Chapter 16: Library Affection
Library Warmth
During the noon break, Qing Tian habitually stayed in the school library. With a book in hand, she could quietly read for two hours.
Perhaps because she was a regular, she was always lucky enough to find the most secluded spot. She would open Zhang Xiaoxian’s collection of essays and read attentively. Early autumn was always frequent with thunderstorms.
Her seat was right by the window. She gazed out at the scenery through the misted glass, lost in thought!
Who said autumn makes one sentimental? Who said autumn makes one nostalgic?
She recalled the scene not long ago when she and Ji Xiangyu took shelter from the rain under a privet tree, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
When she thought of scenes involving Ji Xiangyu, her heart felt as if it were infused with a warm current that spread throughout her entire body!
Holding her pen, she wrote a name on the notebook with all her might: Ji Xiangyu!
She wondered why he, with his sunshine-like personality, brilliant smile, and bright eyes, was named Xiangyu (meaning “towards rain”).
Was it left by his ancestors, or was he born in the rainy season? While guessing wildly, she wrote his name countless times in her notebook!
The last one she silently repeated in her heart: Ji Xiangyu!
As she refocused on her book, she saw a polaroid photo placed before her. In the picture, she was smiling slightly, her expression in the photo resembling the Mona Lisa – mysterious and untouchable!
Flipping it over, a line was written on the back in pen. Since the ink hadn’t dried, a few words were smudged, but the entire sentence could still be vaguely discerned: my sunny!
Qing Tian stared at those two words. The meaning they formed made her heart feel warm. No one had ever done anything romantic for her, no one had ever secretly written her a note, except for the one Ji Xiangyu had written her last time!
A flash of inspiration struck her. She rummaged through the inner layers of her schoolbag and took out the note that had been tucked inside her diary. She carefully compared them. Although the way Chinese characters and English were written differed slightly, the pressure applied with the pen was consistently the same!
Qing Tian didn’t know how she felt at that moment, only that deep within her heart, she was moved to tears by this small gesture!
Some things were commonplace to others, but to her, they were more precious than anything else!
Qing Tian carefully placed the photograph and the note into her diary, then locked it and put it back in her schoolbag.
Every action in this series was done with such meticulous care, her heart unable to contain its little flutter of joy!
She packed her things with a hint of reluctance, looking around, and then a figure caught her eye.
She walked over with heavy steps. He was talking to someone, his back to her. Only when she saw clearly did she feel her actions were unnecessary.
He saw her approaching and stopped mid-sentence, his eyes fixed on her, gazing at her.
Qing Tian lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit shy, and then said in a very low voice, “I have something to tell you!”
Upon hearing Qing Tian’s invitation, Ji Xiangyu turned to Ji Weiwei and said, “I’m going out with Qing Tian for a bit!”
Ji Weiwei pouted, as if angry, her gaze towards Qing Tian freezing.
Qing Tian’s expression remained unchanged. She said to Ji Weiwei, “Excuse me, I’m interrupting!”
Then Ji Xiangyu said naturally, “Weiwei, don’t be so petty. Let’s go!”
Qing Tian thought, Ji Xiangyu probably didn’t know about this morning’s events yet.
Qing Tian glanced at Ji Weiwei, who glared at her with wide eyes, filled with hatred.
Outside the library, in the small park, Ji Xiangyu used his handkerchief to wipe clean a stone bench and then said considerately, “Sit down!”
Although touched by his thoughtfulness, her words were barbed: “Actually, I don’t mind!”
Once the words were out, she regretted them. The ancients said: people are often harsh to those they love.
She was in that state now, saying things to the person she loved that she couldn’t control, things that would hurt him. She prayed she wouldn’t say anything to make Ji Xiangyu sad later.
Qing Tian smiled faintly and sat down, instinctively making space for him to sit as well.
He sat next to her, the distance between them already negative. Qing Tian felt that with the slightest movement, she could fall into Ji Xiangyu’s arms!
Her thoughts drifted involuntarily back to the scene at the Xinhua Bookstore last time, where his long fingers tucked away a stray strand of her hair. When her body came into contact with him, she became incredibly stiff, feeling utterly uncomfortable no matter what. She had an urge to escape, even her breath became tight!
Ji Xiangyu’s warm smile met her eyes. He said, “What did you want to tell me?”
Qing Tian had forgotten her original purpose for finding him. She blurted out, “Are you free this weekend? I want to treat you to a meal! Last time I was going to… that…”
She realized that as soon as she spoke, the atmosphere had become awkward again. She dared not look up at him, only silently praying he wouldn’t be angry.
Silence stretched between them for a long time. Because it had just rained, raindrops still slid off the leaves.
Qing Tian watched the raindrops, but her entire focus was on Ji Xiangyu.
Ji Xiangyu reached out and brushed a fallen leaf from her shoulder. Qing Tian turned her head, and their noses bumped.
Qing Tian panicked, wanting to pull away, lowering her head and blushing, wanting to explain, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Ji Xiangyu smiled faintly, tilting his head back to the sky and saying, “Okay!”
Qing Tian received his answer, but her heart couldn’t feel happy.
She looked up at him, and he happened to look down at her. They gazed at each other silently.
