The Sharpness of a Pencil Tip

Following the basketball tournament and that vivid, breathless scene in the restroom, Chu Ran and Ye Nanzhi had reached a tacit agreement to forget the incident. Neither of them ever brought it up again.

Chu Ran remained as she always was—indifferent and steady—as she explained light, shadow, and perspective to Ye Nanzhi. However, as the days passed, the intensity of Chu Ran’s teaching increased. Gradually, Ye Nanzhi became the busiest student in the entire Art Club.

Even on the day of the Art Club’s social dinner, she was still sketching from a picture of a skyscraper that pierced the clouds.

The hands of the clock crept toward five, but Chu Ran was still focused on adjusting the proportions and structure of Ye Nanzhi’s drawing. She showed no intention of stopping.

Finally, three knocks sounded at the studio door. It was Tang Mu.

As the senior who had introduced Ye Nanzhi to the Art Club, Tang Mu had actually been acquainted with her for a long time.

To call them childhood sweethearts would not be an exaggeration.

Tang Mu’s father and Ye Nanzhi’s mother were colleagues. The two had played together since they were children. Tang Mu’s younger brother and Ye Nanzhi’s cousin, Li Huan, were classmates. The relationship was “kinship upon kinship.”

Knowing that Ye Nanzhi wanted to join the Art Club, Tang Mu, as the president, had personally selected the most excellent teacher for her. This was enough to show Tang Mu’s dedication to her.

“Still drawing?” Tang Mu smiled gently and appropriately, interrupting the exchange. “The Art Club is having a team-building dinner today. Everyone is waiting outside. How about we call it a day?”

Ye Nanzhi instinctively looked at Chu Ran. Chu Ran, holding the drawing board, showed no sign of putting it down.

She glanced at her wristwatch. It was indeed time for dinner. “Since there’s an activity, you should go.”

Tang Mu took the opportunity to wave at Ye Nanzhi, but Ye Nanzhi didn’t rush to leave. “Senior Chu, aren’t you joining us?”

Tang Mu hadn’t expected Ye Nanzhi to take the initiative to invite Chu Ran, so he followed suit. “That’s right, Chu Ran. Why not join us today?”

Invite her? Chu Ran understood that Tang Mu was only smoothing things over. There was likely very little sincerity in that sentence.

“No, you all go ahead.” Chu Ran’s hand, holding the pencil, began to move again. The rustling sound of the lead against the paper filled the studio once more.

The agreed-upon hotpot restaurant was near the school, just a five-minute walk from the gate. By the time Tang Mu arrived with Ye Nanzhi, everyone was already seated.

Seeing the two of them, the group waved. –Over here!–

–Why so late? Did that she-tiger refuse to let you go?– The first to speak was Liu Guang, the vice president of the Art Club, his tone laced with mockery.

Tang Mu gave him a look, and the other man quickly shut up, raising his glass to say he would penalize himself with three drinks. The others followed by changing the subject. –Eat, eat! Come on, Xiao Ye, their tomato soup base is new and very popular online. Try it quickly! Fish out whatever you like!–

Ye Nanzhi nodded in thanks but didn’t reach for her chopsticks. Instead, she poured herself a glass of juice.

“Xiao Ye.” Tang Mu, sitting beside her, looked over. “Is Chu Ran… particularly strict? If you feel it’s too tiring, I can find someone else to lead you.”

“No need.” Ye Nanzhi smiled. “Senior Chu is quite good to me.”

At this, Tang Mu’s expression seemed a bit awkward. “That’s good then. Seeing that you didn’t forget to invite her today, I suppose you two get along quite harmoniously.”

“What? Xiao Ye, you invited that person!” After three drinks, a visible flush had risen on Liu Guang’s face. Ignoring the slices of meat he hadn’t yet put into the pot, he looked at Ye Nanzhi in shock. “Why did you ask her to come? If she shows up, who would have the heart to eat!”

Reflecting for a moment, Liu Guang added, “But even if you ask, she won’t come. Someone as arrogant as her wouldn’t deign to mingle with mortals like us!”

“Don’t talk like that,” Tang Mu tried to stop Liu Guang, but he couldn’t restrain the blunt young man who had already had a few drinks.

“Look at how Chu Ran usually acts. She doesn’t talk to anyone, just sits there by herself, proud as can be. Ultimately, she just looks down on us! I admit, her drawing technique is fine, but does that justify being so dismissive of others? Even many masters and famous artists aren’t at her level of ego. Besides, she’s not even a professional yet—she’s not a big shot, but she sure acts like one!”

“Xiao Ye, as a senior, I’ll give you a piece of advice: stay away from that Chu Ran! Our Art Club has plenty of talent. There’s no need to hang yourself from this one tree! Wouldn’t it be better to come and learn manga and cartoons with us? They’re so cute! Why insist on drawing those black-and-white scenes?”

Ye Nanzhi took a sip of her juice. Her smile was sweeter than the orange liquid, showing faint dimples. “It’s no trouble. I’m doing fine following Senior Chu.”

Seeing that Ye Nanzhi remained unmoved despite Liu Guang’s long rant, the group began to smooth things over, urging everyone to eat.

Tang Mu, in particular, used a strainer to scoop several pieces of tofu and meat into Ye Nanzhi’s bowl, comforting her and telling her to eat more.

