Chapter 9: Try to make friends with her
Lu Zhiyin hadn’t written with a pen for a while, and her movements were a bit stiff. Her handwriting was crooked and not very good, but writing a self-criticism took her a lot of time.
By the time she finished writing the self-criticism, classes had already ended and started again.
There was no one in the library during the break. This made sense, as it was a world of “butterflies,” and very few people, if any, focused solely on studying.
“…Hoo…”
After finishing the self-criticism, Lu Zhiyin capped the pen and tidied her notebook. She felt a sense of relief.
Her back was a bit sore from sitting upright for so long. To leave a good impression on Zhu, she hadn’t chosen a more comfortable sitting posture.
“Are you leaving?”
From behind the desk, Zhu heard the movement and put down her book. She looked at Lu Zhiyin and tilted her head.
“…”
Lu Zhiyin didn’t answer immediately. She looked out the empty window.
Should I go back to the classroom now? She asked herself.
If she went back now, she’d probably be lectured by the teacher and the likely outcome would be being kicked out of the classroom to face the cold wind. It would be better to spend time in the library and go back after class, and incidentally, try to make friends with Zhu.
With that in mind, Lu Zhiyin shook her head.
“No, my teachers don’t like me very much, and I’ll probably be punished if I go back now. Can I stay here and read for a while?”
Lu Zhiyin looked at Zhu with pleading eyes.
Seeing the obedient girl in front of her, Zhu was momentarily distracted.
“Yes.”
She agreed to Lu Zhiyin’s request.
Being targeted by teachers? Zhu had seen such things many times.
Her father was the principal of the school. Even her father’s behavior was not exemplary, so how could the school’s atmosphere be good?
Zhu continued to read her book.
In fact, she preferred games to the books she had read countless times.
“Thank you.”
Lu Zhiyin bowed and thanked Zhu sincerely.
After thanking her, she looked back at the rows of bookshelves.
Controlling her wheelchair, she headed towards the history section.
A little bit of brushing up on the history of this world would be beneficial to her. Of course, she wasn’t going to read it thoroughly, just a quick glance.
Taking a book titled “Chronicle of Ancient Major Events” from the shortest shelf, Lu Zhiyin returned to the long table.
Lu Zhiyin and Zhu were the only two people in the library. The environment was very quiet. The only sounds were Zhu turning the pages of her book and the wheels of Lu Zhiyin’s wheelchair turning.
The latter was much noisier than the former, but Zhu surprisingly didn’t mind.
“…”
Without speaking, Lu Zhiyin opened the book she was holding and placed it on her lap. She didn’t immediately approach Zhu, as that might seem too intentional.
Lu Zhiyin sat in her wheelchair and read for about ten minutes before glancing at Zhu from the corner of her eye.
She started to act, controlling her wheelchair and slowly moving to Zhu’s side.
She thought about how to start a conversation.
“…I think I’ve seen you before?”
In the end, she chose the most cliche approach.
“Yes, we have met.”
Zhu put down her book and looked up.
“I remember it was raining heavily that day, and you and another young girl were to be detained after school. I took the liberty of letting you leave.”
As she spoke, Zhu smiled at Lu Zhiyin.
“Yes, that’s right. I remember. Thank you for that day.”
Lu Zhiyin thanked her sincerely and lowered her head.
“It’s nothing, no need to thank me.”
Looking at the white-haired girl in her sight, Zhu shook her head. It was just a small favor; it wasn’t worth a special thank you.
“…”
After a brief exchange, Lu Zhiyin fell silent again. She didn’t know what else to say.
She noticed the book in front of Zhu. Perhaps they could find some common ground on this book?
In the game, this book, which was often placed next to Zhu, was a love story with an unhappy ending. Lu Zhiyin had forgotten the title, but she remembered some of the plot.
Looking at the name tag on Zhu’s chest indicating her grade and name, Lu Zhiyin blinked.
Her beautiful red eyes sparkled as she blinked, looking exceptionally beautiful. Zhu was momentarily lost in thought as she looked at those eyes.
“Does Senior Zhu like this book very much?”
Lu Zhiyin closed the history chronicle on her lap and touched the corner of the storybook in front of Zhu.
“…Hmm?”
Zhu frowned, seemingly unaccustomed to Lu Zhiyin’s address.
“…It has your name and grade on it. I’m in a lower grade than you, so I called you that. Does it bother you?”
Seeing Zhu’s frown, Lu Zhiyin became nervous, her voice trembling slightly.
She really didn’t want to upset the female leads.
“It’s fine.”
Zhu shook her head. For some reason, she could sense that the girl in front of her was somewhat afraid of her, but… why? She hadn’t done anything bad, had she? If anything, she was no different from a stranger to the girl in front of her.
However, Zhu did not voice her questions.
“This book is called ‘The Earl’s Daughter,’ and as the title suggests, it tells the story of an Earl’s daughter.”
Zhu handed the book to Lu Zhiyin. She didn’t mind recommending a story she liked to others.
“Um… I think I’ve heard of this book. In the story, an Earl’s daughter falls in love with a poor boy. The Earl does not agree to his daughter marrying the poor boy, so the poor boy and the Earl’s daughter leave the Earl’s territory.”
Lu Zhiyin continued to blink her beautiful eyes, looking intently at Zhu as she briefly recounted the plot.
“Actually, if the story ended here, while cliché, it would still be decent. But the story doesn’t end here. After leaving the Earl’s territory, the poor boy, carrying the Earl’s daughter on his back, returned to the Earl’s territory, infiltrated the Earl’s castle, and killed the Earl. The Earl’s disagreement with the marriage was not just due to prejudice, but because he had keenly foreseen the poor boy’s greed and wickedness. After that, I don’t quite remember.”
Lu Zhiyin took the book Zhu handed her and touched its cover.
The writing in this book was good, and reading it more could be a learning experience, but Lu Zhiyin did not like the ending.
Her expression revealed her thoughts.
“You’ve told it well, but you’ve already finished the story; there’s nothing more.”
Zhu shook her head.
“I don’t like this ending; it’s unpleasant. You don’t like it either, do you?”
Smiling, Zhu took a marker pen from her desk drawer and played with it at her fingertips.
She couldn’t stay idle; her hands always needed something to do.
“Mhm.”
Lu Zhiyin nodded softly.
She thought she just needed to follow the female leads’ thoughts.
“Recently, I’ve been planning to try writing an extension to this story, ensuring that those who are guilty receive their due punishment and those who are innocent receive compensation. If you’re willing, would you like to discuss it with me when you have free time?”
