LayarHijau – The popular novel by Li Qingran, 白日提灯 (Bái Rì Tí Dēng / Raising a Lantern in Daylight), is a fantasy romance set in an alternate historical world. It was first serialized on Jinjiang Literature City on June 1, 2021, and concluded in December of the same year. Additional epilogues were released until February 2022, before the novel was officially published in print by Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House in October 2023.
With a total of over 385,000 words across 107 chapters and extra stories, the novel tells a unique love story between He Simu, a 400-year-old Ghost King, and Duan Xu, a young general. The story begins when He Simu disguises herself as a fragile girl on the battlefield and is mistakenly taken in by Duan Xu, who believes she is an orphan. Behind her seemingly weak demeanor—fainting at the sight of blood and appearing physically frail—she hides her true identity as the ruler of spirits, capable of lighting a ghost lantern to guide souls and maintain the balance between worlds.
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Their relationship grows more complex as He Simu approaches Duan Xu not to regain something she once lost, but to experience what she has never possessed. Born as a spirit, she has never had normal human senses—her vision is only in black and white, and she lacks touch, taste, and other sensory experiences. Through her connection with Duan Xu and the artifact he carries, she is finally able to experience the world for the first time, leading to a gradual emotional transformation that binds their fates together.
The novel’s success led to a drama adaptation under the same Chinese title, along with its international title Love Beyond the Grave. The drama stars Dilraba Dilmurat, Arthur Chen, and Miles Wei. It consists of 40 episodes and is scheduled to premiere on March 28, 2025, via Tencent Video and WeTV. In Indonesia, the drama is also known as Dua Dunia, Satu Hati (Two Worlds, One Heart).
A closer look at the title 白日提灯 (Bái Rì Tí Dēng / Raising a Lantern in Daylight) reveals layered meanings that reflect the story as a whole.
On a literal level, the title describes He Simu’s role as the ruler of spirits who maintains balance between the human world and the underworld. She carries a lantern to guide souls—leading the living at night and opening paths for spirits even during the day. Unlike ordinary ghosts that avoid light, He Simu moves openly under daylight while still “raising a lantern,” emphasizing that she exists beyond the natural boundaries of light and darkness, life and death.
On a symbolic level, the meaning runs much deeper. Although she is labeled an “evil spirit,” He Simu possesses profound compassion. She exists in an empty world—without senses, without color, and without a full emotional experience. In this context, the “lantern” becomes more than just a tool; it symbolizes her transformation. From a being trapped in emotional darkness, she gradually begins to “light up” her inner world after meeting Duan Xu. Through their bond, she experiences color, taste, and emotion for the first time.
At this point, “raising a lantern” becomes a metaphor for her inner journey—a conscious choice to move toward light, toward the human world, and toward love, even if it means going against her very nature as a being of the underworld.
This meaning reaches its peak in the story’s central theme: that only love can stand against time and death. He Simu, who has lived for centuries and should remain detached, instead chooses to form a deep bond with a human. The title 白日提灯 (Bái Rì Tí Dēng / Raising a Lantern in Daylight) thus becomes a declaration of her defiance—her decision to walk between two worlds, to keep holding up her lantern, and to choose love despite the cost.
Meanwhile, the international title Love Beyond the Grave takes a more direct approach. It clearly emphasizes that the relationship between He Simu and Duan Xu transcends death itself. While the Chinese title relies on rich symbolism, the English title distills the story into a universal emotional message: love that endures beyond life.
On the other hand, the Indonesian title Dua Dunia, Satu Hati (Two Worlds, One Heart) offers a more poetic interpretation. “Dua dunia” refers to the separation between the human and spirit realms, while “satu hati” highlights the emotional bond that unites them. Rather than focusing on symbolism or abstract themes, this version centers on the relationship itself.
Taken together, these three titles complement one another. The Chinese title delivers symbolic depth, the English title highlights the central emotional theme, and the Indonesian title captures the essence of the characters’ connection in a simple yet evocative way.
