Chapter 17.1 - The Seventeenth Sentence Part 1

Translator: tarararawr

The Seventeenth Sentence Part 1

Gosh, it’s so hot.

This was Pu Tao’s true feelings as they held hands during that part of the journey. As it turns out, holding the hand of the person she liked meant that the temperature would rise.

That kind of joy and excitement could not be held down, Pu Tao could only secretly be happy and control her lips at all times.

She thought that her hands were definitely sweating, but she was embarrassed to talk about it.

Pu Tao suppressed her accelerating heart rate. She was trying to find something to say, so she asked, “Have you ever been to Rong City before?”

Cheng Su said, “I have.”

Pu Tao glanced at him. “What about Temple Water Street?”

“I have been here, too.”

When Cheng Su spoke, his eyes between his high nosebridge looked into her eyes. It was friendly and gentle.

Pu Tao’s chest rose slightly and she looked away.

After a while, she looked back and discovered that he was still looking at her. But he was smiling a lot more and it was somewhat mischievous.

She blushed and mumbled, “Wouldn’t it be better to watch where you’re going?”

Cheng Su’s lips turned upside down and he asked, “Are you watching?”

Pu Tao rushed to change the subject. “If you have been to Temple Water Street, then it is not very fun to come again.”

Cheng Su suddenly asked, “Would you like to have a look at my store?”

Pu Tao was surprised for a moment. “What?”

Cheng Su: “I have a bookstore, just up ahead.”

Pu Tao froze and stood there firmly. “Which one?”

“The Heart’s Storage Spot 1 .” Cheng Su then asked, “Have you been here?”

Pu Tao blinked. “That store is yours?” She went there with her colleagues last year, and because it was so stylish they took a lot of pictures as a keepsake.

Cheng Su nodded, “Yeah, but a friend of mine is responsible for the two branches on this side of Rong City.”

Pu Tao frowned, and she, who was always influenced by him, seemed to have finally found leverage on him. “Oh wah, so is this what you mean by you’re a stranger here?”

Cheng Su’s lips rose. “Mhm.”

He stopped and motioned to their hands. “Do you want to go back on your promise? If you don’t want to lead the way, I don’t mind doing it.”

“It’s better if I don’t.” Pu Tao tightened her grip on his fingers and made up some nonsense that she said seriously, “I’ve only been here once, and I can’t remember it. Can you lead the way instead?”

The wind blew and the rustling of the tree leaves caused them to fall.

Cheng Su was still smiling. “Then let’s go.”

“Okay!” Pu Tao’s response was a cheerful interpretation of the happy nonsense she came up with.

Cheng Su’s store was close by. It’s only a hundred meters away.

The storefront of the bookstore was not big, but it was simple, beautiful, and quiet.

On the plaque were four words handwritten in calligraphy: The Heart’s Storage Spot

Cheng Su lifted the curtain and they went in. The store clerk sat at the counter. She saw that someone had come in, so she raised her eyes from behind the pile of books.

Once the girl looked, her eyes brightened. She stood up and asked in surprise, “Boss Cheng?” What are you doing here?”

Cheng Su smiled faintly and looked around. “Where is Wu Jing?”

The girl said, “He came this morning and went to the other store.” She made a phone gesture. “Do you want me to call him?”

Cheng Su replied, “No, we’re just taking a look around.”

The girl noticed the woman next to him.

She had a simple and uncomplicated kind of appearance. Describing her would be cumbersome. Based on her first impression, Put Tao could be described with just one word: beautiful.

Since Pu Tao was being stared at by a stranger, she felt anxious. She tried to hint at him to let go of her hand.

But Cheng Su still held on firmly, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Pu Tao was a little awkward and looked everwyhere before she finally said to the girl, “Hello.”

“Hello.” The girl froze for a moment. Then, she playfully said to Cheng Su, “You guys look around. Would you like something to drink?”

She handed over a long menu. It was all on gold colored paper and was written with a brush.

Cheng Su picked it up and handed it to Pu Tao. “You order.”

To turn the page, their hands had to be separated.

Pu Tao simply glanced at it. “Do you have any recommendations?”

Cheng Su leaned over and said, “I usually drink Americanos. There is also milk tea.”

“It’s on the back.” He raised his hand and lifted the page for her. After that, he pointed with his slender finger.

It was also because of these actions that it made her truly feel safe around him. It was just like something she had dreamed about.

100 million bubbles suddenly emerged from Pu Tao’s chest. Pop! Pop! Bursting forever.

She never expected this person would be holding her hand. She must have saved the galaxy in her previous life and had the blessing of 800 lifetimes.

All she could think about was his hand, his voice, his breath. She couldn’t even read the tea menu.

In the end, she could only hastily order a cup of Darjeeling milk tea, and confirmed with Cheng Su what he wanted to order. Then, she took out her cell phone and asked the shop clerk, “Can I pay with WeChat?”

“Pay?” The girl’s eyes showed shock. She looked at Cheng Su and then looked at her. “It has to be free. How can I take any money from the boss’s wife?”

“N-n-no…”

Suddenly being called that was like having weights put on her shoulders. Pu Tao became preoccupied with denying it and could not prevent the stammering.

Cheng Su only smiled and did not speak.

Footnotes

This translates more literally as ‘square inch’, but I am translating it more figuratively since it also means heart. In Chinese, heart also means mind, which makes more sense for a bookstore to be a storage place for both heart and mind. I also wanted it to be four letters since it is four characters.