Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. Shen Ruoyu slept until late afternoon before waking up. He had eaten, and went down to the water's edge to read, and when he was tired of reading, he lay down and basked in the sunshine in the valley, while listening to the sound of the piano wafting from the dense bamboo forest on the hillside to the south. Wang Zhenren used to play the piano in the grass pavilion by the water, but today he has changed places for some reason.

He listened quietly to the sound of the piano, but gradually heard that the player was not Wang Jing, so he stood up and followed the sound of the piano to the depths of the bamboo forest, hoping to find the person who played the piano. The sound of the piano is getting closer and closer. As he walked, he was suddenly taken aback and froze there.

The tall and sun-shaded bamboo forest is cool and green; It was Nangong Qiu who was sitting in the forest and stroking the piano, not at all the little girl with flowers and pigtails and short clothes and sandals. She was dressed in a long green gauze skirt, with large sleeves and a skirt that dragged to the ground, and her hair had been untied, and only a mustache was pulled diagonally on the top of her head, which hung down like black brocade, pouring down on the skirt on the ground. Seeing him approaching, she raised her head and glanced at him, but there was no naughtiness in her eyes, as if she had changed someone, which made Shen Ruoliao feel that she had actually seen the piano score in her eyes. She smiled faintly at him and leaned over to continue playing. The sound of the piano was like ice, and the jade fingers were like beads, Shen Ruoyu was inexplicably surprised for a while, and he didn't dare to move when he stood there, suspecting that he had seen a ghost.

The end of the song. Nangong Qiu withdrew his hand, stood up, walked to his side, and said with a smile:

"What's wrong with you, Ruo Liao? How stupid? ”

Shen Ruoyu looked her up and down. "You...... Why do you look like this? ”

Nangong Qiu said in surprise: "What's the matter? I wear this when I play the piano. Isn't it ugly? ”

Shen Ruoyu shook his head: "Of course not, it's just ...... I've never seen you like this. Are you quite particular, you must bathe in incense before you can play the piano? Wouldn't I have arrived at home? ”

"Do you know how to play the piano?" Nangong Qiu asked.

Shen Ruoyu hesitated. "It's going to be a little, but it's been a long time, two years."

"Play a song and I'll listen to it!"

Her eyes flickered. Shen Ruoyu couldn't refuse-Originally, he couldn't bear the itching and wanted to play the piano. He sat down next to the piano and stroked the wood gently.

Cool, smooth paulownia wood. Zhongni style, snake belly broken, simple and simple, far-reaching.

He hasn't touched the strings for two years, can he still play it?

He was silent for a while, shook his head in frustration, and said, "My hand is raw, and I don't feel it anymore." ”

It's not that he can't play, it's just that he can't think of a suitable tune for a while because of his old age. Nangong Qiu thought for a while and said:

"So, will you play "Rain Hitting Basho"?"

Shen Ruoyu recalled for a moment, did not speak, and gently put his hand on the strings.

The piano sounded; Nangong Qiu was slightly taken aback. Loneliness, empty mountains, cold rain - these are the images that immediately come to her eyes. She listened carefully; He did play "Rain Hitting Basho", and there was no mistake. However, the strings came out as if it was a different tune, which was completely different from what I usually played and what my uncle played. She listened in amazement; The sound of the piano fell in my heart, hesitating, sighing, not heavy, but it continued all the time, without big ups and downs, as if the rain had been falling in such a controlled manner, wet, but not dripping, without end.

After a while, she realized that the piano had stopped, and looked at Shen Ruoliao a little helplessly.

Shen Ruoyu's face flushed slightly: "It seems that I am smiling and generous." ”

Nangong Qiu shook his head and said, "Where, it's just that I never thought that someone could play "Rain Hitting Basho" so dimly. ”

"Dum?" Shen Ruoxiao raised her brows slightly, lowered her head, and felt a little lost: "I see." ”

He pondered for a moment, then gently pushed the piano away and sat aside.

