and slender man with mixed-race genes, had become a world-class model, frequently appearing in catwalks and fashion events. Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue would occasionally bring Daxue along to support him. Every time the media photographed Xiao Xiangyue, it sparked heated discussion. Many large-scale events had failed to attract him, yet Mr. Chalad condescended to attend a small fashion show. It seemed he had a keen interest in fashion...
Sensing a business opportunity, a luxury watch brand wanted Xiao Xiangyue as their spokesperson. However, Luo Guoyun, unwilling to burden the seventy-something, flatly declined. The brand asked Paul to intercede, but he proved unhelpful and reluctantly agreed to a few photo shoots.
Xiao Xiangyue, wearing custom-made Versace couture and a timepiece worth tens of millions, graced the pages of major fashion magazines. The camera captured him caressing the watch, its rich texture threatening to overflow the frame like aged vinyl. The wrinkles on his forehead and the time-worn nasolabial folds seemed like grooves carved into a work of art. A face spanning seven decades complemented by a century-old timepiece, melding elegance and luxury into a soul-stirring aesthetic totem that dazzled the world... The watch quickly sold out, with reservations made months in advance often failing to secure stock. Owning such a watch was more than just a status symbol; it signified a rise in taste and social status.
Xiao Xiangyue donated all of her sky-high endorsement fees to the "Sun Mu Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Fund."
Luo Guyun was over eighty years old before he stopped carrying Yue'er around. Xiao Xiangyue was also very reluctant to let him go and was very concerned about his health. Even a minor cold would require her to personally stay by his bedside, giving him medicine and water. Fortunately, Luo Guyun was in good health, and other than a little presbyopia, he was fine.
As people age, they tend to reminisce. Xiao Xiangyue often dwells on the now-defunct Lizhuang and Washe. Reminiscing about her teenage years, she recalls how she and her brother would go to the rice paddies to watch fireflies. That wish, however, will never come true.
During the time when Xiao Xiangyue was busy organizing the concert, Luo Guyun stayed in the study of the Moren Building. Occasionally, he would call Banben to join him, and he would close the door mysteriously, and no one knew what he was doing.
One day, Luo Guyun excitedly pulled Xiao Xiangyue into his study, where several scrolls were slowly unrolled on the desk. Xiao Xiangyue exclaimed, "This... isn't this Li Zhuang? The courtyard with three entrances and three exits, the dam at the gate, the surrounding rice fields, the green tiles and white walls, even the placement of the farm tools in the yard—it all overlaps with my memory..." Luo Guyun said, "Yue'er, wait! Brother will not only paint it, but also present it to you in real life!"
Luo Guyun immediately bought a piece of land in the upper Hudson River Valley near New York. He hired a professional designer to draw up the construction blueprints, and Bandeng went to supervise the work every day. After several months, he finally rebuilt Lizhuang. On the day of completion, he brought Erhu, Cheng Jin, Afeng, and several old brothers from the village protection team to New York. No one could have imagined that Luo Guyun would relive the passionate years of his youth on the other side of the world. The gray-haired old men were so excited that they cried and laughed, and had fun in the courtyards. Xiao Xiangyue, with her silver hair, was also busy in and out of the courtyards. It seemed that her steps were much lighter, and the wrinkles of her smile were filled with honey-like joy. Bandeng and Catherine had three children after their marriage. Because they loved the house so much, they simply moved in with the whole family.
In the late 1980s, General Zhang and General Sun, who had been friends with Luo Guoyun, ended their decades-long house arrest in Taiwan and regained their freedom. Luo Guoyun specially flew to Taipei with Xiao Xiangyue to meet the two elder brothers at the Grand Hotel.
General Zhang and General Sun were of similar age, while Luo Guoyun was a decade younger, yet they looked like two generations apart. Once dashing and powerful, they were now hunched over, their hair thinning. Luo Guoyun, though also elderly, still had thick white hair, a straight back, and a completely different spirit.
Seeing an old friend again was a matter of course. General Zhang sighed, "Brother, you've always followed the times and never made a single mistake! Unlike us, fate plays tricks on us..." Luo Guoyun said, "Guoyun got married early and has a family. He doesn't just consider me when making any decision, so he's always more cautious..."
General Zhang smiled bitterly: "Brother Guoyun, are you mocking my elder brother for being a playboy even though he already has a wife?" Luo Guoyun said seriously: "Not at all! Everyone's fate is different. Guoyun is lucky that he met the person who is a perfect match for him when he was young, so his life has been smooth. Most people, including you, may have been searching for a long time, or they may look back and find that the person is right beside them. Luck, after all, is nothing more than the resonance of the magnetic field between people..."
