Midnight Bookstore

Translated by XephiZ

Edited by Aelryinth

The washroom was not well-decorated. It only had a simple basin and a squat toilet. It did not have a showerhead. As for the second floor, it did not even have a woven mat, let alone a bed. It was mainly used for storage purposes, since Xu Le had to go home every day. Even though his parents-in-law despised him, even though his sister-in-law would order him around, even though his wife was not willing to sleep on the same bed with him, he would still close the bookstore and go back home to sleep.

His life had no dignity, no freedom, but it was as sweet as a syrup for him.

He was Xu Le, not some reputable character in history, thus it had not really bothered him.

However, even if he was some reputable person, the people might actually think there was great intelligence in living such a life. It was like adding flavors to his boring everyday life.

Zhou Ze would never understand Xu Le’s feelings. Zhou Ze had grown up in an orphanage. He might not look inferior on the surface, but he clearly felt it on the inside. It was the reason why he had studied and worked so hard. He insisted on being the best, the most brilliant existence among the people around him.

As Zhou Ze looked at his wet face in the mirror, he could not help but feel sorry, for both Xu Le and himself.

Everyone was trapped in their own cage, regardless of its style, shape or size. There would always be a cage.

Zhou Ze did not want to be a ruler of the dead. He did not hope extravagantly that he could use his special power to do as he pleased. First of all, bad things were going to happen if he had a high-profile. Second, he was tired of the way he lived in his previous life. He wanted to approach life differently.

Either way, he wanted to live in his current body.

He raised his hands and spread his fingers. His fingernails had returned to normal.

Zhou Ze smiled.

Forget it, perhaps I actually deserved it…

He wiped his face and his hands dry and walked out of the washroom. The struggle on his face had completely disappeared. He seemed completely at ease.

The little girl was still reading her book on the plastic stool.

“Uncle, Ruirui is thirsty!” the little girl yelled at Zhou Ze, like a little pet acting coquettishly to her master.

Zhou Ze nodded. He went to get a cup of lukewarm water and gave it to the little girl.

The little girl took a sip and smiled.

Zhou Ze sat on the floor and caressed the little girl’s head.

——

Time gradually passed. The little girl continued to read her book while Zhou Ze lay beside her. It was peaceful.

The little girl would occasionally share the interesting stories she was reading to Zhou Ze. The man would respond by telling her some other stories, or the morals of the stories she had read.

The red sedan eventually showed up in front of the bookstore.

The little girl’s mother walked into the bookstore and expressed her gratitude. Her hair looked exactly the same as she first came in. Zhou Ze grinned. He really had the urge to suggest the woman argue with her hairdresser to stop deceiving her.

That being said, if he really said it, it was very likely that the woman would just ask him to mind his own business.

The little girl bowed and said thanks before leaving with her mother.

The little girl did not turn around, she simply left.

Zhou Ze walked to the counter and picked up the gift from the woman. There was a stack of cash in it, a total of three thousand yuan.

Not bad.

Zhou Ze had no intention of giving the money back. He desperately needed it.

Zhou Ze had thought it out, like a cultivator who suddenly came to an understanding.

At the same time, he believed he was simply improvising according to the situation. It did not matter what was happening, he just needed to remain confident and at ease.

Either way, he felt a lot more relaxed now.

Zhou Ze randomly picked up a book with a huge cover on the shelf. It was a collection of famous author’s quotes, something that no one would ever buy. He wondered if Xu Le’s brain was crushed by a gate many times, to think that the man was brainless enough to place an order for a book like this.

He randomly flipped to a page and it happened to say, “You’re foolish for once.”

“Tsk tsk,” Zhou Ze smacked his lips.

Interesting…

He checked the time and realized it was almost evening. He decided to go for dinner first, since he was going to the movies with Doctor Lin that night.

Zhou Ze was stunned when he walked into the restaurant. He saw Xu Qinglang kneeling on the ground.

His eyes were red. There were bottles of wines close to him. He was wolfing down a bottle of wine as Zhou Ze walked in.

“It’s unfair… it’s unfair…” Xu Qinglang murmured. He did not even notice Zhou Ze walking into the restaurant.

“Hey?” Zhou Ze patted Xu Qinglang on his shoulder, “Are you alright?”

He wanted to remind Xu Qinglang that most men would only get their money stolen when they were drunk, but in Xu Qinglang’s situation, money was not the only thing he would lose.

As a matter of fact, if both Xu Qinglang and a woman were lying in the middle of the road late at night, Xu Qinglang might even be harassed more than the woman.

