The Moon Upon My Heart - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Holding Hands

She Will Never Let Go Again

The Xiangshi Aquarium opened just a few years ago. Back then, Shen Wangshu’s parents were still on relatively good terms and had taken her there once. However, that memory felt like a lifetime ago to her; her impressions of the place were blurry, making everything feel fresh and new.

On a summer weekend, the aquarium was packed. At the first-floor entrance and lobby, Shen Wangshu and Ji Fengyue were practically shoulder-to-shoulder, pushed by the crowd toward the escalators.

“There are so many people today. Let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated.”

Suddenly finding her hand held by Ji Fengyue, Shen Wangshu glanced at her. Hearing the explanation, she simply nodded without a word.

Once they headed upstairs, the lighting inside dimmed significantly. The only illumination came from the shimmering lights within the tanks, making the fish appear even more vibrant.

Every tourist was captivated by the multi-colored fish drifting past Shen Wangshu included.

Ji Fengyue, however, was different. Her attention remained fixed on Shen Wangshu, the only variation being whether she was “looking openly” or “watching quietly out of the corner of her eye.”

“So beautiful.” With one hand pressed against the glass wall, Shen Wangshu stared blankly at a massive school of tiny, nameless iridescent fish drifting through the blue water.

Behind them followed several much larger fish. With a sweep of their tails, they scattered the small fishes’ neat formation, only for the little ones to cluster together again a moment later, continuing their rhythmic dance.

“Mm, it is beautiful.” Through the reflection on the glass, Ji Fengyue noticed Shen Wangshu’s increasingly pale face. The hand she was holding felt colder than before.

“Is the air conditioning too high here? Wangshu, are you cold?”

“Hmm? No, I actually feel a bit warm,” Shen Wangshu’s focus snapped back. She suddenly realized something. “Right, you’re wearing shorts. Let’s move to another area.”

Seeing that Shen Wangshu wasn’t uncomfortable, Ji Fengyue nodded and continued forward, still holding her hand.

Shen Wangshu continued to browse the various tanks. She didn’t have the habit of taking photos; rather than using external devices to record things, she preferred to etch her mood and the atmosphere of the moment into her heart.

A photograph that never fades might exist, but compared to that, feelings were the things truly worth treasuring and revisiting.

However, as the two stepped onto the underwater tunnel’s moving walkway, the atmosphere somehow turned somber.

“You don’t seem very happy. What’s wrong?” Though she was still looking ahead, Shen Wangshu spoke up suddenly.

“The reason might be a bit of a buzzkill. Do you still want to hear it?”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind. I’m actually getting a bit tired of this too—probably for the same reason as you.”

Ji Fengyue suddenly chuckled and turned to look at Shen Wangshu. Both spoke in unison: “No freedom.”

Shen Wangshu shook her head gently. “Living a seemingly carefree life, yet being nothing more than playthings for people to watch.”

“Engaged in meaningless, repetitive pursuit,” Ji Fengyue added. “Trapped in a glass bowl with empty minds, knowing nothing of the wider world.”

“I don’t want to become like that,” Shen Wangshu said.

“That’s why they are kept here,” Ji Fengyue replied with a statement that sounded cryptic, yet Shen Wangshu understood perfectly.

Because they lack the capacity for thought and never think of changing their circumstances, they remain aquatic creatures for display in an aquarium, rather than evolving into intelligent life.

They are kept in captivity because of their beautiful appearance, from birth until death, never knowing freedom. They don’t even know what freedom means; their entire world exists within these small tanks.

But Ji Fengyue wasn’t like that. She would do everything in her power to jump out of the “box.” She would study hard for her goals and fight to change her life.

Shen Wangshu laughed softly. Turning her head, she saw a version of Ji Fengyue whose style was completely different from her memory.

Here they were, in an aquarium they would never have visited together in the past. Ji Fengyue was more youthful and unbridled than in their previous life. Her face was illuminated by the shimmering light reflected from the water; that confident smile was more captivating to Shen Wangshu than all the beautiful scenery surrounding them.

“Yeah, I really do like you.”

The sudden confession made Ji Fengyue’s eyes widen. She reached up reflexively to adjust her glasses, only to remember she wasn’t wearing them today. To hide her reaction, she simply squeezed Shen Wangshu’s hand tighter.

“Why so sudden?” Ji Fengyue could only be grateful for the dim lighting. No one could see her expression clearly, or Shen Wangshu would surely see how much she was blushing.

Damn, my face is starting to burn.

“I don’t know, I just suddenly thought of it?” Shen Wangshu tilted her head, her smile turning even sweeter. “Because I really do like you. You’re my idol, after all.”

“…That’s an exaggeration.” Ji Fengyue turned her head away slightly, her gaze flickering. She didn’t dare meet Shen Wangshu’s eyes, yet she couldn’t resist wanting to see that earnest expression.

