Chapter 18: The Library

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Library

The car slowly pulled through the gates of the Huo residence.

The moment it entered the familiar grounds, Xi Yunxui couldn’t help looking out of the window.

She had only been here for a short time, yet the enormous residence was already becoming somewhat familiar.

The carefully trimmed trees lined the driveway. The flowerbeds were perfectly maintained, and the massive main house stood ahead beneath the night light.

As the car came to a stop, several servants who had been waiting nearby immediately stepped forward.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

"Welcome back, Eldest Young Master."

"Welcome home, Master."

Huo Jingchen gave them a slight nod before stepping out.

Xi Yunxui followed him down.

Several servants glanced curiously at her.

It wasn’t unusual for a maid to return with the eldest young master.

What was unusual was the fact that the eldest young master himself had driven the car.

Xi Yunxui didn’t notice their curious looks.

She had already decided to head to the staff quarters.

"I’m going back to my room, Young Master."

Huo Jingchen looked at her.

"Alright."

Xi Yunxui nodded and hurried away.

---

When she arrived at the staff quarters, she immediately spotted Auntie Zhang.

The older woman had been waiting anxiously.

The moment she saw Xi Yunxui, she walked over.

"Yunxui, you’re finally back."

"Auntie Zhang."

"Where have you been all this time? I was beginning to wonder if something happened."

Xi Yunxui smiled awkwardly.

"Nothing happened."

She then explained everything.

She told Auntie Zhang how she had delivered the documents to Huo Jingchen, how he had asked her to prepare a meal, and how he had eventually asked her to wait for him because he wanted to return to the residence with her.

Auntie Zhang listened quietly.

By the time Xi Yunxui finished, her expression had become somewhat complicated.

"Young Master asked you to wait for him?"

"Yes."

Auntie Zhang stared at her for several seconds.

She couldn’t quite understand it.

But she knew the original Xi Yunxui.

The girl had always been timid.

She rarely spoke unless spoken to and would become nervous whenever someone from the main family addressed her.

Auntie Zhang couldn’t imagine her doing anything that would attract the eldest young master’s attention.

Still, she didn’t ask too many questions.

"Alright. Don’t worry about it."

She pointed toward the room.

"Go and change into your maid uniform first."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"Oh, and the Master has returned."

"The Master?"

"Yes. Young Master’s father."

Xi Yunxui immediately understood.

"Alright."

She entered the room where she had slept the previous night.

After changing into her maid uniform, she placed her belongings neatly to one side and returned to the main residence.

---

The moment she entered the main house, Auntie Zhang spotted her.

"Yunxui."

"Yes?"

"Don’t worry about helping in the kitchen for now."

Auntie Zhang picked up a tray.

On it was a beautifully prepared pot of tea and a cup.

"Take this to the Master."

Xi Yunxui carefully accepted the tray.

"Alright."

She took two steps before stopping.

"Auntie Zhang."

"Yes?"

"Where is the Master’s study?"

Auntie Zhang blinked.

Then she gave her detailed directions.

"Go through the east corridor. When you reach the second staircase, go upstairs. You’ll see a dark wooden door at the end of the corridor. That’s the study."

Xi Yunxui nodded carefully.

"I understand."

"Don’t worry. It’s easy to find."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Thank you."

She carried the tea upstairs.

---

The study was exactly where Auntie Zhang had described.

Xi Yunxui stood before the large wooden door.

She adjusted the tray in her hands.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

A deep voice came from inside.

Xi Yunxui pushed the door open.

The first thing she noticed was Huo Jingchen.

He was sitting opposite an older man.

The older man sat behind the large study desk.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened slightly.

So this is the Master.

Huo Jingchen’s resemblance to his father was striking.

Their facial structures were almost identical.

The same sharp eyebrows.

The same deep-set eyes.

The same straight nose.

Even their calm expressions were remarkably similar.

The only obvious difference was their age.

Huo Jingchen was thirty-two.

His father, Huo Mingyuan, was fifty-six.

Yet even at fifty-six, Huo Mingyuan carried himself with the dignity of someone who had spent decades standing at the top of a powerful family.

Xi Yunxui quickly lowered her gaze.