Xu Qinglang shuddered. He slowly lifted his gaze with a pitiful look. He pointed at Zhou Ze and said, “Today is my parents’ death anniversary.”

Zhou Ze fell silent for a moment before he said, “My condolences.”

Some time later, Xu Qinglang continued to drink his wine.

Zhou Ze asked, “Still cooking tonight?”

“Of course! Why not!?” Xu Qinglang struggled to his feet. His slim waist and slender figure were particularly alluring, especially after how hard he was trying to stand properly. It was like urging people to lend him a hand and take a huge sniff of him.

“You don’t have to force yourself,” Zhou Ze said, yet he already found himself a table, waiting to be served.

He was reluctant to eat somewhere else, considering how difficult it was for him to eat.

Xu Qinglang waved his hand and walked into the kitchen.

He soon heard Xu Qinglang stir-frying in the kitchen.

Zhou Ze took out his phone and looked at the message he just received from Doctor Lin. She said that she would come and pick him up soon. Zhou Ze replied, “Sure.”

On second thought, it felt a little too simple. He immediately sent a laughing sticker.

He immediately recalled the sticker as it was too frivolous.

He then felt it was conspicuous to recall his message, so he quickly sent, “Hehe.”

He immediately felt that “hehe” did not sound too friendly either, but it was even more conspicuous to recall the message again.

Such a struggle…

Zhou Ze was so indecisive at the table.

——

The man stir-frying in the kitchen was struggling, too.

He was making twice-cooked pork. Pouring the twice-cooked pork on rice would make it a twice-cooked-pork gaifan, simple but delicious.

{TL Note: A gaifan is a type of economical dish in Chinese cuisine, usually consists of a bowl of rice with meat and vegetables on it.}

“Why did she take my parents instead of you?” Xu Qinglang murmured while he was cooking.

As an old-time saying went, Worry about inequality, not poverty. It was too damn right, it even revealed the darkest side of a man’s heart…

“It’s unfair, it’s really unfair,” Xu Qinglang continued to murmur. “How could you favor him? How could you?”

Xu Qinglang had a blank face, but it did not stop him from cooking a nice dish. He was a good cook. Cooking was already part of his subconscious.

He took out a yellow tin from the cabinet under the stove and sprinkled some powder into the wok.

“My parents have been taken away, why weren’t you? Is it because you saved her life? Hehe, what a joke. You want to eat? Sure, I’ll let you eat,” Xu Qinglang panted heavily.

“Is it done yet?” Zhou Ze urged.

“Almost.”

Xu Qinglang was startled. He was panicking and hesitant, yet he still put the lid over the wok. He realized he had not heated the rice in the microwave yet.

After the rice was ready, Xu Qinglang placed the twice-cooked pork on the rice and went out with the dish.

Zhou Ze was staring at his phone with a troubled look. The man asked worriedly when he saw Xu Qinglang coming toward him with a blank face, “Don’t tell me you forgot to put salt on it?”

Xu Qinglang shook his head.

Zhou Ze was about to start eating. Xu Qinglang’s hands trembled. His mouth was slightly open. He was going to say something when Zhou Ze put the chopsticks down.

“How about the plum juice or bitter melon juice?” Zhou Ze asked.

“Oh, right away.”

Xu Qinglang left and came back with a glass of plum juice.

Zhou Ze picked up the glass of plum juice and sniffed. He took a deep breath, but his phone vibrated as he was just about to drink it.

“I’m here, come out.”

Zhou Ze hesitated and put the plum juice down.

He knew his face would be contorted for some time after finishing a meal, like the kind of face one would wear when someone owed them a lot of money.

He decided to skip the meal.

It was his first time inviting a girl to the movies in both his lives. He should treat it more seriously.

He could not help it. Doctor Lin was supposed to be as easy as an introductory quest in the newbie village.

However, after claiming Xu Le’s body, the introductory quest had suddenly become a boss fight.

Should he be happy or be sad about it? Should he try harder and defeat himself to win the woman’s affection?

“Remember to put the cost on my account, I’ll pay it all at the end of the month.” Zhou Ze stood up and headed for the door.

Doctor Lin’s car was parked at the side of the road. Her window was wound down, waiting for him.

Meanwhile, Xu Qinglang’s expression kept shifting in the restaurant. He shoved the dish onto the floor. He fell to the ground, hugging his head, and burst into tears. The cry gradually turned louder, until his tears ran dry.