Chapter 53
I might have missed out on many beautiful moments because of Felix.
“Stop the nonsense. If you scare her away, it’s your responsibility to bring her back.”
Colin was diligently peeling shrimp for me when he said this. After peeling one, he placed it on my small
plate. Every time I ate one, Colin would smile gently at me.
Colin was always so tender toward me. He had been like this since I was a child.
He never restricted his friends from chatting with me, but he always kept an eye on my emotions. If there
was anything that might make me uncomfortable, he would promptly intervene.
He knew what I liked and disliked. He consistently included dishes I favored but felt too bashful to
request at home.
Despite the jokes, his classmates were very caring toward me. Laughter filled the dining table, dispersing
the tension I initially felt.
I always felt relaxed and at ease whenever I was with Colin.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this meal.
When we left, it was raining outside.
In September in the north, the weather had turned cooler, and people were already wearing long–sleeved
jackets in the morning and evening.
I had just finished cleaning the dorm, so I came out wearing a short–sleeved T–shirt.
By the time we finished dinner, it was already 9:30 pm and raining. The outdoor temperature dropped
significantly.
As soon as I stepped out of the restaurant’s main door, the autumn chill hit me, and I instinctively hugged
my arms and shivered.
“Feeling cold?” Colin asked, lowering his head.
I rubbed my goosebumps on my cold arms and nodded honestly.
Soon, a warm jacket was draped over my shoulders, and a faint tobacco scent lingered in my nose.
Wrapped in Colin’s jacket, it felt as if I was being held in Colin’s arms.
+15 BONUS
My face suddenly turned red, and I felt hot.
I wanted to return the jacket, thinking it was a bit too intimate.
Colin had already anticipated my thoughts. He held onto my shoulders and said, “Keep it on. It’s not the
first time, and catching a cold would affect your competition.”
It was indeed a heavy threat, and I reluctantly succumbed to his successful bidding.
Colin mentioned that we were participating in a team competition, but in reality, the so–called team was just the two of us. The others were lending their support from the sidelines. They were not officially listed
for the competition and wouldn’t contribute to the creative process.
The competition boasted a high caliber with exceptional participants. Rising above in such a challenging environment required dedicated effort, and I committed myself earnestly to the task.
Colin emphasized the need to break free from traditional norms in classical painting and encouraged us
to take an innovative approach for a better chance at winning.
I agreed with this perspective and began contemplating how to express something novel using
watercolor techniques.
With the competition set for late October, we had slightly less than two months, which was a reasonably
adequate time frame.
When deciding what to paint, Colin and I each held firm opinions.
Since neither of us could persuade the other, we opted to independently create preliminary sketches and make a final decision based on a comprehensive evaluation.
This approach seemed fair, and I agreed to it.
Subsequently, aside from attending classes, I immersed myself in the creative process.
Colin set up a personal workspace for me in the research institute’s art studio to facilitate collaboration.
Thanks to him, I became the first female student at Lincoln University with open access to the institute. This earned admiration from many girls who were fans of Colin.