"Qiu'er, can I ask you a question?"

Nangong Qiu sat down, looked at him, and nodded: "Of course." What's the problem? ”

He hesitated. The bamboo forest is dense and cool, with occasional birdsong; There was silence and no one around, and outside the bamboo forest, only the murmuring of the water could be faintly heard.

He whispered, "I know, you grew up in seclusion with your uncle in the mountains; Do you know who my dad is? ”

Nangong Qiu nodded: "Of course I know; Uncle told me about it. In the past, when I was at home, my uncle liked to tell historical stories the most. My grandfather took me to Wudang Mountain, and when he learned that you were here, he told me that you were Shen Rufeng's son. ”

Shen Ruoyu was not depressed. He raised his hand, covered his face irritably, and cursed.

Nangong Qiu asked strangely, "What's wrong with you?" ”

Shen Ruoyu was upset, and suddenly gave birth to a belly of fire:

"You've been watching my excitement for half a month, and you can't get enough? It turns out that there are no simple and kind people in this world, but I still pretend to be so naïve, and in the end, I am willing to be an idiot and be tricked by others, and I deceive myself. Why aren't you leaving, what good show do you want to wait to see? ”

Nangong Qiu was a little incredible: "Why are you inexplicable, scolding people for no reason?" How did I provoke you? ”

In desperation, Shen Ruoyu took out the rogue housekeeping skills he had practiced on the streets of Beiping:

"How could you possibly provoke me? Of course, I was cursing for no reason. I was born to be a slut, and everyone in the world treats me like my own father, I don't know what to do, and I have nothing to do to provoke people in the world, messing with flowers and grass, and being capricious. You still have the guts to stay with me, but I don't know how amazing. ”

Nangong Qiu was completely confused: "Are you sick?" It's so strange to say it. ”

Shen Ruoyu was extremely irritable, jumped up and shouted, "Why are you still staying here and not leaving?" Aren't you afraid that Lao Tzu will trick you into getting laid? ”

Nangong Qiu was even more dazed: "I haven't eaten dinner yet, why did I go to bed?" ”

Shen Ruoyu couldn't stand her anymore - or, he couldn't stand himself - he covered his ears, ran out of the bamboo forest, left Nangong Qiu there alone, and ran back to the bamboo house where he slept in one go.

He fell headlong on the bamboo couch and fell into deep depression and despair.

When the sun set, Nangong Qiu came to his room. Shen Ruoliao was still lying there in a posture, not moving.

"Ruo Xiao, it's time for dinner. Everyone is waiting for you. She said softly.

Shen Ruoyu didn't move.

Nangong Qiu waited for a moment, but didn't see his reaction, and then said:

"There's a lot of good food, there's wine, and there's a red lantern - don't you really want to give me a birthday?"

Shen Ruoyu was taken aback, and then remembered. He sat up and looked at her, a little ashamed.

"Qiu'er...... I'm sorry, but of course I'd like to give you a birthday. I'm just—"

He hesitated.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said those things, it wasn't fair to you; I didn't have a heart, I just lost control of my emotions for a while. ”

Nangong Qiu didn't answer right away. She thought for a moment, walked over to the couch, and sat down.

"I told my grandfather, and he scolded me for being ignorant and broke your heart. It's all my fault, I don't understand what you mean. Ruoxiao, I don't care who your father is, he has nothing to do with me. ”

Shen Ruoxiao was silent for a moment, and said softly: "He is my father, even if he has nothing to do with you, it is impossible that he has nothing to do with me." Where there is a father, there must be a son, and so is the mind of all the people of the world. It's normal for you to think so. Even myself, if it is someone else's business and has nothing to do with me, I will naturally think so. Whoever calls me his son, born to be my life, I can't escape. ”

Nangong Qiu said: "He is him, you are you; Who said that a son must be like a father? Why can't you be like your mother? I've been with you all these days, I know you, you're a very nice person, completely different from the legendary dad of you. ”

