From being “booger buddies” in kindergarten to becoming soulmates who weathered their youth side by side, Lin Xiaoman and Su Nian’an’s story is one of mutual devotion spanning more than twenty years.
The first time they met, Lin Xiaoman cried her heart out over a dinosaur that had lost its tail. Su Nian’an offered her a jasmine-scented tissue and summed up their bond with a little wordplay: “Nian, the longing that makes your heart itch; An, the warmth that fills your chest.” From secret forts in kindergarten to the boundary line between deskmates in elementary school, from sneaking in extra lessons in middle school to missing each other across cities in college, they bickered through their chaotic everyday lives, yet always stood up for each other when needed. Lin Xiaoman’s blunt loyalty gave Su Nian’an the courage to face the world, while Su Nian’an’s gentle acceptance gave Lin Xiaoman the confidence to be unapologetically herself.
There are no contrived misunderstandings or vicious rivals, just sweetness tucked into the little things: half a strawberry candy shared, one umbrella held between them on a rainy day, a workbook of corrected mistakes drawn up late at night, and sunsets watched together as adults. From toddlers in split-crotch pants to grown-ups who can stand on their own, they witness each other’s every step forward, turning “I’m used to having you around” into “I only want you.”
This is a story of companionship and healing, humor and comfort. It follows the everyday lives of two ordinary childhood friends, filled with the purest affection and the gentlest, most enduring tenderness. It will make you smile in remembrance and feel the strength of growing up through all the sweetness.
