Chapter 30 Let’s take a photo
The winter snow on Qindao had stopped, and sunlight streamed in through the library's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled shadows on the wooden floor. Luo Xue stood on tiptoe, her fingers lightly tracing the upper shelves, searching for the fairy tale collection she had longed for. "'The Snow Fairy's Gift'... I found it!" she whispered, and just as she was about to pull the book out, she suddenly noticed someone standing across the shelf. Through the gap between the shelves, she caught sight of a familiar pair of dark eyes—Sun Lei, clutching a thick tome, seemed startled by her voice. Their gazes met in the space between the books, and Sun Lei lowered his head as if burned. "Sun Lei?" Luo Xue asked, walking around the bookshelf in surprise. "You're here in the library during the holidays too? Why haven't I seen you before?" Sun Lei's body visibly stiffened, his fingers unconsciously tightening, creating a wrinkle in the book's pages. He wore a washed-out blue down jacket and a gray scarf, obviously too long, wrapped around his neck, nearly covering half his face. "Yeah, come often." His voice was almost inaudible, his eyes fixed on the tips of his shoes. Luo Xue had long since grown accustomed to Sun Lei's silence. She shook the fairy tale book in her hand. "I'm reading this. Do you want to join me?" Sun Lei looked up, a flicker of surprise in his obsidian eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then his gaze fell on Luo Xue's expectant face and he nodded imperceptibly. They found a seat by the window. Luo Xue opened the book. The sunlight caught the colorful illustrations, and the snow elves' wings shimmered with tiny glints of light. "Have you read this story?" Luo Xue asked, pointing to a page. Sun Lei shook his head, but his eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the vibrant images. He never read picture books. "It's about a snow elf giving gifts to lonely people in winter," Luo Xue said softly. "My favorite page is this one. Look at the little girl who received a singing parrot..." Sun Lei's gaze lingered on the parrot in the illustration, and the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly. "Beautiful," he suddenly said, his voice still soft, but much more fluent than usual. Luo Xue's eyes widened in surprise. "Yeah, I think so too, but I think your wood carving is even better than this." Sun Lei's ears flushed slightly, and he lowered his head without saying anything. "Look," Luo Xue picked up the wooden bird pendant on her pink schoolbag, "it's just as good as the parrot in the illustration." Sun Lei's lips finally curled up in an almost imperceptible arc. He pointed at the fairy tale book in Luo Xue's hand: "I want to... read the rest of the story...
The winter snow on Qindao has stopped, and the sunlight shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the library, casting mottled light and shadows on the wooden floor.
Luo Xue stood on tiptoe and gently ran her fingers across the upper shelves of the bookshelf, looking for the fairy tale collection she had been thinking about for a long time.
"'The Gift of the Snow Elf'... found it!" She cheered softly and was about to pull the book out when she suddenly found someone standing opposite the bookshelf.
Through the gap in the bookshelf, she saw a pair of familiar black eyes - Sun Lei was holding a thick book and seemed to be startled by her voice.
Their eyes met in the gap between the books, and Sun Lei immediately lowered his head as if he was burned.
"Sun Lei?" Luo Xue walked around the bookshelf in surprise. "You came to the library during the holiday too. Why haven't I seen you before?"
Sun Lei's body stiffened noticeably, his fingers tightened unconsciously, and a wrinkle formed on the page of the book.
He was wearing a washed-out blue down jacket and a gray scarf that was obviously too long around his neck, almost covering half of his face.
"Yeah, come often." His voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, and his eyes were fixed on the tip of his shoes.
Luo Xue had long been accustomed to Sun Lei's silence. She shook the fairy tale book in her hand and said, "I'm reading this. Do you want to join me?"
Sun Lei raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his obsidian eyes. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze fell on Luo Xue's expectant face, and he nodded imperceptibly.
The two found a seat by the window and sat down. Luo Xue opened the book. The sunlight just happened to shine on the colorful illustrations, and the snow elf's wings shone with tiny sparkles of light.
"Have you read this story?" Luo Xue asked, pointing to one of the pages.
Sun Lei shook his head, but his eyes could not help but be drawn to the gorgeous pictures. He never read picture books.
"It's about the snow elves giving gifts to lonely people in winter," Luo Xue said softly. "This is my favorite page. Look, this little girl received a singing parrot..."
Sun Lei's gaze stayed on the parrot in the illustration, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Beautiful." He said suddenly, his voice still soft, but much smoother than usual.
