Animation Department, Assemble!

"The story that we will be animating this year is 'Don't Board the 5 PM Train'. Before I introduce the main story, we will have a drawing test to divide the club members into the rightful departments. There will be Animation, Dubbing, and Editing." Ma Jianyu handed artist worksheet papers to everyone.

The Theater club members' hands shot up to ask a barrage of questions, but the president beat them to it.

"Why do we have to divide you all when there's already the Visual Arts Club collaborating with us?" Ma Jianyu perfectly guessed their question. "Because let's be honest, ladies and gentlemen: How many of you joined here because you genuinely enjoyed theater and not just for the campus goddess?"

The members smiled sheepishly as only 1/4 of the club raised their hands.

Ma Jianyu sighed exaggeratedly, twirling his long hair. "See? So in order to prove yourselves worthy of the name of our valiant organization, we must seek out how to make yourself useful in this endeavor. Not everyone will get to the Dubbing, so let's have a quick test. Those who show great artistic skill will be added to the Animation department. The rest can consider Editing or being a utility person. Any more questions?"

Everyone's hands went down.

"Good. Let the test begin."

Mo Aini is determined to join the Animation Department because there's no way in hell Hu Chuntian is gonna get there. Plus, he gets to be in the same department as Shu Chuanli.

The sketching test was pretty well-crafted. First, it was just a series of shapes and how well you can draw them without rulers or any mechanical aid. Then, it gets harder as you are made to draw a famous cartoon character solely from memory. And finally, character creation, where you are given a series of traits and must draw a character design that fits that description.

The test lasted for 2 hours, and by the end of it, it's already sundown.

The next day, the results were announced.

Of course, Mo Aini got into the Animation Department.

Ma Jianyu patted his back as he entered the animation room provided by the school. "Welcome, welcome, Sir Taime! I didn't know you had such a magnificent hand at art! Are you sure you are not a descendant of the great Michelangelo or Vincent Van Gogh?"

"You flatter me too much, Sir John Hue." Mo Aini always plays along with the club leader's theatrics.

Ma Jianyu really appreciated being called by his fictional alter ego, so this made him like Mo Aini even more. "Our good lad, Shu Chuanli, will be supervising this division and will be the head of our production. If you have any problems, feel free to ask him."

He patted Shu Chuanli's green head, causing his glasses to get askew. "I entrust everything to you, my boy!"

Shu Chuanli shyly nodded and gave an awkward salute. "Yes, sir!"

"Meanwhile, I will be visiting the other departments. But the focus for the first phase should be Animation, since Dubbing and Editing come afterwards. We need as many people as we can, so some will have multiple roles like me who will be joining both Animation and Dubbing." Ma Jianyu said.

"Wouldn't it get too troublesome for you?" Mo Aini asked.

"Not as troublesome as what our good president, Sir Haoran, will be doing. He's joining all three departments!"

She Haoran looked up from his desk with a smile. "It's really not that troublesome. I want to help the club as much as I can before the elections."

"Ah, what gifted and generous man you are! How enviable!" Ma Jianyu put a hand over his chest from She Haoran's dazzling coolness. "Well, I would leave it all to you today. Farewell!"

Ma Jianyu left, and the Animation Department started to work their first day of production. They only talked about different designs and concepts or maybe help when fixing some problems. They rarely chitchat but still have a friendly and united atmosphere with each other.

Mo Aini felt nostalgic. He used to have this kind of surroundings back at college, though a lot more stress and cramming were involved. But he miss this, and was highly disappointed in himself when all his other friends had kept staying in animation right after graduating while his talents were left to rot because of unemployment.

Mo Aini had finished his tasks earlier than most and went to check how the others are doing, shaking his hands and relaxing them. The clock is ticking 15 minutes left towards their break time, and he knows a lot of them must be feeling tired and hungry.

"Do you need any help, Shu Chuanli?" He said when he noticed the leader frowning.

"I still can't decide on the clothing style of the lead." Shu Chuanli said, shuffling papers in his hand.

Mo Aini leaned closer to look. "Yeah, they're all pretty good. Did Ma Jianyu make them?"

"How did you guess?" Shu Chuanli turned to him in surprise.

"Ah...Er... I have a good eye for people's talents and skills." Mo Aini scratched his head.

"Wow, I wish I was like that. I was very shocked when I learned Gou Manchu also has a knack for inking and doodling. He and Ma Jianyu worked together with these designs." Shu Chuanli sighed. "I guess I judged him too poorly."

"I don't think Gou Manchu would mind that much. But if you really want to make it up to him, you should try to loosen up a little when he's around. Try to get along with him." Mo Aini advised. "Anyway, back to the designs. If you're finding it hard, can I share my thoughts and ideas on them?"

"Sure!" Shu Chuanli said.

Mo Aini and Shu Chuanli sat together closely behind a bunch of papers. A little too closely, some would say.....

And just as this was happening, the door opened and a blonde delinquent with a bag of food came in.

"Hey, wimp! It's break time and you still have to tutor me—"

"This guy looks like he's the son of Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh." Mo Aini joked about one of the designs.

"Hahahaha! That's really accurate, Jie-kun! You're so funny!" Shu Chuanli giggled loudly like a cute shou*.

Hu Chuntian was annoyed and approached their desk. "Hey, wimp! I've been calling you, didn't you hear?"