General Sun's children were all accomplished men, having held important positions within the Morn Consortium years earlier. He raised his glass to Luo Guyun and said, "My sons and daughters have received your careful nurturing and support. I won't express my gratitude, brother; it's all in this wine..." Luo Guyun raised his glass and drank it all with him, saying sincerely, "I'm truly ashamed that I could do nothing to help you in your distress. Your children are mine and Yue'er's, so the word 'support' seems a little strange..."
In July 1997, during the Hong Kong Handover Celebrations, the central government planned to invite the world's most influential Chinese artists to perform in Hong Kong. Xiao Xiangyue was the natural first choice. However, they were concerned that Xiao Xiangyue, already eighty years old and retired, might not be able to make the move. Knowing Yi Han's close friendship with Xiangyue, the Hong Kong government wanted to ask him to make the invitation.
Yi Han also wanted to make this happen. When Yi Shui found out, he laughed and scolded him: "Second brother, you want to take advantage of Yue Er again. Be careful, Third brother will chop you off..."
Luo Guyun has become increasingly concerned about Xiao Xiangyue's health in recent years.
Having tasted the sweetness of success, businesses sought to recruit Xiao Xiangyue as their spokesperson again. The Grammys presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award, hoping he would accept it in person. Luo Guoyun declined all requests. After the Spring Festival, he took Xiao Xiangyue to Kongneng Temple for a short stay. Then, he flew back to China and visited famous temples and monasteries. They included Famen Temple in Anyang, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, White Horse Temple in Luoyang, and Hanshan Temple in Suzhou. At each stop, Luo Guoyun, though not particularly religious, would devoutly burn incense and pray to the Bodhisattva for Yue'er's health, safety, and longevity.
Yi Han said to Yi Shui, "Now that the Moen Consortium has major projects in mainland China one after another, we must maintain good relations with the central government! Yue'er has always been reasonable and considerate of the overall situation. For the benefit of the consortium, he will definitely agree... Big brother, do you think I'm stupid? I will discuss this with Yue'er first. As long as Yue'er agrees, why worry that I won't be attentive and provide considerate service?"
In recent years, the Moen Group has established branches in major mainland cities, and Yi Han's sons have begun helping manage the business, frequently traveling to and from the mainland. The Anyang mansion was donated to the nation, per Luo Guyun's wishes, to serve as a patriotic education base for young people. The mansions in Shanghai and Nanjing were later reclaimed, per Yi Han's wishes, and luxuriously renovated. Staff members are assigned to maintain them daily, ensuring that everyone can return for short stays.
The Yunyue Tower of Suzhou's Hanshan Temple remains standing despite the passage of time. The abbot has been there for three generations, and General Luo's generous donation of 100,000 silver dollars for temple renovations has been passed down through generations. Luo Guoyun and Xiao Xiangyue stayed at Hanshan Temple for a short time, discussing Buddhism with the current abbot and agreeing to return to Hanshan Temple on the eve of the millennium to listen to the bells.
The first of April marked Xiao Xiangyue's eightieth birthday. He had always lingered on the memory of his twentieth birthday. After leaving Hanshan Temple, Luo Guoyun and he returned to their Nanjing residence, intending to invite relatives and friends from around the world to Nanjing to celebrate his eightieth birthday.
The Yihe Road mansion was brightly lit, with large red lanterns hanging high at the entrance. It was as if the scene from sixty years ago were replaying itself. The wrinkles around the birthday boy's eyes were filled with the tenderness accumulating over the years.
The house is full of guests and friends.
Yi Han was accompanied by a girl in her twenties. Having lived abroad for a long time, the crowd was already used to it, but Erhu, Cheng Jin, and the others were a little surprised.
Yi Han disagreed: "What's so strange about this? From ancient times to the present, eighty-year-old men have always liked eighteen-year-olds! It's human nature! ...Except for my third brother and Yue'er, of course!"
Luo Guyun smiled and said, "Who says third brother is an exception? Second brother is absolutely right! Of course third brother also likes eighteen-year-olds. But eighty-year-old Yue'er, in my eyes, isn't she still eighteen?" He nudged Xiao Xiangyue, who was sitting next to him, with his shoulder, reached out his hand, and gently massaged his waist, saying with a smirk, "Brother is the same in Yue'er's eyes, right?"
