On April 12, 2026, the "Her Choice" Reading Salon was held at the Guo Mai Bookstore in Xixi, Hangzhou. Jointly initiated by Singapore heritage skincare house Blé de Fonty and the literary classic The Moon and Sixpence, the event convened cultural luminaries to explore the interplay between idealism and reality, selfhood and responsibility, while officially launching the "Moonlight Dreams Project"—a book donation initiative for children in rural areas.

Distinguished guests including renowned debaters Jian Qingyun and Pang Ying, along with He Chuhan, lecturer on CCTV’s Lecture Room, graced the occasion. Using literature as a bridge and philanthropy as a bond, they pooled collective wisdom to discuss women's growth and the equilibrium between dreams and duty, illuminating the path of reading for children in mountainous regions.

In-Depth Dialogue: The Moon and Sixpence Are Not Mutually Exclusive 

At the event, Jian Qingyun and Pang Ying engaged in a profound dialogue themed "When the Moon Shines Into Reality: On Ideals, Reading, and Her Power."

Pang Ying recounted her early struggle: limited family finances forced her to abandon a humanities offer from Cambridge in favor of a full-scholarship STEM program. "Those years were agonizing," she confessed. "I often skipped classes, barely maintaining the grades required to keep my scholarship. You cannot lie to yourself; it is nearly impossible to persist long-term in something you neither like nor excel at."

Years later, she took the bold step of resigning to pursue a Master’s at Yale. "If you ask whether this experience will benefit you in the long run, the answer is certain," she reflected. "But when that return will come is uncertain—it always arrives at unexpected moments for those brave enough to choose."

Jian Qingyun described herself not as a reckless gambler like Strickland, but as someone who dares to dream while calculating the odds. When she took out loans for her education, she meticulously calculated her ability to repay, determined never to burden her parents to the point of selling their home. "I refuse to live that way. I intend to hold the sixpence firmly in my own hand, and only then chase the moon within my reach."

To her, the moon and sixpence exist on a continuous spectrum rather than as opposing ends. She neither shirks reality nor relies on others for a safety net; instead, she shoulders her responsibilities while steadily moving toward her passion.

Roundtable Insight: Adults Need Not Sacrifice the Moon for Sixpence 

During the roundtable, the two debated whether adults should sacrifice the moon for the sake of sixpence. They reached a consensus: true maturity lies not in abandoning either side, but in guarding one’s moon even while living in a world of sixpence.

"I don't want to live without sixpence, nor do I want to rely on someone else's," Jian stated firmly. Pang added, "Many women aren't too selfish; they just learn to care for themselves far too late."

Other guests, including He Chuhan and Han Zijun, shared their approaches to balancing ideals and duties. He Chuhan noted, "Keeping a moon for yourself is not selfish. Women are accustomed to lighting the way for others but often forget they need to be seen and settled themselves."

Moonlight Book Corner: Reading as Self-Care and Boundless Kindness 

At the "Moonlight Book Corner," each guest recommended a book for children, writing down reasons for their recommendation and a heartfelt message. These books will be donated to primary schools in mountainous areas.

Reading emerged as the unanimous form of self-care among the guests. Jian Qingyun recalled her childhood habit of "book browsing" at the only small bookstore in her hometown. Unable to afford many books, limited to two purchases per week by her mother, she would crouch in the store, enduring the staff's disdain, just to read.

Pang Ying echoed that for children yet to "travel ten thousand miles," reading is the most accessible and rewarding tool. He Chuhan emphasized that reading grants women the confidence for independent thinking and the power to remain undefined by others.

Philanthropic Action: From "Five Minutes" to "One Book"—Making Kindness a Daily Ritual 

Philanthropy formed the cornerstone of the event. In recognition of Blé de Fonty's sustained commitment, Guo Mai Culture and Hua Yi Reading Association jointly presented the brand with the "Moonlight Dreams Donation Certificate."

Blé de Fonty has completed the targeted procurement and donation of books for five primary schools in the first phase. Moving forward, the brand will allocate 6% of the sales revenue from its "Moonlight Macaron Collection" to support book donations for rural schools.

This aligns with Blé de Fonty’s advocacy of the "Five-Minute Daily Skin Meditation"—skincare as both a repair of the skin barrier and a reconstruction of spiritual boundaries. From those five minutes before the mirror to the moment a child in a distant mountain village opens a book, the moonlight passes between different lives.

From an intellectual collision over "the moon and sixpence" to the tangible transformation of serum capsules into pages of books, this event provided a platform for contemporary women to explore growth and self-discovery, deeply integrating the power of reading with the warmth of charity.

Looking ahead, Blé de Fonty will continue to navigate with love as the sail and philanthropy as the oar. While deepening its expertise in skincare, the brand remains committed to women's growth and education in mountainous regions, ensuring every woman shines brightly.