wish

It is not you who chose it, but it is it that chose you

在被选择时，这并不是你的选择

Dust and gravel today gather to form tall buildings

Time, however, erases the ancient tower that reaches the heavens

The blooming flowers release their fragrance for spring

The fragrance of youth is always difficult to retain in the past

the surging waves

Gradually eroding the land on the shore

The vast waters are gradually being covered by land again

The sun sets and rises again, the moon is full and then wanes

When I see all of this, or perhaps.

All of this has also turned to nothingness

Obtaining brings me joy

Loss has taught me to reflect repeatedly

Cherish at all times

The lost is gained

Ding ding dang—ding ding dang—bells are ringing ding dang

Christmas, one of the most popular holidays among young people throughout the year, has finally arrived

On the bustling and lively streets, shops of all sizes have adorned their glass windows with tall Christmas trees embellished with a variety of ornaments, alongside charming snowmen waving their arms. The colorful lights, shimmering like starlight, illuminate the smiling faces of people quietly making wishes, overflowing with happiness. The air resonates with joyful Christmas songs.

Xia Yuxi, dressed in a thick white double-breasted wool coat and carrying a small backpack, stood in front of a shop window on the street, gazing dreamily at the dazzling array of Christmas decorations inside the window

At this moment, what are Lin Shiqi and Mu Ze doing?

The room, warmed by the burning fireplace, features a Christmas tree adorned with golden stars and colorful lights placed in the center of the floor, beneath which are piled gift boxes of various sizes and colors

Lin Shiqi smiled beautifully beside herself, her lips curving into an elegant arc. She took her left hand and stuffed it with gingerbread and sugar cubes

A few steps away, the gentle and handsome An Muze, like a prince, played the violin, the melodious sound enveloping her, mingling with the distant chimes of Christmas bells

How blissful! That scene seems to be right before my eyes, within reach. Xia Yuxi closed her eyes in contemplation, and a sweet smile gradually appeared on her face. "Shiqi and Brother Muze's phones have been unreachable since just now, but they should call me in a little while, right? I suppose I can wait a bit longer..."

Xia Yuxi muttered to herself, left the display window, and wandered aimlessly down the street. Before she knew it, she had actually walked to the back gate of Colin High School

The back door of Colin High School is rarely known due to its concealed location, but in order to evade the pursuit of Director "Octopus," Xia Yuxi had already conducted a detailed investigation of the school's layout. Therefore, the dilapidated wooden door at the end of the winding path hidden before her was not unfamiliar to her

Since Brother Muze and Shiqi have not called me yet, I will take a trip for the "Christmas Eve Adventure" to entertain myself. Later, when I see Shiqi or Brother Muze, it will be a fun topic to discuss!

Xia Yuxi thought as she walked along a narrow path towards the small wooden door

After passing through two intersections and circumventing a row of lush evergreen cypress walls, Xia Yuxi gently pushed open the two tightly closed wooden doors, and before her, a dark and imposing building appeared.

This is the library of Colin High School. The wooden door that Xia Yuxi is passing through stands at a corner of the library's backyard wall, with several shrubs growing in front of it, each about a person's height, as if they are intentionally trying to conceal this wooden door

Xia Yuxi gazed to the right of the library, where in the dim light, illuminated by the obscure moonlight, the towering Colin bell tower could be faintly seen, surrounded by dense layers of camphor trees. Only the top of the bell tower pierced through the dark, oppressive branches, pointing directly to the chilly, swirling night sky

Ding—Ding—Ding—Ding

Suddenly, the resounding chimes of the bell tower pierced the tranquil night sky above the Colin campus

It is already eight o'clock in the evening... Xia Yuxi silently counted the number of times the clock chimed in her heart, exhaled a breath of white mist into the air, turned around to close the wooden door behind her, and then walked towards the iron gate in front of the library

She walked carelessly on the dew-soaked grass beneath her feet, the cold wind blowing against her made her instinctively shrink her neck. As she passed by the main entrance of the Colin Library, a splash of orange light spilling from the tightly closed door caught her attention

Oh? ... It's so late and there are still people in the library ... Could it be that one of Colin's students is so obsessed with studying that they can't even take a break on Christmas Eve? However, that beam of light seems so lonely in this long, dark night. I wonder if the person in the room feels as lonely as I do right now

Perhaps it was due to curiosity, or perhaps it was because of a mutual affection, but Xia Yuxi changed the direction she originally intended to take and turned to walk towards the main entrance of the library

It seemed that I could read her feelings from the expression on Xia Yuxi's face. Before she could respond, the girl with violet eyes smiled and nodded: "Is that so? Alright, this book has already recorded your wish. Since you have such a beautiful wish, please sign your name on the cover of the book."