An “idol”—an object of worship. But what about her was worth Shen Wangshu’s worship?

This person was the one she learned from, the goal she was chasing.

“We’ve reached the end. Where to next?” Shen Wangshu didn’t catch the deeper meaning of Ji Fengyue’s silence, assuming she was just being shy.

Ji Fengyue usually tossed out “I like you” so casually, yet she got shy when it was said back to her. It was adorable.

“Let’s go to the Jellyfish Hall. Cough—I noticed earlier that it leads to Dolphin Square. The show should be starting soon.”

“Okay.”

The two walked into the even dimmer Jellyfish Hall. There were far fewer tourists here—just a few adults scattered about and a group of rowdy kids touching and looking at everything.

Side by side, they walked toward a standalone tank in the center. It wasn’t large, looking more like a sealed glass cylinder. Peach-pink lights glowed from the bottom, illuminating many coin-sized jellyfish drifting in the water, their translucent bodies reflecting a color like peach blossoms.

“Craspedacusta sowerbii—a small jellyfish that lives in freshwater rivers and lakes.” Shen Wangshu read the plaque at the base of the tank. She leaned down, face close to the glass, observing them closely.

“There are five petal-like tentacles at the bottom. Looking at just this part, they really do look like peach blossoms. With the pink light, it’s even more striking.”

“Clustered together like this, they look like a shower of peach blossoms in the water. Truly beautiful.”

They watched for a while before moving on. Various standalone tanks were scattered throughout the hall, containing jellyfish of all sizes. They looked similar at first glance, but close observation revealed distinct differences.

“It’s already eleven! Let’s hurry, the show is starting.”

“Mom, Dad, I want to watch more! This jellyfish is so cute and round.”

“What’s there to see? Let’s go to Dolphin Square. The sea lion show is much more interesting.”

“Yay! A show! Mom, do you think there will be dolphins…”

Hearing the family of three nearby, Shen Wangshu gave a small sigh. “No wonder there aren’t many tourists here. Most people probably find watching jellyfish boring.”

“The lights are dim, the air is cold, and the jellyfish look similar. To most people, the only difference is size and the length of their tentacles.”

“Jellyfish move slowly and don’t react to tourists. The only beautiful thing about them is the artificial lighting. It’s striking at first, but in a jellyfish hall, it just feels like a commonplace artificial display.”

Ji Fengyue stated the reason calmly and concluded: “To those who don’t know how to appreciate them, it is indeed quite boring.”

“However, there are also those willing to stay here. There’s no need to feel pity.”

“Young lady, you’re absolutely right. For those who can appreciate them, no matter how many rare and beautiful creatures the aquarium has, their eyes can only see these.”

A man in his forties, wearing glasses and a t-shirt, walked over. He held a very professional-looking camera and wore a smile.

To the man who had suddenly chimed in, Shen Wangshu greeted him politely: “Hello, Uncle. Do you like them a lot?”

“Haha, I wouldn’t call it ‘like’ exactly. I’m no scientist studying jellyfish; I’m just passing the time.” The man shook his head with a smile and showed the two high school girls the photos on his camera, letting them scroll through.

The photos featured many types of jellyfish—some clustered together like the peach blossom jellyfish, others a single bell filling the entire frame, and some with a chaotic tangle of tentacles that possessed a unique beauty in the current…

The composition of the photos was ingenious. The blurred backgrounds emphasized the forms of the jellyfish. Each one looked like it could be a wallpaper or a poster.

It was clear he truly loved them.

“In this world where everything pursues ‘fast’ and ‘speed,’ carving out a moment to slow down and watch these slow little cuties makes my mood feel inexplicably lighter. It’s as if the stress built up inside me is expelled with every pulse of their bodies.”

“I understand.” Ji Fengyue’s expression softened. She understood perfectly the feeling of one’s soul being purified just by looking at something.

Some things provide a sense of stability just by existing. It was very healing.

“Uncle, which jellyfish do you like the most? Have you taken photos of them?”

“Oh, let me see…” The man took the camera back, clicked through several times, and handed it back to Ji Fengyue. “These are Moon Jellyfish. A beautiful name, right?”

“Though their bodies are mostly transparent, they appear white from different angles. Look, like this and this. Whether it’s a full moon or a crescent, they look just like it—moons in the sea.”

“They’re very pretty. Uncle, you’ve kept the ‘moon’ inside your camera.”

Hearing Shen Wangshu’s words, the man blinked. He rubbed his nose and laughed bashfully. “Young girls really are different. Even a casual remark sounds so romantic.”

“If it were me, I would use every means and every effort to catch my own ‘moon’.” Ji Fengyue handed the camera back to the stranger, then nonchalantly took Shen Wangshu’s hand, a look of absolute determination in her smile.

“What I want, I must have.”

Her moon wasn’t in the sky, nor was it in the sea.

Her moon was right beside her, and she had already caught it.

This time, no matter what, she would never let go again.