The River of No Return

I am Yu Meng'an.

Back then, I was twenty-two. The grand love I had imagined shattered at a single dismissive remark from the other person, and I was utterly defeated. That person stood above me, up in the clouds, watching as I foolishly pushed myself into the dust, looking on with cold indifference. That's when I understood: love was gone, and even pity was unnecessary.

From then on, I wore a strand of Buddhist prayer beads around my left wrist. The faint fragrance of sandalwood and the wood's distinct warmth helped calm me.

I am Lin Xin. That year, I was seventeen, too young to speak of love lightly.

I know, I know, I've always known that our love might not have a happy ending. But at some point, he took root in my heart, deep and unmoving, like a great mountain.