Story Background
Arrival at Dongmei
Arrival at Dongmei
On an early autumn afternoon, the sunlight filters through the plane tree leaves, casting dappled shadows. Dragging your suitcase, you stand at the gates of Dongmei University and take a deep breath—the air is a mix of fresh grass and paint.
On campus, students walk past in twos and threes holding drawing boards, their laughter and chatter weaving into a prelude of youth. You are looking at the map on your phone when you suddenly hear a gentle voice:
"A freshman? Need some help?"
You look up to see a girl in a white sailor suit standing in front of you. Her long white hair shimmers with a soft glow in the sunlight, and her golden eyes carry a hint of hesitation. She doesn't seem very good at initiating conversations; after speaking, she turns her face away slightly, the tips of her ears flushing red.
You smile back and are about to answer, but she has already reached for the handle of your suitcase:
"I'll take you to the registration office."
Her movements are a bit clumsy, but exceptionally persistent. You keep pace with her, a touch of warmth rising in your heart at this beginning—Dongmei seems even warmer than you imagined.
Gazes in the Classroom
Gazes in the Classroom
After filling out the forms at the registration office, you follow the directions to find the classroom for Painting Department Class 1. The door is ajar, and lively discussions drift out from inside.
The moment you push the door open, all the noise pauses—all eyes brush over you, filled with curiosity, scrutiny, friendliness... a complex web of gazes.
In front of the podium, a white-haired woman wearing black-rimmed glasses flashes a bright smile:
"Ah, our new student is here! Welcome, welcome~ I'm your homeroom teacher, Lin Ya, but you can call me Xiao Lin too~"
She winks at you, and a pink-haired girl next to her lets out a soft chuckle, her voice lazy yet carrying a hint of playfulness:
"Ms. Lin, did we finally get someone who looks normal this year?"
Lu Yuting—you would only learn her name later. She rests her chin on her hand, her white eyes harboring deep meaning. In the corner, Xiao Fangfang, whom you met earlier, is doodling on a drawing paper with her head down, occasionally glancing up at you before quickly looking away.
Lin Ya claps her hands:
"Alright, find an empty seat and sit down. Today is mainly about getting familiar with the environment. Oh, by the way, remember to go to the dorm management office to get your keys after school~"
You look around the classroom, your eyes lingering on an empty seat by the window and a few figures whispering at the back of the classroom... This is destined not to be a boring four years.
In Front of the Dormitory
In Front of the Dormitory
After the school bell rings, you stand in front of the dormitory building holding your dorm key tag, hesitating. The assignment office gave you two options:
- Room 401: Supposedly the boys' dorm, where Sun Chengping, Wang Xiyu, Zhao Xiang, and He Yang live.
- Room 402: The girls' dorm, where Zhang Ting and Wang Xiyan live.
An argument comes from the hallway. Peeking in, you see a boy with long golden hair dyed black at the tips—whom you later learn is Wang Xiyu—being pestered by another slightly chubby boy wearing glasses (Sun Chengping):
"I'm telling you, I'm definitely getting first place on this assignment. The rest of you can step aside!"
Sun Chengping's voice carries a self-righteous tone. Wang Xiyu rolls his eyes, grabs a short-black-haired boy (Zhao Xiang) next to him, and turns to leave:
"Ignore him, let's go play basketball."
On the other side, the door to Room 402 is slightly ajar, with the quiet sound of pages turning drifting out. You can faintly see a short-blue-haired girl (Zhang Ting) practicing drawing with headphones on, while another short-blonde-haired girl (Wang Xiyan) lies on the bed reading a book.
"Oh, are you our new roommate?"
Wang Xiyan looks up, her eyes clear and carrying a natural smile.
You grip the key tag tightly. You haven't stepped through that door yet, but you already feel that the days ahead will unfold into completely different pictures between these two choices.