prologue (1/2)
Prologue
**Unedited**
After the rain, the sky was as blue as a lake. An airplane streaked across the sky above the city, as if it were a lone canoe drifting across the surface of said lake. Buildings and skysc.r.a.pers of various heights were bunched together within the large bustling city. The lines of cars on the streets were endless. Despite the congestion, traffic was surprisingly orderly. Vehicles were spread throughout every corner of the city, like a spider’s web.
A grand conference was being held in a hotel. Number one bestselling author Luo Xinqing – whose sales had secured her that precious spot – had written a novel that became a hot topic among many young people . This seemingly ordinary fantasy novel was filled with various fantastical images; however, it had managed to tug at people’s heartstrings with its incredible romance, making it a popular book among women.
And this conference was being held because said novel was about to be turned into a film, which was currently in production.
“Everyone, let us invite the author, Miss Luo Xinqing to talk about her feelings regarding her book!” Upon the host’s words and the thunderous round of applause from the audience, a lady – dressed elegantly yet simply – walked out from behind the stage. With her pale blue pencil skirt and her white heels, this sweet-faced lady looked as if time had stopped for her at the age of eighteen, although she was already twenty-nine.
“h.e.l.lo, I’m Luo Xinqing. Thank you for all the support and encouragement that you have given me until now. I feel very honoured to be able to stand on this stage today…”
“Miss Luo, I heard that you wrote the novel when you were eighteen. You only began the journey to become a writer after an accident, right?
“Miss Luo, you once said that you found inspiration through your own real-life experiences. May I ask if your soul left your body and really went to that world when you were unconscious, or if that was purely a moment of inspiration?”
The questions from countless reporters made her lapse into silence; it was as if only the flas.h.i.+ng of cameras remained. She lowered her gaze and forced out a thin smile.
“If you were to say that was merely a dream, then to me, it was real. That’s because if you went to that place, saw that world, and met a boy, if it were a dream, you’d eventually wake up. But, that was also a dream that changed my life.”
The audience quietened; everybody’s eyes were on her now. She unhurriedly continued, “Years later, I still feel that was the most perfect experience I ever had in my life. That accident left me asleep for a month. During that one month, it was as if I was in that world for ages. In that dream, it felt like how when you first fall in love with someone. It’s clearly right before you, just right at your fingertips, and yet you’re afraid that once you awaken, it would be as if nothing ever happened at all.”
Her words left a few female reporters scrambling to wipe away the tears that had gathered at the corners of their eyes, that thin veil of sadness having overwhelmed their hearts. It seemed that those who had read the book had completely fallen under the spell of that written dream: the image of the boy in a white s.h.i.+rt with a gentle smile, standing against the backdrop of a night sky lit up by fireflies deeply etched within their minds.
When it ended, the sound of applause roared throughout the room. Once the reporters had left, the only ones who remained were the cleanup crew, busying themselves with their job.
Luo Xinqing returned to her car with the guidance of an aide. Just as she was about to get in, a female worker hastily ran out.
“Miss Luo, please wait a moment!” It was upon hearing the woman’s call that Luo Xinqing halted her steps and quizzically turned her head back.
The worker puffed and panted as she caught her breath for a few moments, then took out a teardrop pendant with a silver chain to show to Luo Xinqing. When she saw that the pendant, Luo Xinqing stiffened and touched her neck in a moment of panic. It was only then that she realized that she had forgotten about this precious item when she was changing out of her clothes.
“Thank you.” Her voice was slightly hoa.r.s.e as she reached out to retrieve the pendant.
That female worker was perhaps in her early twenties. That anxiety-filled smile made Luo Xinqing think of her past self.
“Miss Luo, I’m your fan. I really like your novel’s storyline. That male protagonist is called Ah Can, right? An existence like a bright midsummer night’s shooting star, that was the name you gave him. It’s really nice. He gave you this necklace while in that world; it must be really important to you.” Her smile was bright, just like a young ignorant girl who was still in love with the characters in the novel.
Luo Xinqing clutched the necklace tightly in her hand and smiled, “Thank you for helping to return the most important thing to me. Yes, he is called Ah Can.”
After waving goodbye to her, the car began to move slowly. Luo Xinqing still tightly clutched the necklace in her hand, as if it were the only thing that could prove her dream had really existed.
“Xinqing, I heard Director Pei say that the drama team is starting the shoot at the place where you had your accident. Do you want to take a look?” asked the female aide, Linda, who was driving the car.
“Mm, let’s go,” she replied distractedly, clutching the comforting pendant.
It was another year of midsummer, the season when cape jasmines bloomed. Opening the car window, the road of cape jasmines blanketed the hills and fields, giving off a light fragrance. Within the forests in the hills, cicadas chirped, cheerfully playing a village tune.
Over ten years ago, she was still a regular high school student. During her summer vacation, she followed her soon-to-be divorced parents to holiday in the countryside.
……………。
Year 2005, summer vacation.
It was summer in July. The sky was clear for miles; the sky did not have a single wisp of clouds, and the sun roasted the ground till it was boiling hot. A cool breeze blew by, wafting up a roll of heat from the ground. It was so blazing hot, it made people feel suffocated.
A small car drove down a peaceful road. When one looked around, there were flat paddy fields with glossy green paddy saplings. The bright green leaves of the banana plants drooped lazily. All the trees had a lifeless look to them.
Luo Xinqing sat in the back of the car, never raising her head even once as she played with her phone through the journey.
“Xinqing, once we reach the countryside, it won’t be as comfortable as the city. You should chat more with your grandmother. Also, don’t keep playing with your handphone, Mum is talking to you, did you hear me? Sigh, this child really is becoming more disobedient. It’s your fault, she hasn’t graduated yet, why buy her a phone?” After she ignored her mother’s nagging, her mother then began to complain to her father, who was driving.
“Yes, blame me, then why didn’t you discipline her properly?” Her father’s reb.u.t.tal instantly made her mother unhappy.
“Isn’t it because I put all my energy into earning money for the family? It’s all easy for me. On the hand you have it good, if you have time why didn’t you come to visit her more often? Even if we’re close to divorce, she’s still your daughter.” Her mother was really displeased.