Third stroke

It is a pity that the male students at the art academy have always had a unique taste, preferring individualistic women over beautiful ones

She does not like to lie or disguise herself, nor does she know how to. The boldest and most outrageous thing she has ever done is to gaze intently with a fiery look at the gentle and refined Guan You, until the other party turns away. Then, she slowly approaches with her sketchbook in hand, using the pretext of seeking advice to close the distance and seize the opportunity.

"I have said that you should not touch me casually without my consent." The man glanced down at her from a height, his expression cold as he turned away.

Moreover, the other two individuals involved in the incident—she and Guan You—have long since let go, so she now hopes that she too can find peace.

In terms of appearance, An Yanran is unmatched. Her features are exquisite and unconventional, with each aspect perfectly proportioned: her thick black eyebrows, inky eyes, delicate upturned nose, full lips, and petite chin. Coupled with her jet-black long hair and snow-white skin, she is truly a beauty

The person before her is one who has completely transcended the limits of her cognitive abilities. In the past, she would have had no courage to approach someone with such an eccentric and chaotic temperament, let alone maintain a state of solitude like this for nearly seven months.

As a result, when that incident occurred later, An Yanran became the party that was not believed.

Why, why... many years ago that night, she seemed to be enchanted, repeatedly sending messages because the other party did not answer the phone or reply. Until the next day, the other party took the initiative to call, but it was Gao Fei's arrogant voice.

This day marks the second day of Gao Fei's work at the gallery in the city, and it is her third visit.

She later thought that the passage of time had been somewhat lengthy, and such days had become increasingly comfortable, causing the fighting spirit that had originally surged within her to gradually subside. For her at present, this was not a good phenomenon. Comfort can lead to fatigue and laziness, and one day it would wear down all her once-vibrant will.

She gazed at the screen, momentarily lost in thought. Once upon a time, she too had sent such disjointed messages.

The temperature in the room dropped suddenly, and An Yanran, wrapped in a thin blanket, had her dark eyes appearing particularly innocent under the dim light, whether due to sleepiness or some other reason. "Teacher, please don't be angry... Look, I really haven't done anything..."

Long after, An Yanran once thought that if it were not for someone's enthusiasm, she might not have been genuinely interested in stepping back into this murky situation.

Once upon a time in the academy, An Yanran considered herself to be a good student who respected teachers and valued the way of learning. The term "teacher" has always been regarded as sacred and serious.

Although the villa has three floors, only the first and second floors are actually used

You have already made an impact. The man finally became impatient, took action himself, and pushed the octopus in his arms away.

In the still and heavy air, the faint scent of the man's body wash permeates, an utterly ordinary aroma, yet in this moment, it evokes a profound sense of lingering intimacy and ambiguity

Of course, excluding the one in front of us

The oppressive chill coming from above her head signaled to her that he was awake. Indeed, he was quite alert; her heart trembled twice as she continued to lie quietly in his embrace

She reached out to lift the thin blanket covering him, slowly snuggling into his embrace. Her slender body and limbs resembled soft silk ribbons, gradually enveloping the man's tall and sturdy frame.

This description is merely intended to illustrate that although the villa is large, the space in which she can move freely is quite limited. Given the other party's extremely exclusive personality, over the course of these seven months, apart from the initial remarkable achievements, the rest have been hardly worth mentioning

During the two days of the weekend, she and the - picture - book continued to work as a nanny under a certain false name, while the progress regarding certain matters remained stagnant.

The art academy in City S is not lacking in beautiful women

Unfortunately, Gao Fei only understands the former An Yanran

The bedside lamp was lit, and he stood by the bed, frowning at her. His facial features were not particularly soft to begin with, and with that frown, an innate chill immediately emanated from him

Since her enrollment, Gao Fei has been the center of attention, as she is exceptionally talented

In the early summer weather of the plum rain season, fine raindrops fall outside the window, and the clouds obscure the light of the stars and moon. The room is shrouded in darkness, and the person on the bed has evidently fallen into a deep sleep

The third floor is an attic, filled with some unused clutter. The male owner has not instructed her to clean it regularly, and she is quite pleased to have one less task.

The man's voice lacked warmth, "Are you planning to pretend to be asleep all night, or will you give me a reasonable explanation?"

On that day at the gallery, An Yanran slowly broke into a gentle smile after the other party finished speaking, "Alright, since you are so sincere in your invitation, I accept your request."

Going to the villa again on the weekend, my mindset has indeed changed; even doing housekeeping has become a joyful task

According to Gao Fei's own account, she is here to promote peace

Gao Fei is like this, and Guan You is also like this

The professor, known for his strictness within the department, has expressed high praise for her, and even the chairman of the art academy, who rarely makes public appearances, has heard much about her

In the very beginning, she never imagined that she would become Guan You's girlfriend

No one spoke on the other end of the phone; in the still air, only shallow breaths could be heard. After a moment, the call ended, and her phone received a text message from that number, containing just four words: Happy Birthday

This type of rain does not produce thunder

An Yanran had probably made some preparations, as a stranger's number had called her phone and *book* last Sunday night

When working quietly, An Yanran enjoys reflecting on the past, as this reflection aids her thinking. Many of the issues that once troubled her gradually find answers during these reflections

The man stepped back, and due to the swift movement, she was unable to react in time. Her body, losing balance, fell to the ground with a thud, landing in a position resembling a full prostration.

