Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love

Xue Yang’s situation wasn’t much better than hers. Moreover, he had clearly suffered a huge blow at the time, yet he still had the presence of mind to worry about her safety. As she recalled these things, Lin Xi continued to draw, occasionally lifting her head to watch Xue Yang, who was engrossed in his work. Sometimes, Xue Yang would look up, and their gazes would collide in midair. They would exchange smiles and then continue with their respective tasks. This was probably the most wonderful state for a couple to be in.

「Two hours later」

Lin Xi finished drawing the first Chapter of the manga. She took a photo with her phone and sent it to the editor. After sending it, she was still very nervous. Although she knew how to draw manga, this was her first time creating something as an original author.

How should I put this? I just really hope people like it. I’m so scared they’ll say my art isn’t that great.

After all, she had just criticized someone else’s drawing with a similar sentiment.

Before long, she received a reply. The editor wrote, "Dear, I finally understand what you meant when you said something was missing. It’s love—the feeling of love! I just glanced at your draft and was overwhelmed with affection. I’m going to show this to my boss, and I’ll get back to you, okay?"

"Okay," Lin Xi replied.

After replying to the editor, Lin Xi put down her phone. Xue Yang was still hard at work. She propped her chin on her hand and watched him. Sometimes he frowned, and other times his brow would relax. At times, he would press the bridge of his nose as if dealing with a particularly tricky issue. But no matter what he did, Lin Xi found him incredibly handsome. With that thought, she took out her draft again and began to refine it even more meticulously. To her, Xue Yang was perfect, so her art had to be perfect as well.

Another half-hour passed, and Lin Xi finally finished polishing her draft. She looked at it from every angle, extremely pleased, and took another photo to send to Si Wen.

At that moment, Si Wen was in the yard of Xiangshan Villa, petting a cat. When she saw the manga Lin Xi sent, she instantly fell in love.

"Is this the manga produced by the website? The quality is so high! After just one picture, I want to keep reading. Is there more? I’m begging for an update."

"This is what the website produced," Lin Xi wrote back, attaching the initial draft she had received from the editor.

Si Wen opened it and took a close look, comparing the two images.

"Actually, if I’d only seen that second draft you sent, I would have thought it was pretty good," Si Wen typed. "But after seeing the first one, nobody would want to look at any other drafts. The second one is clearly missing something—something called ’love.’ Don’t tell me you drew that first one yourself?"

It had to be said that Si Wen, as Lin Xi’s best friend, knew her even better than her own father did.

"Yeah," Lin Xi admitted. "I saw the draft the editor sent and felt something was missing, so I drew one myself and sent it to her."

"Wow! You could make your debut right now. Why even hire someone else to produce it? You should just draw it yourself."

"If I drew it myself, I’d have to keep up with updates," Lin Xi replied. "I probably couldn’t handle it."

Si Wen thought about it and agreed. Drawing was time-consuming and mentally demanding. If it wasn’t your sole focus, it was easy for the art quality to decline. At that point, the losses would outweigh the gains.

"But... Xiao Xi, you draw so well! You perfectly captured the scenes from the novel. It would be a real shame if you didn’t do it."

"I’ll see what the editor says first, then discuss it with Xue Yang and figure out how to proceed. By the way, how are you doing in Yancheng?"

"I’m doing well! I’m at Xiangshan Villa with Xiao Bai and Shen Xi keeping me company. I go to work occasionally, so I’m not bored at all."

"I heard your dad is trying to set you up on another blind date?"

"Some prince from another country, I guess. I had an argument with him and ran away from home, just like you."

Si Wen said it nonchalantly, but Lin Xi knew she must be feeling terrible inside. It’s just like how I felt back then, wandering the streets with nowhere to go.

"Don’t worry," Si Wen’s message continued. "I won’t just wander off. I have a bestie, so of course, I came to her."

"I only didn’t call you back then because I didn’t have my phone," Lin Xi typed.

"You could’ve come straight to me... Anyway, it’s no use talking about it now. It’s a good thing you didn’t get into any serious trouble, and you even managed to snag a free boyfriend."

Si Wen’s thoughts turned inward. But I can’t do that. I’m probably being watched right now. The moment I step outside, I’ll be spotted immediately. I’m not planning on going anywhere, anyway. Staying here with Lin Xi is the safest option.

"You get back to your work," Si Wen’s final message read. "I’m going to go pet Xiao Bai some more. And hey, don’t forget about the manga! And don’t forget the updates!"

After that, Si Wen stopped replying.

Lin Xi was spacing out when a shadow suddenly fell over her.

"Xiao Xi, time to go home."

Lin Xi looked up to meet Xue Yang’s gaze. "Are you finished with work?"

"Work is never finished, but we still need to go home for dinner. Mrs. Zhong made soup."

"Ah? Oh."

Lin Xi didn’t yet understand the significance of Mrs. Zhong making soup. In Hui City, if your mom made soup and you didn’t come home for dinner, it was a very big deal. It might even result in family punishment. Hearing Xue Yang’s explanation, Lin Xi quickly stood up to go home with him.

"Xue Yang, do you think... if I drew the manga myself, it would work out?"

Xue Yang, who was driving, spared a glance for her. "If you want to draw it, then draw it."

"Aren’t you even going to ask me for the details?"

"Alright, then may I ask why Miss Lin Xi suddenly wants to draw a manga?" he teased.

"Today, the editor showed me the manga draft for the novel. I felt something was missing from the art, so I drew a version myself. I’ll show you when we get home."

The drive from the automobile market to Xue Yang’s home took about ten minutes. They only had to stop for one traffic light along the way, and soon, they arrived.

By the time they entered the village, it was already pitch-black. The streetlights were on, casting light on the few scattered figures walking along the road. At the sound of the car, the dogs in every household began to bark, one after another. The once quiet night instantly became lively.

Back at the house, dinner was already on the table, waiting for the two of them to come home and eat.

After dinner, Lin Xi took out the draft she’d drawn earlier to show Xue Yang. "This is the one I drew, and this is the one the editor gave me. Take a look."

Xue Yang compared the two drawings. It was obvious that Lin Xi’s version was far more captivating. It did a better job of drawing the viewer into the story.

"It’s very good. If you want to draw it, go for it. It might be a little tough, though."

"I’m not afraid of hard work, as long as I can do it."

"Alright, then go for it. I support you."

Lin Xi leaned her head on Xue Yang’s shoulder. "Xue Yang, thank you for supporting me."

"This is something you can really shine at. Of course I support you."