Chapter 23: Schools of Thought
Every morning at 7 o'clock, Xia Zuo arrived at the library in the checkpoint after a congeniality check. His handsome face carried an air of anticipation and a smile, and by 9 o'clock in the evening, he'd depart, wearing a satisfied expression.
The small cottage gifted upon his registration in Rosac was now his sole residence.
The circus performed for six consecutive days in Rosac City, but their income plummeted after losing the fire-breather.
Audrey encountered both Fan Er Si and Xia Zuo, the two runaway fire-breathers. Learning from the "painful" experience, she directly issued a bounty through the Warrior Guild, offering points as rewards to recruit stable fire-breathers for the long term.
In the library at dawn—
Xia Zuo sat by the window at a desk, finishing the last bite of his white bread.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, casting changing shadows in the morning light upon the table.
"I wonder where Big Sis has gone and if she's met that new fire-breather. Are they getting along well?"
"Has Sneck's group received my gift? I saved more than 50 silver coins under the guise of a universal detox potion, and all that money is with Audrey."
"Evenly divided, that's at least 10 silver coins per person. Not a small sum. What excuse should I give to Sneck's group?"
"Hah, let Audrey worry about it."
Xia Zuo withdrew his gaze from the window and scanned the bookshelves, seeking an intriguing read.
【Mental】1.5→1.8
Reading six books in seven days increased his mental attribute by 0.3. Each book provided 0.05 mental attribute, more than twice the usual books sold in ordinary stores.
The checkpoint provided three meals a day for free. The upstairs dorms were not yet furnished, so he had to temporarily stay in the crude cottage.
With no worries about making a living, he could immerse himself entirely in reading, rapidly boosting his mental attribute.
However, not everyone was as carefree as Xia Zuo.
Although the harvest season was still a few days away, some professions had already become busy.
Farmers brought iron tools like hoes, rakes, and sickles to the blacksmith for refurbishment.
Moben Liley, the blacksmith's son, had only appeared once after passing the checkpoint. He frowned at the bookshelf, ultimately choosing to go back and assist his old man.
Keli Muller, the miller's daughter, borrowed a few books to read at home while also taking care of their windmills and watermills.
After the harvest, the mill's granary would be filled with grain. The wheels needed to turn continuously, requiring prior maintenance.
Xia Zuo glanced at the wall clock.
It was almost time.
*Creak*
The library door was gently pushed open and then quietly closed.
Xia Zuo looked up, meeting the gaze of a black-haired girl.
This girl, faintly smelling of pine resin, came to the library at the same time every day, not for reading or finding a quiet place to nap but to sit with a book, stealing glances at the only male presence in the library.
"Do we know each other?"
Xia Zuo felt a bit weary of continuous reading and wanted to chat with someone. Wilson was working in the front hall, and this girl seemed genuinely interested, making her a good conversation partner.
"Ah..."
The black-haired girl didn't expect the sudden question. She shivered like a startled rabbit, then lowered her head and replied softly, "Yes, we do."
Xia Zuo furrowed his brow. Was this the childhood friend from this body? Mutual affection between the two youngsters?
He cast the spell of probing once again, but the girl's name remained a question mark.
The black-haired girl sat opposite Xia Zuo, cupping her face in her hands, gazing at him dreamily.
"I know you, but you don't know me. Like the wind teasing the leaves, then swiftly departing."
An... artistic girl?
Xia Zuo was taken aback.
A blush tinted the black-haired girl's cheeks. Summoning courage, she met his eyes.
"I'm Anju, an artist. Your fire-breathing performance had a distant charm that lingered with me after watching."
Phew...
Xia Zuo inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. So, she's a little fangirl; he thought he was being confessed to.
"Well, no need to forget it. We're classmates now, plenty of opportunities for you to watch the performance."
After speaking, Xia Zuo wanted to smack himself.
He was inexplicably influenced by her, unexpectedly veering into an artistic tone and inadvertently flirting a bit.
"I have a few pieces I'd like you to see. Wait a moment; I'll go get them."
Anju's pink cheeks turned crimson. Taking small, hurried steps, she ran to the door, leaving Xia Zuo somewhat bewildered in the library.
Ten minutes later—
Anju returned panting, laying out three oil paintings on the table.
The first depicted Xia Zuo standing in a beam of light, spewing white flames. Parchment paper yellowed, emphasizing sunlight and flames.
In the second painting, Xia Zuo breathed out purple flames while the clown sister leaped in the air. The other circus members were outlined with simple lines around them.
The third painting showed Xia Zuo and others bowing to the audience. Audrey and the rest were clearly visible.
Tears welled in Xia Zuo's eyes. He regretted not bidding farewell to the circus troupe. It was because he couldn't bear such tearful scenes.
"Cough."
Xia Zuo restrained his tears and pointed at the third painting. "Can I buy this one?"
"They're gifts from me to you. Do you like them? I've always felt a unique charm about you. What others see as dangerous flames seems to be like an old friend to you, and you get along so harmoniously."
Anju stood beside him, speaking gently, with faint dimples on both sides of her mouth.
"Thank you, I really like them."
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