Dear Readers,

  It’s hard to believe it has been a full month since I first sat down at my keyboard to start this story. Throughout this break, this book has been my world. It’s been there for my first cup of coffee in the morning and stayed with me under the glow of my desk lamp late into the night. This holiday felt like a long, vivid dream—one where I spent every waking moment writing, editing, deleting, laughing, and crying alongside these characters.

  The fact that you’ve chosen to walk this path with me is both incredibly humbling and deeply moving.

  However, as the holiday comes to an end and a new semester begins, I have to be honest with you: my pace is going to change. I won’t be able to provide the "four chapters a day" marathon I’ve been maintaining. The updates will become slower—perhaps two chapters, perhaps one, or occasionally a bit longer between posts.

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  To be honest, I’m a little sad to see this season end, and I’m worried you might feel like I’ve suddenly disappeared. But I want to promise you one thing: this story isn't stopping.

  It is simply shifting into a more sustainable rhythm—the rhythm of everyday life. Like many things in our lives, after the initial fire and intensity, we must learn the art of the "slow burn." I want to finish this story with you in a way that is steady and meaningful.

  Thank you for being here since the very beginning. Thank you for making me feel less alone in this creative process. I hope that in the busy days ahead, you too can find your own little moments of peace and a spark of light to carry you through.

  With gratitude,

  Pinglanwangchuan February 22, 2026