Lina admired the paintings on Zuko's phone, particularly captivated by the firefly painting's vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes. She expressed her fascination, wishing she could see the artwork in person.Zuko chuckled knowingly.Although Zuko's grandmother was not a renowned artist, she had made a name for herself within artistic circles. Her painting, The Fireflies' Light, had fetched a staggering $30,000,000 at an auction in Centrolis over two decades ago. Her reputation was well-known among industry insiders but less so to those outside the art world.Living in Southeast Aciatic and maintaining a low profile, Xyla, Zuko's grandmother, had a limited online presence, making it difficult for her work to gain widespread recognition unless accessed through exclusive platforms requiring VIP accounts. Hence, showcasing his grandmother's artwork proved to be the best choice in this situation.Zuko got Lina to turn on the computer and sent those paintings to her. "Pick one and try to
Lina dedicated the entire night to reproducing The Fireflies' Light.After it dried, she proudly carried it to the university and placed it in the studio with a sense of grandeur.The lecturer emphasized the importance of participating in the art exhibition during the lecture. "Joining the art exhibition is not just about showcasing your talent. It's an opportunity to refine your skills and push yourself beyond your limits. And let me tell you, prestigious universities abroad are always on the lookout for outstanding works. Your artwork could be handpicked, leading to scholarships and a life-changing milestone."…With a smirk on her face, Lina secretly followed Violet after class.As expected, Violet headed toward the studio. After cautiously surveying the surroundings, Violet entered and took out her phone to capture numerous pictures of The Fireflies' Light.Shortly after, Violet hurriedly departed.Meanwhile, Lina gathered evidence of Violet's actions, just in case.Suddenl
Gia's hands trembled as she dialed the number.As soon as the call connected, fear gripped her. "Hello?""Well, well, Ms. Gia." The man's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Seems like you've been quite the avid shopper lately!"Gia's face turned pale. She should have known that the credit cards they had given her came with strings attached. They had been monitoring her spending all along!"Yes, I may have bought a few limited edition bags, some Cece suits, and some quality cosmetics... So what? Don't I deserve them?""I don't think that's all you bought..." Gia heard the sound of paper flipping on the other end. "According to these receipts, you also splurged on a luxury car!""I don't want to commute, taking the train to university like everyone else. I prefer to travel in comfort. What's wrong with that?" retorted Gia.The man's smile remained silent."I-I deserve all of this!" Gia's voice quivered. "If I hadn't obtained Lina's test sample and convinced her to cooperate, do you thi
The gathered university students couldn't help but burst into laughter, whispering to each other at the scene.Lina smiled and motioned for Gia to sit down as they continued eating calmly.Violet's face turned flushed and pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. She wanted to retaliate but lacked experience, only able to point at Lina for a prolonged moment before uttering, "You..."Some wealthy students who disliked Violet's pretentious and arrogant behavior now sided with Lina, mocking Violet openly."Violet, what Lina said is true. Why are you getting so upset?""That's right. The princess never sets foot in the cafeteria. It's a rare sight to see her here. No wonder they're treating her like a pet!""Hahaha... Stop it, or they might start serving you dog food too!"Amidst their laughter, those individuals departed.Violet took a few deep breaths before approaching Lina and leaving with a final insult."Get over yourself. You have no idea what's coming your way... Watch out!"G
Gia's expression turned grim as she uttered those words.Lina was taken aback, sensing a hidden meaning behind Gia's statement. Reflecting on Gia's recent unusual behavior, Lina began to suspect that something more complex was troubling her friend. However, she couldn't quite grasp the full extent of the problem.After a moment of silence, Lina reached out and held Gia's hand, casually delivering a weighty message. "I don't believe you would do something like that to me."Gia was shocked by Lina's response.Lina smiled gently. "If you've truly done something terrible, I hope you hold yourself back until I find out. Please, spare me from experiencing the pain of such betrayal... Maybe then, we can still salvage our friendship."Gia licked her lips, her expression serious.Lina's pure and transparent smile shone like a crystal, exposing the darkness lurking within Gia's heart.Gia recalled her small and crowded home, where her parents treated her as a tool to care for her brother.
The next day arrived, marking the art submission day.All the students who wished to participate in the art exhibition brought their paintings for the judges' preliminary and official reviews before submitting them to the organizing committee for the final review.Surprisingly, Lina, who was usually active in university activities, arrived late that day. As she reached the classroom door, a fellow student stopped her."Lina...""What's wrong?" asked Lina.The girl, known for her honesty, had seen Lina's painting, The Fireflies' Light. Lina had intentionally shown it to her."Lina, did you bring your painting?""Of course!" Lina feigned ignorance. "It's my submission!""But..." The girl pointed toward the classroom.Lina looked inside and saw everyone gathered around Violet. She was beaming with pride, passionately explaining her own "work.""I came up with the idea of fireflies after thinking about it for a few days! What do you think? It's unique, isn't it?"I meticulously
"To be honest, this is a great painting. There's a high possibility that it'll win. It seems like Lina has no chance with the prize."Keira gently pulled Lina's hand, offering her support.Lina smiled at her, shaking her head to indicate that she was fine.She truly was fine. In fact, she was eager for Violet to showcase the painting to the world."What's the matter? Are you speechless now?" Violet taunted. "Ha, Lina, I copied your work. How do you like that? Do you dare to confront me or expose me?"Lina simply looked at her calmly, choosing not to respond.Violet glanced at her phone, a bright smile on her face."My painting has been submitted to the judges... all thanks to you, Lina! If I win, I'll treat you to something nice. How about dog food?" Violet mocked."Thank you for your offer, but I don't need your charity," Lina replied in a flat tone. "You can keep the dog food for yourself. After all, you seem to have a big appetite. If you don't have enough to eat, how will y
"But..." Lina's suspicion grew. "How do you know such a powerful artist? How do you know what she thinks?"Her questions took Zuko aback, his mind racing to find a plausible excuse.Suddenly, he remembered his brother's story about their parents' love story from their youth. Although he wasn't very knowledgeable about it, his brother had added some embellishments to make it more interesting.According to his brother, their father had also hidden his true identity to deceive their mother.He had heard that their mother had almost exposed their father's lies on several occasions, but he always managed to talk his way out of it.He had heard...But what had their father said to get away with it?Zuko scratched his nose anxiously. The more flustered he became, the harder it was for him to come up with an excuse, especially when faced with Lina's clear and perceptive eyes.If only his brother were there... He wouldn't blush when he lied, his heartbeat would remain steady, and his ac