The lotus is like a face, the willow is like a brow.

Author: Di An
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Xia Fangran, a beautiful woman disfigured by sulfuric acid, endures both physical and emotional torment yet remains self-respecting, proud, and gentle. She eventually falls in love with a boy who comes to her after the disaster, only to discover unexpectedly that he is driven by guilt—a desperate emotional retaliation stemming from another woman's hopeless feelings for the cruel disaster. In contrast to Xia Fangran's beauty stands Ding Xia Luo, a cheerful girl with an ordinary appearance who shares a deep friendship with a handsome boy. As a result, she constantly suffers cruel bullying from her peers, and her most beautiful years ultimately turn into a dark and brutal "festival of youth." These are two interwoven love stories: the young adults like Xia Fangran and Lu Yuiping; the teenagers like Xia Luo and Luo Kai. They are interdependent and entangled. Centered around the core plot, the investigation of the case gradually approaches the truth of the events.
On February 14th, Valentine's Day. Roses continue to rise in price as usual, and the weather remains the indifferent cold typical of all northern cities, still echoing the lingering chill of winter's end. Compared to the depths of winter, it is indeed an indifferent cold. During the snowstorm in December, the streets were filled with people struggling to hail taxis. Watching one taxi after another roar past without flashing their vacant light, these anxious people on the roadside would exchange a helpless smile. At that moment, the city would be filled with a sense of shared warmth, though only temporarily. But such moments do not occur in February. As the cold is about to leave, it becomes less diligent in its duty, and the people in this city, too, grow restless and easily agitated.