Chapter 10, The Nature of Shihao

Zhou Ling smiled slightly without saying a word, continuing to eat the tomato in small bites. At that moment, Liu Xue Ning handed a food box wrapped in floral cloth to Zhou Ling, saying, "Sister Ling, your lunch."

When Liu Xue Ning appeared in the library, she naturally attracted the attention of the bored teenage boys who had just come in to enjoy the air conditioning. At that time, at least seven or eight groups of teenagers followed her into this literary area. However, it was very difficult to find someone in the dense crowd, and in the end, only one group of three continued their search, while the others dispersed.

"I would like to read some literary books, as I lost points in the literature section during my last exam," Chen Shihao said somewhat anxiously

Suddenly, Deng Shuyu tapped her own head, wondering why she had never worried that Chen Shihao would offend Liu Xue Ning. Liu Xue Ning could not possibly be interested in Chen Shihao, but why was she not concerned that Chen Shihao might turn into a wolf when the two were alone? Could it be that this guy actually gave people such a great sense of security? Thinking of Chen Shihao's appearance and figure, Deng Shuyu suddenly chuckled; that guy was just a pretty boy, what kind of threat could he possibly pose? It was likely that this was the reason she did not worry, only fearing that he would constantly flirt with Xue Jie and annoy her.

Hehe, we always keep the boss's care in mind. Boss, let me introduce you to the situation regarding that campus beauty. The short guy immediately changed his tone and address, indicating that he is not someone to be underestimated.

"Alright, then Chen Shihao, are you free?" Liu Xueqing turned her gaze towards Chen Shihao. Chen Shihao nodded vigorously; going to the library was his favorite activity, and besides, he would be accompanying Xuejie, how could he not go? However, thinking about having to wake Ling Han up at 9 o'clock for breakfast made him hesitate, as he had always kept his promises to others.

Upon hearing this, Chen Shihao, who was already a bit hungry, truly found his appetite stimulated. He devoured two fried eggs in one bite each, finished the remaining steamed buns in just two bites, and gulped down the soy milk in one go.

Sister Zhou Ling, who usually does not mince words with others, accepted this guy as her roommate the moment she saw him. Moreover, the very thing that Sister Zhou Ling is most averse to was bluntly pointed out by him on the spot, yet she not only did not get angry but instead felt a bit embarrassed and offered an explanation. This is truly strange

Unaware of this surprising detail, Chen Shihao naturally understood that this Xuejie wanted him to read this book first. Without any hesitation, he opened the cover and quickly immersed himself in it

Liu Xue Ning gently tugged at him and asked with a smile, "What book do you want to read?"

Chen Shihau could never understand why Deng Shuyu, this aggressive woman, always targeted him. Although he was aware of his own indecisive nature, it couldn't be as bad as Deng Shuyu described, could it? Of course, being provoked by her, he immediately voiced his concerns.

Chen Shihao was completely unaware of this, nor did he notice the envious glances shot at him by the boys around him. His mind was filled with endless books. Although he casually glanced around, almost ninety percent of the titles he saw were ones he had never read before, making him wish he could immediately pick up a book and devour it. However, Chen Shihao trusted Liu Xueqing; if she recommended a good book, it must be a good book. Moreover, he could always come back to read a good book after finishing it, as he had his identification and could do so at any time. Therefore, Chen Shihao allowed Liu Xueqing to lead him forward.

Liu Xue Ning, gazing at Chen Shi Hao as he ate, smiled with a hint of affection: "Seeing you enjoy your meal so much makes my appetite quite large as well." Saying this, she took two bites and finished half a tomato.

The short man busily flattered, "The boss is truly brilliant; there is no one who does not bow their noble head beneath this great red bill!" Meanwhile, the fat man discreetly curled his lip, clearly believing that this boss was a spendthrift, who, in order to get close to beautiful women, would casually throw away several thousand yuan, which was simply too wasteful

At this moment, Liu Xue Ning's question further dispelled her doubts: "Xiao Shu, are you free later? How about accompanying me to the library?"

