Vedika_Tiwari

Li Mei returns to her childhood home in the picturesque riverside town of Lushan, drawn by a haunting sense of familiarity and longing she can’t quite explain. Her memories of the place are fragmented, blurred like ink washed by rain. Yet, within those faded recollections, she senses the echo of a promise and the shadow of a love that once meant everything to her.

As she navigates the winding streets and misty hills of Lushan, Mei encounters Jun, the boy she had loved but cannot fully remember. Their reunion is filled with tension and unspoken questions, his eyes holding a pain she doesn’t understand. Determined to piece together her past, Mei explores the town, revisiting places that feel both foreign and familiar.

Through old letters, whispered stories from neighbors, and flashes of memory, Mei uncovers the truth: she and Jun were inseparable as children, their bond growing into first love beneath the blooming cherry tree on Moon Bridge. But tragedy struck when Mei’s family moved away suddenly, her parents desperate to protect her from painful memories after a terrible accident. In an attempt to shield her heart, they took her far away and encouraged her to forget.

But some promises are too powerful to fade. Mei had vowed to return to Jun beneath that cherry tree, and though her mind had forgotten, her heart never did.

As the cherry blossoms bloom once more, Mei must decide whether to rebuild the bridge to her past and the love she left behind or to walk away and let the memories fade forever.

whispers of a Faded Spring

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and plum blossoms. Mei wandered through the winding streets of Lushan, her footsteps hesitant as she took in the familiar-yet-strange scenery. Cobblestone paths curved between ancient tiled-roof houses, their wooden eaves dripping with dew. Red paper lanterns danced softly in the breeze, their delicate tassels swaying.

She paused before an old shop, its window cluttered with porcelain figurines and delicate silk fans. A chime tinkled as she stepped inside, the air scented with sandalwood. Her fingers trailed over a display of paper cranes, their wings frozen mid-flight. A shiver ran through her, a feeling of déjà vu that made her chest tighten.

"You always liked those," a voice murmured behind her.

Mei turned sharply, her pulse quickening. The stranger from yesterday stood by the doorway, hands tucked in his pockets, his eyes shadowed beneath dark lashes. Up close, she could see the faint scar above his left eyebrow, a mark that seemed oddly familiar.

"I…" Her voice faltered. "I don't remember."

His lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile. "You used to fold them by the river. You said they would carry your wishes." His gaze softened, as if lost in the memory. "You always made one more than needed, just in case one flew away."

Mei's breath caught. She could see it—tiny fingers creasing colored paper, laughter mingling with the sound of rushing water, the whisper of a wish carried by the breeze. Her head spun, the image slipping away as quickly as it came.

"Who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

He looked at her, his expression guarded, pain flickering in his eyes. "I'm Jun."

The name struck her like a blow, echoing through her mind. Li Mei and Jun. Spring Festival. Her fingers tightened around the photograph in her pocket. "You… you waited for me?"

His jaw tightened. "You promised you'd come back." His voice was raw, edged with a bitterness she didn't understand. "But you never did."

Guilt coiled in her stomach, sharp and cold. "I don't remember. I don't remember any of it."

Jun's shoulders slumped, his face hardening. "Then why did you come back?"

Mei opened her mouth, but no words came. Why had she returned? Was it simply a longing for her childhood home? Or was it something more? She could still feel that pull in her chest, a thread tying her to this place, to him.

Before she could find an answer, Jun turned away. "Some things are better left forgotten." His voice was flat, hollow. "Welcome back, Li Mei. I hope you enjoy your stay."

He walked out into the morning light, his figure fading into the mist. Mei stood there, her heart aching as the chime above the door swayed, echoing the emptiness he left behind.

**Chapter 3: Fragments of Yesterday**

Chapter 3: Fragments of Yesterday