[A realistic 1990s school story, with no rebirth, no System, and no golden finger. Pure coming-of-age, first love, and secret crushes]
This is a warm, authentic coming-of-age novel set in a southern provincial capital in the 1990s. It follows Yan Su's journey from his first year of high school to his last. The story is woven around the theme of "encounters," exploring friendship, secret crushes, academics, family, and dreams. Yan Su and his deskmate Ren Zhen begin with a joke about his name meaning "serious," then accompany each other through the awkward years of high school. The subtle feelings he shares with girls like Lin Jun and Zhong Qin capture the first stirrings of a boy's heart. His interactions with teachers and parents reflect the distinctive educational atmosphere and generational relationships of the time.
The writing is witty and lively, with vivid, authentic details. From the era's signature touches, like the Little Tigers, Beyond, debate competitions, and choosing university majors for the college entrance exams, to young people's first serious reflections on the world, themselves, and their feelings, the novel captures it all. This is more than a story about first love. It's a yearbook of youthful memories shared by an entire generation. When you finish reading, you'll remember the person who sat beside you, the one you secretly liked, and that summer you can never go back to.
Theme: This isn't a rambling exercise in nostalgia. What I want to write about is the slow burn unique to the 1990s. Love that grows gradually and deepens over time may be the best way of all.
