The Healing Sunshine

Description

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To Ji Yi, Ji Cheng Yang is the joy in her childhood, a cup of coffee in her teenage years, that kite especially painted just for her, that part of A Chinese Odyssey she never finished, that irreplaceable longing and love in her dull life.

Ji Yi chased after his back, followed in his footsteps, liked the things that he liked.

To Ji Yi, the whole of her youth, from the moment she met Ji Cheng Yang, was carved with only one name.

To Ji Chengyang, Ji Yi is the soft ray of light at dawn, the warmest existence, the care kept deepest in his heart. He has once, for the sake of his dreams, forsaken her, hurt her, but in the end, he returned by her side.

She is the very first of his memories, as well as the Ji Yi he loves the most.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Một centimet Ánh Dương
One Centimeter of Sunshine
一厘米的阳光
Related Series
Together Forever (Shared Universe)
The Road Home (Shared Universe)
Recommendations
Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It (2)
A Love So Beautiful (2)
I Don’t Like The World, I Only Like You (1)
You Are Still Here (1)
You’re My Glory (1)
Hello, Wife! (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Romance List for 20s Women
  2. My favorite Chinese novels
  3. Modern novels I have Read
  4. Right in the feels
  5. light romance | chill read

Latest Release

Date Group Release
10/24/18 Hui3r epilogue
10/20/18 Hui3r c27 part2
10/17/18 Hui3r c27 part1
10/13/18 Hui3r c26 part2
10/10/18 Hui3r c26 part1
10/06/18 Hui3r c25 part3
10/03/18 Hui3r c25 part2
09/29/18 Hui3r c25 part1
09/26/18 Hui3r c24 part3
09/22/18 Hui3r c24 part2
09/19/18 Hui3r c24 part1
09/15/18 Hui3r c23 part3
09/12/18 Hui3r c23 part2
09/08/18 Hui3r c23 part1
09/05/18 Hui3r c22 part2
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Review
30 Reviews


ApolloAresZues
ApolloAresZu
Jul 04, 2021
Status: Completed
I read this a while back and I always like to go back and reread it because this author does an amazing job at writing nostsligia and first love, as well as bitter sweetness. I wont go into too many details about the general story since other reviews did that, but more this is pointing out the parts I loved that makes it so rereadable and the parts that made this a 4 instead of what couldve been a 5.

As stated by everyone the MC knew the ML since childhood... more>> and he was basically an older brother figure and was one of the only parental figures in her life to care for her, whether it be studies wise or just her mental well being. He took great care of her and cared for her well and its not a surprise she eventually developed feelings for him. With that being said, this isnt some kind of weird story though multiple characters in the story think their relationships is weird because of the age gap and begining, the way the characters are written it never feels strange as readers. The MC is calm and mature for her age, with gentleness and innocence that befits her. The ML is responsible and has great restraint, and never considers her until shes around 16, in which case he acknowledges his feeling but still waits on her. Shes still underage though so if that's just absolutely a no go in your mind, dont even attempt this not because it plays on taboo but because they're not hiding the characters ages either you get a close view of the gap. The author doesnt fetishize the gap, they're just honest about it.

They're relationship was very special as it had a hint of dependency and a lot of warmth and care, where even when it was platonic you really enjoy their relationship. ML always helped MC in her times of need and treated her very gently, in turn the MC gave him all her warmth and affection. The progression of their relationship is natural snd it really does feel like their meant to be, they just happened to meet while she was very young and he sent her aid when she needed him. And theres nothing wrong with that because I feel like their past together is a major part of what makes their relationship so special, that nostalgia and trust and dependency.

So for about the duration of the first 2 parts of the novel, you get their past and their budding romance and these are the best parts of the novel. These 2 parts are so good and well written that they deserve rereads every couple of months they're so good. I still think about those parts and they make my hear tinge. Those are the parts I mentioned above. Now let's get to the part that made this lose a star, the 3rd part. I'm just going to say exactly what happened as if I had known what would happen I might not have read the third part as it features some of my biggest pet peeves in novels, and it made it so that it clouded my view of this novel everytime I thought back on it because things bugged me so much. So I'll just describe the general things that's happened some might not mind it and this will be long but it really bothered me so here we go:

