[Campus] x [Reunion] x [Angsty romance] x [Soldier] x [Bad ending]
This is a story about growing up and finding the courage to love in an age of fast, disposable romance.
Gu Shihuai never thought of herself as someone ruled by love. Then she ran into Mei Lanan again, and decided maybe she should go forage for wild vegetables too.
The Anthology of Birds says, “The blue eucalyptus has found its bird, and loves nothing in the world but you.” It seems like the most beautiful confession imaginable.
Shihuai always thought she’d been lucky enough to briefly be that bird, dazzling Mei Lanan’s entire youth.
But the next line says, “The bird comes and goes with no date of return; waking from the dream, all that remains is drifting cloud.” It was just a dream of happiness, ending in empty joy.
Gu Shihuai says, “There’s so much insincerity in this world that I believed you without reservation, simply because you were you.
“I always thought I was too sensitive and suspicious, too selfish and guarded to be suited for love.
“Later, I understood that the you in my memories of youth was still the most beautiful, and that I shouldn’t try to make the person you are now into the person I remember.
“I’m still the simple, innocent girl they all talk about, someone who hasn’t seen the world and still lives in a utopia of her own making.
“I understand now. I have no regrets, and nothing left to lament.
“I’ll still believe in love, look forward to love, and long for love.”
Later, Gu Shihuai redefined her name, Shihuai, changing the pronunciation from shi to shi: to sow hope.
“I never dream of plucking the moon. The moon will always come to me.”
