Working overtime for two weeks, the campus wall was finally completed.
After finishing work, Hua Jie walked around the campus again, confirming both the inside and outside walls. There were no missed spots, no details left out, whether seen up close or from afar, everything was perfect, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Big projects are really exhausting; she wouldn’t take on such tasks again unless she was offered a lot of money or really needed it!
The ice rink next to the campus playground was also finished. After several layers of watering, the thick ice was smooth and solid. The physical education teacher, wearing ice skates, could spin and jump on it with closed eyes, gliding smoothly like flying.
In the gaps between snowflakes, the sunlight broke through the clouds and shone on the ice rink, sparkling like a large mirror.
Hua Jie walked past the ice rink, eager to try it out.
The physical education teacher had been helping with painting for the past two weekends and had gotten to know Hua Jie quite well. Seeing her eager expression, he smiled and said, “No need to be envious; next week’s physical education class will be on the ice.”
“We have physical education classes on Tuesday and Friday afternoons,” Hua Jie said, cautiously sliding on the ice in her shoes.
“The new ice skates the school bought have also arrived, so you can wear new skates then,” the physical education teacher said, gliding around Hua Jie and stopping beside her, looking up at the campus wall. He sighed and said, “Teacher Wang said you designed all this?”
“Yes,” Hua Jie said proudly. In the past, the client would criticize her for not having enough distinctiveness in her paintings, but after her rebirth, no one could find fault with her work anymore.
The chibi version from future generations were already very comprehensive, and she applied them to every character.
Different from the past stiff smiles on promotional walls and bulletin boards, the expressions of the students and teachers she designed were varied: some frowned in study, some sang happily, some stood solemnly in line, and some laughed while exercising…
Vividly displaying the beautiful campus life on the wall, it was extremely lively.
Everyone just finds it fresh and interesting.
Even the sports teacher, though unfamiliar, finds pleasure in appreciating it.
It turns out that the skill of ‘painting’ is so closely connected to life, quietly showcasing the beauty of art everywhere.
As long as you have a pair of eyes that can appreciate beauty, you can capture it.
…
Snow has been falling for half a month, blanketing the entire small town in silver.
Pine trees are adorned with white veils, and icicles hang like crystal water droplets.
The snowplows and garbage trucks haven’t cleared away all the snow, leaving much of it in the green belts and under the trees. At this moment, it appears as a pristine landscape. When the weather warms up, they will quietly seep into the ground, becoming the source of moisture for the springtime revival of the trees.
On Monday morning, the snow had lessened, and there were signs of warming weather.
The wind had stopped, and people on their way to work no longer hurried, proudly admiring the winter snowscape of Jinsong City.
When people saw No. 1 High School, they noticed that the originally plain white walls had gained many colors.
These colors were bright, yet not overly saturated, fresh but not garish. With just a glance at these blocks of colors, one could feel the bright morning warmth, as if even the invading chill had softened slightly.
Hua Jie chose three primary colors for the palette, but used orange-red for red, lemon yellow for yellow, and powder blue for blue, which would later be known as Tiffany Blue.
These three colors together were warm and vibrant, perfectly matching the image the campus wanted to present to people.
All passing citizens couldn’t help but take a second look.
The person who loves life deeply couldn’t help but stop and silently reflect:
It’s amazing how one can interact emotionally with others!
There are also those insensitive to colors but resonate with forms.
They noticed some characters with oversized hats, some with braids reaching for the sky, some with hooked noses, some with carrot-like noses… each with its own charm.
The children who stopped have already exclaimed that when the weather clears, they will bring their drawing boards to imitate the wall.
…
The students and teachers of Class One have been following the progress since the first day Hua Jie started painting the wall. Now that it’s finished, those interested gather around to admire each piece.
“This one is studying, that one is singing, this one looks like me, that one is like Pinocchio, so adorable…”
The students chatter around the wall, soon realizing that the people around them are not just classmates and teachers but also many strangers.
They were just passing by, but now they are attracted to see each piece.
After appreciating the exterior wall, some even want to go inside the school to see the paintings on the interior walls…
With so many people crowding around the wall, congestion is inevitable. Some squabbles break out because “you stepped on my foot” or “I accidentally bumped into you.”
With small quarrels and scuffles breaking out, the headmaster has to organize teachers to maintain order outside the school walls—
“Students, stop looking and go to early morning self-study!”
“If you’re not from the school, feel free to look, but don’t fight or quarrel, don’t touch the paintings, and definitely don’t pick at them!”
Yao Nan sweeps snow at the entrance, looking at the scene and exclaiming how amazing it is.
When he saw Hua Jie and Bian Hong riding together to the school gate, he couldn’t hold back and shouted loudly:
“Wow! Hua Jie, is that the school wall you painted? It’s so beautiful! So many people are looking at it!”
“…,” Hua Jie hurriedly lowered her head and pushed her bike faster.
High school kids are really noisy, embarrassing!
Blushing, she dashed away.