Spoiler

Ok so in the third part the main couple are finally a couple but have to seperate and do long distance. But the ML has a dangerous job as a reporter and gets captured by enemy soldiers and is severely injured and placed in captivity for years. MC waits and is worried about him. When he manages to get out hes so severely injured he might die (smth like that I hate this part so much I've erased it from my brain). So he calls MC and says the most OOC thing I can imagine him saying "I've moved on and married someone here please forget me." Basically that yeah. So after that for years they never see each other again and she pines after him with her broken heart. And everything after that sits wrong with me. Now ordinarily I try to give the benefit of the doubt to the one that orchestrates separations because I want to relate to their reasoning. In fact I just wrote a review for a novel with a similar case in which I completely sympathized and didnt blame that person at all. But here, the author really messed it up, for multiple reasons. Lemme go into them;

1. When ML left captivity, I really dont think the reason he gave for her to give up shouldve been him marrying someone else. Why? Because that really opened up the age gap in their relationship and made me look at it differently. Until that point I never cared she was younger. But considering he did everything to her but take her v**ginity, made her dependent on him, and essentially stole the girls youth, it really bugged me that he broke her heart with such a half assed reason. And he knew her, he knew how hard it would be for her to move on. And how much she would look inward onto herself to find the issue. She wouldn't be finding issue with him, shes too selfless, she would find issue with herself. She'd think she was the problem. And she'd never blame him. He should've had someone else call her and say he was dead. He should've said he lost feelings for her. He shouldve said he couldn't keep up with long distance anymore. Anything but that reasoning tbh because it was the worse reason he could give to a young girl that gave up her youth for him. This issue was pointed out a lot by other characters as well but I still don't think it was stressed upon enough. She gave her youth for him. And he really messed her up.

2. The reunion was one of the worst I've seen. Honestly. I was expecting more because they have so much history and baggage right? But the ML basically pretends he didnt break her heart and lie about getting married. It takes him so long to explain that he wasnt actually married and even longer to explain why he lied. This was handled so poorly I was put off by all interactions after the reunion because nothing is romantic about ML trying to meet with her while she still believes hes married. Nothing. I couldn't feel happy about the reunion because the MC was too in the dark about so many things. The readers were in the dark about things even till the last chapter, things I personally feel should have been explained to us as soon as he came back. That was one mystery I feel like should not have been stretched out like it was. How can we find time to forgive him if we dont know the circumstances regarding him ditching her? Questions like "why didnt he contact her while he was getting treatment? What about when he finished treatment? So if they never coincidentally met, was he never going to see her again her "own sake?"" You see the issue? I'm the type that cant enjoy the moment when I feel like something isn't settled.

3. There was basically no groveling. I feel like the ML didnt explain or apologize enough for what happened, considering it was his fault and he chose the worst way to hurt her. The worst lie. The MC, sweet girl she is, forgave him basically instantly and I dont think she was a doormat for that more she was so desperate she would take anything and I found that really sad. ML at one point thinks he could only be with MC because only she could be the person to forgive him effortlessly like that and it's true. I didnt want more drama or for them to fight but I do wish it took longer and for him to explain more before they got right back to being together. I felt like that discredited all her pain throughout the years she waited for him. That made me upset.

4. The wife thing never got explained to the rest of the characters. When ML came back he went on lying saying he got divorced. So everyone thinks, and still thinks until even the end of the book, that ML left her for another woman and that MC is his second love/partner. That made me so mad you guys dont understand. I just didnt understand why this was never explained this upset me so much. It was like another short end of the stick MC got and I hated that.

5. MC trauma over being left behind was never addressed like I wanted to. In general I felt her pain wasnt empathized enough. Because ML came back with a severely injured body that needed multiple surgeries, the focus turns to him and we the readers as well as other characters are kind of forced to forgive him early because, well, his body isnt good. I get that emotional debts need to be ignored in the face of serious issues like health but I feel like those issues took the focus off addressing MCs own pain. She never got to really feel upset or be angry, because he came back so sick. And that upset me too. I was just upset ok.

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In any case I really wish the third part of this novel either didnt exist or was handled differently. I felt so uncomfortable reading it, mostly because the book was so good up until that point. The translator does a good and earnest job of attempting to explain everyone's motivations but it still unsettled me even after rereading it multiple times to really understand and lesson my frustration, but I still dislike that part and probably always will.

