Paper Lover At Old Town Bookstore Chapter 15

She is so good

Only a narrow partition separated our workstations, and Xu Xingruo’s voice always drifted over without obstruction, carrying her unique crispness. It was like a small pebble, constantly splashing circles of lighthearted ripples into my tightly wound work rhythm.

“Qiusheng, Qiusheng! You have to see Sister Zhang from Administration’s new hairstyle!” She lowered her voice, gently nudging my elbow with hers, her bright eyes pointing diagonally forward. “Doesn’t it look like she’s wearing a black dandelion on her head? It looks like it could float away with a gust of wind!”

I followed her gaze and couldn’t help but curve my lips into a smile. Sister Zhang had indeed gotten a fluffy perm, a stark contrast to her usual capable style.

Seeing me smile, Xu Xingruo couldn’t hold back her own amusement. Her shoulders shook as she secretly chuckled, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, afraid of being discovered.

“Keep your voice down,” I turned my head, placing a fingertip against my lips to remind her, yet I couldn’t help but be amused by her expression. “Be careful, Zhang Biling might hear you.”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” She stuck out her tongue, her eyes full of mischief. “I’m just telling the truth! Besides, yesterday she said my ponytail was too casual, hmph.”

As she spoke, she reached up and tugged at her low ponytail. Her dark hair slipped through her fingertips, carrying a soft sheen. I looked at her pouting expression, like a slightly annoyed kitten, and my heart melted completely. Over the past year, I had grown accustomed to the backstabbing and decisiveness of the workplace, but in her constant stream of complaints, I rediscovered a long-lost sense of ease.

During work breaks, she always liked to lean over and discuss all sorts of trivial matters with me. One moment she would complain that the soy milk at the breakfast shop downstairs was getting weaker, the next she would excitedly share a niche bubble tea shop she had discovered, and then she would frown and gripe about a certain colleague in the project team who was dragging their feet.

“Do you think he’s doing it on purpose?” She rested her chin on her hand, her large almond eyes narrowing slightly, filled with indignation. “The task assigned yesterday, he clearly promised to submit it today, but just now he said he forgot and wants me to help him catch up! Why should I?”

I paused my work, looking at her puffed-up cheeks, and patiently listened to her vent. When she spoke, her pace was quick, and her hands would unconsciously gesture. All her emotions were written on her face, straightforward and adorable.

“Don’t be angry,” I handed her a mint candy. “If it’s really a problem, next time we assign tasks, we can talk to the team leader together and clearly define the time milestones.”

“Oh, right!” Her eyes lit up. She immediately unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. The coolness of the mint made her wrinkle her nose. “Qiusheng, you’re so smart! I was so busy being angry just now that I didn’t think of that solution.”

Her trust was undisguised, and the reliance in her eyes sent a warm current through my heart. I watched her lower her head, diligently taking notes, her long eyelashes casting shallow shadows beneath her eyelids. I thought silently: This is good. This vibrant, emotional Xu Xingruo, who can complain without restraint, is who she ought to be.

Once, we worked overtime together to rush a project proposal. It was late at night, and only the two of us were left in the office area. She rubbed her tired eyes and let out a huge yawn, her voice slightly nasal. “Qiusheng, I’m so hungry. I should have bought some fried chicken before leaving work.”

“I have cookies in my drawer,” I got up and retrieved a box of chocolate cookies, handing them to her. “Have these to tide you over. When we finish, I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.”

“Wow! That’s great!” Her eyes instantly brightened. She immediately tore open the package, grabbed a cookie, and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a feeding squirrel. “These cookies are super delicious! I used to love them too, but I forgot where I bought them later.”

“If you like them, I’ll buy a few more boxes next time and keep them here.” I watched her satisfied expression, and the corners of my mouth unconsciously lifted.

While eating the cookies, she complained to me about the difficult parts of the proposal. “Do you think this client is too picky? They want creativity and they want to save money. Where are you going to find such a good deal?”

“It is a bit hard to balance,” I nodded, looking at the computer screen with her. “But we can try adjusting the proposal structure, focusing on the results they care about most, and then detailing the budget part. Maybe that will work.”

We huddled in front of the computer, discussing and revising. She occasionally proposed some wild, imaginative ideas. Although some were impractical, they always brought me new inspiration. I, in turn, helped her organize the logic and fill in the details. In the late-night office, the only sounds were the tapping of keyboards and our occasional conversations, creating a warm and tacit understanding.

By the time we finished the overtime, the sky was already faintly bright. We walked out of the company building, and the cool morning breeze hit our faces, carrying a fresh scent. Xu Xingruo stretched widely, her long hair scattering with the movement, the dark strands gently floating in the wind.

“Finally done!” She turned to me, her face showing a tired but satisfied smile. “Qiusheng, thank you for staying late with me and for the cookies.”

“I should be thanking you,” I looked at her, my eyes full of sincerity. “Working with you is very enjoyable.”

She paused for a moment, then her cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but turn up. “Me too.”

In the faint morning light, her profile was bathed in a soft halo. Her makeup-free face was clean and beautiful, and the light in her eyes was brighter than the dawn. I looked at her, feeling utterly certain: This time, I must protect this beauty, allowing her to always smile so freely, complain without reservation, and forever remain the vibrant, bright Xu Xingruo.