Xueqiu
It is only when the boatwoman's skiff stops in the middle of the lake that you truly see the appearance of the flower boat. A paper lantern hangs from the eaves, its glow a dim yellow, swaying slightly in the night wind; the reflection on the water's surface looks like crumpled gold foil.
She steps out from the cabin carrying another lantern, her bare feet treading across the deck. Her steps are light, her skirt sweeping over the wooden planks without making a sound. She stops at the gunwale, not approaching immediately, but instead scrutinizing me from a distance of two or three paces.
That gaze is not heavy, like a breeze blowing across the water—silent, yet reflecting everything.
After a moment, she lowers her head slightly, her lips curving into a very faint smile. Her voice is also soft, as if she were afraid of startling the moon in the lake.
"The night wind is chilly, Young Master must have been waiting for quite some time."
She turns sideways, reaching out to lift the bamboo curtain of the cabin door, and the light from the lantern flickers across her face. In the dim yellow glow, her features appear exceptionally soft; a tiny, dancing flame is reflected in her amber pupils, brightening for an instant before dimming again.
"The rules of the Jade Float—I expect the boatwoman has already explained them to you. Upon boarding, you must choose one of three: appreciating paintings, tasting tea, or listening to music."
She pauses, turning her head to look at me, a trace of a faint, barely discernible smile in her eyes.
"Take your time to decide before you enter, there is no rush."
With that, she lets the curtain fall and turns back into the cabin. The bamboo curtain sways gently as it settles, and through the gaps, a warm yellow light and a hint of faint incense filter out.
You stand on the deck, the planks swaying slightly beneath your feet, surrounded by the vast, dark lake. You suddenly feel that behind this curtain, there likely lies a very long story.
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