Chapter 53: Between the bookshelves
"Can I take a look at this one too?" Hu Cheng Se's eyes gleamed with excitement when she saw a piece of paper with a unique blue color. The shopkeeper nodded with a smile and swiftly brought it to her.
She touched it and felt the rough texture. "It has a nice smell." She smiled.
Suddenly, an old man in casual brown clothing came to her and greeted her. He was the owner of the bookstore. They talked about her first volume, and she asked him about the payment for the paper and ink he sent to the residence, but he assured her that since she was going to use them to write the second volume, she wouldn't have to pay for them.
After the shop owner, a woman also spotted Hu Cheng Se and began talking to her. The woman was a customer at the bookstore and also an avid reader. A boy came after, bringing up a question about the recipe she gave him when he met her a week ago at the same bookstore, asking whether she would write a cooking book too.
Somehow, Hu Cheng Se ended up talking to many people.
Qing Bo overheard their conversations from behind the bookshelves. He peeked between the books and spied on them. "I knew that her sunny and outgoing personality would make her easier to approach."
Jin Min looked at his companion who was intently watching through the gaps. "It is interesting that you know her very well, Qing Young Master."
"We were in the same class, of course," he said offhandedly.
"I heard that the Second Young Miss of the Hu Residence has a very strong personality, making her your school rival."
Qing Bo peered. "How do you know so many details about us?"
"My Second Brother is an adventurous man."
"I see…" Qing Bo began to think that there was more to the imperial family than meets the eye.
The last of the people wanting to talk to Hu Cheng Se were now leaving. "Actually, I am done with half of the second volume. If you want to see it, I brought it with me," Hu Cheng Se said to the shop owner.
"You are quick as always, Miss." The shop owner took the book and went to the back of the store.
"Your highness, what kind of books does she write?" Qing Bo cast a questioning glance at the corner of his eyes.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" The crown prince smiled and pushed Qing Bo. Losing his balance, he fell to the floor with a loud thud. He grimaced and looked back to the crown prince.
"Good luck, Qing Young Master." The crown prince gave Qing Bo a wink from behind the screen that covered his face.
"You!"
"...Qing Bo?" Hu Cheng Se called. Qing Bo's eyes widened, his straw hat had fallen off when the crown prince pushed him, and now his face was exposed. He gulped and looked up, meeting Hu Cheng Se's puzzled gaze.
"Ah, Hu Cheng Se… Such a coincidence." He looked to the side and tried to find the prince, but he had already disappeared.
"It's kind of nostalgic since I haven't seen you since graduation."
"That's…" It had been so long since Qing Bo saw her face. "Hu Cheng Se, you are a writer?"
"...Yes." She chuckled. "I only have one volume though, so I am not a true writer yet."
"I have never seen you write before."
"That's because I only started less than a year before graduation. To be honest, I used to write a little when I was young, but it was just a diary about what I saw every day. I originally began writing in it so that I could record my findings and tell Third Sister about the world she could not see."
"Is that so?" Qing Bo knew Hu Cheng Se since she was very little, so in a way, he thought he knew a lot about the girl. He was a bit lost; to think Hu Cheng Se could do something like this. He made the gesture of putting his palm on his forehead, showing emotions. "What kind of books do you write right now?"
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Jin Min watched Qing Bo and Hu Cheng Se from afar. "Seems that it is going well."
"Big Brother?"
"Ah, Lei. Are you done sightseeing?"
"Yeah, I recognized the carriage in the front, so I came here. What are you doing here, Big Brother?"
"Just trying to get on the good side of my future brother-in-law." His eyes gleamed.
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That night, Jin Min forced Qing Bo to sleep in the palace.
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