Chapter 592

In the afternoon, class proceeded as usual.

Translation: "In the afternoon, class proceeded as usual."

Then came Professor Lin Ting-song's required class, held in the large studio, with a dozen or so students scattered around the room.

Translation: "Then came Professor Lin Tingsong's required class, held in the large painting studio, with over a dozen people scattered around the studio."

Professor Lin stood at the podium, explained the assignment's theme, showed them some example sketches, and then let them work freely.

Translation: "Professor Lin Tingsong stood at the podium, explained the assignment for this homework, showed them some example drawings, and then let them work freely."

After finishing lunch and returning, it suddenly started to rain. Mu Youyu put away her umbrella, deliberately chose a seat by the window; outside the sky was overcast and the rain was pouring.

Translation: "After finishing her meal and returning, it suddenly started to rain; Mu Youyu put away her umbrella, deliberately chose a spot by the window, where the sky outside was overcast and the rain was thick."

On the easel in front of her was clipped a quarter-size sketch paper.

Translation: "On the easel before her was clipped a sheet of quarto-size sketch paper."

She had just roughly blocked in the forms and was now laying down the main line drawing.

Translation: "She had just roughly blocked in the forms, and was now laying down the main line draft."

Jiang Liangjin sat an arm's length away from her, each drawing their own content.

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin was an arm's length away from her, each drawing their own content."

However, his gaze would drift over to hers every now and then to check her progress.

Translation: "However, his gaze would drift over to her every now and then to check her progress."

After finishing a round of quick shading, Mu Youyu caught him glancing at her again out of the corner of her eye and whispered, "You haven't finished blocking in yet?"

Translation: "After Mu Youyu finished a round of quick shading, her peripheral vision caught him glancing again; she lowered her voice: 'You haven't finished blocking in the forms yet?'"

Jiang Liangjin withdrew his gaze, saying, "I'm done, just checking it over."

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin drew his gaze back, saying, 'I'm done, just checking.'"

"You've been checking for ten minutes?"

Translation: "You've been checking for ten minutes?"

"Thorough."

Translation: "Being meticulous."

"Exactly, Ah-jin is the most meticulous." Mu Youyu lowered her head again to look at her own paper.

Translation: "Right, A Jin is the most meticulous." Mu Youyu lowered her head again to look at her own drawing paper.

After a few seconds, she remembered that Jiang Liangjin was drawing the classroom interior, turned her head slightly, and whispered, "Do you want to add Professor Lin too?"

Translation: "After a few seconds, she recalled that Jiang Liangjin was drawing the classroom scenery, turned her head slightly, and whispered: 'Do you want to add Professor Lin as well?'"

She slightly lifted her chin toward the podium.

Translation: "She slightly lifted her chin toward the podium."

Jiang Liangjin followed her gaze and saw Professor Lin with his head down, holding his phone up in front of his face, the screen's light illuminating his visage, the corners of his mouth turned up, though it was unclear what he was looking at.

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin followed her gaze over; Professor Lin Tingsong was lowering his head, holding his phone up in front of his face, the screen's light illuminating his visage, the corners of his mouth turned up, it was unclear what he was looking at."

"That makes sense," he said, feeling a spark of interest and inspiration rising; he picked up his pencil and added a few strokes to the paper.

Translation: "'Makes sense.' He felt a spark of interest, inspiration welled up, he picked up his pencil, and added a few strokes on the paper."

Mu Youyu adjusted the angle of her drawing board and began adding details.

Translation: "Mu Youyu adjusted the angle of her drawing board, then began adding details."

The two made little noise, while everyone else around them was busy with their own work, unaware of this small interlude.

Translation: "The two made little noise; those around them were busy with their own work and didn't notice this small interlude."

After about twenty minutes, Professor Lin finally put his phone down and began walking around the studio.

Translation: "After about twenty minutes, Professor Lin Tingsong finally put down his phone and began walking around the studio."

He first glanced at a few students' progress, occasionally stopping to offer a brief comment; when he reached behind Mu Youyu, his normally stern expression froze.

