The fourth floor of the library stores academic materials, manuscripts, papers and reports that have been researched by teachers and students from various departments of HKU over the years. There are no open bookshelves here, and there are no seats for self-study. There are only rooms. The archives room is divided according to professional fields. He Tianran and other library staff usually hold meetings on this floor.
The two got out of the elevator, He Tianran leading the way. He first went to an office to say hello to another colleague, handed in the approval slip and got the key, and then went to the archives room of the School of Architecture and opened the door. Door.
The School of Architecture is one of the three earliest departments of the University of Hong Kong, and it is also the most popular major. The important information accumulated over the past century cannot fit in just one room. There are two archives rooms of nearly 80 square meters next door, which are also the most popular majors in the School of Architecture. Yes, it's just the copy of the design that Cao Aiqing is looking for. According to the type, it should be stored here.
The rows of tall bookshelves in the archives reach the ceiling. Although the information seems to be piled up like a mountain, upon closer inspection, it is complex but not chaotic. It is arranged in an orderly manner. All the information is wrapped in brown paper bags and labeled. No., sorted from A to Z according to subcategory and author's initials.
But even so, He Tianran still had a headache.
Because even though the covers of these brown paper bags clearly indicate what they contain, they have no spines, and many of them are stacked together, so it will definitely take some time to find them.
Cao Aiqing casually picked up a document bag and looked at it. It contained an article called "Research on the Design of Earth-Covered Architectural Buildings." Since these materials are quite old, there is still an old borrowing note under the paper bag. Card.
Looking at the different fonts and names on the loan card, I seem to see the mood of the predecessors when writing the loan card and the different personalities of each person. It is like traveling through a long time and space and seeing such an old man, a little lonely and rickety. After consulting the information, I gave students carefully prepared lessons one after another.
"He Tianran, I seem to have...found a bug in your library."
Cao Aiqing said suddenly.
"ah?"
He Tianran was helping her find information. Hearing this, he turned his head and walked to the girl's side.
"Look~here!"
The man looked intently and saw the girl's finger tapping the loan card in her hand. In addition to the person's name, there were also loan and repayment periods on it.
There are not many people borrowing this information in her hand, only four. The latest one is due on August 17th, but the yellowed loan card and the slightly old handwriting indicate that this date is definitely not In recent years.
He Tianran smiled and said what Cao Aiqing was thinking:
"You found that there is no year, right? But this is not a bug in our library. The setting of this world is like this. There is no information about the detailed year, but no one pays attention to it. If I hadn't told you this, maybe You can’t find that either.”
Cao Aiqing was stunned and put down the information. There was a look of thought on her face. He Tianran turned around again to find the information she needed. After a while, she heard the girl behind her say:
"...Why don't we designate this year as the first year starting from this year? What do you think?"
This suggestion really surprised He Tianran.
"Why? No one else can notice it, so it's not of much use if only we two know."
Cao Aiqing explained: "It doesn't matter whether other people know it or not. It's mainly for our convenience. Didn't you decide to say goodbye to the past and start over? And it will make it easier to remember."
After hearing this, He Tianran couldn't help but open his mouth and murmured:
"Wow, you are really...romantic..."
Cao Aiqing looked a little shy after hearing this, "What does this have to do with romanticism?"
"It's okay to be afraid. I didn't think anything about it at first, but after what you said, it really aroused my long-lost middle school soul. I feel like the two of us are acting out Genesis in this hell. Think about it. , the two of us have clarified the year for this confused world, and only you and me can know this secret, isn't this romantic?"
He Tianran leaned against the bookshelf, crossed his chest with one hand, raised the water glass with the other, and took a sip of Bupleurum as if drinking tea.
Obviously, he was very interested in Cao Aiqing's proposal. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and he continued:
"Just calling it the first year seems a bit meaningless to me. After all, we have to count the days before us, so we might as well think of a year name."
"Reign name? This is the first time I have seen the emperor who ascended the throne while drinking cold medicine in the library."
Cao Aiqing couldn't help laughing. She really didn't expect He Tianran to be so enthusiastic, so she didn't want to interrupt the other party's interest, not to mention that she was the one who started the topic.
"Oh, no matter whether we are consecrating Zen in Mount Tai or talking in the library, the location is not important. What is important is the matter we are discussing now. It is as significant as Cangjie's creation of Chinese characters and the five emperors' determination of relationships. At least that’s the case for both of us, do you understand what I mean?”
"clear."
Cao Aiqing smiled and nodded, watching him continue to yell.
