Shhhhck! 

The screen door of The Bookstore slid open, and in peeked a head. It was flushed red, belonging to a man almost as winded as he was excited. 

Tao Hua's shoulders rose just as quickly as they fell, but that exhaustion didn't cancel out his excitement—if stuck firmly to this enthusiastic man like sap on a tree! 

From one side of the shop to the other, his peach-coloured eyes scanned with an overwhelming sensation, drenched in misty nostalgia. 

At every edge stood walls of books, towering heads taller than the average man. Each shelf was a disaster of shoved-in scrolls, messily piled books, and papers scattered, nearly falling off the wooden edge. 

Sure, this place had seen better days, what with the dingy smell fluttering through the sparkling dust and the cobwebs tucked in each nook and cranny. 

But that was fine!

This place, only ever magical to Tao Hua, had a subtle and rustic charm incomparable to any lavishly decorated estate. He'd choose this over that in a heartbeat. 

With a step into that dimly lit space, Tao Hua rushed past the few solitary tables, but not without acknowledging the shopkeeper who lazily manned the shop. 

This man was sat on the other side of the shop, behind a rickety desk. He was flipping between the same two pages, back and forth, before glancing up to find a familiar man smiling at him. 

In return, the shopkeeper returned the smile, but it wasn't the kind of smile that was warm nor was it welcoming. 

This one was satisfied. 

Satisfied in knowing that the one now approaching the shelves furthest from him and the door was none other than his meal ticket. The only person capable of keeping that little bookstore running in a town of people illiterate. 

But once their knowing exchange of nods and smiles was over, the shopkeeper simply returned to his oh-so-exciting activity of "back and forth."

Therefore, just like the man behind the desk, Tao Hua's job was also done and their exchange was complete. It was transactional, as were most non-aggressive interactions Tao Hua had in Siyue Town. 

He dashed to the shelves next to a peculiar location, placing his "book" on a stacked pile that sat upon an old quilt. He turned that book just enough, so it stood out, and to ensure he'd remember it before leaving. 

This small corner of the bookstore was unlike any other in that small shop. It was darker, supported solely by a lamp on its last legs, and shadowed by the rays of sun shining in from the windows above. It painted grid-like patterns across the wrinkled quilt, torn and frayed at the edges. 

To Tao Hua, however? This allergy-ridden space was a utopia of adventures calling his name. So, he inhaled deeply, gathering small glimmers of dust, and held it proudly. And when he couldn't hold it anymore, he'd exhale all that pent-up excitement with one long, heavy breath. 

"Finally!" he whispered with a smile so wide it nearly broke his cheeks. See, this small sanctuary was what Tao Hua called "The Land Lost in Time." 

Bookworms rejoice. 

It was so dear to this man, and served as his only escape from his daily life as "Most disliked person in Siyue Town." 

Maybe even the world. Who knew. 

But he was just thankful the shopkeeper didn't hate him enough not to let him have this space. Even if it was transactional, it was more than Tao Hua was ever granted—so of course he'd take it! 

He was just about to crouch on that mat when he froze midway, hand extending out toward the pile of books. 

Shhhhhhhhhckkkk. 

The door slid open…again? 

That never happened. 

This time, it was done with ease, not nearly as eager as Tao Hua was when arriving. And when it clicked shut, the echo of confident steps resounded in that quaint bookstore. 

In his half-crouched position, he tried to manoeuvre himself around, hobbling like a fat bird in what was a piss-poor attempt at turning. 

To his dismay, Tao Hua fell and smashed his knee into the floorboards. Given their decrepit state, even his skinny frame was enough to send it through the ground. 

Clamping his eyes shut, he prostrated forward and whimpered through pain, but kept his composure enough not to dramatically fall onto his side. Fuck it hurt! 

"You're not going to check on him?" asked the market-street-anomaly of a man. 

"Nah. Ignore him, he's a little odd," said the shopkeeper, waving off Tao Hua antics as just another Tuesday. However, even this man couldn't quite mask the sound of shock hidden under his nonchalance. "Welcome, welcome. Looking for anything?" 

When Tao Hua finally glanced over at the two, he saw that the shopkeeper was focused on the customer, but the customer wasn't focused on him. He stood in front of that dusty desk, brows furrowed, and white eyes fallen on Tao Hua. 

The two of them stared for what felt like an eternity. One crouched pitifully on the ground, hugging his own knee, and the other stood tall. 

Tao Hua's eyes widened the longer the stand off…er, well, that wasn't right. The stand-off-while-one-cried-on-the-ground. Anyway, they stayed that way until Tao Hua whipped his head away, tracing the frays of thread on that quilt. 

The sword man! From the street! That man! Woah… he thought, feeling his temperature rise for some ungodly reason. Why…why is he here?

Though for most, it wouldn't bother them. But Tao Hua couldn't let it go—no one ever, EVER, visited The Bookstore. This was a mystery worth solving. 

And perhaps also the man…something about him intrigued Tao Hua unknowingly. 

Puckering his lips, Tao Hua's eyebrows pinched as he tried to figure it out. Alas, he couldn't, so he went on to his second plan. He reached for a nearby scroll, and with great difficulty, pushed himself up and off that disgusting ground. 

With a few swipes, he was ready for action! Unwinding that scroll, he placed it before his face, covering half of it enough for his eyes to peek over. 

If it looked like he was reading, then no one could accuse him of eavesdropping, right? 

From the shopkeeper's bright smile to the man's back, Tao Hua carefully watched as he picked up a few books, sifting through them. The conversation the two had faded in and out—however, this wasn't due to the proximity or anything. 

Tao Hua simply found himself enamoured with this stranger. The way he handled each book, treating them carefully…it was oddly gentle. Now, Tao Hua couldn't quite see his expression, but this didn't stop his curiosity from imagining it any. 

And that imagination questioned if this mysterious man was motherly to books as Tao Hua. 

"No…" The man carefully placed the books onto the desk. "That's not what I'm looking for." 

"My deepest apologies, Young Master! How about these?" 

Tao Hua watched as the man took the other options into his hand, and just as he did, his shoulders deflated. Even fallen, they were broader and more pronounced than any Tao Hua had seen in his life. They weren't overly buff…but they did remind him of the qualities of the princes in his book. 

Subconsciously, he reached for his own shoulder, pinching it amid the thought. They weren't alike. For example, Tao Hua's was bony and had little to no definition. 

"None of these work. Do you have any idea what I'm even looking for?" the man said, in a voice both smooth and velvety, yet partially annoyed. It was like music to Tao Hua's ears in a sea of sirens who couldn't sing. "Do any of you in this place even know what I'm talking about?" 

"Yes!" the shopkeeper lied with enthusiasm. "That I do, Young Master! Please do forgive me. You're looking for, uh…mm…that thing. Yes, sir, that thing!" 

 I wonder what he's looking for—

Tap.

Tap.

Tatatattaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. 

Midst the thoughts and shoulder squeeze, Tao Hua completely forgot he was even hiding behind a scroll—one that needed two hands for support. 

Therefore, it rolled across the ground, revealing every passage on its wayward journey. And it would wander until there was no more paper to offer, slamming against the man's boot. 

Stiffening, Tao Hua's eyes widened as he watched that scroll unravel, pairing his anxiety with the whisper of the perfect announcement of I fucked up!

"Shit!" 

Chapter end.