Chapter 51 [VIP]
Wen Zhiyu parked the car in the designated area, hung the helmet on the handlebars, and, while straddling Han Shu, reached back to support him, saying, "Be careful."
"Where is this?" Han Shu asked, putting on her high heels and letting go only after she had regained her balance.
This is a quaint alleyway, with buildings on both sides exuding a sense of history. Looking around, there are all sorts of small, unassuming restaurants and stationery stores, all old establishments.
Wen Zhiyu stepped out of the car, his suit trousers outlining his long, firm legs. "Liuyin Road, not far from the west gate of Nancheng University."
Han Shu hadn't noticed when he got on the bus, but now he saw it clearly and smiled, "Wearing a suit and riding a motorcycle, you look so cool, Teacher Wen."
Wen Zhiyu locked his car and was about to proudly straighten his back when he met two gleaming eyes. Their fixed gaze traveled from his tie to the hem of his shirt and continued downwards…
Han Shu's vision suddenly went black; he tried to dodge but failed.
"Where should we look?" Wen Zhiyu asked in a low voice.
The warmth of skin against skin pressed together, the coolness of breath on cheeks—Han Shu's tongue stammered, "What are you saying?"
"You won't admit it?" Wen Zhiyu moved even closer. "Hmm?"
This person was deliberately teasing her. Since that was the case, Han Shu stopped being coy and said, "I'll watch, I'll watch! What can you do to me—"
Wen Zhiyu kissed her, then pulled away briefly. His hand covered half her face, revealing only her delicate chin and slightly parted lips in surprise. He looked at her with burning eyes, disregarding their surroundings, and buried his face in her mouth for a deep kiss.
"Smell—Ugh!!"
In this corner of darkness, the attack of lips and teeth was fierce. For every inch Han Shu retreated, Wen Zhiyu advanced an inch. She was forced to lean back, her muscles and bones trembling under the pressure.
With her head spinning, her only thought was to shake off the weight of her eyelids. Her limbs felt weak, and all she could do was blink in vain, trying to brush her eyelashes against his palm. But all she got in return was an even more frantic grasping.
"Beep beep!"
The distant sound of a ship's horn broke the moment of intimacy and tenderness.
Wen Zhiyu finally let go and pulled Han Shu into his arms. "Can we have some beer?"
Once again bathed in the light from all directions, Han Shu felt a little dazzled, so she rested her forehead against his shoulder and asked, "Where do we want to drink?"
Wen Zhiyu smiled and said, "Come with me."
Wen Zhiyu took Han Shu to a small supermarket and bought two bottles of beer. They then walked forward along the alley that seemed to have no end.
One wore a shirt and trousers, the other a long dress, as they walked past bustling roadside stalls, stepped on still-oily blue bricks, and passed countless youthful faces.
They were out of place, yet perfectly content with their lot.
Han Shu linked arms with Wen Zhiyu, held out a beer bottle, and said, "Cheers."
Wen Zhiyu gently touched it, the crisp sound naturally drowned out by the noise, "Cheers."
Since resigning, Han Shu hadn't drunk any alcohol. So, after half a bottle of beer, she was already slightly tipsy. Taking advantage of her relaxed state under the influence of alcohol, she drawled, "When you were in college, did you often come here?"
"Hmm." Wen Zhiyu supported her weight, helping her steadily walk up the dark steps. "I come almost every day."
"You drink every day?" Han Shu's eyes widened.
"Most likely," Wen Zhiyu scoffed. "I wasn't in a good state at the time. No magazines or publishers wanted my manuscripts. I was constantly on the verge of depression and social withdrawal."
Two bicycles suddenly appeared on the sidewalk. Wen Zhiyu immediately pulled the person from the right arm to the left arm and moved a few steps to the side.
"Ding ding!"
Han Shu glanced at his tense profile and said casually, "Teacher Wen takes a walk every day with a bottle of wine, and then what? Where does he go after he finishes drinking?"
Wen Zhiyu shook the bottle, "You'll know after you drink it."
"Okay." Han Shu tilted his head back, drank the rest of the wine in one swift motion, then turned the bottle upside down. "Finished."
Wen Zhiyu stared in disbelief, then burst out laughing, "I didn't mean to rush you."
Han Shu raised the wine bottle as if to smash it, "I'm urging you, don't raise fish, Teacher Wen!"
Wen Zhiyu narrowed his dark eyes. "You keep calling me 'Teacher Wen' all the time. Change your address. Be more intimate."
Han Shu pinched his chin, "Hmm... I'll change it after I finish this one."
Before he could finish saying "change," Wen Zhiyu had already finished his drink. He rubbed his lips with his thumb and said, "Change."
Han Shu chuckled and pulled Wen Zhiyu forward, saying, "Lead the way, little one."
