Chapter 64: First Day at School "Now, remember to keep a low profile and blend in with the crowd if you want a smooth time at school," Xiaxia advised as they walked along the familiar path toward the campus.
Coming to a halt, Xiaxia turned to face Xin, her expression serious. "Are you sure you’re going to be okay?"
Xin’s confident response came swiftly. "Yeah, I’ve already got the school layout memorized. I’ll manage."
A dubious look crossed Xiaxia’s face. "When did you manage to do that?"
"On my very first day here."
Surprised disbelief flickered across Xiaxia’s features. "You mean during the advancement exam?"
Xin affirmed her suspicion with a nod.
While Xiaxia found it hard to believe that Xin had accomplished such a feat on his actual first day, she couldn’t ignore that this was typical of Xin’s character. Suppressing her astonishment, she pursed her lips and silently coped with her internal skepticism. It took her a week to memorize the map of the campus.
"Alright then. I’ll head in this direction. My department is situated beside the Engineering department. It’s the one with the brick walls—"
"I know," Xin interrupted.
Caught off guard, Xiaxia paused and considered if Xin’s knowledge of her department’s location was due to some hidden concern for her . . . or if he simply memorized it like everyone else.
Examining her brother’s indifferent expression, Xiaxia sighed internally. The idea that Xin could be genuinely worried about her seemed far-fetched. She was convinced that he had memorized the details, just as a matter of fact, without any deeper meaning attached.
Her mood soured, and she walked away with a hint of irritation in her steps. "Well then, if you say so. Good luck!"
As Xiaxia retreated with a noticeable heaviness in her movements, Xin found himself pondering why she was upset once more.
"This girl keeps getting more perplexing," Xin mused as he watched Xiaxia’s figure fade into the crowd of students.
𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢 Turning in the opposite direction, he began his journey toward his own department. The students he passed paid him no mind, and with each step, the environment transformed.
The bustling thoroughfare gave way to a quieter scene adorned with carefully landscaped greenery and trees at every turn.
As he stepped into the Art Department, the view before him once again stole his breath. The building itself was a masterpiece of modern, futuristic design, with sleek curved lines, double-insulated windows, and curtain walls that seamlessly blended with the surroundings.
The bustling scene was filled with students carrying giant canvases, oversized sketchpads, and hefty backpacks loaded with art supplies.
Some even toted drawing tablets, their passion for creation evident on their determined faces.
In stark contrast, Xin’s possessions were modest: a small pad, an all-in-one notebook, a handful of papers, and a selection of pens and pencils. His backpack felt light in comparison to the others.
Doubts crept into his mind. Was this enough? Xin wondered.
Entering the building for the first time, Xin was struck by a sense of the unknown. Enrolling late in the first semester, he had little idea of what to expect.
The lobby, however, immediately caught his attention. A grand sculpture, the creation of a renowned alumnus, stood as the centerpiece. Vibrant paintings adorned the walls, showcasing various styles and mediums. In the hallway, student lockers lined the path.
Finding his designated room, 1-B, Xin stepped inside.
Arriving a bit early, he found only a handful of students present. As their gazes turned his way, Xin’s focus was on finding a suitable seat.
The classroom held only ten seats, each equipped with an attached side table, while a blank canvas stood before every station.
It seemed this class leaned heavily into practical application rather than theory, a notion that Xin preferred.
Opting for a spot in the middle row to avoid the front, Xin was about to settle when a guy with gray hair spoke up.
"That seat is taken," he remarked, pointing at one spot, "but this seat next to me isn’t." A mischievous grin accompanied the invitation.
"Thanks," Xin replied, sliding into the seat beside him. The guy wasted no time in introducing himself. "I’m Victor. You must be the new kid?"
Xin nodded with a blank face. "Yeah, I’m Xin."
In a matter of seconds, his other classmates swarmed around him, bombarding him with all sorts of questions.
Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Xin silently thanked the heavens when the teacher finally walked in.
"I see that you’ve already acquainted yourself with your new classmate, so I’ll skip the introductions and dive right into the lesson," the teacher announced, saving Xin from having to stand up and introduce himself again.
As the class began to pick up its pace, a sudden, jarring sound disrupted the proceedings. The door burst open, revealing a short girl with long, neon-yellow-green hair. Her eyes sparkled with an almost intensity.
She sported an oversized jacket over a sleeveless white shirt paired with cargo pants. Ears adorned with multiple piercings, her hands jingling with metal bracelets, she moved with an unconventional ruggedness that defied traditional notions of grace.
"You’re late, Miss Vivienne," the teacher admonished, her arms crossed.
"Vivi," the girl corrected nonchalantly, dropping her belongings beside her before plopping down in her seat with an air of boredom.
She met the teacher’s stern gaze with an unyielding stare as if daring her to challenge her further.
The teacher took a deep breath, choosing to ignore her and continuing with the lecture.
Feeling a light tap on his shoulder, Xin turned to find Victor leaning in with a sly grin on his face.
"That’s Vivienne, but you’d better call her Vivi if you don’t want a smack across your face," Victor whispered. "She’s a rebel. Trust me. It’s best to steer clear of her."
Xin’s gaze shifted to Vivi’s back. She was casually tying her hair up with a pencil, her strokes deliberate yet almost dancing across the sketchpad as she began to draw.
"But she’s talented," Victor added, still whispering. "She’s the class ace, which is why the teachers pretty much let her do as she pleases. She might be a first-year like us, but don’t let that fool you. Her artwork has sold for millions, and she owns studios all around the world."
Xin remained silent, absorbing the information.
He wasn’t naive enough to believe he was the most accomplished artist in the class. As long as he could express himself through his work, he was content. He had no intentions of competing with others – that wasn’t his reason for being here.
"Is our class really this small?" Xin asked casually.
Victor shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Art isn’t a path everyone chooses. It’s either go big or go broke. There’s not much middle ground, and usually, it’s the latter."
He continued, his tone tinged with a touch of bitterness. "And let’s not forget. Art materials aren’t friendly to the wallets of the poor or even the middle class. Quality paints can be expensive. The best ones? They cost a small fortune and might barely cover a single canvas. Sometimes not even that."
Xin nodded, fully aware of the financial challenges in pursuing art.
He remembered his mother’s reluctance when he first expressed interest in art. It wasn’t that she doubted his talents, but the financial burden concerned her.
Excelling in art wasn’t just about skill; it often required connections, something that Xin lacked due to his introverted nature –– a fact his mother and Xiaxia often pointed out.
Evelyn even suggested he switch to digital art, a more financially viable option. However, Xin’s heart was set on traditional art, and he wasn’t swayed.
Their argument ended when Xin handed his mother a substantial sum of money, stating his intention to cover his school expenses and their debt himself.
After that, the topic had never resurfaced.