Chu Qiao was suddenly stunned. Vaguely, her thoughts went back to the past, weaving the faint ink-like landscape and figures with bits of memories. With what mood did the man, with fluttering clothes and a solemn look, throw away the jade pendant, then turn around on his horse and step by step leave the tree filled with blessings for peace?
Her eyes were sore, but no tears fell, she stood there silently. She didn't know how long it had been, but rows of lights were lit here, countless flower boats were floating on the lake, and children were laughing and passing by her, but she seemed unaware. It wasn't until a vendor selling lanterns passed by that she came to her senses.
The colorful lanterns are still there, and the eyes are still friendly, as if it is the same one she once had. She watched quietly, hardly able to take her eyes away. The vendor was anxious, frowned and asked, "Girl, have you made your choice yet?"
She paid the money in a hurry and stood on the road holding the lantern. Her back looked thin, like a confused child.
Crowds of people gradually came over, and she followed the crowd walking aimlessly. Along the way, there were warm laughter and loud gongs and drums. A wealthy family was setting off fireworks. The sky was full of colors and there were aromas everywhere: the strong aroma of wine, the rich aroma of barbecue, the fragrance of rouge on the bodies of rich girls as they passed by, and the scent of winter plum blossoms that were just beginning to bloom. Some people were playing with lanterns, some were guessing lantern riddles, some were drinking, some were eating, some were watching acrobatics, and some were singing songs. On this evening, everything seemed to come alive, and happiness was echoing everywhere so wantonly. She looked straight ahead, walked alone and silently, and held the lantern in her hand carefully to avoid it being broken.
The bright lights shone on her face, making her look so thin. Her back was just a single line, so lonely and out of tune with the hustle and bustle around her.
Some people saw her, but some didn't. She just walked quietly, passing through the attention and indifference of so many people, moving forward alone, but not knowing where she was going.
Finally, the candle gradually burned out, leaving only a faint light. She walked to the lake and carefully picked up the lantern. The emerald green water wet the hem of her skirt, but she didn't care. The withered yellow branches of the weeping willows on the bank hung down on her face, making her feel itchy and tangled, like the chains of fate, gently sweeping across her shoulders.
Zhuge Yue, I will be in your debt for the rest of my life. If possible, let’s meet earlier in the next life at the right time.
With a gentle push of the pale fingers, the rabbit lamp floated away. The lake is rippling, and the lantern is like a small boat, floating lightly. It gradually blends into the night with the waves, and cruises gently on the brightly lit lake.
Chu Qiao stood up and just kept looking at him. The night wind blew on her face, and the shivering cold was like a sharp arrow, lightly piercing her heart. The world is colorful and looks like a piece of glass, but her heart is like a lamp that is gradually moving away, the light is flickering and seems to be about to go out. She made that decision and crushed her own little hope with her own hands. The world collapsed silently in her hands, the carved beams and painted buildings decayed into ashes, the pearls and jades dried up and turned to white earth, and life had long since abandoned her, leaving behind only the vast gray and endless darkness.
Suddenly, a small wave hit the small lantern. A dragon boat's lead flower boat came first. The water splashed by the oars splashed on the lantern. The light flickered and was about to go out. The lantern tilted to the side and was about to sink into the water.
For some reason, Chu Qiao's already cold and numb heart suddenly tightened. She unconsciously took a step forward and frowned slightly, as if she was worried about the little lamp that was drifting with the flow.
At this moment, a larger lantern floated over. The silk thread at the top was entangled with Chu Qiao's filament, and it spun a few times on the spot, but unexpectedly saved the small lantern from sinking. It blocked most of the splashes from the flower boat and gradually drifted to the quiet waters beside with the small lantern. Both are snow-white jade rabbit patterns, one big and one small snuggling together, which is surprisingly warm and harmonious. With the blocking of that lamp, the light of the small lamp became slightly brighter again, gradually becoming gentle and warm, illuminating the surrounding water area.
Chu Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it would eventually go out, it was always good to keep it on for a while longer.
She slowly relaxed her frown, let out a light breath, and then raised her eyes casually. A figure suddenly appeared on the other side of the green lake!
She felt as if she had been electrocuted and stood there in a daze. She seemed to see him again, wearing a shabby white shirt, a light silk cape, his black hair half covered, his lips painted red, and his eyes like cold lakes.
Dragon boats passed through the lake with music and drums, their shadows blocking their view. Bright red silk and joyful crowds dotted the night. He looked at her quietly, holding a lantern crossbar in his hand like her. His distant gaze penetrated the silent time, also starting from shock, turning to complexity and incomprehensibility, and finally stopping quietly.
In an instant, thousands of brilliant fireworks ignited behind the two of them, and the bright flames illuminated their intertwined gazes.
Chu Qiao looked at him with a gaze that he had never seen before, and he didn't even know what words to use to describe it. Just like an abandoned child looking at his hometown in his dreams, unable to look away. That was the expectation of more than six hundred nights, but all hopes were shattered the moment daylight fell.
She half opened her lips, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she couldn't. Her red lips were trembling, and before the smile reached her eyes, two lines of tears had already fallen, rolling down her pointed face along with the trembling smile.
As the dragon boat left, she suddenly broke out into a run. She had been dodging, retreating, staying away, and rejecting all her life. After escaping death by the skin of her teeth, she suddenly collapsed in panic. Could it be just a momentary illusion and light and shadow that would shatter like a shattered dream if touched?
