Upward Cycle

Circling back upwards, looping upwards.

Li Ye often thought this way after her student days ended. Life is a Mobius strip, carried along, where one cannot find a beginning or an end, yet can see the entire course stretching out ahead.

Zhou Yuan would pull Li Ye to change her perspective, to look outwards at the marks of their journey. You, me, us. Always moving forward, moving upward.

"I hope this kind of happiness can keep repeating."

18-year-old Li Ye made this New Year's wish, surrounded by family and friends, blowing out the tiny lights on her birthday cake, her vision gradually plunging into darkness. A few seconds later, Zhou Yuan pressed the light switch, and in the moment light returned, their eyes met. Neither could remember who first nervously looked away, nor could they distinguish the cloying sweetness of the cake that followed.