Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

"Does Classmate Junzhu want milk tea? It's just ordinary pearl milk tea." Bai Tingzhi handed over a cup, a little worried that the delicate young lady wouldn't like to drink such cheap stuff.
 

Gu Junzhu happily took it.
 
"If it's from you, Classmate Tingzhi, I like anything."

 
The girl smiled, and the bright sunshine lit up her face, not dazzling at all.
 

Bai Tingzhi blushed with embarrassment and turned toward the library.
 
"Does Classmate Tingzhi have a card?"

 
"What card?"
 

"A library card."
 
"No, I rarely come here to read." He had been here several times, but he rarely found books he liked or needed.

 
"Really? It doesn't matter. I just wanted to return a book today. The deadline is in one day!"
 

"What happens when you reach the deadline?" Bai Tingzhi had never gotten a card and had never asked about these things.
 
Gu Junzhu placed her index finger on her red lips and thought, "You owe ten cents a day for a book, I think."
 

She held up one finger to show Bai Tingzhi.
 
Bai Tingzhi nodded, unwrapped the straw, and inserted it into the milk tea cup.

 
It seems a little cold.
 

The temperature was acceptable now, but it wouldn't be very comfortable in winter. Is it not good to have these in the library?
 
Ten cents a day... would Classmate Junzhu's financial situation even make her care about that?

 
Gu Junzhu walked through the security check with ease, and after passing through a series of corridors, they finally arrived at the main hall of the library.
 

Bai Tingzhi said with curiosity, "There wasn't this much stuff when I came here before..."
 
The girl lowered her voice and whispered in Bai Tingzhi's ear, "There are many more books now than a few years ago."

 
"Is it really okay for us to be drinking milk tea in here?"
 

Gu Junzhu didn't say anything at first, but motioned with her eyes toward a direction and whispered, "Let's go over there and sit for a while. There aren't many books on this floor."
 
Bai Tingzhi followed Gu Junzhu to a small, separated area and found that there was even a little shop selling oden next to it.

 
I wonder if it's more expensive since it's located right inside the library...
 

Gu Junzhu sat opposite him, holding the milk tea in both hands and drinking it seriously, the book placed to one side.
 
For once, the girl wasn't staring at him, so Bai Tingzhi took the chance to observe her carefully.

 
Classmate Junzhu wasn't as mature as he had imagined. The mature image he originally had of her, similar to Lu Tianshu, was gradually replaced by a more childlike one.
 

The life of a rich family is really unimaginable. What kind of people are her friends?
 
Thinking about it more carefully, something seemed wrong. Since Gu Junzhu's family is so rich, why does she go to a public high school in a small town? Even hiring private tutors would be better than this environment.

 
A piece of rotten fish and shrimp like me...
 

Bai Tingzhi thought, forgetting that he was also considered a talented kid among his peers; otherwise, with his lazy attitude, he would have been at the bottom of the class.
 
As his thoughts gradually drifted away, Gu Junzhu met his «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» eyes.

 
Xiaobai is looking this way, but it's obvious he isn't looking at me. What is he looking at? Or what is he thinking about?
 

Does Classmate Tingzhi have a lot of troubles, too?
 
She remembered that in school, Bai Tingzhi hardly ever left the classroom all day. It seemed he only slept and basked in the sun. What troubles could a life like that have? Does Xiaobai also feel troubled?

 
Gu Junzhu couldn't figure it out, unaware that Bai Tingzhi was just distracted out of habit.
 

After they finished the two cups of milk tea, Gu Junzhu took Bai Tingzhi to the popular science literature section with her book in her arms.
 
After returning the book using the self-service machine, she placed it on the nearest cart.

 
The books on the shelves were clearly organized and classified. Bai Tingzhi had no interest in the books in this section, so he just glanced at them and didn't look further.
 

Gu Junzhu suddenly turned around, and Bai Tingzhi almost bumped right into her.
 
"What's wrong?"

 
She lowered her voice and pushed Bai Tingzhi to turn him around. "It's nothing, let's go out."
 

"Aren't you going to borrow any books?"
 
"Not today," the girl shook her head.

 
Since Gu Junzhu was done, why should he stay? He didn't like reading books anyway, and it would be boring to stay here.
 

After leaving the library, he finally didn't have to deliberately lower his voice. Bai Tingzhi took a deep breath.
 
Gu Junzhu patted his shoulder from behind. "Are you going back?"

 
"If Classmate Junzhu has other things to do, we can go together." Bai Tingzhi had no other plans for the afternoon. Even though Gu Junzhu had been too "enthusiastic" a few days ago, their current way of getting along was acceptable.
 

The other person seemed like a lonely child. In many ways, she wasn't cold, just naive and alone.
 
But no matter what, I already have someone I like. No matter how much time we spend together, I won't fall for Classmate Junzhu. It doesn't matter if we hang out as friends for a while.

 
The girl smiled and nodded, pulling Bai Tingzhi toward the stairs.
 

The main entrance of the library was on the second floor. Although part of the library was downstairs, from the outside, the first floor had many other shops.
 
A bookstore called "Yesterday" was open here.

 
Gu Junzhu motioned for Bai Tingzhi to follow and quietly pushed open the glass door.
 

Even when she's not in the library, is Classmate Junzhu always this polite in other bookstores...?
 
Before he could finish the thought, he walked through the door, and Gu Junzhu's soft words followed.

 
"This is my bookstore," the girl chuckled. "It was a birthday gift from my father last year."
 

Bai Tingzhi: (゜ー゜)
 
"My"? How did that word become so strange? "Birthday present"...

 
He took a quick look and found that the store was at least 200 square meters. It not only had many kinds of books but also gifts sold in stationery stores, merchandise from well-known IPs, gift bags, and so on.
 

"It's so big..."
 
Watching Bai Tingzhi's stunned expression, Gu Junzhu smiled radiantly. "Is there a book you like? I'll give it to you."

 
He quickly waved his hands to refuse; even if there was one, he couldn't accept it.
 

After touching several plastic-sealed, unopened books, Bai Tingzhi's eyes fell on a novel with a simple cover. The black cover simply read "Eyes of the Mourner."
 
The author's name was also there in two small characters.

 
"Miss Gu, you're here!"
 

A woman in uniform hurried to Gu Junzhu's side and greeted her with a flattering smile.
 
Gu Junzhu just nodded indifferently. "You don't need to worry about me. Just continue to look after the store."

 
"I understand. You and your friend can take your time. Just let me know if you need anything!" The woman seemed to be actively trying to burn Bai Tingzhi's face into her memory.
 

Bai Tingzhi came back to his senses and ignored the shopkeeper's reaction. He just looked down at the book in his hand again. The originally simple cover had become exquisite and luxurious, leaving no trace of how it looked before.
 
The girl looked at the title of the book on the cover and said to Bai Tingzhi, "Xiaobai, do you like reading novels?"

 
He shook his head slightly. "I used to, but not anymore."
 

"If there's any book you want, you can tell me."
 
Bai Tingzhi smiled politely, his eyes passing over Gu Junzhu to glance around the store. "I won't be polite, we're friends after all."

 
Gu Junzhu had been excited hearing the first part of his sentence, but she deflated after he finished.