She approached the desk.

"Your tea, Sir."

Huo Mingyuan looked at her.

"Alright. Thank you."

Xi Yunxui placed the tea down carefully.

She bowed slightly.

"Then I’ll take my leave."

She turned.

"Wait."

Xi Yunxui stopped.

She looked back.

Huo Jingchen was looking at her.

"Do you know how to repair an ancient book?"

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"An ancient book?"

"Yes."

Huo Jingchen picked up a damaged book lying on the table.

"It’s an old family record. Some of the pages have been damaged."

He turned it slightly.

"The binding has also deteriorated."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes immediately lit up.

Ancient books?

Here?

She had assumed modern society had completely abandoned the things she knew.

But apparently...

There were still people preserving them.

"How was it damaged?" she asked.

Huo Jingchen glanced at his father.

"Some pages were eaten by insects."

Xi Yunxui’s expression became serious.

"Bookworms?"

"Yes."

She nodded thoughtfully.

That was something she understood.

Ancient books needed proper preservation.

And if insects had already damaged the pages, simply replacing them wouldn’t be enough.

"You know how to repair it?"

"Yes."

Huo Jingchen studied her.

"You’re confident?"

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"I have repaired books before."

That was technically true.

Mo Yunxui had spent years caring for old books and household records in her previous life.

Huo Jingchen seemed satisfied with her answer.

"Then follow me."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Where?"

"The library."

She quickly followed him.

---

The Huo family library was located in another part of the residence.

When Huo Jingchen opened the heavy wooden door, Xi Yunxui froze.

Her eyes widened.

The room was enormous.

Bookshelves covered almost every wall.

Some shelves contained modern books.

But most of them...

Were old.

Very old.

There were books with yellowed pages.

Ancient scrolls.

Old family records.

Handwritten manuscripts.

Some were stored inside glass cabinets.

Others had been carefully wrapped in protective cloth.

Xi Yunxui took a slow step inside.

Her expression changed completely.

"This..."

She looked around.

There was something almost magical about seeing so many things that reminded her of her former life.

Huo Jingchen noticed her expression.

"You’re surprised?"

Xi Yunxui nodded honestly.

"Very."

He walked farther inside.

"The library isn’t used often."

Xi Yunxui looked around.

That explained why the room had a slightly neglected appearance.

It wasn’t dirty.

But there was a thin layer of dust on some of the shelves, and the air carried the faint scent of old paper.

"My father doesn’t allow people to touch these books casually," Huo Jingchen explained.

"Most of them have been passed down through our family for generations."

Xi Yunxui listened carefully.

"Many of the servants don’t know how to handle them properly."

"So your father doesn’t allow anyone to enter?"

"Exactly."

Xi Yunxui nodded.

She understood.

Ancient books could easily be damaged by careless handling.

She looked at the shelves again.

Then an idea suddenly occurred to her.

She turned toward Huo Jingchen.

"If I repair the book properly..."

He looked at her.

"Hmm?"

"Would you allow me to clean and organize this library?"

Huo Jingchen stared at her.

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"There are many books here. If no one maintains them properly, they’ll eventually become damaged."

Huo Jingchen blinked once.

Then twice.

He hadn’t expected that request.

"You want to clean the library?"

"Yes."

She looked around with barely concealed excitement.

There were probably hundreds of books here.

Perhaps even more.

And unlike the modern world outside, these books were things she actually understood.

Huo Jingchen remained silent for a moment.

Then he said calmly,

"No problem."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"If you can repair the book properly, I’ll convince my father to allow you to tidy the library."

Xi Yunxui immediately smiled.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Huo Jingchen nodded.

"Then I’ll leave it to you."

Xi Yunxui turned toward the damaged book.

Her eyes gleamed with determination.

Finally...

Something in this modern world that she understood perfectly.

[Ding!]

The familiar system voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

Xi Yunxui froze.

[New Maid Mission Detected.]

[Mission: Restore the damaged ancient book.]

[Additional Mission: Assist in organizing and preserving the Huo Family Library.]

[Mission rewards will be determined upon completion.]

Xi Yunxui’s lips slowly curled upward.

This mission...

I like it.