Navigating through a crowd of people sitting in the aisles reading, Liu Xue Ning stopped beside a bookshelf, briefly scanned her surroundings, and directly pulled out a certain book from the pile. Without even looking, she tossed it to Chen Shi Hao and then continued to drag him over hill and dale. After nearly an hour of effort, Liu Xue Ning finally led Chen Shi Hao towards a vacant corner of the wall, by which time Chen Shi Hao was already holding around 10 books.

Her name is Liu Xue Ning, she is 17 years old, with a height of 165 cm, born on September 18. Her weight and measurements are not disclosed. If there are no unforeseen circumstances after the start of school, she will be attending Class 1 of Year 2. Her favorite flower is the lotus, she does not enjoy lively gatherings, and she likes reading. There are no rumors of a boyfriend, but she is undoubtedly the top school beauty at Nankai High School, excelling in academics, sports, talents, appearance, and background. It is said that her background is that of the only daughter of a high-ranking official in the capital, and it is rumored that even doctoral students from Nankai pretend to be teaching assistants to curry favor with her, making her the most difficult school beauty to win over among all.

With a decision made, Deng Shuyu excitedly ran into the room. She couldn't quite understand why she was targeting Chen Shihao. Perhaps it was because that guy, despite appearing weak and easy to bully, exuded a kind of arrogance that was distasteful, or maybe it was his petty and nagging behavior that annoyed her. Or perhaps it was simply that she found him unpleasant to look at. If she had to give a reason, it would be that their personalities clashed. However, none of this really mattered; after all, she had come out to study to try various things, and having an adversarial target was not a bad thing. Otherwise, wouldn't life be rather dull?

The three frightened thugs, not daring to make a sound, hurriedly fled the scene

Zhou Ling smiled and waved her hand to interrupt Chen Shihao's apology: "It's fine, the more you apologize, the more uncomfortable I feel. Let's just pretend this never happened, shall we?"

Upon hearing this, the tall one, the short one, and the fat one all nodded vigorously. Seeing that they understood each other, Chen Shihao released his hand, sat back down, and picked up his book, surprisingly immersing himself in the content once again with great speed

Liu Xue Ning had been observing this for a while, carefully watching Chen Shi Hao. She noticed that he was indeed completely absorbed in his books, which made her smile sweetly. What a cute little guy! It was fascinating to see such a contrasting personality emerge when he was so focused. It was truly interesting and made her look forward to what would come next

Hello, what is this? You have been my followers for many years, and you don't even consider this small matter for yourselves. Do I still need to act like the boss? If we are brothers, let's not mention this again in the future!" The tall man waved his hand grandly, seeing the two of them looking grateful, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. The methods taught by my father are truly effective, instantly making them devoted to this young master.

His two lackeys hurriedly stepped forward to help, but unfortunately, the fat one was pinned to the ground by Chen Shihao and could not move, while the short one was similarly held by the throat and was equally immobile. It was unclear what was happening, but despite their excruciating pain, these three fellows still managed to stifle their cries for help.

Well, let's wait for a while, after all, he is currently handling all the work, and everyone has a good impression of him. It is better to quietly wait for an opportunity, preferably to find his weakness as leverage, so that we can have an obedient super worker, and I won't have to cook, clean, or do laundry anymore.

Seeing Liu Xue Ning smiling quietly at him, Chen Shi Hao immediately nodded: "I will accompany Sister Xue to the library"

Hmm. Chen Shihua nodded vigorously, aware that he might have offended this big sister. He secretly resolved that from now on, he should treat any strange occurrences with a calm demeanor. After all, a big city is not like a small village; what is astonishing in the countryside is already commonplace in the eyes of city dwellers. If he were to be easily startled by unfamiliar sights and inadvertently offend someone, it would be quite awkward. After all, a big city is not like a small village; what is astonishing in the countryside is already commonplace in the eyes of city dwellers. If he were to be easily startled by unfamiliar sights and inadvertently offend someone, it would be quite awkward.

