Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)
Beta: JeanGirlMY
- Chapter Start -
The Library Pavilion was a large circular building, well ventilated with windows all around. A magnificent magnolia tree stood outside, allowing the slightest breeze to waft the delicate fragrance of magnolia blossoms inside the library. Painted blinds at the windows facing west had been pulled down to keep out most of the afternoon heat.
Individual low tables of polished wood for reading and writing were placed alongside the walls which were lined with row upon row of books. In the centre of the library, a large circular bookshelf held even more books and scrolls.
It was a stunning place, as beautiful as it was intimidating, boasting a wealth of ancient knowledge and spiritual scriptures. It smelled of wood and books... paper... ink... actually, it smelled rather like Lan QiRen, under that faint hint of agarwood incense that clung to his robes.
Ignoring the two senior disciples staring at her from across the room, Sisi straightened her shoulders when a middle aged woman with a strict face came over.
"Madam Sisi?"
"Just Sisi, Madam Lan." Sisi gave a polite bow which the other lady returned.
"I am Lan JiaYing, the Head Librarian. You may address me as Lan-qianbei."
"Yes, Lan-qianbei."
"I need an assistant who is quiet, conscientious and would treat my precious books and scrolls with great care. You were recommended by Elder Lan QiRen himself."
Sisi felt her face grow warm.
"Senior Lan? Well, he.. uh..."
Was sorely mistaken?
Had lied through his teeth?
Thought he was doing her a favour?
"Thank you. I'll do my best," she ended up saying.
Lan JiaYing nodded and made no mention of Sisi's face.
"As you can see, the library is mostly empty in the early afternoons when there are classes going on. Come with me, I will show you the different sections we have."
The finality with which she spun around made panic bubble up inside Sisi.
"Lan-qianbei, you should know - I can't read!" She blurted out.
Lan JiaYing turned around again, looking as shocked as if Sisi had confessed to being a fierce corpse.
"I will do my best to memorise where each section is," Sisi quickly added, "but I can't read or write. If that makes me unsuitable for this post, I understand."
Lan JiaYing raised her eyebrows at that.
"You were recommended by Elder Lan QiRen," she repeated. "He must have good reason for doing so."
Reason which he had not thought to inform Sisi.
After a moment, Lan JiaYing continued.
"In that case, your duties will be to clear the tables of any books or writing instruments - there's a rule for everything here, but none for my library! Brushes will be thoroughly cleaned and dried under the sun, if possible. Check the books and scrolls for any ink stains before putting them on that table to be re-shelved later. You will spend four hours here every day after lunch. Sunday is your free day."
Despite her misgivings, Sisi smiled in relief.
"Yes, Lan-qianbei. Thank you."
Lan JiaYing nodded.
"It would be good if you can find someone to teach you to read though," she said. "Follow me, I will show you each section."
- o -
When Sisi reported to work the next afternoon, Madam Lan JiaYing stayed just long enough to explain she had to supervise a one hour class of junior disciples whose teacher had suddenly taken ill. She repeated her rules about caring for the books before hurrying off.
Left alone, Sisi went around gathering the books left on the individual tables and taking them to the designated table in the corner. She had moved halfway around the library when she heard the door open and peeped around a shelf to see who is was, still holding an armful of books.
"Senior Lan!"
Smiling, she took a couple of steps from behind the shelf before remembering that the cuts on her face weren't covered. Wen Qing had decided that they were safe from infection this morning. Instead of fresh bandages, she had given Sisi a small bottle of ointment that would reduce any itch or tenderness. She had also promised to take another look at them upon returning from Lotus Pier.
For now, Sisi cringed at how the scabbed over cuts must look like and quickly bowed her head.
"Madam Sisi?"
There was a note in Lan QiRen's voice that might have been concern. Sisi peeked up to see him frowning at her as he came closer.
"Is something wrong?"
She shook her head and took a step back.
"Nothing at all, Senior Lan. Can I... help you with anything?"
A stupid thing to say, seeing as it was the second time she was here while Lan QiRen could probably pinpoint the exact location of every single book in this place. A sigh sounded, followed by the hem of blue robes and two pristine white boots entering her vision. They stopped two feet away from her.
