Chapter 156: Shion-sensei is So Pretty
When the door opened, a young woman with long golden hair cascading down to her waist stood there, dressed in a simple, almost sloppy, outfit of a T-shirt, shorts, and a jacket. Her face was pale, dark circles under her eyes a testament to countless sleepless nights, her expression one of exhaustion. She yawned.
“Big Sis Yuyan, who is this?”
Tang Yulong was stunned. Though Zhao Yuyan had told him her neighbor was a girl, younger than herself, he hadn’t expected her to be this young. She looked barely over five feet tall, her mixed-race features undeniably beautiful, even more so than Zhao Yuyan.
Easily on par with any celebrity.
“Hello, I’m Tang Yulong, pen name Bai Chen. I’m also a Wenqing author…”
“Oh, Bai Chen-sensei, please come in. My apartment is small; please excuse the mess.”
Yu Linna politely invited him in. Since he was also a Wenqing author, they were colleagues. And she had heard from her editor about the New Talent Awards winners; if she wasn’t mistaken, Bai Chen was the Silver Award winner.
It was Tang Yulong’s first time visiting her apartment, a place shared by two of Wenqing’s few female novelists: Zhao Yuyan and Yu Linna, the pillars of Wenqing’s female author contingent.
“Little Na, working on your manuscript again? No rest today?”
“Ha~ No time. Please have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”
Yu Linna yawned again, clearly exhausted from working long hours, perhaps even pulling an all-nighter. She seemed to have no other form of entertainment, unlike Zhao Yuyan’s apartment, filled with game consoles, cards, and a PSP. Yu Linna’s apartment contained only the bare necessities. She had recently added a wardrobe and a nightstand to her bedroom, but the living room remained unchanged.
Does she have no hobbies? Zhao Yuyan wondered.
This junior of hers, initially a complete newbie, had won the Gold Award, and now she seemed even busier than Zhao Yuyan herself. As a notorious procrastinator, Zhao Yuyan only worked intensely when deadlines loomed, while Yu Linna seemed to be constantly working.
“This junior of yours… she’s still in high school, right?”
“Not after this semester.”
Tang Yulong felt a pang of frustration. He had lost to a girl younger than himself.
He had thought, with his father’s guidance and feedback on his manuscript, he would win the Gold Award. But Shion had appeared out of nowhere, snatching his victory. He had planned to confess to Zhao Yuyan after winning.
Yu Linna served the tea, along with some of her precious snacks, a rare treat she usually couldn’t bring herself to eat. But seeing the way Tang Yulong looked at Zhao Yuyan, she decided to play matchmaker.
“Bai Chen-sensei, when did you meet Big Sis Yuyan?”
“Air-sensei and I? Last year. I presented her with the award, and we chatted a few times offline, becoming friends.”
“You seem close.”
Tang Yulong’s heart skipped a beat. Had she seen through him?
Impossible. He had hidden his feelings so well.
“We’re just friends.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Not yet.”
“Why don’t you two consider… dating?”
“No, no, no! Air-sensei and I are just colleagues! We’re not… like that.”
Hehe, this guy is interesting.
Yu Linna, enjoying her first attempt at teasing a boy, felt a sense of amusement.
“Little Na, you’re making him uncomfortable.”
“Okay, okay.”
Yu Linna refilled his teacup, then remained silent, deciding to let things unfold naturally. When her senior finally realized his feelings, he would be grateful for her assistance.
She hadn’t expected her senior to be so popular, already attracting admirers. She was so beautiful; if only…
“By the way, little Na, aren’t you supposed to be studying? No more manuscripts to write?”
“I’m drawing.”
“You can draw?”
“Yes, I’m doing the illustrations for my novel. I have about two more illustrations to finish. I’m planning to finish them tonight.”
“Oh, illustrations… Wait, what? You’re doing your own illustrations?! Why? Don’t you have an illustrator?”
Even Tang Yulong was surprised. Illustrating her own novel?
That was… unusual.
Wenqing authors usually had designated illustrators, though not always the same one, assigned and discussed before finalizing the artwork.
And Shion-sensei was doing her own illustrations?