Noticing Chen Shihau's expression, Zhou Ling smiled gracefully and said, "What's wrong? Do you think it's strange that I'm eating so much meat so early in the morning?"

Hearing this, Chen Shihao felt it resembled the teachings of a teacher. He couldn't help but scratch the back of his head and explained awkwardly, "Sister Xue, I do not regard acquiring knowledge as the fundamental means to improve my scores; I simply wish to know more about literature."

Seeing the hesitant expression on Chen Shihao's face, Liu Xue Ning asked, "What’s the matter, do you have something to say?" Meanwhile, unable to bear it any longer, Deng Shuyu directly slapped Chen Shihao on the shoulder, saying, "You guy, are you even a man? Why are you being so wishy-washy about everything? Just say what you need to say more straightforwardly; it’s really annoying to watch!"

Indeed, it is precisely because that guy has a feminine appearance that everyone subconsciously assumes he is a girl, which is why they let their guard down around him. Hmph, you may deceive others, but you cannot fool me! Watch as I expose the true nature of this despicable boy!

As Chen Shihao unconsciously quickened his pace, it seemed as though he was leading Liu Xue Ning into the library. However, in the end, it was still Liu Xue Ning who had to guide him in obtaining a library card. Holding the card, Chen Shihao, with his eyes shining and captivated, stood in a daze as he gazed at the rows of densely packed bookshelves in the distance

Hehe, we must thank the young master for his help, otherwise how could we have achieved such grades to enter Nankai High School? The short one nudged the chubby one, and the two of them expressed their gratitude to the tall one with flattering smiles

Chen Shihao also nodded busily, while Zhou Ling cast a gentle glance over the crowd, turning to leave with a powerful presence, reminiscent of a princess on a royal outing. Chen Shihao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, only to find that Deng Shuyu was also lazily half-reclining on the sofa watching television, when just a moment ago she had been sitting very upright.

Liu Xue Ning naturally sensed the emotions emanating from Chen Shi Hao, and with a gentle smile, she took out a handkerchief and casually wiped away the sweat that had emerged from him due to pushing through the crowded people. Then she picked up a book, pointed to another book, and began to silently flip through them. What was strange, however, was that while Chen Shi Hao was drenched in sweat behind her, Liu Xue Ning, who was leading the way in front, remained completely dry.

This city library truly deserves its reputation as one of the largest libraries in the country. Every area, whether it is the reading room or the corridor, is filled with people. What is particularly satisfying is that in this library, even those who would normally dare to whisper during meetings led by superiors outside, strictly adhere to the library rules. There is not a whisper to be heard, only the rustling of pages being turned and the sound of pens moving.

Hehe, that's right, that's right. As expected of the one who knows everything. It's worth it for me to pay a high price to get the three of us admitted to Nankai High School. Just this school beauty alone is a profit!

Arriving at the corner, Liu Xue Ning adjusted her skirt and sat down against the wall with her legs curled up. She then looked at Chen Shi Hao, gesturing towards the space beside her feet. Chen Shi Hao understood that this was an invitation for him to sit next to her, and without hesitation, he quickly crossed his legs and sat down. When they first met yesterday, he had some youthful feelings towards this gentle senior who was only a year older than him. However, after spending time together today, he inexplicably felt the care of an elder, and those youthful feelings had mysteriously vanished, replaced instead by a sense of dependence akin to that of a child relying on an elder.

Unfortunately, beautiful things are loved by all. The intentions of these three individuals are clear to the discerning. The male readers along this path deliberately refuse to give way, causing the three individuals to stare at people for a while, and after breaking a sweat, they can only helplessly retreat to an empty space to rest temporarily

Liu Xuenin smiled slightly, knowing that Deng Shuyu's goal was to have her borrow a few more books for Chen Shihao, who was tasked with carrying them back. However, she said nothing, merely nodded and turned to leave. Chen Shihao truly followed closely behind, carrying a large stack of books like a laborer.

