Chapter 43: An Unexpected Treasure Hunt

Ding-a-ling!

“Welcome!” I uttered instinctively, my gaze lifting from the book in my hands as the bell chimed, only to find Su Yuanyi standing at the entrance. She was clad in a simple, sleeveless white maxi dress, matching sandals, and carrying a beige clutch.

She offered a shy nod, then carefully closed the door, taking pains to make no sound. With a quickened pace, she wove through the bookshelves, eventually arriving before the cashier’s desk, where she clasped her hands together, fingers interlaced, and regarded me with a hint of trepidation.

“Yesterday… I couldn’t make it, so… today… I came to visit you while you work. It won’t… be a bother, will it?”

Her voice trailed off, and she lowered her head, as she always did when feeling uncertain.

“Of course not. I’m delighted you’re here.”

“That’s… good then.”

She responded softly, lifting her head, a faint smile gracing her lips.

“Is there anything you’d like to read? I can help you find it.”

Unlike conventional bookstores, the arrangement of books in this secondhand shop was distinct; most notably, there were no ‘bestsellers’ to be found.

The shop owner had specifically sourced high-value literary and historical books from the 1980s and 90s, thread-bound volumes, rare editions, and re-sealed, processed merchandise like calendar cards, pictorials, and cigarette cards. These unique vintage items were displayed on a dedicated ‘premium’ shelf.

More accessible items, such as various modern out-of-print magazines or pocket-sized reads, were prominently positioned near the entrance.

Everything else was crammed onto shelves wherever space allowed, creating a charmingly haphazard and disorganized impression.

It was precisely this disarray that made customers feel as though they were on a treasure hunt, and the joy of discovering a particularly interesting book at a surprisingly low price often brought a rush of excited satisfaction.

Regrettably, even with such unique appeal, the business prospects of the Zoysia Jade bookstore remained bleak.

Had the entire three-story building not belonged to the owner, this secondhand bookstore would likely have vanished long ago, given the prohibitively high commercial rents prevalent in District Ten.

Upon hearing my words, Su Yuanyi paused in thought, then scanned the bookshelves. Her eyes lit up as she shook her head, then brought her fingertips together beneath her chin, striking an utterly adorable pose of anticipation.

“I want to go on a treasure hunt.”

“Oh, you certainly understand the charm of this place. If you find something interesting but aren’t sure about buying it, feel free to sit here and take a look first.”

I gestured towards the worn leather two-seater sofa beside the cashier’s desk, another special find by the shop owner.

“Mm.”

After an enthusiastic nod, Su Yuanyi fluttered off like a white butterfly, disappearing gracefully between the bookshelves.

She had accompanied me here once before, last Saturday evening, but having left home early that morning, her parents—concerned about her usual demeanor—had urged her to return quickly. Consequently, she hadn’t stayed more than a few minutes, merely familiarizing herself with the location.

Moreover, this past week, she had been staying late at the clubroom for revision after school, with me escorting her home afterward, leaving no opportunity for another visit. She must have been eagerly anticipating this moment.

I first glanced at the time: 7:16 PM. If she wasn’t planning to stay too long, it would be best for her to leave before 8 o’clock. Should she exceed that time significantly, I would simply have to hope she could patiently wait for me to finish work so I could take her home.

After these considerations, I watched her elegant figure glide gracefully between the shelves, and my mind drifted to what my sister had said last night. For a moment, I found myself mesmerized.

‘Yet, I simply couldn’t envision her confessing her feelings to me, nor did I harbor any such intentions myself. I swiftly dismissed these distracting thoughts and returned my attention to the book I had been reading.’

Approximately five minutes later, I noticed her approaching.

Lifting my gaze, I saw her nearing the sofa, holding a book with a cover that was either extremely simple or perhaps excessively plain.

I say this because, apart from a somewhat flamboyant title, I couldn’t even discern the author’s pen name.

The title read, “The Secret Achievements of Enylosia.”

‘I hadn’t seen this book before; the shop owner must have acquired it this week. But why had it been placed on the general shelves?’

‘While I typically only came in on Saturday evenings, this situation was usually quite normal. The source of books for a secondhand store, after all, differed entirely from conventional shops; sometimes, new arrivals would only appear once every two weeks. The shop owner primarily handled acquisitions, meaning a substantial pile of books always awaited my arrangement whenever I arrived.’