Translation: "He first glanced at several students' progress, occasionally stopping to offer a few comments; when he reached behind Mu Youyu, his normally stern expression halted."

On the paper was a middle-aged man looking down at his phone, relaxed posture, with a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.

Translation: "On the paper was a middle-aged man looking down at his phone, posture relaxed, the corners of his mouth hinting at a smile."

She had placed the figure low in the composition, leaving a large area of blank space.

Translation: "He had placed the figure low in the composition, leaving a large area of blank space."

Professor Lin stared at the drawing for several seconds, then lightly tapped his finger on the edge of the easel and said, "You really have talent."

Translation: "Professor Lin Tingsong stared at the drawing for several seconds, lightly tapping the edge of the easel with his finger, and said, 'You really have talent.'"

Mu Youyu lifted her face and asked, "What do you think, Professor?"

Translation: "Mu Youyu lifted her face, asking, 'What do you think, Professor?'"

"Draw me younger," Professor Lin chuckled.

Translation: "'You made me look younger.' Professor Lin chuckled."

"This is how I picture Professor Lin in my mind."

Translation: "'This is how I picture Professor Lin in my heart.'"

Hearing her emotionally intelligent remark, Professor Lin noted that these two most often draw each other, and it's rare for a devoted student to paint themselves.

Translation: "Hearing her emotionally intelligent remark, Professor Lin Tingsong felt pleased—additionally, the two of them most often drew each other, and it was rare for a beloved disciple to draw themselves."

He was quite pleased inside, already itching to snap a photo to show off in the group chat, but with classmates still watching, he reluctantly restrained himself.

Translation: "He felt quite gratified, already itching to snap a photo to post in the group chat and show off, but with classmates still watching, he reluctantly restrained himself."

Professor Lin turned toward the easel beside Mu Youyu.

Translation: "Professor Lin Tingsong turned toward the easel beside Mu Youyu."

On Jiang Liangjin's paper was the same subject, only from a slightly different angle, with his brushwork bearing his personal habits.

Translation: "On Jiang Liangjin's paper was the same subject, only the angle slightly different, and his brushwork bore his own habits."

Professor Lin raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did you two plan this?"

Translation: "Professor Lin Tingsong raised his eyebrows, 'Did you two plan this?'"

Jiang Liangjin put down his pen and said, "No prior discussion—just a telepathic connection."

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin set down his pencil and blurted, 'No discussion—just a telepathic connection.'"

Mu Youyu echoed him: "Exactly, we're in sync."

Translation: "Mu Youyu echoed him: 'Exactly, a telepathic connection.'"

Professor Lin, unexpectedly fed a mouthful of 'dog food' by the youngsters, didn't know how to respond, so he just waved his hand and said, "Nice work, keep going."

Translation: "Professor Lin Tingsong was inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food by the youngsters, not knowing how to respond, he finally just waved his hand and said, 'Nice drawing, keep going.'"

He pretended not to care as he snapped several photos from different angles, then returned to the podium.

Translation: "He pretended not to care as he snapped several photos from different angles, then returned to the podium."

Mu Youyu turned her head sideways and lowered her voice: "Professor Lin seemed to want to say something just now."

Translation: "Mu Youyu turned her head sideways, lowered her voice: 'Professor Lin just now seemed like he wanted to say something.'"

Jiang Liangjin also lowered his voice: "Maybe he wanted to say we drew too well, but felt embarrassed to praise us."

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin also lowered his voice: 'Maybe he wanted to say we drew too well, but felt embarrassed to praise.'"

"You're really confident."

Translation: "You're really confident."

Jiang Liangjin picked up an eraser and lightly rubbed it, saying, "It's the truth."

Translation: "Jiang Liangjin picked up an eraser and lightly rubbed it—'It's the truth.'"

Qiao Xin, sitting nearby, had been eavesdropping on their conversation, pressing her lips together repeatedly, and finally couldn't help laughing out loud.

Translation: "Qiao Xin, sitting nearby, had been eavesdropping on their conversation, pressing her lips together repeatedly, but she finally couldn't hold back a laugh."

