Chapter 49

“Is this okay?” Sang Wan sat primly on the stool, her back ramrod straight, a gentle smile softening her delicate features. She gazed straight ahead, the scene before her reflected in her pupils.

Yue Bai sat behind the raised easel, her body angled sideways. One hand held the brush while the other gripped the palette.

On the large sheet of paper, a rough outline of an upper body had taken shape. Yue Bai occasionally lifted her gaze to the person ahead. “It’s fine.”

She began laying down blocks of color, the image gradually emerging from the blur. Yue Bai’s thin lips pressed together lightly as her slender fingers gripped the brush handle.

Painting Studio No. 3 held only the two of them. The only sounds were the soft splash of the brush dipping into the water bucket and the faint rustling as it moved across the palette.

“Senior Sister, are you tired?” Yue Bai asked after finishing a stroke on the hair. Sang Wan had been sitting motionless as her model for nearly an hour now.

Yue Bai worried that holding such a rigid pose for so long must be uncomfortable.

“I’m fine,” Sang Wan replied softly.

“You can shift a little if you need to. It won’t matter; I’ve already locked in the basic form.” Yue Bai’s brush returned to the paper.

“Mm.” Yet Sang Wan remained still.

Yue Bai quickened her pace, moving on to the finer details.

Another hour slipped by. Yue Bai let out a long breath, withdrew her brush into the water bucket, and stepped back. She called out to the woman still seated, “Senior Sister, it’s done.”

“Okay.” Sang Wan rose with a smile.

Perhaps from sitting so long without moving, a wave of numbness shot through her legs. She squinted and gripped the stool for support, flexing her limbs before slowly walking toward Yue Bai.

“Senior Sister?” Yue Bai hurried over to steady her. Kneeling halfway, she rubbed Sang Wan’s calf with a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, Senior Sister. I should have gotten everything ready sooner.”

“It’s nothing. It’ll pass in a moment.” Sang Wan shook her head, unconcerned. She had volunteered to model, after all; how could she blame Yue Bai? “Let me see what you’ve painted.”

As the pins and needles faded, Sang Wan walked the few steps to the easel.

“It’s beautiful,” she said in genuine admiration.

The girl in the painting sat with her hands resting demurely in her lap, a subtle smile playing across her features. The face was rendered with exquisite, three-dimensional precision, brimming with aesthetic appeal. The gray tones of her upper-body shirt contrasted strikingly with her classically gentle demeanor.

Yue Bai scratched her head. She had always been confident in her artistic skills and was accustomed to praise, but hearing it from Sang Wan stirred an indescribable feeling every time.

A swell of pride rose within her.

“It’s mostly because you’re so pretty, Senior Sister,” she said, returning the compliment.

“Smooth talker.” Sang Wan shot her a playful glare. Her fair fingers pressed against the board as she tugged at the tape securing the paper. “Can I peel this off?”

Yue Bai stepped closer and lightly touched the edge of the paper. The paint was still tacky. “Better wait until it dries.”

Sang Wan hummed in acknowledgment, then pulled out her phone and snapped a couple of photos, saving them to her album.

“A painting from my girlfriend. I’ll have to treasure it,” she said with a smile.

Joy and shyness mingled in Yue Bai’s chest as she stood just behind Sang Wan’s left shoulder.

Light streamed down from the second window on the left side of the studio, bathing both the painting and the woman standing before it. Vibrant colors danced in the air. Yue Bai stared in wonder at the beauty who seemed on the verge of merging with the light itself, her heart filling with warmth.

Without thinking, she captured the moment—the person and the painting, framed by light and shadow.

Someday, she would have to paint this scene. Especially that beam of light.

“Senior Sister, I’ll go wash the brush. Wait here for me.” Yue Bai touched the paper once more; the paint was almost dry.

“Okay.” With Sang Wan’s agreement, Yue Bai darted off.

The bathroom was right next to Studio No. 3. She poured out the dirty water in the sink, meticulously cleaned the brush and bucket, and rinsed the basin spotless.

She shook the lingering water from the brush, then pulled a tissue from her pocket to dry her hands and wipe down the brush handle.

When Yue Bai returned to the studio, Sang Wan was on the phone. Spotting her, Sang Wan offered an apologetic smile.

Yue Bai smiled back and tiptoed over, setting down the bucket quietly. She stowed the brush in its special case and waited in silence.

“Little Bai, it looks like we’ll have to head out early.” Sang Wan gave a helpless lift of her phone. “Wen Mo just called. The lunch gathering’s been moved up to noon.”

“Do we need to swing by the Teachers’ Apartment?” Yue Bai asked.

Ever since Sang Wan had taken that call, Yue Bai could sense the irritation simmering beneath her calm exterior. Even those gentle eyes had dimmed.

It was the same reaction as last night after that other phone call.

Did Senior Sister not want to go to the lunch? Or was it that she didn’t want to see whoever this “returning person” was?

“No need. Let’s go straight there.” Sang Wan hesitated for a moment. “What about the painting…”

“It’ll be fine here. We can pick it up after lunch,” Yue Bai said offhandedly.

Even if someone came to the studio over New Year’s, they wouldn’t touch it.

“Mm.” Sang Wan gave a wry smile and ruffled Yue Bai’s hair. Deeming that insufficient, her hand slid down to pinch Yue Bai’s cheek. “Little Bai, during the lunch, don’t leave my side, okay?”

“Hm?” Yue Bai blinked in confusion at the sudden request, curiosity blooming as she looked up. “Is something going to happen?”

Sang Wan shook her head. “Just promise me, okay?”

Seeing the insistence in Sang Wan’s eyes, Yue Bai tamped down her questions and flashed a bright, innocent smile. “Got it.”

