But there was only the soft exhalation of Meirong’s breath, the shadowy rise and fall of her chest.

LIAN DIDN’T WANT to see Shao or Jenmei, on their own or together, didn’t want to hear the gossip. She ate her meals quickly and returned directly to the courtyard house to study there instead of at the library. She avoided her classmates even more now, slipping easily into practiced isolation. She would hover at the periphery of a group, offer a few words of conversation, and then slip away. She kept her distance so unobtrusively none of her classmates, even Meirong, seemed to notice.

But Mr. Lee noticed.

When Lian left the dining hall after breakfast one morning, she and Ying-Ying passed Mr. Lee crossing the yard. They exchanged greetings but before he sauntered away, Lee tossed a comment to Lian, a casual passing thought.

“You seem rather solitary these days, Miss Hu. I’d like to see you spend more time with your classmates. More time with the newspaper, perhaps?”

His tone was amiable and no one but Lian would’ve caught the menace in those words. Lee continued across the yard, his sturdy figure and ponderous walk unmistakable, his shadow a stain on the ground.

“You have been rather a hermit these days, now that I think of it,” Ying-Ying said. “Will you do more with the newspaper?”

But the last thing Lian wanted was more opportunity to rub shoulders with Jenmei. She couldn’t bear to watch her draw Meirong further into the Communist Students Club or endure the sight of Jenmei with Shao.

“I was thinking I’d volunteer for Professor Kang,” she said. “He needs help with the Library of Legends.” The library was always busy. If she spent time there, Mr. Lee couldn’t accuse her of being solitary. Not for the next little while.

Chapter 14

Lian used a wide, soft brush to dust off the book’s cover. Tales of Enlightened Mortals Who Became Immortal. She turned carefully to the first page. The students had temporarily handed in the Legends they’d been carrying so that volunteers could inspect every page for damage. At some point the entire Library of Legends would have to be stored in a safe place. Professor Kang had taken advantage of their long stay to order boxes from the coffin maker in Zhongmiao Village. Built to exact measurements, they’d be strong, nearly airtight, and easy to stack.

“Miss Hu,” Professor Kang called from the other end of the long worktable. He beckoned her over.

“About your term paper,” he said. “There’s something you should see in the caves above Huilong Nunnery.”

“Why, what’s in the caves, Professor?” she said.

“There are some Ming Dynasty murals that tell the story of the Willow Star,” he said. “Sparrow says she’s interested so you can go together, if you like.”

“But what about you, sir?” she said. “Won’t you come with us?”