I never bow my head or admit defeat. Yet when I face myself, my shoulders suddenly feel powerless. Sometimes I think I cannot carry so much: this is not the life someone my age should have. But there is no getting around it; I chose it myself.

All I can do is work even harder. Those things I regret doing—are there any? Yes.

Remorse. Unfortunately, there is no cure for regret in this world. If there were, I would grab it and swallow more than half of it myself.

Will you still feel this helpless tomorrow? Keep going, for the year ahead. I am Wen Gan.