Time was peaceful! Library Warmth
During the noon break, Qing Tian habitually stayed in the school library. With a book in hand, she could quietly read for two hours.
Perhaps because she was a regular, she was always lucky enough to find the most secluded spot. She would open Zhang Xiaoxian’s collection of essays and read attentively. Early autumn was always frequent with thunderstorms.
Her seat was right by the window. She gazed out at the scenery through the misted glass, lost in thought!
Who said autumn makes one sentimental? Who said autumn makes one nostalgic?
She recalled the scene not long ago when she and Ji Xiangyu took shelter from the rain under a privet tree, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
When she thought of scenes involving Ji Xiangyu, her heart felt as if it were infused with a warm current that spread throughout her entire body!
Holding her pen, she wrote a name on the notebook with all her might: Ji Xiangyu!
She wondered why he, with his sunshine-like personality, brilliant smile, and bright eyes, was named Xiangyu (meaning “towards rain”).
Was it left by his ancestors, or was he born in the rainy season? While guessing wildly, she wrote his name countless times in her notebook!
The last one she silently repeated in her heart: Ji Xiangyu!
As she refocused on her book, she saw a polaroid photo placed before her. In the picture, she was smiling slightly, her expression in the photo resembling the Mona Lisa – mysterious and untouchable!
Flipping it over, a line was written on the back in pen. Since the ink hadn’t dried, a few words were smudged, but the entire sentence could still be vaguely discerned: my sunny!
Qing Tian stared at those two words. The meaning they formed made her heart feel warm. No one had ever done anything romantic for her, no one had ever secretly written her a note, except for the one Ji Xiangyu had written her last time!
A flash of inspiration struck her. She rummaged through the inner layers of her schoolbag and took out the note that had been tucked inside her diary. She carefully compared them. Although the way Chinese characters and English were written differed slightly, the pressure applied with the pen was consistently the same!
Qing Tian didn’t know how she felt at that moment, only that deep within her heart, she was moved to tears by this small gesture!
Some things were commonplace to others, but to her, they were more precious than anything else!
Qing Tian carefully placed the photograph and the note into her diary, then locked it and put it back in her schoolbag.
Every action in this series was done with such meticulous care, her heart unable to contain its little flutter of joy!
She packed her things with a hint of reluctance, looking around, and then a figure caught her eye.
She walked over with heavy steps. He was talking to someone, his back to her. Only when she saw clearly did she feel her actions were unnecessary.
He saw her approaching and stopped mid-sentence, his eyes fixed on her, gazing at her.
Qing Tian lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit shy, and then said in a very low voice, “I have something to tell you!”
Upon hearing Qing Tian’s invitation, Ji Xiangyu turned to Ji Weiwei and said, “I’m going out with Qing Tian for a bit!”
Ji Weiwei pouted, as if angry, her gaze towards Qing Tian freezing.
Qing Tian’s expression remained unchanged. She said to Ji Weiwei, “Excuse me, I’m interrupting!”
Then Ji Xiangyu said naturally, “Weiwei, don’t be so petty. Let’s go!”
Qing Tian thought, Ji Xiangyu probably didn’t know about this morning’s events yet.
Qing Tian glanced at Ji Weiwei, who glared at her with wide eyes, filled with hatred.
Outside the library, in the small park, Ji Xiangyu used his handkerchief to wipe clean a stone bench and then said considerately, “Sit down!”
Although touched by his thoughtfulness, her words were barbed: “Actually, I don’t mind!”
Once the words were out, she regretted them. The ancients said: people are often harsh to those they love.
She was in that state now, saying things to the person she loved that she couldn’t control, things that would hurt him. She prayed she wouldn’t say anything to make Ji Xiangyu sad later.
Qing Tian smiled faintly and sat down, instinctively making space for him to sit as well.
He sat next to her, the distance between them already negative. Qing Tian felt that with the slightest movement, she could fall into Ji Xiangyu’s arms!
Her thoughts drifted involuntarily back to the scene at the Xinhua Bookstore last time, where his long fingers tucked away a stray strand of her hair. When her body came into contact with him, she became incredibly stiff, feeling utterly uncomfortable no matter what. She had an urge to escape, even her breath became tight!
Ji Xiangyu’s warm smile met her eyes. He said, “What did you want to tell me?”
Qing Tian had forgotten her original purpose for finding him. She blurted out, “Are you free this weekend? I want to treat you to a meal! Last time I was going to… that…”
She realized that as soon as she spoke, the atmosphere had become awkward again. She dared not look up at him, only silently praying he wouldn’t be angry.
Silence stretched between them for a long time. Because it had just rained, raindrops still slid off the leaves.
Qing Tian watched the raindrops, but her entire focus was on Ji Xiangyu.
Ji Xiangyu reached out and brushed a fallen leaf from her shoulder. Qing Tian turned her head, and their noses bumped.
Qing Tian panicked, wanting to pull away, lowering her head and blushing, wanting to explain, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Ji Xiangyu smiled faintly, tilting his head back to the sky and saying, “Okay!”
Qing Tian received his answer, but her heart couldn’t feel happy.
She looked up at him, and he happened to look down at her. They gazed at each other silently.
Time was peaceful!