To conclude, this is a good book. It's a great book. If you like nostalgia and bitterness, with sweetness mixed in, and dont mind the frustration of the third part, definitely read this. I really disliked the direction this book went, but it was so good up until then I always think about it and reread it on occasion. Again, it's one of my favorite books. Still, read with a cautious heart. <<less
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Recca201
Recca201
Apr 19, 2018
Status: c5 part1
A very beautiful novel. This is the first time I'm making a review since I'm often just a lurker, I just cant help but share to others how satisfied I am with this translated novel. The translation is amazingly good as usual, hui3r captured the emotions of the raw novel, and the nostalgia. I so, so, so love this novel. It's peaceful, relatable and endearing... and the characters in the story are not flat but very three dimensional. I can see their personalities in my own walk of life, and... more>> they're multi-faceted. I like both our gentle and quiet female MC and charismatic and caring male lead. Sometimes their interactions just go through my heart that I roll around the bed giggling.

Highly recommended slice of life romance in peacefully endearing plot. <<less
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Aurinne
Aurinne
Jan 04, 2019
Status: epilogue
I don't exactly want to give this one as much as four stars, but I don't think it deserves only three. It's definitely better than three.

For me, I loved the first two-thirds and appreciated, but did not really enjoy the last third.

The first two-thirds is a delicate, serious, touching and lovely story. It shows the growth of the relationship, attachment/affection and eventual romance between the two main characters against a back drop of life difficulties and struggles. It has a serious tone, but is charming.

The last third was mostly well-written,... more>> but it involved angst and emotion and, basically, I felt depressed while reading it. The angst did eventually get resolved, but, for me, it felt more like I was ploughing through chapter after chapter of unenjoyable depressing stuff. I don't mind reading about sad and emotional things in stories, but I'm not really into reading things that have sad or bitter emotions for long periods without relief. Some stories tend to make you want to read through the emotional things, but I was surprised when I noticed I was really disliking reading it, and this feeling was never completely alleviated. For me, the resolution was OK, but it was not really enough. It did not resolve their relationship issues quite enough for me, nor was the ending joyful enough to lift me from my serious, bitter mood at the end. (I was waiting for one of those epilogues/extras that show their happy life afterwards to boost my mood and finish things on a lighter note, but it didn't have one of those.)

Having said that, it was a delight to read a thoughtful, intelligently-written translated novel. (Honestly, it feels like, recently, there are masses and masses of trope-filled, pointless, mindless novels being translated, but it's hard to find anything in any genre that has a bit of decently-intelligent writing and plot about it (and has more than a few chapters).)

I easily read through most of the book, so it's overall readability is quite high, also.

The translation is generally of a very good standard.

I think many people will enjoy all of it, even the depressing/thankless parts. It is, after all, a novel with a serious tone and many difficulties presented right from the start. (There are probably novels around that are much more angsty and gritty than this one, actually, so many readers wh seek out deeply sad stories might even find this one mild.) However, if you're someone wary of reading depressing content that leaves a bitter taste (although well-written), you do need to be prepared for the downward turn later in the story if you start reading it.

On a side note, this is loosely related to Together Forever, however they are both able to be read as stand-alone novels. <<less
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midori_13
midori_13
Sep 20, 2023
Status: Completed
I like to explain why of my harsh rating (I think majority of my rates are harsh, maybe I like to nitpick 😣?), since the novel is well written and super well translated (Kudos for the translators ☺️ !) :

The novel is not my cup of tea, which is why I can't tell people that they shouldn't read the novel, since there's people that can love this kinda of story.

I always like to read the stories knowing the plot and spoilers, since I don't like suspense or surprises, specially because... more>> I try to avoid tragedies at any cost, since novels are a way for me to escape from the harshness of reality.

So warning, I'm going to explain the plot, but probably I'm spoiling the whole novel, so don't read if you prefer surprises while reading!

Plot
Spoiler

The story is about the growing of a little girl and her love development for the male lead. This girl is kinda pitiful because since small age she had to learn how to take care of herself. She's always alone at home, have to cook her own food and take care of herself when she's sick. Her parents kinda threw the responsibility to raise her to her grandparents and the grandparents weren't much present too. Since her grandfather is a militar, they live in a military complex.

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The beginning of the story of the couple
Spoiler

One day when she was sick, she met the male lead. She was alone at home (and I don't remember why, the male lead knocked at her door. I think he knocked at the wrong door, because he wanted to visit his uncle's house?) Anyway for some reason, he took pity for the child female lead and took care of her. He felt even more sorry for the female lead after he learned about her life story from his auntie. This auntie knew the female lead since her daughter is best friend with female lead.

