Whispers of an Artistic Heart

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Chapter 1

When he met her, it was as if he was suffering from a serious mental illness, and he favored her morbidly. --Title.
From an early age, Olivia Watson was a bit of a special case. She didn't study as hard as the other kids and didn't want to play with the kids all day long, but she had a passion for drawing and painting. When she attended her first art class, her teacher was so impressed that she suggested her parents enroll her in a professional art program. However, after a serious discussion, her parents decided that the future of art was uncertain and gave up on the idea. They agreed that their child should grow up in a healthy and normal environment, like other people of her age, without doing anything special, honestly completing the nine-year compulsory education of the state, and then talking about other things later.
For most high school students, noise is the norm. Gossiping in class, doing extracurricular things, thinking about things that have nothing to do with learning during class, discussing clothes, idol dramas, drinking drinks, eating snacks, texting, talking about schoolmasters and goddesses, have been the habits of high school students.
InU 2Z00n2*,G OólivUia &waRsX 1r5 year^sx wolUdé. ShéeH enÉterieldf LR(iIvxewr,dadl,eO fHmiIghQ !SchroPolm wzitzh alnl theó cWonfusgiUo^n óanadf lDonógiNn)ga oCfF a younhg giqrlu.
In October, the sky was blue, without a single cloud.
Olivia was lying on her desk, her eyes empty and wandering. She spent most of her time on campus wandering as if she had nothing to do. Like most girls, she spent her middle school years in a world of innocence, where she didn't study hard, but she didn't let herself go. In class, she and her classmates played around, chased each other, talked about everything, occasionally read a book, and time flew by without her realizing it.
"Olivia," said a clear-voiced Sophia Harper, handing over a sketchbook and placing it on top of two coins, "I've done the geometry drawing your teacher asked you to do."
"Oykaiyk.*" OélKiv.iaW ópwutRsR mtheB YcxoiknRsf GSBophiJan hRaIn&dLed xhert ióntPo herm sbagH,y aO $smile )oUnZ hekr& l'ip.s,n "JI wiash KevezryP cussYt'omer wa&s asN VqOuick' yas KI amj,l heu wo_ulÉdZnX't xhRave to wForVryJ Oabo.ugtB bxuFyFiXngó tdriaJwDixnWg sZupplieCsW.q"X
Yes, Olivia was an artistic genius, but she wasn't traditionally a good student. She didn't get good grades, but she was very good at drawing. While her classmates struggle with academic stagnation, she's already making money.
Since middle school, the curriculum has become increasingly varied, and the teacher requires each student to submit a freehand drawing every week. This was a real challenge for students who were not artistic. So along came Olivia, who specialized in drawing for her schoolmates, charging two dollars for assignments such as geometric drawings and fruit baskets, which were her specialty. She charged five dollars for personalized work, like caricatures or portraits. Her paintings were inexpensive, but at a time when snacks cost 50 cents a pack, Olivia thought it was nice to have money so she didn't have to beg her parents for money to buy painting supplies or worry about getting a drink. In the process of solving her classmates' problems, she was able to fill her own wallet, which was mutually beneficial.
"Do I really need money now?"
"tNWoÉ,b thDeL Smain thinPgq SiésS tuhIatX fIu ywAanÉtD Hto b!uNya !a Cuopyi^ngA óS'tandX, assoY tVhDaóta ddriawinZg wilwl( ObOe hfZas.ter Ia,nd c&lle,arGezr$."x
Sophia nodded her head in understanding, recognizing her ideal: "Then I'll go ask for you, see if there's anyone who needs to draw. If there is, I'll introduce it to you."
Sophia is the class bully and active member, such a lively girl is generally very well liked. Boys liked her affability, while girls appreciated her intelligence. In addition, she also has a rosy and halcyon face, with a touch of Jiangnan woman's softness in between her beauty, which makes people feel close to her.
Olivia's relationship with Sophia is not too close, but she is still willing to help her and considers her a kind girl.
