Long ago, in a small village nestled between mountains and a wide river, there lived a young girl named Meilin. She was gentle, with bright eyes that always sparkled with curiosity. Her family was poor, but she had a special gift—she could craft the most delicate paper lanterns anyone had ever seen.
Every evening, children in the village would run to her little hut, waiting for her to light the lanterns. When she released them into the sky, they floated like colorful stars, making even the elders smile.
One day, the emperor announced a grand lantern festival in the capital. Whoever created the most beautiful lantern would be given a reward of gold and a chance to present it before the royal court.
Meilin wanted to go, but she had no money for the journey. Seeing her sadness, a kind village boy named Jun, who often helped her collect bamboo and paper, stepped forward.
Jun: “I’ll take you there. You make the lantern, and I’ll make sure it reaches the emperor’s eyes.”
Meilin (shyly): “But the city is so far…”
Jun (smiling): “Then we’ll walk together. Step by step.”
After days of travel, they reached the capital. Meilin presented her lantern—a glowing lotus that unfolded its petals when lit, revealing a tiny bird inside. The emperor was astonished.
Emperor: “This lantern carries light, life, and hope. It is unlike any I have seen.”
He rewarded Meilin with gold, but she did something unexpected—she handed the pouch to Jun.
Meilin: “Without you, I would not have even stood here.”
Jun (blushing): “And without you, I would never have dreamed of seeing the stars this close.”
That night, under thousands of lanterns filling the sky, the villagers whispered about the little lantern maker and the boy who walked beside her. They weren’t royalty, but to everyone watching, they were a pair destined to glow together—like a lantern’s light and its flame.