Luo Xue opened her eyes wide in surprise: "Yeah, I think so too, but I think the wood carvings you make are more beautiful than this."
The tips of Sun Lei's ears turned slightly red, he lowered his head and said nothing.
"Look," Luo Xue picked up the wooden bird pendant on her pink schoolbag, "it's just as good as the parrot in the illustration."
Sun Lei's lips finally curled up into an almost invisible arc. He pointed at the fairy tale book in Luo Xue's hand and said, "I want to... read the rest of the story."
"Can I read it to you? I think this story is great." Luo Xue said with a smile.
Sun Lei nodded and pushed the book towards her.
Luo Xue cleared her throat. Her voice was very soft and gentle, yet crisp and clear like a lark. Her tone was rhythmic and full of childishness that only children have.
Time passes quietly as the pages of the book turn, and the sunlight outside the window gradually turns golden.
"...Then the snow elf hung the last star in the sky, and winter ended." Luo Xue closed the book and found that Sun Lei was holding his cheek, looking at her with bright eyes.
"How is it? Did you read well?" Luo Xue asked generously and confidently.
Sun Lei looked at her. The sunlight outside the window shone through Luo Xue's long hair. From his perspective, it seemed as if Luo Xue was covered with a golden coat, like a princess in a fairy tale.
"Good." Sun Lei was stunned for a moment, then said slowly, "Better than the teacher."
"Hehe, no way." Luo Xue felt a little embarrassed when Sun Lei praised her in such an expressionless manner.
Sun Lei's ears turned red again. He hurriedly put the book back on the table and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Luo Xue then realized it was already lunchtime. She rubbed her belly and said, "A little... do you want to go eat with me? I know a noodle shop nearby that's really good. I'll treat you."
Sun Lei hesitated, glanced out the window, then glanced at the library clock. Finally, he nodded, his movements so light that they were almost imperceptible.
After they packed their schoolbags, Luo Xue suddenly remembered something: "Wait a minute, I have to send a message to my mother."
She took out her phone and quickly typed a few lines: "Mom, I met Sun Lei at the library, and now we are going to have lunch together."
Luo Xue remembered that her mother had invited Sun Lei to their home last time, but he had refused. This time, she wanted to treat Sun Lei to a good meal.
"Your mother loves you very much." Sun Lei suddenly spoke as Luo Xue put down her phone. He lowered his head and didn't look at Luo Xue.
Of course my mother loves me, why did she suddenly say that?
Sun Lei said this very suddenly, and Luo Xue didn't understand what he meant for a moment.
After a moment, she came back to her senses and thought to herself, "Is it because Sun Lei's mother passed away and he is thinking about his own mother?"
Thinking of this, Luo Xue didn't want to make him sad, so she comforted him, "Your father loves you too. We are all loved by our family, aren't we?"
Sun Lei looked at her and lowered his head slightly, "She has paid a lot for you..." As he said this, Sun Lei's fingers unconsciously tugged at the corner of his pants.
Luo Xue had no idea what he wanted to say, so she could only agree, "Yes, your father has also done a lot for you..."
Sun Lei looked up at Luo Xue again and said nothing more. Luo Xue felt that her reply did not seem to touch his heart.
The sacrifice he mentioned must have a specific meaning, but Luo Xue didn't take it too seriously. Sun Lei often behaved in such illogical ways, and she was used to it.
Sun Lei lowered his head, fiddling with his phone, as if waiting for a call. It was an old, push-button phone that could only make and receive calls.
Luo Xue was about to say something when Sun Lei's phone suddenly vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID, which showed "Sun Yong".
"Huh... why didn't he note "Dad" but just called him by his name?" Luo Xue felt a little strange, but it was just a fleeting thought.
"I...I have to answer it." Sun Yong's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
Luo Xue nodded sensibly and walked a few steps away to wait.
She saw Sun Lei with his back to her, his shoulders tense, his voice low. The call was short, ending in less than a minute.
When Sun Lei turned around, his face was paler than usual, and his fingers were tightly clenched around the old phone.
"Are we still going to eat?" Luo Xue asked cautiously.
Sun Lei took a deep breath and nodded.
The two walked out of the library in silence. The cold wind blew in their faces, and Luo Xue unconsciously shrank her neck.
"Scarf." Sun Lei suddenly said and began to untie his scarf which was too long.
