[Net King] Take away my heart

All evil begins with innocence. —Ernest Hemingway

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Jiayin is a very strange name, just like Linlin, strange, but it seems to be very appropriate.

After the promulgation of school regulations prohibiting feeding wild cats, I still went to the backyard to feed Lin Lin every day.I am not afraid of being found out that I am violating school rules, because I am a member of the discipline committee myself, and I have the opportunity to find faults with others instead of waiting for others to find faults with me.

"Rin Lin, Rin Lin, come here."

I have never had the experience of raising small animals. Although Erina and I both like cats and dogs, it is impossible for us to have enough energy to keep pets in our family environment.Therefore, I don’t quite understand how to get along with animals like cats. Although I feed Linlin every day, even though I have given Linlin a name, even though I have patiently yelled countless times, as long as I don’t put down the food in my hand, Linlin will be fine. You will never let your guard down and approach me.

"Okay, this is for you."

In desperation, I could only put the food on the flower bed, and then I took two steps back to wait for Lin Lin to come and get it.As soon as I let go of the food, Rin Lin quickly rushed forward and took the food away in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the way it only recognizes food but not people, I feel angry and funny.The reason why Lin Lin is so wary of people is probably because, as a stray cat, she has been bullied by many of her own kind and humans.

But why does Linlin let down his vigilance when facing Akiyama Jiayin?Sure enough, it's because I like that mobile phone chain?

Since meeting in the rain, Akiyama has never been to the backyard.Even when we met in cram school, she never took the initiative to talk to me.Am I really that scary?When I watched Lin Lin gobble up the dried fish while hiding in the tree, I asked as if talking to myself.

Lin Lin looks very cute when she eats. She always looks like she is afraid that someone will come to snatch the food in the next second, and eats desperately while looking around.

"Don't worry, I won't compete with you. You can continue to eat well tomorrow, and you will be full every day."

Looking at Rin Rin, I smiled unconsciously.

Maybe cats are such animals with strange self-esteem. They can grab territory, fight, and be wary of humans. However, I still feel a little happy in the face of such embarrassment.

Because I was needed by Rin Rin.Even if everyone obeys the school rules and no longer comes to feed, I will come, I will come every day, and I will call Lin Lin's name every day.Even if he ignores me, Rin Rin must know that I am protecting it.I won't give it up, I won't hurt it, I'll always be here waiting for it.

"You are not alone."

I said to Rin Rin.You still have me.

On the old street near the school, there is a second-hand bookstore that has been open for many years. Although it is dilapidated and no one patronizes it all year round, the owner of the bookstore, the deaf old grandfather, still insists on opening it there.

The bookstore sells old books that are almost impossible to find in the market. Except for those who like nostalgia, few students go there to search for books, only Liu is an exception.

The person who told me about the existence of this store was Liu, and he seemed to like to go there whenever he had something to do, and said that he was content to enjoy the atmosphere of the store even if he didn't buy anything.

I have always liked Agatha Christie's novels, and my family has received a complete collection of her works very early.Because I have enough money to buy new publications, and I don't have to hunt for cheap second-hand ones, I don't care much about this bookstore.But out of curiosity, I went to this bookstore to take a look at Liu's recommendation.

To my surprise, although the exterior looks dilapidated, the inside is indeed dilapidated, but this second-hand bookstore actually houses many rare and precious books.

Many books that have long been out of print, such as the first translation of Agatha's Detective Poirot, can be found here. Although the condition of the books is not very good, the corresponding price is also unimaginably cheap.

On impulse, I headed to the cashier with two Agatha novels in hand.There was an old man listening to the radio sitting at the cash register. Because his ears were not working well, the old man turned up the volume very loudly, and even put his ears closer to listen.

"Well, sorry—how much does it cost—"

I repeated it twice, and the old man who was so absorbed in listening to the radio didn't notice me.In the end I had to yell at him at the top of my lungs at almost radio level, "Please pay—!"

Only then did the old man say "oh, oh" in a daze.

What a worrying store.

If the old man always lay on the table and listened to the radio like this, he wouldn't be able to hear any movement in the store, and there were no cameras or anything like that installed here.

"Grandpa, you'd better ask a young man to look after the shop for you."

After paying the money, I seriously proposed such a suggestion to Grandpa, but Grandpa just waved his hand at me.

"Please excuse me, please excuse me."

After finishing speaking, he buried his head in listening to the radio again.

Because I had to take a shortcut to pick up Erina, I would pass that old street every day after school.Even though I was just passing by, I couldn't help but glance at the second-hand bookstore.

As long as there are no sneaky people in front of the bookstore, and the old man is still lying there listening to the radio as always, I don't know why I feel a little relieved.

Grandpa's home and bookstore are connected together, the bookstore is on the first floor, and grandpa's home is on the second floor.He is very old and lives here alone and runs a bookstore. His relatives and children are not around, and he has never seen anyone visit him. I feel very pitiful for such an old man.

I am always worried that someone will take advantage of the old man, see that he is too old to hear, and steal some things while he is not paying attention.

If it wasn't because I had a lot of things to do at school and at home, and I was underage, I really wanted to look after the shop for that old man, even if I didn't get paid and just volunteered.

Over time, I have developed the habit of passing by the bookstore every day and looking at it from a distance.That is, one day by chance, I met Akiyama Jiayin standing in front of the bookstore.

