Life
My name was Valentina, and I came from a land of bitter ice and snow in the north. My aunt had married into Luo State, and I, too, yearned for the mysterious culture of ancient China. Luo State had the best universities in the world, and my excellent grades earned me the opportunity to study there.
01
After I arrived in Luo State, my aunt came to collect me herself, and I saw my uncle again. Although he was already middle-aged, he was still refined and handsome, completely unlike the men back home who loved to drink to excess.
My uncle had once traveled the world, falling in love with my aunt at first sight in my homeland. The most passionate flowers bloomed amid ice and snow, and the sons and daughters of the Snow Country were naturally passionate. My aunt was beautiful. Living in Luo State, away from the Snow Country's sugary, high-calorie diet, she showed no sign of putting on weight and was still that flower of the Northern State.
"Cousin, welcome! You've finally come to Luo State."
My older cousin smiled warmly at me. He wore that modified sleeved outfit I liked so much. Half my curiosity and longing for Luo State had come from this cousin of mine.
He seemed to notice something, then came over and removed the red ornament from my collar. "Cousin, today is the Luo State Day of Solemn Remembrance," he said softly. "Wearing red is prohibited by law."
The Luo State Day of Solemn Remembrance-I had heard of this observance. It commemorated the forebears who had sacrificed themselves for the country. There were many such unspoken rules in Luo State. I would have to be careful.
With abundant resources per person, most people in Luo State lived comfortably. Apart from