"Out?"

Xu Xiaoyou's hand withdrew into the sleeve of her military coat, watching as Tang Xin walked out from below the dormitory building.

"You don't look well, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just a few people I can't get along with." Tang Xin mentioned casually while dragging her suitcase, and then headed towards the outskirts.

Xu Xiaoyou pondered, glancing at the dormitory building.

"But you're right, You."

Tang Xin suddenly stopped, turning back with a smile. In the winter chill, the girl's face looked flushed red.

"It's really nice to hit back at annoying folks directly."

"Thank you, You, for being willing to accompany me to the academy once more."

The two strolled through the school's birch woods, faintly seeing pairs of students sitting by the birch trunks, painting the woodland scene.

Most wore polka-dot hats, linen trench coats, long shirts, and painter's pants stained with paint. Their outfits screamed "artist" amidst the crowd, akin to the golden leaves scattered in an autumn forest, perfectly complementing the academy's literary atmosphere.

In contrast, her own outfit — a green military coat devoid of any aesthetic — made her feel like a native barging into some high-class sanctuary, even eliciting some disdainful glances as she walked the academy's paths.

Ever since entering the Starry Arts Academy, Xu Xiaoyou had been aware of this.

Even the horticulture workers in the academy's back garden dressed much like master craftsmen, though all they did was trim the shrubs, refreshing the lawn in the back garden.

The ceremony was unusually strong, wasn't it?

As if knowing her inner thoughts, Tang Xin leaned over and whispered in her ear:

"You'll get used to it. After all, fashion design is a compulsory subject. The academy hasn't recruited externally for staff in a long time; those gardeners are all alumni from previous years."

"I see." Xu Xiaoyou nodded.

"Where are we headed now?"

"My major is opera, and before leaving, I want to say goodbye to Ms. Fandony." Tang Xin explained. "She has been kind to me before."

"This academy is truly vast."

Xu Xiaoyou looked around in admiration.

The entire School of Art sprawled atop the mountain, viewed from afar resembling a medieval castle, unique and mysterious in architectural style. From here, one could oversee the whole Star of Art, the highest elevation and closest to the stars.

Looking up, the stars and sky seemed right within reach.

"Over here, over here."

Tang Xin waved on the academy square, and soon a pumpkin carriage stopped in front of them.

"Let's go."

Tang Xin took Xu Xiaoyou's hand, entering the pumpkin carriage.

The cushions were soft and comfortable, the body made from sandalwood, and the doors had finely carved school emblems, adorned with ornate trimmings, turning the interior into a mobile palace.

The carriage moved neither fast nor slow, creating a smooth ride. If you were leisurely inclined, pulling open the red curtains allowed scenic views through the windows — buildings boasting golden ratio and artistic allure, giant sculptures on the academy square adhering to human aesthetics, East Lake District like a crystal-clear blue lake, and the towering clock tower by its side.

In fact, during leisure times, student couples at the academy often sat in pairs in the pumpkin carriage, seeking creative inspiration while touring the campus scenery, usually triggering an explosive burst of inspiration, akin to squeezed paint.

Soon, the pumpkin carriage arrived at the destination, the East Campus entrance. Outside was not the bustling city streets but rather cliff edges, where fresh mountain breezes blew, invitingly uplifting one's mood.

The other mountain in view housed a majestic opera house, grand and imposing.

"That's the campus for the opera major." Tang Xin pointed to the other side of the mountain.

"You can take a cable car to get over there and enjoy the views too."

"When I first came to this academy, I loved riding it; it was a great mood booster on gloomy days to take a round trip."

"Though it might be a little scary the first time..."

Tang Xin acted as the academy guide, introducing Xu Xiaoyou. It was the first time Xu Xiaoyou saw Tang Xin's slightly lively demeanor, akin to the chirping bluebird of her social account nickname.

"You seem in quite a good mood today?" Xu Xiaoyou casually asked.

"Is it that obvious?"

They sat in the cable car, shaped like a budding white rose; inside, it carried a faint rose perfume scent, with a red-heart table laid with delicate snacks, black forest cake dusted with sugar, and a few translucent You candies.

Every time the cable car completed a round trip, campus staff thoughtfully prepared fresh snacks for students, playing soothing music inside.

The cable path spanned between two mountains, the car moving steadily, with a subtle operating sound from contact with the track. Looking out the cable car window, clouds veiled mountain rocks peaked, and dense pine woods lined the hillside; there, it housed rare visible greenery in the snowy world. Winds through the mountains made the pine woods ripple in waves.

The cold climate and high latitude often saw hardy landscapes.

Down further, it was the city, where the Star of Art resided, not yet fully awake, still aglow with lights. The tallest building in King's District — the Crystal Tower stood amidst the roaring blizzard, fierce winds marking its steel dome but leaving it unwavering, much like a guardian of the Watch City day after day, flashing red lights intertwined.

The people of Star of Art had a spiritual world much richer than Corruption Nest. Yearly, countless tales were born, and that Crystal Tower serves as the association's monitoring anchor point; should high-risk folklore creatures appear, the Crystal Tower would issue city-wide alerts.

Strands of hair fell from the side of Tang Xin's face, gently curved, softening the girl's visage. From this angle, she single-handedly supported her face, melancholy flowed in her eyes, and pale golden glow enveloped her neck and shoulders, rendering her a touch more exquisite.

Noticing the gaze, Tang Xin turned and smiled slightly, using a fork to pick up a piece of black forest cake on the tray, offering it towards Xu Xiaoyou:

"You, open your mouth, ah~"

This feeling of being fed made Xu Xiaoyou's lip twitch, yet she opened her mouth to eat the cake piece.

"It feels quite nice, doesn't it?" Tang Xin said.

"It's alright." Xu Xiaoyou nodded.

Having been used to a life full of crises, she found such calm and relaxing daily life rather unfamiliar.

"A rare mental relaxation."

"I wonder how long such a moment can last." she said. "If only it could stay like this forever."

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy.

Facing the towering redwood doors in front, the man fell into a brief thought. Just as he intended to push them open, a woman's voice came from the side.

"Didn't expect it to be you. I thought you had drowned in the tenderness of that woman. Seems Diesel's matter has made the family smell danger in the air?"

The man looked up, the woman's eyes had lost all their sharpness to the ravages of time, leaving deep wrinkles. She appeared like an elderly woman, her gentle eyes reflecting his indifferent, angular silhouette.

"Wasn't I right, Yain Lindong."

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