This is the author's closing statement.
The main text ends here. It took nearly three months to create and two months of continuous serialization. I have quite a few feelings about it.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported and accompanied me over the past two months. As a new author just starting out in this industry, what matters most to me is the love and recognition from my readers, rather than how much money I make.
That's why I especially enjoy reading everyone's comments every day.
Seeing those heartfelt praises, expressions of love for the plot, and affirmations of the characters can truly make me happy for a whole day. Yet, a single negative review can instantly shatter the happiness accumulated from countless positive reviews.
I am a very sensitive and conflicted person. I am very afraid that any plot point, or even a single sentence, might displease people or ruin my persona.
But it was this tense creative environment, with so many eyes watching me, that allowed me to grow rapidly in a short period of time.
Fortunately, during the creation process, there were almost no hiccups in terms of plot and inspiration; everything went smoothly and naturally.
It's as if there's a story in this world, existing there, waiting for me to peel away its outer shell little by little and reveal its true nature to everyone.
The process of creating a book is undoubtedly painful, from nothing to something, from something to simplicity, from simplicity to complexity, and from complexity to a macro perspective.
I interpret it as the shaping of a person.
From the skeleton to blood vessels, nerves, fat, skin, and even the spirit, thoughts, and personality, etc.
But I also thoroughly enjoyed the process, because watching them gradually develop independent thoughts, gradually surpass the author's spirit, guiding me, assisting me, and leading me toward the end of their lives.
That sense of accomplishment was unparalleled.
Let's return to our story itself.
At the beginning of the creative process, I would ask myself, do I really need to put so much suffering on the female protagonist?
Later I asked again, why does God set up so many difficulties for people who come into this world?
I have witnessed too much suffering hidden in the corners of this world. Just like when Zhenzhen got into that older woman's taxi, she thought to herself that she couldn't fall ill in someone else's car and cause trouble for them, because everyone was already having a hard time.
It's really hard. I often feel sad for a long time because I don't have the ability to help those who are struggling with suffering.
Then, when I put myself in God's shoes, I suddenly realized something.
There was no land in this world originally; it is only through the changing times, the receding tides, and the daily transformations that land appears beneath our feet.
No one is born strong, fearless, kind, or sincere. It is through countless days and nights that flash by unnoticed in our memories that we are gradually forged into who we are today.
Therefore, if, in witnessing the growth of the main characters along the way, everyone can feel even a trace of power from them at some point, their existence will be more meaningful.
If you ask me who my favorite character in this book is...
I want to say that my favorite is Zhenzhen (Lu Zhenyu).
When I conceived the character of her, my initial idea for her was—the land.
Down-to-earth, sincere, composed, and full of love.
She stands there; if you come to love her, she welcomes you with open arms; if you leave, she smiles and waves goodbye.
The land allows everything to happen—floods, tsunamis, fires, storms, and so on. It calmly awaits all disasters as they come, happen, and end, and then, amidst constant change, it grows back on itself.
This kind, brave, and strong-willed girl is also one.
I love her so much, she is really, really amazing.
This kind of power is not physical, not military, not authority or status.
It was her heart.
Even as a child, she had already seen through the darkness of the world. She did not conform or follow the crowd, but instead stuck to her principles and lived in her own way.
What she gave me was a sense of security and stability.
As long as she is there, the surrounding noise and gloom will be ignored.
She is not the sun; she is not as dazzling and radiant.
More like the moon, it hangs there quietly, day and night.
The reason you can't see her isn't because she's gone; it's because your eyes are being deceived by the light.
People often think that death is an escape, a sign of cowardice.
But I've always felt that those who dare to face death are truly strong.
Even those who are physically strong and constantly say that life is worse than death are terrified when faced with death, and they live each day as long as they can.
The land bears and nourishes all things, like a mother.
Zhenzhen is that mother.
Sometimes I feel that Shen Jingsi is just like me in real life.
When I was a child, I always had to look for my mother after school.
I don't need to be with my mother every day, but I need to know that she's there.
As long as she's there, home is there, and so is a sense of security.
I am very happy to have created such a beloved character, but it seems that she is not someone I created. Many times, it is as if she is teaching me many lessons.
Let's talk about our male protagonist, Shen Jingsi.
This character was very controversial in the early stages of the story, and I was on tenterhooks the whole time while writing it.
Because I know his true nature and his public persona, I'm not worried at all that he'll fall apart later.
In the early stages, he was just a big boy who loved Lu Zhenyu so much that he didn't know what "self" was.
During the five years that Zhenzhen was away, apart from gaining some skills and methods by standing up to a high social status out of spite, he experienced very little personal growth.
This also meant that when Lu Zhenyu first returned, he was still like a big boy.
To spite the girl who broke her promise and abandoned him to marry a beast, he deliberately did things to get close to Duan Xi'er to provoke her. His inner monologue was, "You'll regret it now that you chose him over me, seeing how good I am to you."
It was actually a bit infuriating; I was so angry that I considered replacing him at one point.
At that time, I thought, Zhenzhen is such a good girl, she must find a man who can protect her, trust her completely, and love her.
But gradually, I saw growth, reflection, and transformation in him.
Men's growth is different from women's.
For women, it's a little bit; for men, it's a moment.
In a single instant, Shen Jingsi witnessed his beloved girl having a panic attack in his arms for the first time, and heard her say, "Godmother, I don't want to get married." This marked the beginning of his growth.
