Shen Cishu sat in the café seat, her figure tall and slender, a cascade of white hair flowing like moonlight, the strands smooth as they fell to her waist, shimmering with a cold brilliance under the light.
Her face was fair and carried a trace of aloofness, her willow-shaped eyebrows slightly raised, always wearing a scrutinizing expression, as if nothing in the world could catch her interest.
Those eyes— deep and sharp— commanded respect without anger, often coldly scanning the surroundings, making people hesitant to approach.
She wore a well-tailored black long coat, its hem swaying gently with the breeze, adding to her aura of solitary nobility.
Her hands rested casually in her coat pockets, chin slightly raised, radiating an imposing presence that warned strangers to keep their distance— like a queen looking down on her subjects.
Although she shared a similar delicate face with Bai Huizi, the feeling she gave Su Li was completely different.
Despite the proud, unapproachable aura she exuded, to Su Li, she seemed like a child who never truly grew up, playing at being an adult— a hedgehog bristling with spikes, wary of everyone around her.
At the very moment their eyes met, Su Li could sense the surprise and hesitation flickering in Shen Cishu’s gaze; the cold aloofness faded, revealing a hint of grievance.
If she hadn’t moved away quickly, perhaps Shen Cishu would have caught up to her.
In a place where Shen Cishu couldn’t notice, Su Li caught the fleeting emotion of distraction in her eyes.
She took a photo of Shen Cishu’s momentary dazed expression and sent it to Bai Huizi.
Not long after, a transfer notification for sixty thousand yuan arrived.
【Landlady Sister with Strong Desire for Control: Mom did well, keep it up~】
Su Li remained silent, offering no reply. The money had arrived; there was no need to respond.
Moreover, even if she didn’t maintain a relationship with Bai Huizi now, it wouldn’t affect her continuing to be a client.
……
Night fell, and the streets unfolded like a tranquil painting.
Street lamps lit up one by one, their warm yellow halos casting a soft veil over the roads.
In the distance, neon lights flickered in brilliant colors, mirroring the twinkling stars overhead.
Trees lined the sidewalks, standing silently, their shadows stretching long under the lamplight.
A gentle breeze occasionally drifted by, bringing a coolness and the distant clamor of the night market.
Vehicles weaved through the streets, their headlights streaking like meteors, leaving bright trails behind.
Following the information Bai Huizi sent her, Su Li arrived at the entrance of a bookstore.
Stepping inside was like traveling back to bygone years.
The heavy wooden door was intricately carved with exquisite patterns, creaking softly as it opened.
The air was thick with the musty scent unique to old books, mingled with the fragrance of wooden furniture, intoxicating and nostalgic.
Tall bookshelves made of dark brown solid wood lined the walls, filled with yellowed books whose spines had faded but carried a weight of history.
Vintage pendant lamps hung from the ceiling, their warm yellow light adding mystery and solemnity to the space.
The floor was paved with bluestone slabs that rang crisp underfoot.
The decorations were rich with retro elements— black-and-white photographs on the walls, an old phonograph in the corner— immersing visitors in a world of yesteryear.
Shen Cishu often came here at night when she had no other engagements.
Perhaps because of her status as a graduate student at a prestigious university, or her family’s upbringing, she disliked bars, preferring the quiet companionship of books.
Su Li moved softly after entering, even the door’s “creak” was hushed by her gentle touch.
The moment she stepped in, she noticed Shen Cishu engrossed in a book.
Su Li paid no mind, wandering aimlessly among the shelves until she found the section where The Little Prince was displayed.
According to Bai Huizi’s intel, her mother had loved “The Little Prince” most of all.
Her younger sister, influenced by their mother, treasured the book just as much.
“The Little Prince” tells the story of a pilot forced to land in the Sahara due to mechanical failure, who then meets a little prince from another planet.
The little prince, having left his rose on his home planet after a falling out, travels across several worlds, meeting figures like the king, the vain man, the drunkard, the businessman, and more— each representing the absurdities of adult life.
On Earth, he encounters a fox and learns the true meaning of love and responsibility, forming a deep bond with the pilot.
Ultimately, to return to his star, he lets a snake bite him, his body collapsing while his soul possibly returns home.
The pilot gains profound insights about life, love, and human nature from this journey.
Holding “The Little Prince” in her hands, Su Li looked for a seat.
The bookstore was spacious, with no worry about finding a place to sit—unlike the school library where saving seats was necessary.
Perhaps to preserve the reading atmosphere, the owner thoughtfully arranged special areas for civil service and postgraduate exam candidates.
This way, readers wouldn’t be disturbed by others opening books around them.
Passing by Shen Cishu, Su Li noticed she was reading “The Little Prince” as well.
She really liked this book.
Su Li thought this to herself, but finishing “The Little Prince” didn’t take very long.
The entire book was only about 54,000 words, roughly 27 chapters if counted as a novel.
“Hello, may I sit here?”
Su Li stood quietly to the side, not disturbing Shen Cishu, who seemed to sense her presence and looked up with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
When Shen Cishu noticed the “The Little Prince” in Su Li’s hands, her expression grew even more astonished.
“You like this book too?”
“No, I don’t even know if I’ll like it, but a very good friend recommended it to me. I think the content might be quite nice, and the book isn’t thick— I shouldn’t need long to finish it.”
Su Li spoke softly, feeling Shen Cishu’s body tremble slightly.
“And I really like one sentence from the fox: ‘Look, do you see the wheat fields over there? I don’t eat bread, and wheat means nothing to me. Wheat fields cannot evoke any image for me, which is very sad. But you have golden hair, and if you tame me, that would be wonderful! The golden wheat would remind me of you, and I would love to hear the wind blow through the wheat.’”
Su Li spoke slowly, as if recalling and describing the sentence with care.
“This is a very good book, wrapped in a fairy tale shell but carrying existential reflections. The language is simple yet hits at the core of human nature. Every sentence is like a mirror, reflecting the reader’s inner desires and confusion— the longing for innocence, the understanding of loneliness, the search for the meaning of life. I think… you’ll like this book. I don’t mind if you sit here.”
Shen Cishu’s voice quivered lightly as she took the seat, her gaze fixed tightly on Su Li, as if trying to see something within her.