It was mealtime, and with classes just letting out, the cafeteria was crammed full of people. Yue Bai spotted an empty seat and set her backpack down on it to claim the spot.
“Senior Sister, have you been super busy these past few days?” Yue Bai asked between small bites of her rice. She’d barely managed to exchange more than a few words with Sang Wan all week.
“Yeah,” Sang Wan replied, chewing her food slowly and deliberately. “The student council was holding recruitment and interviews earlier this week, so things piled up. But it’s mostly sorted out now.”
“Oh, I see.” Yue Bai nodded.
After they finished eating, Yue Bai headed over to Sang Wan’s dorm to hang out for a bit. It had been a week since her last visit, and the room seemed subtly different—more daily essentials scattered around, giving it a cozier feel.
Yue Bai sat at the empty desk, her hands resting on the back of the chair, cheek pressed against her arm as she quietly watched Sang Wan typing away at her computer.
A few minutes later, Sang Wan closed her laptop. She gave Yue Bai an apologetic smile. “Sorry, something came up last minute. Want to take a nap?”
Yue Bai shook her head.
“That guy from today?” Sang Wan studied Yue Bai’s expression, choosing her words carefully. “Some people and problems don’t just go away if you ignore them.”
She offered a brief piece of advice.
Yue Bai smiled. “I know, Senior Sister.”
Sang Wan wasn’t sure if it had sunk in. With a quiet sigh, she tapped her fingers idly on the desk as an idea took shape in her mind.
She didn’t mind paying a visit to Yue Bai’s class.
After dinner, Yue Bai went to her evening study session alone, Sang Wan’s words echoing in her thoughts.
She quietly pulled out her graphic drawing tablet, opened her drawing software, and started practicing line art. Ever since she’d seen how fluid and beautiful Senior Hua Yun’s lines were last time, she’d made a habit of practicing whenever she had free moments.
“Hey, Yue Bai, that artwork on the school’s official website looks pretty great,” Fang Zhou said with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. He strode up to the lectern and flicked on the big screen.
As the screen lit up, Fang Zhou’s fingers flew across the keyboard, connecting to the network and navigating straight to the school’s official website. There, a little below center, hung a striking image.
It was the painting that had won first prize.
“The winners: Hua Yun, Yue Bai, Sang Wan…” Fang Zhou read the names with a grin. “Looks like Yue Bai knows a ton of impressive seniors, huh?”
Yue Bai’s stylus paused mid-stroke. She stared at the artwork on the screen, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. “It does look pretty good.”
“Fang Zhou, that’s enough,” someone said. The class had grown tired of his antics over the past few days; the initial amusement had worn off, and his routine disruptions during study hall were starting to grate on everyone’s nerves.
The League Branch Secretary spoke up, her tone sharp with irritation. “The results are out. What’s the point of dragging this on every day? Can you stop wasting everyone’s time?”
“Yeah, it’s annoying as hell,” another voice chimed in, dripping with impatience. “Every study hall, you’re yapping nonstop. It’s killing my inspiration.”
“Aren’t you guys encouraging this kind of crap?” Fang Zhou shot back, incredulous as he scanned the restless faces below. “She totally freeloaded on that prize!”
“Mind your own business—does it affect you?” Xu Nuo glared at him. “Study hall isn’t for this nonsense. Settle your grudges privately.”
Yue Bai watched the fool on stage with a half-smile, her chin propped on one hand. Her teasing gaze only made Fang Zhou stomp in frustration.
“Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.” A clear, sweet voice cut through the argument from the classroom door.
Sang Wan stood there with a bright smile, knocking lightly on the doorframe. “Is Yue Bai here?”
Amusement danced in her eyes, though her gaze was fixed openly on the surprised girl in the front row.
“Senior Sister?” Yue Bai blinked, starting to stand. But Sang Wan stepped inside first.
“The piece you helped color last time won first prize from the school,” Sang Wan said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but in the hushed classroom, everyone heard. “They need the winners’ info now for the records. I sent you a few messages, but you didn’t reply, so I came to find you.”
The moment Sang Wan appeared, the class realized something was off. Her name was right there under the artwork on screen, and her reputation among the freshmen made her impossible to miss.
And from what she’d just said… Yue Bai had done the coloring?
“Huh?” Yue Bai checked her phone. The screen was empty except for a few system notifications. She opened her chat with Sang Wan—nothing there either.
She looked up to meet Sang Wan’s playfully winking eyes.
In an instant, she got it. Sang Wan had made it all up on purpose.
“Senior Sister…” Yue Bai said weakly.
