It was normal for someone to hit on Shen Zhiyi

"Hello, my name is Yan Song. Shen, could I get to know you?"

Liu Muyan's sanding hand paused, and she turned to look. The hands of their Department of Fine Arts' genius painter seemed to be trembling a little, and his voice was somewhat unsteady.

Liu Muyan was surprised, but she didn't interrupt. After a glance, she looked away.

Shen Zhiyi turned her gaze back to the young man standing before her. His slightly curly hair was somewhat long, and his handsome features carried a scholarly air and a touch of elegance.

He was the sort of person who struck you at first glance as a born artist. His frame was a little thin but not frail, and his voice was gentle too.

"Hello. Shen Zhiyi. Did you need something?"

Even those few words made Yan Song a little happy. After observing her for a few days, he knew she wasn't much of a talker. As it happened, neither was he.

"Could I ask you for some advice? I've hit a bit of a creative block lately."

In truth, he hadn't encountered any difficulties. In fact, he was bursting with inspiration because of Shen Zhiyi.

The first time he saw her, countless ideas had erupted in his mind. He thought this might be what his teacher called a Muse.

"Sorry, I can't offer you any advice. My skills aren't good enough for me to teach you."

Yan Song hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, no. Even the teachers acknowledge your skills, and I think you're amazing."

Liu Muyan stopped what she was doing, a little surprised by this prodigy's words.

The university administrators had specially recruited Yan Song from abroad. He had made a name for himself at fifteen, selling a painting for a million. He was a natural-born talent through and through.

Usually quiet and unassuming, he spent more time in the studio every day than anyone else. He had both diligence and talent. Even paintings he produced at his worst could blow many people's work out of the water.

Liu Muyan wasn't particularly gifted. She simply liked it and had no financial pressures, so she took a broader view of this path than others did.

That was why every time she saw Yan Song's paintings, she marveled at how mysterious talent truly was. Now this genius was actually trying to strike up a conversation this way, and she was rather enjoying the show.

Still, Shen Zhiyi shook her head and refused. Since changing fields, she had rarely painted a picture simply for its own sake.

Her teacher had said her mindset was extreme and didn't want her to sink any further into it. She was studying woodcut printmaking because her teacher hoped she could properly shift her mindset.

"I can't help you," Shen Zhiyi replied slowly.

Yan Song dug at his palm, but his gaze remained firm.

"Then could we exchange contact details? I won't bother you. It's just, well, we could chat sometimes and be friends."

Shen Zhiyi didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at Liu Muyan.

"You could discuss things with Muyan. Her style should resonate with you more."

Liu Muyan had grown up surrounded by love, and her painting style was warm and sunny. By comparison, Shen Zhiyi's style was so oppressive that its abyss had no end in sight; anyone who saw it would be frightened.

Liu Muyan hurriedly waved her hands.

"No, no. That would be completely out of my league. Why would Yan Song need to discuss these things with me?"

The light in Yan Song's eyes dimmed a little. His lips pressed tightly together, and after a moment of silence, he asked again.

"Is it really not possible? I just feel like we could be friends, because whenever I see you, so much inspiration comes pouring out.

I just wanted to ask if you could model for me."

Yan Song finally revealed his purpose. If Shen Zhiyi modeled for him for a day, he would surely be able to create the most satisfying painting of his life.

Shen Zhiyi had always known how to turn people down. To her, socializing was useless, except when she was short of money.

After spending a while handling business at the company that day, Chi Ye couldn't resist picking up his phone to check it. Ever since he had aired his grievances to Shen Zhiyi, she had learned how to give him perfunctory responses.

When she went out, she sent a "1."

At lunchtime, she sent a "2."

The entire screen practically screamed indifference, but whenever Chi Ye replied, she would type another "1" after reading his message, like another way of saying "read."

Chi Ye thought this counted as progress. He believed that in the near future, Shen Zhiyi would surely move beyond that "1" and send him a "666."

He didn't look particularly out of place walking through S University's campus. Apart from his more mature bearing, his clothes were even trendier than everyone else's.

His hair had been swept up and half-tied into a little tuft at the back, and he wore a loose, comfortable utility outfit. That face of his turned every head on campus.

Naturally, quite a few people asked for his contact details.

A few days earlier, when someone had asked for his contact details while he stood beside the car, he had thought of several ways to refuse. But when he saw Shen Zhiyi approaching, he pointed at her and said she was his girlfriend.

As the two girls looked at Shen Zhiyi, Chi Ye added that he had upset his girlfriend and was now waiting for her to unlock the car door for him.

The girls were discouraged, and when they heard Chi Ye call her name, they gave up.

So this time, Chi Ye simply brought up a photo of Shen Zhiyi and said,

"Sorry, I have a girlfriend."

The photo had been taken without her knowledge, though who knew when Chi Ye had taken it. It was a profile shot, and the person in it was looking ahead rather than at the camera.

This method worked very well. The person chatting him up left shortly afterward. Chi Ye put the photo away in satisfaction. Not having to rack his brains for excuses made things easy for him.

By the corridor window outside the art classroom, Chi Ye chose to stand outside and watch rather than call out, worried he might disturb the others.

* [Turn him down.]*

Shen Zhiyi's inner voice rang out. Chi Ye had only just arrived and had no idea what had happened, or what Shen Zhiyi meant to turn down.

Standing outside the window, he immediately took in the scene inside. A younger male student stood in front of Shen Zhiyi, his gaze carrying a hint of admiration that Chi Ye had seen in many people.

Was someone hitting on Shen Zhiyi? His hand tightened slightly at the thought, but then another thought followed.

Wasn't it perfectly normal for someone to hit on her? Shen Zhiyi was beautiful. Anyone who wasn't blind would want her contact details.

Despite thinking that, his eyes remained fixed on them. He watched Shen Zhiyi's lips move slightly, but he couldn't hear what she said. He was a little too far away.

His expression darkened without his realizing it, but he stayed where he was, thinking that Shen Zhiyi would probably notice him.

The young man lowered his head in disappointment. A while later, he looked up again with a faint smile, and Shen Zhiyi sighed.

She picked up a pencil from beside her and wrote a string of numbers on a blank sheet of paper. She didn't often use those apps. If he wanted to reach her, he might as well call, though she wouldn't necessarily answer.

But that was enough for Yan Song. With her number, he could add her on a messaging app.

Yan Song left with a spring in his step. Before leaving, he even complimented Liu Muyan's painting, saying it was really beautiful. Liu Muyan touched her nose. A genius had praised her.

Chi Ye's eyes met Shen Zhiyi's as Yan Song turned to leave.