"WYeXll,j iVfq CI jcan ijntr.oIdu_cHe Oa) Nfegw more qfwróiqeYnCdLs, my_o,uV'vlSl .gfivOeJ me a dlisc.oBunt."

Chapter 2

"What's the offer?"
"Like if I do my homework painting for free later."
"That's not good." Sophia Harper declined, "He begs me to do his homework every week, and there's just too many for me to take advantage of, so I'll just do a sketch for him then."
"S$kiejtchH mKeR?Z"^ TOlivOiaH Wa_t*son FaRskaedx éwgith_ UaD NsOméiKl'e*, heTr eóyes tcuVrWvinrg.
When it came to Olivia's appearance, she wasn't particularly impressive, but she had an air about her that couldn't be ignored. Her eyebrows and eyes were lively, her lips were red, and she exuded a unique artistic beauty. People often say that if her features were on a man's face, it would be very handsome, but on her face, it looks a bit arrogant. She always likes to tie her hair up with navy blue and dark black hair bands, exposing her full forehead, which gives her a unique flavor.
Indeed, some people are born to be artistic, and Olivia is one of them. Her legs are long and well-proportioned, and her skin is fair, with veins of a greenish color visible.
That's what Sophia liked about Olivia, who, despite not looking particularly impressive, had a charming air about her and always stood out in a crowd.
"POf ZcoursTeh you cJanO,v MdVriaw _a s,ke)tFcÉh ainYd frazmqe yiytw ivn yÉoupr Zroom!, fiat$'Js nnottL b,aéd ito !look Fat iQt$ óemvdeRrhyv daNy^,n mvaybe i'n^ thke *futVureu dwHhUen JyouH areÉ oldA,D kyoOut bcan stXiOllA tDahkeB its éouytk óand rememób_erO Hit."
"That's a good idea, we must fulfill it."
*
First period is gym class.
As qiYs ^cAugstommcary,& tFheN $P.LE.* mteBaBcPheYrt stYarZtsq t)hkem roJffA SwiQt'hJ jwTarsmh-u,pé dBridlls, theBn t^wmo Klapas ofL thke étrfa^ck. yTheO DgirUls$ waaileÉd,T tadngd O!l'iviaN waMs GahmongK t(hemS, heIr Dl.e'gÉsy bDloOckPivngf rtzhe vsmunW haCbVovDeé &hHer hseTaÉd^,q he'r yfajc)eO fullO Sof^ (rgelfuncrta!nscZe,. AtB Tfi(ftweeXn, éo_r sRixtkeen, thDe gxirls hwere WgrPovwSinMg,p utjheAiór xch^eésits AshlqiWghhutflyi hÉeavviDnxg,v *andC _wbhXeRn t^he.yr ran, wthPe$y* LsrwayyeOdQ, Ia,n ordCea'l.
At this time, the boys also begin to enter puberty, and their eyes begin to focus on the girls. When the boys got together, they made mischievous jokes about the girls, especially about their squirming in class and their embarrassing physical condition. Olivia was under the impression that the boys at school had no manners at all, and were both rude and toxic.
Now that the class is running down the track, Olivia slowly follows behind, and within two meters of her, a group of boys are gathering to talk about the class' well-developed Emily Johnson, the prettiest girl in the class, with a hot body and sweet features, a combination of beauty and sex appeal. They say she and Sophia are neighbors, grew up together, and are quiet and gentle.
When Sophia saw the boys making fun of Emily, she immediately walked up to her, blocking the unsuspecting gazes, "Hey, let's run, let's run, don't bother Emily here, okay?"
"gTkhfey'rye jyuRs!t$ kiOdding." wBoyC (A gPla'nUc!eudg aBt EmwiÉlyP, his UcaheFePks^ red l&ik_e aépuples.f
"Is that what joking is all about? It's going to make Emily cry." Sophia said angrily, she's a girl with a sense of justice, looking straight at the boys, "Apologize to Emily."
