Looking for Love in Alderaan Places

It was a typical, hot and humid day, but as the sun sets again, you reach your 28th climb. At this moment, something feels different.

The immaturity of 17 has faded, the tension of 23 has smoothed, and the anxiety of 25 has settled. 28 is the perfect age.

this person combined his love for climbing to start the letter, which is actually so perfect. and last year, when he filmed ETU, he was looking at the sun. i like how the writer mentioned that 28 is different. it doesn’t say it will be better or whatever, just that it will bring something new to his life.

the next part tho! i wanna cry. this can be taken in two ways. one is that this person is older than he is, so he is saying this is what the main problem is for someone at this age. but from my ( the writer ) experience, 28 is the perfect age. he is telling this to yibo as a promise of hope. this year will be different cause he is more equipped.

OR. the writer is talking about WYB’s own journey, because he was there. Saying immaturity is something you have at 17 is a given. Then he jumps to 23, that was 2020. the “tension” has smoothed. tho i have to say it was still chaotic, i agree that he had his foot on the ground most of the time.

who could forget that he mentioned only having 1 wish that year? 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Him at 25 was really busy for him too. This person knows him enough to understand that WYB had some anxiety that time.

but now, he is 28. he is better prepared. i think all of us can see it, even last year, but so much more approaching his 28th bday. he is more calm and enjoying his life — but still maintains that sense of competence and drive. 💪🏼

You still dive deeply into the light and shadow, but that immersion has a newfound ease, allowing your emotions to build a stronger intensity beneath the calm. You still live by your passion, but this dedication has been enriched with more brilliant insights, clear and grand, firmly supporting your every curiosity. As a result, the world's gifts are no longer confined to a single quadrant, but instead surge towards you with a more magnificent presence.

i could honestly cry with how perfect this paragraph describes yibo’s present state. he is still someone who is immersed in film and television and everything to do with that but his life and the way he approaches his career has reached a sense of calm. this is something i admire about yibo. a lot of people at 27 or 28 are still stressed and trying to find their way, but for him, he already did. it is also emphasized here how he explores his other curiosities — which we have seen.

and it goes on! omg. 😭😭😭😭

You still relish the lightning-fast pace and enjoy the lightness of soaring upwards. But now, your pursuit is no longer about a destination you must reach, but about the uninterrupted trajectory of your heart. You're accustomed to gazing at the sky and clouds between ascents, the mountain breeze rustling in your ears, the sudden downpour soaking your clothes, the stars casting a curtain, filling the cracks of life with pure joy. Thus, in your focus, the world stretches out, a racetrack of infinite distance and a mountain of infinite height.

If you’ve been paying attention, this is a classic xiao zhan pattern in writing. i have no other explanation. he is so descriptive. you can close your eyes, have someone read this to you and you’ll be able to picture this.

there is also a word XZ likes to use which is translated as cracks/gap.

p1 he says something like- the gap in time has widened for me. and then p2 is the title of his photo for the leica exhibit : “the cracks of night”

NEXT UP ‼️‼️‼️

Over the past few months, you've continued to challenge yourself, constantly experimenting and refining in the recording studio. You retain your wildness and innocence, sharing the insights you've learned on the vertical rock face, weaving life's experiences into every word. You still harbor a clumsy romanticism, reflecting the dust and morning dew everywhere you look into the glimmer of light in your images, hotter than anything else.

a popular guess in terms or recording studio is new music is upon us. i swear if he releases an EP or a full length album I WILL LOSE IT. makes sense that XZ will be there to witness and probably even assist cause he has recent experience in making a solo album. i trust yibo’s expertise too but it’s my headcanon that XZ is in the wings, giving his support. the writer also mentions rock climbing.

and his “clumsy” romanticism! ahhhhhhhh!!!!! you can also call it awkward or probably innocent. something you would describe someone’s first love. and that may be true for yibo. and for them. it’s like xz is teasing him, but also appreciates the kind or pure love and romance he provides.

i also found this description of it:

"Clumsy romance" is a form of emotional expression that's unpretentious, centered on sincerity and simplicity, often found in both artistic creation and real life. It doesn't pursue elaborate techniques or perfect rituals, but rather conveys feelings through raw, direct, and even slightly flustered means, which can actually be more touching.

AND IF THAT ISN’T YIBO’S WAY OF EXPRESSING HIS EMOTIONS THEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS THERE. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

People often worry about the uncontrollable development of things, but you always find certainty in the ever-changing world. The longitude and latitude of the universe become the ropes in your hands, pulling you to any destination. Yibo, after every mountain, there are higher mountains. Don't worry about what lies beyond the mountains. Just do what you want to do. Now is the perfect time.

Raise your hand if this made you think of this writer’s previous message that started with: “yibo, sunsets are beautiful..”

it leads me to believe that this is indeed a personal letter. an important message to yibo that he shares with us every year. the writer is making this for yibo to read — he is not trying to please anyone else.

hope you will continue to like it, stay proactive, and never lack the courage to try. If your heart is simple and pure, everything will be broad, and your world will be infinite.

emphasis on the last line. tho we have a whole other cpn on the symbolism of infinity, fans have linked this to stefanie sun’s song INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. who do we know is a fan of this artist? and the thing is, this song is in the same album as KEPLER. Kepler is a YIZHAN song. No one can steal that. I said what i said.

oh and a bonus candy that is living in my head rent free. YBO has this poster on XHS and fans are comparing it to CMBYN movie poster 👀👀👀

i can’t unsee it.

the way yibo is looking up. the blue. the font. i bet they watched this and loved it! 😏😏😭😭😭😂😂

-END.