Xiao Xiangyue looked at him seriously and said slowly, "When I returned to China this time, I saw many places with slogans saying 'Don't forget your original aspiration, keep your mission in mind'. When my brother and I first met, he was only sixteen years old... Therefore, in my eyes, my brother will always be a sixteen-year-old boy. This is called not forgetting your original aspiration! As for keeping your mission in mind... Of course, I remember that my mission is to always be by my brother's side. In my spare time, I will stand with you at dusk, and ask you with a smile if the porridge is warm in front of the stove. Two people in one house, three meals a day, four seasons. Only by spending time slowly can we achieve our goals..."
Everyone laughed so hard they were out of breath. Yi Shui said, "With Yue'er's talent and awareness, if she had gone back thirty years, she wouldn't have been a cadre!"
Yi Han picked up the full glass of red wine and said, "We've worked for Yue'er our whole lives, and we want nothing more. Today, we must drink three full cups with the birthday girl!"
Although the Moen Consortium later grew immensely, its roots lay in the funds held in a Zurich account under Xiao Xiangyue's name, controlling this vast business empire through complex equity structures and financial operations. Therefore, Xiao Xiangyue was the actual, legally speaking, controller behind the scenes.
Luo Guyun was unwilling to let him drink, and hurriedly said: "Qin Ling recently prescribed some blood-nourishing and calming ointments for Yue'er to take, and told her not to drink alcohol, as the medicinal properties are incompatible and may damage the spleen and stomach. It's better for my third brother to drink it for me..."
That night, Luo Guoyun, Yishui, Yihan, Erhu, and the others reminisced about the past and drank heartily. They drank a few extra cups, a rare treat, and after the fireworks, they retired to their rooms to rest. Yihan quietly pulled Xiao Xiangyue aside and told him about the concert they were planning to hold in Hong Kong in July, and he agreed.
Luo Guoyun was extremely nervous about this performance. Yue'er was elderly, after all, and the preparations and rehearsals were incredibly arduous. Qin Ling led a top-notch medical team to Hong Kong, ready for immediate response. They also made thorough preparations regarding diet, nutrition, and daily routines, ensuring nothing went wrong.
Xiao Xiangyue led the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's symphony orchestra and students from the Tiannian Conservatory of Music in a performance. She was full of energy, conducting the orchestra herself and also performing piano and cello solos. Over half the world's population watched the performance via television. Her fans were pleasantly surprised to discover that their idol remained breathtakingly beautiful from youth to old age! Different ages bring different charms... It seems that aging isn't so frightening after all; there truly are people in this world who can achieve eternal youth...
After returning to the United States from Hong Kong, Luo Guoyun began to build a theater. There was a mountain stream in Moon Lake Villa with dense trees, which vaguely resembled the mouth of Alsophila spinulosa valley, so he decided to build the theater there.
Luo Guoyun specially dispatched personnel to collect old windows and tiles from across China and airfreight them to Orlando. The designer meticulously followed his drawings, directing the craftsmen to meticulously restore the structure. Yishui and Yihan were the only people who had seen the tile house. The three of them diligently recalled every detail, making corrections as needed. After over a year of work, the tile house was finally completed on the eve of Xiao Xiangyue's 82nd birthday.
Luo Guoyun gave Yue'er his meticulously crafted tile house as a birthday gift. The first time he saw it, he couldn't believe his eyes! Every brick and tile was exactly as he remembered it. The moss in the courtyard was exactly the same. Even the marks of wear and tear on the horse step in front of the door were exactly the same! It was as if he had truly stepped back in time, back to his childhood...
Xiao Xiangyue grinned like a child, but her eyes were moist: "Brother, how much effort did you put in to make this scene that only appeared in dreams come true? Yue'er... Yue'er really likes it..."
Although his 82nd birthday was not a full birthday, Luo Guyun still invited all the relatives and friends from home and abroad to the Moon Lake Villa.
The room was full of guests again, but Luo Guyun was a little silent.
Qin Ling asked quietly, "Is Third Uncle feeling unwell?"
Luo Guoyun sighed and said to Qin Ling, "New York has world-class medical facilities. Your uncle and I should return to the Moren Building in the near future. It'll be more convenient if anything happens..." He secretly hoped for a lucky break, thinking back to all the years he'd spent praying to various gods and Buddhas, begging them to bless Yue'er with a long life. He hoped his sincerity would work, and that it would have some effect...
Amidst the clinking of glasses, the lights suddenly dimmed. A spotlight shone on Xiao Xiangyue, who was dressed in a white Arabian robe, a plaid cloth on his head, and clutching an oud. He danced the traditional Saudi Arabian dance, the Arda, with enchanting movements around Luo Guoyun. The song was also captivating:
Please accept the happy signal.
If you don't laugh, I'll go crazy.
Beat the rhythm with the pot lid on your head, dong dong dong!
Twist your butt into an electric fan, buzzing!
