A Shepherd's Song Through the Seasons

Quirky heroine vs. rugged steppe hero ‖ 166 cm vs. 188 cm

1.

To prepare for her graduation project, Xia Weixi travels alone to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia to spend a year filming a documentary.

By the time she reaches her destination, it's almost dusk. Wisps of smoke rise above the yurts, and she introduces herself to the woman of the house.

As the two chat, a long, resonant call suddenly sounds beside them.

Xia Weixi turns instinctively and sees a figure galloping toward them on horseback.

Behind him, the sun hangs low on the horizon. Beneath him lie dry grass and dark brown earth.

She can't help squinting as a phrase comes to mind: “Fine clothes, galloping horse.”

2.

Xia Weixi is endlessly curious about everything on the grasslands, like a little kid with an endless supply of questions.

Chao Ketu's answers, however, are always short and to the point.

“How does a mother sheep know which one is her baby?”

“She just knows.”

“What did you eat as a kid to get so tall?”

“Meat.”

“Hey, have you ever been anywhere else?”

“No.”

“Can you say a few more words?”

“What should I say?”

“...”

3. Xia Weixi quickly adapts to life in the area. Before long, she's learned to ride horses, milk cows, and herd sheep...

Winter comes early on the grasslands, and snow drifts gently down.

One day, she runs after a lost lamb and accidentally wanders too far. When she turns around, her footprints have vanished. The world seems to be nothing but an endless stretch of white.

Her phone has run out of battery, too.

With the snow falling harder, Xia Weixi has no choice but to hug the lamb and huddle in a hollow in the hills, out of the wind, hoping it will stop soon.

Night falls. The darkness all around seems ready to swallow everything, and faint howls drift from somewhere in the distance.

She immediately tenses.

Wolves!

Xia Weixi freezes in place. She doesn't know whether to run, let alone which way to go.

She collapses onto the snow, giving up, and even starts reliving her life like a series of scenes flashing before her eyes.

In a daze, a point of light appears in the darkness. Then a tall figure enters her view, drawing closer until he stops in front of her. For a moment, even the wind seems to die down.

Xia Weixi almost bursts into tears.

4. In the blink of an eye, summer ends. The green grass is cut and rolled into “Swiss rolls,” which means it's time for her to leave.

That day, the two of them sit side by side on top of one, spending the entire afternoon there.

Winter passes, spring comes, and Xia Weixi finally completes her graduation project.

Her roommate comes back from outside and says someone is looking for her downstairs.

“Who?”

“Don't know.”

Full of questions, Xia Weixi goes to the balcony to look down and freezes.

That tall, broad-shouldered figure stands out from the crowd passing to and fro, unmistakable as a crane among chickens.

Theme: Life is a journey.