Chapter 53


    I might have missed out on many beautiful moments because of Felix.


    “Stop the nonsense. If you scare her away, it’s your responsibility to bring her back.”


    Colin was diligently peeling shrimp for me when he said this. After peeling one, he ced it on my


    small


    te. Every time I ate one, Colin would smile gently at me.


    Colin was always so tender toward me. He had been like this since I was a child.


    He never restricted his friends from chatting with me, but he always kept an eye on my emotions. If


    there


    was anything that might make me ufortable, he would promptly intervene.


    He knew what I liked and disliked. He consistently included dishes I favored but felt too bashful to


    request at home.


    Despite the jokes, his ssmates were very caring toward me. Laughter filled the dining table,


    dispersing


    the tension I initially felt.


    I always felt rxed and at ease whenever I was with Colin.


    In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this meal.


    When we left, it was raining outside.


    In September in the north, the weather had turned cooler, and people were already wearing long–


    sleeved


    jackets in the morning and evening.


    I had just finished cleaning the dorm, so I came out wearing a short–sleeved T–shirt.


    By the time we finished dinner, it was already 9:30 pm and raining. The outdoor temperature dropped


    significantly.


    As soon as I stepped out of the restaurant’s main door, the autumn chill hit me, and I instinctively


    hugged


    my arms and shivered.


    “Feeling cold?” Colin asked, lowering his head.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    I rubbed my goosebumps on my cold arms and nodded honestly.


    Soon, a warm jacket was draped over my shoulders, and a faint tobo scent lingered in my nose.


    Wrapped in Colin’s jacket, it felt as if I was being held in Colin’s arms.


    +15 BONUS


    My face suddenly turned red, and I felt hot.


    I wanted to return the jacket, thinking it was a bit too intimate.


    Colin had already anticipated my thoughts. He held onto my shoulders and said, “Keep it on. It’s not the


    first time, and catching a cold would affect yourpetition.”


    It was indeed a heavy threat, and I reluctantly sumbed to his sessful bidding.


    Colin mentioned that we were participating in a teampetition, but in reality, the so–called team was


    just the two of us. The others were lending their support from the sidelines. They were not officially


    listed


    for thepetition and wouldn’t contribute to the creative process.


    Thepetition boasted a high caliber with exceptional participants. Rising above in such a


    challenging environment required dedicated effort, and Imitted myself earnestly to the task.


    Colin emphasized the need to break free from traditional norms in ssical painting and encouraged us


    to take an innovative approach for a better chance at winning.


    I agreed with this perspective and began contemting how to express something novel using


    watercolor techniques.


    With thepetition set forte October, we had slightly less than two months, which was a


    reasonably


    adequate time frame.


    When deciding what to paint, Colin and I each held firm opinions.


    Since neither of us could persuade the other, we opted to independently create preliminary sketches


    and make a final decision based on aprehensive evaluation.


    This approach seemed fair, and I agreed to it.


    Subsequently, aside from attending sses, I immersed myself in the creative process.


    Colin set up a personal workspace for me in the research institute’s art studio to facilitate coboration.


    Thanks to him, I became the first female student at Lincoln University with open ess to the institute.


    This earned admiration from many girls who were fans of Colin.