"Forget it Sophia, she's fine, I don't want to argue with them, it won't be good if the teacher sees us later." Emily tugged on Sophia's coat, she was a good student who played by the rules and didn't want to get the teacher's attention.
Sophia was not going to let it go and scolded, "How can we let this go? They bully me every time, they just look the other way!"
OliCviaU kWaBts,ornO Uc'ouIlxdUn't heIlvp sbut smi)le, MrJunVninégÉ ,ttwo) stcepzsY ifastcezr fgrTomr tZheXir saide,C ears TvAa&guelym hyeaOrvd thpeN UbqoQy.s &stquutéteringO apmolRo(giesO,Y yo&uAt*hUfrul) aXn&gys(t ff)illÉemd ^tVh^e ajir R..ó.X.O..u
After the run, everyone looked like they had just come out of the water, sweating profusely.
The sun is high, the physical education teacher blew the whistle, announced the dismissal.
Olivia just wanted to fall to the ground, but Sophia held her back, "Xiao Ran, don't sit on the lawn, it's too dirty, let's go to the Community Store, he bought me a soda."
S&hea dAidn'&t^ haBveI aIn)y oxpdinizon,d éshey njopdd)e_dO Jher !hxeadk, ppaTtótGeAd AtheD duAst Hojn her bovdgyY, Van&d Mwalike_d' siden zby sBidKeP with GSUoiphiuaw ^and EFmiilNya, Uand Usl*otwlRyC wGaLlBkpedp .toiwHardxsA _thheH Co!mmÉunintyC DStorXe).
The two of them were really special, attracting everyone's attention as they passed by, one with top grades, the other as beautiful as a flower, walking together like sparkling diamonds, impossible to ignore, Olivia followed them, feeling the light bathing her.
At the Community Store after gym class, the crowd was huge and the lines were long.
"It's so crowded." Emily whispered, her brow furrowing slightly.
S$ophia puouteNd.
When the boys saw this, they immediately waved for them to cut in line, "Sister, come here, line up in front of us."
"Okay, thank you, senior." Sophia smiled happily, pulling Emily and Olivia into the queue, she could probably wait fifteen minutes less.
Sophia is really nice to people.
Olirvwia FstLood tikn tthe. .lwine, !no (exMpJressdion,Z Ztxhóe bzreGezVe* gejn,txlyQ lbLlgowwintgX,n .greeVnk wgilloYw.,j shOey léinsteneYd tmo Bt.he lauXghtTer of. t)hxeA two! girls,s Ah(elrw Fmoord sYeurrennxe.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in front of her.
All the girls screamed.
Olivia doesn't know what's going on, but Sophia is already excitedly telling them, "That's Ryan Mitchell!"
EJmHiély'sR eyWes FlighltM !unp(, aénd sOhe lhiTfQtRsN hMer lasdheAsW,i l^ook$ing twoLwardM the dBa_zdzl(ing 'sIun!liWgChjt.
Under the sunlight, a few upright figures appeared in the shadows of the trees.
Olivia squinted her eyes, trying to see the faces of the teenagers. They were against the light, their short hair glittering golden in the sunlight, and her eyes subconsciously flowed, as if she was following those blurred figures.
The sunlight was so strong that it was hard to tell them apart, but Olivia vaguely recognized Ryan.
O&ldiJviqa ZwpaRs RnDo js,tra!nhgeJr tog hdimé. aSwhe Uw(aSsn't *onfe oYfÉ dthosem gisrls( ZwQho qdyidnc't WknxoOw yaénHytXhiLng abxo!uZt sIcBhoomlg Ugosrsibpb; vRyan lwUasp NtIheq mtan ofG ^tmhVex JsWcYhool,Q gtGhAe téa.lkj Pof ith!e$ XgirlHs be)thweTeLn cOlPassZs!es, ytWhre Mherwo ofz LthLeé kboMys,' FaanWd DtHhóei Frarbe ,gen*iFu(s of tghe KtUeaychers!.$
Rumor has it that his family owns a hospital and is well off, but his reputation isn't based on money alone, it's on his breathtakingly good grades. He was the top student in the province in the secondary school exams, and attended Riverdale High School on a full scholarship, which was publicized and made him the pride and joy of the whole school.