Trying to sing out of tune,
I won’t stop until I make you laugh!
The laughter of the guests was about to overturn the ceiling of the banquet hall. Luo Guyun was also laughing so hard that he couldn't straighten his waist. He covered his stomach with one hand and pointed at Xiao Xiangyue with the other: "You...you..."
Paul laughed and sighed, "People say beautiful looks are all alike, but interesting souls are rare. Xiangyue is a beautiful looker, rare, but an interesting soul is rare! So, as time goes by, the feelings between the general and Yue'er grow deeper and deeper, and never fade..."
Yi Han almost laughed out loud: "If Yue'er wasn't so funny, how could she have charmed Third Brother so much..."
Luo Guyun raised his eyebrows and said, "In the world of martial arts, only speed can't be broken. In the world of love, only sincerity can be broken! What's the use of skin and soul? How can there be so many tricks? Yue'er simply holds a sincere and warm heart in front of you, asking you not to bear to hurt him in the slightest..."
Yi Shui, who is over 90 years old and has white hair and beard, but is still energetic. He laughed and said, "Stop! Stop! You two are showing off your love again! Isn't it enough to show off your love for a lifetime..."
Xiao Xiangyue loved the Washe. Every day, he and Luo Guoyun would walk there hand in hand, basking in the sun in the courtyard or daydreaming on a lounge chair under the eaves... He never liked to be followed around, and before his birthday, Luo Guoyun was at his own disposal. But after the first day of April, he always had Qin Ling and the guards by his side, following him wherever he went...
It was the fifth day of the fourth lunar month. The two of them walked hand in hand to the theater. Luo Guoyun was tending to the flowers in the courtyard, while Xiao Xiangyue paced down the corridor. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Brother Yun..." Turning back, she saw him leaning against a pillar, his body slumping. Luo Guoyun strode over and embraced the unconscious man. Qin Ling and the guards gathered around them. Xiao Xiangyue's lips moved slightly, as if to say something, but no words came out. Her eyes gradually lost focus...
The guards rushed to send him to the hospital. Qin Ling examined him and said with difficulty, "My uncle's heart has stopped beating. There is no need to save him..."
Luo Guyun knelt on the ground like a statue, motionless, holding the person in his arms tightly. Even when Xiao Xiangyue's body turned cold, he still refused to let go.
Yi Shui arrived and ordered the guards to forcibly carry him back to his residence. Luo Guyun kept cursing all the way, "God is such a jerk! He has no eyes! He said he was eighty-two, but he wouldn't let him go for a few more days..." Qin Ling, who was guarding him, couldn't help but wonder, "Third Uncle seemed to have known that Younger Uncle would die?"
Luo Guyun closed his eyes. How could he forget that half a century ago, the old monk Xuyun wrote the number eighty-two on his palm.
Xiao Xiangyue died of a ruptured blood vessel in his brain, commonly known as a cerebral hemorrhage. A congenitally deformed blood vessel ultimately killed him. Luo Guoyun refused to hold a funeral or cremate his body, saying it would scare Xiao Xiangyue to enter the crematorium alone. He simply wrapped the body in a thick blanket and froze it. After his death, they would cremate it together.
After Xiao Xiangyue's passing, Luo Guyun's family and friends were deeply concerned. Qin Ling, Da Xue, and several personal guards and secretaries were by his side. But he wasn't as heartbroken as everyone expected. After the seventh day of mourning, he flew back to the Moren Building and began sorting through Xiao Xiangyue's belongings. He placed the letters, photos, and other keepsakes from their lifelong exchange into an incense burner, turning them all to ashes.
The younger generation privately worried that Third Uncle had burned everything that could be burned, wondering if he was ready to die... Sun Xu bravely questioned him. Luo Guyun remained calm, "Don't worry. I promised my uncle that I would live well even after he's gone, and I wouldn't commit suicide. I'm not destroying them, I'm sending them away. I'm sending these things to another world to accompany Yue'er..."
One day, Luo Guyun opened the drawer of his study, and the jade flute and jade pendant that the two had given each other as betrothal gifts lay neatly inside. Luo Guyun picked up the jade flute and stroked it gently, and found that there seemed to be something inside the hollow jade flute. He shook it out and saw that it was a piece of letter paper with Xiao Xiangyue's crooked handwriting on it:
Brother Yun:
Yue'er is already eighty years old, but she still likes to call him Brother Yun.
Do you remember that early morning at the old house in Anyang when Master Xuyun came to visit? Yue'er glanced at it and it looked as if he had written the number "eight" on Brother Yun's palm, though the following number was unclear. Therefore, Yue'er guessed that he would live to be over eighty years old.
