Lan Shengyan

We stop and go along the way, fine rain soaking my green cloak.

Only then do I realize the willows sway with fresh green, and the long river has seen the seasons of warmth and chill pass.

I see, beyond the mountain flowers, a solitary figure, honed like a piece of jade.

In a daze, who is it winding jeweled cords through my dark hair?

With my own hands, I planted a stretch of creeping vines,

as though I could not live without you.

Deep love became a knife, carving itself into my bones.

How could the swift passage of time ever wear it away?

This is the faint blush of sunset clouds on the horizon,

and the boundless sky and sea I have waited for.

PS: A clichéd story where the male lead spends most of the time as a background character, while the female lead works tirelessly for world peace. Happy ending.

PPS: From a certain perspective, the female lead is the story’s biggest villain. If that bothers you, click away.