Disenchantment

Shen Zhe, a solitary boy from the mountains, has long lived with other people's incomprehension. One autumn morning, he meets Lu Zhaolie by a cliff. Lu Zhaolie sees through the loneliness hidden beneath his silence at a glance, and is willing to sit with him and look at the mountains, giving him an understanding he has never received before. Lu Zhaolie is naturally dazzling, yet arrogant and selfish to the core. He never plans to hurt Shen Zhe, but lets him place his whole heart in Lu Zhaolie's hands. The two travel together, and Shen Zhe sinks into this rare warmth until Lu Zhaolie grows tired of him and quietly walks away. Years pass, and they meet again at a market. Shen Zhe sees Lu Zhaolie once more, still carrying the scars left behind all those years ago. The old wounds don't erupt into a furious argument; they remain hidden in subtle physical reactions. He is still drawn to Lu Zhaolie's radiance, but knows in his heart that if he gets close one more time, the wound will tear open. There is no hysterical confrontation, no perfect reconciliation. When trauma resides in one's flesh and bones for so long, this long, clear-eyed awakening is the process of seeing through the illusion. Theme: A story about the attachment and heartbreak of an outsider, exploring the tenderness and harm brought by dazzling people, recognizing how trauma endures, and telling of the slow process of letting go of obsession and seeing someone clearly.