The rain knocks slowly on the door of my heart.
July weather is like a child's face, changing in an instant. The morning sky was clear and blue, but around noon, thick, dark clouds suddenly rolled in from the northwest, layer upon layer, obscuring the entire sky in the blink of an eye. Mo Xiaoyu was in the yard, spreading out damp books to dry one by one, when suddenly a gust of wind, carrying sand and dust, swept towards her, making it almost impossible for her to open her eyes.
Large raindrops began to fall without warning, pattering against the bluestone slabs and splashing up fine droplets. She hurriedly picked up a few books that hadn't yet dried and ran back to the veranda. When she looked up, she saw Xie Yunzhi standing at the study door, staring blankly at the torrential rain.
Rainwater cascaded down the eaves, forming a glistening curtain of water at his feet. The hem of his blue robe was dampened by the raindrops, darkening the color, but he seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the rain curtain, his gaze distant, as if trying to pierce through the layers of rain to see some forgotten past.
"Young master, you should go back inside," she advised softly, her voice almost inaudible amidst the pouring rain. "Be careful not to catch a cold."
He seemed not to hear, only gazing at the rain and murmuring, "This sound of rain... it's familiar." His brow furrowed slightly, as if trying to recall something, "It's like... I've heard it somewhere before."
Mo Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers tightened involuntarily around the book. A thousand years ago, whenever there was a thunderstorm, this little black carp would hide in the deepest part of the Jade Pool, trembling among the water plants. Yun Xi would sit quietly by the pool, letting the rain soak his white robes, and amidst the rumbling thunder, he would softly tell her stories of the human world, using his gentle voice to dispel her fear.
"Has something come to mind, young master?" she couldn't help but ask, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible anticipation.
He turned his head, his rain-dampened hair clinging to his forehead, making him appear less aloof and more lost than usual. "It just feels like...it's like someone used to be terrified of the sound of rain like this." His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before shifting to the distant rain. "Every time there was thunder, someone had to be with them."
These words were like a key, unexpectedly unlocking the floodgates of memory. Before Mo Xiaoyu's eyes, the figure of that white-robed deity seemed to reappear—he braved the torrential rain, setting up a golden barrier by the Jade Pool to block out all the thunder, while he himself was soaked to the bone, yet still smiling gently at her.
"Perhaps..." her voice trembled slightly, "...an old friend of yours, young master?"
He shook his head slightly, his gaze returning to the rain, a hint of melancholy in his voice: "I can't remember. It's just that the sound of the rain makes me uneasy, yet... inexplicably at ease."
The rain intensified, the dense raindrops forming a white mist, darkening the sky as if it were dusk. Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning tore through the gloomy sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that shook the windowpanes. Mo Xiaoyu instinctively took a step back, her hands unconsciously covering her ears—a subtle movement that did not escape Xie Yunzhi's notice.
"Are you afraid of thunder?" he suddenly asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
She opened her mouth, unsure how to answer. A thousand years had passed, and she was still afraid of thunder—a fear even Yunxi couldn't help her overcome. Back then, he would always laugh helplessly at her: "You're a spirit carp who's cultivated for a thousand years, why are you still afraid of this?"
Another clap of thunder sounded, as if it had exploded overhead, and she involuntarily trembled. Just then, a light blue robe, still warm from his body, was gently draped over her shoulders, and the faint scent of ink mixed with his unique, cool aura instantly enveloped her.
"Let's go inside." Xie Yunzhi's voice was somewhat muffled by the thunder. "The rain isn't going to stop anytime soon."
In the study, the candlelight flickered in the breeze that swept through the room, casting long shadows of the two figures on the wall. Mo Xiaoyu held a cup of hot tea, gazing at the rain-blurred view outside the window. Xie Yunzhi sat at his desk, but instead of reading as usual, he stared blankly at the flickering candlelight.
"Miss Mo," he suddenly spoke, his voice soft yet clear enough to reach her ears, "do you believe in reincarnation?"
The teacup trembled slightly in her hand, and the scalding tea almost spilled.
"Why did you suddenly ask this, young master?" She tried to remain calm, placing the teacup on the table, but her fingertips were still trembling slightly.
"But suddenly," his gaze remained fixed on the candlelight, the flickering flame reflecting in his deep eyes, "some people seem familiar, as if I've seen them before. Some scenes seem strangely familiar."
Rain pattered against the windowpane, a rhythmic patter as if in response to his words. Mo Xiaoyu gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, struggling to remain calm. She longed to tell him that they had more than just met; they had been together for a thousand years; these scenes were more than just vaguely familiar; they were their shared past.
"Perhaps..." she whispered, each word uttered with extraordinary difficulty, "there really is such a thing as past lives and reincarnation."
He turned his head, the candlelight dancing in his eyes: "If there truly was a past life, what do you think our relationship would be?"
