Endorsements from readers:

“A very heartwarming little book—so healing!”
“I absolutely love this comic! I saw so much of myself in it. Our twenties and thirties are both strikingly similar and profoundly different. This is a gentle gift for every young woman striving to grow. Life is an open-world game—go ahead and play it!”
“It’s not about piling on feel-good dopamine or over-the-top cute quotes. Simply telling one’s own story with openness, sensitivity, and honesty is enough to touch the heart, hold your attention, and leave you lingering long after. After the waves have passed, you’re left with the tranquil, spring-like stillness of a lake—and a deep sense of release.”
“The strongest, most resilient force in this world, capable of weathering any storm or harm, has never been cold armor or sharp edges. It is the pure love and kindness within our hearts, together with a spirit that remains soft no matter what. Though it may seem gentle, this inner strength can pierce through indifference and barriers, bearing up under all the malice and trials life throws our way. Softness is not weakness; it means choosing warmth even after experiencing the world, and holding fast to the light despite having seen the darkness.”

We often say, “It’ll get better when you grow up.” But as adults, we often feel like we’re walking in the dark: distant from our mothers, awkward with ourselves, locked in a struggle with our emotions, and tiptoeing around our colleagues. Growth is never a straight, smooth road; it’s a journey where we may lose our way, keep stumbling, and continually seek reconciliation—both with others and with ourselves.

This book brings back to life those moments we thought we’d long forgotten: the courage of a girl with a buzz cut, our mothers’ clumsy yet tender love, the slow, aging figure of our grandmothers, a friend’s comforting embrace, a teacher’s heartfelt praise, and that one special moment when you finally made peace with yourself.

The book contains 22 comic strips, each one a tiny snapshot of life. They may remind you of the you who was misunderstood but chose not to explain; the mother who seemed tough on the outside but was soft at heart; the elder relative who has passed away but loved you deeply; the friend who always had your back no matter what; or that time when you pretended to be a grown-up while feeling lost and helpless inside…

May this book, when you open it, wrap you in a warm embrace, helping you remember once again: You deserve to be held securely and gently—not only by yourself, but by the whole world.

Jinyao Guangtou

Graduated from the China Academy of Art, currently works as a comic creator and illustrator.
She loves to play and her dream is to keep playing for the rest of her life.

Preface: Even If the Boat Doesn’t Come, We Must Set Off / IV
Chapter One: What She Is Like Is Exactly What a Girl Is Like
1 I’m a Girl—Why Would I Shave My Head? / 002
2 Different Girls / 018
3 She / 034

Chapter Two: Mom Is an Umbrella in the Storm
1 Mom Walked Alone Through the Downpour to Become My Umbrella / 048
2 My Mom Isn’t as Wonderful as Described in Essays / 060
3 I Always Feel Distant from My Mom / 072
4 Mom Just Really Loves Me / 086
5 But, Mom, I Want to Go See the World / 104

Chapter Three: Picking Up the Fragments of Love
1 When Grandma Became Like a Little Child / 118
2 My Grandma Never Really Left / 134
3 My ‘Knight,’ Aunt Er / 144
4 The Sweater My Mom Knitted / 154
5 My Best Friend Got Married / 166
6 Getting Caught by the Teacher While Drawing in Class / 184
7 It Turns Out Emotions Can Truly Be Caught and Held / 202

Chapter Four: A Conversation with Myself
1 Every Internal Struggle Is Just Repeatedly Beating Up the Person Inside / 214
2 No Matter How Small the Matter, You Must Make Peace with Yourself! / 228
3 Will You Choose to Live in the Future or in the Present? / 240
4 If You Give It Your All and Get What You Want, Will You Definitely Be Happy? / 256
5 It’s Not the End, But a New Beginning / 272

Acknowledgments: I Really Do Love Each and Every One of You! / 296