[For my new work, please check out The Vicious Root, coming in August.
First, I want to apologize. Death is [temporarily] on hiatus. I originally chose this subject because my grandfather's passing gave me some insights into death and love. But there was too much I wanted to express in this book, and I expected too much of it, so even the slightest disappointment could make me lose heart.
Since it's the only book I have on the go, forcing myself to write something I'm unhappy with makes me lose heart, and when I lose heart, I can't write. It's become a vicious cycle.
After weighing it carefully, I've decided that taking a break and starting a different book is the best choice for now. Of course, I won't abandon Death. I'll revise the outline and detailed plot outline, and write the story exactly as I want to tell it. When the time comes, I'll return with it and meet you all again. That's the respect the creative process deserves.
Thank you!]
Yin Bai died and lost all his memories from when he was alive.
His soul had no value, but fortunately, he'd accumulated plenty of merit. He only had to work for a hundred years before he could be reincarnated.
The good news was that he'd landed a job at a company of grim reapers.
The bad news was that he ranked last in performance every month and was at risk of being laid off.
Without a job, his soul would dissipate, so Yin Bai decided to land his first assignment: taking Jiang Mu's life.
Human life was fragile. All it would take was a little accident to
Not nearly enough.
Yin Bai held the flowerpot he was about to drop in both hands, silently meeting the other man's gaze.
After a long moment, he set the pot down and gave an awkward laugh. "Haha, have you eaten? The weather's great today."
Dark clouds filled the sky.
Jiang Mu toyed with the ID card from the underworld in his hand and glanced down at him. "So you're saying... you're a grim reaper?"
Yin Bai nodded obediently. "Yes."
The man's voice was gentle, but the knife handle pressed against Yin Bai's waist.
Looking at Yin Bai's nearly tearful expression, Jiang Mu chuckled. "If you want me to die, fine. Grant me one wish."
Yin Bai: "...Huh?"
I'm a grim reaper, not a wish-granter!
Jiang Mu left the Jiang family when he was thirteen, vaguely understanding that disobedient dogs got kicked out.
Born without anyone's blessing, he had to survive in the alley at the end of the street, among the garbage bins.
Unfortunately, cigarette butts couldn't fill his stomach, and Jiang Mu's life was fading away.
Someone appeared and said to him, "Stay alive. If someone ever asks you what it takes to feel happy, tell them you want to be loved."
Jiang Mu laughed, his eyes full of malice. He nodded and said yes, but in his heart he thought that if that person ever appeared, he'd kill them on the spot.
He knew love needed to be nurtured by both gain and sacrifice, with love entwined with hate.
But after all those long years, he could no longer tell what he hated or understand what he loved. So he resorted to viciously threatening a grim reaper.
"I want love. Give it to me."
A deranged, repressed top with no empathy x a resilient, sunshine-like bottom with no emotions
Theme: Death is not the end, because love is eternal
