Gentle Warmth Through the Years

When they were little, Xie Zhiyao pushed through the jeering crowd, helped Xu Huaian up after she had been knocked to the ground, and said, "Don't be afraid." The little girl nervously clutched the hem of the other girl's clothes. For the first time, she felt warmth from a stranger. When they were teenagers, Xu Huaian looked at the wrecked art studio, crouched down, and sighed as she wiped Xie Zhiyao's tears. "Don't cry." Xie Zhiyao raised her tearful eyes and saw a tenderness in the girl's usually cool gaze that belonged to her alone. Later, during the days they were forced apart, their memories of the past became their warmest comfort. If the future is destined to be filled with thorns, then I choose to hold your hand and embrace that sea of stars with you. No matter how many mountains and seas lie between us, nothing is as precious as you. A childhood-sweethearts story about growing up and being there for each other. It spans a long stretch of time, starting in high school. It includes some realistic elements, so it's not pure fluff. The place names in the story are inspired by real ones, but none are direct counterparts, so just consider the setting fictional. Slow burn, happy ending. Updates every two or three days, scheduled for 9 p.m. Premise: We are each other's light.