Chapter 59: Chapter Fifty-Nine: This Isn

“Lurking? Li Ye wrote a novel called ‘Lurking’?”

“..........”

After learning that Li Ye’s novel was titled ‘Lurking,’ Lu Jingyao didn’t speak a word the entire night, frustrating her younger brother Lu Zixue, who accused her of “growing wings, getting a big attitude, and forgetting who she is.”

But after the "royalty incident," Lu Jingyao was no longer the same—she no longer wanted to sacrifice herself to please others, and she simply ignored her brother's sneers.

She barely slept all night, rising before dawn and slipping out quietly, walking all the way to the county seat.

The thirty-mile journey took three hours; at eight in the morning, Lu Jingyao arrived at the Qingshui County Xinhua Bookstore.

She removed her scarf, rubbed her numb cheeks, and asked the clerk: “Hello, do you have ‘Lurking’?”

The clerk sat expressionless behind the counter, impatiently replying: “No, no, you ask every day—are you trying to drive us crazy?”

Lu Jingyao hadn’t slept all night and had walked three hours—now she faced this kind of service, and her temper flared.

Sure, clerks were arrogant these days, but weren’t college students arrogant too?

“Who asks every day? What kind of service is this? Is ‘Serve the People’ on your wall fake? Who are you giving the cold shoulder to?”

“Hey, how can you talk like that? Who are you calling out for giving the cold shoulder?”

“Giving the cold shoulder” was a northern dialect term—the local clerk, raised in the area, didn’t understand it and took it as an insult, immediately standing up to shout back at Lu Jingyao.

Their shouting drew the bookstore manager, and since it was the end of the lunar year, the streets were already crowded with people buying New Year goods—if this wasn’t settled fast, a crowd would gather, and that would be humiliating!

“Hey hey hey, stop shouting! Xiao Hu, mind your tone! Miss, calm down—what’s going on?”

The clerk opened her mouth to speak, but Lu Jingyao cut in: “Sir, you judge this—I came early to buy a book, politely asked if you had ‘Lurking,’ and she immediately snapped at me...”

The clerk hurried to defend herself: “That’s not true, Uncle Wu! She insulted me...”

“Enough, enough—I’ll handle this. Xiao Hu, go help organize the New Year goods in the back.”

Uncle Wu shooed the pouting clerk to the back, then explained to Lu Jingyao: “Kids these days don’t know any better. Lately, lots of people have been asking for ‘Lurking,’ but we don’t have any—our tone got a bit sharp, don’t take it personally.”

Since he spoke kindly, Lu Jingyao couldn’t stay angry—she softened her tone and asked: “Have many people come to buy ‘Lurking’ these days?”

“Many,” Uncle Wu said. “Mostly students and teachers from No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools, and people from the grain system—but we truly don’t have any. Even the city’s Xinhua Bookstore doesn’t have much...”

“The city doesn’t have any? Why?”

Lu Jingyao was stunned. Though she’d guessed from Liu Muhan’s obsession with reading that ‘Lurking’ must be “interesting,” it was strange that even the city’s Xinhua Bookstore had none.

Uncle Wu explained: “Because this book was just printed and released at year-end—the first edition was ten thousand copies.”

“But the market reaction was bizarre—it nearly sold out in provincial capitals, and barely any made it to city-level bookstores, let alone our small county. Why not try the provincial capital?”

“It’s selling that well?”

Lu Jingyao murmured to herself as she stepped out of the county Xinhua Bookstore.

Outside the county Xinhua Bookstore stretched a long street: eastward to No. 2 High School, westward to the bus station.

Lu Jingyao stood in thought for a long while, then clenched her teeth and headed for the bus station.

She was going to the provincial capital to see what magic ‘Lurking’ held that could lure so many people into “wasting their time.”

The bus fare from Qingshui County to the provincial capital was forty-five fen—enough to buy a pound of fatty pork. Normally, Lu Jingyao would never spend it, but today she couldn’t bear it anymore.

She couldn’t bear the burning fire in her heart.

【How could Li Ye publish a novel? How could he earn thousands in royalties?】

【His novel... isn’t even available? How is that possible?】

Lu Jingyao had submitted manuscripts herself—she knew exactly what ten thousand copies in one print run meant.

【Famous writer?】

【Him?】

In northern winters, the sun set early.

The last bus from the provincial capital to Qingshui County rolled into the station beneath the setting sun.

Passengers scrambled off, hurrying off in all directions.

With limited transport in the county, nine out of ten townships had no buses—everyone rushed home before twilight.

The tired conductor pulled out a broom to clean the bus, only to find a girl still seated, lost in a book.

“Hey, we’re at the stop—planning to stay here tonight?”

“Huh?”

Startled, Lu Jingyao looked up and realized she’d reached Qingshui County—she dashed off the bus.

