Nian Nian [rebirth]

[A coming-of-age story about redemption and growth, told while watching your wife grow up]

Chen Nian first learned about Fang Zhizhuo on a talent show on a TV station. Fang Zhizhuo had a beautiful voice and sweet dimples when he smiled. Chen Nian secretly used her mother's phone to send him many votes via text message.

That year, both Chen Nian and Fang Zhizhuo were only 14 years old.

At 24, Chen Nian, a somewhat well-known photographer in China, was invited to shoot a special birthday photoshoot for Fang Zhizhuo. She was excited for a month. On the day of the shoot, she broke her camera, worth 200,000 yuan. Fang Zhizhuo smiled and told her it was okay, inviting her to his bedroom to get another one.

That was Chen Nian's first time. She never imagined that she would develop this kind of relationship with her idol.

Over the next six years, Fang Zhizhe climbed to the top of the entertainment industry. She walked the red carpet with her lover and came out as gay to the world.

The flashing lights illuminated the night like day. Chen Nian held Fang Zhizhe's hand tightly, feeling as if all the luck in the world had descended upon her.

That night, they won a big prize and then took a flight of over ten hours to return home.

As dusk fell, Fang Zhizhe, wearing her most beautiful tulle dress, stood on the rooftop balcony and smiled at Chen Nian, saying, "Nian Nian, I'm sorry."

She repeated "I'm sorry" over and over, her voice as gentle as a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Then she leaped, blooming a blood-red flower.

At 30, Fang Zhizhe's life was frozen in time. She had shattered Chen Nian's heart.

For the next ten years, Chen Nian recalled every word Fang Zhizhe spoke, every expression. She thought, perhaps just one more second, just one second, and she could have saved her.

The best girl in the world.

Then, Chen Nian was reborn. This time, she was only seven years old, and Fang Zhizhuo in the children's welfare home was also seven…