"Ah? No need..."
But Sun Lei had already taken off his scarf and clumsily wrapped it around Luo Xue's neck.
His movements were very light, and when his fingers occasionally touched Luo Xue's hair, they would quickly retract as if they had been electrocuted.
The scarf had a light aroma of wood and a faint hint of cooking smoke. "Thank you," she whispered.
Sun Lei shook his head, put his hands in his pockets, and walked forward with his head down.
The two of them walked to the noodle shop in silence, and the hot air hit their faces, dispelling the coldness in their bodies.
After ordering the food, Luo Xue wanted to say something to break the silence between the two.
She thought of the call Sun Lei had just received and said casually, "Was that... your father's call just now?"
Sun Lei's body visibly stiffened. He stared at the wood grain on the table for a long time before nodding.
"Did he say...something?" Luo Xue asked tentatively.
Sun Lei's fingers were unconsciously fiddling with something under the table - Luo Xue took a sneak peek and found that it was a wooden sculpture that had not yet taken shape.
He finally spoke, his voice as light as a feather, "Ask me where... I am."
"Oh." Luo Xue didn't ask any more questions. She knew that Sun Lei's father was very busy every day, from morning to night, and worked very hard.
Two bowls of steaming beef noodles were served on the table, interrupting her thoughts.
Sun Lei picked up the chopsticks, his movements were light but he ate quickly, as if he was used to making the most of every minute of eating.
"Don't be in a hurry." Luo Xue said carefully while stirring the noodles.
Sun Lei's chopsticks stopped in mid-air. He raised his head and looked directly at Luo Xue with his dark eyes. At that moment, Luo Xue seemed to see the bottomless loneliness and stubbornness in his eyes.
"Yeah." He finally just responded simply and lowered his head to continue eating noodles.
Luo Xue suddenly made a bold decision. She pulled out her phone and said, "Let's take a picture together to commemorate our first meal together."
The two have been classmates for many years. Although they have read books together like this, they have never eaten together.
Luo Xue felt that Sun Lei might only have her as a friend in school, so if she could take the initiative, she would try her best to make him feel her kindness.
Sun Lei seemed frightened, his chopsticks almost falling on the table. He shook his head in panic and shrank back.
"Just one!" Luo Xue had already raised her phone, "Smile!"
Sun Lei was as stiff as a piece of wood, and the corners of his mouth were forced into an unnatural arc.
Luo Xue pressed the shutter and showed him the photo on the screen - two children sitting behind steaming bowls of noodles, one with a bright smile, the other with a stiff expression but soft eyes.
"Look, how beautiful it is!" Luo Xue said with a smile, "Shall I send it to you?"
Sun Lei hesitated for a moment, then finally pulled out his old phone. After a long, clumsy struggle, they finally managed to transfer the photos via Bluetooth.
Sun Lei stared at the photo on the screen for a long time, so long that Luo Xue thought he would not speak anymore.
Suddenly, he raised his head and a small, genuine smile appeared on his lips:
"Thanks."
At that moment, the sunlight outside the window shone on his face. Luo Xue discovered for the first time that when Sun Lei smiled, there was a faint dimple on his left cheek.
"So, you can laugh. I didn't even realize it..." Luo Xue looked at the photo happily, then turned her gaze to Sun Lei.
Sun Lei's face flushed slightly, and he pursed his lips slightly, not knowing what to say. He turned around and wanted to pay, but Luo Xuezhuan shook the phone in her hand and said with a smile, "I said it was my treat. I've already paid. Let's go."
Luo Xue stood up and returned the scarf to Sun Lei. "Wrap yourself around it. I'm not cold. Hehe, thank you."
The two walked out of the noodle shop, one in front and one behind.
Red lanterns have been hung in some places on the streets of Qindao, and the festive atmosphere is getting stronger and stronger.
Luo Xue put her hands behind her back, turned around, her high ponytail swinging, and walked forward backwards. She looked at Sun Lei with a confident and sunny look.
Sun Lei lowered his head slightly. He didn't dare to look directly into Luo Xue's eyes. He held the old-fashioned mobile phone tightly in his hand, as if he was thinking about the photo in the phone.
At this moment, a man walked quickly towards us from the front.
The man was wearing a neat dark gray coat, shiny leather shoes, and his hair was combed meticulously. He walked up to the two of them, stopped, and stopped Luo Xue immediately.
…
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