The girl ran so fast that passers-by along the way cast strange glances at her, but she didn't care about that. Her clothes fluttered like a distant white lotus as she ran. Her knees were weak and her ears were buzzing. She ran over the lake embankment, over the plum forest, over the stone bridge, over the willow branches, and finally stood there breathlessly. She felt that everything was like a floating cloud, so unreal and unreal that it made her feel uneasy.
Zhuge Yue still looked at her, his eyes were clear and silent, and a hint of hidden tenderness emerged in their gazes.
A bustling crowd suddenly arrived and rushed towards them busily.
Chu Qiao suddenly felt so scared, different from death and exile. She had been strong and resolute throughout her life, and in more than a decade, she had only been so scared twice. The first time was when he fell into the deep lake, and the second time was now.
She reached out her hand desperately and grabbed his collar tightly, refusing to let go no matter how crowded the crowd was.
There was suddenly a layer of warmth on the back of her hand, and a hand held her tightly.
The lights faded and she moved closer to him. He used his arms to create a quiet space for her, with figures floating beside him and ripples on the water. She was so close to him that she could smell his breath, and her dark eyes looked at him as if she wanted to dig two holes in his face.
Tears were streaming down her face. She tried to remain calm, but still couldn't help stretching out her trembling hand, as if to touch his body.
This is the eyebrow, slender and slightly upturned, but never really arrogant and indifferent; this is the eye, cold and lonely, but never let her go to danger without looking back; this is the mouth, taciturn and harsh, but never as aloof and indifferent as he showed.
The answer she had been looking for was right in front of her, but she felt her knees were sore and her whole body was weak. A suppressed sound came out of her throat, and her body softened and fell to one side.
He quickly grabbed her waist, and the moment their bodies touched, it seemed as if the vicissitudes of time had passed between them. The cry that she had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained and finally burst out.
He hugged her, her tears fell on his chest, wetting his clothes and seeping into his heart layer by layer.
"Why did you lie to me? Why didn't you come to see me? I thought you were dead..." She sobbed and her body was shaking slightly. She said over and over again, "I thought you were dead..."
Zhuge Yue pursed his lips tightly and said nothing. He had come from afar not to see her, but just to be closer to her without disturbing her.
The ancient city of Xianyang is the last city close to Bian Tang in Daxia.
He opened his mouth several times, but he didn't know how to face her like this. He was almost at a loss. In the end, he suppressed his thousands of complicated thoughts, stroked her back, and said in a clear voice, maintaining his usual appearance, pretending to be impatient: "Don't cry, I'm not dead yet."
"You didn't die, but you came to find me!" Chu Qiao pushed him away, crying with tears in her eyes, "Don't you know to send a letter?"
She had never cried like this in front of him before, and she seemed to be unable to stand. Suddenly, all those experiences of life and death and displacement became insignificant, the despair and hardship of being hunted and killed, and the several escapes from death in the past two years, all seemed so insignificant.
He stretched out his hand and beckoned her domineeringly, "Come here."
She wiped away her tears, and for the first time in her life she didn't want to go against him. She threw herself into his arms, crying and cursing, "You lunatic!"
Thousands of mountains and rivers block the way, family and country grudges block the way, across life and death, suddenly looking back, that person is standing in the dim light. She slept so deeply that night, as if she was soaking in warm water.
In a trance, she seemed to have returned to the warm dormitory of the Military Intelligence Department, living with Xiaoshi, Maoer and others. It snowed heavily in the morning and she was too lazy to get up, so Xiaoshi stretched out her cold hands and gently patted her face to wake her up. She frowned and hid in the quilt. The naughty girl Maoer pulled open her quilt with a whoosh and stood beside her laughing. Minrui sat at the dressing table nearby, putting on makeup while calling for breakfast.
The sky was so blue at that time, and they were all so young. The years were as fresh as fish just pulled out of the sea, jumping and tumbling alive.
The sleepiness finally faded away little by little, and her face was cold. She slowly opened her eyes and saw him standing in front of her in a fresh outfit, with only a stinky face. He frowned and said, "Do you know what time it is?"
For a moment, she almost thought that her eyes were blurry and her brain was not very clear. She looked at him steadily, frowned slightly, and looked very serious.
Her serious look immediately made Zhuge Yue swallow the words in his mouth. He turned around and wanted to go somewhere else, but he felt his clothes being tightened. He lowered his head and saw a pale little hand quietly pulling at the corner of his clothes, holding it so tightly that his knuckles turned slightly white.
The memory of last night gradually came back to her. Her face suddenly turned red. She loosened her grip and sat up to look outside. She was stunned and asked in surprise, "Why is it dark?"
Zhuge Yue looked at her angrily, then turned around to light another candle.
She came to ask him?
After parting last night, he returned to the inn. Since he came here secretly this time, he did not stay in the official inn, but in a private residence here. After I went back, I couldn't sleep all night and waited until the next morning. However, no matter how long I waited, no one came to my door. He thought angrily, I'm not going to go find her, let's see if she will come to find me. But until the sun was setting, there was still no one at her door. He finally couldn't bear it anymore and went to her door alone without any followers. When he pushed the door open, he saw her sleeping soundly with her head covered. How could he not be angry when he had been tossing and turning for a whole day and night?