BXBX NOVEL Chapter 2 - A Good Person (Part II）
Chapter 2: A Good Person (Part II）
“System?”
“That message was a the mother f*cking gold finger? And it just activated?”
Meng Fan was disturbed. Under the bright sun, he squirmed in place like a maniac. Of course, he was going crazy.
“Gold finger, systems!”
Anyone who’s read online novels knows that these abnormal qualities are the definition of a main character: the god damn symbol of success. This is the ultimate flex!
“But… what kind of BS is an assignment that requires 100 rejections?”
Taking a closer look at the reminder and its contents, Meng Fan felt more and more confused.
“Is this the freaking ‘Good Person System’? Is this the one that’s making me collect goodwill cards?”
“Where’s my main character attributes? The success I can flaunt? How come when it comes to me, I am still a loser?!”
“To be rejected 100 times… God! How shameless can I get!”
“And what the hell is this reward? In mangas, the reward is a pile of mythical weapons: a hoard of magical creatures, strength, or at least a surplus of attractiveness, or something. What kind of sad excuse is increased hand speed? Is it suggesting that my eternal life of being single will require faster hand speed for asexual reproduction? Or is it just an added motive to end myself?
Meng Fan formed a fist with his right hand, and waved it up and down. Christ, it did feel faster than before.
But… (╯’-‘)╯︵┻━┻ What could it possibly be good for?
“BS! In this hot weather, is this some kind of artistic experiment?”
Just then, a passing student had his thumb up in support.
Meng Fan then faced the man in front of him. Sporting a pony tail, a Peppa Pig backpack, a sleeveless shirt and two tattooed arms, Meng Fan took his appearance in before slipping away. Can’t get more artistic than you sir, I suppose.
Admittedly, art school would never have a shortage of these specimens. And now, he was late for class.
Class had already begun when Meng Fan arrived at the classroom. While he was carefully weasling his way in, the “witch” at the podium gave him a cold stare, but continued her lecture. Meng Fan’s face was plastered with a grin.
The “witch’s” name was Qin Jiao. Qin Jiao was the Assistant Professor of Animation and Film and the Assistant Dean of the Animation Department at the Hua Xia Art Academy. She specializes in Concept Design.
The name “witch” was coined by the students without her knowledge, as all the students in the Animation Department associated her with the witch from the game “Werewolves”. That is, with two pill bottles in hand: one is a cure called “professionalism” and another a poison called “stern”.
Of course, the reason they called her “witch” and not “sorceress” is simple; it’s because this professor was extraordinarily beautiful.
Within Hua Xia Art Academy, there alwaysexosted a surplus of attractive women, be it professors or students, but Qin Jiao was the queen of them all.
At 33, she was still blessed with glowing skin, youthful charm, and an amazing posture that preceded all other girls of her age.
Her extraordinary performance in becoming both an Assistant Professor and Associate Dean at such a young age definitely added value to her charm and aura which went beyond just the superficial.
Eight out of ten single male professors in the school has or had harbored intentions for her, with one currently in pursuit, and another one being so harshly rejected to the point of giving up for good. Aside from the professors, every once in a while, there would emerge an alumni with the intent of becoming her boyfriend.
She’s beautiful, it’s true, but her strictness is very real as well. However, her incredible sense of memory is by far her most terrifying trait, or as the students say: “her penchant for revenge”.
Normally, any class could be skipped or missed once in a while, but you’d be damned if you skip even one of the “witch’s” classes.
“Visual points can take character design to a new level. I have repeated several times – the visual point is not how beautiful your character is. The good-looking character is only a portion of your final work, a very small part. If a visually pleasing character consisted more than 10% in your overall design, it will make your work look boring .”
“Facial expressions are also a crucial factor. I used to see the shadows of some classic characters from every styling, and the most common ones are often the ones of patterned chaos and unnecessary application. Imitation is an inevitable factor we come across in the creative process, but you must remember to never let imitation imprison your creativity.”
