At the end of August, Yunbin City was still clinging to the tail of midsummer, and just past seven in the morning, the sun overhead was already viciously scorching.

Fortunately there was a light breeze today, so Fang Tong didn’t end up drenched in sweat along the way.

She casually stopped by a breakfast shop on the road, packed two buns and a cup of iced soy milk, and headed straight for Yunbin City No. 1 High School.

As the best public high school in Yunbin City, those able to study there were naturally top students from their respective middle schools.

Fang Tong couldn’t be considered especially hardworking, but thanks to four terrifying cram classes in middle school, she was still pushed into this school.

Luckily her earlier madness right after crossing worlds had thoroughly frightened her family, so throughout the entire first year her mother never mentioned cram classes again.

Compared to the child’s health, academic results weren’t so important.

Fang Tong hadn’t completely given up though and maintained a middle-of-the-pack level in the whole school.

Yunbin City wasn’t a large metropolis, just a third-tier coastal town, and Yunbin No. 1 barely made the provincial top ten, essentially the bottom of the key schools.

Ranking mid-range here meant entering a first-tier university after the college entrance exam wouldn’t be a problem, but dreaming of anything better was unrealistic.

Fang Tong understood this well and was content with it.

She didn’t have grand ambitions, living steadily through life was enough.

Her home wasn’t far from the school, about twenty minutes on foot, and soon she could already see the entrance crowded with students going in and out.

But instead of going in directly, she turned toward a side street.

This row of shopfronts belonged to the neighboring residential complex and was packed with merchants due to high rent near the school.

At the end of the street lay her destination, a small bookstore.

She’d been attending the school for a year and explored the area thoroughly. Being the city’s top school, nearby bookstores existed, but most only sold workbooks and exam aids, maybe magazines or newspapers at best.

Only this small bookstore sold novels, even traditional-Chinese editions from the port side.

It was said the owner was a veteran novel enthusiast and deliberately placed a cabinet of personally selected novels behind the exercise books.

The string tied to the wind chime swayed as the door opened, producing a crisp clatter that drew the young woman behind the register to look up.

This woman wearing thick black-rim glasses and a brown bob haircut was the owner. Fang Tong didn’t know her given name, only that her surname was Shen.

Since calling her Sister Shen sounded too old, after becoming familiar she called her Little Sister Shen.

“Little Sister Shen, the book I wanted is still here right?”

Entering, Fang Tong immediately asked.

“Of course, but this time you can’t put it on credit. This book’s popular. Several people tried to pay a few days ago, but I turned them away.”

The book she wanted was an imported traditional-Chinese light novel and the store had only tried stocking one copy.

When Fang Tong found it she reserved it using her status as a year-long ‘regular customer’.

Now she’d saved enough and with school resuming and days becoming dull, this book was a necessity.

Hearing the owner, Fang Tong didn’t question and counted out thirty-eight yuan, handing it over.

“Here, exact.”

Little Sister Shen accepted casually without counting and handed over a new book still carrying the industrial smell of printing.

The vicious foul-mouthed senior who only whispers sweet words to me? So strange!

This was the flavor!

Seeing the title on the cover, Fang Tong nodded in satisfaction.

This was the taste, the meaning of life~

“What about the book you borrowed last time?”

Just as she prepared to savor the new book during morning study, the owner’s words froze her.

At the end of last term she had borrowed several second-hand books and promised to return them today.

After being toyed with by Fang Xi that morning, she’d completely forgotten.

“Uh, sorry Little Sister Shen, I left them at home. If you’re not in a hurry I’ll bring them tomorrow morning.”

Letting go of the handle, she turned with an awkward smile.

Regardless of season, Little Sister Shen always wore that brown high-collar shirt. With her sharp jawline, willow-leaf brows, piercing eyes and proud 1.78-meter height, looking up gave the feeling of being seen through.

“Well, I’m not in a hurry, but you won’t forget again tomorrow, right?”

Shen Qingming set down her novel, stood, and raised a brow as she approached.

“Of course not. Today’s the first day and my biological clock wasn’t adjusted. I woke up late and rushed out. Tomorrow I won’t forget.”

“That won’t do, I need some interest.”

Watching her bend closer, Fang Tong could smell a bamboo-leaf fragrance.

Those sharp eyes scanned her, making the tiny store feel cramped.

Fang Tong stepped back until pressed to the glass door, wind chime trembling as if shivering.

‘What’s happening? In broad daylight you’re not going to imitate Fang Xi, right? That won’t do! Fang Xi is my sister, I can tolerate it myself. Act like an adult! That could land you in jail!’

“Come help me clean the store after school tonight. The tools are behind that shelf.”

As Fang Tong spiraled in thoughts, Shen Qingming stopped and pointed behind her, pulling out tea leaves from below.

‘Phew… Scared me to death. Fang Xi’s mischief really made me jumpy. Who stores tea under a bookshelf are you scenting the shelves?’

“What even needs cleaning here?”

“Plenty of things, empty drink bottles on tables, instant-noodle bags in bins, and most importantly reorganizing messy shelves before closing.”

‘You sure that last part’s most important?’

Watching her open the tea pack and toss it aside, Fang Tong twitched.

‘I knew it, you just wanted a maid.’

Still, she agreed, stuffed the book into her bag and left.

After all it was the only nearby store selling extracurricular books, and staying on good terms meant borrowing more later.

Though with few customers and an owner lazier than herself could it even make money?