At first the male lead, was very clumsy, he didn't know how to take care of children (he would give an ice cream to cheer her up, while she was running a fever and a sore throat) and didn't even have much patience, sometimes he would get annoyed, but I don't know why, he never stopped to help her. In the end, the female lead ended up developing feelings for him. And basically the story is about all the development of first having an adult figure which she could trust, to turning it in your first love. The male lead helped her several ways, with small and big things that I'm not going to pinpoint here.

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A little about the Male Lead
Spoiler

Detail, the male lead is way older than the female lead, probably ten years or more. And when they first met, she was maybe eight years old? Of course he wasn't a pe*ophile but that still can be uncomfortable for some. But he only developed feelings for her when she was way older, maybe in the third year of high school or beginning of college? (I don't remember the exactly time) He also tried to explain that he would wait for her to get older and if she still had feelings for him, all she needed was to look for him.

Also, the male lead was a kind of Mary Sue. Mary Sue is a character that is practically perfect. The male lead is super smart, handsome and sexy (he's always smoking. I hate the smell of cigarettes and I don't like this unhealthy habit, but come on, imagining the aloof male lead smoking, that's sexy, right?). He had humble origins, but ended up studying in the best college and post graduation in a big US college, he was perfect in playing the piano. Everyone wanted to be friends or admired him, he had deep philosophical thoughts and conversations and tried to make a difference in the world by becoming a war correspondent. He traveled the world to witness the worst of humans, with wars and calamities. He was an intelectual and philosophical type. Which for me it was kinda weird why he would fall in love for someone younger that couldn't sustain a deep and philosophical conversation with him? Maybe he liked her innocence? I even remember one part of the story, which the male lead was covering a catastrophe (the 9/11 attacks?) and when they talked through a phone call, the female lead was opening up about some s*upid and teenagers problems she was going through and he was helping her giving some incentives. For God's sake, the guy was witnessing wars and death everywhere, but somehow he would help her with her daily problems? Why he would develop romantic feelings and have someone like that as a partner? I'm also a deep and philosophical thinker, not that I'm smart, but I like to think sometimes about the meaning of life and sometimes suffer with all the pain in the world, so it would be super hard to not have a partner to share that kind of thoughts, or that had only childish problems. Of course we all can have childish problems in our lives, but it was super cringe for me to discuss her childish problems while he was covering the horrors of the 9/11 attacks.

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A little about Female Lead
Spoiler

Also, another thing that annoyed me, is the lack of dreams or independent thoughts of female lead. It seemed that everything revolved around the male lead. Even her college choice, was made because of him. She also decided to pick the course of journalism. In my opinion, again, she could barely sustain a deep and philosophical talk with him and during the story she didn't become a fantastic journalist like the male lead, and in the end, even gave up of a promotion, international correspondent, to stay with male lead. Omg, come on, the male lead never gave up of his career to stay with female lead, even knowing how much she suffered because of the long distances and all the dangers he had to face. I was wishing that she could become super successful too, even becoming a war correspondent too like him, so she could pay back all the suffering, since in that way, he was the one that would worry about her. But nope, her career was so so, and she gave up of promotions to stay with him (since he retired early, due to the risks of his profession and for reasons that I'm going to explain in the end of this long review.)

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A little about the development of love
Spoiler

Anyway, for me their love was forced. When he started working, they barely saw each other, he was always away, covering wars, etc. The times they met could be counted in one hand. They had some interactions through phone calls or emails. And that's it. How can you develop deep feelings if you barely meet or interact with the person? I think the deepest interaction they had was when she got SARS, during the SARS epidemic that really happened in China. Anyway, he took care of her and by doing that, he risked his life, and even kissed her to prove that he would stay by her side. Maybe that's when the deep feelings started? I don't know, but until now, all that is acceptable, it's cute and romantic (despite being a little forced, but hey, I'm always there for the romance.) All the times he helped her, since her childhood, being there in all her moments of crisis, even risking his life to take care of her during an epidemic. So for now, taking out the fact that I'm picky and keep pinpointing the stuff I didn't like, the story is good so far and the romance is ok.

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A second Male Lead?
Spoiler

I'm going to mention a little about this character. I don't know if he could be described as second male lead. He's a friend of male lead and have the same age. He also started interacting with female lead since she was a child, because several times the male lead met with female lead, this friend was there too. When the female lead was in college, and the male lead was in one of his travels, she have a date with this supposedly second male lead, but they never developed anything, and he didn't appears very much in the novel. Maybe this guy had a flinch and attraction for her but it looked like it was nothing too deep? I'm just commenting here in case you have Second Male Syndrome like me. But in this case, I don't think that this supposedly second male lead suffers a lot. But anyway, I liked him, because he punched the male lead really hard, after the male lead hurt the female lead really bad. Despite the two of them being friends, the second male lead still took the side of female lead, because he knew how hurt she was.