"I hadn't thought my goatee is that off-putting."
Sisi's head jerked up in surprise at the dry tone.
"What? Oh no! It makes you look... it makes you look... distinguished."
If she were perfectly honest, she didn't much care for it.
"I will pretend I didn't hear that pause," he replied in an even drier tone and quirked an eyebrow at her.
Taken by surprise, Sisi started laughing until the movement pulled at her cheek and her smile turned into a wince. Shifting the books to her left arm, she covered her right cheek with her right hand and spun around.
A hand grasped her left shoulder, its hold firm but not tight, causing her heart to lurch.
Was this a prohibited casual touch, or one with intent?
"Madam Sisi, please look at me."
Slowly, she turned around and his hand fell from her shoulder.
"You do not need to hide anything." That same hand closed over her wrist and pulled her hand down from her face.
Fighting the urge to flee, Sisi took a deep breath and tipped her chin up instead, meeting Lan QiRen's gaze straight on. He nodded in approval and even gave a tiny smile.
"Good. Those two lines do not detract from your looks. Never forget that."
She was gaping at him before she realised and snapped her mouth shut. Her face felt hot again. She didn't think she had blushed as much in the past five years as she had since meeting him.
"If not for Healer Wen, I wouldn't dare show my face in public," she said, willing her voice to remain steady. "I am very grateful to her."
"As am I." Lan QiRen nodded. He didn't seem to realise he was still holding her wrist.
"And I am very grateful to you," Sisi continued.
He frowned.
"I thought we had gone over that the other day," he said, looking and sounding peeved.
Sisi smiled, this time ignoring the slight pull of her cheek.
"I meant, for finding me this job. Thank you." She gave a bow.
He shook his head, his eyes flicking downward for the tiniest instant. "How are you settling in?"
"Quite well," Sisi replied, wondering if she should tell him she couldn't read, and if he would find her another job then. Nervously, she wet her lips and saw his gaze flick down to her mouth again.
"You have all been very kind," she said.
"Gusu Lan rules say-"
"I saw the Wall of Discipline. You have so many rules." She shouldn't interrupt him, but she was flustered. They were standing less than two feet apart. Again, she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips.
"Yes. Too many," Lan QiRen muttered. He was staring at her lips again.
"Perhaps... you could reduce them?"
"I plan to."
When had they started whispering?
And when had he moved closer?
Or had she taken another step?
She could feel his breath on her face now, warm and smelling of tea. Her throat was dry and her heart was beating so fast.
"That's good," she said, voice barely above a whisper as she tipped her head up.
He shuffled even closer, hand tightening on her wrist.
The sound of voices from outside followed by the unmistakable sound of the doors opening reached their ears.
"Oh!"
At once, they sprang apart and took a step back. Lan QiRen was still holding Sisi's wrist and the sudden tug forward made her lose her balance. She fell onto him, books dropping from her arm as she pressed both hands against his chest to arrest her fall. Her added weight made him stumble backwards until his back met the shelf behind him with a solid thump.
Half a dozen books tumbled down from the upper rows, bouncing off their shoulders and arms before smacking onto the floor with dull thuds.
Sisi stared into Lan QiRen's eyes. She was a tall woman, only a couple of inches shorter than him. She could feel the pounding of his heart beneath her right palm, beating almost as fast as hers.
He was touching her right now. In fact, he was embracing her with both arms. If not for her hands, she would be plastered against him from chest to hip with nothing but their robes between them.
"Lan Zhan, did you hear that?"
"Mn. Books falling."
The voices were most unmistakably HanGuang Jun and Wei WuXian's.
"Oh dear," Sisi said.
"Oh no," Lan QiRen groaned, tipping his head back until his hairpiece clunked against the shelf. Another book fell, clipping his ear on its way down as if to chastise him.
Then the young couple appeared around the shelf and stared at them. Four eyes went impossibly wide.
"Oh," Wei WuXian said while HanGuang Jun appeared to be rendered speechless at the sight of his uncle with a woman in his arms.
