Chapter 29
+15 BONUS
“Remember, ladies, always steer clear of stingy men or you’ll end up with nothing!” one of the influencers said as their gossip faded. They were trailing behind Emily at a discreet distance as they all entered the building,
Emily, preoccupied with thoughts of her withdrawal from school, paid no attention to the quiet chatter behind her. The voices were soft enough that she didn’t catch any of it.
In class, after one lesson had ended, the teacher called out just as the students were about to leave, “Hold on a second, everyone.”
The class paused, turning back to listen.
“Next week, the school will be hosting a commercial art exhibition. We’ve invited several wealthy and influential guests, and even the government has taken an interest. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase your best work and potentially launch your career. Don’t let this slip by and make sure you give it your all!” The teacher smiled brightly, clearly excited about the event.
The class responded with enthusiasm, “Got it!”
As Emily packed her things, planning to head to the office, the teacher stopped her, “Emily, you’ve always been one of my top students. This exhibition is crucial for your future in the art world. Don’t miss out!”
“Thank you, but I actually came to withdraw from school today,” Emily replied with a grateful smile.
The teacher’s face shifted to surprise, “Withdraw? Are you transferring to another school?”
“No,” Emily shook her head, “I’m leaving Lincourt City altogether. I might move to another city or even go abroad.”
The teacher sighed but placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “If that’s what you’ve decided, I won’t stop you. But you have to participate in the exhibition.”
“Of course.”
Emily smoothly completed the withdrawal process at the office and then headed to the studio on the fifth floor, where the school provided each student a personal space to paint and store their work. Now that she was withdrawing, she needed to collect her belongings.
Opening the door, she glanced around. Nothing had changed since her last visit.
She began by selecting her works for the exhibition. Each student could submit three pieces. Once her selections were made, she set them aside and started packing her personal items and other paintings.
As she sorted through the room, she realized that some unframed paintings leaning against the wall had grown damp and moldy. Even the corner of the wall showed signs of mold. It seemed the room hadn’t been properly maintained after a recent rainstorm.
She quickly grabbed her phone and messaged the teacher about the issue, suggesting the room be fixed before the next student moved in.
Emily quickly inspected the paintings she planned to submit for the exhibition. Thankfully, since they were already framed, they hadn’t suffered any moisture damage. After sending a message to her teacher about the damp conditions in the studio, she resumed packing her belongings.
There was a box on a high shelf that she had forgotten about and now needed to retrieve. She grabbed a stool, climbed up, and stretched for it. The box was heavier than she expected and just out of reach
As she tried a few times to get it down, dust began to fall from the shelf, and some got into her eyes, making her
+15 BONUS
Chapter 29
turn her head away.
Finally, she managed to knock the box loose, but as she tried to catch it, her injured wrist hit the wooden shelf, sending a sharp pain through her arm. The box slipped from her grasp, tumbling straight toward her.
Instinctively, Emily bent forward, shielding her head with her arms, but the corner of the box hit her back hard.
“Ow!” she cried out, wincing in pain.
Thrown off balance, she couldn’t keep steady, and the stool wobbled beneath her, sending her crashing to the
floor.