Liu Xue Ning, who had just taken off her apron, smiled at Chen Shi Hao and said, "Come over for breakfast." Once Chen Shi Hao was seated, he realized that Liu Xue Ning, a staunch vegetarian, had only a cup of soy milk, a steamed bun, and a tomato for her meal. Noticing Chen Shi Hao's hesitation, Liu Xue Ning smiled and said, "You can finish the rest; a man should eat more."

Unlike Deng Shuyu's conjecture, Chen Shihao hardly spoke at all. In contrast, Liu Xue Ning acted like a guide, occasionally introducing the surrounding environment, the bus schedules, and other common knowledge.

Alright, wait for me to organize the books. Liu Xue Ning stood up and returned to her room. As she followed Deng Shu Yu up the stairs, she turned her head to glance at Chen Shi Hao, who was tidying the dining table. Her brows furrowed in confusion. It was truly strange; what could possibly make this slender, girl-like individual so popular?

So cheap?! Chen Shihao's eyes lit up; for just 100 yuan, he could access books freely for an entire year. It was truly too inexpensive! At this moment, for Chen Shihao, the value of 100 yuan paled in comparison to the allure of countless books.

Chen Shihao was momentarily taken aback; this Xue Jie gave off a truly strange impression, as if she were a much older elder, even though she was only one year his senior. Well, remain calm; in a big city, anything can happen, and there is no need to make a fuss. Chen Shihao quickly suppressed the odd feeling.

At this moment, Chen Shihao's eyes were completely indifferent, revealing an extreme sense of disgust. He casually pulled the tall man closer and, leaning in to his ear with a cold tone, said: "Do you know what I hate the most?" Feeling breathless, the tall man hurriedly shook his head while desperately trying to pry Chen Shihao's hand away. Chen Shihao gently squeezed, nearly making the tall man's tongue stick out, before continuing coldly: "It's when someone disturbs me while I'm reading. So, do you know what to do?"

Indeed, this peculiar feeling only circled around Chen Shihau's pure mind before vanishing. Alone in a foreign land, he actually enjoyed this sense of dependence. This is why he naturally sat close to Liu Xue Ning at this moment, feeling as if he were reading beside an elder, completely unaware that the other person was merely a beautiful woman one year his senior.

Chen Shihao nodded hesitantly, while Zhou Ling gave a slightly helpless smile and said, "Actually, I don't want to either; it's just that my appetite is so strong that there's really no way around it."

Gao Ge has developed a habit of careful consideration before taking action. He first assessed Chen Shihau, noting that he appeared to be a middle school student. Observing his attire, which resembled that of someone from the countryside, Gao Ge speculated that he was likely a middle school boy who had come to the city to study during the holiday. Due to the vast difference in their social backgrounds compared to Liu Xue Ning, he did not consider any relationship between them, merely assuming it was a coincidence that they were sitting together.

It was unclear whether it was their luck or something else, but a short boy with somewhat lewd features keenly spotted Liu Xue Ning sitting in the corner. He couldn't help but pull a somewhat tall and handsome man beside him. The man was about to curse, but upon realizing where they were, he clenched his teeth and glared at the short boy. The short boy smiled obsequiously and pointed at Liu Xue Ning. The tall man immediately lit up, patted the short boy on the shoulder in approval, and then slapped the flabby waist of a chubby man beside him. With a toss of his head, the three standard ruffians made their way toward Liu Xue Ning.

