Chapter 9: Morning at Yunqi Library

Morning at Yunqi Library

The air carried a crispness unique to the morning, the mere scent of which brought a sense of physical comfort and mental invigoration. It was a perfect embodiment of the adage, ‘A day’s plans begin at dawn.’

Ye Yu strolled through the library, feeling the subtle freshness of the morning. His nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled the distinctive aroma of knowledge emanating from the paperbacks. While Ye Yu was not typically a poor student and often studied in the library, this was his first time visiting in the early hours. The experience felt novel and intriguing.

Yunqi Academy, which encompassed 14 years of compulsory education, housed nearly half of the children in Yun City, with a student population nearing ten thousand. Each student had the potential to awaken unique abilities. To provide students with reference-worthy literature, the Yunqi Academy library was vast, with a complex array of book categories and types. Earlier, Elder Gu had interrupted Ye Yu, preventing him from locating the section on forbidden subjects.

Looking back, Ye Yu saw Elder Gu still smiling at the front desk. Feeling awkward about returning and fearing discovery of his awakened forbidden ability, Ye Yu hesitated before deciding to search the library on his own. Fortunately, the library was well-organized, with signs marking each section. For instance, the first floor had different areas for fire, wind, and lightning abilities. This natural categorization saved Ye Yu some time.

After exploring the first floor without finding any clues related to forbidden abilities, Ye Yu moved to the second floor. The Yunqi Library was designed like a pagoda, with the second floor being much smaller than the first. This design seemed intended to facilitate student learning, as the second floor housed more specialized and niche literature. Having never visited the second floor before, Ye Yu found it filled with historical records and literary works from ancient times.

Although Ye Yu was not particularly interested in pre-ancient history and folklore, he decided to find a book on a different topic to avoid drawing attention. He chose a book on a subject he enjoyed. As a young man, Ye Yu was naturally drawn to books about beautiful women. He quickly found his target: a book titled ‘Eastern Han – Wild History of Diao Chan,’ with a cover featuring a captivating young woman. Despite living in the 21st century, nearly 40 centuries removed from the Eastern Han dynasty, Ye Yu had never heard of this wild history.

Ye Yu picked up the book, intrigued by the girl on the cover, whose name and image perfectly matched his taste. As he glanced along the bookshelf, he noticed a gap where the book had been. Through the opening, he saw a young woman in a green dress standing on the other side of the shelf. Her elegant and classic attire accentuated her refined features, and her delicate face was softly illuminated by the morning light filtering through the transparent window. The light enhanced her alluring beauty, making her appear both ethereal and captivating.

Despite her modest attire, there was an undeniable allure about her. Ye Yu, who had picked up the book, instantly recognized the girl behind the shelf. It was Huangpu Pingqing, his romantic rival!

…When Ye Yu was 11, he welcomed a new neighbor, the beautiful girl standing before him—Huangpu Pingqing. Initially, Ye Yu was thrilled to have such a stunning neighbor, especially one with a striking figure. However, as he got to know her, he discovered something unsettling. Huangpu Pingqing was overly affectionate with his wife, Tang Yue, and increasingly distant with him. Ye Yu initially didn’t mind, thinking it was natural for girls to be close. But when he accidentally saw explicit content on her computer, he realized her intentions were not innocent. She had a large collection of adult material, including anime and real-life scenes. Ye Yu concluded that Huangpu Pingqing was targeting his wife, Tang Yue. Despite her beauty and allure, Ye Yu, a devoted husband, avoided further contact with her. Now, seeing her again, he decided to slip away quietly, remembering the proverb, ‘Good men do not fight with women, for women and tricksters are the hardest to deal with.’

Just as Ye Yu was about to leave, Huangpu Pingqing, sensing his gaze, looked up from her book. Her amber eyes met Ye Yu’s, and a sly, fox-like smile crossed her face.

‘Long time no see, brother,’ she said. ‘You deleted my precious resources without a word. What a mean trick!’