One Life, One Incarnation, Beautiful Bones

22

Chapter 7.1 - Eighteen Prayer Beads (1)

These ancient library towers inevitably contained many stories.

This one that was before her now, she did not know how many people had come and gone through it or how many love stories it kept hidden inside. But this place was Jiangnan and that ancient library tower of the past that was held in her memory had once stood far away in the northwest regions. It had long ago returned to the dust.

Zhou Wenxing pulled out an old, long copper key and opened the lock.

Perhaps out of worry that Shi Yi was someone who had a need for cleanliness, as she pushed open the door, she explained to her that everyday this place was cleaned by a dedicated person so there would not be any dust. "Oh right, are you allergic to dust or any flowers or plants?"

Shi Yi shook her head.

"My big brother has allergies to dust as well as flowers and plants." Zhou Wenxing gave a low chuckle.

Shi Yi nodded. "Noted. Our home in the future will be completely dust free and we will not grow any plants."

Zhou Wenxing laughed, "His allergies aren't really that serious." She suddenly dropped her voice and whispered, as if she was siding with Shi Yi, "If you ever get in a fight with him, just make him smell some flowers and then small red bumps will pop up on his body. Not a lot of them, but it's especially comical to see."

Shi Yi seriously had doubts whether this girl in front of her was truly studying medicine. Even she knew that allergies were not something to be ignored, and although most allergic reactions were not severe, when they actually were, they could be very scary.

Inside, there indeed was not a speck of dust to be found.

All along the way, from the first floor to the third, it was as if Shi Yi was admiring ancient artifacts. From the decorative accents in every corner to the engravings in the wood that could be seen when she lifted her head, everything was fascinating to her. Zhou Wenxing did not appear to have much interest in ancient Chinese literature and could not provide any explanations or backgrounds of anything, so she simply let Shi Yi walk to the top level. Because it was an ancient building, the tower soared tall at a height of ten zhang [approximately 32 metres][1].

The east and south sides of the tower had top hung windows that opened outward. Books and manuscripts of every description filled the dozen or more rows of shelves. There were scrolls as well as bound books. It was fortunate there were no scrolls of bamboo slips[2], otherwise she truly would have started to suspect which era she was in.

Zhou Wenxing answered a phone call, but because the mobile reception was not very good, she hastily ran downstairs.

Shi Yi was standing by the bookshelves and had randomly picked up a book when she heard footsteps.

Soon, Zhousheng Chen appeared at the top of the stairs, his hand resting on the end of the carved, wooden handrail. Through the gaps of a three metre high bookshelf, he quickly saw her. "Are there any books that you like?"

"I just arrived not long ago." She set down her book. "Didn't you say there were some family matters you needed to take care of?"

"They are finished now." He smiled faintly, "The remaining issues between the various wives of the cousins and cousin-brothers should not require my involvement."