Shen Ruoyu said depressedly: "Qiu'er, you don't have to comfort me, and you don't have to convince me. I didn't believe I was like my father; But you and I together say that we are not convinced by the world. If everyone thinks so, what opportunities and hopes do I have in my life? I can only stay in this valley for the rest of my life, the only place in the world that has not been poisoned by worldly prejudices. ”

Nangong Qiu said: "It's not bad to stay here for the rest of your life, the mountains and rivers are beautiful, and you are guarding such a majestic and precipitous Wudang Mountain, there are so many interesting places to go, and Wang Zhenren is your companion." ”

Shen Ruoyu was a little discouraged: "But this is not the life I really want." - Alas, forget it, what's the use of what I want; Even if I dream of the moon every day, can I be on the moon? - Qiu'er, let's go, we'll celebrate your birthday. ”

He went out with her and walked towards the grass pavilion; The sky had completely turned purple and black, and red lanterns hung all the way. When he was about to walk to the grass pavilion, Nangong Qiu suddenly pointed to the east and shouted:

"The moon is up!"

Shen Ruoyu followed her finger and looked. In the east, the sky was already dark at night. A huge full moon had risen and hung quietly in the sky. Golden yellow, pure and clean brilliance, very soft.

Nangong Qiu said softly: "I was born at this time. ”

Shen Ruoxiao smiled lightly: "How good; When I was born, it was pitch black with only a small star in the east. ”

"Really?" Nangong Qiu looked at him, "When were you born?" ”

"In the early hours of the morning, in the spring."

"That's Daystar! You have brought light to the earth. I am the opposite, I bring night to the earth. ”

Shen Ruoyu's heart moved: Daystar, he has brought light to the earth - for the first time in his life, he has heard this kind of statement. Isn't it? Why did he always feel that his birth had dragged the world into a dark night of disaster? He always felt that he had killed his mother.

He said softly: "It should be said that you have brought good dreams to everyone on the earth, so that every family is happy, relatives are reunited, and all children have mooncakes to eat." ”

"Ruo Few, Ruo Few...... Nangong Qiu read softly, "Ruo Ruo Morning Star—it turns out that your name came from that." It's so poetic. ”

"Poetic?" Shen Ruoxiao smiled: "What about you?" You are not only poetic, I heard "The Wild Goose from the South" and "The Autumn Moon of the Han Palace" from your name - I know the meaning of elegance when I hear the string song. ”

They walked up to the water pavilion. A feast has been set up in the center of the pavilion; Wang Jing and Yuan Heng were already waiting there, and when they saw them walking in, Wang Jing smiled and said:

"You kid, don't you sleep until now? I forgot Qiu'er's birthday, but I should punish you with three glasses. ”

Shen Ruoyu turned his head, but his eyes glanced at the guqin on the side. Zhongni style, snake belly broken, cold and smooth paulownia wood, simple and simple. In the afternoon, the guqin that he and Nangong Qiu had played in the bamboo forest on the southern slope was moved here by Huandan Zhenren at this moment.

"Senior, someone plays music for the banquet?" He asked.

Wang shook his head. "Just for the impromptu need at the table. After you've been fined three glasses of wine, you might be able to use it. ”

"I don't need three glasses of wine, I can use it now." Shen Ruoyu smiled confidently. He looked at Nangong Qiu and smiled lightly: "Qiu'er, I have a gift for you." ”

"Gifts?" Nangong Qiu was slightly stunned.

Wang Jing and Yuan Hui were also stunned. "Gifts?"

Shen Ruoyu stopped talking, walked to the piano, sat down upright, and put down his clothes.

Nangong Qiu saw him gently put his hand on the strings and couldn't help but hold back his breath. The two masters also turned around, looked at him, and waited quietly.