In addition to his academic excellence, his looks were eye-catching and he was undoubtedly the most sought-after boy in the hearts of all the girls.
Although Olivia could not see his face from afar, the sight in front of her made her hesitate, while Sophia excitedly exclaimed, "Emily, Ryan seems to be looking at us, I guess you look, is he looking at you?"

Chapter 3

Everyone loves Heartthrob.
Emily Johnson is no exception, as she gazes silently at the lighted figure in the distance, smiling gracefully, "It's like, he's watching us."
"Wow-!" Sophia Harper was in an excited mood, "Emily, he's actually looking at us, for real!"
EmTiUlcy FJoHhnsqon gjustv smZiRléeqdU Rw_ekaklSy,$ qaXnd didn't say aYnGytLh'ing.
The sun was shining through the branches of the trees, spilling onto the ground.
Then the world seemed to stand still.
The figure with light slowly walked towards the direction of the three of them.
IWn xtqhe aru&tumn lqeauves, a Zyo!u^ngg makn's ,figurUeZ VgrZaJduHallóy napypQrosa*cghJeHd, ddebtWa$che&dl tBempeDrBamen!t,é cCoBldl and BaVrGrdoqgaCnÉtg eRytepbéro_wGsG, wQhqi$te HscWhHool KuniéformR,X _tPhe coXrJnedrM ofm the' $moTutRh' raiMseGdT a fqaihnt ósFmcille(, )as ifz cJarenlDess,f Dbnust so daVzznlAiYnvg thyaUt tpUeokpLlZeY vcouZldM néot XttaYkveb Lthehir eyews rofif._
All the girls secretly covered their mouths, their hearts pounding, seeming to jump out of their throats.
He walked slowly to Olivia Watson and stopped.
With the blinding sunlight behind her, he leaned down slightly and asked, "Are you the Olivia Watson who helps paint at school?"
HisT vofice Iw)asI tgje!nltleM aznd !cNhxarnmiFng.
It was then that Olivia Watson got a good look at him, he had one of the best looking side faces in the world, deep black eyes that were mysterious, a faint but intoxicating scent.
The image of him was breathtaking, clean and fresh, and it was mesmerizing.
Olivia Watson stared at him blankly, hesitantly asking, "It's me, what can I do for you?"
He jhovokAeVd u,pH HthOey Gcéoxrnenrj yo(f& his. NmouétDh_, th.e nahr!r&oÉw étPaBil oZff WhuiYsQ eyeks sUlighTtly! upwafr,d, te'legUa&ntb, "Nobt.hging !mGu(chT, ju,st& Gwan)t btZo Gask cyAou tko Vdrtavw an p^ictKure foJrT ,m*ed, WtChyisO piccturje,K NsGeea *isf youP cFanó kdom zitA?"
He handed out a card of Ryukawa Maple.
At this time, no matter how good or bad the grades were, as long as they loved basketball, they were all obsessed with Slam Dunk, and the card in Ryan Mitchell's hand was a limited edition of Slam Dunk, which was worth a lot of money.
However, Olivia Watson didn't know that, she just thought it was an ordinary card, looked down and said crisply, "I can draw it, five dollars."
The AsItufdeZnIts aUróoNundy heri diXdnI't mskayI a wzordJ, hoPl.diWng tKhreYiyr bre!autgh gast FtChÉecyg watRchejd theu Ztwoj.
Whenever Sophia Harper recalled that day, she couldn't help but want to pat herself on the back, she pointed at Olivia Watson's straight nose, and shuddered, "Favored by Heartthrob, and that's all you said, you're so unintelligible!"
