Chapter 51: The Sun and Moon Within the Heart
Her eyes shimmered with longing; she yearned so much to know the answer, yet he merely stood there, dazed and mute, his mind in turmoil, lips pressed tightly together. Suddenly, he was terrified by Xiaoxiao’s expression—it was so pitiable that it tugged painfully at his heart.
“Forget it,” she murmured, shaking her head in hopeless resignation. It was but a fleeting obsession in her heart, not worth chasing down an answer that might wound her further, leaving her with nowhere to hide.
“Xiaoxiao!” he called, rushing to her side, almost desperate. In a flash, he kissed her, catching her utterly unprepared. It seemed driven by necessity, reason cast aside entirely.
He kissed her with earnestness, pouring all his feelings into it. She stared at him wide-eyed, panic-stricken, as tears welled and dampened her lashes, sliding down her cheeks and landing upon their entwined tongues—salty, bitter.
The unfamiliar taste spread across their tongues, and both trembled. At last, he sensed her sorrow and halted, gazing at her with concern. She wiped her tears haphazardly, striving to appear indifferent, yet the desolation in her eyes betrayed her.
“Hey, I went out to buy something and came back to find you two gone!” Han barged in boisterously from outside. Ying noticed the odd tension between them and quickly tugged Han’s sleeve, abruptly stopping him mid-sentence and changing course: “Let’s go back, it’s getting chilly.”
They lingered in Lijiang for another two days. After that kiss, something subtle had shifted between them; too close and they feared heartbreak, too distant and they feared loneliness. At night, she would sit on her bed hugging her knees, replaying the past over and over. The four-year gap had been bridged today, yet she could not see where the future would lead—lost, helpless, both frightened and hopeful.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that matter.” At their parting, Han finally spoke of the transaction, and Lin Shuo accepted confidently. Helping him win Ying back had been both a chance to expand his business and a genuine marvel at love so steadfast and unwavering. In the end, he had gained not only an extraordinary story but also a bond of sincere friendship—the returns far exceeded the investment, even from an economist’s perspective.
“Where to now? Shall we go back?”
He replied, “Get some sleep. When you wake, we’ll be there.”
She closed her eyes, the camel bell she had given him hanging from the rearview mirror, tinkling softly like a lullaby, a silent understanding among them.
When she opened her eyes again, she was astounded—hardly able to believe it as she stepped out of the car. Even the air was different, rich with the scent of fresh grass and the wild flutter of prayer flags in the wind, tall barley racks standing proudly. Though she had suspected from the start that this was their destination, and later dismissed the thought as fanciful, now she found herself unmistakably in Shangri-La.
“Ah...” she cried out, unable to contain her excitement. In the city, she always walked with her head down, afraid of losing her way, afraid to fall. Here, everything was accepting, everything felt expansive.
Suddenly, he took her hand; her heart raced as she glanced sideways at him, but he was gazing skyward, eyes narrowed against the light.
In Tibetan, Shangri-La means ‘the sun and moon in the heart’—the most beautiful and sacred place, where even the most tainted soul can find purification.
That night, they stayed with a Tibetan family, whose hospitality was boundless. They feasted on authentic local cuisine, drank barley wine to the tune of blessing songs, enveloped in harmony. Even though they didn’t understand a word of the songs, Lin Shuo drank several cups with gusto, and even Xiaoxiao sipped a few, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining like stars.
Lonely Moments, Never Speak of Love 51_Chapter Fifty-One: The Sun and Moon in the Heart, finished!