Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Stepping Over the Line

“But the bitter truth remains that he was actually the runner-up who came in second place, his scores were sitting right behind yours.” Kian Foster remarked, his voice tinged with a reluctant respect for the other man’s academic performance.

It was truly difficult to believe. Indeed, it was entirely unexpected that someone with such a garish and bizarre exterior could possess such a high level of technical proficiency. Julian Sterling reflected on the old adage that one should never judge a person’s capabilities based on a distorted outward appearance, yet he found it hard to be objective. The visual assault currently standing in the back of the room was simply too much to ignore, it was a grievous offense against the basic aesthetic standards of any trained artist and a direct insult to the very principles of fine art.

“So, to summarize, the reason he is so resentful and uncomfortable around me is simply because I accidentally usurped his position as the top-ranked student?” Julian Sterling asked, seeking to clarify the root of the hostility.

“In a nutshell, yes, that is precisely it.” Kian Foster replied with a nod: “Though, if I had to guess a secondary reason, it would probably be because you happen to be significantly more beautiful than he is”.

“Well, that is certainly a flattering sentiment. I appreciate the compliment.” Julian Sterling replied with a faint, amused smile: “However, when you are complimenting a man’s appearance, you really ought to use the word “handsome” instead. Using just “beautiful” sounds a bit peculiar, don’t you think?”.

Once Julian Sterling had finished his lighthearted retort, he promptly pushed the matter to the back of his mind. He was not the type to dwell on the petty emotions of others. After all, the irrational jealousy of a stranger had absolutely no bearing on his own life or his goals. He was here to study and master his craft, not to engage in a popularity contest with a neon-clad classmate.

Time flowed steadily onward, and before long, the bell chimed to signal the conclusion of the lecture. The professor began to gather their teaching materials and lecture notes before stepping out of the room, prompting the students to begin their own departures. Julian Sterling also started the process of slowly and methodically organizing his various tools and equipment. Because he was enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, his daily studies required the constant use of modern electronic devices and professional tablets specifically designed for digital drawing. Consequently, his desk was currently cluttered with a variety of specialized items.

Sitting at the center of his workspace was a laptop from a mid-range, standard brand. This was a device Julian Sterling had set up specifically for his academic pursuits, the data stored on it was entirely separate and held no connection to the expensive, high-performance computer he used for his professional work back at home. Resting right beside it was a professional-grade drawing tablet, a high-sensitivity stylus pen, his personal smartphone, and a scattered array of various sketch papers covered in rough drafts.

As Julian Sterling focused his attention on packing his gear, remaining blissfully unaware of the movements around him, the vibrant “neon chameleon”, the young master Vince Sutton, approached with a dark and brooding expression. He strode forward with purpose, his steps heavy with intent. As he passed by, Vince Sutton deliberately swung his arm and slammed his shoulder into Julian Sterling with a sudden, violent force. The unexpected collision was so jarring that Julian Sterling lost his grip on the electronic devices he was holding. They were knocked from his hands and sent tumbling toward the hard, unforgiving floor.

In this life, the body of Julian Sterling did not possess the towering height of over 180 centimeters that he had enjoyed in his previous existence. Nevertheless, compared to the general average, he was still considered to be quite tall. A free-fall from the height of his waist was more than enough to generate a significant impact, one that could easily damage the delicate internal components of high-precision electronic equipment.

The professional drawing tablet hit the floor with a dry, sickening thud that echoed through the quiet classroom.

“Oh dear, my hand slipped. My apologies.” Vince Sutton said, his voice ringing out with a shrill, grating tone. There was not a single trace of sincerity or remorse in his words, instead, they were dripping with a thinly veiled mockery: “But really, you were the one standing there, taking up so much space and blocking our wide path”.

Stunned by the suddenness of the act, Julian Sterling had not yet had the chance to bend down and retrieve his belongings. He frowned deeply, turning his head to see Vince Sutton standing directly in front of him, arms crossed over his chest and chin tilted upward in an arrogant, mocking stance. In terms of physical stature, Vince Sutton was roughly the same height as Julian Sterling, and upon closer inspection of their shoulders, he was actually a few centimeters shorter than Julian. Directly behind him stood a small crowd of followers, a line of sycophants who trailed after him like a dragon’s tail, their flattering expressions making it clear they were the latest underlings he had recruited to his cause.

Julian Sterling took a steady breath, choosing to suppress his irritation. He decided that it was not worth starting a scene on his very first day, and so he remained silent as he knelt down to reach for his expensive drawing tablet. Because he preferred the authentic feel of the screen under his stylus, he had chosen not to apply a screen protector or a rugged case to the device. As the delicate glass screen had landed face-down on the hard floor, he was genuinely concerned that the impact might have shattered the display or caused significant internal damage.

At the exact moment when the tips of his fingers were about to brush against the cold, metallic back of the tablet, a sudden movement occurred. A pair of polished, high-end designer leather shoes suddenly reached out from nowhere and stepped down with a crushing, violent force onto the device. Had Julian Sterling’s reflexes not been exceptionally sharp, allowing him to pull his hand back in the nick of time, the hard soles of those shoes would have surely ground his fingers straight into the floor.

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