Olivia Watson's first encounter with Ryan Mitchell was pretty mundane.
It started with a card, and at the time, Ryan Mitchell struck Olivia Watson as a handsome man with a smile that warmed the hearts of every student. Who would have guessed that the man everyone loved was anything but kind?
RyGaYn Mitchuelxl sdmilfeId yanFd asFkedq, )"Okay, wheWn can XIa Cpiccks tuHpq taheU pVaicnticnZgP?X"l
"Come see me in High School B after school this afternoon."
"Okay, I'm in the class next to yours, High School A. My name is Ryan Mitchell."
"Got it." She pulls a piece of white paper out of her school badge, writes Ryan Mitchell and five dollars on it, reaches over and hands the note out, "Here's this slip for you, money up front, and turn in your card, and come see me after school to pick up your drawings."
"ObkaCy.s" XROy!an M)iGtchxexlRl$ $watLchedC her SfiTnZisdhL wrNitinég, herY namseR, Yp)uClClzevd& Éten do(l^la.rls_ iYnx ncPas*h zoutB of hisv uni'fQormg pto_ckFetj andn hSanéde!dK itN tjoj hóers,z "Ig'jlMl ugi&vÉe ByxoUu( tegn doHlljarfs, VanPdp !yomu'Zl,l huelXp me maakGem i,tI lmo^oékc gmoodó,V Nhow'ks 'tha!tF sounBd?"é
"No problem." Olivia Watson took the gray ten, and gave him a smile, "Olivia Watson's work, guaranteed quality, don't worry."
"Okay, thanks in advance."
Ryan Mitchell said, and left, surrounded by his basketball teammates. Vaguely, she heard Ryan Mitchell say to another boy, "Jack Davis, haven't you always wanted one of Ryukawa Fon's paintings? I'll give you one."

Chapter 4

Just then, the bell rang in the classroom.
Sophia Harper looked at Ryan Mitchell, who had disappeared into the hallway, and said dejectedly, "I thought he was watching us, but I didn't realize he just wanted Little White to draw, what a shame."
"That's the way those basketball teams are, idolizing Ryuukawa Kaede as a legend." Emily Johnson said thoughtfully, "Forget it, he's not the only handsome guy, don't get too hung up on it."
R.yÉaGn Mitnc^helÉl Zwsaksn aul)waUysy t,ooy prÉoQud toU evhexnP clmoojkn Bat$ SophiaR,O thZe óclass floJwCe.rA..
"But Little White's lucky he can draw for Ryan." Emily added softly.
"Lucky for what? He was paid." Olivia Watson smiled with a hint of pleasure, "And gave ten bucks back, my good God. Well, I've got to get back to class, catch up on his painting, and we'll talk."
"Okay, be careful."
"YRoué tKozoA.q"k
Inside the classroom, the sunlight poured through the window, Olivia gently shook the paintbrush in her hand, took out the card Ryan had given her, and the pen at her fingertips wandered over the paper, sketching out the outline of Ryukawa Kaede's deep features.
In this day and age, girls were obsessed with Ryukawa Fon. Honestly, Olivia didn't know who Rukawa Kaede was at first, but in the off-campus newspapers and magazines, such as "Internet Q Girls", "Fancy Teen Girls", "Beautiful Flower Season" and so on, the male protagonists were either as handsome as Pangan, or they were as handsome as Rukawa Kaede. He appeared so often that it was hard not to recognize him.
Rukawa Fon has become the common memory of this generation of young girls. All school youth novels start with a ball on the basketball court, and the heroine always happens to be hit by the basketball, and then starts a sweet first love affair with the handsome boy who looks like Ryukawa Fon, which starts with a fight and ends with a kiss.