Today is my eightieth birthday. After today, Yue'er's life begins its countdown. Tonight, Brother Yun, unusually, drank quite a bit and fell asleep. Yue'er stares at your sleeping face, tossing and turning in bed. I'm afraid you'll suddenly pass away someday. There are things I haven't had time to say to Brother Yun, so I'll write them down today.
Yue'er hid these words in her father's jade flute. After Yue'er left, Brother Yun would definitely play with the jade flute and find the letter inside.
Looking back on their lives, Yue'er and Brother Yun met at the age of ten, fell in love at the age of fourteen, and got married at the age of sixteen. They have experienced separation, illness, and war, but have never left each other and have walked hand in hand for more than seventy years. How lucky they are!
Brother Yun, Yue'er wants to thank you. Thank you for holding me in your palm and keeping me in your heart for the rest of my life. As a teenager, Yue'er deeply understood that Brother Yun was like a barrier, meticulously protecting me and shielding me from all pain and misfortune. Without Brother Yun, Yue'er would be nothing more than a wandering soul.
Throughout her life, Brother Yun has always been reluctant to let Yueer suffer even the slightest harm, never letting her suffer the slightest injustice. Brother Yun's love is Yueer's only light in this murky world. Even with all the hardships of fate, Yueer still says that life is worth it! Yueer owes him this life's deep affection!
Yue'er is tongue-tied, incapable of sweet talk. It's as if she's never said "I love you" to Brother Yun in her entire life. After Brother Yun left that year, I swore that when you returned, I would whisper in your ear every day, "Brother Yun, Yue'er loves you. Yue'er only loves you, for this life, for all eternity!" Even after you returned, I still didn't say it. But Yue'er's heart is known to heaven and earth! Brother Yun, please believe that although Yue'er's body may be gone, her spirit will always be by your side, accompanying you forever.
Together, we've seen the world's most beautiful sights, achieved our own glories, and stood at the pinnacle of achievement. We have no regrets in this life. My only worry is how Brother Yun will spend his remaining time alone in this world after Yue'er leaves. Brother Yun is in good health and will surely live to be a hundred. My second brother said that an eighty-year-old man still prefers an eighteen-year-old. If Brother Yun also enjoys the company of a young, energetic body, Yue'er will be happy too. After Yue'er leaves, Brother Yun must live a healthy life for Yue'er, take good care of himself, and be happy every day.
That year on the boat, Brother Yun and Sister Yun said, if we both died, we'd burn to ashes, find a clay pot, and combine our ashes, you in me, me in you, buried in a cup of desolate earth. Yue'er agreed; that was what she wanted, too! She wanted to be buried beneath the thousand-year-old Davidia involucrata tree in Alsophila Valley. She also wanted to sing a little song in that tree's hollow for Brother Yun.
Brother Yun, goodbye forever! May we stay together for all eternity.
Moon
April 1, 1997
There was a disc under the jade flute. Luo Guyun, with trembling hands, put the disc into the player. A cold and lofty prelude played on the guqin, followed by Xiao Xiangyue's affectionate and graceful singing:
Shangxie, I want to know you, and live a long and happy life.
The mountains have no peaks, the rivers have dried up, thunder roars in winter and snow falls in summer.
Only when heaven and earth unite will I dare to break off with you.
The fifth day of May is Dragon Boat Festival.
It has been exactly one month since Xiao Xiangyue passed away.
In recent days, concerts commemorating Mr. Charade have been held around the world. Today, Xiao Xiangyue's students gathered at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music for a memorial concert and invited Luo Guoyun to attend.
Luo Guyun felt a little exhausted and didn't want to attend these public events. Accompanied by Qin Ling and his guards and secretaries, he flew back to Orlando and came to the Washe to pay tribute to Yue'er.
In the afternoon, a light drizzle began. Luo Guoyun half-reclined on a bamboo chair in the corridor, holding the piece of letter Xiao Xiangyue had left him. He rubbed it carefully, read it over and over, then pressed it tightly to his chest...
Fine and dense raindrops fluttered on the green tiles, covering the roof with a thin layer of smoke, and then gathered in the tile gutters, condensing into streams of rain, some thick and some thin, dripping into the courtyard.
Luo Guoyun seemed to see a small figure busily working under the eaves of the opposite house. He was moving a bench, fetching a rough bowl, and finding two sticks.
The letter in his hand slipped and floated into the incense burner beside him, turning into ashes.
Moon, I have you in this life. It's perfect. No regrets. I pray we can be together again in the next life.
Luo Guyun slowly closed his eyes. He died at the age of eighty-eight, without illness.
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