Throughout the long month of August, Zhao ii followed Xu Xu to the library to pass the ti.
One reason was the worry that, after starting high school, she would no longer have the leisure ti to read extracurricular books, and another reason was that Shi Yang was too busy.
So busy that Zhao ii dared not call him casually, fearing she might interrupt his business dealings.
Zhao ii didn’t understand her Brother Yangyang’s business acun—she only knew he was very busy, very tired, and striving hard.
The most noticeable trait after Zhao ii started growing up is that she no longer just used her mouth to express concern but instead genuinely thought of the other person.
Since Zhao ii couldn’t call her Brother Yangyang, she started sending text ssages, sending one whenever she thought of it, sotis expressing care for his health, sotis casually chatting, including humorous jokes, and occasionally checking up out of curiosity...
Whenever Shi Yang has ti, he replies, and Zhao ii saves them all in the drafts box until it’s full and can’t store more, forcing her to browse through and delete less important ones, each ti feeling a pang while deleting.
The library has a wide variety of books. Recently, Zhao ii has beco fond of the books on the last three shelves on the left side of the fourth floor, which are extracurricular reads but different from what she usually reads—mostly touching love stories akin to TV dramas but more nuanced.
Many beautiful sentences within capture her heart from ti to ti.
Zhao ii is very focused while reading. She habitually props her forehead with one hand while turning pages with the other, her half-exposed profile slightly tilted up, revealing her delicate fair neck.
Her skin is very fine, and you can even see thin fuzz under the sunlight.
Xu Xu also holds a book, but the pages hardly move as he casts side glances at the quietly engrossed Zhao ii beside him, silently enjoying the serene and warm mont.
Bzzzz...
The notification sound of a text ssage suddenly breaks the tranquil atmosphere.
Zhao ii imdiately picks up her phone to check.
Shi Yang: Be at my company at four in the afternoon to take you to the night market.
After reading the ssage, Zhao ii’s eyes brighten, and her fingers swiftly glide across the keyboard: Sure, I want to eat grilled squid and drink milk tea.
The phone rings again soon after.
Shi Yang: No problem.
Zhao ii, with brows curved, gazes at those short few words, a sweet and happy smile blooming on her face.
Xu Xu softly asks, "Who is it?"
Zhao ii turns her head, lowers her voice to reply, "My brother, taking to the night market tonight."
Watching the smile on Zhao ii’s face, Xu Xu’s eyes suddenly sting with needle-like pain, uncontrollably recalling the day when they both left the library and saw the strikingly handso Shi Yang leaning against the car door in a suit.
The gap in wealth and age repeatedly crushes Xu Xu’s fragile self-esteem, making his clenched fist and effort to appear calm.
Listening to himself say, "Really? That’s good,"
The inner turmoil of wrenching pain, driven almost to madness by jealousy and longing, forces him to suppress all these feelings, understanding he’s not qualified to discuss them now.
Xu Xu lifts the English grammar book in his hand again, repeatedly telling himself that only by studying hard, going to the best university, can he have a chance to fight for everything he wants. Achieving success is the only hope for future happiness; he has no other choice.
The night market near the river, one stretches long street sealed at both ends at nightfall, transforming into a temporary pedestrian path. The middle of the road has two rows of back-to-back small stalls made with fabric sheets, bustling with activity.
Zhao ii loves two things while at a night market—a variety of snacks and small trinkets.
With people thronged together at the night market, Shi Yang is always careful, holding her close to prevent her from getting lost, keeping her protected in front of him.
Qu Chaozong, watching Shi Yang protect Zhao ii intently, just sneers, "Is your ii made of paper?"
Shi Yang laughs and scolds, "Bugger off!"
While joking around, they unexpectedly co across two girls walking in the opposite direction, one accidentally bumping into Qu Chaozong.
Holding half a bowl of ice porridge in his hand, Qu Chaozong is caught off guard and spills it all over his chest.
"Ouch! Damn it!" Qu Chaozong yelps from the cold, raising his head to curse, "Are you blind, damn it?"
Startled by Qu Chaozong’s ssy and colorful front, both girls hurriedly apologize, "Oh, oh! Sorry! We didn’t do it on purpose!"
In the darkness of the night, illuminated only by the dim stall lights and standing in a shaded area, Qu Chaozong looks up at the girls, who are probably in their early twenties or so and dressed normally, but wearing sunglasses that cover half their faces.
Rolling his eyes, Qu Chaozong teases, "Wearing sunglasses at night! No wonder you can’t see the road!"
Zhao ii hurriedly hands over the tissue she had grabbed earlier while eating grilled squid to help Qu Chaozong clean his clothes.
The girls are indeed embarrassed, not angered by Qu Chaozong’s remark, and continue apologizing, "Sorry!"
Qu Chaozong isn’t a petty person, only has a mischievous mouth, so he shrugs it off, waving them away, "Well, I’m not going to make you wash clothes for ! Just be careful next ti."
As Qu Chaozong speaks, stepping forward into the light, his features beco fully revealed.
By his own account, Qu Chaozong used to have a bit of baby fat in school days, but since graduating college and working tirelessly with Shi Yang to start a company, he quickly shed the chubbiness, and his features beca more distinct. Though not particularly handso, he possesses a strong masculine appeal, and his natural rakish charm makes him popular with won. When he talks, his mouth quirks to one side, making him seem engagingly genuine.
After speaking, Qu Chaozong slings a hand over Shi Yang’s shoulder to move forward, but unexpectedly one of the girls passing by reaches out to grab his arm.
Qu Chaozong starts, raising a brow to look at her.
The girl who bumped into him says, "I can wash your clothes."
Qu Chaozong: "..."
The girl continues, "I bumped into you, my fault. I’m willing to help wash your clothes."
Qu Chaozong clicks his tongue, frowning at her, sensing a bit of defiance. Despite his outward deanor, he never cares to argue with won.
With a cold snort, he replies, "No clothes for washing, but there’s a pair of shorts. Will you wash them?"
Without waiting for her response, he shoves Shi Yang and Zhao ii forward, muttering, "Bliy, crazy!"
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