All the plans that followed, which seemed inhumane to outsiders, originated from this one moment.
As a man, there is a spine on his back that allows him to stand tall and bear the responsibilities and missions that society has bestowed upon him over the past few centuries.
The backbone of Shen Jingsi is named Lu Zhenyu.
Why did he develop severe depression after Zhenzhen recovered?
It's not that he knew all the truth; it's that he never had a sense of self from beginning to end.
This led to the situation where, after Lu Zhenyu's "death," he became lost, his backbone collapsed, and his faith was lost.
In the initial premise of the story, Little Pearl was destined to die young, because her existence was meant to be used to punish Shen Jingsi.
They tormented him until he was covered in wounds, gave him a glimmer of hope, and then took it all away.
But she didn't die later, because I realized that this child couldn't die. If she died, Shen Jingsi would definitely not survive.
This is the initial concept for Shen Jingsi—Wei Lu Zhenyu.
The only thing in this world that is connected to Zhenzhen is gone; this man will surely not be able to go on living.
But if Shen Jingsi really dies, Lu Zhenyu's life and this story will become a complete tragedy.
Perhaps such an ending will find its place in tragic romance novels, and its popularity and attention will rise to another level.
But I don't want their lives to be so, so bitter.
Therefore, I am not a qualified author; I cannot completely separate my personal emotions from the stories I write.
There's no way around it, because from beginning to end, I still believe that love exists.
As for Feng Jinzhou...
He is complex, yet also simple.
If you ask me if he loves Lu Zhenyu...
My answer is that there must have been love, but that love was only a small part of his total emotions.
He is free, like the wind.
The wind will blow past me in every season, but it can never stay for me.
People like him are destined to belong to this world.
So after thinking about it for a long time, I decided not to write any side stories about him.
Let him be the wind, and let everyone imagine the shape and path the wind takes after it passes.
If you were to forcibly pair him with a romantic partner, it wouldn't be Feng Jinzhou.
A roguish charm, a little mischievous, childlike, free-spirited, yet grounded.
This is him, yet it seems like he isn't.
That's all for this book for now.
That concludes the extra chapter.
I originally planned to write some side stories about Pearl, but plans can't keep up with changes. I'll leave some blank space for future stories, as there may be more exciting ones in the future. I don't want to limit everything so quickly.
Of course, this story has come to an end, but the story of Zhenzhen and Asi will continue.
They will appear in future articles in this series, so let's not say goodbye.
I really liked a reader's previous review, in which she said it was a coming-of-age story.
Yes, from the beginning to the end of the story, we witnessed the transformation of a group of people.
Looking at the two children from back then, they learned from the adults and gave each other what they thought was good in their own way.
Gradually, they grew into real adults and finally understood what love is.
very nice.
Love is a beautiful thing.
It is because a group of filthy people have defiled it.
I don't chase after love, but I firmly believe that it exists.
Often, belief is a form of strength.
The new book is already in the preparation stage; it's the story of Feng Jinheng and Bei Tingwan.
A brand new story type: marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. A powerful figure in Beijing's elite circles versus a brave and determined young woman. He teaches her to love, and she teaches him to cherish. The powerful man bows down for love. A seven-year age gap leads to mutual redemption.
Finally, I don't have to write sweet, long-lasting stories about married life anymore, instead of writing them with tears streaming down my face every day.
In the following year, the new stories he created all revolved around the big families in the capital, including the stories between their children.
Those who are interested can look forward to it.
I am so grateful for everyone's company during this time. Without you, this story would still be complete, but it would never be as complete as it is.
Over the past three months, I have been defeated by countless illusory difficulties. Every time I had the thought of giving up, I had the idea of just letting it go, writing and writing and then giving up.
It's amazing how we receive heartfelt comments from friends around this time every year. Seriously, I read them over and over again, grinning from ear to ear as I immerse myself in them.
Then I put down my phone, recharged it, and continued to strive forward, carrying many expectations.
So, I am really grateful to everyone for your company over the past two months.
Looking ahead, I will continue to learn, pursue further education, and constantly refine myself and my stories, presenting one wonderful story after another to everyone.
I will continue to work hard and continue to grow.
Similarly, I hope that everyone watching can also cultivate the ability to "save themselves from dire situations countless times".
In the story, Zhenzhen has the love of Shen Jingsi and the love of her best friend, but in the end, she can only rely on herself.
In this world, no one can truly help me; only I can pull myself out of this dire situation.
Nowadays, everyone's talking about strong female leads and independence.
I don't completely agree, but I won't refute it either.
Because I've always felt that the term "strong female lead" is the last trap that this dying era has laid for girls who want to break free from their cages and bravely move forward.
I do not allow myself to be bound by any adjective or noun.
God created men and women because they have irreplaceable value to each other.
There is no such thing as a true female lead in the world, just like who has ever heard of a true male lead?
No, because even men don't necessarily rely entirely on themselves, so why should women always be independent and autonomous?
A true female protagonist has no fixed form or defined role.
I live my own life, I understand my heart, my emotions, and my thoughts, and that's enough for me.
Don't listen to what others say or accept whatever they tell you.
From my own perspective, as long as my heart remains unchanged, even if my appearance changes, I am still me.
Keep going! We don't need to become better versions of ourselves. We just need to be clear that we are who we are and not lose sight of our own identity. How we live our lives is entirely up to me.
There's plenty of time, see you in the next story.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com