The melodious sound of the piano sounded on the water. The three people at the table couldn't help but be stunned. The sound of the piano was low at first, but gradually it became louder, quiet and quiet, far-reaching and expansive. The gentle ups and downs, but there is a delicate sound behind it faintly. Nangong Qiu involuntarily raised his eyes and looked at the rising full moon. The golden disc has turned silvery white and shining, shining in the deep night sky. The water surface under the moon is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the silver jade plate, and the brilliance in the water is undiminished. A cold autumn breeze blew lightly; The slight ripples rose up, stretched out on the surface of the water, and when it reached the reflection of the moon, the perfect jade plate was silently broken, piece by piece, dangling on the water surface, missing each other; Then, it slowly calmed down, and the beating became softer and gentle, and finally gradually melted together, and a perfect jade plate floated again, without the slightest flaw, as if it had never been broken.

The cool autumn mood permeates every inch of breath.

The sound of the piano stopped silently. The three people at the banquet were still immersed in the sound of the piano for a long time, and did not come back to the aftertaste; Shen Ruoyu had already left the guqin, returned to the seat and sat down, and smiled at Nangong Qiu:

"A song "Autumn Moon on the Peaceful Lake", I hope you like it."

Nangong Qiu was stunned, reacted, and asked softly, "Is it the music you composed yourself?" The "Autumn Moon on the Peaceful Lake" in her memory is not this song.

Shen Ruoyu nodded and said with a smile: "When I came here just now, I saw the moon rising, and I borrowed someone else's song name for a momentary inspiration. I haven't touched the piano for too long, and there are a lot of faults in the song, so you can bear with me. ”

Nangong Qiu didn't speak, he looked at him in a daze, and soon, there were tears in his big eyes.

Shen Ruoyu watched in surprise as tears rolled down her cheeks, not understanding what she had done wrong, and said in a panic:

"I'm sorry, Qiu'er, I'm ...... I shouldn't have said those things in the afternoon, I really didn't mean it, I actually always knew that you and Mr. Yuan were kind and good people, and I never doubted it. You...... Don't be sad......"

Nangong Qiu wiped away her tears and said, "I'm not because of that. ”

Shen Ruoyu didn't dare to speak anymore, and looked at her in fear. Wang Jing watched quietly from the sidelines. Yuan Hui had a sad face.

Nangong Qiu calmed down and said, "Ruoxiao, thank you; This gift was so good, it was beyond my imagination, I have never been so pleasantly surprised. It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. ”

Shen Ruoyu was shocked and whispered, "That'...... You should laugh. ”

Nangong Qiu heard him say, and immediately burst into laughter, pear blossoms brought rain:

"You're right, I should laugh. Thank you, Ruoxiao. I never thought my seventeenth birthday would be so good. ”

Shen Ruoyu was slightly stunned and speechless. Unconsciously, he remembered his seventeenth birthday. It was the only birthday in my life. It's hard to describe how wonderful it is.

Nangong Qiu wiped away her tears and said with a smile: "You play the piano so well; I always thought that my piano skills were very high, and today I have seen it, what is called someone outside the world, and there is a sky outside the sky; I won't have the face to play the piano in front of you anymore. ”

Shen Ruoyu smiled in surprise: "What words! Don't you play well? ”

Nangong Qiu sighed slightly, and involuntarily groaned:

"'If there is a sound on the harp,

"'Why don't you put it in a box?'

"'If the voice is on the finger,

"'Why don't you listen to your fingers?' ”

This is Su Dongpo's poem "Title Shen Junqin". Shen Ruoyu was slightly stunned, realizing that Nangong Qiu had borrowed the name of the poem to praise him, and his face couldn't help but put a layer of light red, and said with a smile:

"When I make my own piano, I will ask you to inscribe this poem to me. That's the real 'Shen Junqin'. ”

Yuan Jue smiled: "Okay; This time, I know what to give you when it's time for your birthday. ”

Wang Jing also laughed loudly. The four of them feasted happily and celebrated Nangong Qiu's birthday until late at night.