LUO YAN was staring at the picture on his phone. It was the picture of the drawing that he picked up earlier. He took a picture of it before returning it to Yu Jiao. It was actually kind of funny when he returned it to her earlier.


    =====


    "Yu Jiao, wait!" Luo Yan called to the girl who looked like she was being chased by an axe murderer or something. "You drop something!"


    That seemed to make her stop.


    Luo Yan used that time to catch up to her. He smiled and handed her the paper with the sword drawing. "Here."


    When she saw the paper, she seemed to visually freeze. Like her whole body just became rigid and stiff. She took the paper – no, snatched would probably be the better term – with a trembling hand. "D-did you look inside?"


    "Yes. It was such a nice sword. Very detailed," Luo Yan praised, not bothering to lie about it. "You definitely have a talent in drawing."


    He saw her gazing down, biting her lips, and clutching the paper where the sword was drawn tightly. "I- I didn’t draw it."


    Luo Yan stared at Yu Jiao. The longer he stared, the more she fidgeted and squirmed. If he didn’t speak immediately, she might just continue to squirm and fidget. It kind of looked amusing since she was so tall and all. It’s like he’s bullying a frightened and quivering giraffe or something.


    So, he no longer tortured her and said, "I see. Then whoever drew it was really good."


    Yu Jiao darted her eyes. She nodded at him before taking off and running like she’s being chased again by an axe murderer.


    Luo Yan stared at her back and smiled. What an interesting girl.


    =====


    Even if Yu Jiao said that she wasn’t the one who drew that sword, Luo Yan believed that it was her. Why else would she act so nervous when she found out that he saw the drawing? She probably just didn’t want to draw attention to herself. That’s why he just yed along with her. She might have a nervous breakdown if he didn’t.


    But seriously, this was really one fine drawing. It was so aesthetically pleasing. But if he considered the possibility that the materials he saw listed on the side of the papers were the materials that would be used to make it, then it would also be a very strong weapon. He’s talking about a weapon in Arcadia, of course. If he was right, then that could only mean one thing.


    Yu Jiao was a cksmith in the game. And if he went by with this drawing, a very talented one at that. Although there’s also a possibility that she only drew this design for someone else. But if he considered those materials, then it could be said that she was quite knowledgeable about the game. She didn’t just design the sword. She drew it in a way that would take into ount those materials. So, he’s more inclined to believe that it was the former.


    "Yan, start eating. Don’t just y with your phone," Luo Jin’s voice scolded.


    Luo Yan raised his head and apologetically smiled at his younger brother who, truthfully, was more like a mother hen. "Sorry."


    They were currently at one of the cafeterias offering traditional cuisines eating lunch. Luo Jin picked a private box at the second floor. Because he didn’t want people ogling them while they ate. Which, of course, Luo Yan approved. Who would want people staring at them while they were eating?


    "What are you staring so intently at your phone anyway?" Luo Jin asked.


    Luo Yan ate a piece of dumpling before showing his younger brother the drawing on his phone. "Amazing, right?"


    Luo Jin stared at the picture of a drawing of a sword on his brother’s phone. "I guess?"


    "Ah Jin, what kind of lukewarm reaction was that?" Luo Yan said, pouting a bit.


    "What do you want me to do? Sing it praises?"


    "Well, at least say that it’s good with more conviction. Not like you’re just forced to agree with me just because I said that it’s good." Luo Yan harrumphed and pouted even more.


    Luo Jin stared at his second brother whose mouth would soon turn into a duck’s beak because of the way he’s pouting and suddenly felt helpless. Knowing Luo Yan’s dark side, he knew by now that whenever he acted a certain way – pouting, sulking, crying – that he was doing it so that he could get people to do what he wanted. In their family, he was probably the only one who knew that side of his second brother.


    It’s not that he was faking his interaction with them. He could feel that he was facing them with sincerity. It was those little things. Like secretly telling the cook to make their favorite dishes, always making them smile when they’re in a bad mood, immediately asking them if they’re alright at the very first sign of a cough or a headache. Small things like that. But it was enough to warm their hearts and feel loved.


    But despite knowing his brother’s ’bad’ habit, Luo Jin still couldn’t help but be swept in his pace. Which only ended up with him doing exactly what Luo Yan nodded. Just like now for example.


    "Fine. The drawing is really good and very detailed. Anyone could tell that the one who drew it was talented," he could only say at the end.


    Luo Yan’s expression immediately brightened. "Right? It was drawn by one of my ssmates."


    Luo Jin raised one of his brows. And here he thought it was drawn by Luo Yan because of the way he’s acting. "They drew it for you?"


    "No. I took a picture of it secretly," Luo Yan answered without shame. "I think she’s ying Arcadia as well. Her ss might be a cksmith. Maybe I could ask her if she could make our weapons."


    That finally piqued Luo Jin’s attention a little. Knowing his brother, he would not say that unless he really thought that the person was good. And based on his brother’s speech, it seemed that this person was a girl. "You think this person could make powerful weapons for us?"


    Luo Yan nodded. "But it would probably take a while before I could convince her."


    "Why? Don’t tell me she doesn’t like you?"


    Luo Yan gave Luo Jin a look as if telling him that he’s talking nonsense. "Who wouldn’t like me?" he said, again, very shamelessly. "She’s simply like a shy giraffe who would immediately run away at the sight of a stranger. It’s actually a little cute, really. But I’m very persistent. So, I’m sure I would wear her down soon enough."


    He was confident enough on that. Because if he really put his mind onto something, there’s no way he wouldn’t be able to aplish it. That’s just how persistent he could be.


    Luo Jin looked at his brother’s expression and for some reason, he was already feeling bad for this ’shy giraffe’. He suddenly had an urge to lit a candle for her, whoever she was.


    Meanwhile, Yu Jiao who was eating alone at one of the small restaurants in the academy suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She rubbed both her arms. Was the weather getting colder?