"Oh, annoying bastar—I mean, Da Ge. What are you doing here?" Mo Aini's mood soured when he saw him.

"It's already lunchtime. Come with me." Hu Chuntian just grabbed his arm and dragged him along.

Before going though, he gave Shu Chuanli a knife-sharp glare.

"Eeep!" Shu Chuanli trembled behind the many papers as he watched the two go.

"Shu Chuanli, here's your lunch!" Mo Jiagei came as the two left. "What's wrong?"

"Has..... Has Jie Taime always been that close to Hu Chuntian?" Shu Chuanli asked. "That delinquent suddenly grabbed him out of nowhere!"

"I don't know. Maybe?" Mo Jiagei couldn't care any less of that side character. She's pretty bummed out that the glitch caused her to be stuck with this mousey geek. "Here, I bought you your favorite mocha cake."

"Y-You didn't have to.... I could have bought it myself..." Shu Chuanli fiddled with his fingers.

Mo Jiagei sighed. "God, I wish I was I was the one grabbed by a delinquent. -__-"

--------

"Hey, ow! Da Ge, you're hurting me!" Mo Aini yelled as he was dragged to the library. "What's wrong with you!?"

"Why are you so close with that rat? Did he manage to seduce you like he did with Mo Jiagei?" Hu Chuntian pinned him on the wall.

(Seduce? What the hell would a timid cinnamon roll like Shu Chuanli know about seducing?) Mo Aini scowled. (And fucking let go of me! Why are you even acting so....)

Mo Aini realized this, and sneered. He asked coquettishly. "Are you jealous, Da Ge?"

"What?" Hu Chuntian blinked and Mo Aini took this opportunity to reverse the roles and turn themselves around so he would pin Hu Chuntian instead.

"Da Ge, you're acting really strange just now. Why would it bother you if I get along with Shu Chuanli?" Mo Aini smirked. He used his 1-centimeter height difference with Hu Chuntian to look high and mighty. "Does Da Ge like me after all?~"

"No! Get the hell out of my face!" Hu Chuntian took back his hands and pushed Mo Aini away. "I'm just annoyed with that rat because he's stealing everything from me! Your sister, and now you—"

"My sister? How did you figure out that Mo Jiagei is my sister? Also, how did you recognize me from this disguise when I refer to myself as Jie Taime during club activities?" Mi Aini knitted his eyebrows.

"I did my research on her. Apparently, she had a brother that she had been separated with and was studying in school. I put two and two together and realized you might be that brother." Hu Chuntian said. "Also, your disguise isn't even that good. I can recognize you anywhere in whatever clothing."

Mo Aini rubbed his chin. (Ah, so that's how he recognized me and my relationship with Mo Jiagei. I thought the system was malfunctioning and had a bug, because he shouldn't be able to recognize me if the game had restarted and I wasn't involved in the prologue.)

He then shrugged. "Ok, so I guess my secret is revealed then. Don't tell anyone, kay~ I trust you, Da Ge!"

"Yeah, yeah. Why are you even constantly hiding from your sister?"

"Personal reasons. It's another secret."

Hu Chuntian felt a sense of deja vu, like this conversation had happened before.

"Anyway, don't be mad anymore, Da Ge. Shu Chuanli is just a good friend. I only have eyes for you~" Mo Aini played his role as a simp really well. "How about we eat lunch then I will tutor you really good as a peace offering—"

"That's quite enough, you two!" The librarian approached them. "If you're not going to respect the other people who are quietly studying here instead of flirting, then move somewhere else besides the library!"

"Oh, we're so sorry, Ma'am!" Mo Aini bowed his head. "We'll be quiet from now on. My companion and I sincerely apologize!"

He gave a look to Hu Chuntian to do the same and bow his head. The librarian folded her arms and tapped he foot sternly.

Hu Chuntian scoffed. "Pfft, as if I'm going to bow to an old hag."

"What did you say!?"

"Da Ge!" Mo Aini elbowed him.

"What? This ugly grandma thinks she owns everything, my father is paying for my tuition to use this library so I can use it any way I want—"

Smoke rose from the librarian's ears. "OUT! GET OUT, YOU TWO! YOU ARE BANNED FROM EVEN STEPPING FOOT IN THIS LIBRARY!"

Mo Aini took that as his cue to get the fuck out before this sharp-tongued can say anything that will get them to even more trouble.

(This fucking brat really is so damn arrogant!)

"Great. Where do we study now, Da Ge? You should have just kept your cool with the librarian and didn't say those things." Mo Aini tried to maintain his lackey act, but he really wants to strangle Hu Chuntian right now.

"I do what I want and say what I want." Hu Chuntian took a packet of cigarettes with that tiger logo again from the plastic bag. "Anyway, we can always study in the cafeteria."

"But it's in public! It's better to study alone to avoid distractions and memorize more efficiently!" Mo Aini protested. (And to lessen the chances of rumors.)

"Fine." Hu Chuntian blew smoke on his face. "I know a place."

"Where?"

"The cherry blossom tree on the gardens."

------------------------------------------

Read The Mafia Boys' Contract Marriage which is joining WPC right now XD

I know it's shameless of me to advertise like this but I'm desperate :)))) Plus it'll be a pretty fun book, I guarantee you.

If you're a fan of mafia, criminal investigations and detective stories, please check it out and support it.

PS: It will also be a whole lot more spicier than any of my books so far cough cough How much spice? You'll see.