Pei Ye returned to the Heavenly Principle Academy as dusk fell, but Fang Jidao had already left, and the door to the schoolhouse was indeed shut as Pei Ye pushed against it.
Sparse stars hung in the cold gray sky, small and distant, only the second floor of the book tower was reflecting the dim candlelight. Pei Ye entered, noticing that the backyard had already been cleaned that day, and with a book in hand, he climbed to the second floor, wooden boards creaking under his footsteps.
This was his first time ascending these stairs, as life in this courtyard had always been as regular as clockwork. Each time after watching Mr. Zhu finish cleaning the courtyard and say goodbye, the sun would just begin setting over West City, and Mr. Zhu would wash the teapot and quietly ascend to the second floor. By the time Pei Ye looked back at the gate, a dim candlelight would be reflected in the second-floor window of the book tower.
