Posted by: Fenfen 2005-5-13 4:38:18
Tenderness.
Was this the dream of my youth? The family didn't need too much money, my parents could be a little healthier, there were no lofty goals, and I didn't have to keep scheming and sparring with others. There could be one or two women who truly understood me, and a darling younger sister beside me. Happiness brimmed in young Xing Yan's heart, while I smiled contentedly, moved by what I read.
Reading on like this, I reached "Once Invited the Bright Moon to Drink in a High Tower." As Xing Yan and Lingyi happily savored Fine-Rice-Crumb Tangyuan, I suddenly began to feel a little afraid of the story continuing. For a story, by its very nature, had to rise to peaks and fall to depths; it had to have ugliness to set off beauty. Xing Yan had to grow, encounter setbacks, and reach the summit of success through blood and tears. Yet I only wanted it to end here. No matter how many wonderful turns of plot lay ahead, I was afraid to read them.
Yes, afraid! Afraid that Xing Yan, Ju Ying, and Lingyi would be hurt and grow because the plot required it. They might grow more mature, or more charming, but that shy, sweet, warm innocence-the kind that made you smile in recognition just looking at it-would be lost along with it.
Brother Guan, could I have just this kind of ending? Xing Yan lived an ordinary life, earning money to support his family by day; at night, either Lingyi slipped over to meet him, or Ju Ying stayed by his side. When they had nothing to do, they wandered arm in arm; when their hearts called them, they took a boat out on Poyang. They lay together on the sand