Endless Delusion

[Beautiful tragedy • mutual salvation • sweet everyday school romance • slight ensemble cast]

[Gloomy, bent on dying Xu Qingjiu X life-loving, talkative, money-grubbing Wei Zhaoyuan]

(A sunny bird with a black-sesame filling, and her precious fruit tree: world-weary, awkward, and a double standard)

Roots sink deep into the darkness underground, so branches may reach the boundless spring breeze.

At fifteen, Wei Zhaoyuan said to the boy trying to take his own life in an alley, “Giving up on life is something only cowards do.”

“My surname is Wei, and my given name is Zhaoyuan. May everything shine as I wish, and may every year be peaceful and safe.”

At sixteen, Wei Zhaoyuan said to Xu Qingjiu, whose eyes held nothing but a pool of dead water:

“Not only are you good-looking, you're an amazing person too!”

“Winning the grand prize brings people good luck. I hope you're happy every day.”

And then there was: “Xu Qingjiu, if I find you in hide-and-seek, you'll grant me one wish. How about it?”

But what had been planned for so long wasn't a confession. It was leaving without saying goodbye.

“Xu Qingjiu, I give up at hide-and-seek. I don't want you to grant my wish anymore. I just want you to come out.”

“Xu Qingjiu, I can't find you.”

(Content warning: tragic ending!!! The everyday pacing is on the slow side, mostly from the female lead's perspective, with plenty of goofy humor.)

(Slight ensemble cast! A mix of boys and girls with different personalities, strumming brooms like guitars at school, climbing over the wall to buy snacks... )