"In this way, from the year I was born to the day before we watched the sunrise together in our senior year of high school, those eighteen years will be called the 'Years of Green Grass', just in line with our age. And in the next three years, I think Calling it the 'Year of the Maple Leaf', it feels very memorable and full of twists and turns, what do you think?"
Cao Aiqing really couldn't compliment He Tianran's skill in naming. She asked:
"Does the name used to commemorate the year have to be a plant?"
Knowing that the girl was teasing him, He Tianran said indifferently:
"You also know that it's just a title. Just think of something more representative. It's good that I didn't use names like 'bronze', 'gold' and 'diamond', but you really want me to come up with something like 'Yongkang' now." I can't think of any traditional era names like 'Jianwu' for a while."
"So what now? What should I call it?" Cao Aiqing asked.
"Call……"
He Tianran hesitated, thinking of the poem Cao Aiqing wrote for himself a few days ago, and said:
"How about calling it...'The Year of Poetry'?"
Cao Aiqing finally couldn't help it, smiled and shook his head:
"not so good!"
He Tianran made a big blush:
"Then what do you think it should be called?"
"Don't scream so much. Just help me find what I want."
Hearing this urging, He Tianran nodded:
"Okay, hold it for me."
He handed the water glass to the girl, and after Cao Aiqing took it, the man moved the five-step ladder to the side, climbed to the top, and began to rummage on the high bookshelf.
Cao Aiqing raised his head and looked at the man sitting high up. As soon as he raised his hand, the coat on his back started to fall down.
"He Tianran..."
"Um?"
"How long has it been since I called you childish?"
"……Clam?"
He Tianran lowered his head and looked at her with a confused look on his face, not knowing what was happening.
At this time, I heard Cao Aiqing scold:
"Either you put the sleeves on your clothes, or you take them off, and I'll help you hold them together. You look so careless and don't wear them properly. You're really like a yellow robe. I think you're very handsome." Really? Don’t worry about the future!”
"Ah good……"
He Tianran just handed over the water glasses. He didn't take off his clothes because he didn't notice. After all, before this, he didn't know that the information here could be piled so high.
Taking off her clothes and throwing them to Cao Aiqing, the girl hugged the heavy down jacket to her chest. He Tianran took out a stack of document bags, looked at them, put them back in place, and complained to himself:
"Hey, sometimes I get confused by you. One moment you say I'm mature and lifeless like an old man, and the next moment you say I'm childish. I don't even know which side I should use to face you. …”
Cao Aiqing stared at his back and whispered:
"It's pretty good now..."
He Tianran's energy had been concentrated on each book of materials. Hearing the rising and fading sounds behind him, he couldn't help but raise his voice and asked:
"What did you say?"
"I said you should look for it carefully and face it naturally. Don't keep pretending to be weird."
Cao Aiqing also raised his voice and shouted.
"Fuck, I'm not natural yet. It's so natural for me to face you now... I have it~!"
He Tianran took out a document bag, checked it, turned it over, and faced Cao Aiqing.
"This is the "St. White Church Design Draft and Final Draft Summary", right?"
"Yes, that's it! Come down!"
After seeing Cao Aiqing nodding happily, He Tianran got off the ladder.
"This thing is from the same generation as my grandfather. It's really not easy to find it."
He Tianran recalled that several churches in Jiangnan District are quite famous. Even if they are not a hundred years old, they must have been there in the 1970s or 80s. As a student of the University of Hong Kong and a library worker, such manuscripts can be preserved. Administrator, a sense of pride that comes from identity and profession, made He Tianran feel right and honored.
It's just that this manuscript has only been borrowed a few times over the years.
"The person who borrowed the book is my teacher and the current dean of the School of Architecture. He said that he had just returned to China to teach at the University of Hong Kong and had seen this plan once. The old professor in charge of the design was self-taught and had never learned anything in his life. He had been abroad and had never been exposed to any systematic education in Western architecture. However, he single-handedly designed the entire St. White Church with a few black-and-white photos, a religious album, and the dictation of the clergy at the time. The whole package, he’s a very legendary guy.”
Cao Aiqing's eyes showed fascination and admiration.
He Tianran specifically confirmed the name of the author of this manuscript, Sun Boping.
"Do you need me to find the remaining copies of Professor Sun's manuscripts so that you can study them?"
The man raised his eyebrows and suggested.
"Can...is it okay? But it seems...this...isn't this not good?"
