Su Cheng really wanted to say that he took the wrong one; that was an egg roll, and there were only two left inside along with a bunch of crumbs.
However, the person had already walked far away, and he looked quite annoyed. She suspected that if she said this, he might get even angrier.
She silently wandered around the small bookstore twice and found some interesting books. Feeling a bit regretful that she couldn't carry too many, she simply started reading them right there.
There were not many customers in the store. Occasionally a few people passed by, but no one walked this way.
Su Cheng then read earnestly for a while until she heard footsteps.
At the corner between the bookshelves, a small figure came around from behind.
She glanced over casually and couldn't help but freeze slightly.
It was a very young child, perhaps only seven or eight years old, with fluffy, soft white hair that curled slightly and glowed with a pearl-like luster under the lights.
His skin was so white it was almost transparent, and his face was chubby, with a faint pink blush on his cheeks, making him look like a little snowball.
The child wore an ordinary shirt and suspenders. The fabric of his clothes was not expensive, so he was probably a local resident of the town, just exceptionally good-looking.
Only...
He wore a wide white ribbon embroidered with silver thread blindfolding his eyes, covering most of his forehead as well, revealing only his perky nose tip and rosy lips.
He seemed to be blind.
Su Cheng noticed that he would lightly touch the bookcases as he walked.
But his movements were very practiced; he just touched them briefly and kept moving forward. He must have been used to this condition.
Suddenly, the child gently sniffed, as if catching a scent, and slightly tilted his head to look in her direction.
Su Cheng looked down at the paper bag in her arms.
She was just marveling at the child's sharp sense of smell and wondering if he would come over to ask for food, but he ended up walking straight past her.
Su Cheng: ...
She silently ate the last three small buns.
After an unknown amount of time, the child returned. He was holding an identical paper bag in his arms and took out a small bun, nibbling on it slowly.
His eating manners couldn't be called elegant; unlike those trained noble children, he didn't deliberately slow down or strike a certain posture.
But he was unhurried, his cheeks puffing out just a little bit, looking very cute.
Su Cheng couldn't help but stare at him.
As if sensing her gaze, he turned his head. Do you want some?
As he spoke, he lifted the paper bag. They made another batch. This time they added peach jam and sweet orange jam. They are sold out now; this is the last bag.
Su Cheng was a bit tempted, but also a little embarrassed.
Earlier she had thought that if he came to ask for hers, she would likely refuse—she was only willing to share the food she liked with her friends.
No need, thank you, she declined. By the way, I walked around earlier, and the boss said they rearranged the layout a while ago. Now all the braille books are upstairs.
Oh, the child nodded. Thank you, my lady.
This little guy was really adorable and spoke so politely. Su Cheng didn't usually like children much, but right now she wanted to chat with him a bit more.
Su Cheng: Are you looking for a specific book? Do you need me to help you get it?
He was likely blind or had an eye disease, and she didn't want to poke at his sore spot.
Su Cheng: What I mean is, these top two shelves are quite high. Even I can barely reach them and need to step on a stool. I guess it's similar upstairs?
The child shook his head. I heard from the boss that there are some new books here, so I wanted to come and take a look first. My brother will come looking for me later, and he will read them to me.
Su Cheng understood that he had come with his older brother. What kind of books do you like to read?
He tilted his head slightly. What book are you reading?
Su Cheng sighed. Some book that teaches people how to modify elemental magic spells. To be ashamed, I actually only understood a small part of it.
He mused for a moment. I don't think you need to be ashamed. The authors of such books should be the ones to learn how to express themselves best. A reader might not be able to do what the book says due to a lack of ability, but they shouldn't feel confused by the content. That is the author's problem.
Su Cheng was greatly surprised.
Su Cheng: I... uh, actually there's another issue, which is that I don't recognize some of the words.
The child still didn't change his attitude. No concept should have only one way of being interpreted, miss. This might still be a problem the author needs to ponder.
Su Cheng closed the book and observed him.
The child pulled out a bench from who knows where and sat squarely on it. His legs dangled in the air, and his small hands rested on his knees in a very well-behaved posture.
Su Cheng: ...
Looking at that fluffy white hair, her hands suddenly felt a bit itchy.
Su Cheng looked around. Besides spell books, this section has all sorts of legendary magicians', um, coming-of-age adventures or romance histories and the like.
It was just that some book titles clearly contained adult elements at a glance. After all, there was no censorship in this world, and erotic books of all kinds were sold freely.
The child tilted his head again. They all sound very interesting.
