Fog and Lanterns

*The school arc is over* - Qiao Jin’s youth was shrouded in a dull, gray haze. It was boring and ordinary, and full of troubles. Liking Zhou Xingyan was her most distant secret. He was an exemplary student, good in every way, with no flaws anyone could point out Until she accidentally caught him breaking the rules. Unlike his usual gentle, polite self, he seemed cold and disillusioned with the world. Later, just before the college entrance exams, her studies became so overwhelming she could hardly breathe. She secretly went to the university he attended, never expecting to actually run into him. She was always reluctant to drink the yogurt he bought her. And she remembered for a long time the offhand words of encouragement he gave her. / One day, by chance, Zhou Xingyan found some old, blurry photos on her old phone. The only man she had ever taken a picture of was him. It turned out he and Qiao Jin had gone to the same school. It turned out she had liked him for a long time, while he had no memory of her at all. Much later, Zhou Xingyan asked whether she had ever thought of exposing his false facade after seeing him break school rules back then. Qiao Jin paused, then smiled and said, “No.” On a sweltering afternoon, she stood outside the door and watched the dappled light and shadows at her feet. She didn’t leave. She only wanted to quietly protect the heavy, troubled thoughts in his heart. / 2026.7.4 / Next book: Light Rain on the Windowsill On a rainy day, Xi Ning arrived at her student’s home drenched to the skin. She stood awkwardly by the door, carefully wiping away the water, afraid she might make a mess of someone else’s home. Someone came down the stairs. She looked up and suddenly met Liang Xuqing’s gaze. Xi Ning had been tutoring for almost half a year. This was only the second time she had met her student’s older brother. He kindly lent her a clean shirt, though it was a man’s. * Only Xi Ning knew she had done it on purpose that day. Before entering the Liang family home, she had seen the man’s car. So she folded up her umbrella. Liang Xuqing laughed when he heard, his meaning unclear. “Did you think I didn’t know?” * A girl’s secret crush / 2026.8.27 Theme: You are the only light in the fog of your own life.