“Chen Xi assigned Zhiqiu-sensei to my project, but we couldn’t agree on a style, so… it didn’t work out. And with the publication date approaching, I couldn’t find another illustrator, so I decided to do it myself.”
“But… can you do it? You’re… only eighteen.”
It wasn’t that he doubted her abilities, but Yu Linna was a novelist, the winner of the Wenqing New Talent Awards. How could she also be an illustrator? Writing and drawing were different skills.
“I learned to draw when I was younger. I used to draw my favorite anime characters in my free time. I think I can handle it.”
“You should take care of your health. You’re so young, working so hard… it’s not good for you.”
“Coming from Big Sis Yuyan, who plays games all night?”
“…”
This junior of hers was getting sassy.
If they were alone, Zhao Yuyan would have tickled her mercilessly.
“Um, Shion-sensei, can I see your drawings?” Tang Yulong asked timidly.
“Sure, come in.”
She led them to her room, opening the drawing software on her computer, showing them her work.
The first illustration was of a girl with shoulder-length hair in a military uniform, her figure, though curvy, not overly sexualized, her face drawn in a Japanese anime style, her expression serious, her gaze determined, a hint of strength in her features, yet still beautiful. It was Xu Anqi, the female protagonist of Ballad of the Enchantress, in her first appearance.
The second illustration was a two-character composition, a man reaching out, his face etched with pain, his gaze fixed on the back of a departing woman. It was the final scene between the male and female protagonists.
Both illustrations were finished, the style slightly amateurish, but aesthetically pleasing, following Yu Linna’s specifications, devoid of fanservice, the characters’ faces beautifully rendered. Perhaps that’s how girls draw, Tang Yulong thought.
“I didn’t know Shion-sensei could also draw. I’m impressed.”
“It’s nothing. I’m still learning.”
She was being modest.
Though her style was still developing, it was definitely publishable quality, on par with many professional illustrators. Though not groundbreaking, it was commercially viable.
Yu Linna was truly multi-talented. Zhao Yuyan couldn’t believe it.
This newcomer, initially just a writer, was also a skilled artist. And she had apparently considered becoming an actress? What a waste that would have been! The literary world would have lost a gem.
“Not bad, little Na! You’re amazing! I’m so proud of you! I’ll be the first to buy your book!”
“Thank you, Big Sis Yuyan.”
But Yu Linna didn’t seem as excited as she should have been.
Her novel and illustrations had been praised, her talent recognized, yet she remained calm. Perhaps, having weathered so many storms, she had found a sense of peace, no longer naive, no longer arrogant.
Not wanting to interrupt her work, Tang Yulong and Zhao Yuyan soon left, giving her space to continue.
When her book was published, and people learned she had also done the illustrations, they would be shocked. A writer, an artist, a girl, and a beautiful one at that… she would be a marketing sensation.
“Shion-sensei is incredible. I can’t lose to her.”
Having seen her dedication and passion for her work, Tang Yulong understood why he had lost. He wasn’t as dedicated as she was.
He had to work harder.
“So, are you starting on the second volume?”
“I was planning to take a break, but… no, I’ll start writing now. I have to finish the second volume. I’ll beat her in sales.”
“Oh, so ambitious. Have you fallen for her?”
“…No!”
Tang Yulong almost choked. He was interested in Zhao Yuyan, not Yu Linna!
Though Yu Linna was beautiful, his heart belonged to Zhao Yuyan.
He wouldn’t give up easily.
“Good luck, Bai Chen-sensei. I’m rooting for you.”
Zhao Yuyan, the queen of procrastination, would delay as much as possible, never rushing her work. As for Volume Four of her novel… she would get to it eventually.
A procrastinator never willingly puts down their… procrastination.
Meanwhile, Yu Linna worked diligently on her manuscript, refining her story. They saw her talent, but they didn’t see the effort behind it, the sleepless nights, the three hours of sleep she allowed herself, the constant drawing, the instant noodles she ate to save time, a throwback to her days of poverty.
She stretched, rolling her neck, the long hours of work finally pushing aside the lingering sadness from her encounter with Huo Ningning. But somewhere along the way, her smiles had become less frequent.
