“It’s massive!” Luo Tianchen exclaimed, gazing at the colossal structure before him. “I can’t believe this is my first time here.”
The library soared to a height of sixty meters, sprawling across nearly ten thousand square meters—roughly the size of a standard sports field. Every intricate detail was a testament to the ingenuity of countless world-class architects.
It was often the first sight to greet students entering the campus, making it undeniably an iconic landmark of Xingjiang Middle School.
“That’s because you hardly ever study, Luo Tianchen,” Bingying said with a wry smile. “Honestly, you sleep through classes, and the exam material is always so obscure, much of it only found within these very library walls.
Yet, you somehow manage to scrape by with a passing grade every single time. Is it even surprising, coming from you?”
“Just a coincidence, a pure coincidence!” Luo Tianchen chuckled dismissively. “If we’re talking about terrifying, isn’t the President, who scores perfect marks every time, far more intimidating?
You know I don’t like crowded places, and a place as refined as this library really isn’t for me. Anyway, where exactly are we headed?”
Stepping into the main hall, the automatic doors seemed to separate two distinct worlds. Outside, the clamor had been incessant, but inside, a profound silence reigned.
Not a single sound could be heard within the vast library as people moved about, quiet and orderly.
“Remember to change into the special shoes, then we’ll take the elevator over there,” Ye Dieyu communicated through gestures.
Having spent two years together, they understood her meaning even without words. Following her instructions, they changed their footwear and boarded the elevator.
“We can finally talk here, right?” Luo Tianchen sighed, a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “It’s so strange, though. So many people, yet not a sound.”
“The shoes here are specially made, and the rooms use the best soundproofing materials,” Bingying explained. “After all, humans are social creatures.
If everyone else remains silent, individuals will likely feel too awkward to make a sound themselves. Oh, and by the way, making excessive noise will result in academic credit deductions.”
“That last part is the real重点, isn’t it?” Luo Tianchen retorted.
He had forgotten to mention that Xingjiang Middle School’s tuition was exorbitant. The school operated on a credit system, where academic points were earned through exams, classes, competitions, and various other activities.
Conversely, various infractions would lead to credit deductions. The number of credits determined whether a student was placed on the advancement track, the retention track, or the expulsion track.
High-credit students received scholarship compensation, while low-credit students faced fines. Luo Tianchen always managed to barely scrape by on the advancement threshold each year.
This led to rumors on campus like, ‘The advancement line? Just check Luo Tianchen’s scores!’ After all, he meticulously researched everyone’s usual credits and predicted exam results.
He wasn’t sure why, but seeing the exasperated, yet powerless, expressions of the school board always brought him a peculiar sense of satisfaction. It was a small amusement in his otherwise mundane life.
“Right, I remember floors one through three are student study rooms, four through six are library lending rooms, seven through nine are central computer labs, and ten through eleven are club activity rooms,” Bingying explained, flipping through her student handbook.
“Floors twelve through fourteen are storage for various rare collections, the fifteenth floor houses the administrator’s office and archival documents, and the sixteenth floor holds the executive offices. That’s roughly it. Ordinary students aren’t allowed past the twelfth floor.”
“I see. So, what about the seventeenth floor?” Luo Tianchen asked.
“Huh? What seventeenth floor?” Bingying paused, surprised.
“I counted earlier from outside. The entire library should have seventeen floors,” Luo Tianchen stated.
“What? Really? But it’s not in the student handbook, and there’s no seventeenth floor on the elevator either… Ye Dieyu, do you know anything about this?” Bingying turned to ask Ye Dieyu.
She merely shook her head. “My apologies, I don’t. This building should only have sixteen floors. I haven’t found any other passages that lead higher.”
“Is that so? Then I must have miscounted,” Luo Tianchen said, dismissing the thought. “Anyway, which floor are we going to?”
“The fifteenth floor. It contains all the documented records of Xingjiang City since its written history began.”
“Wow, that sounds pretty cool. By the way, Bingying, why have you been clutching my clothes ever since we started going up?”
“It’s-it’s just a c-c-coincidence!” she stammered.
“Oh, really?” Luo Tianchen eyed her suspiciously. Though Bingying tried to remain composed, her trembling feet betrayed her.
He glanced out of the glass elevator. They were already at a considerable height, with nothing but an endless expanse of blue sky and white clouds stretching out before them.
“I see… Bingying, are you afraid of heights?”
“J-just a tiny, tiny bit!” she insisted.
“So that’s it,” Ye Dieyu offered, providing a second piece of evidence. “No wonder you’re always drenched in sweat when you come to find me. Did you walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator?”
“I said it’s just a little! Really, just a little!”