Ruo Chun and Jing Ming 若春和景明 by 玖月晞 (HE)

I have found myself a new favourite author in 玖月晞 and when I like an author, I have a tendency to sweep through their books. This is an author who does tragedy really well and I would recommend The Youthful You Who Was So Beautiful as an entré to her works.

She is plagued by controversy however as there are accusations of plagiarism. I haven't the interest to plough through the evidence but just putting it out there as creative theft may bother the more concerned reader (ie not me). It sounds awfully flippant like I condone it and I don't ... but I don't know where I'm going with this. It's almost like I'm an indulgent mom to an errant child. I'll leave the court to mete out justice while I do my reading.

Age must be catching up to me as I bought this book the moment I read that the plot was set in schooling years. It's a good easy read. It's not her best work (lol I mean this loosely so please let's not bring up the controversy) but I found it particularly addictive towards the middle. As aforementioned, this is an author who does TRAGEDY and I must admit I never saw it coming...

I really hate the formal synopsis printed on the book. It's so boring and vague. I also hate the design of the cover. But by default, I only translate the official synopsis under the title proper and put my thoughts into the first comment. I really hope it won't discourage any of you from picking this up!

As usual, I've written a short translation of my favourite scene hidden below the cut. Don't worry, it doesn't contain any spoilers :)

[spoiler]By the time Jing Ming returned to the laboratory, Du Ruo was the only one left. Her side profile was set aglow by the gentle reflection of the lamp as she pored over her work with her long tresses neatly tucked behind her ear.

He walked over and studied her quietly.

She must have sensed his presence as she glanced over and cried with a start “When did you come back? You gave me a fright!”

“Just” his answer was short and crisp and his face expressionless.

She could tell that he wasn’t in his best mood so she broached tentatively “What do you want to talk about?”

Jing Ming did not answer and seemed to be mulling over a deeply troubling issue.

Du Ruo’s trepidation ballooned in the silence. She finally decided perhaps it would be better for her to give her defense first instead of being subjected to an interrogation “I … I had classes all afternoon and needed to complete some schoolwork in the evening. I had already set aside time to come to the lab. Even if you had not texted me, I would have come. I’m not slacking.”

His brows were knitted with great displeasure.

She went through a million different scenarios and decided that he was most likely thinking of firing her from his team. Perhaps it would be wiser for her to escape his wrath till he calmed down …

“Well look at the time. I’ll make a move if there’s nothing urgent.” She chirped brightly as she began stuffing her belongings hurriedly and haphazardly into her bag.

She had just slung on her backpack when she heard an “I like you.”

Du Ruo braked in her getaway.

The laboratory descended into an unnatural silence as the two made eye contact.

Du Ruo was completely floored by the declaration.

Jing Ming could not decide what to make of her reaction so he tried again “Du Ruo Chun …”

It was as if his voice was the magic necessary to rewire her to life as she found her voice and quickly cut him off “I don’t like you.” Even as she spoke, she was heading for the door.

“You’re not leaving until we finish this conversation!” he caught up in a few broad strides and blocked off her escape route.

She was a cornered prey.

She stepped back nervously. She tried to hold his gaze but her eyes flitted away immediately “I’ve said my piece.”

“You have?”

“I said I don’t like you.” She gripped a nearby desk to regain her composure.

“Liar.” Jing Ming’s expression darkened.

“I’m not ….” She replied weakly as she tried to walk past him “I really have to go now …”

Once again, he loomed right in her tracks.

She was at her wit’s end and she tried a more forceful tone “I really must …”

“Finish this conversation first!”

“I DON’T …” her voice trailed off when she heard him snort in disbelief.

He smacked a sheet of paper on the desk “If you don’t have feelings for me, then what is this?”

Du Ruo stared dumbfounded at the revision cheatsheet that she had copied painstakingly for him and her face drained.

She made a quick lunge for the paper but he was faster and he held it high in the air, way out of her reach. She was so desperate she made a leap but only succeeded in tearing the paper.

He was caught off guard and quickly shunted the paper protectively behind him “What are you doing!”

His rebuke was met with fearful eyes that quickly turned into that of anger and humiliation and bitterness and hatred.

“You must be so pleased.” She struggled to keep her emotions in check as her voice came out muffled through her heaving chest “You must be so pleased that I liked you. You must think you’re indeed king of everything.”

Jing Ming’s eyes widened in shock. He never knew she was capable of such cutting remarks.

Du Ruo didn’t have any desire to stay but this insurmountable wall of a man was still in her way.

“I did like you before but that was in the past. I’ve stopped liking you.”

“You’re arrogant and mean and have no respect for anyone. I must have lost my mind to have had feelings for you!”

Jing Ming was a dangerous vermillion. He had never once been spoken to in that tone all his life.

“Who do I not have respect for? Huh?”

She stared at him agape but no voice came forth.

“Tell me.” He breathed as he inched towards her “Who do I not respect?”

She held her ground this time and glared hatefully at him “ME!”

He smirked and taunted “Indeed. I didn’t like your past self. But isn’t that understandable? You were so …”

Her eyes grew wide as saucers at his brutal honesty.

“Ambition-less. You had no admirable goals. Passing exams, getting a scholarship, graduating, becoming part of the white collared folk, getting a small apartment.. We belong to two different worlds. Not being attracted to you then, isn’t it understandable?”

“It is!” She forced herself to put on a strong front despite the utter humiliation she felt. “To warn me point blank not to fall for you because the feelings would never be reciprocated, you must have really despised me. Did you find it amusing that a girl as plain or as poor as me liked you?! You didn’t have to reciprocate my feelings but you also didn’t have to trod all over my self-esteem.”

It was a moment that continued to haunt her, a scar that seared deeply.

“Perhaps you didn’t mean it. It was just an offhand remark.”

“You have the whole world eating out of your palm from birth so you can’t see the lesser things in life. You can’t feel people’s anguish, their struggles, their feelings of inadequacy. I’m not like you. Everything I have, I fought for. Therefore you have absolutely no right to belittle me and you are nothing special. You are not a person worthy of my love.”

It was a painful jibe.

“Don’t put on this hurt pretence.” Jing Ming huffed furiously. “Me, arrogant? You are no better. You put yourself on your own pedestal. What did you exactly like about me? What have you done to prove your love for me? Did you even confess? No! If you had, I wouldn’t have given such a jackass reply. But not liking you then, is there anything wrong with that?!”

Du Ruo retorted “Then don’t you dare like me now!”

He glared at her angrily.

She was at the height of her emotions and her eyes were as red as a rabbit’s. Her eyes trembled furiously as she tried to keep her tears from spilling.

She inhaled sharply and whipped her head to the side, trying with all her might to look less pathetic.

He was still seething and smarting from the rejection but her vulnerable side took the wind out of his sails. After a pregnant pause he relented “I can’t help what I have. And you … humph.”

She looked at him guardedly.

“You like me and then what. Did you really like me? You gave up so easily. You make yourself out to be a victim and only because I had said something hurtful. You ran. Such a superficial love! You only like the me that you envision, an ideal me. When you found out I have flaws just like anyone else, you stopped liking me.” An edge crept into his voice again “Such an inferior love, why mention it.”

“And your love is superior?!”

He retorted “Better than yours! At least I still like you despite this argument!”[/spoiler]