Su Wanli frowned deeply, quickly flipping through the pages of the drawing textbook in her hand.
“…Skull structure, body proportions, facial ratios, and various diagrams of human anatomy from different angles…”
“Miss Su, these are some drawing textbooks I asked Zhang Ma to find for me after that art class.”
Meng Wange lightly touched the tip of her nose, appearing ready to get up and leave.
“…These materials are a bit different from what we study in class. If you really want to study at home with me, I can go back to my room and grab the textbooks we’re using this semester.”
So that was it.
Su Wanli finally understood. She had thought she had accidentally grabbed the wrong book, but it turned out Meng Wange really was studying these things in private.
She had originally assumed that as the main heroine with a massive Halo, Meng Wange would usually spend her time researching more advanced and practical knowledge — like various minor foreign languages or those physics, chemistry, and biology books that were difficult to understand just by looking at the titles.
However, art wasn’t entirely unexpected.
Reflecting on it carefully, Meng Wange had indeed drawn Su Wanli’s back in class and had even sketched a cartoon character on the little note attached to the meat bun sandwich.
‘It seems Meng Wange really likes this manga style, doesn’t she?’
Heh.
As a devoted steward, she naturally shouldn’t dismiss the master’s hobbies at a time like this. Instead, she should do everything in her power to support her dreams.
“Hmm? Why change the textbooks? This art textbook seems fine.”
Su Wanli lightly tossed the book in her hand and curved her lips into a smirk at Meng Wange.
“Since it was sitting right on your desk, it means you’ve been studying it recently, right? What, are you unable to keep studying just because I’m here? Or are you worried I’ll tarnish your hobby?”
“Of course not, Miss Su, it’s just…”
“No ‘just’ about it.”
Su Wanli cut her off directly.
“Even I wouldn’t make you learn useless junk for no reason. Since this is what you want to learn, then continue.”
She casually flipped through a few pages of the textbook.
“Tell me, where did you leave off? We’ll continue from there today. Let me see if your talent is really as impressive as you claim.”
Meng Wange fell silent for a moment, a slightly strange expression appearing on her face.
“…Alright, Miss Su. I had just reached page 128. It’s a comprehensive chapter. If you’re going to study with me, you might find it beneficial as well.”
“Hmph. I told you, I’m just watching you study. Whether I benefit or not has nothing to do with you.”
Su Wanli let out a cold snort, maintaining her Villainess Persona as she flipped to that page.
“Huh… *Character Painting Techniques: Model Sketching*?”
The content in the book consisted of reference photos of the human body that barely qualified as educational material, along with techniques for quickly capturing a model’s pose.
“…This part is what I originally intended to practice during next week’s art class.”
Meng Wange pointed to the text on the page with her fingertip, explaining softly to Su Wanli.
“After the last art class ended, the teacher pointed out some issues in my work and believed I could do better. So, in order to depict your beauty as accurately as possible, I planned to practice my techniques first.”
She looked at Su Wanli.
“Miss Su, since you want to study this section with me now, would you please serve as my model again?”
“…”
Tsk.
Of all the chapters to get stuck on.
Although drawing was indeed something that required total concentration and Meng Wange likely wouldn’t fall asleep during the process, still…
In a classroom setting, it was one thing; all the students were acting as models for one another back then.
But now, it was just the two of them in this room.
If she agreed, wouldn’t she become Meng Wange’s private model?
In order to learn how to depict a young woman’s form, specifically asking her to be a model and drawing her body in a room with only the two of them…
The scene felt a bit strange.
Furthermore.
A professional steward was absolutely not meant for such trivial tasks!
Her mind filled with her “nobler mission,” Su Wanli shook her head without a second thought, prepared to refuse immediately.
However, right at that moment, her gold-rimmed glasses, which had been acting as mere decoration until now, suddenly flashed with a blinding light.
**[A. “Of course. It would be my honor to be your model.” — Villainess Value decreased by five points.]**
**[B. “Absolutely not. Who do you think you are, thinking you’re worthy of having me as your model?” — Villainess Value increased by three points.]**
Although she wasn’t exactly short on Villainess Value right now, for some reason, before Su Wanli could even clearly read the options, her mouth reflexively spat out a third tone.
“…Ha, haha. Now? Me? Be your model?”
“Look at your sickly state. If we’re talking about models, it should be the other way around.”
“Lie down on the bed properly and let me show you my…”
She suddenly froze.
‘…Wait, the other way around means…’
Su Wanli suddenly realized something was wrong and instinctively wanted to stop.
But seeing her Villainess Value seemingly on a downward trend, she braced herself and forced out the last few words.
“Let… let you see my skills!”
‘No!’
‘What skills do I have?!’
‘I never intended to humiliate myself in front of the main heroine! And right now, I’m set as the steward; I should be accompanying Meng Wange in doing what she wants to do!’
‘But instead, I’ve snatched away what she wanted to do for myself. What is this?! I don’t even like drawing!’
Unfortunately.
There was no turning back now.
Those words had already been spoken by Su Wanli herself and had reached Meng Wange’s ears clear as day.
Meng Wange blinked softly and asked gently:
“…So, Miss Su, you want to try it yourself?”
I definitely don’t!
This felt like —
Taking someone’s favorite toy, running up to them to ask if they want to play, and just as their eyes light up and they reach for it, suddenly snatching it back and saying, “I’m not letting you play,” while proceeding to play with it smugly yourself. It was terrible!
She had already secured the Villainess Value.
She had to find a way to fix this!
If she didn’t find a graceful way to back out of what she just said, Meng Wange’s aversion toward her would surely skyrocket!
However, before Su Wanli could come up with any excuse, Meng Wange had already stood up from the edge of the bed.
“Now that you mention it, I really do owe you many model fees.”
She leaned down, pulled a sketchbook with a brown paper cover from the pile of books Su Wanli had brought over, and slowly opened it in front of her.
The pages, filled with black and gray lines, were —
A black-haired girl standing by the window, looking at the scenery outside.
A black-haired girl lying on a desk, sleeping peacefully.
A black-haired girl in the middle of the cafeteria with a spoon in her mouth and her cheeks slightly puffed out.
A black-haired girl at an evening banquet, arms crossed, looking down at everyone with a commanding aura.
…
Every single one of the drawings on those papers was of Su Wanli herself.