"Woah..." came Pipi's voice as the door slowly swung open to reveal a peaceful courtyard. In the center was a rock garden, lined with plum blossoms on each side and half buried by snow. Pipi looked up and saw that in each corner of the sky there was the roof, brimming with gently-swaying old grass. It was unspeakably clear and cold. It was unspeakably melancholy.
Pipi took measure of her surroundings, and felt a little self-doubt as to whether she was in the right place. Advancing into the drawing room, she no longer had any doubt.
The arrangement of the drawing room was sufficient proof of Helan Jing's identity as a collector.
Outdated furniture, copper in every corner. Celadon vases on red sandalwood tables. On the walls were strokes of calligraphy by famous artists whom no one could fail to recognize, filled with ancient meanings. There was a gleaming oaken floor and twinkling enamel. A red sofa by the window was the only out-of-place piece in the room, looking like an imported good from a shopping mall.
Pipi sat down on the sofa and noticed that in Helan's hands there was already an apple. She didn't know how long he'd had it, but he too took a seat opposite Pipi and began gently cutting the apple with a knife made of jasper on the rosewood coffee table.
He was still being courteous.
Slicing away, Helan suddenly trembled, and he made a cut in his finger from which blood immediately flowed, leaving behind scarlet prints on the apple. As though he felt no pain, he continued to concentrate on cutting the apple, maintaining an extremely graceful position. Pipi gazed at his face and thought that he had an extremely enchanting appearance, but it was a pity that he wore sunglasses. It needlessly gave him a cold air and made him look like a bodyguard, or perhaps a hitman of the criminal underworld.
The mark gradually spread and deepened, turning a copper colour.
"Your hand is bleeding," Pipi said.
"Ah."
He looked at the fruit, and without paying any attention, cut the bloodstained fruit into four,.
The piece that he handed to her was bloody.
Maybe he hadn't noticed. Pipi didn't want to seem picky, so she smiled, put the apple in her mouth, chewed and swallowed it.
She found that Helan usually kept his head down, but she saw that he was careful to watch her do this.
"Well, Mister Helan, you've been most courteous," Pipi said.
"Don't mention it. You can just call me Helan," he gently corrected her.
"Helan... could I start interviewing you now?"
"Wait a moment."
He went to the kitchen and returned with a plate and a western-style knife and fork, all silver and glowing with light.
Pipi made a groan and asked, "Mr Helan, haven't you eaten yet?"
It was already nine o'clock.
"No," he said.
"What are you going to eat at night?"
He Lanjing thought about it and suddenly put down his fork and said, "Shall I send you home?"
"Well, if you don't mind, I was hoping to visit your room. I want to know what a famous collector's room is like!" Pipi said with a smile.
"Are you better? You're not going to vomit, right?" Helan asked.
"It's alright, honestly."
"Follow me."
In fact, Helan's courtyard was at the highest point fo the mountain, only a few steps from the summit. The wall of the courtyard climbed up the mountain and surrounded a large area including the top of the mountain.
There was an octagonal kiosk on the top of the mountain and a huge stone bench was under it, surrounded by a railing of the white marble and a steep north slope.
Going to the stone platform, He Lanjing suddenly asked: "Do you like this place?"
"It's okay. A little sinister." Pipi felt the mountain breeze and for some reason sensed a dangerous atmosphere. She could not help but look at Helan, and her legs trembled.
There was a well in the middle of the stone platform, and standing at its side, she looked into it and saw that it was empty and not very deep. The wall of the well was smooth marble and it looked small on the outside but contained such a spacious hole. Cold moonlight shone straight into it, lighting the well.
Outside, there was nothing but the stone bench.
At her side, Helan Jing was still giving off his deep scent of ferns and mountain trees.
He gazed at her softly, then said "Pipi, will you accompany me to the moon tonight?"
His voice brimmed with a bewitching attraction. She suddenly noticed that he'd put his hand on her waist.
With a slight push, she fell.