Paper Lover At Old Town Bookstore Chapter 2

Thankfully, it was just a dream

The 4 AM alarm hadn’t gone off, yet I suddenly shot up in bed. The sweat on my back had soaked my pajamas, sticking to my skin uncomfortably. My heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, pounding wildly, and even my breathing was a rapid tremor.

I stared at the blurry light on the ceiling, taking a long time to realize that everything just now was a dream.

In the dream was Xu Xingruo. She was the protagonist of the workplace novel I had been staying up late to read—the girl who always wore a cheerful smile, and who, even when challenged by clients or ostracized by colleagues, could stand tall and say, “It’s no big deal.”

But in the dream, the light in her eyes was gone. She wore the apricot dress I had read about in the book, standing on the rooftop of a tall building, the wind whipping her hair into disarray. She turned and looked at me, her eyes filled with despair. She mumbled, “I took the wrong path, and I trusted the wrong person,” before leaping down.

In the dream, I screamed for her heartbreakingly, trying to grab her hand, but I touched nothing. I could only watch helplessly as she disappeared from view. That feeling of powerlessness was too real, so real that my fingertips still tingled when I recalled the scene.

I raised a hand to wipe my forehead; it was slick with cold sweat. I got up and fumbled for my phone. The moment the screen lit up, the numbers “4:00” stung my eyes.

The room was silent, save for my heavy breathing and the occasional chirp of birds outside the window.

I wasn’t like this before.

Before reading this novel, I was an introverted person who would blush even when talking to strangers. When I first joined the company, I always sat in the furthest corner during department meetings. Even if I had good ideas, I didn’t dare speak up, afraid of being laughed at if I didn’t articulate them well.

When colleagues teased me for looking like a girl, I would just lower my head and stay silent, but inside, I felt an indescribable sense of grievance.

It wasn’t until last month that I stumbled upon this workplace novel featuring Xu Xingruo late one night.

She was so vibrant, like a beam of light crashing into my dull life. She would approach her superiors repeatedly to secure a project, never giving up even after multiple rejections; when colleagues gossiped about her behind her back, she would walk over openly and ask with a smile, “What are you saying about me? Why don’t you say it clearly to my face?”; when she encountered setbacks, she would buy herself an ice cream and tell herself, “Tomorrow is a new day.”

As I read, I felt infected by her spirit. I started trying to speak up in department meetings, even if my voice was still a little soft; when colleagues teased my appearance again, I would smile and reply, “Can’t help it, I was born this way,” instead of being flustered as before; when I encountered a problem I didn’t understand, I dared to ask a senior colleague instead of pondering over it alone for half a day.

Everyone around me said I had changed, becoming more cheerful and lively. Even Manager Lin smiled and said, “Qiusheng has so much more energy now. It’s like he’s a completely different person compared to before.”

Only I knew that all of this was because of Xu Xingruo. She was like my Spiritual Support, making me feel that even if I was introverted, even if my appearance was easily misunderstood, I could still live bravely and openly.

But the dream just now was too terrifying.

I threw off the covers and got out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cold floor. I walked to the desk and sat down. My phone screen was still lit, paused on the latest chapter of the novel—Xu Xingruo had just suffered a workplace betrayal. Her trusted partner had absconded with the project funds and shifted the blame onto her.

The book said she was now facing the risk of being fired.

No wonder I had such a dream. I had fallen asleep right after reading that part last night, and my subconscious was still worrying about her.

I picked up my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I scrolled down, wanting to see the subsequent plot, wanting to know if she would pull through. But after scrolling for several pages, there were no updates.

The anxiety welled up again. Her desperate eyes from the dream replayed in my mind repeatedly.

I walked to the window and pulled back the curtain slightly. It was still pitch black outside, with only the distant streetlights emitting a faint glow, illuminating a small patch of the road.

The night wind slipped through the gap, carrying a chill that made me shiver as it hit my sweaty back.

I suddenly felt a little afraid. I was afraid that Xu Xingruo would truly be crushed by reality, just like in the dream; I was also afraid that one day, I might encounter insurmountable difficulties like her, and then retreat into despair.

I pulled out my phone and opened the novel’s comment section.

Many readers were cheering for Xu Xingruo. Some said, “Xingruo will definitely get through this, she’s so strong,” and others said, “I hope the author is merciful and doesn’t let Xingruo suffer too much.”

Seeing these comments, my anxiety eased slightly.

Yes, Xu Xingruo is such a strong person; she won’t be easily defeated. Just like me, although I’m introverted, I am becoming braver little by little.

The ending in the dream was just a result of me worrying too much about her.

I returned to bed and lay down again, but sleep had abandoned me. The sweat on my back had dried, leaving a faint, sticky salt residue that was uncomfortable.

I lay with my eyes open, staring at the ceiling, my mind filled with Xu Xingruo’s story and my own two years of workplace experience.

From the timid newcomer who didn’t dare speak loudly to the Operations specialist who can now argue logically in a Cross-Department Meeting, I have truly grown a lot.

During this time, I also encountered misunderstandings, difficulties, and even thoughts of giving up. But every time I thought of Xu Xingruo, and the resilience she showed when facing setbacks, I found the courage to persevere again.

Perhaps this is the meaning of the novel. It allows us to see our own reflection in the stories of others and draw strength for growth.

I picked up my phone and sent a private message to the novel’s author: “Author, Xingruo will be okay, right? She is so good; she will definitely overcome this difficulty.” After sending the message, I put the phone aside and closed my eyes.

Although I was still a little worried, the panic in my heart had faded significantly.

I told myself that when dawn broke, the novel would probably be updated, and Xu Xingruo would surely figure out a solution. And I, like her, would bravely face every challenge in the workplace.

The sky outside the window gradually turned a pale gray. A new day was about to begin.

And I knew that no matter how terrifying the dream was, the real me would continue to walk forward resolutely, carrying the courage Xu Xingruo had given me.