Seeing that she remained silent, Lin Moxiao calmly took out a bamboo flute from the desk and gestured to her, "Would you like to play a tune?"
"I don't know this, but I really enjoy listening to it. It looks like you do. Could you sing one? I'd be more than happy to." She sat comfortably on the small couch by the French windows, finding the view excellent and overlooking the dazzling cityscape of downtown Nanjing.
Jiang Shuya rested her chin on her hands, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. Lin Moxiao picked up his bamboo flute without making a sound and glanced at her. A gentle and melodious tune broke the momentary tranquility. The melody lingered, filled with deep longing, delicate and tender, subtly expressing a profound love and yearning for someone. Unrequited love is nothing but sorrow.
After the song ended, Lin Moxiao still looked at the bamboo flute, carefully stroking the marks on the bamboo joints.
Jiang Shuya wiped away the tears in her eyes. She didn't know why, but listening to this song always made her sad and unable to stop crying. She felt sorry for the deceased. But she quickly came back to her senses: "Senior, are you missing your mother? I think she certainly wouldn't want you to think about her every day now."
Lin Moxiao's narrow eyes furrowed slightly, her expression solemn: "My mother is proficient in many musical instruments. This bamboo flute has been with her for many years. When I was born, my maternal grandfather got it by chance in Zhongnanshan and gave it to my mother, so he named me Xiao."
Jiang Shuya smiled and said softly, "I see. Fortunately, I'm the only one in the audience who knows the story. If I didn't, I would think that you met your former confidante and were grieving alone because you couldn't have her."
Lin Moxiao stared at her intently, without denying it: "That's true. There was someone in my heart who I can't shake off now. Every time I think of her, I can't sleep peacefully."
Jiang Shuya suddenly remembered his mistake of hugging her earlier and said awkwardly, "Senior doesn't seem like the cowardly kind of person. Why not be braver? Even if there's no future, at least you've tried your best, and you won't have any regrets later."
Lin Moxiao's expression was complicated, somewhat helpless, and he said in a deep voice:
“If we go any further, she will be subjected to moral blackmail, public condemnation, gossip, and malicious personal attacks. I don’t want her to go through any of that; I’d rather bear it myself.”
Jiang Shuya understood. Perhaps the person her senior had in his heart was already married and had a family, just like her. Or perhaps that woman was just too outstanding, and she missed out on someone like her senior. She suddenly remembered the incident in Xixia Village.
She said slowly, "Let me tell you a story! It's a true story from Xixia Village. It's about a couple who missed each other in life. The man's surname was Pan, and he and Ding were childhood sweethearts who loved each other. They were inseparable young people back then. Later, due to the obstruction of their elders, their fathers threatened to kill themselves, so Pan married Jin. Soon after, the two had a daughter, but Pan still stayed with Ding and secretly had a son with her."
"When the elders of the Pan family heard about this, they took Ding's child away and gave him to Jin to raise. Jin was in poor health and could no longer easily have children. They actually agreed. Ding later married into the Luo family next door to the Pan family and had another child, but she was still entangled with the Pan family."
"After the Luo family discovered this, the man went away for many years and never returned. He ignored Ding and her son. Ding continued to associate with the Pan family and even became sisters with Jin. The three of them lived together. Later, the children grew up and they grew old. Then, the area was demolished. The Luo family man, who had been away from home for many years, returned. He received a large sum of money and several houses from the demolition compensation. At this time, Jin, who had been taking medicine for many years, was exhausted and passed away not long after."
"The Luo family man who returned made amends to Ding and her son and respected Ding's decision. He allowed her to divorce and reunite with the Pan family. The Pan family was determined to have her and did not think that Ding would refuse. However, Ding stopped contacting the Pan family. They had originally agreed to live next door when they got the house, but Ding resolutely abandoned the previous agreement and deliberately chose a house with a later waiting period. She never saw the Pan family again and divorced the Luo family man. Ding decided to live alone until the end of her life. She took the money and house she received and lived a comfortable life. I think Ding had a sudden realization in her old age. She paid a painful price for a peaceful life in her last few years. This is a kind of clear understanding."
Lin Moxiao: "Are you trying to tell me not to be reckless anymore, and to let things take their natural course?"
Jiang Shuya nodded: "You're not the only one who's missed out in this world. It's best if we can be in love, but shouldn't we live a better life and do what we want to do most? I look forward to spending a day alone in my study. That would be a pleasure for me. But I understand that I need to support myself first and work hard to give myself what I want."
Lin Moxiao said solemnly, "You mean making money? Why didn't you continue your studies back then? If you had a higher degree as a prerequisite, wouldn't it have been easier?"
Jiang Shuya pursed her lips, looking somewhat forlorn: "Two months before the college entrance exam, I fell ill. It was very serious and required a two-year treatment period. The doctor said I shouldn't use my brain anymore and had to give up studying to focus on getting better."
Lin Moxiao was taken aback. "So that's how it is."
He had missed his chance long ago, as he had already been training at the base for two years. Due to the lack of information, he naturally couldn't find out anything about her.
She looked relaxed, and her confidence and composure remained unchanged.
Jiang Shuya asked, "Senior Lin, where are you sleeping tonight? Am I taking your spot?"
He checked the time and said, "I have a flight at 1 a.m. and I'll be leaving soon. Why don't you stay here for a couple of days and go back when you feel better? I've already spoken to Aunt Lan."
"No need, I'll leave tomorrow morning. Sorry to bother you. I'm much better now. Come find me at Lida Shopping Mall later, and I'll treat you to dinner."
Jiang Shuya suddenly caught a glimpse of several copies of "The Complete Sherlock Holmes" on the bookshelf out of the corner of her eye. Her eyes lit up, and she picked up the first one and flipped through it.
Lin Moxiao smiled slightly: "You're planning to treat me to several meals, one isn't enough."
Jiang Shuya smiled and, holding the book in her hand, said vividly, "Any number of meals is fine. I'll invite Wang Ziliang and my cousin to join us. We'll have a get-together. I haven't seen my cousin in a long time."
Lin Moxiao noticed that she seemed quite interested in the books in her hands: "Okay, let's watch a movie together! If you like those books, you can have them."
Jiang Shuya waved her hand and said, "No need, I'll borrow it to read! I'll return it to you after I'm done. I read some of it at the bookstore before, but I missed the later episodes, and I've been thinking about it for a long time."
He approached her with great interest: "Really? You don't know which plot? I've seen all of these movies, I can tell you about them first."
The two sat together on the small couch, close to each other, and opened the second half of one of the books. Lin Moxiao earnestly told her about several murder cases in the second half. Jiang Shuya listened very attentively, her eyes sparkling with a lively light.
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