On the second night after Cheng Yu arrived in this world.
In an unnamed Small Town in Mountain City, Cloud Province, formerly part of the Cloud Nation and now part of the Human Nation, on the Eastern Continent of the San Lorenzo World.
A quaintly decorated bookstore had opened on the Small Town's old street, but few of the people passing by noticed the unassuming little shop. Its name was simple, too.
A Certain Bookshop.
Inside A Certain Bookshop, a few yellow wooden tables and stools stood casually arranged. Pale yellow lighting lent the interior a cozy feel, and a conspicuous wooden sign by the entrance bore a few words.
Books are not for loan or sale. Reading is free.
Upstairs, near the railing, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man in a purple plaid suit vest sat on a lounge sofa. A white porcelain tea set and a book rested on the round solid-wood table before him, while a little black dog lay at his feet.
Behind the checkout counter near the entrance stood a refined-looking young woman in a casual long dress, smiling.
Jingle, jingle. Just then, the bell over the door rang.
A girl with twin ponytails and a schoolbag pushed open the door and entered.
"Welcome."
A voice rang out, sounding like a thoughtful older girl from next door.
The girl froze for a moment, and the young woman behind the counter spoke.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
The girl merely pointed at the wooden sign by the entrance and timidly asked,
"Um... uh... excuse me, is reading really free?"
The woman behind the counter wore the same flawless smile and answered in the same warm voice.
"Yes, but we don't lend or sell our books. Thank you for understanding."
The little girl immediately waved her