Water Abstinence

[My next novel will be *Northern Yan Shen*. Thanks for being here~] You’ve seen them, haven’t you? Some classmates at school never really stand out. They’re thoroughly ordinary, and everything about them seems unremarkable. Like Zhou Wei. She’s never around where things are happening. She’s used to lingering at the edges. Years later, at a class reunion, people have to think for a moment before they remember her. “Oh, Zhou Wei. She was in my class in high school. I barely remember her. She got third place in the province on the college entrance exam, though. That’s insane. I never knew she was such a good student.” “Hey, she probably just did better than usual.” “Maybe.” And so Zhou Wei is remembered as an ordinary girl who was quiet and unremarkable in high school, studied hard, and did unexpectedly well on the college entrance exam. She’s as bland as plain water. But who can live without water? You’ll die if you don’t drink it. Here’s an upcoming novel *Martyrdom* A shy, sensitive girl falls for a street thug. People call her self-destructive. She stays quiet, believing this is her faith. “Do you know how to swear?” “No.” “Here, I’ll teach you.” He takes the cigarette from his mouth, wets his lips to clear his throat, and says, “Fuck your mother!” She falls silent. “Say it.” He gives her a sidelong glance, urging her on. She remains silent. “Damn it, girl!” He laughs in frustration and pokes her forehead. “You’re the type who’s born to get bullied!” Her head is pushed aside by his finger, but she stubbornly turns back toward him, wanting to be closer. He mutters, “You’re useless at everything! What would you do without me?” I won’t leave, she thinks. I’ll just follow him forever. [Let the world’s prejudice and gossip go to hell. Walk toward him, and go to your martyrdom.] Theme: Learning can change your future.