Introduction

A yellowed page from a Republican-era diary brings the story of Mr. Cao Xingkang at 23 to young internet users. Now 99 years old, what has become of the diary's author after 76 years?

As an enthusiast of Republican China themes, scenes like gramophones, the Paramount, and Shanghai's St. John's University have often appeared in my novels and plays since high school. I never imagined that art would step into reality, and I would meet an old gentleman who graduated from Shanghai St. John's University. Introduced by a friend with whom I had once made theatre, this gentleman entered my life. What began as an effort to assist my friend's interview project, leveraging my expertise in film, unexpectedly left a lasting impression.

After 99 years, what does a person truly hold onto? Perhaps, after letting go of the daily grind and washing away the distractions of fleeting glamour, what remains to keep one company is the hobby one can never abandon and the puppet love, that luminous memory of youth. At least, this is the answer brought to me by the spirited revival of Mr. Cao's youthful enthusiasm.

Have you found that lifelong passion, that activity that brings you genuine joy?

Regret or no regret, it doesn’t really matter; at the very least, have you ever encountered your true love?

When you grow old, can you still find your youthful self again?