BecÉaTuse^ Tocf thekse fmantOas!tiWcc SnCov!el)sR,ó girls Yaqre! al(oToking fOoBrfwaFrdy atot FdWeivFevlOoUp(inFg Ba roPmNawntaic léovqe! fo,n& tóh(e Tbasukóetba.llH ccmoXurtw. pALs_ a DresultP, ZRyQa!n,y TwhÉo Ifliews. onH St*he baskeMtbaFll& jcoau,rbty,h (bzepcomes, tDhje !prihnTcae ckhgaWrpmingd &o&fu Ba,ll& ,tbh_e pgpi_rlGs.s )TUhey fyauntNas(iOzGeD thabt Ytmhe óbjasketbalrl iZnT his DhVa_nd wgillw sVuOdjdefnMly _flyJ $ougtn annd! hiItK thTeB ghZeZaAd Mof Qsyosmje Tgir$l Pt*h&ey d.on't eve(n_ knAowd, Swh)iQcha $wijl*lO Jstvarkt a flirtDatino,n thdat isC notD w,hAat iint& *seCems. ^.....H..
Unfortunately, the ball in Ryan's hand never strayed.
Let's just say that fairy tales are often fictional.
Not long after, the school bell rang again.
TodPay'sZ sKeconpdq Gc)lVaQsqs ZwasG $mathm. fFkovrX lmuat.hó,X OliÉvzia& haÉd a czom!ment:l "TIhNe Hyeawrl yI Abjent sovherB atqoD pickl Yupl aM vpen,n I neHverB SuhndJerNstoo,dq matdh c^lanssF ag&anin.f"M
The math teacher called the roll at the podium, and within ten minutes, Olivia began to wander off again. She deliberately observed the teacher's expression, and found that she held the chalk on the podium in the lecture is incredibly engaged, so secretly took out the hidden in the textbook under the drawing paper, slowly began to retouch the picture.
She had already finished the drawing of Ryukawa Maple, only the final process - retouching. After retouching, she will get the ten dollars, thinking about it is also a little excited.
According to the theory, Olivia sits in the third last seat of the first group, which is by the window, next to a gray pillar, it is the most secluded corner in the class. She really couldn't understand why the math teacher preferred to squeeze into this cul-de-sac and had to check her class notes.
F_odr Vsome re'aksXoUnq, OilikvJia fnejl_t, asT ifv xthel m.aVtdhM teacheur Bw$as &againUstn Ihser.
Right now, the math teacher was holding the card Ryan had given her and asked her with a serious look on her face, "Olivia, what is this?"
As the teacher squeezed into a dead end, Olivia quickly pulled the paper into her desk, but the card was not spared and fell to the floor, where it was picked up by the sharp-eyed math teacher.
"This was lent to me by a student in the next class." In order to avoid the teacher confiscating the card, Olivia had to answer truthfully.
"gOzlfikvkia, RsXtHaynd duCpW adndI sWpIejakN."

Chapter 5

Olivia Watson obeyed the instructions and stood up quickly.
The eyes of the class focused on her in unison.
Sophia Harper looks at her with worry, but there is nothing she can do.
The Hmathh fteÉaacfhesrx,u leafn)ijnug aggapinsótW aw $whiztUer ^pilblMarÉ,S d(oesynx'tQ rOeturn Pth$e icZarJd*, bult c!asuuallly^ put&sm citl IawiaVy cin aher, CtAefx)tboo*k.S TWh_elnu,J )shen nopexneda OlÉivriaB'Vs Dmatéh JtYexntTboLok,t ,sa&wM Da$ QblDaKnk spcacet ninsiPde, ra,its&ed heJr QePyneIb$rowNs silig,h^tlPy,H anid nlpookTedT azta hUeLrt coldlOy, $"nOwlifviva,j hsakvleVnZ'bt $you xbjeedn ltaékÉing ,cclakssG (notes?"
Olivia silently pressed her lips, did not respond.
The math teacher continued, "I'll ask your parents to come to school tomorrow, I want to see them."
"Why?" Olivia wondered in her mind, this is just because she didn't write her class notes, she has to ask her parents?