‘I had spent the hour before Su Yuanyi’s arrival, as well as the same period last week, performing this very task, so I could definitively say I hadn’t seen this particular book.’

‘Conversely, it was not uncommon for two or three batches of books to suddenly need to be discarded or donated.’

What struck me as even stranger, however, was that Su Yuanyi had suddenly grown flustered, her cheeks tinged with a distinct blush.

“What’s wrong? Are you suddenly feeling unwell?”

Out of concern, I placed the bookmark in my book, then rose and moved closer to her, asking my question.

She, however, quickly retreated a step, then shook her head rapidly, a hint of agitation in her movements.

This, in turn, only piqued my curiosity further.

Before I could even ask, she nimbly stepped closer again, then freed one hand to gently tug at my sleeve, guiding me to sit on the sofa.

The fleeting warmth of her arm quickly vanished, replaced by the familiar, delicate fragrance of narcissus that enveloped me.

“You… you mustn’t laugh…”

Just as I regained my composure, I saw her carefully holding the book before her, speaking those words.

‘Hmm? Is the content of this book strange?’

‘But I’ve already witnessed you staring intently at an erotic picture book (TL Note: A euphemism for adult-oriented manga or doujinshi) before; what could possibly be so unusual now?’

“Of course not. Is the content particularly difficult to understand?”

After all, the title suggested a Western fantasy genre, likely featuring a female protagonist and centering on secret battle scenes unknown to ordinary people within its established setting.

‘Since it’s a female protagonist, perhaps the world-building is quite intricate?’

‘And I recall her mentioning that she usually reads light novels that are more lighthearted. Could this be her first time venturing into this kind of genre?’

‘So that’s it. I understand her apprehension.’

“You promised, okay? You absolutely… mustn’t laugh at me…”

“Yes, I promise.”

‘It’s just a genre with complex settings that she’s encountering for the first time, right? I actually have quite a bit of experience with such things.’

‘For example… well, yes, lifting a leg and revealing an extremely alluring…’

*Thwack!*——

Before I could even finish that thought, I instinctively reached out, swiftly closing the book Su Yuanyi had opened.

“Huh?”

“What do you mean, ‘Huh?’ It’s only been a few minutes! How did you manage to unearth such a rare treasure? Are you a genius!?”

‘And where on earth did the shop owner even find an erotic picture book (TL Note: A euphemism for adult-oriented manga or doujinshi) like this? This type of book really shouldn’t be in a secondhand store!’

“But… the artwork… is really amazing…”

“Eh?”

‘So, she chose this book because she was drawn to the artistic skill within it?’

‘That makes sense. When she’s at the clubroom, she only holds back out of consideration if Makino Kaede or Lin Shurou are present. Otherwise, she gets completely engrossed right in front of us.’

‘After all, that was one of her conditions for joining the club.’

Recalling this, I instinctively looked at the book in her hands, then quickly released my grip and turned my head away.

I had been a little too agitated just now and hadn’t realized I had tightly clasped both her hands when closing the book.

With Su Yuanyi, I truly couldn’t maintain the same easygoing composure I had when interacting with Nina in such a situation.

“Exactly, look…”

After a short while, Su Yuanyi said this, gently tugging at my sleeve.

“Eh?! You actually want me to look…”

Needless to say, I considered myself a perfectly healthy high school student, so claiming I had never encountered such books would be an outright lie.

How else could I have recognized what she was reading at the cabin in the woods that day?

The problem was, there was no one else in the store at the moment, and she was, without a doubt, a stunningly beautiful girl, far beyond the ordinary.

In such circumstances, even if her genuine intention was for me to appreciate the artist’s skill, merely contemplating the potential outcome was enough to realize it would be quite awkward.

“…Mm!”

Even without turning back, I could discern a profound shyness and an intense determination in her voice.

Given this, I slowly turned back, first freezing completely at the sight of her thoroughly crimson profile. What quickly allowed me to cast aside my reservations, however, was her utterly focused gaze.

Regardless of the fact that I couldn’t fathom her thoughts at this moment, nor the path she intended to pursue in the future, there was no doubt that she possessed an unparalleled passion and talent for art. This realization influenced me, dispelling what now seemed like unnecessary concerns.