Su Cheng flipped through a few. They actually weren't very interesting; many stories were largely identical with minor differences, and they had a strong fabricated feel, somewhat like formulaic literature.
She searched around a bit and suddenly found a storybook whose packaging looked a lot like a fairy tale. Picking it up and skimming through, she saw it was full of various short stories.
Su Cheng: This one looks pretty good. Do you want me to read a passage to you?
The child raised a hand to rest his cheek. Sure, I'll trouble you then.
Saying this, he patted the slightly old bench. Aren't you going to sit down?
Su Cheng promptly sat down. Anyway, one of them was quite slim and the other was just a child, so sitting side by side wasn't crowded.
She flipped to the table of contents and skimmed through the text ten lines at a time. How about this one? The Song of the Piping Bag and the Bone Chopper? Sounds like it's about food?
The child quietly nibbled his bun. Hearing this, he didn't speak, but he looked as if he was interested.
Su Cheng turned the page and began to read. The Red Oak Tavern is located at the end of Cobblestone Street. Its outer walls are covered with ivy, and a mottled, carved signboard hangs above the door bearing the Holloway family crest: a cat holding an ear of wheat in its mouth. The tavern's former owner, Madame Eileen, was a master brewer. Her eldest son and current owner, Mr. Ander, inherited her craft. His wife, Madame Nina, is skilled at cooking various meats. Their business is quite prosperous, enough to allow the family to live a decent life—
As she read, her heart felt increasingly settled, believing this was most likely just an ordinary fairy tale.
Their eldest son, Grutnis, is a tall and sturdy young man. His deep golden braids are like heavy ears of wheat, and his eyes are like an icy lake reflecting the frosty sky. His handsome face carries a ruggedness, possessing an unpolished, wild beauty. His shoulders are broad and his physique is burly, his hands covered in calluses from pounding dough and rubbing frosting. In the Principality of Anser, which admires delicate and elegant beauty, he is like a bull in a herd of antelopes, but he couldn't care less. His world consists only of sugar, flour, cream, and ovens—
Actually, according to typical story tropes, if this pastry chef were the protagonist, he might become an adventurer next for some reason.
Then, through a series of mishaps, he would become some legendary warrior or mage.
Or perhaps he would have a chance encounter with a passing warrior or mage in town and start a romantic relationship or something similar.
"...Because he abhorred blood and slaughter, he never touched meat. Instead, he devoted himself entirely to pastry making. He had already made a name for himself in his youth, and his delicious fruit tarts attracted travelers from as far away as Thornwick, even prompting city nobles to send their servants to place orders. The Red Oak Tavern prospered due to his fame, yet he still hid in his attic room, pondering over new recipes all by himself—"
Su Cheng read with great interest, "According to the laws of the Principality of Anser, the firstborn child inherits most of the estate. This meant that Grutnis would receive the tavern, the ancestral home, and the wealth accumulated by the family. His younger brothers and sisters were resentful because of this, while his parents were dissatisfied with his refusal to slaughter pigs and chickens, and angered by his rejection of the marriage they arranged for him..."
Could this be a family drama story?
Su Cheng thought uncertainly, though her curiosity was piqued. "One spring morning, he walked through the deserted market after the rain. By a ditch outside the town, he found a shivering little rabbit. Its snow-white fur was stained with blood, and one of its legs was caught in a rusty bear trap. The blond young man crouched down, gently freed it with his rough, large hands, and held it to his chest. The young rabbit looked up at him with its bright, moist black eyes, and he revealed his first smile in months..."
He named the little rabbit Shortbread, took it home, and let it sleep in a wooden box lined with straw.
Grutnis placed the box next to his bed, feeding it carrots and various vegetable leaves. Shortbread quickly grew plump, its warm white fur looking like a soft cloud.
"They kept each other company in the quiet attic; those were the warmest years of his life—"
An ominous premonition suddenly welled up in Su Cheng's heart.
The child sitting next to her remained perfectly still, with a focused expression, seemingly listening very carefully, and tilted their head in confusion when they noticed she had stopped.
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment, then continued reading: "On an autumn evening, Grutnis returned from the market, his coat soaked by a rainstorm, carrying a box of honey clay pots on his shoulder. The ancestral home was brightly lit and filled with laughter. He pushed the door open and caught the rich aroma of roasted potatoes and stewed meat. It turned out that his aunt's family was visiting from Thornwick. His parents were busy in the kitchen, and his younger siblings were busy serving dishes. The looks they gave him were filled with malice. His aunt nagged about his marriage as usual, glaring at him with dissatisfaction, saying he should be an obedient, good son. He ignored them, simply returning to his room first to feed Shortbread. However, when he pushed open the attic door, he saw the wooden box knocked to the floor, the hay scattered all around—"
Oh no.
