What kind of hospitality is this?

He's too lazy to move, Shi Chun really wants to ask Dong Wenshu, where did you find this obnoxious employee, even carrying a bottle of wine, getting drunk on duty, can this bookstore business still function? The bookstore barely makes any money.

He looked back at the scene again and found something was off, it seemed, business wasn't worse than before.

Upon closer inspection, he found that there were wine bottles placed on the tables in front of those reading people too.

How long has he been gone, and now they're serving wine?

He turned to look at the Red-clothed Woman again, surprised, could it not be this woman's fault, but that stubborn Dong Wenshu opened his mind, and the bookstore started selling wine?

Whether he's enlightened or not is another matter, but this woman's indifferent attitude still makes him feel something is not right. With this kind of work attitude, how could Dong Wenshu hire someone like her, is it another family member of Dong Wenshu's?

He instinctively used his superpower to scrutinize this woman.

Lately, whether it's mana consumption or the blood energy consumption of the Right Eye Superpower, they've been too high, and he no longer wants to use them recklessly.

Now, unexpected findings, after using it, he felt puzzled. The gray shadowy figure turned out to be a demon cultivator.

His gaze quickly fixed on the Dantian area of this woman and found a flourishing vine-like shape.

Then observing her Magic Source form, Shi Chun was puzzled again. He hadn't seen demon cultivators capable of transforming whose cultivation was so weak, lacking any substantial feel, her Magic Source seemed almost ethereal, barely visible, it was the first time he encountered such a Magic Source, uncertain if it's him experiencing something rare.

Of course, having weak cultivation doesn't matter, for chores, it's unnecessary to be particular. A human could handle this bookstore work.

What intrigued him was, Dong Wenshu didn't invite demon cultivators to his home before, this stubborn man actually hired a demon woman for chores, is it cost-effective?

Judging by this demon woman's appearance, she doesn't seem like a cheap deal.

The Red-clothed Woman's drooping eyelids slowly lifted a bit, scrutinizing Shi Chun, due to his unusual behavior, neither speaking nor looking at the notice, staring at her can be understood, many men like looking at her, but the problem is this person doesn't seem like he's reacting to a beauty.

Upon closely inspecting Shi Chun's face, some subtle aspects made her eyebrows twitch slightly.

On the other side, the temporary service worker, Miss Dongliang Ying, was single-arm carrying a bundle of paper to top up the tables and desk, suddenly saw the back and side profile standing by the counter, started slightly, then surprised muttering, "Why is he here?"

Her face then revealed anger, quickly striding to Shi Chun's back, raised her hand, slapped Shi Chun's shoulder, angrily scolding, "You..."

The face with three strands of long beard turned around, causing her words to get stuck, realizing she mistook someone, her eyes shifted, quickly addressed the Red-clothed Woman behind the counter, "Jun, is this man bothering you?"

"No," the Red-clothed Woman slightly shook her head, slowly stood up.

Shi Chun looked at Dongliang Ying's hand on his shoulder, then at the shapely figure of the Red-clothed Woman standing up, then at the prospered business in the hall, vaguely understood how this good business came about, and somewhat understood why Dongliang Ying misunderstood him.

Almost startled, he hoarsely asked, "Miss, is there some misunderstanding?"

Dongliang Ying hurriedly withdrew her hand, apologizing, "Sorry, sorry, seeing you by the counter not leaving, thought it was another cad wanting to flirt with Jun."

Jun? Shi Chun pondered, smiling wryly on the outside, "It's my first time here, just trying to understand the cost of reading here."

Is that so? The Red-clothed Woman blinked, she hadn't seen any indication from him just now that he intended to understand the pricing, placed her hand on the wine jug, putting it down inside the second tier behind the counter.

"Oh, here, here," Dongliang Ying immediately pointed at the notice beside the counter, indicating to look here.

Alright, Shi Chun could only pretend and step over carefully to read.

He hadn't looked for long when a person from the backyard caught his attention.

The person is none other than the bookstore's proprietor Dong Wenshu, what attracted Shi Chun's attention was that Dong Wenshu seemed different from before, not quite certain what was different, at least on the surface attire, he hadn't seen Dong Wenshu so meticulously dressed.

Dong Wenshu happened to glance at him but didn't properly look at his own daughter, his gaze first focused on the Red-clothed Woman behind the counter, his eyes and expression instantly mellowed, stopped at the counter, and gently asked, "Having esteemed guests over, I am about to buy something outside, is there anything you'd like me to bring back for you?"

Hmm? Shi Chun blinked again, looked sideways at Dongliang Ying, ended up catching Dongliang Ying's fleeting disdainful pout, his mind suddenly realizing, thinking he understood why Dong Wenshu hired this demon woman for chores.

Quickly glancing again at the dressed-up Dong Wenshu, he chuckled inside, the stubborn old man has really opened up, and to a demon cultivator.

The Red-clothed Woman calmly refused, "No need."

Dong Wenshu maintained his composure, nodded, "Alright."

Then stood tall, turned, and left.

Shi Chun then muttered while staring at the notice, "Book Collection Building, second floor..."

