Fireflies Lighting Up the Night

After spending five years slogging through a major she had no interest in, Song Ying chose the most unconventional life after graduation: no grad school, no civil service exams. Instead, she threw herself into volunteer work that paid nothing and cost money.

Teaching in a remote mountain village.

Planting trees in the desert.

Taking charge of rescue work along the coast.

Protecting wildlife in the rainforest.

Her next stop: volunteering at a hospice.

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The hospice wasn't as oppressive as she'd imagined. It had warm colors, the calm of a place wrapped in morning mist, and the scent of jasmine.

Turning around, she met a young man with cool, pale skin, as quiet as a shadow, like an old sheet of rice paper covered in stories.

She stood before him and smiled as she introduced herself. "My name is Song Ying. Ying, as in firefly. What about you? Are you a volunteer here too?"

He said, "Qing Ye. Ye, as in night."

She thought of a line: The light of a firefly can illuminate the night.

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Later, when the early summer breeze carried the scent of locust blossoms, she saw fireflies guarding the entire night sky.

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*A short story, under 100,000 characters

*Not a sad story, but warm and healing

*Free to read, no paid chapters

Theme: Love life and pursue what you want with courage