Su Cheng took a deep breath. "His heart raced, and he dashed downstairs like a gust of wind, bursting into the kitchen. Mrs. Holloway was deboning meat, and Mr. Holloway was inspecting the bacon. The air was thick with the smell of blood and grease. A bloody—"
Su Cheng stopped.
Su Cheng: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have chosen this story. Shall we pick another one to read instead?"
The little listener beside her tilted their head up slightly. "Aren't you curious about what happened next?"
Su Cheng: "..."
Of course she was curious, but she would read it herself. She just felt that this kind of story wasn't suitable to read to a child.
Although this kid didn't seem like an ordinary child either.
But what if they actually had nightmares or got scared because of it, and their family came demanding compensation?
Su Cheng didn't speak, lowering her head to skim through the rest of the text.
Reading aloud was quite slow; if she just read it to herself, it would be much faster.
"Your rabbit?"
—The bloody rabbit skin was hanging on an iron hook, and the blood-stained white fur was piled to the side, Mr. Ander said with a grin, drinking his wine.
"It's out on the table!"
He walked out of the kitchen in a daze and saw chunks of meat coated in golden sauce on the dining table, along with roasted rabbit legs sprinkled with seasoning.
His two younger cousins were fighting over the last leg, bumping the table so hard it shook slightly.
His ears were ringing, and then he heard his parents' laughter.
"Look at his stupid face, hahahahaha!"
His younger brothers and sisters also began to laugh. "Big brother, your rabbit is really delicious!"
His aunt's family also understood what was going on. She and her husband exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of disdain.
"Are you crying?" his aunt feigned shock. "Look at your son, Ander. This guy looks like a savage, yet he's softer-hearted than those noble-born priests, even treating food as a pet—"
She burst into loud laughter as she spoke.
Su Cheng: "..."
She could hardly bear to read on.
However, the tone of the story took a sharp turn. While the family was in the midst of their hysterical mockery, Grutnis slowly turned around, walked into the kitchen, and pulled a boning knife from the knife block.
He looked at the sharp blade glinting coldly in the candlelight and spoke his first sentence.
"She is not food."
The blond young man said softly.
"...You are."
Ander's laughter caught in his throat.
Mr. Holloway was stabbed in the shoulder by his eldest son. Blood sprayed out like a fountain. He screamed and reached out to cover the wound, only to have four of his fingers sliced off. Then his nose was broken by a punch, and he fell to the floor howling.
The nearest younger brother tried to flee but was quickly grabbed by his hair and dragged back. The blond young man easily threw the boy to the ground, plunging the knife into his waist and abdomen again and again.
Mrs. Holloway picked up a stool and smashed it against his head. Grutnis was hit but remained completely unfazed. He grabbed his mother's arm and twisted it violently, causing white bone splinters to instantly pierce through the skin.
The woman collapsed by the table, watching as her eldest son grabbed her youngest daughter's head and smashed it ruthlessly against the wall. The sound of a skull shattering echoed immediately, as blood and brain matter stained the wallpaper red.
The aunt and uncle were already stunned. Soon the uncle knelt and begged for mercy, only to have his throat slit with a single slice. The aunt screamed that he was a dead man, and then her neck was crushed under his foot.
The cousins died swiftly as well, without suffering much torture.
Mr. and Mrs. Holloway lay paralyzed in a pool of blood. They were still alive, but their breathing was faint, and tears of blood streamed down their faces.
The blond young man walked over with the knife, stepped on their stomachs, and stuffed the fingers and livers of their younger children into their mouths, asking them if it tasted good as he did so.
Su Cheng: "............"
What followed were rather detailed descriptions of the cooking process—skinning, deboning, pan-frying, stir-frying, roasting, and deep-frying.
Plates of roasted meat were served in the tavern hall. The customers ate until their mouths were slick with grease, praising the food endlessly. When they heard that the owner's eldest son was cooking today, they couldn't help but be surprised.
"You're finally willing to make roast meat?"
At closing time, a few regulars ran into the blond young man coming out of the kitchen.
He untied his blood-stained apron and looked at them nonchalantly.
"No," the young chef said. "Just this once."
The story ended there.
The next page was an illustration of a forest at night, with dark clouds half-covering the moon. On the path, a person riding a horse, carrying a box on their back, hurried into the shadows of the woods.
