Seven daffodils

Author: Jin Hye-ran (Korean), translated by Xun Shouxiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The renowned South Korean author Jin Hye-ran, known as the "Master of Romance," brought the best-selling South Korean novel Seven Daffodils to the market this Valentine's Day, following the "Chrysanthemum Fragrance" craze that swept the nation last year. This heartwarming love story revolves around two young people in Seoul. Rain Shu is beautiful, humorous, and generous, a well-known powerhouse in the advertising industry. However, she falls in love with Yongtai, a man with no "career ambitions" who loves stargazing, and is deeply moved by his clear and pure eyes. Yongtai gifts Rain Shu seven daffodils, which do not signify love but leave an indelible mark on her heart. Exhaustion from work and an eye disease cause Rain Shu to lose her sight. Yongtai takes her to the edge of the remote Chanyang River, where they begin a pure life together. But in Yongtai's heart, he harbors a dream—he wants Rain Shu to regain her sight so they can share the beautiful stars, the profound night sky, the trees and flowers on the streets, and the entire world. Thus, he donates one of his corneas to Rain Shu. "Wearing" one of Yongtai's eyes, Rain Shu returns to Seoul and continues to strive in the advertising industry. Yongtai remains by the river, guarding his ideals. However, fate cruelly denies blessings to this couple. While observing stars on a mountain one day, Yongtai falls and his only eye that could see light hits a rock.
Seven Daffodils inherits the romance and melancholy of Chrysanthemum Fragrance. It features the beautiful melodies of over a dozen classic English love songs woven throughout the story, as well as the romantic tales of more than twenty constellations. Ancient myths, the clear starry sky, modern urban love and life, combined with Jin Hye-ran's poetic language, perfectly showcase the fashionable writing style in Seven Daffodils. For this, the South Korean literary critics have deemed Jin Hye-ran as "pushing love to its absolute peak."