The atmosphere between the two of them seemed to suddenly become much more intimate because of this agreement.
That familiar, childhood-friend kind of rapport quietly spread amidst the slight jostling of the wheelchair and Ruo Xiaozhen’s cheerful tone.
As they neared the school gate, Ruo Xiaozhen was still happily talking about her imaginings of their shared living situation when Yan Yu suddenly saw those two people.
Su Qinghan and Jiang Muyun.
They were walking from another path. Su Qinghan was still wearing a sharp, dark-colored long dress, her pace quick.
Jiang Muyun walked beside her, wearing a pink knitted long dress with a light beige trench coat over it. She was looking up at Su Qinghan, saying something with a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.
Many passing students turned to look.
Yan Yu immediately lowered her head, pretending to be choked by the wind, covering her mouth as she coughed violently, interrupting Ruo Xiaozhen’s chatter.
Ruo Xiaozhen hurriedly stopped the wheelchair, moving in front to pat her back. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
The coughing drew looks.
From the corner of her eye, Yan Yu saw Su Qinghan’s footsteps seem to pause for a moment, her cold gaze flicking over in their direction.
That gaze lingered on the wheelchair beneath Yan Yu for half a second, then moved away.
Without any pause at all.
Then she slightly turned and said something to Jiang Muyun. Jiang Muyun followed her line of sight and also looked over.
Yan Yu kept her head down, coughing, her knuckles turning white.
She could feel Jiang Muyun’s gaze.
Then, Yan Yu seemed to hear an extremely soft, almost inaudible, scoffing laugh.
By the time Yan Yu finally stopped coughing and raised her reddened eyes, the two of them were already far away, their backs melting into the morning light, a perfect match that was painful to look at.
Su Qinghan had even slightly turned to block the sun for Jiang Muyun—a protective posture she had never once given to Yan Yu in the wheelchair.
“Yan Yu…” Ruo Xiaozhen crouched down, looking at her with worry. “That… is that Jiang Muyun? Su Qinghan, she… you two really broke up?”
Yan Yu’s eyelashes fluttered. She lowered her eyes and softly replied, “Mhm.”
“Holy crap!” Ruo Xiaozhen exploded again, her face flushing with anger. “What is her problem? That woman comes back and just kicks you to the curb? Isn’t it obvious she was just using you as a substitute? That’s too much! What a scumbag! Does she even know you’re—”
Her voice unconsciously rose, drawing the attention of a few passing students nearby, their gazes sweeping over Yan Yu’s wheelchair and her agitated face.
Yan Yu’s heart sank.
[System Alert: Detected supporting character ‘Ruo Xiaozhen’ making statements that do not align with maintaining ‘Yan Yu’s’ character persona of protecting the protagonist Su Qinghan.]
[Please correct this promptly to maintain the substitute role’s ‘deep, unwavering affection’ image towards Su Qinghan and safeguard Acting Value.]
She immediately reached out, gently tugging on Ruo Xiaozhen’s sleeve. Raising her pale face, she forced a fragile smile, her voice thin. “Zhenzhen, don’t say that… Qinghan, she… she’s good. It’s me… I wasn’t good enough.”
Ruo Xiaozhen froze, staring at her wide-eyed as if she didn’t recognize her.
For a long moment, she spoke with disbelief, her tone anxious, angry, and filled with deep heartache. “Where is she good? She treated you like this! Yan Yu, wake up, okay? Is there anything in your head besides her?
“Besides, even if she doesn’t want you, don’t you still have me?”
That last sentence carried a strange sense of grievance. Her hand gripping Yan Yu’s wrist tightened a bit more, as if trying to pull her out of that pitiful obsession through sheer force.
Yan Yu swayed slightly from the pull. She just lowered her head further, her long eyelashes concealing all emotion. She didn’t speak again, letting Ruo Xiaozhen stand back up and push the wheelchair with a somewhat petulant air, walking in silence all the way to the Art Building.
There was a small, gentle slope on the path to the Art Building. Ruo Xiaozhen pushed with some effort but didn’t utter a word until she steadily parked the wheelchair before the accessible ramp at the entrance to the painting studio.
The smell of turpentine and pencil dust filled the studio.
Tall windows let in ample light, illuminating the still-life arrangement in the center.
A few plaster geometric shapes, a ceramic pot, and two pieces of drapery cloth in different shades.
Professor Chen was a white-haired, stern-looking elderly woman, pacing back and forth in front of the still-life setup with her hands clasped behind her back.
Her gaze paused for a moment on Yan Yu, who was wheeling herself in. She frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.
“Today is a comprehensive exercise on human figure proportions and structure. Four-sheet sketch paper, three hours. At the end of the semester, based on regular assignments and the final assessment, I will select one person to represent our class in the International Youth Art Newcomer Competition at the end of the year.”
Professor Chen announced.
A low murmur of excitement rippled through the studio.
An international competition, even if just a newcomer one, held significant weight for art students.
“Professor,” a male student dared to ask, “In previous years, wasn’t it always the upperclassmen who went? We’re only sophomores…”
“If your skill is sufficient, your year is not a problem,” Professor Chen cut him off. Her gaze swept across the classroom, pausing especially on a few students who usually stood out in their assignments, including Yan Yu in the corner, and… another equally eye-catching figure who had just sat down next to Jiang Muyun.
Someone immediately whispered, “Senior Jiang studied abroad, she must have seen a lot, and her techniques are newer…”
“Yeah, and she was already really talented…”
Jiang Muyun seemed to hear these comments. She turned her face, giving the classmates speaking nearby a somewhat embarrassed, pure, and gentle smile. “Everyone, please don’t say that. I just came back too, there’s still a lot I don’t understand. I need to learn more from all of you.”
She paused, her gaze drifting seemingly unintentionally towards Yan Yu’s direction. Her voice rose a bit, carrying just the right amount of curiosity. “By the way, I heard that Yan Yu was the best painter in the class before, is that right?”
Instantly, many gazes focused on Yan Yu.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.