In the Mirror

Bian Jing was out of work, so she decided to rent out a bedroom. Chen Chao moved in.

Determined not to sit around doing nothing, she planned to return to her old job and start writing again.

But her inspiration had dried up, and she had no idea how to begin.

One day, as usual, she sat by the window, thinking about her novel's plot.

Chen Chao came in and anxiously tried to help. "You need some inner thoughts and descriptions of the setting..."

Bian Jing sat in her study, gazing out at the swirling snow. She lit a cigarette, waited for him to finish, then asked, "Do you think you're the active or passive type?"

"I'm hyperactive."

"..."

A little scene:

Late at night, a mighty storm rolled in on an autumn day.

She and Chen Chao sat in the living room watching a TV series and discussing the plot.

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table. It was a call from Zhu Shiqing.

Bian Jing picked it up and held it to her ear. Chen Chao beside her was still chattering on about the plot.

When they heard the voice on the other end, they both asked at the same time, "Who is that?"

A story about two men pursuing one woman.

Dangerous things may be beautiful, but it's better to watch her ride home on horseback.

The title is taken from Zhang Zao's "In the Mirror":

A mirror waits for her forever,

so she can sit in the place she always sits in the mirror.

"Morning clouds fall upon the dream isle; the jade grass grows in vain in the lofty hall." - Li Bai

Written on September 20, 2021

Theme: Don't look back