Where the South Wind Falls North

They first met on a slow-moving train in a foreign country. Later, layer after layer of mist clouded her memories of Lu Zhehuai: his white shirt, the faint scent of his cigarette. In the end, someone left the picture, and all that remained in the frame was blankness. Several years passed in a roundabout way. Sheng Zhixia traveled across wide-open landscapes with her camera, but after returning, a few glasses of strong liquor at a banquet made her heart ache. Lu Zhehuai was still the same. Outside his formal suit, he wore a crisp overcoat. He was as effortlessly composed as ever, and had no need to deal with anyone. When others asked, she said they weren't close. Lu Zhehuai didn't contradict her, but his gaze was restrained and troubled. "I'm heading out," she said casually. "Someone bad-tempered is waiting for me at home." As they passed each other, he caught sight of the ring on her hand. That night, Lu Zhehuai's car stayed parked beneath her apartment building until morning. Snow began to fall before dawn. He leaned against the car door in the cold wind, looking up at the scattered lights on the top floor. Smoke drifted from between his fingers and vanished in the wind. The moment the light went out, cigarette ash burned his hand. ** ● The first half is uneventful, with an even slower build than a slow-burn romance. Overall, this isn't a sweet romance. ● Both leads are sexually inexperienced and each other's one and only. Happy ending. Four-year age gap, a slight coming-of-age element. The female lead later devotes herself to wildlife conservation. * The early version has some shortcomings. Thank you for being understanding. The revised edition is available only on Jinjiang. - Blurb written 2023.5.2, revised 6.25 Theme: Break through every shackle