Wen Zhiyu had no choice but to follow, looking puzzled. "What did you call me?"
"My little one, are we close enough?"
Wen Zhiyu wanted to nod, but not understanding what it meant, he hesitated and asked, "Does it mean something good?"
"Of course, that's what my little darling means!"
“Okay then.” Wen Zhiyu kept smiling. “Then you’re a little one too.”
"I'm not!"
"Then what are you?"
"Hmm... the owner of the baby."
"That sounds a bit convoluted."
"That's true, I'll think about it some more."
"I've already made up my mind."
Han Shu asked expectantly, "What? What?"
,"Baby."
"..." Han Shu was speechless.
Wen Zhiyu turned his head to look at her, "Don't you like it?"
She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
Seeing this, she murmured in a low voice, "Baby."
Han Shu: !!!
Crime, crime, crime!!!
Her ears turned bright red, and she started fidgeting with the hem of her suit jacket, unable to speak for a long time.
Wen Zhiyu kissed her earlobe and pulled away, saying, "It's settled then."
The stagnant air began to flow again, and Han Shu took a deep breath. "Okay, little one."
"Okay, baby."
"Baby?"
"Baby."
"Little one."
"Baby—the baby has arrived."
Wen Zhiyu pulled Han Shu back and pointed to the storefront, "Yifang Bookstore."
Looking up, the signboard, weathered by wind and sun, had yellowed and faded, but the four bold characters of "Yifang Bookstore" still retained their former glory. Looking through the narrow double-pane glass doors, rows of bookshelves were neatly arranged. They lacked the sophistication of trendy bookstores, but possessed a rustic charm and a sense of history.
"After drinking, you want to read a book?"
“Yes.” Wen Zhiyu’s eyes were distant. “Back then, the owner was a grandfather with gray hair. Seeing that I was always standing and reading, he specially arranged a seat for me. Hiding there to read, listening to the noise outside the shop, was like finding peace in a storm.”
Han Shu shook his arm. "Shall we go in and take a look?"
"good.
The doorbell rang, and a young boy poked his head out from behind the counter. "Welcome, feel free to browse. We have both new and used books."
Wen Zhiyu seemed a little dazed and didn't respond for a moment. Han Shu smiled and thanked him, then let go of his hand and walked inside first.
She skimmed over the university textbooks and the English proficiency test sections, finally stopping at the social sciences and literature sections. It was a floor-to-ceiling wooden shelf against the wall, containing books by Camus, Márquez, and Huxley—books she recognized. She stood there for a while, about to turn and look at the other side, when her gaze was drawn to a sky-blue spine at the very bottom.
Han Shu lifted her skirt and squatted down, pressing her fingers against the hard skin, and slowly pulled it out.
"Goodnight Collection" by Wen Zhiyu.
Six words popped into my eyes.
At the same time, a hand landed on her shoulder.
“That corner on the right is where I sat before,” Wen Zhiyu sighed softly.
Han Shu stood up, book in hand. Her oversized suit jacket not only covered her arms but also hid the book inside. "Here?"
"Hmm," Wen Zhiyu said with a self-deprecating laugh, "Doesn't it look like a beggar?"
It was a hidden, dark corner, now piled high with stiff twine and wrapping paper used to bind books. It looked more like a garbage dump than a reserved seat.
Han Shu squeezed his hand, walked over on her own, turned around, lifted her skirt and sat down on the pile of clutter, smiling gently, "Is this how it is?"
Wen Zhiyu's pupils contracted slightly, "Minor Heat—"
Han Shu showed no disgust and leaned naturally against the wall, jokingly saying, "The one sitting here isn't a beggar, but the Little Prince of the bookstore."
Wen Zhiyu stared at the skirt that had scattered on the floor, as if bewitched, and approached step by step.
Han Shu reached his hand out from under his suit jacket. "Ta-da! Teacher Wen, look what this is!"
Wen Zhiyu knelt down, slightly taken aback, "My book?"
"Hmm." Han Shu rested his chin on the top of the book. "It's on that bookshelf. I'm going to buy this one today."
“We have some at home,” Wen Zhiyu said.
“How can that be the same?” Han Shu said, “Back then, you sat here as the Little Prince, gazing up at your dreams. Now, your dreams are in the palm of your hand.”
Wen Zhiyu lowered his eyelids, his heart filled with mixed emotions, and he choked up for a moment. He held her hand and said in a hoarse voice, "This place used to be—"
"I know where your heart is stored." Han Shu kissed his chin. "Now, has the stored heart been retrieved?"
Wen Zhiyu nodded, then shook his head. "I took it, and then stored it again."
Han Shu blinked. "Hmm? Why?"
The man kissed the back of her hand.
"Because it's been handed over to you, it's been permanently stored."
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