Surprise, returning the Art Book.

On the next day early in the morning, a silhouette walked carefully in the corridor wearing a bag. Black hair, thin lips, small nose, skinny body; any freshman of the school knew this was the new student in the school.

Ning Rongbing wasn't sure of how the students would treat him but that wasn't his worry. He was worried about Xiao Li because he could clearly tell that this art book means a lot to her.

He looked for her where they met yesterday. In the classroom. Unable to find her in the classroom Ning Rongbing was a little confused about where to search for her. He clearly knew he couldn't rely on the other children to find her; wouldn't be a fool if he was to ask their aid.

After searching for a few more places he felt dejected. Unexpectedly there wasn't any sign of this girl.

The morning passed but Ning Rongbing felt his head hurt. He has never experienced such pain. He went to the classroom, library, drill ground, and even to her dorm but unexpectedly he couldn't even find her shadow.

Depressed he walked towards his dorm. His face wasn't clear as before but dull. His always expressionless eyes unexpectedly emitted a wave of unbearable pain. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. He was not even a good friend of hers. They just met yesterday and right now he was very depressed that he couldn't find her. Maybe it should be because of guilt, right?

He pondered every possible reason. Yes, he felt guilty for what happened to her. He couldn't even save a painting how was he going to protect his mother?

To tell the truth, when his classmates poured ink on the painting he could even feel the urge to stand for her but he was scared of what will happen if he stood for her. He even blamed himself 'if only he has stood for her would they have done something like that?'

Anyway, it is useless because he couldn't find her...

Depressed he came to his dorm but when he neared the dorm he was stupified for his foolish actions. The person he was searching for the whole day; Xiao Li was unexpectedly standing before his room.

Realization hit him hard. Yes, since the art book was very important to her how could she not get it back? He has foolishly wasted his and her time the whole day not knowing she was actually waiting for him.

Facepalming inwardly Ning Rongbing walked towards the little girl standing before his room.

"Bingbing, how are you?"

Xiao Li also saw him and waved at him but he could tell that her wave and smile might be true but her eyes also emitted an anxious light.

He really wanted to ask her for calling him a weird name. Not even his mother would call him that. Since he knew why she was here he didn't make a fuss out of it.

"Eh, Xiao Li. How come you are here?" Ning Rongbing put on an act like he was surprised.

"Of course, you are my friend. Aren't you?" she answered with a smile. Her body was unexpectedly shivering slightly but her face had a grand smile on it.

They started to talk but Ning Rongbing was a little confused that she didn't ask for the art book. Confused he carefully observed her and realized the reason.

She was hesitating to ask for the art book. Is she thinking that I wouldn't return her art book?

Thinking of this he called at her:

"Xiao Li, sorry for what happened yesterday. I really didn't know such a thing would happen." Ning Rongbing apologized to her sincerely.

"That's fine Bingbing. They were just having fun. Um, I couldn't find my artbook... did you see who took it?" she spoke very casually. The last sentence was very quiet and the last words were left unheard.

Ning Rongbing cursed internally. Having fun?... This girl really wasn't confident but he could tell that she clearly knew the art book was with him.

Taking it out from the bag Ning Rongrong gave it back to her with a smile and ask her to check it out.

Surprised she looked at this new guy for a moment and collected her artbook starting to go through her painting. When she reached the eighth painting she started to hesitate. The ink should have stained many pages at least a bit but there weren't any stains on any of the pages does this book really wasn't stained with ink?

Yesterday when the classmates poured some ink on it she thought it should become a collection of black stained paper at the end but being distracted none of them saw Ning Rongbing wiping the art book clean.

The next page was the page where the ruined painting was present. However, after a full minute, she turned the page.

Her eyes opened wide seeing at the page. She stared blankly for many minutes at the painting. She clearly knew this painting was ruined but how could it turn like this? Just pouring the ink on it makes it like this?

She raised her head to look at Ning Rongbing standing before her with a slight smile on his face. Her eye rims started to become red and her lips were pursed.

"Sorry, I tried to alter it but I think I have ruined it." He apologized to her.

How could he have thought this would be a moment where these both will form an inseparable bond between them? Before even he could realize anything Xiao Li spread her arms and buried her face in his chest. Tightly hugging him her body started to shiver uncontrollably.

Startled for a moment Ning Rongbing realized things shouldn't have gone wrong but why was she crying? After a few minutes, she moved away and stood a few feet next to him looking at the ground.

Even though he understood her, this kind of thing was still new to him. His mother crying in pain was the only thing he have ever seen a person crying and whenever that happen he would feel his heart hurt but when he saw Xiao Li cry he felt relieved.

He really couldn't understand until her voice broke the silence,

"Thank you, Bingbing"

Bingbing? Am I your pet? Ning Rongbing felt stupefied but still didn't dare provoke her. Smiling at her:

"Didn't you say we are friends? Friends should always help each other."

"Friends?" She mumbled and again looked at the painting in her hand.

It wasn't the same painting but it was also the same painting.

The real painting depicts a view at midday but the painting in her hand depicts the same view at midnight. The black ink has unexpectedly become even darker but the whole painting looked even more beautiful.

The real painting had the sun and clouds in the sky whereas the new painting had the moon and stars replacing them. The moon was shining brightly as if it was smiling at her and she could feel the stars twinkling brilliantly. She couldn't understand how could a person paint such a beautiful painting.

The most shocking part to her was the place in the painting. It was the same place. The same street. The same road. She remembered every detail of this painting and only god knew how Ning Rongbing bought back every detail she remembered.

She couldn't even find anything missing. Nor could she find anything added other than the moon and the stars. she really couldn't make a head or tail out of it.

The painting was marvelous and she couldn't help but stupidly stare at it. Even though she has painted and has seen many paintings this was the first time she witnessed such a beautiful painting.