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Until here, everything is alright. Looking like any other Chinese romance novel. But what irked me was what happened in the second part of the novel.

The reason I rated so low
Spoiler

So, the male lead as a war correspondent, decided to ghost the female lead. She would sent him emails and he would not answer. Until the female lead discover that the male lead was going to marry someone else and he would not come back to China. She got devastated, the person she worshiped and loved her whole life, stopped talking with her and got married, while they were in a long distance relationship. Anyway, long story short, the truth is that male lead, was one of the reporters that got kidnapped during one of those wars he was covering. He became captive for a long time, and when he got rescued, he had to go through a long process of recovery of his emotional and physical damages. His body was all f*cked up, he couldn't have children anymore due to the radiation exposure that he suffered when the war covering times, he didn't sleep well because of his PTSD. And probably wouldn't live long, since his health was in precarious condition, with the need of constantly medical check ups. While he was going through all that, female lead finally was with her life in the right track, she was an intern in an journalistic company. She was moving on with her life, but of course, she ended up bumping into male lead. He was in her company making an interview to become the supervisor of the journalists or something like that, and they ended up meeting. Of course, she ran away and was trying to ignore him.

That's the part of the story that bothered me. The male lead decided that he wouldn't share the truth to female lead and decided to hurt her, so she could move on with her life. It wasn't nobody faults that they ended up bumping on each other. But somehow the male lead decided to pursue the female lead again. Omg, why? She was starting to move on with her life. She was ok. His health was a mess, he didn't know how long he would live, he couldn't have children. So why he decided now to go after her? Why he didn't let her live her life, specially now that she was starting to forget him? Nope, he decided to keep going after her, first to ask for forgiveness but also to start things over. He kept running after her and she kept running away. Until she discovered the truth of all his suffering, forgives him and they ended up together.

For some this might be real love. But for me, it was a selfish love. Why he decided to be magnanimous and let her go and then after he became a damaged good, he decided to go after her again? If I suspected that I wouldn't live long and couldn't have kids I don't know if I would go after my loved one, specially after hurting her and when she was forgetting about me. And because of my poor health, she decided to give up of promotions in her career to take care of me. Omg, how could I ask so many sacrifices from the person I love, again, specially when her feelings for me was fading?

Another bothersome thing, is that in the novel, the male lead never confirmed or denied that he married someone else when he was recovering. So in the end, we really don't know if he cheated on her. All that was said in the novel is that he got divorced, not going further in explaining if that was fake or reality.

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I'm sorry for the long review, but those were the reasons for my two star rating.

Don't give up of reading the novel just because of my two stars. I just hope the readers don't get disappointed like me that instead of feeling the novel had a happy ending, actually ended up giving a lingering feeling of bittersweetness. <<less
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Briai
Briai
Apr 14, 2018
Status: --
I started reading on a whim and could not stop because I fell in love with the story. It's about a girl who learned since young to not be a bother to anyone and having someone slowly start to care enough to bother about her well-being. The current translator is doing a wonderful job. The story is clearly told and well written in a nice and easy to read layout. I'm so glad I started reading this novel and can't wait for more updates. Thank you.
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chande
chande
Nov 24, 2020
Status: Completed
Wow, what a ride. I don't know how many times my mood gets fluctuated when I read this. It's really like riding a roller coaster. This story is simply too sweet but at the same time there are a few heartbreaking moments too. But don't worry, this is not a tragedy novel so happy ending is guaranteed.
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zenriu
zenriu
Jan 14, 2019
Status: Completed
I usually give 5 stars to every novel that I review cause it reflects how I really enjoyed reading it but for this one I only gave 4. Well I enjoyed this and it reminds me of my puppy love during my teens. MC and ML started their relationship when MC is still in her teens and I related much on their interaction. The flow of the story is detailed and take note very informative and somehow the author added some real life scenes such as the war in Iraq.... more>> What made me rate this 4 star is that I would much appreciate it if the MC have resisted and gave the ML a little more hard time after what she's been through. Given that the ML also suffered while being abducted in Iraq but what made me upset is that the ML should have not resort to such kind of lies as not to hurt the MC's feeling. Oh well I gave a little spoiler there. Anyways all in all it is still a good read and be ready with your tissue cause your definitely gonna need it. <<less
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SweetLove
SweetLove
Sep 24, 2023
Status: Completed
What a sad and beautiful novel. It just fell short with the last 2 chapters. I thought, "that was it?"

