Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The shape of the new library in Binhai is like a horizontal bookshelf. The windowpanes of different sizes are like different books that are opened. The outside has a small fountain square. There is a circle of benches around the square for people to rest on.

  When he saw the new library, Zhang Zian felt familiar. The design was modern, but he seemed to have seen it before. He stopped the car and thought for a while. A library with such a distinctive character should not be easily forgotten if he saw it before. However, he couldn’t remember it.

  He decided not to think further and drove the car into the parking lot. He soon found an empty space to park.

  Entering the library, he first signs up for a library card at the front desk, then walked to the map and observed the layout of the library.

  The basement is a place for rare and ancient books, and the first floor is mainly a reading room for children and teens. To enter these places, one needs to have authorized letters or supporting documents. He is old and cannot go to the latter. He also does not look important enough and cannot go to the former as well.

  On the second floor is the Chinese book area while the third floor holds original foreign books and photocopying book services. The fourth floor is the Chinese and foreign journal literature area, and it also provides miniature literature reading. Finally, the fifth floor is the digital reading and exchange area.

  He is here to pass the time today. However, when he is alone and deep in thought, he always feels a sense of uneasiness. So much so that he is unable to sit down and browse through professional books. When there are large sections of texts, he doesn’t want to read them. He kept on thinking. Perhaps it might be better for him to look at color printed pictures or illustrations, such as travel photography collections or popular science books. Perhaps books such as national geography, scientific history, astronomical space, biological sciences, and others. Even if just to browse through the beautiful pictures, it is still a form of appreciation activity. Doing so might even allow him to acquire knowledge that may prove to be useful in the future.

  So, should he go to the second floor or the third floor?

  The Chinese books on the second floor are much easier for him to read, but the foreign language books on the third floor are definitely more beneficial. In terms of time and knowledge gained, foreign books will be much better for him. If he waited for a professional translator to translate that foreign book into Chinese, then wait for it to be published, by then, the knowledge may have already been outdated.

  He was standing in front of the floor guide and thought about it. He heard someone saying. “Comrades, people are making a ruckus on the fifth floor, can you please handle it?”


  Zhang Zian took a glance and saw a 70 to 80-year-old senior standing in front of a desk. He was carrying a cane, his hair was white but was well-groomed and neat. His clothes were old fashioned but washed till they were very clean. His appearance gave off the vibe that he is a righteous person, like the kind of person who likes to study and convey words of wisdom.

  Is someone causing trouble?

  Causing trouble in the library?

  Zhang Zian listened and was stunned. The people who come to the library are all likely to be cultured individuals. People in society who like to cause trouble are unlikely to come to the library. Who could be causing trouble then? Children?

  The staff at the service desk revealed a difficult look on his face and whispered, “I am sorry, some people have already informed us. After the investigation, it seemed that someone has hacked into our system, but today is the Golden Week holiday, so our technical staff is on leave. The network inside the museum is restricted and cannot be connected remotely…… We are already thinking of a solution. Please wait patiently.”


  The old man using a walking stick obviously couldn’t understand the words of restricted network access and remote connection. However, as he saw that the employee’s apology was sincere, he did not blame the staff any further and merely shook his head and sigh. He used his walking stick and slowly walked towards the barrier-free elevator.

  Did someone actually hack into the library wireless network?

  Is someone really so bored?

  It is estimated that it is some naughty child who had just learned some hacking skills and is eager to practice it out. Thus, he used the library’s network as practice.

  Zhang Zian didn’t care too much. He decided to go to the foreign language library area on the third floor. Apart from the previous considerations, another reason is that there are definitely lesser people on the third floor than on the second floor. Since he wants to read, it will be quieter and better for him.

  He got up to the third floor. Most of the seats are empty, but there are also a lot of people upgrading themselves on the golden week holiday period. From the old, middle age and young children, there are even a few teenagers holding thick foreign language books. Witnessing this scene, he cannot help but feel slightly anxious. He fully understood the meaning of ‘Rome was not built in one day.’


  He decided to choose a book and then find a seat.

  As he has no specific goal, he is completely choosing a book at random. He strolled between the bookshelf and browsed the vast sea of books. His nose is filled with the smell of fresh ink and incense that is unique to paper books. He browsed, touched, and held various books. He grabbed a few picture books and unknowingly, made his way into the tools section of the library.

  It makes sense that the tools reference book is not included in his reading plans. He merely accidentally walked into the area as it is easy to get lost between the bookshelves.

  There are already enough books in his hand, and he may not be able to finish reading them within the morning. It is like eating a buffet. It is always easier to take more than one can eat. He decided to find a place to sit down and read.

  Just as he turned around, the corner of his eye slid into a position on the shelf on his side, as if there was a book there. However, no book was there as it was taken away, leaving a narrow gap……

  Or…… there is an invisible book in its place.

  He didn’t know why he suddenly came up with this weird thought. Maybe it was because the book was taken away, but the “Royal Academy Dictionary” and “McMillan English Dictionary” on its left and right sides did not fall and tilt towards the empty space between them. It was as if there is still an invisible book that occupies the empty space, and merely ordinary people can’t see it.

  This ridiculous thought is obviously unrealistic. The books here are thick and heavy, with a solid and strong cover and back cover. This makes them stable on the shelf, even if the book next to it have been taken away. They are unlikely to slump or tilt, unlike thin books.

  Someone actually borrowed this kind of reference book……

  This row of bookshelves is cramped full of English books and English dictionaries. Only readers with a master’s degree in English literature will find this section relevant to their needs.

  But……perhaps of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. If he doesn’t verify if there is an invisible book in that empty space, he feels that his heart will not find peace.

  The method of verification is very simple, just use his hand, place it between the two books, and reach out into the empty space.

  If you can provide a solution to the disorder with a little effort, why not?

  So he reached out……

  Just when the finger was about to reach the empty space, the “McMillan English Dictionary” next to it was suddenly taken away. Of course, it was not taken away by him, but by the person standing on the other side of the bookshelf……

  And his hand subconsciously stopped in its path.

  With two books missing, the gap became bigger, and a pair of eyes were seen on the other side of the gap. Those big and attractive eyes left him a strong impression.

  Even if he can only see a part of the face, he recognizes it immediately. There was no doubt about it – The person is Zhuang Xiaodie.

  What a coincidence! Is she actually in the library too?

  She also looked at him through the gap from across the bookshelf.