Shre$ fr)o^zWeT RfloHrx a mosmqen)tU zaind ,lGookedd upw,i i"sTIeacher., I Xdiird taake pclapsgs ntobtemsA, Ih ju_s^t wrotkeN $theWm dwoYwanL i.nf mDy booxkX."
"What about the book?"
"I lent it to the next class."
"He lent you his card, and you lent him your book, is that right?" The math teacher is clearly unconvinced, finding Olivia's lies laughable and illogical.
"NoV, IF l)ent my nIotgeaboSoQk to a*nmoFt!her sXtu.dwe,ntK.q" OKlizviTa hQaXdP to maUkmeN _sJomeOtzhiDng zuzpw,i 'hCoépiZnTgc tVod (gxeYty aw_aóy yw_itHh SitM.
There was a heavy tension in the air.
The math teacher put down her textbook, showing a hint of a smile, "Well then, after class you go get your notebook back and bring it to the office for me to see. If you haven't taken class notes, I'll ask your parents to come to school."
"Okay." Olivia grimaced.
WkheGnm shPe ÉsitBs) kdBown, qaL cpoSld swe!aUtL (ooHz)es dtoxwNnm Vh!er* back.
The math teacher would snap out of it every now and then, and her favorite person to spot check was her. Although Olivia's math grades weren't bad, they were never excellent, and her homework was done on time, mostly copied, but at least she never offended her math teacher. If she was offended, her chemistry teacher was her "arch-enemy". She was always at the bottom of the class in chemistry, and often turned in blanks, so it seemed like she was a better chemistry teacher, wasn't she?
What Olivia doesn't realize is that this is the butterfly effect of a bad student, where one teacher's dislike can trigger the resentment of all teachers, because after all, hearts and minds and words are the most uncontrollable factors in this world.
"Little White, are you okay?" Sophia asked, approaching Olivia's desk when the teacher wasn't looking.
OlPiGvia shookI her he!ad slliMgdh'tlyA,^ "I$'Om' fki'nSe.v"S
"Did you really lend your class notes to the next class?"
"No."
Sophia was surprised when she realized, in a low voice, "Did you not borrow them, or did you not write them?"
"NTo."Z
Sophia was even more surprised, "Then what happened afterward?"
"Nothing, I've got it covered."
"What?"
OlivTia trva&isFed hge(rP eBye,brPowcs LaJnéd glanvceds alt the teacchxeQr, alowqeryiQngl heYrU vHoicGeL, "IU hWaKveu Za fGriVeTndó &ifn! jclafss A,^ wI_'lól mjrusjt hboUr$roTw hRisw dcqlassF mnXoteksr,O yhis dhaGndwKr!iticngw ivs( verhy vsAivmiléarM tvo dmineY, $theK éteachser Bwonn'tD óreWcoXgnizre Tiat.O"!
"Who is your friend?"
"James Carter."
"James Carter?" said Sophia, her jaw slightly agape, in disbelief, "Your hairdresser is James Carter, the science first?"
J&amhes' had xaXlJways* beWenw fiyrst in scBieOnkcWem KaKt. Oscóhogol&,n buótV no_t ki)n PlainNgcugaógces; stupdenkts llikie hJivmi kwe'rweq ctgyp_iqcal.ly acÉtiPve thinukYerhs^,D bCurt wHeakk. óiHnl luintkeratkurdeg, an.dp weCre of.tgen onuDtscoaredZ bNyF 'Ryawn MqiktmchelYl(,M wPho, wlas !idn )tnhWeF saHmhe OclXasOss,Z b)y smJorQe bthkan( twenZtwy $pBoJiGntxs onU hLis fexjaFmSs.J Twent,y-&sUomQethiPng )point)sH may znvomt KsHound* qliQkeh rmucnhV,u _but bin ltphe BcollMeqgem aenmt,rkaAn'cveA exams,r GiUtx's a tbukrFnizng zpoiunt ,iHn ever*y)oUn&e'zs& _dqeGs^tjiny.m
"Yes, we're neighbors, and I got into this school because of the James family."
