Beta Town, pedestrian street.
Number ninety-nine.
In front of Sanyou Bookstore.
Not far away, D&K at No. 97 Pedestrian Street is still open for business, and the night breeze can vaguely hear the voices of Er Er brothers enthusiastically soliciting customers; the wandering bar across the street is about to enter the busiest time of the week - today is Christmas , another Friday was superimposed - the big frog checking his hand at the door of the bar was so tired that his tongue was hanging out.
Zheng Qing held Bo Saidong in his arms and stood in front of the bookstore with the two witches.
The orange light in the store shines warmly on the wizard. Through the window, Zheng Qing can see a thick "Wizard's Code" sitting under the buttocks of the yellow flower. The gentleman is lying on the rocking chair, holding up a A copy of "The Wizard of Oz" by Li Baichuan. Next to him is a small red clay stove with hot tea boiling on it. Pearl-colored mist overflows from the spout and condenses into strange shapes, rushing towards the uninvited guests outside the window. They bared their teeth and claws.
"How about it? I'll just say that sir is in the store!" The young public-funded student turned his head with satisfaction and looked at the great wizard of the North District.
Colma looked at the store, then at the boy, with a serious expression.
She turned to look at Su Shijun.
"Can you see it?" Her question sounded a little confusing to Zheng Qing.
Su Shijun took a step forward, then took a step back, and then shook his head: "I can't see... the bookstore is empty, there is thick dust on the windowsill, and traces of mouse bites can still be seen on the bookshelf. It should be No one has been here for a long time... Banishing spells, confusion spells, concealment spells, etc., none of the spells I know have such a powerful effect."
The young public-funded students finally understood what they meant.
"You mean, you can't see the people in the room?" He looked left and right, his tone a little unbelievable, and he felt a little cold on the back of his neck: "No, you can see me The lights? And my shadow... Dong Dong, can you see these?"
He lifted the little fox in his arms.
Chirp!
The little fox flicked his tail and nodded affirmatively, indicating that he could see it too.
Wow!
The bookstore door suddenly opened, interrupting the little argument at the door.
"Come in and talk."
The familiar voice of the yellow lily came, with a bit of irritability as always: "You stay up late at night to disturb the elderly's rest. Do you have any sense of ethics?... It's a holiday? Is the holiday the reason why you come to harass me? Besides, who would? Celebrate Christmas! Jesus’ guy is younger than me, why should I celebrate his birthday!”
The little fox was frightened by the big cat and trembled. He plunged his head into his arms, curled up his big tail and wrapped his head tightly, looking like a coward.
Zheng Qing had no time to pay attention to the little fox's little moves.
He hesitantly glanced at the raccoon cat whose buttocks had moved away from the "Code", and then turned to look at the two witches beside him. His meaning was very obvious.
"Come in and talk!!" The tabby cat stretched its neck and roared.
Zheng Qing coughed twice.
"Go in first, go in first," he suggested in a low voice to the witches. Finally, he asked uncertainly: "Is the bookstore door open in your field of vision?"
The two witches nodded silently.
Zheng Qing breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the bookstore first. The orange light passed through the crack in the door and left a trapezoidal light mark on the ground, like a long and narrow staircase or a narrow door. The boy's slender shadow fell on The light seal quickly spread with the movement of his figure until it merged into the dark night.
Compared with the outside, the room was very warm, and it was mixed with the aroma of books and tea, so that the little fox, who was trembling in the boy's arms, couldn't help but raise his head and look around tremblingly.
"Give me the child, you go and chat with the old man!" The yellow raccoon man stood tall and walked up to the boy in a grand manner, with a flesh-colored plum blossom blooming on his spread paws.
Zheng Qing hesitated for a second, and then handed the little fox, which had shrunk into a ball of fur, to the yellow fox.
"You shouldn't have brought too many people here." When the yellow tabby took the little fox, he shook his head and complained.
"Su...well, she is Dongdong. Well, mom...and Senior Sister Kolma gave me a lot of help." The young public-funded student explained while stumbling, and turned around cautiously, but was surprised. Seeing no one behind him: "...where are they?"
"This is not a reason for you to bring too many people... Don't worry, they are all in the right place."
The tabby cat looked at the boy reproachfully, rubbed the little fox's furry ears with its furry paws, and purred happily: "Snoring, snoring, the old man should have told you that he is constantly reducing his contact with the world. Hulu, Hulu, you brought someone here to tie a thread on his body, Hulu."
The continuous purring exuded a reassuring feeling. The little fox finally bravely raised his paws and stroked the fur on the tabby cat.
"I want you to stay a little longer." The boy looked at the gentleman on the recliner in a flattering manner.
Half of the gentleman's head was exposed from behind the "Wizard of Oz". He looked over the top of his glasses and looked at the young public-funded student: "Whether you stay or not, it doesn't depend on time... Time has no meaning to me, but choice does. That's it. Like little Colma who came today. You have to know that she finally entered this bookstore today not because of the great things she did in the North District, but because she once pushed you outside the examination room. When you enter the wizarding world, I help you make a very important choice."
Most of the time, Zheng Qing had only a partial understanding of what his husband said, and could understand only a few parts.
Like now.
He could hear that Colma recognized his help to Mr., and he could also hear that Mr. didn't mind staying a little longer, which was enough. As for what to choose or not to choose, it is too empty and mysterious to be considered now.
The gentleman put down the "Wizard of Oz" in his hand, reached for the teapot, poured himself a small cup of tea, picked it up, blew it, and asked calmly: "Come on, what are you doing today?"
"Don't you know?" Zheng Qing didn't believe it.
"I'm just too lazy to know."
The gentleman's honest answer hit the young wizard's confidence. He glanced at the little fox playing with the yellow tabby and added: "When I came out of the blank land not long ago, I once said to you, 'Your seed is An accident, the birth of Poseidon was an accident, and today I would like to add that your arrival tonight is also an accident."
Having said this, he half-jokingly raised his tea cup:
"...Sometimes, I have to wonder if this world originated from an accident... Well, maybe 'accident' is also a good way to converge? Just like the shadow black cat running out of you, the same It was also an accident.”
He had a thoughtful look on his face.
Zheng Qing rolled his eyes in his heart.
Ps, ① This narrow gate is a concept of religious significance
(End of chapter)
