According to an authoritative astronomy expert from Country Z, after extensive research and discussion, a conclusion was reached. The expert claimed that between October and December of 20xx, on clear, cloudless nights during those three months, people across the country would have the rare chance to see a "supermoon."
The expert also took care to explain what a "supermoon" was: a supermoon was when the Moon came unusually close to Earth.
The Moon orbited Earth along an elliptical path. When it passed through perigee while also aligning with the Sun and Earth, the resulting phenomenon was known as a supermoon. Such supermoons were believed to cause changes in the oceans, the Earth's crust, and the tides, and to increase the risk of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. However, this supposed connection was generally difficult to substantiate.
The term "supermoon" first appeared in 1979, coined by astrologer Richard Nolle. After years of revisions, the phenomenon came to refer to a new or full moon occurring when the Moon was closer to Earth than usual. Another definition was when the distance between Earth and the Moon was less than or close to 354,000 kilometers (220,000 miles).
The expert said that, according to precise astronomical calculations, the Moon would pass through perigee on November 14 at a distance of 356,000 kilometers—28,000 kilometers closer than the average Earth-Moon distance of 384,000 kilometers. This would be the closest the Moon came to Earth all year, and it would appear at its largest.
"Actually, the two full moons before and after this one, on October 17 and December 13, could also be called 'supermoons,' because the Moon would not be very far from perigee when it was full. However, only the full moon on the night of November 14 would truly be the biggest and roundest." In other words, only the Moon on the night of November 14 would be a "supermoon" in the truest sense.
The expert also said that the "supermoon" was neither mysterious nor unusual; it was a normal astronomical phenomenon and would have no effect on the public's work or daily lives. The night would simply be a little brighter, making moon-viewing more enjoyable.
Although the astronomer said that the "supermoon" was not mysterious or unusual and would not affect the public's work or daily lives in any way, there were still many things in this world that science could not explain.
And so our story began with this legendary "supermoon."
Zhao Xiaolei was a 27-year-old single man from City C, Country Z. In his daily life, he was a typical homebody and office worker. Every day, he did nothing but go to work, make his way to work, and then head home after work. When he was off, he loved staying in.
You might ask what he did at home all day.
What else could he do?
Like most homebodies, he usually played games, watched anime, or watched movies.
Oh, right. He had another hobby: he was also an astronomy enthusiast who loved all sorts of unusual celestial phenomena.
Ever since Zhao Xiaolei had stumbled across a news report about the "supermoon" one day, he had especially looked forward to seeing the legendary sight with his own eyes on November 14.
Day after day, Zhao Xiaolei waited eagerly for November 14 to arrive.
Ahem! It really did seem like he was waiting for the moon. (The author felt guilty...)
At last, November 14 arrived. Zhao Xiaolei had made plenty of preparations for the day. He had arranged to take the day off work, and he had also gathered quite a few astronomical observation instruments.
City C was a famous mountain city in southern Country Z, filled with mountains of all shapes and sizes.
Zhao Xiaolei lived in this mountain city. Today was November 14, the day he had been waiting for. Tonight, he would see the legendary "supermoon."
After dinner at home, Zhao Xiaolei hopped on his beloved "little donkey"—his electric scooter—and set off for the perfect viewing spot he had chosen in advance.
The spot Zhao Xiaolei had picked to watch the "supermoon" was on a small mountain not far from his home. It wasn't particularly high.
The area had a wide-open view and was very quiet, with hardly anyone living nearby.
At around seven that evening, Zhao Xiaolei finally rode his little donkey to the top of the hill. He found an open spot and parked. Only then did he realize that the sky wasn't completely dark yet, and the Moon hadn't appeared.
Zhao Xiaolei began setting up his astronomical equipment. Once he had everything in place, he looked up at the sky—and was instantly stunned by the "supermoon" above him.
The "supermoon" was so big, so round, and so bright. Zhao Xiaolei had never seen such beauty before. It was so beautiful that he couldn't even describe it.
The moment he saw the legendary "supermoon," Zhao Xiaolei completely forgot about the astronomical equipment he had prepared. A moon this beautiful didn't need any equipment to view it. He felt it was best seen with the naked eye.
As Zhao Xiaolei admired the unbelievably beautiful "supermoon," the moon, which had originally glowed pale green, suddenly changed color.
The round moon, which had been pale green, turned bloodred in an instant.
What Zhao Xiaolei didn't know was that he was the only person on Earth who could see a "supermoon" this bloodred.
While Zhao Xiaolei was still marveling at the bloodlike moon, he suddenly saw it transform into a human eye and pull him inside.
Zhao Xiaolei hadn't merely seemed to be pulled into that eye—he really had been pulled inside. The moment he entered it, his consciousness vanished.
As Zhao Xiaolei was drawn into the eye and lost consciousness, something happened that he didn't know about.
In another place, in a world that was not Zhao Xiaolei's, a man stood on the Moon. Dressed in a pure white kimono, he had both hands clasped behind his back and stood before a palace. His moonlight-bright eyes were fixed on Zhao Xiaolei.
A pair of strange horns grew from the man's head, long and slender, somewhat like the horns of an antelope.
As he watched Zhao Xiaolei, who had already lost consciousness, the man's lips curved into a faint smile. He murmured something strange under his breath, then turned and slowly walked into the palace behind him.