After Ying Xuan took her seat, the teacher counted the stars and straightened up. She said, "I've counted them and two of the paintings have surpassed the other by a great number. These two." She held up two paintings, Ying Xuan recognised them as her own and Wei Jingyu's.
The teacher continued, "Actually, the winner's painting has only won by one star. The winner is this one." The teacher held up Wei Jingyu's painting of rain and said, "The most ironic is that the last star.....the winning star.....was awarded by Ying Xuan, whose painting is this one."
The class was surprised as heads turned to look at Ying Xuan and Wei Jingyu, who were sitting in the back rows on the opposite side of the rooms. The teacher said, "Now Young Master Wei, come up here."
Ying Xuan noticed that as Wei Jingyu stood up, many of the heads turned towards her, probably to see her reaction. But she did not have to hids her emotions, she was happy.
Actually, if her painting had won, Xuan would have thought that these people had no sense of art, choosing her painting over the beautiful rain. As Wei Jingyu reached the front of the class, the teacher said, "Young master Wei, if you don't mind me asking, which painting did you give a star to?"
Ying Xuan's attention was pitiqued by this question, "Which painting did he like best?" Xuan thought as Wei Jingyu reached towards the table and picked up a sketchbook. He showed it to the whole class.
Ying Xuan was shocked. The painting was of a beach during the sunset. A woman stood on the beach, her hair and dress lightly swaying in the breeze. The painting was nice, but not something eye catching and jaw dropping. If she was being completely honest, the painting was nothing compared to Wei Jingyu's.
Actually, Wei Jingyu had not liked this painting in the slightest. He had been about to mark a star on the one of a river on a full moon's night. But as he got closer, Jingyu caught sight of the sign beneath it. He did not know what came over him, and he marked the one beside Xuan's painting.
After Wei Jingyu put down the sketchbook, the teacher said, "Okay, before we proceed further, I want you all to collect your sketchbooks. Young master Wei, here you go. You should stay here."
Ying Xuan went to take her sketchbook from the teacher as she was still holding it. As she took it, the teacher said, "Your painting was also really nice. Very few people are able to depict nights in such a beautiful way, most of the times, it ends up being shown as lonely and dark."
Ying Xuan gave a little bow and smile as she walked back to her seat.
The teacher spoke after the class had settled down, "Now, as young master Wei won, he will get to decide what we will be doing for out next two-three days." She turned towards Wei Jingyu and said, "Young master Wei, you get to decide what the class will be painting next."
Wei Jingyu seemed deep in thought before he said, "I've always wanted to paint a person."