But as soon as she stepped down, her legs gave out and she tumbled.

“Hey hey hey, are you okay?”

The kind-hearted conductor rushed off the bus and helped her up.

“I’m fine, fine—legs went numb.”

Lu Jingyao smiled awkwardly, staggered out of the station, and headed straight for a nearby noodle shop.

She’d left before dawn, skipped breakfast, and rushed straight to the provincial capital.

In the capital, she visited several bookstores—all out of stock. Only one said they’d receive the final batch of ‘Lurking’ at noon.

Lu Jingyao was determined to buy ‘Lurking’—she waited until one in the afternoon.

And it was ridiculous: buying a book required queuing.

Fine, queue you must—but then people cut in, slipped through back doors, and after over an hour of chaos, she finally got it.

Then she rushed back on the bus, only opening ‘Lurking’ once she was seated.

And then—she looked up, and the stop had arrived.

Only then did she feel intense hunger.

Luckily, during the holiday, the school had issued each student several pounds of national grain coupons—otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to afford even a bowl of noodles.

After swallowing a steaming bowl of scallion noodles, Lu Jingyao slowly came back to herself.

She held ‘Lurking’ in her hands, and after a long while, slowly shook her head.

【This isn’t his level—something’s wrong!】

Lu Jingyao knew Li Ye’s literary foundation inside out—when they discussed poetry and prose with Xia Yue and others, Li Ye was just a filler.

Now, reading the prose, stylistic flourishes, and plot descriptions in ‘Lurking’—she couldn’t believe Li Ye wrote it.

【We’ve been apart less than a year—has he become someone else?】

At this thought, Lu Jingyao’s heart felt like three kittens had crawled inside, scratching and clawing at her soul, leaving her restless.

She wanted to go straight to Li Ye and ask—what was going on?

But remembering his letter: “Don’t meet me again,” she couldn’t bring herself to face him.

Suddenly, Lu Jingyao remembered Wen Leyu.

She’d promised Teacher Ke to look after Wen Leyu—and Wen Leyu taught at No. 2 High School, so she must know something.

Lu Jingyao’s energy returned, and she hurried toward No. 2 High School.

When she entered the school, she found students still in class.

She walked over—and collided face-to-face with Xia Yue, who looked up.

“Lu Jingyao? Is that you?”

Xia Yue cried out in delight, then ran out excitedly.

“Hey? Xia Yue, haven’t you gone home for the holiday yet?”

Lu Jingyao grabbed Xia Yue’s hand, equally surprised and delighted.

They’d once been inseparable friends; after half a year apart, both were overjoyed.

Hugging wasn’t customary yet—holding hands and stomping feet was the proper way to show excitement.

Not just Xia Yue and Lu Jingyao were happy—in minutes, every student still at school in the remedial class gathered around.

A college student! A living college student!

Lu Jingyao’s triumph—gaining admission to Beijing Foreign Languages College—was the pride of No. 2 High School, a legend among the remedial students, and their reason to keep studying.

Dozens of remedial students crowded the corridor, staring at Lu Jingyao like she was a celebrity—and this attention erased all her inner insecurity.

Lu Jingyao was excellent. She was the model of No. 2 High School, the model for every high school student in Qingshui County—she had every right to be proud.

When the vice principal Tang Feiyu arrived, shook her hand warmly, and praised her, Lu Jingyao’s pride reached its peak.

“Welcome back to your alma mater for guidance! You’re our pride—tomorrow we’re holding a speech, and you’ll share your experience, inspire everyone.”

Lu Jingyao agreed generously—her demeanor now bore no resemblance to the high school girl of six months ago.

She was now a true “adult.”

After the teachers left, Lu Jingyao finally asked Xia Yue: “Where’s Wen Leyu? Isn’t she in your class?”

Xia Yue’s smile froze. “She’s always with Li Ye now—doesn’t talk to any of us.”

“With Li Ye?” Lu Jingyao asked, startled. “Why would she be with Li Ye?”

Xia Yue said: “I’m not sure, but when Li Ye was writing his novel, Wen Leyu helped him a lot.”

Wen Leyu had only proofread and copied manuscripts—but now, looking back, Xia Yue and the others sensed a different meaning.

Lu Jingyao instantly connected the dots: Wen Leyu... Teacher Ke.

Her doubts cleared like dawn breaking.

Watching Lu Jingyao’s shifting expression, Xia Yue bit her lip and whispered: “Jingyao, you don’t know—Li Ye set up a self-study room outside school.”

“The stove burns 24 hours a day, and they serve cabbage with pork every meal—so many girls have been drawn there: Hu Man, Han Xia, Jiang Xiaoyan... he’s lured them all away.”

Lu Jingyao’s heart clenched with dread—and a surge of righteous fury rose within her.

“Where’s Wen Leyu? Xia Yue, go get her back!”