The question was so sudden that it caught her off guard. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. Just as she was wondering how to answer, a rapid knocking came from outside the courtyard gate, breaking the delicate atmosphere.
Mo Xiaoyu opened the door with an umbrella, but the strong wind immediately made the umbrella flip up. There stood Cui'er, Lin Wan'er's personal maid, soaking wet, carefully protecting a food box in her hands.
"Is Young Master Xie here?" Cui'er asked anxiously, raindrops dripping from her hair. "My mistress heard that Young Master Xie fell ill the other day, so she specially sent ginseng soup. She personally tended the fire for two hours to make it."
Mo Xiaoyu stepped aside to let her in, but her heart felt heavy. Even the news of Xie Yunzhi's illness spread so quickly. Lin Wan'er's attention to him was meticulous.
Cui'er placed the ginseng soup on the table, and its rich aroma immediately filled the study. She then took out an exquisite oil-paper umbrella from her bosom, its surface adorned with delicate orchid patterns: "Miss said that the rain is heavy and the roads are slippery, so this umbrella is for the young master to use at the banquet tomorrow. Miss specially had it brought back from Jiangnan."
Xie Yunzhi looked at the umbrella, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. "Please thank Miss Lin for me."
Cui'er curtsied, her gaze lingering on Mo Xiaoyu for a moment before turning and leaving.
After the maid left, the study fell silent once more. The aroma of ginseng soup filled the air, and the brand-new oil-paper umbrella gleamed brightly in the candlelight. Mo Xiaoyu silently cleaned up the water stains left by Cui'er, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"The banquet at the Lin residence tomorrow," Xie Yunzhi suddenly said, his voice sounding somewhat faint in the rain, "would you... like to come along?"
Mo Xiaoyu froze, her hands pausing. She looked at him, trying to find the deeper meaning in his eyes, but saw only calmness, as if it were just an ordinary suggestion.
"This servant is of lowly status, I'm afraid..."
"It's alright," he interrupted her calmly. "It's just a regular family dinner; Lord Lin has never been one to stand on such formalities."
The rain gradually subsided, turning from a downpour into a light drizzle, tapping softly on the eaves. Looking at the hazy rain outside the window, Mo Xiaoyu suddenly recalled a rainy night a thousand years ago. She had only recently learned to transform into human form, and was excitedly running in the rain, feeling the cool raindrops on her face. Yun Xi followed behind her, holding an umbrella formed from celestial energy, its surface shimmering with starlight.
"My Lord," she said, turning back with a smile, letting the rain soak her dress, "from now on, will you hold an umbrella for me every rainy day?"
He didn't answer at the time, but simply tilted the umbrella further towards her, while half of his shoulder got wet.
Now, he invites her to the banquet, but it's because of an umbrella sent by another woman.
"Young master," she asked softly, her voice almost inaudible in the rain, "why do you wish to take me with you?"
He paused for a moment, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on his face, his expression inscrutable: "I just felt... you should be here."
His words were vague, yet they sent a jolt through her. Should she be there? Why? Was it because he subconsciously felt she should witness something? Or... was he also confused and needed her by his side?
Night deepened, the rain completely stopped, leaving only the patter of dripping water from the eaves, exceptionally clear in the quiet night. Mo Xiaoyu returned to her room, but couldn't sleep. She took out the jade pendant replica and examined it closely by candlelight. The cool jade surface reflected the flickering candlelight, as if it too had come to life.
Tomorrow's banquet at the Lin residence is undoubtedly a trap. Lin Wan'er's special delivery of ginseng soup and an umbrella is clearly a declaration of her ownership. And what does Xie Yunzhi mean by inviting her along? Is he telling her to back down, or... is there another hidden meaning?
She recalled his earlier words: "I just felt... you should have been there."
Was this a thoughtless remark, or was it driven by his subconscious? If it's the latter, does it mean that deep within his soul, memories belonging to Yun Xi still remain?
Outside the window, a bright moon peeked out from behind the dispersed clouds, its cool light filtering through the window paper and illuminating the jade pendant, giving it a soft, ethereal glow. Mo Xiaoyu gently stroked the cool jade surface, suddenly making up her mind.
Since he asked her to go, she would go. She wanted to see for herself just how far apart they were by each other's so-called "past and present lives." She wanted to hear for herself whether his heart ached when others praised him and Lin Wan'er as a match made in heaven.
This decision filled her with an indescribable sense of tragic grandeur. Just like a thousand years ago, she knew stealing the Key to Reincarnation was wrong, yet she still did it without hesitation. Only this time, she would not let him get hurt for her sake again.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly into the room. Mo Xiaoyu pressed the jade pendant to her chest, feeling the warmth emanating from the genuine jade pendant in her arms. This night, she was destined to be sleepless.
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