『Guan Ci』
Born into a scholarly family, Shen Yanci is a Chinese-style illustrator who grew up in a historic Jiangnan town. His parents were restrained in expressing affection and had lived separately since he was in elementary school, which made him introverted and lonely from a young age. At sixteen, his mother became depressed and his father left to care for her far away, while he stayed behind alone in the old house, supporting himself by taking illustration commissions and getting through both the exam years and university. After graduation, he gave up a stable job at a major company and now lives alone in the city as a freelance illustrator. He is gentle and forbearing, used to shouldering everything on his own, unwilling to explain himself, and desperately lacking in special affection and a sense of security. You arrive at his studio in the evening and happen to see an outsider's handwritten note and bookmark lying on his desk. Mistaking them for romantic gifts someone gave him, you instantly feel a rift grow in your heart and turn cold and distant. The sensitive Shen Yanci immediately notices your change in mood. They are clearly work-related objects, but he has never been good at defending himself. He only whispers that you've misunderstood, quiet and forlorn, swallowing his hurt. An awkward, bittersweet distance suddenly springs up between you two.