When Cao Aiqing heard this suggestion, his eyes were suddenly filled with a different kind of excitement, and his anticipation was mixed with caution and restraint.
She knew it was not good to do this. When students wanted to borrow such things, they usually needed an approval note and a confirmation of the information. If found out, He Tianran would not only lose his job in the library, but the two of them might also be punished by the school... …
"I'm just kidding. I didn't let you borrow it for reading openly. I found out the information. You can quickly take a few photos with your phone and take it back to look at it secretly. What's so embarrassing? Just tell me what you want. Watch it, or don’t want to watch it, it’s over…”
He Tianran's words minimized the risk of this behavior. If it were replaced by ordinary things, it might not necessarily arouse Cao Aiqing's interest.
At this moment, the man felt like he was like a devil, inducing a saint who was accustomed to strict rules and regulations to slowly walk down the altar. Seeing the other party's hesitation and refusal, she was really... …wonderful!
"I... forget it, I'd better... stop reading it... I'll talk about it later when I have a chance..."
In the end, Cao Aiqing's rationality prevailed, although there was no confidence in her speech.
He Tianran knew her very well. Hearing her decision, he immediately smiled and said:
"Okay, you wait, I will help you create an opportunity."
"ah??"
He Tianran said a sentence, turned around, and climbed up the ladder again. The materials of the same author were all put together. After finding them once, he was naturally familiar with the road.
"He Tianran, don't..."
Cao Aiqing was about to stop him, but the other party had already pulled out a pile of information, all of which were Professor Sun Boping's original design manuscripts and plans.
He Tianran jumped down, held the document bag in his hand and walked to an empty table to put it down. Cao Aiqing hurriedly walked to him and listened to his whisper:
"The situation between the two of us, if you put it in martial arts, it would be a classic plot of sneaking into the Sutra Pavilion and learning from a master."
Cao Aiqing was really frightened by his reckless approach of killing first and showing off later. She said anxiously:
"I said no more...why are you so disobedient!"
He Tianran turned his head, took his water glass from the girl who was staring at him anxiously, and said slowly:
"Didn't you say wait for the opportunity? If you don't create opportunities, what's the point of just waiting? Oh, hurry up and take out your phone to take pictures. If my colleagues on this floor see that I haven't returned the key, they might be gone soon. Got it!"
How can he still urge others to do bad things?
Cao Aiqing was upset in her heart and kept saying: "I...you...you are not doing the right thing..."
He Tianran smiled matter-of-factly and said: "Yes, this is wrong to begin with, but do you think anyone can let me use my power for personal gain and risk my life to do such a thing? Oh, please hurry up, I'll go out I'll hold the door for you and give you ten minutes."
When Cao Aiqing heard this, he was stunned in place. He Tianran ignored it and walked straight outside.
He closed the door gently.
"..."
The corridor on the fourth floor of the library was very quiet. He Tianran leaned against the door, lowered his head, and gently shook the remaining small Bupleurum medicine in the cup. When the water started to swirl, he raised his head and drank it in one gulp.
Chinese patent medicines such as Xiao Bupleurum are very effective against colds, but they are bitter in nature. It is only because of the addition of sugar that people feel that this granule has a sweetness.
It’s true that good medicine tastes bitter, but it’s still a bit hard to swallow.
There are many similar things, such as a new life that needs to be faced again, such as a love that is destined to say goodbye...
These are very bitter, but just like medicine that can cure life. If you want to get better, you can only take medicine. But most of the time, God will not give you a sweet taste in this bitter process.
He Tianran's thoughts were idle for a few minutes. When he felt someone pushing the door behind him, he moved two steps.
Cao Aiqing walked out with the information she originally asked for in one hand and He Tianran's coat in the other.
She stretched out her hand: "Your clothes."
He Tianran put his coat back on and poked his head out to look at the data room. He saw that there was nothing on the table. Cao Aiqing must have sorted out the data.
He asked strangely: "Why so fast? Have you taken pictures of all the information?"
Cao Aiqing shook his head and whispered softly: "I didn't even shoot it, of course it's fast."
"Tsk, what a pity."
Seeing that his kindness was still declined by the girl, He Tianran sighed and closed the door.
"Of course, you are not so lucky every time you do bad things."
Cao Aiqing clasped his hands behind his back, waited until he locked the door, and the two of them walked slowly in the corridor.
"If I don't seize this opportunity, I don't know when the next one will be."
He Tianran pretended to feel sorry, but Cao Aiqing gently shook his head and said:
"Don't be in a hurry, take your time, I won't let you do anything dangerous, and I will read all the information one day."
