The Little Brat's Sweet And Sassy Chapter 1246 - Side Story 25: Reading, or Looking for Me

1246 Side Story 25: A Bookish Vocation, or Seeking Out A Certain Someone

A Sunday afternoon at the bookstore.

Shen Zhijin stood before a towering shelf, his gaze drifting over the neatly organized rows of literature. He bit his lip, hesitating. Possessing a flawless memory, he never struggled with content, yet today, faced with an endless sprawl of titles, he found himself utterly uncertain of where to begin.

Nearby, two high school girls glanced his way intermittently, their faces flushed with a mixture of shyness and blatant curiosity. It was a rarity to encounter a young man of such striking elegance, and his prolonged hesitation had only served to draw more attention.

The two girls clutched their books, using them as makeshift shields to cover their faces while whispering animatedly to one another.

Naturally, Shen Zhijin was aware of their stares and could grasp the faint drift of their chatter. Having been blessed with good looks his entire life, he was long accustomed to being treated as a spectacle.

But today, things were different.

His throat tightened, his Adam’s apple bobbing with nervous energy. Finally, he reached out, plucking several books from the shelf.

As the volumes settled into his grasp, he heard the girls stifle a gasp of surprise, which quickly melted into soft, tinkling laughter.

Feigning ignorance, he promptly turned toward the register.

...

The clerk’s gaze lingered on his selection for a moment too long. When she looked up at Shen Zhijin, a knowing, teasing glint danced in her eyes. Though she remained silent, the tips of his ears began to glow a deep, burning crimson.

“Would you like a bag for these?”

“Please.”

Shen Zhijin retrieved his wallet, ready to complete the transaction.

The clerk pulled out a bag and systematically tucked the books inside.

“Oh, Senior Brother?”

Kong Wenhan, accompanied by his group, had planned this trip to the bookstore to secure the newest magazine releases and novels. They hadn’t expected to run into Shen Zhijin, of all people, the moment they stepped through the door.

“Are you here to pick up some reading material as well?”

Shen Zhijin offered a curt nod, his expression as impassive as ever.

Kong Wenhan squinted at the bag. It was partially transparent, yet the bookstore's logo obscured the contents just enough to make them illegible. He could only discern that the books inside were quite thick.

“Senior Brother, what exactly did you pick out?”

Kong Wenhan’s curiosity was piqued. Shen Zhijin rarely frequented public bookstores, preferring the quiet sanctuary of the library where the academic and professional resources were far more extensive. Seeing him here was, frankly, a shock.

Shen Zhijin’s fingers tightened, but before he could offer an excuse, one of the other boys interjected, “A collection curated by Senior Brother must surely be profound! Come on, Senior Brother, let us have a peek!”

Shen Zhijin paused briefly.

“These are merely standard works.”

“Here are your books,” the clerk called out, extending the bag toward him.

Shen Zhijin reached out to take it, but a moment of clumsiness caused the bag to slip from his grip.

Thud!

The books tumbled out onto the floor.

Shen Zhijin’s brow arched in irritation. Just as he moved to reclaim them, Kong Wenhan beat him to the punch.

“Senior Brother, let me help you with that—”

His voice died in his throat; his posture locked into a rigid, petrified pose.

“The Maidservant’s Lord Black Deacon.”

Seeing the title, Kong Wenhan genuinely wished he had lost his sight. A deafening silence descended.

As his gaze uncontrollably flickered to the other titles strewn across the floor—

“The Story of Pure Love in Xiangnan”

“Super Vigorous Girl”

“President, Don’t Even Think About Escaping”

…he felt that true blindness might have been a kinder fate.

...

“Ahem!”

A boy standing behind him coughed violently, dragging Kong Wenhan’s soul back into reality. He scrambled to stack the books as quickly as humanly possible, returning them to Shen Zhijin with a shaky, respectful bow.

“Senior Brother, y-your books.”

...

The atmosphere felt frozen solid. Finally, a long, slender hand reached out to grasp the bag.

“My thanks,” he murmured.

Kong Wenhan found the cold distance in Shen Zhijin’s voice utterly chilling. Despite the bright atmosphere of the shop, he felt a genuine shiver run down his spine. Attempting to salvage the situation, he forced a jagged, nervous smile onto his face.

“It seems the stress of your research has been quite heavy lately, hasn't it? Haha!”

Shen Zhijin favored him with a look of pure, icy indifference.

Kong Wenhan’s laughter evaporated instantly. It seemed being blind wasn't enough; now he felt he might be on the precipice of death.

