“Here I am,” he said kindly to the window. “The two of you just go ahead without looking back. Chunxiu, haven’t you now gotten in touch with the Blue Mountain people? This should reassure you. And Kay, you’re now so composed. I’m overwhelmed by your grace . . .”

His train of thought was broken because someone pushed the door open and came in.

“Did Mrs. Yi send you?” The woman stood still; she was bewildered.

“Mrs. Yi used to be my student,” replied the director.

“Oh, how lucky you are! No, I mean how lucky both of you are! And I am also very lucky because I happen to live in Yun Village. I don’t know how to say it. I wish I could bite off my clumsy tongue! I was blind . . .”

“May I have your name, please?”

“Don’t ask. I am the daughter-in-law of the dead old lady Aunt Yossi. Mrs. Yi gave my daughter a second chance at life . . . Where was I?”

“You were saying you love Mrs. Yi, right?”

“I would give my life for her!”

“Why? She doesn’t need that. She loves you dearly.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’ve often heard her speak of you. She says you’re the most loving person.”

“Oh, I’m feeling unsteady on my feet. I have to go.”

She abruptly disappeared.

When the director awoke in the middle of the night, he heard a sigh.

A young man was sitting on a stone bench in the moonlight.

“Are you sitting here because you miss Mrs. Yi?” asked the director.

“Yes, every day after leaving her, I feel nervous. Who are you? I can’t see you, I see only a halo. Are you the old director? I’ve heard a lot about you. My name is Gray.”

“Gray. That’s a good name. But why on earth do you feel nervous?”

“Because my wife is moody. Sometimes she has a goal in life, sometimes not. When she loses her goal, she becomes a different person. That’s why I’m always rattled.”

“I see. So there is happiness in this kind of panic. You want freedom. You and your wife have set your sights high. Am I right?”

“Absolutely right! Director, the moment I looked at you, I felt I had found the answer. Thank you, and I thank you on behalf of my wife.”

Excited, Gray stood up and embraced the halo. He shed tears of happiness. In his whole life, he had never embraced a halo. How extraordinary!

All the way home, Gray felt the light of the halo shining on his back.

The old director was also very excited. He could hear the herbs rustling restlessly in the darkness. “What a beautiful night,” he said. “It turns out I can still be useful to others.” Thinking about his favorite student becoming a major figure in Yun Village, his heart warmed with pride.

Before dawn, the director was awakened by the calls of various birds. He went out to look for the birds. He took the road straight into the mountains. Standing at the door of her home, Mrs. Yi saw a small dot of light swinging on the mountain road, as if immersed in a certain artistic scene. She smiled with relief, and inwardly called out, “Director! My teacher . . .”