Chen Shihao's eyes immediately radiated a fiery light. The collection of books in his hometown school and the inventory of the bookstore had all been read by him, often leaving him distressed over the inability to find new books. Yet now, before him stood a super library with over 100 million books! He truly wished he could swallow the entire building of the library at once and then digest it slowly

The large red banknotes on m.hetushu.com are indeed unmatched in the world; throwing one out can secure a position ahead. This passage accommodates only about ten people, and before the banknotes are exhausted, three tall individuals have already stood in front of Liu Xue Ning

Originally intending to sit next to Liu Xue Ning, he frowned. On either side of Liu Xue Ning were walls; one side was a pile of books, and the other side was a slender young man. Clearly, the idea of the pile was Liu Xue Ning's, and it was not a good idea, so the only option left was to consider the idea of the young man in front of him

Well, as long as you have such thoughts. Liu Xue Ning smiled and nodded: "If you trust me, I can recommend a few literary books for your reference." Seeing Chen Shi Hao nodding without hesitation, she felt a bit touched for some reason. Noticing this feeling, Liu Xue Ning glanced at Chen Shi Hao, who was closely following her, with a smile. He really is a somewhat naive little guy, trusting a stranger he has known for less than two days, not afraid of being sold out and even helping to count the money.

Moreover, it is not only Sister Zhou Ling who feels this way; Sister Li Xin, who considers herself the elder sister among men, Sister Ling Han, the heavy drinker, and Sister Liu Xue Ning, who remains unflustered in any situation, all recognize this guy at first sight, and they seem quite familiar with him. Is this guy truly so trustworthy that everyone feels at ease? Is he even worthy of everyone setting aside their habit of ignoring unfamiliar men?

Liu Xue Ning clearly enjoyed the atmosphere, turning her head to glance at Chen Shi Hao. Seeing his face filled with surprise as he looked around in awe, she couldn't help but smile, reaching out to take his hand, and they continued walking together hand in hand

"Cut it out! What do you think this is? I've taken care of it for you. I will wake up Sister Han, the drunkard, at 9 o'clock for breakfast!" Deng Shuyu immediately took charge.

Let's go. As long as you pay an annual fee of 100 yuan, you can access the library freely throughout the year and borrow up to 10 books each time," Liu Xue Ning said with a smile

"Tsk, just two eggs, three steamed buns, and a cup of soy milk, and you think you can become a man?! You'd need at least double that amount to be close, look at your bony frame!" Deng Shuyu unceremoniously belittled Chen Shihao, and with a bit of malice, pinched his shoulder. Of course, this pinch surprised her with the sensation; it didn't feel like pinching skin over bones, but rather solid muscle. However, considering he came from the countryside, it's quite normal for rural kids to have strong muscles from working on the farm. Moreover, she pinched Chen Shihao's shoulder again, and this time, she was still astonished by the feeling; it was not the sensation of skin over bones, but rather that of firm muscle. But then again, he was from the countryside, and it's very normal for rural children to have a bit of muscle from their labor.

When Chen Shihao felt guilty and wanted to explain something, Deng Shuyu had already jumped out and shouted: "Sister Ling, you don't need to pay attention to this ignorant guy! A physique like yours, where you can eat as much as you want without gaining weight, is what we all envy the most. You can indulge in food without the fear of getting fat; it's truly something we can only envy!" While saying this, she glared fiercely at Chen Shihao.

Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, Chen Shihao completely ignored the tall individual, while Liu Xueqing merely glanced up before refocusing on her book. The tall individual, feeling disregarded, was particularly provoked by Liu Xueqing's indifferent gaze, which made him flush with anger as he seized Chen Shihao's hair and growled fiercely, "Kid, don't push your luck..." His words were cut short as Chen Shihao's iron grip tightened around his neck.

This is the largest municipal library in Heyuan City, and it is also the largest public library in the country, second only to the National Library of Kyoto. It covers an area of over 100,000 square meters, with fifteen library zones, thirteen of which are open to the public. The collection exceeds one hundred million volumes, and this number is constantly increasing, making it impossible to determine an exact figure.