The novel was very well written and thought-provoking. Supplemented with the translator's comments, you'll definitely have a deeper understanding of the acts and mindsets of the MC and ML. It has its angsty and sad moments. I cried and sometimes teared up on them.

What made this even better to read was the quality translation from Hui3r. Appreciate her hardwork on this. Cheers~
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Vim
Vim
Jul 01, 2023
Status: Completed
07-01-2023 11:56PM

"The one I love is a peerless hero. One day, he will come riding a colourful cloud to marry me. I was able to guess the beginning, but did not guess this ending."

This quote as stated in the novel was taken from the Movie Chinese Oddessy captures Ji Yi's love and perspective on Ji Chengyang. For her, JCY was her pillar, her guardian, her north star during the 'atypical' moments of her growing up. For JCY, Ji Yi was someone he has always been good to and took care... more>> about, little did he know that it would develop into something more than just a senior taking care of his junior. As JCY puts it, their relationship has also taken a lot of time to grow just as they were beside each other growing up. They both didn't expect for it to develop in that direction. They maybe in different stages in life, but the other was always present in those moments.

This book isn't about healing each other or about who among the leads are the healing sunshine, it's not about healing traumas and overcoming them with love, but as the translator wonderful puts it, it's about finding things to be grateful for and things to hold on to, your own sunshines in the darkest and bleakest of moments. It's not about measuring love like 'I love bec you took care of me' or 'I love you bec you make me forget things', but love unexpectedly blossoming out of it and them holding on to it.

This novel is divided in three books:

Book 1 - their childhood memories

Book 2 - coming of age/young adult stage

Book 3 - facing the realities of adulthood

Before I read this novel, I was mentally preparing myself for any heartache and imagined the worse from reading other reviews, but after completing it now, I would say that the novel was beautifully written as a close memoir of the author's experiences in the 80s to 2008, specifically citing real events and catastrophes that happened around that time. And just like real life, we want to shy away and lock up the unpleasant realities that we don't want to entertain. We don't want to understand the horrors of war and how that impact and change your loved ones, or truly wanting to experience what it's like to be on the frontlines and responsibility of doing so.

Book 3 is exactly that and Book 2 is the beautiful and best moments of our youth and we all want to stay in the moment, to indulge in it, to stay in the sweet innocent and carefree living we had.

We all want to stay immersed in the perfect way we view of ourselves.

Comments on Book 3 (Chapter 19-epilogue, the book that people are having mixed feelings about)

Spoiler

I get where other reviewers are coming from saying that this book 3 is unnecessary in the story and definitely want to read longer on the sweet moments Ji Chengyang and Ji Yi had before their separation, but I feel like going to Iraq is a very needed stage in their life and an important matter that they had not fully addressed until it was too late.

Like if it wasn't Iraq, it's going to be somewhere else, the issue of him being a war correspondent would still remain the same.

I felt like the story WAS definitely preparing you before or at least heading to that direction with how naive and innocent Ji Yi is with JCY's line of work and her approach that she could still be immersed in having good contact with him when he's literally going straight to warzone.

Reading book 3 awfully reminded me about the kdrama Twenty Twenty One where also like this set up, during 9/11, the couple broke up bec they grew apart. The guy was immersed in his career abroad and the horrors he witnessed during that time, whereas the FL was still starting her young adult journey and could not relate or truly empathize and therefore could not be there for the other.

But Ji Chengyang's circumstances was different and Ji Yi's journey had been more deep and complex than just breaking up with your first love. For Ji Yi, JCY was her pillar, guardian and role model first before they got into a romantic relationship. The idea wasn't even an option for her in the first place (thus definitely not expecting them to end up together). He was very important in shaping Ji Yi's direction in life had it not been for him, she wouldn't be where she is now. At this stage, the relationship was in no form equal. So she wouldn't think wrongly about the decisions of JCY in staying as a war correspondent, at that time was merely admiring him not fully understanding the implications of it as a girlfriend.

So them breaking up while he's in Iraq has been an expected outcome bec no young girl should be string up on a man who's almost a decade older than her, who had not also clearly explained the implications of him going to the battlefield, when he gets out of there dead or alive.

