Falling in love with myself in cheongsam

 　　When I was eighteen, I was out shopping one day when a girl in a cheongsam appeared across the street. Although the street was bustling, I spotted her immediately. She wore a long, floral-patterned, modernized cheongsam, exuding an elegant and unique charm. Her figure was slender, and she walked silently through the crowd with her head down, like a lotus flower in motion.

　　From then on, I always wanted to buy a cheongsam. In our small county town in central China, there were almost no shops selling cheongsams, but I didn't give up. Every time I went shopping, I would carefully search in various clothing stores. Finally, one day, I found a simple cheongsam in a very inconspicuous little shop. It was mid-length, with a slanted plaid, and a light red plaid pattern—simple and elegant yet graceful. I was overjoyed and bought it without even haggling.

　　The next day, I wore the cheongsam to work. Many people turned to look at me on the way. When I arrived at the company, everyone I met looked at me with surprise and delight, saying I looked beautiful in the cheongsam. I felt incredibly happy.

　　For a long time afterward, I couldn't buy another cheongsam until Taobao emerged. When I saw many cheongsams for sale on Taobao, I was overjoyed. After much deliberation, I finally bought my favorite embroidered, modernized cheongsam. Now, I own more than a dozen cheongsams, short and mid-length, mostly with a small stand-up collar and diagonal placket, and in muted colors.

　　The cheongsam is a national treasure, and many people feel it's unattainable, but I prefer to see it as a unique beauty in everyday life. In terms of form, the cheongsam showcases a woman's grace and elegance; in terms of spirit, it's a return to and expression of tradition. Wearing a cheongsam, one naturally straightens their posture, their steps become lighter and slower, and their mood calms down. The cheongsam is both subtle and romantic; it's an ancient, fragrant dream.

　　I love wearing a cheongsam on a quiet autumn afternoon, alone in my room, reading, sipping tea, and contemplating, savoring the simple pleasures of life, like "bamboo shadows swaying on the desk by the window, and the sound of a wild spring entering the inkstone." Ordinary days, under the cheongsam, become as simple as cotton and as serene as brocade. I love myself in a cheongsam; in its attire, I feel like a plum blossom or an orchid, living the life I most desire.