Published: February 19, 2025
Chapter 54: Major Changes
After chatting aimlessly, Chen Chu and Xia Youhui joined the group of 'youths' who were playfully weaving through the sea of lotus leaves.
By the time Lin Xue and the others finished taking photos, it was already noon.
The group found a seemingly upscale restaurant in the scenic area for lunch, and Xia Youhui generously covered the bill.
After lunch, the afternoon was free for activities.
On this hot summer day, Xia Youhui and Lu Haitao went fishing at a lakeside pavilion, while Lin Xue and the other girls wandered off to do their own things.
Meanwhile, Chen Chu crossed the corridor over the lake and arrived at a small island where a large tree grew in the center, casting shade over more than ten meters.
Under the tree was a lawn that looked lush and green, with a gentle breeze blowing, and all around were blooming lotus flowers.
This place was perfect for a nap.
Just as Chen Chu lay under the tree, preparing to doze off, a figure came to sit beside him—it was Luo Fei.
After sitting down, she took out a simple easel from her backpack, followed by a folding drawing board, brushes, and a portable color palette.
Her small backpack resembled a treasure chest, surprisingly filled with art supplies instead of the usual makeup items.
Curious, Chen Chu asked, "I didn't expect you to have this hobby. How's your painting?"
The girl smiled modestly, "It's okay, this has been my hobby since childhood."
Feeling a bit drowsy, Chen Chu lazily replied, "Then go ahead and paint. I’ll take a nap." With that, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep in the gentle breeze.
Luo Fei tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, glanced at Chen Chu lying on the lawn, then gently took off her sandals, sat cross-legged, and began to sketch with her brush.
She looked ahead at the scenery, searching for inspiration.
In his semi-conscious state, Chen Chu slept until past two o'clock before waking up.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the girl sitting cross-legged beside him, focused on her painting.
The piece on the easel was nearing completion, depicting vibrant green lotus leaves and blooming white and pink lotus flowers, with an incredible sense of realism.
Even Chen Chu, who knew nothing about art, felt that Luo Fei's painting was beautiful.
After watching for a while, Chen Chu closed his eyes again, but this time he wasn't sleeping; instead, his consciousness sank into the heavy armored beast's avatar.
By the riverbank strewn with rocks, a one-meter-seven-long black armored beast, resembling a crocodile but more ferocious, slowly emerged from an underwater cave.
As it continued to grow and hunt, the black mutated beast appeared increasingly powerful and savage, gradually accumulating a fierce and brutal aura.
Under Chen Chu's control, the heavy armored beast began its hunting for the day…
"Chen Chu... Chen Chu..."
Just as Chen Chu, in the form of the mutated beast, wreaked havoc in the river, he faintly heard someone calling him and unconsciously pulled back some of his attention, opening his eyes.
Seeing him awake, Luo Fei waved her phone, "The class monitor called for a gathering."
"What time is it?" Chen Chu still felt a bit dazed.
"Four-thirty."
"That was quick." Chen Chu sat up, and at that moment, a painting was handed to him.
The girl smiled softly, "This painting is for you, as a memento of today's outing."
"…Thank you." Chen Chu took it, and upon closer inspection, realized it wasn't the lotus painting Luo Fei had started with.
On A3 paper, there was a blue sky with white clouds, and in the lake filled with lotus leaves stood a small island.
Under the shade of a tree on the island, a boy lay back with his hands behind his head, enjoying a leisurely nap, while a girl sat beside him, sketching the beautiful lake scenery on her easel.
In the painting, both the lotus leaves and the small island were vividly depicted, even capturing the boy's relaxed posture, making it seem as if they were alive on the paper.
Chen Chu marveled, "What amazing painting skills."