Chapter 224: Party Preparations

“Sorry to bother you.”

“Here again today?”

The Librarian shot a bland glance at Gao Sijin as he walked into the library, then returned her focus to her book.

These past few days, regardless of rain or shine, Gao Sijin always arrived right on schedule, and every time, he went straight to the literature section to read whatever was currently popular.

She had initially assumed Gao Sijin was diligently studying Japanese, hence his daily visits to the library. It was only after asking that she learned the real reason he came so religiously: he was hoping for another chance encounter with the Kimono Girl.

“The girl in the kimono didn’t come today either.”

“I see.”

Gao Sijin couldn’t hide a trace of disappointment.

“If she does show up, I can send you a message. After all, you’re a regular now; that little perk is the least I can offer.”

Gao Sijin, however, shook his head. He would wait.

“Has she been back since that day?”

“No.”

Sometimes, the world is incredibly small. Other times, Tokyo is impossibly large.

Perhaps their destiny together truly ended there.

“Imperfection can be a kind of beauty in itself, like the Venus de Milo. No matter how skillfully you reattach her missing arms, you inevitably ruin her perfection.”

Gao Sijin’s words carried a faint, unspoken bitterness and melancholy.

When Gao Sijin shared this thought with Yu Qingxue, she said he just had sour grapes. He didn’t deny it.

He spent yet another entire day at the library.

Actually, it wasn’t so bad. At least the library wasn’t some seedy place. Spending more time there was perfect for honing his writing skills. Maybe, just maybe, when he turned around, she would be there, standing in the dimly lit shadows.

“Still didn’t run into her today?”

At six in the evening, Yu Qingxue pulled up in her BMW to pick Gao Sijin up.

Though he was grateful for the ride, the schadenfreude written all over her face was truly infuriating.

“Yeah, didn’t see her.”

“Don’t worry, Sijin. As long as you persevere, love will eventually blossom and bear fruit.”

Yu Qingxue pursed her lips, her body trembling as she fought back laughter. The barely contained mirth in her eyes was intensely irritating.

That’s what it’s like with certain toxic friends. They seem to be comforting your wounded heart, but in reality, they’re just a troll relishing the show.

Yu Qingxue was in exactly that state right now.

Gao Sijin yelled loudly, “You’re laughing at me! You haven’t stopped!”

“Mr. Gao, I have had rigorous training. No matter how funny it is, I will not laugh. Unless I can’t help it.”

“Forget it, laugh if you want. Sometimes even I think I’m pretty ridiculous. And honestly, so what if we do meet? She probably has a tall, hot, rich boyfriend already anyway.”

“Quite possible. Mind if I ask how old she is?” Yu Qingxue gripped the steering wheel, weaving through a bustling commercial street. “Ten?”

“I’d rather not end up in prison. She looked about eighteen.”

“Sijin, do you think a girl around eighteen with such a pretty face could still be a virgin?”

“I don’t care. I don’t have a virginity fetish anyway. If you really love a girl, you don’t care about that stuff. A woman isn’t my personal property. Though, if she’s unfaithful after we got together, that’s a different story.”

“What would you do?”

“Dump her, of course.”

“No domestic violence?”

Gao Sijin shook his head.

“That’s good, Sijin. Good men like you are really a rare find,” Yu Qingxue drawled with a lazy, charming smile. “And for the record, I’m a virgin.”

“You’re already twenty and gorgeous. How could you possibly still be a virgin?”

“Because my standards are quite high. I demand both an interesting soul and a good-looking exterior. Over time, I simply became a leftover woman.”

“That’s genuinely surprising.”

“Actually, I’m pretty traditional in that regard. I detest men with severe virginity complexes, yet I want to save my most precious first time for the man of my dreams.”

Before they knew it, they had already returned to the apartment’s underground parking garage.

Gao Sijin helped Yu Qingxue carry the fresh vegetables and various meats she had just bought at the supermarket, and they headed upstairs together.

“When we get home, I’ll cook, you write. We have a clear division of labor.”

“Got it.”

The two took the elevator up together.

Once home, Yu Qingxue hung up her trench coat. She then used the vacuum cleaner to dust the house. Normally, Yu Qingxue was a complete and utter slob, but simultaneously a massive neat freak. Because of this paradox, her home was almost perpetually spotless.

“We’ve practically got that old married couple synergy already.”

Yu Qingxue often said such jokes to Gao Sijin.

“And if I ever get so used to your cooking that I can’t stand my future wife’s, you’ll have to drag your ass to my place and cook for me.”

Gao Sijin always retorted in kind.

After sitting in the library all day, getting back to Yu Qingxue’s apartment made his entire body relax completely. The initial awkwardness with the unfamiliar environment had long since vanished. Spending time with Yu Qingxue was completely effortless.

“Aren’t you going to write?”

“Not feeling inspired. Plus, the season of the anime I’ve been following started airing today.”

Ovinia’s graceful and melodious singing poured from the television. Then, Gao Sijin began watching the currently trending anime, which was supposedly a Light Novel adaptation.

One day, he vowed, his own work would be adapted into an Anime.

After tidying up the room, Yu Qingxue chopped vegetables in the kitchen.

“Need a hand?”

“Don’t bother. If Sijin helped, he’d only be making things worse.”

Yu Qingxue politely declined his offer.

When it was time to eat, seeing Gao Sijin still glued to the anime, Yu Qingxue brought the finished dishes over to the coffee table. Her classic, long Head Maid dress made her seem less mischievous and added a touch more elegance.

In her daily life, Yu Qingxue often cosplayed various roles. Sometimes a Teacher, sometimes a Nurse, sometimes a flight attendant. Today, she was a Maid.

“Tonight we have seafood fried rice, butter-braised lamb chops, with a garden field-greens salad and French-style assorted stew for the veggies, my dear Master.”

“Hmm, not bad. Good work. You’re dismissed if there’s nothing else,” Gao Sijin played along perfectly, using a foppish Young Master’s tone.

“Shall I feed you?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Master, classes at the University of Tokyo start the day after tomorrow. Are you still going to the library tomorrow to wait for a girl you’re clearly destined never to meet?”

A flicker of gloom passed through Gao Sijin’s eyes, but it quickly faded into acceptance.

“Of course, I’m going. Any woman who catches this Young Master Gao’s eye must be pursued until she’s mine.”

“Maybe don’t go tomorrow. I’m thinking, with classes starting the day after, let’s throw a party at home tomorrow. I’ll invite Morgana and a few of my close besties over. We’ll have a great time at home all day long to celebrate the new semester.”

“But…”

Gao Sijin couldn’t shake the feeling that if he missed tomorrow, he might miss his chance with her forever.

“Are you going to blow off your real-life friends for some illusory girl? Sijin, you haven’t been home these past few days, and you won’t even play games with me. I’m lonely too, you know…” Yu Qingxue’s eyes held a hint of resentment.

“Fine.”