As mentioned yesterday, I've been feeling rather flustered lately. I wanted to find a day to sort things out and prepare myself properly. Today is the Winter Solstice, so I've chosen to use today. I'll go out for a meal, rest and recuperate, and try to wrack my brains for what comes next.

The reason I'm so frustrated I want to tear my hair out is probably because I've been so caught up in this story since the beginning of the month. Silly me.

I mentioned at the beginning of the month that Qing Yu Nian is entering its final stages, the last few dozen chapters or so. I've been writing it with a sort of crazed fervor, and these past twenty days have indeed been more frantic than usual over the past year or so. It's not just that I've been writing more each day, but more importantly, I've been writing with abandon. I'm not sure what the accurate word to describe it is, it's really just a state of being.

Writing based on emotion is great, but when that emotion is suddenly released, or when I'm feeling down... well, I'm the same as everyone else. I experience joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, and frustration along with the story... and my brain turns to mush. This isn't the first time anyway. Whether it's *Yingxiu Shaoji* or Qing Yu Nian, whenever I'm writing a story, I'm always climbing up and down, falling up and down, on these waves. I imagine everyone is the same way, and no one expects to always be sliding along the crest of the wave without ever falling.

Please give me a day or two to rest and reorganize myself. Let me focus my mind and write well, so I can bring this story that's been with us for a year and a half, and that I've also struggled with for a year and a half, to a presentable conclusion.

Although this is technically just my job, without being overly sentimental, it's a job I enjoy. And I only write stories that I like, so I cherish and value it.

I won't say much more to solicit votes. Monthly tickets and recommendations, I cherish and value them all. But let's skip the update tickets, those cost too much money. I wish everyone a happy Winter Solstice, and I bow and exit the stage.