The Direction of Light, 2020

Blurb One: About Them When Lu Zi was seven, a boy moved in next door. She never knew his name, so she just called him “Brother A Qi.” Later, her Brother A Qi moved away. At twenty-eight, Jiang Qiyu was known as “the academic world’s business-minded rogue.” After earning his doctorate, he became a substitute instructor for one of Lu Zi’s specialized courses. Later, Lu Zi’s Brother A Qi quietly walked into her heart. He said, “You need to value yourself.” He also said, “I really do have ulterior motives when it comes to you.” And he said, “Our Liuliu will be happy.” Blurb Two: About Them “What? You’re unhappy? That’s no reason to throw away your graduation photo.” Lu Zi had no intention of answering. Lin Er pulled two cans of beer from her bag. “If you’re unhappy, have a drink.” “You can bring beer to the college entrance exams?” Lu Zi looked up at Lin Er for the first time. “Got a cigarette?” In the days that followed, Lu Zi was incredibly glad that Lin Er had found her by the trash can. “A fake delinquent girl who can play the guitar.” Watching Lin Er on the little stage, Lu Zi described her that way. She was still just as she had been when they met at eighteen. “What the world thinks doesn’t matter. What matters is that some things are never compromised on, never given up, and always worth fighting for.” Lin Er looked toward a certain spot, where two people who meant a great deal to her were standing. One was called Lu Zi, and the other Li Bei.