Chapter 72: Stars Glittering, the Moon Rising Above the Treetops

“Coming…” Su Baor pulled her feet out of the river, picked up a jug of peach blossom wine, and followed Lin Shenlu’s pace.

…

Back at their home, Lin Shenlu led Su Baor to another room, laying out bedding from an old wooden wardrobe.

“You’ll stay here tonight,” Lin Shenlu pointed and said to Su Baor.

Su Baor nodded obediently.

The two rooms were close, their doors facing each other.

“I’m just next door. If anything happens, remember to knock and call for me, alright?” Lin Shenlu pointed to her own room.

Su Baor nodded again.

“Go to bed early. We’ll talk about tomorrow’s matters then. I’m heading back…” Lin Shenlu prepared to return to her room.

“Luwa…” Su Baor called out timidly.

“Hmm?”

“Um… nothing…”

“If you’ve got something on your mind, just say it,” Lin Shenlu said with a smile.

“Luwa… um… you won’t sneak out tomorrow morning, will you?” There was a trace of pitifulness in Su Baor’s usually vacant eyes.

“How could I… Why do you ask?” Lin Shenlu asked curiously.

“N… nothing… I just wanted to ask…”

Despite her thick accent, Su Baor’s voice was truly pleasant, softening Lin Shenlu’s heart.

“Tell me, Baor, have you been abandoned before?” Lin Shenlu asked.

“Um… yes… Everyone says I’m silly… But I’m really not silly at all…” Su Baor lowered her head, lost in thought.

“How long have you been wandering outside, Baor?” Lin Shenlu sighed.

“Um… can’t remember…” Su Baor lifted her head, speaking calmly.

Perhaps she wished she could recall her own story.

“Do you want to go home?” Lin Shenlu lit a cigarette and asked.

“I do… but I don’t know where home is…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t leave you behind. Tomorrow I’ll try to find out your information. You’ll find your way home,” Lin Shenlu gently patted Su Baor’s head and turned to leave.

The door closed. Su Baor sat on one side, staring at it in a trance.

…

Night fell quickly in the village, perhaps for lack of neon lights.

Lin Shenlu sat in the courtyard, listening to cicadas, gazing at the starry sky, smoking.

The heavens glittered with stars, the moon hiding among the treetops.

Lin Shenlu held her phone, sending WeChat messages to An Muxi.

But it seemed An Muxi was busy and hadn’t replied.

So Lin Shenlu waited quietly alone in the courtyard.

She smoked one cigarette after another, and the jug of peach blossom wine was half gone.

“Beep… beep…”

Lin Shenlu’s phone rang.

It was An Muxi.

A message: Sorry, I’ve been busy all day, just got off work. How was today, did you have fun?

Lin Shenlu smiled faintly; every conversation with An Muxi warmed her heart.

Girl Kidnapper: Not bad. I landed this afternoon.

Girl Kidnapper: By the way, I picked up a silly girl today. She has no ID, no memory… has been wandering alone for who knows how long.

Girl Kidnapper: I bought her dinner, and now she’s staying next door. Tomorrow I’ll go to the local police station, see if I can find any information, and hopefully help her get home.

A message: You, never idle, no matter where you go. But you did well—I support you.

Lin Shenlu smiled, fingers dancing across the screen.

Girl Kidnapper: I miss you…

A message: We just had lunch together.

An Muxi sent a laughing emoji.

Girl Kidnapper: I miss you whenever we’re apart.

This time An Muxi didn’t reply immediately.

Lin Shenlu watched the screen: typing… typing… but no message appeared.

It seemed she was writing and rewriting.

As Lin Shenlu waited, suddenly her phone vibrated—An Muxi sent a video call.

Huh?

Lin Shenlu was surprised. Was she going to video chat just because she missed her?

She smiled; An Muxi had a touch of romance after all.

She answered.

An Muxi’s beautiful face appeared on the screen.

Her eyes combined warmth and coolness, gazing gently at Lin Shenlu.

An Muxi: Now you see me… do you still miss me?

Lin Shenlu nodded immediately: I do, very much. I just want to hurry back and have dinner with you.

An Muxi: Sweet talker.

On screen, An Muxi laughed softly, covering her mouth, and brushed her hair back.

Then she continued.

An Muxi: By the way, I have something to tell you.

Lin Shenlu nodded: What is it?

An Muxi: I recently came across the account of Blue Whale of the Sea. Since the day you left, she hasn’t updated any videos. I just checked her live broadcast—it’s only Xiao Ai fishing for bottles and telling stories.

An Muxi paused, then continued: Do you think something happened? I’m a little worried.

This caught Lin Shenlu off guard.

She hadn’t checked on Blue Whale of the Sea since leaving Dali.

Was she sick again? Or promoting Xiao Ai?

Lin Shenlu: Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. I’ll ask Ye Yaocen—he’s probably still in Dali. I’ll let you know once I find out.

On video, An Muxi nodded, about to speak, when she noticed the door behind Lin Shenlu move.

She froze—Lin Shenlu was indeed staying in an old villager’s house in the village, sitting in the courtyard.

But why did the door suddenly open, especially at night?

An Muxi looked carefully. The door was pushed open, and a dark figure slowly emerged.

Bent over, hair disheveled, face obscured…

An Muxi pointed at the screen, her face pale.

Lin Shenlu seemed to notice An Muxi’s expression change.

Lin Shenlu: What’s wrong, Muxi?

Just then, the shadowy figure reached out a pale hand and rested it gently on Lin Shenlu’s shoulder.

Both An Muxi and Lin Shenlu were startled.

Lin Shenlu turned to look.

That hand was pale and light, messy hair covering the whole face.

The shadow stood motionless…

Could it be the village ghost?

“Luwa… I need to pee…”

…

Lin Shenlu exhaled deeply.

How did freshly washed Su Baor, who’d just been lying on the bed, suddenly look like a vagrant again?

Her hair had been long, straight, and black—now it was a tangled mess.

An Muxi: You scared me to death. Is this the silly girl you mentioned?

As soon as An Muxi finished, Su Baor leaned over to stare at the screen.

Su Baor: Um… I’m not silly at all… you are…

…

After hanging up with An Muxi, Lin Shenlu and Su Baor gazed at the night sky together.

“Baor, why did you get up?” Lin Shenlu asked curiously.

“Luwa… I can’t sleep…” Su Baor whispered.