Chapter 38: The Bookstore

“I’m leaving.”

“Yeah, bye.”

“Bye.”

Luo Ming waved to Gu Yu and stepped onto the bus. She inserted her coin and sat down, watching the old scenery of Old Street flash by outside the window. The morning was filled with the vibrant energy of the world, and the boy’s figure grew more distant.

‘Gu Yu, we… we will definitely be together forever, definitely.’

—

Gu Yu stretched and turned around. The old man from next door was sitting on the edge of a flower bed at the neighborhood entrance, smoking a cigarette. He looked at Gu Yu with a chuckle and a kind gaze.

“You’re doing pretty well, Xiao Yu. Another pretty girl. You’re almost catching up to how I was in my younger days.”

“What are you talking about, Uncle Zhao? She’s my classmate, just a good friend.”

Gu Yu walked over and sat down beside the old man, defending himself. “And what do you mean by ‘another’? You make it sound like I’m some kind of playboy.”

“Hey, don’t look down on me just because I’m old. I understand you young people. That girl is beautiful and full of life; you have to seize the opportunity.” The old man slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and patted Gu Yu on the shoulder. “And the one across from your house, what was her name… Yun Qian-something. She’s a good girl too. A wife who’s 3 years older is like holding a gold brick.”

“But Sister Qianxin is 5 years older than me.”

“Then hold one and a half bricks.”

“…… I think of her as an older sister. Don’t talk nonsense, Uncle Zhao.”

“What do you mean nonsense? You’re almost an adult, Xiao Yu. This is the age for romance. Those old hags were arguing with me, saying you’re still a student and it’s not time yet. Let me tell you, back in my day, someone your age could already start a family…”

The old man got into the spirit of it, gesturing with his hands as he lectured Gu Yu according to his old-fashioned views. It was a long-winded speech. Gu Yu didn’t really listen, offering vague murmurs of agreement while looking for an opening to slip away.

“Anyway, Xiao Yu, take the chance while you have it. If you like someone, tell her as soon as possible. At the very least, let her know how you feel. Don’t be a fool and wait until you regret it.”

The old man ended with that sentence, which Gu Yu happened to listen to seriously. He felt a bit dazed and nodded blankly. The resolutions he had forced himself to make for various reasons suddenly began to waver.

Should it end without a trace, or should he stake everything on one throw? If he ended up burdening the girl because of it, he would be overwhelmed with guilt. But if it ended like this, he would be so unwilling.

Suddenly, his phone rang, interrupting Gu Yu’s thoughts. He took it out, glanced at it, and answered the call.

“Hello, hello, hello. Mole, Mole, this is Sweet Potato.” The girl’s voice was cute and playful, brimming with fresh vitality.

“Did we ever establish a secret code like that? How am I supposed to respond?”

“Well, we’ve established it now. Are you at home?”

“Yeah, I am. Why?”

“I’m at the bookstore on the street outside your place. Get over here quick; I’m going to take you on a big score.”

He Yu hung up immediately after speaking, leaving Gu Yu no chance to ask questions. His curiosity urged him to hurry over.

The bookstore was tiny and run by an old woman. In her youth, she had been a primary school Chinese teacher for decades. After retiring, she opened the bookstore on this street and had kept it running for 20 years. The shop was filled with the scent of ink and paper, carrying a strong literary atmosphere refined by time.

He Yu saw this shop every day while commuting to and from school. That sense of history moved her, and she had always wanted to find time to step inside.

The shop was very close to Gu Yu’s Residence, just a few steps away. He saw He Yu at the entrance. The girl had changed her hairstyle today; several slender braids were pinned to the top of her head. She wore a light blue coat, white wide-leg pants, and white cotton socks peeking out from her gray sneakers. She looked even more gentle and quiet than usual.

“You’re here. You’re pretty fast.”

“So, Boss He, what kind of big business are you bringing me in on?”

“See that bank across the street? We’re going to go make a fortune.”

“……” Gu Yu felt a bit helpless. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry seeing how excited He Yu was.

“Alright, alright, just kidding. If I were really going to rob a bank, I wouldn’t bring such a clumsy accomplice.” He Yu walked closer and punched Gu Yu’s shoulder. “I want to go inside and look at some books. Does Young Master Gu have the time to join me?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Gu Yu followed He Yu into the shop. The old woman was sitting behind the counter knitting a sweater. Hearing them, she looked up and gave them a kind smile. They nodded to each other in greeting.

The shop was filled with antique wooden tables and chairs, old but tidy. Much like the old woman’s simple and elegant temperament, the place felt warm and refined, like a secluded orchid in a valley.

Most of the shelves were filled with world classics and many history books. He Yu pulled out one she liked and found a seat. Gu Yu sat across from her, casually unwinding the bright red scarf from his neck and setting it aside.

“I didn’t expect Boss He to have such refined tastes. I thought you’d definitely be at home binge-watching shows on the weekend.”

“Can’t I be a literary girl? Gu Yu, you’re prejudiced against me, aren’t you?”

“No, no. It’s just that you were planning a bank heist a few minutes ago, and now you’re sitting here quietly reading. It’s quite a change.” Gu Yu chatted casually as he looked down and flipped open the book in front of him. The yellowed pages were lined with neat handwriting, and he began to read word by word.

Gu Yu was used to having different attitudes when facing He Yu and Luo Ming. The girl in front of him was the type he could talk to easily. Their conversations could be nonsensical, meaningless, and comfortable, feeling natural and completely unrestrained.

“What book did you find?”

” To Live. I just picked it up. How about you?”

He Yu held her book up. When Gu Yu looked up to see the title, he noticed there were actually several romance novels on the shelf, but he knew He Yu wouldn’t pick one of those. As it turned out, he was right.

The cover was solid black, and the title was written in a grand, majestic font — The Qin Empire.

“I have a set at home and I’ve read half of it, so I just happened to pick it up.”

“Then why aren’t you reading it at home?”

“Because it feels better here. Besides, I have a blockhead to chat with me.”

He Yu smiled at him teasingly. She was cute and beautiful, radiating the fresh beauty of a young girl that made it hard not to like her.

“…… Should I defend myself?”

“What’s there to defend? You are a blockhead. If the Qin Emperor met a Great General like you in an enemy country, he’d be thrilled to death.”

“Then why don’t you tell me what’s wrong with me? I’m not as dumb as you say, am I?” Gu Yu stopped flipping the pages. He wasn’t quite convinced by He Yu’s description of him and was curious about the reasoning behind her words.

“You…” Something seemed to be on the tip of He Yu’s tongue, but she stopped. She thought for a moment and then didn’t give a direct answer. “Think about it yourself. You can’t even see something so obvious and you still have to ask. Blockhead.”

“Yes, yes. You’re right, Boss He. I won’t ask anymore.”

Gu Yu gave up his struggle and lowered his gaze back to his book. There were only two customers in the shop. The owner wore reading glasses and sat behind the counter knitting a sweater. The atmosphere was quiet and beautiful.