“Look… here, the composition… is excellent… and here… the shading… is so subtle…”

Focusing my attention on the book, as she occasionally turned the pages and pointed out numerous subtle details within the undeniably masterful artwork—details that most people would overlook—my own emotions gradually began to calm.

“Indeed, these are details one wouldn’t typically notice.”

“Mm, mm, and… here, the hair, it’s rendered, exceptionally well.”

“Oh, you’re right! It immediately convinces you that she’s perfectly cast as a duke’s daughter.”

The spot she pointed to with evident excitement was the long hair of a character within the book. As the character’s posture and position shifted, the hair didn’t appear stiff or strangely rendered, as was often the case in similar publications where such details were frequently glossed over.

Instead, it instantly evoked the thought, ‘Ah, this person’s hair is truly so smooth, so perfectly befitting their status.’

“Exactly… Oh, and here, with me…”

‘Wait! This is bad! This is really, really bad!’

“Stop, stop!”

I quickly called out, raising my left hand to cover her eyes, and at the same time, firmly snatched the book from her grasp, closed it, and tucked it behind her.

“Huh?! W-why…”

‘How dare you even ask why? If this keeps going, something significant is definitely going to happen!’

“No particular reason. Since you like it so much, why don’t you buy it and take it home to read?”

As I spoke, I lowered my hand and retrieved the book.

“Ah? …But…”

She pressed her index fingers together, an utterly adorable expression of injustice on her face.

“I don’t dare… take it home…”

‘…’

‘That is indeed a problem.’

‘I can’t exactly take it to the cabin in the woods and hide it now, can I?’

“Then… shall I keep it for you first?”

“That… wouldn’t be very good, would it?”

‘So you know it’s not good either!’

“No problem at all. Don’t overthink it. Shall we buy it then?”

“…Mm.”

Receiving her affirmative reply, I rose and checked the book’s final page and back cover at the cashier’s desk. Finding no listed price, I estimated a general price the shop owner might set, based on the spine’s thickness and my past experience, also factoring in any discount I could offer. Then, I quickly entered the amount into the register, preparing for checkout.

“I’ll pack it up for you and keep it safe for now. I’ll give it to you on Monday, and we can put the book cover on it then.”

As I spoke, I deliberately chose the thickest paper bag, placed the book inside, then retrieved a transparent book cover from beneath the counter, folded it neatly, and slipped it in. Only after swiftly folding the bag’s opening and sealing it with a strip did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Receiving no immediate response, I looked over curiously, finding her hands folded in her lap, gazing silently at me.

The lingering, distinct blush on her cheeks, coupled with her calm yet seemingly emotionally charged eyes, left me momentarily at a loss.

“Yuanyi?”

“…Oh.”

I had no idea what she was thinking, but she eventually responded a beat late, then walked to the cashier’s desk. She glanced at the customer display screen, only to show confusion when she saw it was completely black.

“Oh, my apologies. This just broke down; the shop owner actually went out earlier to deal with it. Do you want to confirm the price?”

I gestured for her to come closer to the register to verify the amount, but she merely shook her head and pulled out her phone.

“No need… How much is it?”

“Thank you for your patronage. That’ll be six yuan.”

“Eh? …That’s so… cheap?”

“Don’t be surprised! Secondhand bookstores often offer unexpectedly good deals like this.”

Her surprise was understandable. Compared to common manga on the market, the artwork in this book, while perhaps not matching some of the meticulously crafted popular short stories, was certainly among the best. Moreover, the page quality was excellent, and the overall wear and tear minimal, with a respectable thickness. As a new book, even priced between twenty and twenty-five yuan, many would gladly purchase it.

In other words, a new manga of comparable quality would typically be priced around twenty yuan to achieve good sales. Even as a secondhand book, with 80% of its original condition, its discounted price should still be around twelve yuan.

However, the fact that the shop owner had simply tucked this book onto the shelf suggested some unusual circumstances. If he genuinely intended to sell it, then with the discount I could offer, six yuan was actually a very reasonable price.

“But…”

She tilted her head slightly, watching me for a moment.

“You really didn’t… secretly help me?”

“Of course not. I’m just a part-timer. I only applied the appropriate discount. If I were truly helping you, I wouldn’t have let you pay for it.”

Simply seeing how much she liked the book had already made me consider buying it for her as a gift.

Yet, I knew perfectly well she wouldn’t accept it, so I merely offered the maximum possible discount while also giving her a book cover I had purchased myself today.

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