The Flower on the High Mountain

1. Zhou Jun-chang and Xu Li are like isolated stars in the Milky Waykindred spirits yet distinctly different. As things stand, their paths would never cross. Zhou Jun-chang thought this, while Xu Li didn't even consider it.

2. "Zhou, Zhou... Jun-chang..." Xu Li's voice, laced with a hint of drunkenness and hesitation, made his heart tremble. Zhou Jun-chang stood in the darkness, silently watching Xu Li, much like a detective scrutinizing a suspect.

He wanted to decipher what her evasive eyes sought to conceal, what lay within her throbbing heart, and to discern her every expression, every inch of her skin. He wanted to see into her very bones and integrate her into his blood.

3. "Do you think," she began, "there can be two contradictory entities in this world, and their meeting is like a light of mutual salvation, yet also like ash falling to bury hope?"

"How can there be light in two lifeless entities?" he retorted. "There's only ash."

"Have you seen the flower on the mountaintop? It's rootless when there's no wind, swaying precariously when the wind blows, yet it never breaks."

Xu Li thought he wouldn't speak. After a long silence, he finally said, "No, I haven't."

"I want to be that flower, but reality always forces me to bow my head."

4. "Zhou Jun-chang, are you afraid?" The same question, echoing from her lips again, seemed to draw both of them back to that night at the bar. Zhou Jun-chang looked into Xu Li's eyes.

That night, she was powerless and confused. Now, she was stubborn and clear-headed. This story explores themes of personal growth, drama, an ice-cold personality, sharp-tongued wit, eventual redemption, and love that develops over time.