Bian Hong looked at the school wall, then at the fleeing girl, a smile appearing on his fair face.
Taking a few quick steps to catch up with Hua Jie, he felt happy for her too.
The neighbor’s sister, small in stature but great in talent.
Yao Nan laughed heartily and continued to shout loudly:
“It’s painted by our classmate! She’s only 15 and still a girl! So talented~~”
The headmaster reached out and tapped Yao Nan on the back of his head, scolding, “Go sweep the floor, don’t howl at the door.”
Though reprimanding, his tone was gentle and loving, apparently pleased with the boy’s pride.
…
After sweeping the snow off the playground assigned to Class 1-7, Yao Nan walked through the corridor, holding the broom and shouting again:
“The school wall painted by Class 1-7’s Hua Jie is really beautiful!
“The school wall painted by Class 1-7’s Hua Jie is really beautiful~~~”
As if afraid others wouldn’t hear, he transformed into a loudspeaker and broadcasted everywhere.
Hua Jie was sitting in the classroom, focusing on early self-study. After spending two weeks painting the school wall, she could finally sit peacefully and warmly in the classroom. She cherished this moment.
Until Yao Nan’s shouts echoed in her ears.
“…,” Hua Jie.
She felt like murdering someone!
Be low-key, young people!
She just wanted to be a quiet, studious beauty who paints!
Wrapping a scarf around her neck, she ran into the corridor, took out a tissue intending to cover Yao Nan’s mouth. Unfortunately, he was tall and silly-looking, tilting his head back as if ready to shout. She couldn’t reach his mouth even if she jumped high.
“So this is Hua Jie, hahaha~” Yao Nan dodged her hand while introducing her to passing classmates and those poking their heads out of the classroom to see what was going on.
“…,” Hua Jie really wished she could disappear on the spot. “If you call me again, I’ll—I’ll—”
She realized she was completely helpless against this brat.
Finally, Shen Mo, who had been smiling faintly behind Yao Nan, took action. He raised his head and kicked Yao Nan’s butt lightly, whispering:
“That’s enough.”
Yao Nan immediately shut up, patting the dust off his butt while chuckling foolishly.
Hua Jie breathed a sigh of relief, covered her scarf, and turned to run back to the classroom.
Shen Mo reached out and grabbed one end of her scarf as she passed, pulling her back. The girl was pulled back and looked up at him.
“I didn’t have breakfast. Do you have anything to eat?” His eyebrows raised, his gaze unfriendly, like a bully about to snatch food from a maiden.
Because Shen Mo was so tall, even if he had breakfast, he would often be hungry by the third period. So Hua Jie often brought some snacks to thank him for his various care, as a daily gesture of gratitude.
Today, she was prepared.
“My mom made fried dough twists this morning, with honey, eggs, and flour. They’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, especially fragrant. I packed some in a thermos, although they’re not as good as freshly fried, they should still be alright.”
“Bread slices, tomatoes, and sausage are also available. I can make you a ‘Hua Jie sandwich.’ What do you want?” She tugged hard on the other end of the scarf, trying to pull it back completely.
Shen Mo wouldn’t let go. After some thought, he said:
“I want fried dough twists, a sandwich, and milk tea.”
Hmm… the school bully wants everything.
“Okay,” she readily agreed. Young people with long bodies indeed have big appetites.
“…,” Yao Nan listened dumbfoundedly from the side. Just as he was about to say he wanted some too, Shen Mo shot him a cold glare, and he immediately swallowed his words.
Wow!
Shen Mo, the food protector, is so fierce.
Back in the classroom, Hua Jie busily prepared breakfast for her desk mate.
He helped her when she painted the wall, and now she’s helping him when he’s hungry. They really are good classmates who help each other.
As Hua Jie got closer to Shen Mo, she felt that his aloof demeanor was becoming less and less convincing.
Her original crush-like admiration for him was gradually fading. Recently, she started to feel that she wasn’t at all like the regret from her previous life of “not having properly admired someone, not having treated a liked boy well enough.”
She… was completely feeding the cub!
Was she making up for the regret of not having raised a pet dog in her past life?
She placed the prepared food in front of him, and Shen Mo didn’t hesitate to accept, enjoying it heartily.
In his eyes, Hua Jie’s feeding was like ‘protection money.’
He took care of her, protected her, and her feedback of food and drinks was just what was expected.
Finishing the food prepared by Hua Jie, he leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly and crossing his legs leisurely.
Hua Jie leaned over to collect the food scraps and lunchbox from his desk. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Mo patted the back of her head, speaking to her like he would to a junior:
“The wall painting is good~”
Hua Jie looked up, meeting his satisfied handsome face.
It was clearly the expression one had after eating and drinking their fill, but paired with his words, it seemed like he was particularly satisfied with her wall painting.
Suddenly, she felt a strange feeling. If she painted well, would Shen Mo also feel a sense of pride?
Why?
Because she was his good desk mate?
Or was there some other, more subtle mindset…