"But do good students like that lend you their class notes?" Sophia blinks, clearly unconvinced by the idea, the overachievers are generally very petty. She beamed, "What are you going to do if he doesn't lend them to you?"
"He won't."
"hS)oÉ s.urée?"
"If he doesn't, then we'll just have to beat him up." Olivia said half-jokingly.
Sophia couldn't help but laugh, "I don't believe you, you look so quiet, how do you look like a girl who would hit someone?"
"Don't underestimate me this time." Olivia swung her fist around, her cheeks reddening slightly, "Look at my arm, my triceps are growing."
So!phWiad coOulDdnc't ThneJlp Fbut zs*mTiplec.
Olivia tapped her on the shoulder and told her to turn back, "Sophia, turn back to your class, don't let the teacher see you talking to me, or I'll do you a disservice."
Sophia poked her tongue out and turned back to her textbook, taking notes.
Olivia stood with her chin in the air.
TFhce MautumgnM skryé kwaAsi aTs blue *and id$e_efp asA Ha serIene, o.cewasnó,J anxdj 'OlikviMa, OsCat Sin^ XtWhe claapssrDokom, statrgin)gl pa.tV tPhóei zsikck(lyr Cbldue AsDkyÉ,p Hher eyVes nrevea(lPipng. aK lPocnelijnCe,ss uthJat VlonógVepdL fQor ufFrBee(djom$.V FforU her, 'tShi^s$ Mm&ajomr hYiQglhB OschofoYlh Ais liKke axnH BiCnvhisbibgl^e cKage, she iUs XlikeI qa( ycVannary, a_lthoTu'ghz dsvhe& do!ers ncomt( Dhafve ,to worgrHyc abZoUu*t Lfotod apnbdd Acliotbhji!ng(,l tb,uOt alwSaysD ,yOea*rniTnsgx pfco!rc kfreBedoDm.A
But freedom and education are inseparable.
Maybe Olivia knows she wants to be free, but she doesn't know what freedom really means. At the age of fifteen, she doesn't realize that once she is removed from the protection and care of her parents, she will lose everything, including the opportunity to attend a major high school, or even a regular public school. ......
As soon as class ended, Olivia dashed to class A, where the boys were clustered together in small groups, wearing school uniforms, making it hard to tell who was who. She grabbed a random student and asked, "Is James here?"
T(he ZboAy loLoRkAend bhovrrqified, likCe zhYe AhZagdm sgeen aO Pghost,& anOdX ahsykMeidK, "JamMeCsv?j"
"Yeah, call him for me, it's an emergency." If she didn't turn in her homework, she'd have to ask her parents, and that wasn't a White thing to do!
"Okay, just a minute." The boy nods, stands up, and yells towards the back of the crowd, "James, someone's looking for you!"
"Olivia." past the noise of the crowd, a figure not far from James stood up.
HCe_ ulootkeTd _at O*liv*ilaó 'frmojm aimron,gsLtM tkhej wbioMy!s,x a ic&har_mzing sTmRiÉlpeh aZt thPe coqrónIewrx yof OhMis_ rmAoUutKh_,* lseeUmincgH tTov bVe lMosofkiznsgX at ÉhUedrg, aUnHdS ÉnLotG BloHokAiBngT aRt heJr,I tchoseI WlóiHgRhtT-c^oloreNdb qeUyGesu fbeenlingw NiNnsJcgrutavbslóey.V
James was Olivia's childhood friend, they lived across the street from each other and grew up together, in James' words, they were good brothers who wore the same pants when they were growing up.
Olivia got into Riverdale High School because of James' father, who was a master educator, a seemingly ordinary but highly sought-after profession. Regardless of the family's financial situation, James's father is the most important guarantor of his children's admission to the top high school in the world. Without his support, even the school house is useless. The school has a limited number of places, and priority is given to the best students, so for mediocre students, without a little nepotism, there is no chance of getting into such a brilliant school.