Chapter 228: The Human World
It was summer break, and the campus was dead quiet.
The sun was blazing, and I was sweating buckets. I’d been chilling in cooler places for the past few years, so this heat was killing me. Regalia was cooler than Sunhaven, but still way hotter than what I was used to. As soon as the sun came up, I was drenched. So annoying.
Every time this happened, I missed the cool spots I used to live in, where a nice breeze could hit you from any direction at any time.
I was speed-walking down the path, clutching my stuff, desperate to get back to my apartment, crank up the AC, and wash off this sweat. Out of nowhere, I bumped into Adam by the fountain.
"Fancy seeing you here," Adam said with a grin, looking as cute as a slim version of a teddy bear.
"Yeah, what a coincidence," I replied, smiling back but wondering why he hadn’t gone home for the break. We weren’t that tight, so I didn’t bother asking. Didn’t really care about the answer anyway.
"What brings you to school on such a scorcher? Working on that project you mentioned?" He smiled warmly, with a kind of charm that was rare for a guy in his twenties.
Adam was always grinning, full of energy, like the morning sun, warm and bright. Being around him was actually pretty chill.
I nodded, feeling a bit helpless. "I don’t want to be here either. It’s so hot. But I signed a contract, so I gotta do my best."
"Want to chill for a bit? I know a great spot you’ll love." Adam stood in the sunlight, a fine layer of sweat on his forehead, his eyes shining like the sun. But that smile of his made him look like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hard to read his intentions.
I was in a rush to get back and review the materials. There was a thick stack, and I had no clue how long it’d take to go through them. If there were big discrepancies, I’d have to scrap everything and start over. The thought of starting from scratch, with all my previous plans and sketches potentially going to waste, made me feel restless and uneasy.
Works and ideas were like kids. As a mom, it was heartbreaking to see your child deprived of the right to be born.
Lately, I’d been surrounded by not-so-great things, and my mood had been kinda down. Creativity needed a good mindset, so I did need to relax a bit.
Such an obvious invite, should I go or not? I remembered Brad’s advice and his unhappy face. As a girlfriend, I needed to give my boyfriend enough security, so I wanted to refuse. As for relaxing, there were plenty of ways and places to do that, not necessarily with Adam.
Anything that could potentially cause misunderstandings between Brad and me had to be firmly avoided.
Noticing my hesitation, Adam laughed heartily, hands on his hips, exuding energy in the sunlight. "Come on, Jane, I just need someone to share the success with. You wouldn’t overthink it, would you?" He dragged out his words, his face full of understanding, with a hint of teasing in his eyes. "Is it that your boyfriend doesn’t allow it, afraid that a handsome guy like me will steal you away?"
"Call me senior," I scolded him.
I felt embarrassed being called out like that. I lightly hit his arm with the materials, and Adam exaggeratedly cried out in pain, making a scene. "Who brags about being handsome? Are you narcissistic? It’s just that Larry gave me new materials, and I’m in a hurry to review them. Stop making things up."
But deep down, I had to give it to him. Adam, for his age, had a pretty solid grasp on things.
Adam stopped laughing and took the lead, walking ahead. "Come on, it's right here on campus, super close. You'll totally dig it."
I pouted. He talked like it was made just for me, assuming I'd love it. What if I didn't? Could he just tear it down and start over? Young folks were so unreliable with their words. Mature people were better, at least they were steady and reliable.
Anyway, I believed no guy in the world could top Brad.
If it weren't for Adam leading the way, I would've never known about this quiet, hidden gem on campus.
It was an old part of the campus I had never been to, with a big yard and a row of three-story buildings set back a bit. In the front yard, there were tons of peach trees, their branches heavy with big, juicy peaches, their red fruits so fragrant they made me wanna take a bite.
Maybe because no one was taking care of it, the ground was littered with fallen, overripe peaches. A few small, unknown birds were munching on them, so engrossed they didn't even fly away when we got close.
The scenery wasn't breathtaking, but it was simple and natural.
I had been learning to paint since I was a kid, taught by Ronan and Helen. They taught me to find beauty, appreciate beauty, and preserve beauty. The scene before me, though clearly man-made, still had an extraordinary charm in the city, perfectly matching my aesthetic.
"This place is beautiful. I really like it," I said to Adam. "Did you find it?"
Adam laughed proudly and led the way, opening a door. "I told you, you'd like it. Come in, you'll like it even more inside."
Curious, I followed him until he stopped, and I realized he had indeed given me a surprise.
It was a uniquely designed room, with three walls made entirely of glass from top to bottom, and the fourth wall connected to the open first floor. The deep and spacious room was decorated with a few large, lush potted plants, a light golden floor, and light green curtains held up by ivory hooks.
The windows were open, and a gentle breeze moved the curtains, casting sunlight into the room. The curtains swayed like a graceful woman moving her waist. The sky was blue, the clouds were high, and the room was filled with light, like a fairyland.
What surprised me even more was a large drafting table against one wall, covered with various pens, paints, paper, and palettes—everything needed for painting. The most captivating was a piece of blue paper with a floral pattern. Its design and color held my gaze, unable to look away.
"How is it? Not bad, right?" Adam crossed his arms, his handsome face showing a playful pride, like a little boy showing off a new toy to his friends. Very cute.
I chuckled and teased, "I like it, but it's hard to imagine such a dreamy place was set up by a guy."
He scratched his head, embarrassed but sincere. "Jane, you should come here to paint. You're Larry's favorite student and everyone really likes you as a teaching assistant. With you here, you can guide everyone. We all hope you'll come. They know we're friends, so they specifically asked me to invite you."
His words were flattering, but he clearly had ulterior motives. I knew it. How could I just happen to run into him in such a big school? It was all part of his plan.
I didn't realize I had a reputation at school. I had never paid attention to it before.
But Larry's name was indeed well-known, and being his favorite student was indeed something to be proud of. On this point, I wouldn't argue with him.
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