Xia Yuxi had never thought that borrowing a book would require a wish. However, she still took some time to think about it seriously

"It seems that... it is not you who chose it, but it chose you..." The girl with purple eyes murmured in a voice only she could hear, but soon she lifted her face again, a usual smile rippling across her features: "So, may I ask, are you sure you want to borrow this book?"

Ha, hello! My name is Xia Yuxi! Hehehe! Realizing that she had interrupted the girl's reading, Xia Yuxi felt a bit sorry and blushed slightly, greeting the girl in her not-so-fluent English.

Xia Yuxi's indomitable spirit surged in her mind, as she aimed for the height of the book, leaping lightly, intending to hook the sturdy edge of the book with her fingers and pull it down using her own weight

As the door opened with a prolonged sound, a slender figure appeared in her line of sight

Librarian? Xia Yuxi instinctively exclaimed, secretly murmuring to herself that Colin was indeed strict. Even during the Christmas holiday when everyone else was off, he still arranged for the librarian to be on duty. This girl must really want to go out and celebrate with her friends!

It features an ancient, worn cover made of sheepskin with gold embossing, as if it has endured the wear of a thousand years of history. The corners of the cover are adorned with classical gold patterns, where intricate vines and delicate flower buds intertwine tightly, seemingly striving to seal away some intangible essence. The center of the cover bears no title, only a white camellia. Although painted with pigment, the lustrous white petals reflect light, appearing as if they were sculpted from white jade into a three-dimensional flower. The center of the cover bears no title, only a white camellia. Although painted with pigment, the lustrous white petals reflect light, appearing as if they were sculpted from white jade into a three-dimensional flower.

Shiqi and Muze are both very good friends, but they are too outstanding to belong to just me alone...! I do not want to become the lonely person left out by Lin Shiqi and An Muze, therefore, it would be wonderful to have a friend who completely belongs to me!

Do you have a wish

Am I?" The young girl turned to Xia Yuxi again and replied with a smile, "Because I am the new librarian, and I would like to take the opportunity to organize the books when I have some free time

The girl with purple eyes turned her head to glance at a certain place from the bookshelf, only to see a spot at the end of the corridor shrouded in mist, faintly emanating a purple glow

Is this card so formal

Suddenly, amidst a large array of unfamiliar books, a completely nameless book caught the attention of Xia Yuxi

Her excessive movements caused the entire bookshelf to shake, and books fell onto her hair and body like rain.

Judging by her age, she should be on par with myself, yet she possesses unparalleled beauty. Her long, voluminous flaxen curls cascade down to her waist, and her eyes resemble amethyst, sparkling with a unique brilliance. She wears a white shirt adorned with lace trim, a sea-blue uniform jacket, and a matching pleated skirt that fits her perfectly. The simple design accentuates her slender figure beautifully. Although she is dressed in the same uniform as mine, the girl exudes an indescribable extraordinary aura that makes Xia Yuxi hesitant to approach her. At the girl's feet, a black cat is crouched, licking its paws and grooming itself, while a Shetland sheepdog runs around playfully.

Ah... thank you, thank you... I originally just wanted to take a look at that dim light, but the girl's warm invitation made Xia Yuxi feel embarrassed to refuse, so she could only awkwardly walk into the reading room

Xia Yuxi, with her bright eyes, ultimately signed her name in the blank space at the lower right corner of that card.

Chirp

In this reading room alone, the shelves are filled with more than twenty large bookshelves. Moreover, the books here are not only numerous but also of a quality that differs from the cheaply produced printed materials available on the market. Each book features a classical and exquisite cover. The spines are adorned with either gold embossing, debossing, or elegantly curved fonts, showcasing titles that have never been seen before. Xia Yuxi wandered through the shelves in a daze, going deeper and deeper, and the scent of the books became increasingly ancient.

Feeling a bit sympathetic towards the girl's situation, as she stared at him without blinking, Xia Yuxi awkwardly scratched the back of his head and looked around the reading room: "Since you're here, why not just borrow a book to take home and read! Hehehe!"

The girl with violet eyes revealed a fleeting, enigmatic gaze, yet she still smiled as she closed the book and handed it to Xia Yuxi. "Thus, all the formalities are complete. The dust of the past will eventually fade away, and the flow of hope will transform into memories. I hope this book will bring assistance to your life, and the brilliance of Cleo will forever illuminate your path..."

She nervously picked up the book that had fallen due to the tremor and exclaimed loudly, "I have made my choice!"

Indeed, there are bookish individuals like Colin reading in the reading room

If only someone could accompany me through this night

It is no wonder that Colin's bookworms are constantly coming here, as many of the books found here are not available in ordinary bookstores! Moreover, there are also many out-of-print books!