This is a very inconspicuous bookstore that few people visit. If Liu hadn't told me about the existence of this bookstore, maybe I still don't know that it is here.

So how did Akiyama know about this store?Needless to ask, he must have been recommended by Liu.

Akiyama didn't go into the bookstore, but stood at the door, staring at a certain book on the stand, and stayed there for a long, long time.

During her stay, I hesitated to go up to say hello.After much hesitation, I still decided to leave there.Because Akiyama stared at the stall with a very focused expression, just like a grandfather who was trying to listen to the radio, showing an aura that he couldn't step forward to disturb.

The next day, I met Akiyama there again.Same as the first day, standing at the door of the store, staring at the stall, with the same focused and undisturbed eyes.

Akiyama probably liked a book on the stall very much, but for some reason she didn't make up her mind to buy it.Just like the first day, I left without saying a word or being noticed by anyone.

On the third day, Akiyama still went to the bookstore.

On the fourth day, Akiyama still went to the bookstore.

Every day since then, Qiushan will come to the door of the bookstore at a fixed time, do nothing, just silently look at the books on the stall, and stand alone for a long time before leaving.

What's the point of her doing this?If you like that book so much, why don't you just buy it, but come and stare at it every day?

Driven by curiosity, I went to the stall and finally saw the book that Akiyama had been thinking about.

Verlaine's out-of-print collection of poems.

This collection of poems has been placed here for a long time, but no one cares about it.Compared with other second-hand books in the bookstore, the price of this collection of poems is slightly higher due to its age and rarity.

Is it because Akiyama is reluctant to buy the money, so he has not bought it?But in my opinion, even if the price as a second-hand book is high, this collection of poems is still within the acceptable range.

Maybe there are other reasons that made Akiyama hesitate, I stretched out my hand while thinking, and gently brushed the dust off the cover of the book of poems.

For about a month, Akiyama would stop at the door of that bookstore every day.

I never said hello to Akiyama, just passed by without saying a word every time.The sense of peace that I once felt when I saw the bookstore and the old man has gradually evolved into the sense of peace that everything is as usual as long as I see Akiyama standing there and the book is still on the stand.

Why didn't Akiyama buy that book? This is a question I've always had.

When I went to the store to say hello to the old man, I asked him, is this the last collection of Verlaine's poems in the store?The old man replied, "Yes, it's the last one."

——In other words, if someone bought this collection of poems before Akiyama, then Akiyama, who has been waiting so hard until now, will never be able to buy it again.

Thinking of this, I can't help but worry again.

Akiyama and her friend Miyake jointly founded a poetry club, and because Liu also joined the poetry club, I heard some rumors about them from time to time.

"Hey, Akiyama in the second grade is helping someone write love letters. I heard that the writing is good. Several people have confessed successfully."

"Really? Did she write for others?"

"It seems to charge some money, I don't know the exact amount..."

In addition to the normal poetry club activities, there seemed to be faint rumors among the girls that Akiyama was writing love letters for others.

Akiyama and the others' poetry club was established without the permission of the school, and of course it is impossible to get financial support from the school.According to Liu, they have been submitting articles to various magazines and newspapers in order to earn manuscript fees, and relying on their own strength to support the operation of the association.Because there is no need for special equipment and event venues, there are actually no financial problems for the club at present.

If the club doesn't need any expenses, then it seems a little unreasonable for Qiu Shan to secretly write love letters for others to make money.I still care about her book of poems that I haven't bought for a long time. I think that Akiyama must be patient and wait for the day when she can buy it for a very helpless reason.

"Grandpa, please! Before she comes to buy this book of poetry, please don't sell it to anyone else!"

Whether it was impulsive or meddling, I finally ran to the bookstore and had the cheek to ask my grandfather to agree to my unreasonable request.

"Uh...uh...? She, who is she...?"

"It's the girl who comes to stand by the door of the bookstore every day, who goes to the same school as me..."

"No, it's not... What I'm asking is, who is she to you..."

Faced with the trembling question of the old man, I suddenly didn't know how to answer it.

Who is Akiyama to me?At most, they are just classmates.Same middle school, same cram school, happened to be the minister's sister, happened to be Liu's friend, but that's all.

Obviously I haven't even said a few words, maybe I don't even count as friends, but here I somehow asked my grandfather to keep that collection of poems. For a moment, I also felt that I was stupid.

...But as expected, there is still no way to rest assured.

"Well, we are classmates... I think she might have something to hide, that's why she hasn't bought the book, but grandpa can see it, right? She really wants to buy that book, really wants it, I dare you I guarantee that she will definitely come and buy that book, so please wait for her no matter what!"

I bent down deeply, and when I raised my head, the old man's blurred presbyopic eyes actually emitted an unusually sharp light.

"My child, you... have the instinct to protect weak creatures."

"……Hey?"

The old grandpa, who was always confused at ordinary times, suddenly seemed very high and unpredictable. He smiled and said, "Okay, for your sake, I'll keep it for her."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

I shouted loudly, then bent down again, and bowed vigorously to Grandpa.

The author has something to say: Recently, it seems that a lot of things have happened at once~

worrying, sad, disturbing

I hope everything will pass as soon as possible~

I really want to welcome the sunshine~ and the warm spring~>