Then he also left, looking around to find the stairs to go up to the second floor, appearing as a newcomer.

Dongliang Ying tilted his head again, staring at the silhouette as he departed.

The Red-clothed Woman leaned half on the counter, teasing, "Interest caught?"

"Huh?" Dongliang Ying startled, quickly retorted with spits, "Peh peh peh, no way. Just feels his silhouette is somewhat familiar, quite like that guy who worked odd jobs in the bookstore before."

This was said with some sentiment; she used to sit behind the counter, secretly watching Shi Chun for a long time. Very familiar with Shi Chun's figure and movements, so truly felt the similarity.

Thinking more, she realized she might be overthinking. That guy caused calamity to her family, nearly ending in ruin, how could he dare return to the bookstore? Key is, the bookstore holds no value for him to return.

Meanwhile, she was curious about what kind of person Shi Chun really was; it remains a mystery to her family, unable to learn his true identity from anyone.

Her family wasn't foolish, aware that the name was likely just an alias, but those who knew wouldn't tell.

Another side could be understood, it's not about hating; he only resided peacefully here, without any harmful intentions towards her family.

The Red-clothed Woman outright asked the name, "Wang Ping?"

Dongliang Ying responded affirmatively, turned to continue working with the bundle of paper.

The Red-clothed Woman glanced towards the stairs, slowly sat down, not lying crooked this time, leaning against the counter. One hand supporting her head, the other slowly flipping through the ledger.

Shi Chun ascended to the second floor again, encountering the almost-married second young miss Dong Liangyu, still in that soft blue long coat, silver gauze hat same as before, a delicate and frail young nobleman's attire, avoiding the complexity of feminine makeup.

A single beauty mark between her brows made her already pale complexion seem even paler.

Seated in alternating light and shadow, holding a scroll, occasionally coughing into her fist.

Hearing footsteps, she lifted her head, seeing a guest arrive, she slightly inclined her head in greeting.

Reuniting with an old acquaintance, there was only interest in Shi Chun's eyes, with no real feeling, he went to her table, took out the seven coins prepared earlier, placed them on the table, then turned directly into the Pavilion filled with bookshelves.

Normally, ten coins allow reading in the bookstore for a day, including tea service; fifteen coins would also include lunch pastries.

Seven coins is the minimum expense, allowing browsing in the Book Collection Pavilion for a day, but no food, drink, or writing materials, going downstairs concludes the visit; so generally, visitors finish other necessities before coming.

Those who do are truly here to read.

Surprised at the seven coins on the table, Dong Liangyu knew for certain; though frail, her memory was excellent. Being able to memorize countless book placements means her recall is exceptional.

She could confirm, the earlier visitor was indeed a newcomer, yet went through the motions skillfully and silently, knowing the rules wasn't the same.

She glanced at the basket set aside, the previous entrant, also a first-timer, no matter how informed, still asked for confirmation.

Not hastily collecting the money, she turned towards Shi Chun's back, immediately sensing a feeling of déjà vu. The most crucial part was that he didn't explore deeply before turning into the adjacent area, instead turning left shortly and directly opened a side door into the adjacent region.

The subsequent happenings were blocked from view by the shelves, but she saw the light and shadow amidst the gaps as he passed, and heard footsteps, with no hesitation, finding the side door immediately to enter.

The side door was a sliding door, strangers might mistake it for a wall.

Thinking again of the familiar silhouette, Dong Liangyu instantly couldn't sit still, stood up, set down the book, moved out from the desk, paused momentarily, reconsidering, then returned to the table, picked up the seven coins, and followed the bookcase intervals further in.

She directly approached to the end, where earlier the blue-shirted reader sat leaning against the bookshelf, carefully examining scrolls, looked up hearing her, smiled, nodded in greeting, and resumed reading.

Dong Liangyu slightly nodded back, ignoring him, reached the end and took a left turn, entering the adjacent area, weaving amidst the shelves, occasionally touching the books while searching the gaps.

Reached the end and saw no sign, realized he went upstairs immediately.

Promptly went to the staircase and ascended as well.

Shi Chun indeed was upstairs, familiar with the general category placement of books in the bookstore, heading directly to the target area, he heard footsteps ascending, glanced through shelf gaps, noticed Dong Liangyu looking for something, didn't care, continued searching the shelves.

Truthfully, he knew this family well enough, being no different from ordinary mortals, harmless. Thus, never guarded against them.

He thought a simple disguise would easily fool them.

Little did he know, just now downstairs, upon entering the bookstore, he was nearly recognized by this underestimated family.

Rummaging through the shelves, Shi Chun detected something amiss, turned, found Dong Liangyu emerging between shelves, staring at him step by step.

Gripping a volume, Shi Chun froze, heart pounding a bit; no way, just a brief glance, could he be recognized so easily?

Dong Liangyu ultimately stopped before him, showed the money in her delicate palm, "Sir, viewing the second floor books freely requires seven coins; you only tendered six, one is missing."

In the hall downstairs, the Red-clothed Woman suddenly closed her eyes to rest, fingers flipping the ledger paused, then slowly descended to gently tap on the ledger.

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