If he had known that his trembling hands were the only thing that ever made her laugh, Zhang A'man would have …
If he had known that his trembling hands were the only thing that ever made her laugh, Zhang A'man would have chosen never to be cured. At least then, he might still earn a soft giggle from her.
Her brow furrowed more with each passing day, as though nothing in the world could bring her joy anymore.
He offered flowers with steady hands. He set the sugar cakes gently on the table. All he received in return was a quiet sigh.
Desperate, sleepless night after sleepless night, he asked everyone he could what she truly liked. In the end, he requested the help of a wanderer to ask her directly.
She sighed again, but the wanderer pressed her for an answer.
"Well then..." she said lightly, half in jest, "bring me 9,999 pieces of moonlight."
She said it with a laugh, and the wanderer didn't take her seriously either.
But Zhang A'man did. Day after day, night after night, he stood by the water, scooping at the moon's reflection. He even pulled strangers into the effort, asking them to help him gather the scattered light.
Whether it was gratitude or love, he no longer knew.
His hands no longer tremble. And as long as they remained steady, he would keep reaching into the water.
Until the day he could see her smile again.