Lost in Time

This is a chronicle of a secret youthful crush, tucked away between Rongcheng's midsummer and early winter. One afternoon at the start of eighth grade, transfer student Ye Zhi spots Shen Yixuan's casual gaze amid the bustle of the classroom. The golden light on the boy's hair and his carefree pen-spinning make the seeds of a crush quietly sprout amid the cicadas' cries.

Their days as deskmates bring gentle reminders tapped out with a pen on scrap paper, an accidental brush against the edge of a desk, and a silent gift of a glitter pen. There are also teasing winks from her best friends and whispered thoughts tucked into the corners of her draft paper. Sharing a flashlight beneath the moon, and the passing time among the plane trees, all become part of the young girl's private chaos.

But youthful flutterings of the heart often come with an unexpected chill. Beneath the curtain of early winter rain, the two walk side by side, one under a pink umbrella and the other under a black one. In the end, the feelings that bloomed in midsummer cannot withstand the season turning cold. The story has the scent of soap on the hems of school uniforms, thanks left unspoken, and warmth hidden in a scarf. It also captures the ache of an unrequited crush and the wistfulness of growing up, laying bare the purest young love and regrets, and recreating that careful, sparkling stretch of youth everyone remembers.

Passionate, outgoing heartthrob × timid, meek girl

Theme: Coming of age