And tonight, she decided to break through once again

"Anyway, I am afraid. It's just one night; I will lie still and won't disturb your sleep!" An Yanran, with a thick skin, maintained her octopus-like posture.

... ... ''

Given that this is a society characterized by survival of the fittest, stagnation equates to regression; she deeply felt that perhaps it was time to seek some appropriate "incentives" for herself

She leaned over to support his leg, rubbing the fabric of his trousers between her fingers, and curiously asked, "Is this new? Did you go to the city this week?" This is quite unusual

The other party spoke slowly, and their expression seemed to carry a genuine concern.

In comparison to gallery salespeople, art assistants in personal studios have greater prospects. If she is inclined to take up the brush again in the future, she can also assist her with recommendations

Having grown up together like green plums for many years, seeing her like this now, she has not been feeling well these past few days. Yes, they were once at odds, but those were matters of our student days. Looking back now, with the passage of time, there is truly no need to be entangled in the past.

The workshop on the first floor was originally two separate rooms, which the owner has combined into a large studio. Next to the oversized floor-to-ceiling windows that extend diagonally from the south to the east in the villa's living room, there stands a black spiral staircase.

She later made a rather wicked justification for her shameless decision: knowing that there are tigers in the mountains, she still chose to venture into the tiger's den. If she wanted to be continuously "motivated," she had to stay close to the pathogens.

At around 1:00 AM, the villa was enveloped in complete silence.

He stared at her quietly for a moment, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking smile, "So, you still remember that I am your teacher"

After four years of hard work at the art school, it is truly a pity that she has only now decided to give up. Her studio is currently preparing for a personal art exhibition, and the staff is stretched thin; they are still in need of an art assistant. If she is willing, she could resign from her position at the gallery to assist her.

It is not the first time, yet her heart still races rapidly

An Yanran lifted her head from his embrace and said, "I am afraid of thunder..."

On the second floor, in addition to the living room, there are only two rooms. The south-facing area is entirely paved with natural wood, and the angle perfectly captures the lake view below the mountain.

Seeing the man's indifferent back as he walked straight to the easel without a hint of hesitation, she could only rub her forehead, resigning herself to her misfortune

The content is even shorter than this, consisting of only three characters: Why?

The two were close together, and her gaze was drawn to his pants, a pair of cotton, ash-gray loungewear. Based on her memory, they should not have originally belonged to his wardrobe

In fact, there is no need for her to worry; someone has always been keen on matters of "motivation".

Reflecting on the past, and now looking at the face before her, An Yanran could not help but exclaim that she was truly blind back then

Those studying fine arts, whether in the Department of Figurative Oil Painting where An Yanran is located or in other various art and design departments, generally possess a certain level of artistic foundation. The girls have good taste in their attire, and elegant women can be seen everywhere.

She slightly pouted her lips, burying her entire face into the open chest of his clothing

An Yanran wore a white spaghetti strap nightgown, her long black hair styled in a slightly messy and seductive manner, before pushing open the door to the male protagonist's bedroom

The evaluations from her teachers always revolve around words such as obedient, understanding of matters, and polite. In fact, An Yanran is indeed a student who is consistent in both her words and actions.

An Yanran clearly understands the true purpose behind today's words. It seems that Guan You has indeed been careless, and the matter of sending her a text message has likely been discovered.

Speaking of which, she once thought that Gao Fei's arrogance was a manifestation of her personality

Gao Fei's boasting is secondary; the true intention lies in declaring ownership. As for the talk about being an art assistant, it is merely grandiloquent nonsense, and she is certain that it will not be taken seriously. Having grown together for many years, Gao Fei understands her, just as she understands her now.

She came to find her this time because she felt it was unfair for her given her current situation

Thus, it can be said that humans are indeed creatures that require motivation. Regardless of the type of motivation, any that can inspire individuals to transcend the ordinary and challenge their own limits is considered good motivation

Adolescent girls are often shy and reserved, yet Gao Fei stands out like a peacock with its feathers on display, lifting her chin high and casting a cold glance from the corner of her eye at the boys who chase after her, showing not the slightest interest in them

In the darkness, the sleeping eyes slowly opened, revealing a deep blackness speckled with glimmering starlight, resting upon the woman in his embrace

An Yanran's personality is hardly remarkable. To put it simply, she lacks any distinct character, much like the supporting female character who always stands beside the protagonist in a romantic drama. Although she has a pleasing appearance, when placed next to the unique, aloof, and tall Gao Fei, she immediately becomes a mere backdrop.

She was in great pain from the impact, shook a couple of times, and when she got up, there was a bruise on her forehead.

Bare feet silently tread over the soft carpet, making their way to the edge of the bed. Eyes accustomed to the darkness carefully examine the man's elegant facial contours in the dim light, contemplating where to begin.

The astonishment in Gao Fei's eyes that day brought Yan Ran joy for a long time