Eternal Sorrow

When she knew nothing about the world around her, she still believed it was beautiful. Her answer sheet was as white as a blank page, yet no one ever believed in her. Was she really that bad? Was her own “paper” really so “dirty”? She had mastered music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet people broke her hands and feet, leaving her unable to move properly, and still ordered her to endure onstage. How many people, from ancient times to the present, could bear that agonizing pain? If a pure white jasmine flower is left for too long, will it begin to seem different in other people’s eyes? She never knew that purity could be lost. They judged her as “tainted” and said she was putting on an act. Only the people they favored were pure and kind. Had they ever truly tried to understand her? Life is a palette, full of color. Life is also like seasoning, with sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and spice. Perhaps that is what makes life meaningful. Maybe that is simply how life is, but how many people understand the truth of it? Do we only learn to cherish what we had after we’ve suffered and cried? “You brought this on yourself!” “You think I’ll let you off just because you hurt someone else?” “I’ll make sure you grow old alone!” “Do you know how filthy you are?” The human world. The human world. What appears on the surface is not necessarily real. What you see may not be true, and what you hear may not be true either. Truth and lies here are like a mist you cannot see through or touch. You can only rely on your own instincts and search your heart for the answer. How many more hearts will this “lock” ensnare? “Suo'er, I was wrong. Please come back.” “Suo'er, I’m sorry! Can you forgive me for hurting you?” “Suo'er, if you’re gone, I’ll grow old alone!” “Suo'er, I’m filthy. Will you despise me?” Excerpt One: “Brother, what are you doing?” A little girl tugged at a little boy’s sleeve and asked, her face full of confusion. The boy said nothing, only smiling at her tenderly. Suddenly, he looked up and said, “It’s here!” At that, everyone turned excitedly to stare at the thing the boy had “designed” the day before. The little girl was curious too, her eyes sparkling with excitement. But a moment later, a scream shattered the mood. “Ah!” Excerpt Two: “If I go down onto that stage, will you really let my family go?” The little girl gazed pleadingly at the creation of a god: a perfect man. “Yes!” the man said impatiently, his brows knitted together, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. But the little girl didn’t spare much thought for anything else. She could only think of how to save her family. Without another thought, she straightened up and walked downstairs. But when she stood on the stage, she began to regret it! The people below looked ready to swallow her whole. She was afraid! Surrounded by the crowd, she fought with the last of her strength, desperately hoping to beg him for help. But when she saw his cold gaze, her heart sank to the bottom. Excerpt Three: He took the so-called “elixir” to save the woman he loved, without even sparing a glance for her lying on the ground. Because he looked down on her, he failed to see the despair in her eyes, the way they had grown indifferent to the world, or the carefree smile spreading across her lips, a smile capable of captivating every man alive! That was her final smile! The hand she had raised fell back down, never to rise again. The story unfolds in three stages: Blossoming, Falling, and Withering.