You can read ahead up to 60 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
The furthest distance in the world
Is not the space between life and death.
But when I stand right in front of you,
And you don't know that I love you.
The furthest distance in the world
Is not when I stand in front of you, and you don't know I love you,
But loving you so desperately,
And yet unable to say "I love you."
The furthest distance in the world
Is not that I cannot say I love you,
But thinking of you so deeply it hurts,
While keeping it buried in my heart.
The furthest distance in the world
Is not that I cannot say I miss you,
But that we love each other,
And still can't be together.
The furthest distance in the world
Is not that we love but cannot be together,
But that we clearly love,
Yet pretend like it doesn't matter.
…
The furthest distance in the world
Is that between a bird and a fish, One soars through the skies,
While the other dives deep in the sea.
…
February 14, 2016 – Valentine's Day, 11:17 PM.
Lu Chen posted a poem on his blog, titled: "The Furthest Distance in the World."
At the end of the post, he wrote: "This poem is dedicated to all the fans of 'Autumn in My Heart'. May all lovers in the world find their happy ending, and may true love never be kept apart by distance!"
Because of the finale of 'Autumn in My Heart', Lu Chen's blog had already become a focus of massive attention that night. As soon as the poem went live, it drew in an overwhelming wave of clicks, comments, and shares.
To this day, no one questioned Lu Chen's musical talent. He wasn't just a singer, he wrote and composed all his own music, never outsourcing a single lyric or melody.
And with 'Autumn in My Heart', he showed audiences a different side of himself, a powerful force in both literary creativity and dramatic performance. As a rising star in the entertainment industry, Lu Chen's rise to fame was well-earned and widely respected.
Of course, criticism always existed.
Whether from jealousy, envy, or hidden agendas, there were plenty who took aim at Lu Chen, especially targeting the serialized novel version of 'Autumn in My Heart' on his blog.
Words like "melodramatic," "pretentious," or "cheap emotional manipulation" were thrown around by so-called literary purists, who scoffed at his writing.
But Lu Chen never responded to these attacks.
When you're unknown, no one bothers to criticize you. But once you've entered the entertainment world, wanting to be loved by everyone is pure fantasy.
He simply focused on doing his work, and building his career.
This poem, "The Furthest Distance in the World," was Lu Chen's first true foray into poetry.
In his dream world, this poem had a long and storied history, its authorship long debated, spawning countless variations after it spread online, eventually becoming a beloved classic known by all.
Lu Chen chose this poem to close the final chapter of 'Autumn in My Heart', as both a tribute and a memorial.
There exists a kind of distance more painful than life and death. It's not a matter of time spanning the ages, nor of space covering the cosmos, it is the most difficult chasm to cross: the distance between hearts.
Life and death may separate us forever, but being within reach and still emotionally estranged is a deeper torment for the one who loves unrequited. To love but be unable to live together, to have feelings but not be destined, is a sorrow as old as time.
To pretend not to care, while loving deeply inside, is a distance filled with contradiction and pain, a betrayal of the heart.
Even more painful is the emotional coldness that turns away love, that builds a wall between oneself and the one who cares, a trench that cannot be crossed, pushing love to the other side of the world's furthest divide.
Distance, in some forms, can create beauty. But this kind of distance is only sorrow. Lu Chen hoped that this drama, 'Autumn in My Heart', and this poem, would help people understand: To be able to love and be loved, to be together, is rare and precious. Cherish what you have, so you won't live with regret after it's gone.
He wanted to make this Valentine's Day carry a different meaning, all because of his existence!
A truly great poem takes time for its reputation to ferment and grow, but for his fans, especially the true, devoted ones, the poem "The Furthest Distance in the World" hit home immediately, striking straight at their hearts.
Especially coming right after the finale of 'Autumn in My Heart'.
The feelings were particularly intense.
"The furthest distance in the world is standing right in front of you, yet you don't know that I love you!"
"Little Lan, I love you!"
"I really feel like crying. Lu Chen, you're so cruel, why did you have to do this?"
"This is the saddest Valentine's Day I've ever had."
"I think what the blogger's poem means is that we should cherish those around us, true love is hard to find."
"A great poem needs no explanation."
In the comments under Lu Chen's blog post, fans flooded the page with messages. Likes, shares, and reposts climbed rapidly.
Even some bloggers who didn't normally listen to Lu Chen's music, or hadn't watched 'Autumn in My Heart', found themselves moved after encountering "The Furthest Distance in the World" through others' reposts.
In today's world, poets are seen as oddities, sometimes even subjects of mockery.
Especially modern poetry. To many, it feels like a niche, boring thing, a way for a small group of literary types to amuse themselves. Some even joke, "As long as you know how to hit 'Enter,' you can write a poem."
The age of poetry is long past. The modern world is overflowing with entertainment options. People's emotional needs no longer require poems to fulfill them.
And truly good poems, the kind that touch your soul, are becoming a dying breed.
But Lu Chen's "The Furthest Distance in the World" lit up the night. Its lingering power and profound emotion made a deep impression. For those who understand poetry, it was nothing short of a wake-up call.
Of course, good poetry requires time to fully appreciate. So beyond his loyal fan base, public commentary was still forming, but the poem's impact had already taken root and was spreading rapidly.
After publishing the blog post, Lu Chen didn't stay online to track the reactions. He shut off his computer, cooked himself a light midnight snack to ease his hunger, and then took a long, hot shower to wash away the fatigue.
And just like that, Valentine's Day 2016 came to an end.
Bang! Bang!
Just as he was about to lie down and rest, someone suddenly knocked on his door.
Who could it be this late at night?
Without thinking much of it, Lu Chen walked over and opened the door.
The next second, a delicate, familiar figure threw herself into his arms. The familiar scent hit his nose instantly. Lu Chen instinctively embraced this unexpected visitor, then heard a gentle whisper beside his ear that made his heart melt.
"I love you."
And in that moment, Lu Chen felt as if he had the whole world. He wanted nothing else.
(End of chapter)