When the instructor asked this, the student holding the small panel painting had no choice but to take it out from behind his back and hand it over. The instructor had braced himself to see something unsightly, but instead, he was met with a beautiful landscape painting. He blinked in surprise and looked at the students, who were cowering like quails. “Just this?”
They all nodded in unison. “Ju—just this.”
“If it’s just this, why were you hiding it!”
“Sub—subconscious reaction… Uh, Instructor, did you feel anything after looking at the painting?”
“What am I supposed to feel from a painting? Are you not tired enough from the training? If you have this much energy, should I make you run another 10 kilometers when we get back?”
The students instantly shut their mouths. The instructor tossed the painting back to them. “Go get some rest!”
Once the instructor had turned and walked away, the students huddled together and whispered, “Why didn’t the instructor react?”
Lu Cen, who had been sitting in front, turned around. “The instructor is S-level. If an S-level has no reaction, why are you guys still looking at it? If you aren’t going to look, give it back.”
“We’re looking! We’re looking!”
The journey back was silent. When Lu Cen stepped off the vehicle with his luggage and returned to his dorm, he saw a high-ranking military officer in uniform standing in his room, staring at the painting on his wall. In fact, the adjutant had been standing there for quite a while, intently studying the maple leaf painting. Unfortunately, other than thinking it was quite beautiful, he truly felt absolutely nothing else.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the adjutant turned to look at the newcomer. Lu Cen was startled by the person in his room and, after recovering his wits, quickly saluted and greeted him.
The adjutant signaled for him to relax. “I stayed here because I have a few questions. I recently heard that there are paintings capable of healing mental instability. I assume this must be one of them?”
Lu Cen glanced at the painting on the wall, which had its cover cloth pulled aside, quickly averted his eyes, and nodded. “Yes, but for a high-level esper like yourself, sir, it might not have any effect.”
“How so?”
Lu Cen set down his luggage and explained that the healing effect of the painting only worked for those with A to S-level mental power; it was useless for S-level and above. The adjutant finally understood why he hadn’t felt anything when looking at it and why the subordinates he’d previously sent to check it out hadn’t reported any results. It was because both he and his subordinates were at the S-level.
“So that’s how it is. Do you have the contact information for this painter?”
“I do. Sir, are you looking to commission a painting? Though, he might be a bit busy right now, and I’m not sure if he still accepts requests. Also, I’m not certain if he can paint something that would work for someone above S-level. Should I forward his contact info to you, or would you like me to ask him for you?”
In reality, Lu Cen was terrified that the master might mind him passing his contact info to a stranger, and thus stop taking his orders. Yet, the high-ranking officer before him was not someone he could afford to offend. For a moment, Lu Cen felt like he was being roasted on a fire.
However, the adjutant didn’t seem to notice his hesitation and directly asked for the painter’s contact information. After seeing the officer out, Lu Cen quickly messaged Si Nuo to give him a heads-up; either way, he had to inform the master in advance.
The adjutant brought the contact information back to Guan Xingchen. As soon as he pushed open the apartment door, he saw his master dressed in a tailored black suit, with a silk pocket square folded in the pocket and a wine-red bow tie knotted at the collar of his white shirt.
The adjutant: “…”
This formal attire looked as if he were attending a state banquet.
“Your Highness, this is…?”
A trace of a smile appeared in Guan Xingchen’s eyes. “How is it? Is it alright?” He had spent a long time rummaging through his wardrobe; this was the only outfit that looked halfway decent. “Does a red bow tie look better, or a black one?” Guan Xingchen seemed somewhat conflicted, adjusting the knot at his throat.
The adjutant: “…Your Highness, are you preparing to take Lord Si Nuo to a banquet?”
“No. He is painting at school today and told me if I had time, I could come over to watch him work.”
The adjutant: “…It’s just watching someone paint. Don’t you think this might be a bit too formal?” Won’t Lord Si Nuo be scared out of his wits? You look like you’re dressing yourself up as a gift to give to him! The adjutant really wanted to say: Have some restraint!
Guan Xingchen fell silent for a moment. “Is this considered formal?”
The adjutant replied, “If you’re just going to watch him paint, yes. Besides, Lord Si Nuo is still young. You might want to dress a bit more casually, Your Highness.”
“Casual?” Guan Xingchen frowned. In his entire life, he had worn nothing but military uniforms and formal suits; he had never worn anything “casual.” “I don’t have any…”
The adjutant immediately said, “Your Highness, trust me. Let’s take off the suit jacket, remove the bow tie, and yes, button the collar properly. Perfect!”
Guan Xingchen was not only tall and leggy, but he was also the type who looked thin in clothes but was quite muscular underneath. In the sunlight, the white shirt emitted a soft, clean glow. His upright stature and slender back gave him a youthful air that made him look exactly like a boy from a nearby college.
“Your Highness, if you go to see Lord Si Nuo like this, he will definitely like it.”
With the face His Highness possessed, he was absolutely flawless. It was fortunate he had such a good appearance; if he hadn’t, it would be hard to say how else he could have captured the other’s heart.
Guan Xingchen looked down at his trousers and white shirt as simple as could be and raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Are you sure?”
The adjutant nodded. “I am sure, Your Highness. I am very sure. You’ll see once you get there!”
Guan Xingchen nodded. “Fine. I’ve got it. You can head back; no need to follow me.”
With that, Guan Xingchen strode out.
After waking up early and eating at the cafeteria with Zhang Yu, Si Nuo brought his painting tools to work on the mural. As Si Nuo worked on the finer details, Zhang Yu followed the color drafts to fill in the paint on the wall.
After a while, Zhang Yu stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Nuo-er, are you thirsty? I’m going to go get some water.”
“Go ahead.” Si Nuo didn’t stop, responding simply. He didn’t even notice when Zhang Yu left.
A good while later, Si Nuo felt the sunlight at his side being blocked. Thinking it was Zhang Yu returning, he looked up and smiled. “You…”
His voice cut off abruptly. Si Nuo stared at the man standing beside him; the smile in his eyes was replaced by surprise. He reflexively tried to stand up, but his legs had gone numb from squatting too long, and he nearly fell. Fortunately, Guan Xingchen was quick to grab his arm. “Careful.”
Even so, Si Nuo still knocked over the water bucket on the ground.
Zhang Yu came running back with two bottles of water, only to see Si Nuo being held by the arm by a strange man. He was about to step forward when he was met with a pair of piercing black eyes. He froze in his tracks.
That gaze held a clear warning: Death to those who approach.