97 The Sleepless Nigh (1/2)
Chapter 97: The Sleepless Night
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Ning Que extended the paper out towards the window with two fingers, drying the wet ink in the warm sun and spring breeze. Once he ascertained that there were no problems, he folded the paper carefully and stuck it back into where he first found it in the book.
He rose and stuck the book into its place before walking to the east windows. He bowed deeply and politely to the female lecturer who nodded in return.
He should have gone down the stairs after that, but a sudden thought struck him. The female professor had been writing in the old library for many years. She must be Somebody in the Academy. She was so quiet and friendly, if the person who had left him a message was willing to give him some pointers, who is it to say that she wouldn't?
As a poor lad who has over 2000 taels but still has to count his pennies over a simple breakfast, he figured he must grab hold of this opportunity. After a momentary pause, he said respectfully, ”Teacher, I forced myself to forget the shape of the words and have gained a little knowledge. I was wondering if this method is a good one?”
The female professor looked. There was a long stretch of silence before her mouth cracked into a soft smile. ”According to the rules of the Academy, even students from the Magic course who have yet to enter the Second floor can only depend on themselves to read and come to understand the books here. You have no potential for cultivation, and yet, you understood all these through sheer determination. While what you've understood might not be completely right, it is still laudable. I cannot break the rules of the Academy, so I can only say this.”
Ning Que bowed deeply and said politely, ”Thank you for the pointers, teacher.”
The female professor looked at the lower case script that she had been writing for countless years and said calmly, ”Forgetting the shape of the character while reading intentionally. Being intentionally unintentional is a form of psyche.”
…
…
Ning Que knew that he had yet to attain the stage of reading the character but forgetting its shape. What he was doing now was simply dismantling the character. It was far from that stage. He did not know what intentional meant in this case and could not help but shake his head. He muttered what the professor had said under his breath repeatedly and walked down the stairs.
It was late at night and there were not many people on the first floor of the old library as usual, however, it was unexpectedly rowdy. Situ Yilan brought Jin Wucai to the very front while Chu Youxian stood at the side of the stairs. Near the shelves further away, stood Xie Chengyun and Zhong Dajun.
Was this entourage waiting for him? Ning Que looked at his peers downstairs, stupefied. He asked Chu Youxian who was beside him, ”what's going on?”
”You… you made it down yourself?” Situ Yilan looked at him in surprise.
Ning Que laid out his hands helplessly, ”I think I managed to walk down the last time too.”
Situ Yilan smiled. ”The rules of the Academy stated that freshmen will be separated into different groups when they enter the Academy. There are always those from other states or countries who have never been to Chang'an. The meeting today is to bring everyone out to shop, drink and talk. Our group wanted to get together. Wucai and I grew up in Chang'an, so we are responsible for leading you guys around today. This gathering was supposed to happen days ago, but we pushed it back since you were on medical leave. We didn't want to bother you upstairs, so we waited here.”
Ning Que looked at the teen beside her to find that she had already shed her student robes and changed into a light purple dress. She did not look as strong or fierce as she did in her archery robes but rather feminine instead.
While he was impatient to hurry back to Lin 47th Street to tell Sangsang all about his wondrous experience today, he knew that he could not avoid this gathering. What more, his classmates from Classroom three had waited and pushed back the gathering date for him. He had to participate no matter what. He said, ”No problem.”
Situ Yilan laughed refreshingly, ”Your candidness is great. You're not like Chen Zixian who ran off with the excuse that he has got something on at home. We all know that he's hanging out at a gambling den.”
Ning Que stiffened slightly upon hearing Chen Zixian's name. He knew she was talking about their classmate who was the son of a rich businessman and not the old man who could not shut his eyes beside a stack of firewood.
Situ Yilan looked at the students around her and called out clearly, ”Does anyone have anywhere they want to go specifically? Or any Chang'an delicacy that you want to try? If not, I'm going to make the decisions.”
The foreign students laughed and pronounced that they had no objections to that. Her shiny dark eyes turned and looked at Ning Que. ”Shall we go for a drink?”
”I have no objections.”, he said.
Situ Yilan looked at his face and teased, ”Chu Youxian said you didn't have to pay to visit the House of Red-Sleeves. Why don't we go there? I believe you don't have any objections to that.”
Ning Que was startled. He had wanted to say that he did object to that, but she had already turned to announce their destination. The excitement of the crowd rose visibly upon hearing that.