"Shen Siyi, is it?"
Xiao Ming's gaze was profound, "Are you interested in making a deal with me?"
Shen Siyi felt chills under his stare and asked subconsciously, "What deal?"
"Shut up, I just saved your life!"
Shen Siyi was stunned, then got angry, "Damn it, you dare to curse me, I'll kill you first!"
He clenched his fist and aimed for Xiao Ming's face.
Xiao Ming grabbed his wrist with a slight exertion of force, causing him to yelp in pain.
"Shut up!"
With a sudden fierce shout from Xiao Ming, Shen Siyi's heart leapt, his eardrums humming, and he instinctively shut his mouth tightly.
Only then did Xiao Ming let go of him, "It'd be best not to go to a nightclub tonight. If you must go, remember to stay away from a girl named Mengmeng."
Shen Siyi was gobsmacked.
The reason he hadn't entered the bookstore with Yun Shi Yu was that he was outside on the phone with his buddies, planning the evening's entertainment, and the first stop was supposed to be a nightclub.
How the hell did this son of a bitch know about something I decided on the spot?
As the suspicion just crept in, Shen Siyi suddenly realized another more serious problem and hurriedly turned around to explain, "Yu, don't listen to his nonsense. All my plans today revolve around you, and there's no way I'm going to any damned night..."
"You can go wherever you want, it has nothing to do with me."
Yun Shi Yu, looking impatient, walked past him to the counter and said to the owner, "Still five hundred, you selling or not?"
The owner glanced at Shen Siyi and saw his apprehensive expression, then he sighed disappointedly but couldn't help asking Xiao Ming, "Sir, are you still bidding?"
Xiao Ming, however, ignored him and instead asked Yun Shi Yu, "Miss Yun, may I ask again why you like this book?"
Yun Shi Yu pursed her lips and answered, "Because someone wrote a sentence on its thirty-eighth page that interests me a lot."
Xiao Ming flipped to the thirty-eighth page and saw that it was the famous story "Jiaona" from "Strange Tales."
At the bottom of the page, in blue pen, it read: Kongseng married Songniang because of Jiaona, and they became close friends through hardship; emotions and morals cannot be had both, which is lighter, which is heavier? I don't understand.
The handwriting was graceful, clearly a woman's hand, and from the intent, it was very likely the book's previous owner was caught in an immoral crush, which was why she had commented on the story.
The hearts of young girls are always romantic and sensitive; it's normal to like a book for a seemingly random sentence.
Anyway, as long as she didn't know the secret within the cover.
Xiao Ming was relieved, "Honestly, my reason for buying this book is similar to yours, the drunkard's desire is not in the wine; the difference is that you want the book itself more than I do.
So, let's make a compromise."
Yun Shi Yu didn't understand the meaning of his words and frowned slightly, "What compromise?"
"I'll buy the book, and then we can each take what we need.
The store owner and Mr. Shen beside you will bear witness; the book will definitely be yours before we leave this bookstore."
Yun Shi Yu's frown deepened, "What exactly do you mean?"
"You'll know soon enough."
As Xiao Ming spoke, he took out five hundred-yuan bills and placed them on the counter.
Yun Shi Yu hesitated but didn't stop him.
Seeing this, the owner, as disheartened as he felt, still had to issue a receipt to Xiao Ming.
Merchandise that cost a few tens to acquire, selling for five hundred was already quite good; who could blame a discerning buyer?
Upon completing the transaction, Xiao Ming gave Yun Shi Yu a mysterious smile, casually picked up a paper cutter from the counter, carefully cut open the book's back cover, gave it a shake, and a small red piece of paper fell into his palm.
The owner was so shocked that he nearly dropped his glasses.
"This... this is..."
"The red revenue one-yuan stamp!" Yun Shi Yu said with a voice full of disbelief and delight, "And it's the small characters version!"
Only Shen Siyi looked utterly confused, and leaned over to ask, "Red what?"
Yun Shi Yu, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the stamp in Xiao Ming's palm, quickly explained the origin of the small characters one-yuan red revenue stamp, her eyes full of longing.
"This is one of 'The Four Treasures of Chinese Philately,' there are only thirty-two known instances; its value far exceeds the most famous Large Dragon Stamp!"
Shen Siyi didn't doubt her words for a second, because the shop owner's face looked as if he had lost a parent.
"Sir, may I take a closer look at it?" Yun Shi Yu asked, lifting her gaze to Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming directly handed her the book and the stamp.
"The book is yours now. By the way, my name is Xiao Ming."
"Thank you, Mr. Xiao."
Yun Shi Yu held the book with great care, pulled out a magnifying glass from her bag, and leaned in close to admire the stamp in detail.
This made Xiao Ming's impression of her deepen.
After all, beautiful girls who liked to browse old bookstores and carried magnifying glasses with them were rare these days.
After a long while, Yun Shi Yu finally exhaled a long breath, "I can't guarantee it, but based on the paper, ink, perforation, and gum, I judge the stamp is probably genuine.
Congratulations, Mr. Xiao, you've scored a big win."
"Aren't you angry?"
Xiao Ming watched her with interest, "After all, it was originally yours, and I took it from you."
"Damn! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten!"
Before Yun Shi Yu could reply, Shen Siyi shouted loudly, "Kid, scram quickly, seeing as it's because of whatever stamp that is, I'll spare your life!"