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The sky was clear and cloudless.
Zhuang Zi’ang and his new friend, Su Yudie, had eaten their fill of snacks, which served as their lunch.
They sat on a bench in the mall, basking in the afternoon sun.
Su Yudie’s sky-blue pleated skirt was gently blown by the breeze, revealing two sections of legs as white as lotus roots.
Her two feet swung back and forth restlessly.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, aren’t you going back to school for afternoon classes?” Su Yudie looked up at the sky.
“No,” Zhuang Zi’ang answered decisively.
Accompanying a girl on a shopping spree was far more interesting than sitting in a classroom.
For the first time in his life, he was being a “bad boy,” and it was incredibly exciting. However, for other students, skipping class might be commonplace.
“So, where are we going this afternoon?” Su Yudie leaned closer to Zhuang Zi’ang.
The girl’s faint, sweet scent drifted into his nostrils.
Unconsciously, the two had gone from strangers to “we.”
Zhuang Zi’ang thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you like reading?”
Su Yudie frowned and shook her head repeatedly: “No, especially not math textbooks.”
“I didn’t mean textbooks; I meant recreational books,” Zhuang Zi’ang explained.
“Then I quite like them. I like comic books and joke books,” Su Yudie’s lips curved into a beautiful arc.
“Okay, then let’s go to the library this afternoon!” Zhuang Zi’ang stood up.
The city library was just across the street.
Since it was a weekday, it was usually not crowded, making it perfect for enjoying a leisurely afternoon.
Passing a convenience store, Su Yudie tugged at Zhuang Zi’ang’s sleeve, “Can we bring snacks into the library?”
“Of course not!” Zhuang Zi’ang raised his voice.
She really was a foodie; no wonder she was so strong.
Su Yudie looked at the convenience store’s glass window: “What about candy? I can eat it secretly.”
Zhuang Zi’ang pondered, “Candy… should be okay!”
“Yay! Go buy some quickly!” Su Yudie was as happy as a child.
Zhuang Zi’ang went into the store and bought a bag of fruit hard candies with various flavors.
Since they had just met, he didn’t know her taste preferences yet.
Arriving at the library, Zhuang Zi’ang found The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils on the shelf, intending to continue where he left off in the morning.
Although the TV series had been remade countless times, the unique charm of the written word was still irreplaceable by visual media.
When he reached the reading area, Su Yudie was already sitting at a table, holding a children’s edition of The Complete Joke Book, a smile playing on her lips.
Although the library required silence, low conversation was permitted.
“Wow, the book you’re reading is so profound,” Zhuang Zi’ang teased.
Su Yudie, of course, heard the sarcasm and retorted nonchalantly, “It’s best to live life happily; why bother with depth?”
“You’re right. The more knowledge you have, the less happy you may be,” Zhuang Zi’ang agreed.
“Exactly. Whether they’re scientists, thinkers, or philosophers, they all die in the end,” Su Yudie said casually.
As a young person, she didn’t have any taboo about the word “death.”
Zhuang Zi’ang was taken aback for a moment, then said to himself, “Yeah, I’m going to die too.”
The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, casting a warm yellow glow on the floor.
A gentle breeze rustled the pages of the book; the scent of ink hung in the air.
Xiao Feng, within three moves, forced back the three top masters of the world, his spirit soaring. He shouted, “Bring me wine!”
Zhuang Zi’ang was completely immersed in the world of swordplay and vengeance, unable to extricate himself.
He wished he could also be a heroic and valiant martial arts hero.
Suddenly, a silvery laugh reached his ears, pulling Zhuang Zi’ang back from the world of martial arts.
“Keep your voice down; don’t disturb others.”
“Sorry, this joke is too funny. You should read it.”
Su Yudie handed the joke book to Zhuang Zi’ang.
“Me, a person of such depth, reading these childish jokes with you?” Zhuang Zi’ang said disdainfully.
“Just take a look!” Su Yudie pleaded, acting coy.
Zhuang Zi’ang glanced at it casually.
Those two glances started him down a path of no return.
“Hahahaha…”
Before they knew it, their heads were close together, reading the children’s illustrated joke book, The Complete Joke Book.
Their silly laughter echoed back and forth.
Su Yudie had a low laugh threshold; even average jokes could make her laugh uproariously.
Zhuang Zi’ang considered himself to have a high tolerance for humor, but seeing the girl’s smiling face beside him, he couldn’t help but laugh along.
Afraid of laughing too loudly and disturbing others, he struggled to contain himself.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, get your candy out; I want one,” Su Yudie requested.
Zhuang Zi’ang took the candy from his pocket and tore open the wrapper. “There’s strawberry, lychee, and apple. Which one do you want?”
“You pick for me; I like them all.”
Foodies are never picky eaters.
Zhuang Zi’ang randomly picked a lychee-flavored candy and handed it over.
Su Yudie unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth without hesitation. “So sweet! You should have one too.”
“I’m too old to eat candy,” Zhuang Zi’ang drawled.
Su Yudie directly unwrapped candy and shoved it into his mouth, disdainfully saying, “So fussy.”
This candy was strawberry-flavored and indeed very sweet.
But even the sweetest candy couldn’t compare to the girl’s smile.
Zhuang Zi’ang completely forgot his dreams of being a martial arts hero and ended up spending the whole time reading joke books with Su Yudie.
Like two silly children, seeking the purest joy.
Only when their necks ached unbearably did they lift their heads to stretch.
Time slipped away, like petals falling one by one.
The shadows on the ground grew longer and longer.
In the past, during class, Zhuang Zi’ang had found the afternoon hours particularly difficult to endure, but today, from noon to sunset, time seemed to fly by.
Looking at the setting sun outside the window, Su Yudie asked, “What time is it?”
Zhuang Zi’ang took out his phone and checked, “Five-thirty.”
“I need to go back to school to catch the 6:10 bus.” Su Yudie quickly stood up.
“I’ll walk you there!” Zhuang Zi’ang gathered his books to return them.
The two left the library and walked towards the school.
As they passed a dessert shop, Su Yudie stopped again, staring dreamily at the exquisite cakes in the display window.
“Seriously? Are you a hungry ghost reincarnated?” Zhuang Zi’ang exclaimed in surprise.
“No, no! You mentioned that your relationship with your brother isn’t great; why not buy a cake for him? Kids love cake,” Su Yudie said with genuine sincerity.
If it were someone else suggesting this, Zhuang Zi’ang would undoubtedly refuse outright.
He knew all too well who his stepmother and brother were.
But when he met Su Yudie’s earnest gaze, the words of rejection hung on his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
This girl genuinely wanted to help him mend his relationship with his family.
She believed that the warmth of human nature could overcome the coldness of the world.
Finally, following Su Yudie’s suggestion, Zhuang Zi’ang bought a strawberry cake.
It was a bit pricey, and he felt it in his wallet.
They reached the bus stop at the school entrance, and the number 19 bus just arrived.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, goodbye,” Su Yudie waved and hopped onto the bus.
“Goodbye, my friend,” Zhuang Zi’ang also waved.
But only he could hear his own voice.
What a fascinating girl.
Oh no, he forgot to get her phone number!
The bus gradually faded into the distance, finally disappearing into the stream of traffic.