Chapter One
Xu Caitong stood by the river, where the moon cast a silvery glow that made the water sparkle. The Moon River, like the moon itself, meandered forward in a crescent shape. At its end, under the hazy moonlight, the river was veiled in mystery. In her memory, she felt she had been here several times before, always in her sleep. And in those dreams, there seemed to be a voice gently calling to her: “Ziyue, come back, Ziyue, come back, Moye is waiting for you.” Who was Moye? And who was Ziyue? Xu Caitong never paid much attention, but now she was absolutely certain she wasn’t dreaming; she was truly standing by the Moon River.
She took a few steps forward; the surroundings were filled with wormwood and tiny flowers, stretching into a vast plain with no end in sight. She picked a few of the small flowers and held them to her nose; a refreshing fragrance penetrated her lungs. The flowers were beautiful and aromatic. Xu Caitong continued walking, hoping to find her way back. In her previous dreams, she could come and go as she pleased, but now… she wasn’t sure how long she had been walking, but she had ventured very far. The Moon River seemed endless. She stood by the river, watching the calm water flow gently downstream. Xu Caitong stood there, feeling an inexplicable anxiety, lost and at a loss, wanting to burst into tears.
The night slowly faded from around Xu Caitong, revealing a hint of dawn. Xu Caitong didn’t notice the arrival of morning, still lost in her thoughts. She was tired and found a stone to sit on, staring blankly. As the sun rose above the horizon, Xu Caitong realized she had spent the night by the Moon River. She had never been here in the morning before; she hadn’t thought she would actually come here, as this place had only appeared in her dreams.
