Time printed on paper

The April sunshine finally dispelled the last vestiges of spring chill, becoming warm and bright. The sycamore trees sprouted tender green buds, swaying gently in the breeze, filling Anping Lane with vibrant life.

That day, Lin Zhiyi didn't come to "Shixu" with her laptop or ingredients as usual. Instead, she carried a square, rather heavy cardboard box and walked briskly into the store. Her face was flushed with an irrepressible blush, a mixture of excitement and a sense of accomplishment.

"Time sequence!" Her voice was filled with obvious excitement.

Lu Shixu was sitting at his workbench when he heard the sound and looked up. When he saw the cardboard box in her arms and the bright smile on her face, as if kissed by the sun, he understood immediately. He put down his tools, a knowing smile spreading across his clear eyes.

"Is it a book?" he asked softly, though his tone was firm.

Lin Zhiyi nodded vigorously, as if holding some rare treasure, and carefully placed the cardboard box in an empty corner of the workbench. "The sample book just arrived! It's still warm, the first one!" She couldn't wait to find a small knife and carefully cut open the sealing tape.

The cardboard box was opened, revealing a neat stack of brand-new books. She took a deep breath and picked one out.

The book cover is designed to be elegant and textured, with a warm off-white background. At the top, the outlines of several traditional tools are drawn in silver foil: a brush, a carving knife, a set of watch repair tools, etc. Below, the book title is "Tracing the Vanishing Crafts" and the name of Lin Zhiyi.

She stroked the smooth cover, feeling the slight bumps under her fingertips, and then solemnly handed the first sample book to Lu Shixu.

"Here you go." Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Without you and Grandpa, there would be no book."

Lu Shixu took the book. It wasn't heavy, but he felt a weight in his palm. He opened the cover, and the first thing that caught his eye was a facsimile of Mr. Lu Qingming's powerfully written manuscript, accompanied by a meticulously detailed hand-drawn diagram of a clock's structure. The combination of text and illustrations perfectly blended ancient handwriting wisdom with modern publishing techniques, exuding a unique fragrance of ink and time.

He quietly flipped through the pages, his gaze sweeping over the familiar treatises, the gears and springs he had once painstakingly drawn stroke by stroke. These things, which had once existed only in his grandfather's notes and on his workbench, were now clearly printed, bound into a book, and about to reach a wider world. It was a wonderful feeling, as if a corner of his hidden world, belonging to the Lu family, had been gently lifted and shared with more people.

His finger lingered on the chapter introducing the techniques of antique clock restoration, remaining untouched for a long time.

"Very well written." He looked up at Lin Zhiyi, who was anxiously awaiting his evaluation, his gaze gentle and affirmative. "Grandpa's manuscript and these illustrations have become more... accessible because of your words."

His praise was concise yet hit the nail on the head. Lin Zhiyi knew he wasn't just being polite. Making such profound knowledge "accessible" was precisely where her greatest value and sense of accomplishment as an editor lay.

"It's mainly because Grandpa and you laid a good foundation," she said modestly, but her smile blossomed like a flower, filled with satisfaction and relief. Months of running around, anxiety, and struggle had, at this moment, transformed into the solid book in her hands, and into his sincere approval.

She picked up another book, excitedly flipped to the afterword, and pointed it out to him: "Look, here, I would like to express my special thanks to Mr. Lu Qingming and Mr. Lu Shixu of 'Shixu' Watch Shop for your unreserved sharing and support."

Lu Shixu followed her finger and, sure enough, saw his and his grandfather's names in the meticulously written list of acknowledgments. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. This was not just a book; it was a testament to their joint efforts and to how solemnly she had incorporated him and his world into her life.

In the evening, Zhou Wanqing and Shen Bei were also summoned to "Shixu" by Lin Zhiyi to share this joy. Zhou Wanqing excitedly held up her book, winking at Lin Zhiyi and Lu Shixu: "Wow, you two are amazing! Doesn't this count as a husband-and-wife team working together on a business?"

Shen Bei carefully perused the book, paying particular attention to the sections on watch repair and natural dyeing mentioned in the café. She exclaimed sincerely, "Truly remarkable, Zhiyi. This book itself is the best interpretation of 'slow living' and 'the spirit of craftsmanship'."

The small watch shop was filled with laughter and the fresh scent of ink. Lu Shixu was still not very talkative, but looking at Lin Zhiyi, who was surrounded by her friends and smiling brightly, and at the stack of books on the workbench that symbolized completion and new beginnings, he felt that the sound of the clocks in the room had never been so full of a vibrant rhythm.

As night deepened and friends left, the shop returned to tranquility.

Lu Shixu took out a long, rectangular box wrapped in dark blue velvet from the drawer under the workbench and handed it to Lin Zhiyi.

"Congratulations." His voice was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Lin Zhiyi took it in surprise and opened it. Inside was not some expensive jewelry, but a custom-made ballpoint pen. The pen body was made of dark hardwood, polished to a warm and jade-like finish, and the clip was cleverly designed into a miniature, extremely delicate clock gear shape, gleaming with a cold metallic light under the light.

“This is…” She picked up the pen, feeling its just-right weight and texture, and a thought struck her.

“Use this pen,” Lu Shixu looked at her, his eyes gentle and deep, “to continue writing down the next peaceful and wonderful time that belongs to you.”

Lin Zhiyi gripped the unique pen tightly, feeling as if it connected his world with hers. She looked up and smiled at him.

At this moment, no more words are needed.

All the time, all the effort, all the companionship and understanding have been quietly imprinted—not only on the white pages, but also in our intertwined lives.