Only Seeking Peace - Xi Juan's 2005 New Exhibition

Author: Xi Juan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: "Only Seeking Peace" is a very interesting work. Ye An'an, who is aloof and dislikes socializing, and Ren Fangge, who is smooth-tongued and has a wide circle of friends, seem to have no similarities and no intersection at first glance. However, when they meet for the first time, Ren Fangge is immediately attracted to Ye An'an's dry humor. They also have similarities—after all, both their fathers are remarried after divorce. They both have "stepmothers" and half-siblings! Due to investigating a business spy, they have another intersection. Ren Fangge begins to actively approach Ye An'an and pursue her. During their interactions, Ren Fangge discovers that Ye An'an's coldness is not because she has experienced any misfortune or dissatisfaction with life, but simply due to her personality. Ye An'an also notices that Ren Fangge's constant smiling is not because his life has been smooth and free of hardship, but because he is naturally optimistic. Ren Fangge's biological mother was a maid: she calculated human affection with a formula like "one or two feelings = how many US dollars." Even using her ex-husband and son as tools, she felt no guilt. Ye An'an's cold exterior but warm interior can not only accommodate Ren Fangge's unrestrained passion but also transform his inner barrenness into a garden. In this book, Xi Juan portrays a story that could be full of conspiracies or evolve into a tragic ethical drama in a light, humorous, and peaceful manner. At the same time, she uses subtext to tell readers: whether facing family or love, never force the other person to respond in kind. Because some people are born incapable of handling emotions. Forgive those who are "incapable," love those who understand love, and cherish those who are loved—that is a wise and choice. The characters in this book are vivid and distinctive, with a healthy tone.