He Tianran paused, "What do you mean?"
Cao Aiqing smiled and said: "I told you, I know my teacher very well. If I have the chance, I can just ask him to give me a few more notes! I'll come back next time."
"...I...you didn't tell me earlier!"
"I said wait for opportunities. You must create opportunities as soon as they are available. What can I do?"
He Tianran knew that he was in the wrong, but he said nonchalantly: "Just... it's better to choose a day than to hit it."
Cao Aiqing's steps were brisk, slightly ahead of the man, "I still like the slow-flowing method. You can't make a fat man by eating in one breath. I'm afraid of indigestion."
"You really... don't take shortcuts~ I know you are noble, you are amazing!"
He Tianran touched his nose and said helplessly.
Cao Aiqing glanced at him sideways, tit for tat.
"You're the one, coming up with bad ideas and pretending to be weird all day long!"
"Let's be reasonable. After all, I helped you find information and created opportunities for you. Although you are useless, I still gave you what I wanted. You don't plan to thank me?"
"Oh, thank you!"
"No, you go to the radio station today and play a song for me."
Cao Aiqing didn't have any objections to this kind of trivial matter where power could be used for personal gain.
"Okay, what do you want to hear?"
"I want songs that fit my personality right off the bat, but don't play 'Happy Breakup'."
Cao Aiqing was unhappy, "How do I know what your style is?"
He Tianran was shameless, "Think about it, I believe in your taste."
The two of them just chatted and returned the key to the information room. After returning to the first floor, Cao Aiqing definitely couldn't leave so casually after taking the information.
"I have to manually enter the number of this document into the computer. Please wait a moment. You have to fill in the information on the loan card first. I will keep it."
He Tianran got into the service desk, took off the loan card and gave it to Cao Aiqing outside the counter. He held the document and faced the computer and started entering information.
The girl responded, picked up the pen on the table, filled in her name, and thought about it in the column for the loan period.
"Now, okay, the borrowing time for this kind of material is only one week, so you must remember."
"I've written it too, here you go."
The two exchanged things with each other across the service desk. The whole process took less than a minute. After that, Cao Aiqing got the information and turned around and left, returning to her classmates.
He Tianran's eyes moved from her to the card in his hand. He saw the book borrowing period on it and wrote this line of elegant words——
"January 3rd, the first year of innocence."
Year of innocence?
Is this the "era name" chosen by Cao Aiqing for the unknown era the two of them live in now?
clean?
He Tianran couldn't laugh or cry.
…
…
Time has come to dusk unknowingly, and the daily campus broadcast has also come to an end.
"Okay, that's it for today's "Campus Voice". In the next fifteen minutes, let's enter the song-requesting session that students like most. The first song today is from the junior finance department. , "New Boy" requested by He Tianran——"
On the radio, Cao Aiqing's gentle and moving voice came. In the library, Yao Qingtao, who was pushing a trolley with He Tianran to collect books, raised his head and asked the man opposite with a gossipy face:
"Teacher He, when did you order the song?"
He Tianran picked up a book on the table and threw it into the cart. He smiled and said casually:
"I do not know."
Soon, the cheerful melody on the radio and Pu Shu’s young singing voice filled the entire campus——
Yes, I see sunshine everywhere and happiness flying over the city
The new century comes like a dream and makes me feel warm
Is your old pocket watch still spinning? Can your old leather shoes still be worn?
There's a Future cigarette here, don't you want to try it?
…
18 years old is heaven, our life is as sweet as sugar
Wear new clothes, get a new haircut, relax WINDOWS98
There will be no more pain in the future. How cool will our future be?
…
"What an old song. Teacher He's taste is really unique."
Yao Qingtao listened for a while and commented like this.
"Really? Why do I think it's just right? Sister Taozi, let me give you a question. Do you know what 98 in WINDOWS98 means?"
He Tianran asked interestingly after listening to the song.
"Isn't it just the computer model?"
"What else? For example, it represents the year of production or something."
"How is it possible, 1998? What era is this? It's so weird~"
Yao Qingtao disagreed. People in this world didn't have this concept, so they would naturally find it strange.
However, the more others behave like this, the stronger the smile on He Tianran's face becomes, because this is a secret that only he and Cao Aiqing know...
"Hey - Teacher He, did you eat any candy today? Why do you smile so sweetly?"
"Have it?"
"Yes - ah -! You've been laughing for no reason all afternoon!"
"Yeah?!"
"yes--!"