“Mm, such a good girl,” Sang Wan murmured to herself.

They left the studio to find Hua Yun already waiting downstairs in the Art Building.

“Sang Wan, over here.” Hua Yun waved her over first, then nodded amiably at Yue Bai when he noticed her. “This must be the junior sister. Sang Wan mentions you all the time.”

Yue Bai smiled and nodded politely in return. “Hello, Senior Hua.” She brushed off the rest as casual classmate chatter. She and Hua Yun weren’t close enough for anything more personal, so she stuck to safe small talk.

Still, seeing him made Yue Bai a touch uneasy. After all, she had witnessed that night on the sports field when he confessed to Wen Mo and got turned down.

Wen Mo and Senior Sister Zhou would both be at the lunch. Would things get awkward if they crossed paths?

Yue Bai’s expression grew conflicted. What if Senior Sister Zhou just hauled off and punched Senior Hua? Should she step in?

Sang Wan’s gaze had stayed fixed on Yue Bai’s face. Guessing what was on her mind from that look, she leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “Relax. They were just messing around. No one’s taking it seriously.”

Hua Yun, standing off to the side, touched his nose helplessly. “Ahem. I know you two are together. No need to be so lovey-dovey; I’m still standing right here.”

Yue Bai gave a shy smile.

“Let’s go. The others should be arriving soon.” Hua Yun glanced aside, hesitating as if to say more. “Sang Wan, later…”

“I know.” Sang Wan irritably pressed her temple.

Yue Bai listened to their exchange in bewilderment. What was going on? Did Senior Sister have some beef with this person who was coming back?

The lunch spot was at a hotel not far from campus. A private room had already been reserved. By the time Yue Bai and the other two arrived, five people were already seated inside.

Besides Wen Mo and Zhou Qingyan, Yue Bai recognized Li Ci and Jia Bing. Jia Bing was the emcee from the gala, and Li Ci was even more familiar—one of Sang Wan’s pursuers.

As for the girl sitting next to Jia Bing, Yue Bai had never seen her before.

“Hello, seniors,” Yue Bai greeted politely.

“Hello, junior sister.”

“You too.”

Everyone responded in kind.

Li Ci shot her a quick, evasive glance, then looked toward Sang Wan before dropping his eyes.

“Sang Wan, Little Bai, over here.” Zhou Qingyan stood and beckoned them warmly.

Sang Wan took Yue Bai’s hand and led her to the seats Zhou Qingyan had indicated. Once seated, she murmured, “The girl next to Jia Bing is Wu Ling from the Information College.”

“Ye Yi went to pick up He Shichun. They’ll be here soon.” Wen Mo sat with her legs crossed, one hand resting on the table as she stared unwaveringly at Sang Wan. It wasn’t clear if she was addressing the group or Sang Wan alone.

The moment He Shichun’s name came up, Yue Bai felt a chill radiate from the woman beside her. When she turned to look, though, Sang Wan still wore that mild smile.

Had she imagined it? Yue Bai shook her head and let it go.

The room fell quiet. People fiddled with their phones or scanned the menus, but no one spoke.

Yue Bai grew restless in the silence. Under the cover of the table, she hooked her fingers around Sang Wan’s and toyed with them.

She peeked up through her lashes, meeting Sang Wan’s helpless gaze, and curved her lips in a silly grin.

A few minutes later, the door to the private room slid open.

“I’m back!” A warm, melodious voice drifted in from the doorway. Yue Bai looked up in surprise.

Standing there was a girl with a serene, radiant smile and an air of refined elegance. Her long, brown-black hair was tied back, and a faint weariness from travel lingered on her face.

She had the look of someone utterly endearing, yet she wore bold, dramatic makeup. The two contrasting styles blended seamlessly on her, without the slightest hint of oddity.

“Amazing,” Yue Bai thought to herself. She turned to share the observation with Sang Wan, only to see her glance indifferently at the girl before lowering her eyes.

She didn’t even spare her a second look.

Yue Bai’s curiosity burned brighter than ever. When had Senior Sister ever treated anyone so coldly?

“Welcome, welcome!” Hua Yun jumped in to lighten the mood.

“Come on in,” Wu Ling said with a laugh as she stood up. “Can’t you see Ye Yi behind you is already losing patience?”

Called out by name, Ye Yi didn’t stand on ceremony and replied in the playful tone of friends bantering. “Hurry up and get inside. If I freeze to death out here, it’s on you.”

“As if,” Jia Bing shot back with a laugh and a mock scold. “With skin that thick and all that meat on your bones, you’re worried about the cold?”

The door to the private room swung shut, and everyone settled into their seats.

He Shichun glanced around the room, ignoring the empty spot, and headed straight for Sang Wan. She noted Zhou Qingyan on one side of her and a stranger on the other, then turned to Hua Yun, who had only just sat down. “Who’s this?”

Hua Yun spoke in his leisurely drawl. “A junior from the Art College—Yue Bai. She’s the one who painted that thick impasto piece that won at the Sports Meet.”

“Oh~” He Shichun drew out the sound, something clicking into place in her mind. She planted one hand on the table, leaned in halfway with a bright smile, and extended her other hand. “Hi, Yue Bai. I’m He Shichun from the Art College—your direct senior sister, same year as Hua Yun.”

“Hello, Senior Sister He,” Yue Bai replied politely, standing to shake her hand.

“Nice to meet you, junior sister.” He Shichun’s laugh was free and easy as she dropped her voice a notch. “Mind if Senior Sister discusses something with you?”

“Of course, Senior Sister. What is it?” Yue Bai said quickly.

“Senior Sister wants your seat. Would you mind switching with me?”