“Next, let’s talk about the context and surroundings of your designs. Every era or every fictional universe you construct should have its own unique characteristics, ideally in lieu with the characteristics of the entire universe: clothing, headwear, hairstyles, weapons, etc. These details determine whether your character will be accepted at first glance by an audience.”
“I must emphasize once more: No matter what type of packaging you decide for your context, it will always be immersed in culture. So, I have repeatedly stressed that you have to read more books. Do not think that drawing is just drawing. Drawing -what are you drawing? Is it frozen in imitation? You must create! And culture is the biggest driving force behind your creation!”
“Speaking of returning to the setting of an era…”
“Meng Fan!”
Just as class was ending and as she was organizing to leave, Qin Jiao suddenly called Meng Fan. “I heard you’ve been missing class these past few days. It’s because you were analyzing costume designs from both international and domestic eras, right?”
Meng Fan almost got choked by the blood building in his throat. “The damn woman sure can hold a grudge!”
Suppressing his rage, he gave a nod. More accurately, he was bowing the big guy up there.
What else could he say? Confess to the “witch” that he was compensating for his lifetime? He’d really die an ugly death, then.
“How’s the progress?” Qin Jiao asked.
Meng Fan’s face froze for a minute before he finally managed to respond. “I ran into some issues…”-under the forceful eye of Qin Jiao, Meng Fan finally mustered-“but it’s coming along.”
“You’ve always had your own perspective regarding the characteristics of clothing, and I have always suggested that your thesis can stem from this aspect.”
Qin Jiao smiled. “Let’s do it. You derive the relevant information from before the Yuan Dynasty, so during the next lesson you can use the information you have compiled to explain the usages of materials. After all, I am generous and left you a chance at life. If it is not sufficient, I am glad to contribute more.”
It is always common for teachers at the academy to arrange extracurricular assignments, and it is also common for Meng Fan to be caught. Of course, the sympathy of the students isn’t absent either.
Zhang Zhou Wei shoved a tube of pencils into Meng Fan and patted him on the shoulder. “Your bro can only help you until here.”
“Help me!”
Eyes wide, Meng Fan grabbed Zhang Zhou Wei. “At least help me do the research!”
“Just go to the library and find it. Your pal has a date today. You’ve got three days: that’s more than enough!” Zhang Zhou Wei snickered and slipped away toward the door, where a girl was waiting.
Meng Fan gave him the middle finger, packed his stuff, and obediently headed to the library.
“Three days is enough time, my ass. Unless I live in the library the entire time!”
Gathering information, sorting out a timeline, and listing the catalogue made three hours pass by in a blink. This was only Meng Fan’s own opinion on the characteristic changes of various costumes throughout the generations. Even if this was the only task, the average person can’t even do it in three days!
After eating a quick meal, he burrowed back to the library and continued to draft.
“Huh?” Meng Fan suddenly stopped drawing. “This really doesn’t feel right!”
He continued to draw a few more strokes and stopped again. Then he proceeded to take out his phone and started the timer.
After many comparisons, Meng Fan felt excitement coursed through his body from head to toe. If he hadn’t been in a library, he’d be loudly wheezing with joy.
It seems that the previous reward of “hand speed +1” is not only applicable to masturbating, but also drawing speed, and may also extend to other situations where hands are needed. Regardless, this is no joke, but a blessing from the cosmos!
In the morning, he simultaneously sketched while checking and commenting, not consuming much speed at all, for it was in the afternoon when he began formally drawing that he experienced the effect in all its eternity.
Compared to before, he was 33% faster, at least. This kind of advantage for an art student would open up a world of possibilities!
Meng Fan stopped his pencil. Why the hell was he still drawing? There’s no need for that now. After all, workers must first sharpen their tools before they can do their best.
What are you waiting for Meng Fan? Time to find more girls to confess to!