"Ah. I... I was right, Lan Zhan! We did hear something!" Wei WuXian had a blinding grin on his face.
"Mnhr." HanGuang Jun sounded like he was being strangled. Sisi wondered if he was thinking of that same casual touch was forbidden rule.
"Look, some of the books had fallen from the shelves! By themselves!" Wei WuXian continued in that same overly loud, overly bright voice.
"It was my fault. I was clumsy," Sisi told him. "Senior Lan... prevented me from a fall."
"Sisi, please," Lan QiRen mumbled, the pink in his ears spreading to his face. Then he looked down and froze. Glancing down, Sisi saw that the neckline of her robes had loosened, allowing him a tantalising sight of her cleavage. It was deeper than usual, thanks to how she was leaning against him. Heat flared through her, not all of it embarrassment.
"I never knew the Library Pavilion was haunted, Lan Zhan. What else could it be? It's not even a windy day!" Wei WuXian turned to his husband, eyes dancing with glee and voice trembling with laughter.
"Mnhr!" HanGuang Jun's ears had taken on the same hue as his uncle's.
"We should pick them up, but uh... I'm sure someone will. Rabbits! Yes, let's go see the rabbits, come on!"
Grabbing a still stunned HanGuang Jun's hand, Wei WuXian spun around in a swirl of dark blue robes and pulled him away. Their retreating footsteps were followed by the double doors thudding shut a few seconds later, and that was followed by unrestrained laughter that made Sisi want to dig a hole where she stood and jump right in.
With another groan, Lan QiRen let his head thump back against the shelf again - harder - his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. Sisi bit her lip, wondering if she should invite him to join her in that hole. Then he grabbed her upper arms, gently pushing her to stand upright before letting go.
"Madam Sisi, are you alright?" He asked, carefully avoiding looking any lower than her eyes.
"Yes. And you?" She asked.
"Of course I am," he huffed.
They took a moment to straighten their robes, avoiding each other's gazes, before bending down to pick up the fallen books.
As she guiltily straightened a bent cover, Sisi wondered if she would be out of a job. Then she remembered that Lan QiRen was equally guilty and didn't know if that made things better or worse.
"You're welcome to read any of them after finishing your tasks," he finally ventured, breaking the awkward silence after he had placed all the books back on the shelves. His movements were sure, confirming Sisi's suspicion that he knew the library inside out.
"I can't," she admitted. "Unlike Meng Shi, A-Yao's mother, I never learned how to read. Well, I can read and write my own name, but not very well."
The appalled expression on his face confirmed her other suspicion that he hadn't thought of that.
"It's not your fault," she reassured him. "You spent your life surrounded by people who can read and write as easily as they breathe air."
He looked irritated at that.
"That is still no reason for me to assume-" he began and broke off, frowning. "Was that why WuXian and GuangYao were giving all those hints the other day? About your cooking and sewing skills?"
Sisi's smile widened.
"They're good boys. You must be proud to call them your nephews."
"There was a time when I didn't," Lan QiRen admitted. "But I do apologise for not realising earlier."
"Should I should stop working here now?" Sisi asked.
Still frowning, he shook his head.
"I am first and foremost, a teacher. If you are willing to learn then I am willing to teach."
She gaped at him.
"You must be joking!" She exclaimed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean... but you're a busy man. You shouldn't waste your time on someone like me."
"How I choose to spend my time is up to me. I can certainly spare a few hours a week. If you are willing."
Sisi couldn't stop the smile breaking out on her face anymore than she could stop the tears welling up in her eyes.
"Thank you!" Before she could stop herself, she had darted forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. Then she drew back, dismayed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!"
She was lying, she wasn't sorry at all, what with him staring at her, mouth half open. His eyes were so big it put her in mind of a startled deer. Or not so much a deer but a billy goat because of his-
With great difficulty, she swallowed a giggle.
Lan QiRen cleared his throat.
"I will uh... see you tomorrow around five in the evening." His voice sounded strangled as he spun around and beat a hasty retreat from the Library Pavilion.
"Tomorrow," Sisi whispered, staring after him.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it and take care :)
