*
Xu Yan died, jumping without a second thought from the 30th floor. Like a stray cat by the roadside, she vanished into the night.
The internet was soon flooded with hit pieces and speculation about the cause of her death. Amid the uproar, her company used her Weibo account to post an obituary:
It is with profound sadness that we announce Ms. Xu Yan passed away on the 13th of this month, at the age of just 29.
The obituary was so brief, it seemed the company was desperate to erase all evidence that she had ever existed in this world.
The company held a small memorial service for her. She had few friends in life, and only a handful attended.
Xu Yan's soul floated above the funeral hall, watching indifferently as her boss arrived right on time, hurriedly bowed, and left; her mother, who still didn't know she hated people touching her hair; and her best friend, wearing a dress in the color she hated most...
There was also the friend who brought her favorite lilies, and her manager, who stayed by her side the whole time without leaving...
At this carefully choreographed farewell, everyone played the role expected of them. Nobody fought for screen time or the spotlight, and nobody bought trending searches.
Everyone thought the story ended there. But the fragments of truth deliberately buried had never been forgotten. Together with countless versions of Xu Yan, they gathered strength to break through the darkness and see the light of day again.
[Reading Guide]
▸ No CP, entertainment-industry mystery and deduction, episodic storytelling
▸ A grounded, somber tone. The heroine is clear-headed and independent. Read with caution if that's not for you.
▸ Please add my upcoming novel to your favorites. I'll let you know when it starts.
Premise: Death isn't frightening. Being forgotten is