...

Just as Kong Wenhan debated with himself whether he preferred a quick end or a slow, agonizing demise at the hands of this stoic genius, the light click of approaching footsteps broke the tension.

...

“Shen Zhijin?!”

A voice, sweet and melodic with genuine surprise, echoed through the aisles.

Shen Zhijin turned to see Gu Tingyin walking in. Late autumn had painted the world in gold, and she was dressed in a caramel skirt paired with a cozy sweater and vest. Her dark, wavy hair cascaded down, swaying gently against her waist.

She looked comfortable and elegant, a vision that immediately commanded his focus.

After a few steps, she couldn’t contain her excitement and hurried to his side. Her almond-shaped eyes, dark and brilliant, met his, and the soft dimples at the corners of her lips deepened.

“What a coincidence!”

It was, indeed, a coincidence. She had mentioned before that she enjoyed visiting this shop on Sundays to browse.

He offered a slight, acknowledging nod.

“I am here to purchase some books, as well!”

As she spoke, her gaze darted toward the bag in his hand. “Are those for you?”

Kong Wenhan and the others stared at the pair, their expressions oscillating between shock and awkwardness.

Shen Zhijin looked over, his face perfectly composed.

Kong Wenhan quickly interjected, “Junior Gu, what a surprise! We were just heading out, we have pressing matters to attend to elsewhere. Let’s talk later!”

Gu Tingyin turned, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise. “Oh? Senior Kong, you’re here too?”

“...”

Kong Wenhan and his group gulped in unison. A faint, nearly imperceptible smile touched the corner of Shen Zhijin’s lips.

Gu Tingyin waved at them warmly. “Then… goodbye!”

“...”

How could fate be so cruel? They had essentially been rendered invisible by the two of them working in tandem. The group lingered at the bookstore exit for a beat longer before vanishing into the street, their retreating figures seeming to carry the bleak draft of autumn.

Gu Tingyin didn't spare a second thought for them, turning back to Shen Zhijin with radiant excitement. “Shen Zhijin, do you have plans for the rest of the day? Let’s stay and read here for a while, shall we?”

She beamed, adding, “The selection here is truly wonderful!”

...

Shen Zhijin followed her to the second floor, where the foot traffic thinned, replaced by the comforting, earthy aroma of ink and paper. Gu Tingyin selected a small round table in a quiet corner and took a seat beside him.

Shen Zhijin, however, did not pull his purchased books from the bag. Instead, he reached for a title from the shelf: “Gravity of the Black Hole.”

“Shen Zhijin, aren’t you going to read the books you just bought?” she asked, peering curiously at the bag.

As she reached out to peek inside, Shen Zhijin instinctively clamped his hand over her wrist.

“I intend to finish those in private at home.”

He barely finished the sentence before attempting to pull away, but Gu Tingyin leaned inward unexpectedly.

Her sweet, distinct fragrance enveloped him, a sensory weight that left him momentarily breathless. Her lips curled into a playful smirk, and her voice softened into a gentle, honeyed tone.

“Shen Zhijin, did you know I’ve nearly memorized the entire manga collection in this shop?”

His pulse quickened. He glanced over to see the knowing, mischievous glint in her eyes. Even without seeing the full contents of the bag, she had deduced their nature with effortless intuition.

She didn't pull her wrist away, letting him hold onto her, her pride and playfulness shining through.

“These are actually for me, aren't they?”

She said it with such absolute certainty, as if she had unearthed a secret he had been tightly guarding. Her smile was far warmer and brighter than any afternoon sunlight.

He found he could not evade her insight. Finally, he replied, “Not exactly.”

Gu Tingyin blinked, momentarily stunned, only for him to murmur softly, “If you find the Physics texts too tedious to grasp, you needn't force yourself to study them further.”

“I only came here to observe.”

He had come specifically to gauge her interests, to map out the things she loved and the habits she held dear.

Gu Tingyin suddenly wished he would let go of her wrist—surely, at this proximity, he would feel her heart racing like a trapped bird.

She pulled back slightly, lingering in the space between them, before eventually—helplessly—drifting closer again. There was one thing she simply had to ask.

“Shen Zhijin.”

He tilted his head, though he was suddenly struck by a soft, warm sensation brushing against his cheek.

He froze, completely breathless.

She leaned toward his ear, her breath warm against his skin, her voice carrying a soft, triumphant melody.

“Did you come here to read… or did you simply want to see me?”