Turning to the next page, it was still that person, holding the box in one hand and leading the horse with the other, standing in front of a grand-looking palace.
The towering, majestic hall looked somewhat eerie in the dark night. A group of people in magnificent robes stood on the steps, sizing him up.
On the page after that, a tall, burly man clad in full armor was bound within a magic circle, his golden hair spilling out from a shattered helmet.
A knight in white armor was attempting to strike him with a sword.
However, the blond man bit down on the blade.
Su Cheng did not entirely understand the connection between these images. She simply flipped to the next page out of habit, only to find a blood-red pattern stamped across the entire page.
A kitchen knife piercing a heart.
Those faded, crimson lines intertwined like flowing blood vessels, or perhaps liquid fire, constantly burning her eyes.
Su Cheng almost felt her eyes ache and abruptly snapped the book shut.
"...I guess I won't be hearing the rest of the story from you, will I?"
The little boy next to her suddenly asked.
Su Cheng woke up as if from a dream. "Ah, well, the rest of the story is quite simple. Shortbread died of illness, and the protagonist's family threw her body away. The protagonist was very sad and ran away from home. I think this story is too tragic, so it's better not to hear it."
The boy remained silent.
Feeling a bit guilty, Su Cheng asked, "Um, by the way, when is your brother coming to pick you up?"
He swung his dangling legs. "Hard to say. He still has to meet with his student."
"Huh? Here? Is your brother a teacher at Cross Star?"
"No," the boy continued, "His student is troubled by certain matters and thus sought my brother for guidance."
Su Cheng only hoped he wouldn't ask about the story again, so she quickly pressed, "Troubled by what? What kind of matters?"
"Matters of the heart," the boy mused. "Something along those lines, I suppose."
Seeing him like this, using such words with a completely serious tone, felt inexplicably strange.
Su Cheng could not help but want to laugh. "Since he is your brother's student, what does your brother teach him? Why does he also have to handle his relationship issues?"
She could not help but picture an edgy teenager in the throes of his first crush.
Or an unfortunate adult with little romantic experience, caught in some melodramatic web of love and hate.
"Hmm," the boy took out another piece of bread, "The essence of the teacher-student relationship is the exchange of knowledge. What is the difference between teaching him how to control magic and teaching him how to understand himself?"
Su Cheng was surprised. "Did your brother say that? That's really nice."
She sighed. "Unfortunately, my teachers, or at least one of them, clearly dislikes me."
The boy looked up, as if glancing at her. "Why does that trouble you? Is it because you are misunderstood? Or do you think it will affect your studies?"
Su Cheng hesitated to speak.
She originally thought he would ask why the teacher disliked her.
Su Cheng: "...If it's the latter, the teachers at the school still have basic professionalism. Dislike is dislike, but when it comes to actual teaching, they treat everyone the same."
Whether they would accept her into their elective courses was another matter.
Just like how Xiao Yun disliked her, but he didn't deliberately make things difficult for her during the exam. Passing was passing.
"So it won't affect much," Su Cheng pondered. "Then it's probably the former. Hearing you say it makes me feel a bit silly."
The boy tilted his head. "The desire to be understood is human nature. It's just that every listener will have their own echo. Just like the same story can evoke different feelings in different people."
Su Cheng was left speechless.
"What are your thoughts," he raised a small hand and pointed at the book in her arms, "about that story just now?"
Su Cheng thought for a moment. "To be honest, I'm not a person of upright character, so I don't think I'm suited to share my feelings. They might be wrong."
The boy glanced at her again.
"Right and wrong are the crudest of rulers anyway," he said softly. "Furthermore, human suffering can never abide by worldly scales."
Su Cheng fell into deep thought.
However, after only a few seconds of contemplation, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs.
The dark-haired man walked up the steps. Because he was so tall, the top of his head almost hit the wall, and the hilt of the sword on his back nearly scraped the bookcase.
"My friend is here," Su Cheng stood up. "I have to go, sir. It was a pleasure spending this time with you, and I'm sorry about the story."
Saying that, she ran toward her captain. "How did you find me here?"
"Camus said you were likely still here," Kai patted her shoulder. "Done browsing?"
At the same time, he looked at the white-haired boy in the aisle.
The latter was still sitting in the chair, smiling and nodding at him.
Su Cheng did not notice this scene behind her. She nodded and walked briskly down the stairs, buying that dark story collection along the way.
"Where is Camus?"
"He has an appointment to meet someone."
