Chapter 11: As Brilliant as the Stars, As Free as the Wind

“The designated driver fee is eighty-eight yuan in total—would you like to scan the code or pay cash?” The driver handed the QR code to Lin Shenlu.

With a crisp chime, Lin Shenlu completed the payment with a scan.

“Thank you, boss. I’ve parked your car. Wishing you a wonderful night here in Dali.” The young man gently placed his electric scooter on the ground and slowly rode off into the night.

Night had already fallen, and the sky was scattered with stars. The famous S-bend road in Panxi Village had regained its tranquil charm.

During the day, the entrance of Erduo Inn was always crowded with tourists eager for photos. Cyclists pedaled by, skateboarders swooped past, joggers breezed through—everyone paused to capture this picture-perfect scene, as if it had leapt straight out of an animated film.

Lin Shenlu had pondered this very question earlier that day while standing by Erhai Lake, watching the endless parade of people come to immortalize the view. After all, the location was convenient—just a twenty or thirty-minute drive from Dali Old Town. The lakeshore was dotted with S-bends, so why was this particular stretch so popular?

It was likely the rapid spread of images on the internet in recent years. There was nothing especially unique about the scenery here; the views of Erhai were just as beautiful from many angles.

But if one had to pinpoint something distinctive, it might be this very inn at the S-bend in Panxi Village. The white façade possessed a certain texture, a special quality. No matter the filter, the wall always seemed to evoke the coastal ambiance of Kamakura in Japan. Perhaps that was why this spot, above all others along the ecological corridor, drew the greatest throngs.

Photos and videos taken here were truly striking. Stand anywhere near the S-bend, pretend to run or stroll—let alone with a skateboard or bicycle—and with a bit of post-editing, the result was always lush with Japanese-style vibes.

Of course, the crowds mattered, so timing was everything. Sunrise or sunset were the best moments.

Lin Shenlu considered it carefully—the site was chosen with remarkable finesse. Just before the curve stood two trees, their roots encircled by stones. Simply posing atop the stones, or gazing out from beneath the branches toward Erhai and Cangshan, conjured a moody, coastal air, brimming with melancholy or daydreams.

Walking toward the Panxi ferry dock, one would encounter clusters of redwoods growing right out of the lake—just the ethereal touch An Muxi once sought. Lonely trees, rootless, rising from the water, set against Erhai’s blue sky and drifting clouds, evoked a sunlit, youthful spirit.

Move farther still and you’d find the abandoned iron boats near the old ferry, another favorite for wedding shoots.

Lin Shenlu mused—if a young man wore pale clothes and canvas sneakers, he would appear especially fresh and radiant; a girl in a simple dress would be even more photogenic.

Now, standing beneath the S-bend shrouded in night, Lin Shenlu gazed at Erduo Inn.

Who, he wondered, had the keen vision to select such a perfect spot along the rim of Erhai?

He took a few steps back, hoping for a broader view of the inn’s full silhouette.

He had to admit—the exterior design was flawless. As he’d seen by daylight, the white walls were punctuated by large, transparent floor-to-ceiling windows. Framed in black, the windows lent the building an ineffable comfort. A short, yellow wooden fence bordered the inn, with a profusion of flowers growing within.

Downstairs, yellow lamplight spilled from the wide windows, revealing several tables of diners inside. Every upper room had its own private balcony facing the lake, each enclosed with clear glass for safety. With the faint glow of the balcony lamps, one could see wicker chairs and small tables arranged outside, each table holding a vase of fresh flowers.

Especially on the leftmost balcony upstairs, under the softest light, Lin Shenlu could make out a figure sprawled in a chair—was someone lying there, alone, listening to the murmur of Erhai?

As Lin Shenlu watched, the light flickered on in the middle room on the third floor. He saw the curtains part behind the window as the balcony lamp came alive.

A slender, delicate silhouette appeared, clad in a thin, strappy nightdress. As she slid open the glass door, a gust of wind swept in, tossing her hair and pressing the fabric close to her body. She closed the door and slowly stepped forward, leaning against the glass in the faint light, gazing out at Erhai under the night sky.

Perhaps her dress was too short, or perhaps she was simply too tall—the hem fluttered above her knees. From Lin Shenlu’s angle, he could glimpse only fleeting shadows, mysterious and dark.

…

In An Muxi’s eyes, Erhai at night was serenely beautiful.

She had never known a life like this could exist in the world.

The lake gleamed enchantingly beneath the suspended moon. A drifting leaf, origin unknown, gently landed in her palm. An Muxi pinched the leaf between her fingers, lost in thought.

Erhai was the very essence of romance.

In the moonlight, the rippling surface shimmered. The waves rolled, layer upon layer, to the shore—reaching her feet, reaching her gaze.

Who, she wondered, might be sleeping in the lake’s depths, slumbering peacefully through a thousand years?

The moonlight was shy, a touch of brilliance dancing across the water. Starlight, too, hovered like the scent of flowers, swaying with the ripples—each sparkling point like a firefly lost in paradise, shimmering into An Muxi’s eyes.

She felt the breeze trace gently across her cheek. In a blink, clouds gathered and the moon disappeared.

The silent stage was left to the fireflies, swirling before vanishing into the watery depths of Erhai…

The world was so still—there was nothing left but Erhai and An Muxi facing each other, save for the whisper of waves.

Hmm?

A figure appeared in her sight—a shadow, standing by the shore, back to the lake. He was not admiring Erhai, but rather the inn before him.

His gaze landed on her room.

Looking closer… An Muxi realized the figure was familiar.

It was Lin Shenlu.

Why was he watching her?

She was at the window, gazing at the landscape—yet he stood at the water’s edge, watching her.

So it was true—the bright moon adorned my window, while I adorned someone else’s dream.

Mist began to rise from the lake, shrouding the water and the distant redwoods in a faint, fresh haze.