Old Dreams Are Hard to Reclaim

In the turbulent years of the Republic of China, he was the son of a warlord, burdened by his family’s shackles. Gentle at heart, he was powerless to choose his own path. She was a merchant’s daughter, confined by the rules of the inner quarters. Her heart was pure, yet she was afraid to resist.

A fleeting encounter kindled a glimmer of light in a world torn by chaos. They secretly exchanged ginkgo leaves as tokens and arranged to meet at the end of an alley, believing tenderness could withstand the crushing weight of power and true love could weather the tides of the age.

But the iron grip of their families, factional strife, and misunderstandings born of cruel coincidence became blades that cut to the heart. He struggled between loyalty to his family and love, while she withered between obedience and longing.

When the smoke cleared, only ruins remained of the old place. That broken piece of jade and that withered leaf became dreams he could never reclaim for the rest of his life. In the end, the greatest pain was not a lack of love, but loving with all your heart and watching fate crush you both, until even a farewell became an impossible wish.