What happened? Did you find the book you were looking for

The girl with purple eyes carefully tucked the card into the front page of the book, closed it, and handed it back to Xia Yuxi, giving her detailed instructions.

Just as Xia Yuxi felt confused, the young girl raised her head, her gaze shifting from the book to Xia Yuxi, who was standing dazed at the entrance of the reading room, her eyes revealing a look of confusion.

Creaking sound

Of course

What a beautiful book ... ! But it's strange ... I didn't touch this bookshelf just now, so how could it have fallen down

Click

Such a beautiful book, surely the content within is equally beautiful, enough to accompany me through this lonely Christmas Eve

Xia Yuxi leaned in to listen to the sounds in the reading room, and seemed to faintly hear the rustling sound made by the turning of pages.

Xia Yuxi was afraid that the girl with purple eyes would know that this had fallen from the bookshelf because of her, so he quickly said, "I took it down from the bookshelf, haha, hahaha"

Oh? What book is this? Why is there no title?

Congratulations, you can take this book with you now. It will help you fulfill your wishes, but do not forget, once you start reading this book, you must finish it, no matter what happens during that time, you cannot stop... otherwise... Hello? Are you listening?

Ah?

"Please go ahead." The young girl nodded gently and slightly leaned to the side.

Although she despised the system at Colin High School that prioritized studying and exams above all else, the collection of books in the library still left Xia Yuxi genuinely astonished

Unlike the typical library card that only requires a stamp, this card features a large area of foreign text in the center, printed in brown ink, resembling a passage from an ancient scripture. Surrounding this passage are vines with small flower buds, styled similarly to the corners of the cover

Xia Yuxi had not yet come to a conclusion when she heard a girl's inquiry coming from outside

However, this child is very willful. It only allows those who have wishes in their hearts to read it. May I ask, what wish do you have at this moment

How could it be this book? How did you get it?

Xia Yuxi gazed at the unfamiliar titles on the bookshelf, continually expressing deep admiration.

Hehe... Hello. The young girl politely closed the book in her hands, her smile on her rose-pink, glossy lips so sweet that it could almost take one's breath away. "Please come in, and also, I can speak Chinese."

Alright, then I just need to take care of the final formalities. The girl with purple eyes took the signed card, gently blew on it, and the freshly written ink quickly dissolved into the texture of the paper, transforming into the same color as the prayer, as if it had originally been printed with the same ink.

Is she a foreign exchange student of Colin

Xia Yuxi reached out to pull the book out, but there were simply too many books here, each one packed tightly together. The book was wedged between two thick volumes, and no matter how hard Xia Yuxi tried, it would not budge an inch

wish

Then bring it outside

Xia Yuxi walked into the vast sea of books in the reading room, holding his head and looking around in search of the books he wanted to borrow. The library at Colin High School is renowned for its extensive collection of books

Huh? Who is she

The brown wooden door of the library was surprisingly unlocked. Xia Yuxi gently pushed it, and the door opened to both sides. Then, what came into Xia Yuxi's view was a warm and bright light.

Looking at the young girl standing between two rows of bookshelves, who was sitting on the windowsill of the bookshelf and flipping through a thick book, Xia Yuxi felt a surge of surprise

A book truly fell down, but it was not the thin one she had previously set her sights on; rather, it was an exceptionally beautiful ancient book that had fallen from a bookshelf a few steps away from her.

Xia Yuxi reached a conclusion in her heart, took a light breath, extended her hand, and gently pressed her finger against the slightly ajar wooden door of the reading room, gently pushing the door open

"By the way, tonight is Christmas. Why are you alone in the reading room?" Seeing that the young girl seemed ready to flip through her books and continue reading, Xia Yuxi asked in confusion.

New Theory of Vision, The Lovely Bones

Although it was just mentioned that all the books here could be selected, when she saw Xia Yuxi emerge with the ancient book depicting the white camellia, a glimmer of disbelief quickly appeared in the girl's eyes

However, Xia Yuxi's attention had completely shifted to the black cat and the long-haired Shetland Sheepdog beside her. She was playfully teasing them with a small ball of yarn, and after finally freeing one hand to casually take the book, she responded absentmindedly, "Mm, mm, I heard you, I heard you."

Xia Yuxi had not yet figured out what was going on when the girl with purple eyes handed her an elegant and exquisite card

Boom

Moreover, from Xia Yuxi's perspective, it was enveloped in a faint purple glow, which seemed to breathe in a rhythmic rise and fall, alternating between light and dark, illuminating Xia Yuxi's eyes.

This foreign student speaks Chinese quite fluently, truly deserving to be Colin's exchange student