Hello, Binchotan. My Name Is Xuezhong Songtan

Binchotan, a girl with a piece of charcoal perched on her head, lives alone in an old house deep in the mountains after the death of the only grandmother she had.

She sleeps beneath a spotless quilt with a huge hole in it.

In the morning, she says, "I'm heading out," to the empty old house, then goes to work in town. When she returns, she says, "I'm home," to the empty house once more.

Her days are poor, her life is hard, and her sincerity is simple and genuine, though sometimes she feels lonely.

One day, Binchotan discovers a new neighbor living near her home.

He, too, has a piece of charcoal perched on his silver hair. Little Binchotan is curious about the older boy, but their age difference means they don't interact much.

Still, a sweet potato or a bottle of soda will suddenly appear outside her door...

Then, one winter, heavy snow blankets the forest, and little Binchotan is alone at home with a fever that won't break.

The older boy places a towel on her forehead and smiles.

"Hello, Binchotan. My name is Xue Zhong Song Tan..."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.