But Liu Guang, as if acting out of spite, drained his beer and asked Ye Nanzhi, “Xiao Ye, have you seen Chu Ran’s arm?”

Ye Nanzhi looked up blankly, her eyes full of confusion.

Tang Mu quickly intervened. “Liu Guang! The meat is cooked. Don’t just focus on drinking, eat more!”

“What does it matter! Weren’t you also full of regret when you first found out and realized you’d handed Xiao Ye over to her!” Liu Guang’s next words were like a series of incantations, causing a buzzing sound in Ye Nanzhi’s head.

“Do you know why she never wears short sleeves? It’s because she has a three-inch scar on her right arm from being cut by glass.”

“In her second year of high school, she beat up a boy from the junior high department. The boy needed five stitches on his forehead, and she needed three on her arm. That’s how she got the scar.”

“The person who was beaten is the younger brother of a friend of mine. I only recently discovered that she was the one from back then.” Liu Guang refilled his empty glass. “I didn’t expect that after coming so far, I’d encounter her at Jiangzhou University, thousands of miles away.”

–Oh my god…– The young girls around the table gasped. –That… that counts as campus violence, right? Bullying someone younger… that’s definitely bullying!–

“Xiao Ye, do you know what kind of person she is? The scar on her hand is the best evidence. Someone like that isn’t someone a girl like you should provoke. You should draw a clear line with her immediately!”

Ye Nanzhi didn’t eat much during that meal. She hardly reached into the pot with her chopsticks, and she barely touched the tofu and meat Tang Mu had scooped for her.

“I saw you didn’t eat much.” On the way back, Tang Mu asked her quietly, “What’s wrong? Are you upset because of what Liu Guang said? Don’t take it to heart. He’s just blunt; he didn’t mean any harm.”

In truth, Ye Nanzhi didn’t like sour things. Every item cooked in that tomato soup base carried a sour scent.

However, since everyone else was eating happily, she could only suppress her small grievance. After forcing down a few bites, she had sat there drinking juice.

“No, it was fine. The tomato base was delicious. I’m just not very hungry today.”

At the school gate, Ye Nanzhi reached into her pocket only to find that her keys had changed from a bunch into two loose pieces. The keychain had been a free gift with a plush toy; the quality wasn’t good. Now, the plush toy had snagged on something and been torn off, and the key ring had been pulled from a circle into a long, thin wire.

The sharp, jagged end instantly sliced into the pad of Ye Nanzhi’s finger. A streak of red appeared on her fair fingertip.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. The keychain must have snagged on something and broke.” Ye Nanzhi removed the two keys barely clinging to it and threw the ruined ring into the trash.

“Are any keys missing?” Tang Mu asked.

“Yes.” Ye Nanzhi nodded. “They might have dropped in the studio. But someone is in my dorm, so I can go back and get them tomorrow. Senior Liu is drunk; you should take him back first.”

Beside them, Liu Guang, who had been passed out and leaning weightlessly against Tang Mu, suddenly stood up straight the moment he heard someone say he was drunk.

–I’m not drunk! Who says I’m drunk? I can~ still drink!– Liu Guang’s speech was slurred, and his steps were scattered.

Tang Mu quickly supported him. “Then, Xiao Ye, be careful on your way back. I won’t walk you. Remember to message me when you get to the dorm to let me know you’re safe; I’ll be worried.”

Just as he finished, Tang Mu seemed to have an afterthought. He turned back before leaving. “As for what Liu Guang said today… the words were rough, but the reasoning holds. I hope you’ll consider it.”

–My words aren’t rough!– Hearing news about Chu Ran, Liu Guang suddenly regained his spirit. –The evidence is solid! Little comrade, I advise you to turn back while you can. Follow me, or just let your Brother Tang Mu lead you personally. Either is better than that Chu Ran!–

–Wait!– Liu Guang suddenly lowered his voice mysteriously, looking left and right before continuing. –Don’t be fooled by her not talking right now. She’s just lying in wait for the right moment! Once she finds your weakest point, she’ll pounce, bite your neck, gnaw your bones, and drink your blood!–

As Liu Guang spoke, he used his hands to gesture around his own neck. –She’s a white-eyed wolf! A wolf that can’t be tamed!–

His words became increasingly chaotic. Tang Mu quickly stopped him from continuing his madness, calling over some other boys to hold him and take him away.

The atmosphere turned awkward. Tang Mu pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking of what to say, but it was Ye Nanzhi who spoke first and called them back.

“Wait a moment.”

Ye Nanzhi’s hands kept rubbing the strap of her bag. Finally, after a breath of relief, she summoned her courage and said:

“Senior Chu is very good to me.”

“I admit I haven’t seen her arm, and I don’t know anything about her past.”

“I only know that ever since she started teaching me, she has never said a harsh word to me, nor has she shown a hint of impatience.”

“On the contrary, she is very meticulous. Before class, she carefully selects the pictures for imitation, sets the drawing board in the most suitable position, and prepares the drawing tools for me. From the beginning until now, every pencil I’ve used has had its tip sharpened by her.”

“As a teacher, Senior Chu is dutiful and responsible, so…” Ye Nanzhi suddenly raised her head, her crystalline eyes bright under the moonlight. “I will pretend I never heard what was said today. I know you all mean well for me.”

“But I am doing very well right now.”