The novel uses the first-person perspective of "Gu Heqing" and tells the story of her encounter, mutual understanding, mutual influence, and eventual separation from the genius girl "Zero Aldehyde" (Lin Quan) during her three years in high school.
Real and delicate psychological portrayal: This is the most outstanding advantage of the novel. The author extremely accurately captures the sensitivity, inferiority, longing, love and pain of adolescent girls. Gu Heqing's perspective allows readers to deeply feel her complex emotions mixed with admiration, protection and love for Zero Aldehyde, as well as her confusion and fear when facing her own sexuality and social pressure.
Unique intellectual narrative: The organic integration of academic knowledge such as mathematics and biology into the narrative and character dialogue is not only the key to character creation (Zero Aldehyde understands the world and himself through scientific language), but also forms the unique aesthetic style of the novel. This knowledge is not about showing off skills, but the externalization of the characters' emotions and thoughts. For example, "binary star system" is used as a metaphor for interdependent relationships, and "nonlinear chaos" is used as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life.
Full and tragic character creation: Zero Aldehyde is a very charming tragic character. She is both a genius and a victim trapped in family expectations and mental illness. Her fragility, paranoia, and questioning of the "meaning of existence" make her appear extremely real and heart-wrenching. Gu Heqing's growth arc is also very clear, from a passive follower to trying to become a guardian, and finally learning to move forward with pain in the loss.
Purpose: The author uses amazing insight and empathy to construct two unforgettable images of young girls, and through their stories, raises heavy questions about contemporary education, family relationships and adolescent mental health.