Dongxue once had a dream.

She saw people looking at her with a smile, like they were treating animals one level below them, like they were treating the dust under their feet.

Her secret emotions were bloodyly uncovered, causing pain like tearing apart skin, flesh, muscles and bones.

She became a sheep in the rain.

She has always been childish and has the sin of "not growing up" and the sin of being scolded by her parents.

But someone will always stay in place, waiting for her, like a blue whale accompanying her to the bottom.

Like a sheep accompanying her in the rain.

As long as she hugs the other person, she seems to be hugging the whole world, and her arms seem to be able to bear all the suffering.

She was once like a withered skin, like a wandering ghost, indulging in recurring dreams again and again, repeating the most painful times, unable to get out.

...In such a world that is not tolerated, she has experienced an extremely long growth.

"People die after giving life to others, and no one can make a choice." The old lady said softly: "...the one who can affect us is more ourselves - we will live our lives without regrets.

This life.”

As the flames filled the air, Dongxue raised her head and saw her face reflected in the flames dancing on the glass wall.

She stood there, like a plaster sculpture, silence suppressing the emotions rushing out like a flood in her heart. She felt as if a hand was holding her heart,

In this suppressed "paradise", life is squeezed and broken by a small space.

...The illusory world that should not exist has bound the students and teachers, and also locked herself.

But now, through the barrier of time, she saw a [future] that she had never been exposed to before.

Her palm, separated by a layer of glass of time, was touching the outstretched palm of the old lady.

"You were obviously talented and capable, but you chose to be a prisoner when you were at your most glorious." She said softly, "Why bother to find me."

"[But in a world like this, you shouldn't be young forever.]" the old lady responded softly.

The mood in her words is particularly peaceful, which makes people calm when listening to her.

Dongxue pressed against the glass wall, as if she wanted to run into the other person's arms.

The old lady spread her hands.

Just like Yang Xia once hugged her, she hugged her.

Their eyes met directly.

A strong feeling of weightlessness suddenly rose in Dongxue's chest.

The belt on her body was shaking with her, the bright red dance skirt was clinging to her body in the flames, the lace on her skirt was dancing in the fire, and the long tail straps behind her were like fire flying at an angle.

In the burning heaven, tears are lost in the raging fire.

"Can I still grow up? Yang Xia."

She asked softly: "...can I still love you?"

The old lady nodded firmly, then shook her head.

"Love and death are the greatest topics in life - but why do we die because of love?" she said softly:

"Dongxue... [Love] is not an absolute sign of maturity, but a human being. You have to become a human being."

"No matter what the future outcome is, it may not be worse than now... This is the uncertainty of the future and the fascinating unknown..."

In a bright flame, her eyes looked over clearly, and under the thick wrinkles, they looked like a pair of lakes locked in deep years.

"Winter snow, romance, innocence, illusory emotions...these are the things I can't let go of - these are you."

"Whether it is the brilliance of the pen tip, the inspiration that leaps on the paper, or the desire for expression that comes from the throat... we will not become isolated islands of silence."

"In your eyes."

"There can be unfair facts, and there can be grains and vegetables."

"...You don't have to be a standard cog."

"Only when you are alive can the rivers surge, and when you stand up can you see the sky."

"Red umbrellas in the rain, classrooms in summer, crowded streets."

"Falling waterfalls, Gobi flowing under the sun, plains broken by salt and alkaline, rivers and mountains boiling hot all year round."

"...Sooner or later we will see the scenery and become 'people' in it."

"At that time, it doesn't matter whether you sit down, stand up, stop where you are, or go against the flow of people... it doesn't matter. You should be free to choose your own way of traveling."

"Consider the persecution as the injustice of the world, and turn your speech into a cry for reform. You are worthy of transforming yourself from a microcosm into an upright individual."

"[We will take the initiative to approach those situations that we once avoided and feared, otherwise we will never be able to view everything with tolerance and tolerance.]"

"You should never be a victim, nor should you be a perpetrator."

"The kindness flowing through our veins has never been blocked."

"And the shackles of man will never disappear, and we are destined to dance in shackles."

"Despite this, this land will always be worthy of love and the world will always be wonderful."

"The new will be created, the old will continue, the rigid will be heated up, and our mentality will always be young."

"The life that stops can be reborn."

"This has been the case for thousands of years."

"Across the ages."

"Through the cold, summer, and winter."

"...Because we are 'people'."

"And we will do it with freedom and dignity until the end."

…

"Winter snow."

"I love you."

…

Dongxue closed her eyes.

The dancing blood-colored dress flew behind her, and the burning flames were red and bright.

Her flowing black hair was dyed crimson by the ray-like flames, and even her face bathed in the light was like soft white sand.

Hot air poured into her chest, she moved her lips slightly, and a tear fell from the corner of her eye.

"Thank you for your love."

she said softly.

"listen……"

The old lady closed her eyes.

She smiled and looked peaceful.

"Dongxue, did you hear..."

Dongxue turned her head sideways.

She heard the sound of breaking.

I saw the crumbling nightmare.

What was collapsing and disappearing was this nightmare that had kept her in pain and madness, and kept her in compliance.

...It is this paradise that is infinitely blended with hell.

She saw bright flames dancing on the glass wall, like a reddish glow.

She saw so much absurdity.

The derived trivialities were shattered in her eyes. Through the bright fire, she saw a line of small words on the glass wall, reflecting in the flames the fine sparkling light of the setting sun on the sea.

【Winter snow.】

【be yourself.】

【Don't be afraid.】

She suddenly hooked her fingers, as if she wanted to break through the glass in front of her.

"——Can I meet you again in the future?" She asked choked with sobs, and then her voice gradually turned into a roar: "Yang Xia——Can I meet someone as good as you again?"

The old lady smiled.

The firelight danced in her eyes, and there was peace in them.

She withdrew her hand and turned around.
To be continued...