Then let's go Liu Xue Ning said to Deng Shu Yu Deng Shu Yu waved her hand with a chuckle and said Take your time coming back no need to rush pick out a few more books after all we can handle lunch casually

Even if Chen Shihao is still immature, he knows that this is forcing him to apologize. Feeling guilty, he hurriedly lowered his head and said: "I am sorry, Linghe * Tu * Shujie, I was just because ... ... "

Liu Xue Ning firmly pulled Chen Shi Hao along according to her will, confident that the books she recommended were undoubtedly the essence of literature. Since there were delicacies to enjoy, why settle for meager fare? Therefore, she completely disregarded Chen Shi Hao's desire to stop. Fortunately, Chen Shi Hao was very obedient; with a slight movement of her wrist, he followed closely behind. Otherwise, what kind of situation would it be if they were to tug and pull at each other?

Oh, appreciating literature to cultivate one's character is indeed a good choice, but if one equates learning knowledge with scores, that would be a misguided choice Liu Xue Ning advised

The tall individual clearly has a high opinion of himself. Upon hearing Liu Xue Ning's age, he chuckled and said: "I am 18 years old, a perfect match indeed. 165 cm? I am 175 cm, also a great match. September 18? Oh, I am August 18, what a perfect match! Measurements unknown? Excellent, such secrets can only be known by me! Lotus? So unique, I like it. Roses are indeed clichéd. When her birthday comes, I will definitely send her a truckload of lotuses to impress her! Reading? Oh, I like that too, otherwise we wouldn't have met in the library. We are truly fated. Naturally, she is the most beautiful girl at Nankai University. Only such a super beauty, the only daughter of high-ranking officials, is the best match for me! Hmph, those with doctorates really have no shame, old and rough-skinned yet still want to pursue young beauties? They don't even consider how much one earns in a month! Who can support such a well-connected and talented super beauty? Only someone like me, a young and promising wealthy patron, can win her heart!"

Damn it, these guys are doing it on purpose, not letting anyone through!" The tall one cursed in a very low voice, while the short one did not respond but instead boasted as if presenting a treasure: "What do you think, young master? I wasn't wrong when I said that the school beauty of Nankai High School is absolutely stunning, right?"

Thank you, then I will go to work. Zhou Ling took the lunch box, stood up gracefully, and nodded to everyone as she spoke. Deng Shuyu immediately called out: "Sister Ling, goodbye!"

"Well, hurry up and tell me, I still don't know her name and class," said the tall one, immediately anxious.

"Oh dear, Xuejie, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten. I have an appointment to chat with an online friend at 9 o'clock, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten up so early. I'm sorry, I can't accompany you, but could you please help me return the book?" Deng Shuyu clasped her hands together and looked at Liu Xueqing with a flattering expression.

Watching Chen Shihao's retreating figure, Deng Shuyu closed the door with a hint of satisfaction. She had specifically returned all the books borrowed from the library at once, intending to make Chen Shihao exert himself a little. As for whether sparks would fly between Chen Shihao and Liu Xueqing when they went out alone, Deng Shuyu dismissed such talk as nonsense. Who is Liu Xueqing? The campus belle of Nankai High School, pursued by many seniors from Nankai University, yet she treats these outstanding individuals as ordinary people. Despite her friendly demeanor towards everyone, only a few can truly catch her eye. Even someone as exceptionally intelligent and beautiful as herself had to live with Liu Xueqing for over a year to gain her recognition. As for that Chen Shihao, humph, he is merely a laborer!

Seeing Chen Shihao's drooling expression, Liu Xue Ning smiled sweetly, her gaze towards him becoming even gentler. Such a little book lover, so well-behaved and obedient, truly makes it impossible not to feel affection for him

Regarding the tall person's narcissistic remarks, the overweight individual’s face trembled incessantly. Despite being continuously elbowed by the short person, he managed to maintain his composure. Suddenly, the tall individual recalled a brilliant idea, pulled out a large wallet from his pocket, and brandished a stack of bright red bills, proudly stating: "Hey, if they won’t make way, let’s use this to make them do so!"

After careful consideration, the tall individual directly patted Chen Shihao on the shoulder with the remaining cash in hand, lowering his voice in a threatening manner and said: "Kid, take the money and go wherever you want, you're blocking my position!"