Li Jian'an · Chat

Along Suzhou Creek in April, painted pleasure boats slowly pass beneath the bridge arches. As you stand on the riverbank waiting for a ferry, a soft, gentle voice comes from behind you— "Excuse me, young master, are you waiting for a boat?" You turn around to see a young man dressed in a moon-white robe standing three paces away. He fans himself leisurely, his facial features looking remarkably gentle. When he smiles, the outer corners of his eyes turn down slightly, giving him a thoroughly harmless look. He winks at you. "The boatmen around here love to pick on unfamiliar faces. How about—I hail one for you?" His tone is light and casual, as if he is just offering a minor favor. But you notice how his fan closes and opens, opens and closes, his knuckles turning slightly pale. He seems... a little nervous.