The only thing Yang Ruoning had to exchange for money was a ring on her finger. She had found it at a thrift store, a replica of the famous 16th-century German astrolabe ring. Several rings of varying thickness, engraved with astrological symbols, were connected to form a single ring, which could be opened to reveal a spherical object. Though a replica, its craftsmanship was exquisite, and Yang Ruoning, fond of it, wore it often.
It was a level of delicate artistry that did not belong to this era. With a bit of exaggeration, Yang Ruoning convinced Master Hu to strike a deal.
Master Hu took the ring. “Closed, it’s love; opened, it’s the universe. Borrowing the old aunt’s parting words, this deal is settled.”
Yang Ruoning turned and looked at the little boy in the courtyard, his big eyes watching everything, and smiled at him.
As Yang Ruoning, holding the little boy’s hand, walked through the bustling streets towards the camp outside the city, a question occupied her mind. What should she do next, Yang Ruoning wondered. If the boy had family, she could send him back to them. But what if he didn’t? It was likely he didn’t, otherwise, he wouldn't be wandering alone. What should she do then? After all, she was only staying here for a few days.
Yang Ruoning took a pack of wet wipes from the backpack hidden in the bushes, pulled one out, and carefully cleaned the dirt from the little boy’s face and hands. The boy remained silent, watching her.
She saw her own reflection in his dark, clear pupils. She smiled at him, “Hi, I’m Ivy, nice to meet you.”
The little boy didn’t speak, just stared at her. Perhaps he was scared, or perhaps he didn’t trust this strange “auntie,” Yang Ruoning thought. She shrugged, unconcerned. She turned, took out her portable stove, and quickly prepared a meal for him.
It was just instant noodles and some canned ham, prepared in a moment and placed in a collapsible silicone bowl. Yang Ruoning handed the bowl to him.
He looked strangely at the bowl Yang Ruoning offered. Yang Ruoning scratched her head apologetically, “Uh… I’m not much of a cook…”
Before she finished speaking, the little boy grabbed the fork and began to eat ravenously. He must have been starving.
After that, Yang Ruoning spent another two days in Youzhou city with him, still with no success. She decided to go back. Firstly, she was worried about Jason; secondly, having no money, the food she had brought was almost gone, and she needed to return to get some items she could sell, and also to secure something for this little fellow’s future.
Yang Ruoning led the little boy for another two days, returning to the valley. She set up camp by the small river in the valley. Using some fruit candies, she traded a set of clothes from a child in a neighboring village. She wanted to give the little boy a bath and tidy his bird’s nest of a hairstyle.
She sat on the gentle slope by the river, glancing at the little boy bathing in the shallow stream nearby. The blushing boy had insisted on washing himself. Yang Ruoning let him. He was obedient, always quietly holding Yang Ruoning’s hand, following behind her, listening to her chatter about this and that. However, he never replied, only nodding or shaking his head to her questions. Even when Yang Ruoning played cartoons for him on her tablet, he never made a sound. Yang Ruoning thought he might be unable to speak.
A moment later, he emerged from the river, haphazardly put on an outer shirt, and ran towards Yang Ruoning, then handed her something he held.
Yang Ruoning was about to jump. It was a camera! The very thing she had been searching for all these days, and it was here, nearby.
She happily patted the little fellow’s head, “Haha, thank you, little one!”
The little boy looked up at her. His eyes were bright.
She crouched down, bringing her gaze level with his. Yang Ruoning said, “Hi, little one, I need to leave for two days. I need to go back to see my brother, he’s sick. And I need to make some plans for your future life.”
Upon hearing she was leaving, a hint of moisture seemed to cloud his bright eyes, but he didn’t cry.
“Hi, little one, I’ll be back soon… But after that… I can’t stay with you. Because I… am from another world. A world… you cannot go to.”
He drooped his head in disappointment and turned to walk away. Yang Ruoning watched his small retreating figure, feeling a pang of tenderness.
That night, Yang Ruoning lay beside him on the grass, the summer night sky filled with countless stars.
Yang Ruoning pointed to the sky, “Look, there are three bright stars in a row, that’s Orion.” She snuggled closer to the little boy and took his hand, pointing to the three stars, “There’s a myth about Orion.”
“Legend has it that Poseidon, the sea god, had a son, incredibly handsome and strong, who loved to hunt. One day, while hunting, he met the beautiful moon goddess, and they were quickly captivated by each other’s beauty and superb hunting skills, and so they fell in love. However, this greatly angered the sun god, Apollo, because he also loved his sister, the moon goddess. So, the cunning Apollo invited the moon goddess to a shooting competition, but did not tell her that the target was her lover. As a result, the moon goddess shot and killed her beloved. Heartbroken, the moon goddess wished to die with her lover, but was saved by Zeus, the god of the universe, who happened to pass by. Zeus was moved by the moon goddess’s story, and he elevated Poseidon’s son to the sky, transforming him into Orion, so that he could accompany the moon goddess for eternity.”
“Isn’t it a beautiful story?” she looked at him and asked.
The little boy was curled up in her arms, seemingly fast asleep.
“I hope you can be brave, little one. Courage, you see, is not ignorant fearlessness, but knowing that the road ahead is difficult, yet still choosing to walk it with determination. I will be cheering for you from my world,” Yang Ruoning whispered to him.
The next day, Yang Ruoning entrusted the little boy to the old monk at a small temple, asking him to look after the boy for a couple of days. The old monk readily agreed.
The little boy’s face was flushed red, tears welling in his dark, bright eyes, clearly struggling to hold them back.
After only a few steps, he was stopped by a small hand pulling at his leg from behind. Tears like large beans streamed down his cheeks, his eyes full of pleading, making Yang Ruoning feel deeply pained.
She knelt down and wiped the tears from his small face. Yang Ruoning took off the necklace from her neck and put it on the little boy.
The necklace had a small artificial diamond pendant. She hadn’t taken off this necklace for many years.
Now, she placed it on the little boy’s neck. She told him, “This is my most precious thing. Can you keep it safe for me for a few days?”
He nodded vigorously. Then, he extended his small fist towards her. His fist slowly unfurled, revealing a small wooden carving of some crudely sculpted animal. A horse? Or a pig?
“This is for me?” she asked.
The little boy pursed his lips and nodded firmly.