She reached out and tugged at Xiao Yu's sleeve, whispering, "Did you hear that? They're drawing Professor Lin and even said he doesn't dare to compliment them."

Translation: "She reached out and tugged at Xiao Yu's sleeve, whispering, 'Did you hear that? They're both drawing Professor Lin, and even said he doesn't dare to praise them.'"

Xiao Yu flinched, saying, "I heard you—focus on your drawing, don't eavesdrop on others."

Translation: "Xiao Yu jerked her hand, 'I heard—focus on your own drawing, don't eavesdrop on others.'"

Qiao Xin pursed her lips, withdrew her gaze, and refocused on her own half-finished still life.

Translation: "Qiao Xin pursed her lips, withdrew her gaze, and redirected her attention back to her own half-finished still life."

She deliberately chose a spot near her where a steel wire ball could see her patch of green grass, exclaiming, "Hey wow, your paint looks so vibrant and lovely—what brand is it?"

Translation: "Someone had deliberately chosen a steel wire ball near her position; seeing her patch of green grass, they exclaimed, 'Oh wow, your paint looks so lively and beautiful—what brand is it?'"

Basically, the art program covers a bit of everything related to art; Professor Lin teaches many courses, and now students work in all sorts of styles.

Translation: "Art Studies basically dabbles in everything related to art; Professor Lin Tingsong teaches many courses, so now all kinds of painting styles are being done."

Qiao Xin was happy to share, proudly announcing the brand name and adding, "The goddess recommended it to me; the full set costs only 100,000."

Translation: "Qiao Xin was actually happy to share now; she proudly announced a brand name, adding, 'The goddess recommended it to me— the whole set costs only 100,000.'"

The steel wire ball felt tempted, asking, "That cheap? Send me the link—I'll order it right away."

Translation: "The steel wire ball's heart fluttered—'That cheap? Send me the link, I'll order it right away.'"

Mu Youyu put away that drawing, attached a fresh sheet to her board, and began a new round of color work.

Translation: "Mu Youyu gathered up that drawing, stuck a fresh sheet of paper onto her board, and began a new round of color work."

「……」

Translation: "……"

When Mu Youyu finally put down her pen, the studio door was knocked on and then opened.

Translation: "When Mu Youyu put down her pen, the studio door was knocked on and then pushed open."

A short-haired girl with a casual, individualistic style appeared at the doorway, saying, "Hello, Professor Lin—I'm looking for Mu Youyu."

Translation: "A short-haired girl with a casual, individualistic style appeared at the doorway, saying, 'Hello Professor Lin, I'm looking for Mu Youyu.'"

Seeing that she was a disciple of his friend, Professor Lin waved his hand, indicating that Mu Youyu could leave—someone was looking for her.

Translation: "Seeing that she was his friend's disciple, Professor Lin Tingsong waved his hand, indicating Mu Youyu could leave—someone was looking for her."

Students who had finished their work lowered their voices to chat.

Translation: "Students who had finished their work lowered their voices to discuss."

"Isn't that Senior Nanran?"

Translation: "Is that Nanran senior?"

"Yes, hasn't Senior Nanran been entering a competition lately?"

Translation: "Right, hasn't Nanran senior been participating in a competition lately?"

"When will I ever be as good as she is?"

Translation: "When will I be as good as her?"

"Senior Nanran is so pretty."

Translation: "Nanran senior is really pretty."

"She's come to find the goddess Mu Youyu—indeed, goddesses only hang out with goddesses."

Translation: "She's come to find Mu goddess, after all—goddesses only hang out with goddesses."

Mu Youyu raised an eyebrow, picked up her phone, and only then discovered that Nanran had sent her several messages.

As soon as she got up, Jiang Liangjin asked concernedly, "Do you need me to accompany you?"

"No need, I'll go take a look." Mu Youyu walked out of the Painting Studio and closed the door.

Nanran was leaning by the window, holding an envelope, "A You, didn't I disturb your class?"

Mu Youyu shook her head. "No, how did you come? Do you have something to ask me?"

Although they are about five years apart in age, most of the time they can still address each other as friends.