I questioned JCY's actions of not having a proper goodbye to Ji Yi here bec although the age gap is there, he is capable of having an equal conversation with Ji Yi but he just went on and nonchalantly pursued Iraq despite his family, friends, and colleagues for a few chapters cautioning him not to.

But after the ending, I understood.

After the first life changing event and overcoming a brain tumor, Ji Chengyang still is a young man, and like the vigor of youth, there is fearlessness as well as recklessness in pursuing our ideals and morals. He wants to do everything he sets his mind to while he still can and while there is still time for him. Even if it's risking his life a few more times for his worldview. Fighting in the frontlines of war. Love isn't everything in his life.

It's so easy to disregard this aspect of Ji Chengyang and just want him to be a perfect loving male lead in a novel, but as Ji Chengyang perfectly puts it, after all that he experienced, he was actually just an ordinary man.

This is what makes Ji Chengyang a very real character because he is afterall flawed and not the idolized and glorified man people always want him to be.

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What stayed true in Ji Chengyang all throughout the novel was his decisiveness and ability to face reality head on. The Ji Chengyang of Book 1 and 2 had the vigor and vitality of youth, and the more he overcome difficulties, the more he overestimate himself. It was the charisma that pulled Ji Yi in, the girlish admiration towards a mature role model.

But in reality, time changes everything including feelings and relationships. Youthful love doesn't exist forever. I personally believe that we all experience different aspects of love and thus experience love a lot of times in our lifetime.

First love and youthful love would end as we grow up. The man that Ji Yi fell in love with, the mature, steadfast, and charismatic young man isn't eternal and the kind of feelings she held up with, admiration and dependence would change as Ji Yi also matures and becomes an adult.

I think this is the aspect of the novel that readers are very reluctant to accept: that youthful perfect male lead and the innocent and carefree romance isn't going to last forever. Relationships are bound to change. The end of Book 3 brought a tremendous change on Ji Chengyang (both physically, emotionally and spiritually) as well as lost the time for the sweet romance we were indulging for.

But to me, this is the perfect ending. They once again brought back together when it was definitely hard to and no reason to in the first place. This again is a new beginning of love for them.

A different kind of love born from forgiveness and second chances, compassion, devotion, loyalty and finally honestly.

There were oppositions, many social taboos broken, and hurtful decisions that put a strain between them before but you can't help but cheer them on.

A smooth kind of love is idealistic and would not last long in times of trials.

For Ji Yi, he was a huge part of her life, but for Ji Chengyang, Ji Yi was the main reason he was alive. And I think this mature kind of love with a hint of bittersweet taste is beautiful as well. <<less
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Haruna80
Haruna80
Apr 05, 2021
Status: Completed
REALLY REALLY recommend this novel! However the romance is so slow, FL love is one-sided for a long time before ML love her back.

The story is so so so good, you guys must try to read it.
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Akiyo
Akiyo
Dec 06, 2020
Status: --
Reality really recommend this book. Its not just about love story between FL and ML but its more than that. It teach you about friendship, family and how important it is to understand each other. Not many books out there that can give reader all of that tbh.
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Wonder Star
Wonder Star
Oct 06, 2019
Status: --
It's a very well written story, well translated but oh so heart breaking.

When all of us wish from a romance is to escape the real world, the pain, the tragedies and heart breaks. This story is oh so sweet in the first 2 parts and so overwhelmingly heart breaking in the last third. Despite it being a happy ending, it weighs down on your heart, makes you want more of it, to finally see them have a happy end that you have wanted for them but then, life's never asked... more>> fair as you want it to be, not only in the stories.

Whatever life has in stock for them after the story ends is left for imagination. It's just fiction, just a few characters yet you can't help but hope for them to be happy forever.

Mo Bao Dei Bao weaved these characters and weaved the audience with them. It's a beautiful read, but a heartbreaking one too, it's sweet but bitter too. I can't help but wish to see more of them, a happy ending that I always hoped them have. <<less
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Miumiu
Miumiu
Jul 21, 2019
Status: Completed
I must have read this five times. Beautifully written and beautifully translated. But it is a sad story. It's a happy ending but you're heart can't help but feel heavy even after the happy ending. The characters are very realistically etched. Very relatable and very normal.
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Caitlin
Caitlin
Nov 17, 2018
Status: Completed
A very very nice, sweet and emotional story..... my favourite MBFB story along with Together Forever (same theme to honor our unrecognized hero) and Hoju is the best❣
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bhimmagdato
bhimmagdato
Aug 09, 2018
Status: c20 part1
This is a very nice romantic story. At first, I was hesitant to read this because of the age gap of MC and ML but when I started reading this, I became addicted to it. If you want a sweet love story, probably, you will love this, no angst, just a typical teenage girl fell inlove to a young professional journalist and how strong their love until the end.
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shasoo
shasoo
Dec 06, 2023
Status: Completed
Many people might be turned off by the age gap but trust me, do not judge early.

