When A Snail Falls In Love

Xu Jun's Story Part 2

Mu Tong had lost her father when she was very young. She and her brother had been brought up by their mother alone. As a result, her character was very much like her mother's: strong, independent, and quiet. After a bout of serious illness at the age of eight, she had lost her sight in both eyes. Her mother and five-year-old brother had held her and wailed in grief. However, she had softly comforted them and told them not to worry, as she would take care of herself.

What's more, she had resolutely kept her word. She lived her life to the fullest, and it was not any less than that of the average person.

She had met Xu Jun at the most difficult time of her life. Their mother was gravely ill, and as a result, the little sum of money she had scrimped and saved from several years of running the bookstore were gone, like water down the drain. Her brother had wanted to help with the household expenses, but had encountered trouble at the nightclub. Thus, while Xu Jun's intervention may have seemed as easy as the lifting of a finger, a task that wasn't difficult at all to him, to her it was God-sent. It was as if someone had sent her coal in bitter winter*. The matter was forever engraved on her heart.

*雪中送炭 (xue zhong song tan) – lit. to send charcoal in snowy weather; fig. to provide help in a time of need.

However, she fully realised that life is in the hands of Fate. After having met him twice, she thought it was unlikely that she would have further interaction with Xu Jun. Who would have foreseen that three days later in the afternoon, an unexpected visitor would grace the bookstore, redolent with greenery and books.

The visitor's footsteps were light and graceful, and headed directly for the counter where she was sitting behind. The store assistant was about to move forward, when the visitor said softly, "You don't need to be concerned about me. I'm looking for your boss."

Mu Tong recognised her voice – the lady who had been sitting with Xu Jun that day. She immediately stood up and said, "Hello."

Xu Xu stood in front of her.

Although the Xu siblings were completely different in terms of character, at times, their judgement of a person's character and preferences was exceptionally in sync. For instance, today, Xu Xu's route had taken her past this bookstore, and she had naturally thought of taking a look around the store. Moreover, her heart felt at ease when she gazed upon Mu Tong's clean and fair complexion.

"Hello, I'm Xu Xu." She got straight to the point, and held out her hand to Mu Tong.

Mu Tong smiled slightly, and held out her hand too. There was a small gap between their hands so Xu Xu took the initiative to move her hand slightly forward and grasped Mu Tong's hand.

Mu Tong personally accompanied Xu Xu as she browsed amongst the bookshelves. Xu Xu selected some books on social psychology, and was muttering to herself indecisively, when Mu Tong smiled and said, "Books on child-rearing are in Aisle 5, and there are some foreign magazines on firearms at the last row of shelves."

Xu Xu was startled. Staring at Mu Tong, she asked, "How did you know?"

Mu Tong laughingly said, "I have an acute sense of smell. You have a faint scent of milk powder, as well as the lingering smell of gunpowder."

—–

When Xu Xu returned home that night, she told Ji Bai about the day's occurrences. Ji Bai grabbed her waist and stuck his face into her collar. "Is there the smell of milk powder? Let me smell you and check it out thoroughly."

After a substantial interval, Ji Bai was satisfied enough to release her. However, he also had to admit that, even with his heightened sense of smell, he was still unable to discern any such scents on her.