“Get your info together and send it over, okay?” Sang Wan grinned, setting the milk tea she’d been holding on Yue Bai’s desk. “You were drawing at my place during the last few study halls, and your graphic drawing tablet’s still there. Want me to bring it next time, or do you have time to come grab it?”
“But plan it out so it’s not too late,” she added, gently ruffling Yue Bai’s hair with a hint of indulgence in her tone. “Otherwise, you’ll end up staying over like last time.”
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai sounded a little flustered.
Sang Wan’s smile deepened. She glanced sideways at the screen, then at Fang Zhou, who stood frozen in place, still processing her intimate exchange with Yue Bai.
“Hm? Is your class looking at this painting?” Sang Wan arched a brow, her playful gaze landing on Fang Zhou. She leaned down slightly, taking Yue Bai’s hand from the desk and tapping it twice with her fingertip.
Yue Bai jolted, freezing as she stared straight at the screen, her mind a whirlwind.
“Oh, right—who’s Fang Zhou?” Sang Wan asked curiously, her eyes crinkling.
“Uh, that’s me.” Being called out caught Fang Zhou off guard, leaving him rooted to the lectern.
“Sorry about that,” Sang Wan said. “Earlier, you told someone in our group you wanted to join, but I’d already asked Yue Bai to handle it by then. You said you just wanted your name on it for the credits, but the spots were full, so we couldn’t include you. Next time, if there’s a chance, we can team up.”
She paused for breath, letting the words hang.
Fang Zhou’s face paled. Whispers erupted around the room.
“What the hell? So Fang Zhou’s the one who tried to freeload and got rejected, then turned around to frame Yue Bai? What a guy.”
“Shameless. Strutting around like that these past few days.”
“Good grief, the pot calling the kettle black.”
…
Fang Zhou’s face drained of color. He glared at Sang Wan, fists clenched tight. “Senior Sister Sang, you’re joking, right? I wouldn’t dare team up with such outstanding seniors.”
Sang Wan nodded agreeably. “True, your skills are still a ways off from Senior Hua Yun and Yue Bai. Improve a bit more, and you should be fine.”
“Holy shit,” Xu Nuo blurted out. Chen Han lunged to cover her mouth, flashing Sang Wan an awkward, apologetic smile.
“Holy shit, Senior Sister Sang doesn’t hold back,” Xu Nuo whispered after shoving Chen Han’s hand away. “Fang Zhou’s been salty about Yue Bai’s skills forever, and now she calls him out in front of everyone—plus exposes his freeloading scheme. Total smackdown.”
Fang Zhou ground his teeth, forcing a smile. “Thanks for the advice, Senior Sister.”
Sang Wan smiled down at her, her thumb brushing Yue Bai’s finger as if by accident, her shadow enveloping the girl.
“No need to thank me.” Sang Wan flicked her bangs, her smile light and easy. She turned to Yue Bai, her slender fingers squeezing the girl’s palm, her voice soft and warm. “Don’t forget to come by tonight for your stuff.”
With that, she scanned the room and strolled out.
The classroom exploded the moment Sang Wan left. Fang Zhou lingered on the lectern, his face flushing and paling by turns, the masterpiece on screen making it all the more mocking.
“Hey, isn’t this Fang Zhou? Turns out you’re the freeloader who got shut out and decided to mess with Yue Bai. Real classy,” Xu Nuo taunted loudly. “Good thing Senior Sister Sang showed up for that info, or you would’ve dumped all that dirt on her for real.”
Surrounded by scornful stares, Fang Zhou couldn’t take it anymore. He shot Xu Nuo a venomous glare and bolted from the room.
Yue Bai barely registered the chaos, her grip tightening on the milk tea.
Had Senior Sister Sang come to back her up? The run-in with Fang Zhou at lunch was still fresh in her mind. She hadn’t expected Sang Wan to show up in person.
Taking a deep breath, she messaged Sang Wan: “Thanks for the help, Senior Sister.”
Sang Wan leaned against the wall of the teaching building, catching sight of Fang Zhou storming out from the corner of her eye. She pressed her fingers to her temple wearily.
She’d acted on impulse. Today’s behavior didn’t match the composed image she usually projected.
She’d meant to find Senior Hua Yun tonight for something, but passing Yue Bai’s classroom, she’d seen her junior being bullied and couldn’t hold back—she’d walked right in.
Her phone dinged. Seeing Yue Bai’s message, the fatigue eased from her brow.
“No need to thank me,” Sang Wan replied.
This feeling… wasn’t half bad.