The story is so good. I love how deep down, inside their heart, they know that they are naturally soulmates.

Bond with heart without saying anything.

The chemistry is so strong.

Love it.
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jbkb_gims
jbkb_gims
Sep 19, 2023
Status: Completed
The story was really well written but it ends rather abruptly and the "epilogue" isn't an actual epilogue its just about what happened in their time away from each other.

The male lead was not the typical over-bearing, alpha male, richest man in the city clichés (although his family did hold some influence and money). He was very kind, patient, and considerate toward the female lead. That being said, he did put the leading lady through much unneeded heartache.

The female lead by comparison was a little lackluster; you do feel for... more>> her, however, almost throughout the entire story she had almost no opinions at all about anything other than the male lead. Even her choice of career was influenced by his existence. Although I do understand that her family was negligent when it came to her, and she had formed an attacent toward the male lead from a young age but, I would rather she had not copied him but had found her own path.

Throughout the story both leads kept keeping secrets from each other, and there were times that they broke their promises as soon as they made them (mainly the ML did) and yet not once did either of their lies or broken promises get revealed. There was no anger or arguments between them. In real life those secrets and broken promises would have been discovered and normal people would have gotten mad, even if only for a little bit.
Spoiler

Even when he returned after four years she wasn't really mad, mostly hurt. Not once did they argue or have a different opinion about anything.

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It was kind of refreshing to have a female lead that wasn't an actress, or super doctor, or super assassin. However, I felt she didn't fit the role well of journalist. As I said before she had a very lack-luster personality. She is the type to stand on the side and wait for others to get what they want first, or do as they wish first and still not make a move without the ML's guidance. And while I am not saying a journalist needs to be pushy or rude, but I do think you have to at least have a little gumption or moxy in order to make it in that career, suffice to say I found her lacking; and yet she still managed to get the job... only in fiction.

Spoiler

The person I felt the most toward wasn't the main characters but, rather towards a side character, the class prefect Yu Qing who even in the end, still thought of Nuannuan. It really made me cry.

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DemonGodSimp
DemonGodSimp
Aug 17, 2023
Status: Completed
Have the courage to bear on your shoulder the person you dream of becoming, only then would you have the chance to become the person in other people's dreams.

I like how he realized that the feelings he have for Ji Yi is actually love and not just a senior towards the neighbor's little girl. How he was thankful that she is his first and how he did not show interest to any/all girls he encountered because he unconsciously commited/dedicated himself to that little girl.

Such a slow burn but it never... more>> failed to give me smile everytime.

And, Angel by Sarah Mclachlin got into my song list because of this novel and it definitely suit the story. <<less
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Queen_of_Chaos000
Queen_of_Cha
Jun 26, 2023
Status: Completed
There are sometimes when I feel that everything around me is very chaotic and that there is nothing that I can do to make it all better. In those moments though I would find myself detached from it all, yet at the same time feeling the impact of it all so profoundly that I'd feel it without reacting outwardly. And this novel in a way was like that to me.

I know that Ji Yi and Ji Chengyan are characters separate from me, and I read their story as a stranger... more>> detached from everything, yet at the same time I could feel every little thing happening to them hitting my heart like pebbles, slowly one at a time eventually the feeling remaining so vivid that even the next morning I was somewhat unable to extricate myself from it.

That beautiful was Ji Yi and Ji Chengyan's story for me. Their struggles, their growth, and their happiness so very close to my heart. They were both each other's healing sunshine, that one hope in the darkness.

VERY VERY RECOMMENDED! <<less
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Riyasharma
Riyasharma
Apr 22, 2022
Status: Completed
A story that teaches us about the value of life through the experience of hardships and near death experiences. The story incorporates the importance of cherishing your loved ones. A nice story with a lovely sweet romance and at the same time a never-ending, unwavering love that will last a lifetime....
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