The Coolness of the Green Vine

Name: The Coolness of the Green Vine
ISBN: 9787531335283

梅吉Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaJun 2018

3.6

Word count: 123K words
Chapters: 13
ISBN: 9787531335283

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Summary

At seventeen, Lin Xiyan and her best friend Xia Xiaomiao met two fraternal twin brothers, Gu Jinxiu and Shen Qinghe. From then on, the paths of their lives began to veer. Xia Xiaomiao's love was like a bullet—too searing, with no turning back. Lin Xiyan's secret love was like the morning glory in the corner of a wall, longing through every bloom and fall, its vines twisting and turning as they climbed over the wall. She believed that relentless forbearance and sacrifice would amount to fulfillment, yet with her own hands she pushed her best friend toward the abyss of death... From then on, half of Lin Xiyan's world was gone... Beneath the shadow of Xia Xiaomiao's death, what guilt must they carry for the rest of their lives?

Editor's review

Qingteng zhi Liang is another novel by Mei Ji centered on youthful emotion, but it is heavier than Strawberry Years. The story begins with the meeting of two pairs of boys and girls at seventeen and weaves together secret love, friendship, sacrifice, and the shadow of death. Lin Xiyan's forbearance contrasts sharply with Xia Xiaomiao's fervor; the author uses images such as the morning glory and the bullet to distinguish two ways of loving, and the narrative carries a distinct melancholy tone. The work's value lies in its refusal to evade the loss of control and the cost inherent in youthful emotion: relentless forbearance does not necessarily bring fulfillment, and searing love may allow no turning back. Readers will be moved by the characters' fates; it suits those willing to reflect on the boundaries of friendship and the consequences of choice within a story. The pace is slow and the emotional intensity high; it is best read in a steady frame of mind, not as light entertainment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

High school and older readers who enjoy melancholy youth literature and are willing to reflect on characters' fates
Young women readers who resonate with themes of friendship, secret love, and sacrifice
Literary readers who appreciate delicate imagery and psychological description
Reading group members interested in discussing the consequences of youthful choices

Not a good fit for

Emotionally sensitive readers prone to being drawn into heavy narratives
Readers who prefer light, sweet romance or happy endings
Readers looking for fast-paced plots or suspenseful twists

Reading tips

Read the synopsis first to understand the character relationships, then read in chapter order to avoid giving up midway due to the heavy emotions.
Pause briefly at passages involving Xia Xiaomiao to appreciate the difference between the two ways of expressing love.
Read no more than two chapters at a time and do something light afterward to avoid pent-up emotions.
Read alongside Strawberry Years to compare Mei Ji's different approaches to youthful regret.

About the publisher

Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1959

Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House is a local professional literature and art publisher focusing mainly on modern and contemporary literary works, while also publishing classical literature, foreign literature, and books on culture and the arts. Its well-known brands include the "Cloth Tiger Series" and the "Little Cloth Tiger Series." Judging from the 257 titles in the database, its publishing scope covers social novels, classic works, classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature, and philosophy. Representative books include Lao She's Camel Xiangzi, Lu Xun's Call to Arms and Wandering, Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, Xiao Hong's Tales of Hulan River, and foreign classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Don Quixote, and The Golden Rose. Its authors include leading Chinese and foreign writers such as Lao She, Lu Xun, Feng Zikai, Wu Cheng'en, and Jane Austen, reflecting a publishing profile that combines Chinese classics with world literary masterpieces.

版权信息
第一章喜欢是一枚子弹，被击中了
第二章我们站在爱情的入口，丢失了自己
第三章散乱的时光，是凉薄的凉
第四章因为爱你，我们变得不爱自己
第五章如果情绪可以冬眠，那么我们会不会不再受伤
第六章成全，不是退让，只是想换一种方式，守望
第七章有忧伤，卷过我们年轻的脸庞
第八章夏小淼停在了17岁的尾声
第九章是伤口，在夜色里泛着冰冷的光
第十章请你一定要幸福
第十一章这座城如此的空，空得象没有心一样
第十二章忘记，然后告别

FAQ

Is this book related to Strawberry Years?

Both are youth romance novels by Mei Ji with similar themes, but the characters and stories are independent, with no direct plot continuity. They can be read separately or compared to see how the author emphasizes different aspects of secret love, friendship, and growing up.

The book involves death—is it suitable for readers feeling low?

The story involves the shadow and guilt brought by a friend's death and carries high emotional intensity. If readers are going through a low or sensitive period, it is advisable to postpone reading or first understand the story's tone before deciding. It is better suited to readers in a steady frame of mind who are willing to reflect on the characters' choices while reading.

Is Lin Xiyan's secret love the main storyline?

According to the synopsis, Lin Xiyan's secret love and Xia Xiaomiao's romantic line jointly drive the story, while the shadow of Xia Xiaomiao's death is the core of the latter half. The two lines intertwine, and Lin Xiyan's forbearance contrasts with Xia Xiaomiao's fervor; it is hard to say which is the sole main line, so it is best read as an ensemble youth narrative.

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About the author

梅吉 Author

Mei Ji is a Chinese author of youth literature and romance fiction. Public information about her is limited, and details such as her nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly documented. Three of her works are currently included in the collection: Please Allow Me to Look Up Alone, The Coolness of Green Vines, and Strawberry Years, all of which fall into the categories of contemporary romance and youth literature. Judging from their titles and classifications, Mei Ji's writing tends to center on young people's emotional experiences and coming-of-age journeys, with a delicate, sentimental, and lyrical tone that captures loneliness, longing, and heartache in youth. Her works appeal to readers who enjoy campus and urban romance stories and show a relatively consistent creative direction within the youth romance genre. Because verifiable biographical information about the author is scarce, a fuller assessment of her work and literary influence awaits more material.