Library

Tao Xiaotao was thoroughly satisfied with this meal—it was a rare occasion where she ate her fill.

She gnawed the chicken leg clean, leaving not a speck of meat on the bone, and her bowl was spotless, with even the soup gulped down in one go.

It was surprising how such a petite frame could pack away so much food.

Though she still fell short compared to the humanoid Kirby, Bai Yuyou, Tao Xiaotao’s appetite was easily among the top in the circle of people Tang Keke and Ye Shuang knew.

Ye Shuang also noticed that this girl, perhaps due to prolonged malnutrition, looked as thin as a bean sprout and lacked energy.

[Character: Tao Xiaotao

A poverty-stricken girl with three younger sisters and one younger brother.]

"Why did you come all the way here to study, Xiaotao?" Ye Shuang asked casually after glancing at the information, trying to get a sense of her background.

"Me?" Tao Xiaotao snapped out of her daze and answered earnestly,

"I heard Yinshan Academy waives tuition for first-choice applicants... and the scholarships are generous. They also help arrange jobs after graduation, so I came."

Ye Shuang smiled. "Yinshan Academy does offer job placements, but they’re mostly in Haizhu City or neighboring areas. Aren’t you planning to return to Henan?"

Tao Xiaotao lowered her head. "There aren’t many job opportunities in my village... Most young people leave to work elsewhere. I..."

She looked up, her voice firm. "I love studying. I want to go to school."

Beside her, Tang Keke blinked. "Loving to study is a good thing!"

"Yeah, but..." Tao Xiaotao hesitated, then gave an awkward smile and didn’t continue.

Tang Keke seemed about to ask more, but Ye Shuang shot her a look, and she obediently returned to her meal.

Ye Shuang glanced again—

[Character: Tao Xiaotao

Excelled academically since childhood. In middle and high school, her parents pressured her to drop out, work, and marry. With a teacher’s help and a promise to send money home monthly, she managed to continue pursuing her dream of higher education.]

Ye Shuang slowly averted his gaze, sensing the weight behind those words.

"Xiaotao, let’s exchange WeChat IDs," Tang Keke suggested after lunch. "It’ll be easier to stay in touch."

"I... I..." Tao Xiaotao clenched her battered phone in her pocket and bowed her head. "I didn’t bring my phone. Can I give you my number instead?"

"Huh?" Tang Keke paused, suddenly wondering if Tao Xiaotao couldn’t even afford a phone. She quickly recovered with a smile.

"Sure, sure! A phone number works too. Texting is fine—Yuyou and I text all the time, right?"

Bai Yuyou blinked her beautiful eyes and nodded without a word.

"Okay!" Tao Xiaotao finally smiled, relieved. She had assumed everyone only used WeChat.

After Tang Keke noted down the number, Bai Yuyou gently tapped Tao Xiaotao’s arm.

"Huh?"

Tao Xiaotao looked down to see a note Bai Yuyou had handed her—

[ (●•̀ω•́)✧ Look, here’s my number~ ]

"Thank you!" Tao Xiaotao was charmed by the adorable text. This seemingly aloof girl wasn’t so hard to approach after all.

In fact, she seemed really kind.

But she’s so pale and pretty, like a princess from a fairy tale... Tao Xiaotao glanced at her own small, yellowish hands and instinctively hid them.

Bai Yuyou, however, reached out and lightly held her hand.

"Your hands are strong. Impressive."

Tao Xiaotao froze, then realized Bai Yuyou was complimenting her. Flustered, she pulled her hand back with a sheepish grin.

Ye Shuang watched quietly, his gaze lingering on Bai Yuyou.

This girl, once shrouded in darkness, was now using her own light to brighten someone else’s world.

Resting his chin on his hand, Ye Shuang smiled faintly, feeling both touched and proud.

I hope they become good friends.

One of the best things about school was how people from completely different backgrounds could form deep friendships—something rare to find in the adult world.

"Speaking of which, the school’s a bit short-handed lately," Ye Shuang remarked suddenly.

"Short-handed?" Tao Xiaotao asked.

"Yeah, I think the library’s hiring student assistants. Pays around 2,000 a month." He turned to Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou.

"Any of you interested? It’s good experience, and the hours aren’t long."

The two shook their heads in unison, catching his drift. "We’ve got other stuff going on. No time."

Ye Shuang then looked at Tao Xiaotao. "Xiaotao, how about you?"

"Me?!" She barely contained her excitement. "Yes! Yes!"

Realizing she’d overreacted, she rubbed her hands together and laughed awkwardly.

Ye Shuang simply smiled warmly. "After lunch, come with me to the library. I’ll get you set up."

"Okay!"

After lunch, Ye Shuang led the three girls toward the library—

Yinshan Academy had four libraries: one large and three small. The biggest spanned 40,000 square meters, perched on an island in the middle of a scenic lake, connected by a stone bridge. It was an imposing sight.

"Wait, this is the library? I thought it was the principal’s mansion!" Tang Keke marveled.

"Keke, dummy," Bai Yuyou said flatly.

"Waaah! Brother, Yuyou just called me a dummy!"

"Alright, alright."

Inside, a staff member greeted Ye Shuang. "Mr. Ye, here to borrow books?"

"Not today." Ye Shuang pulled Tao Xiaotao forward.

"You mentioned needing extra help?"

"Extra help?" The man paused, then grinned in realization. "Right, right! We’re understaffed. And you are?"

"Tao Xiaotao."

"Follow me."

Tao Xiaotao glanced back at Ye Shuang.

"Go ahead. He’ll fill you in. Just make it back to class before afternoon break," Ye Shuang assured her.

"Got it!" With that, she followed the staff member inside.

Watching her leave, Tang Keke turned to Ye Shuang. "Brother, with so many staff here, are they really understaffed?"

Ye Shuang pressed a finger to his lips, his deep eyes twinkling.

"Shh. Secret."

......

With Tao Xiaotao’s matter settled, it was time to return to the infirmary.

Since it was Friday, tomorrow marked the day of his promise with An Shiyu.

Back at his desk, the couch beside him remained empty—no sign of that fish-like girl.

"Final wish list, huh... What about our hiking plan?" He shook his head with a wry smile.

A breeze drifted through the window. One person, one desk, one curtain—utterly quiet.

The usual hustle and bustle was gone.