Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

The morning tea was served quickly.

Li Chen skillfully rinsed the bowls and chopsticks with boiling water, then placed the first crystal-clear shrimp dumpling into Yan Xi's bowl.

"Try it."

Yan Xi picked up a shrimp dumpling, took a bite, and the delicious broth burst in her mouth, the shrimp meat was bouncy and smooth.

"tasty."

"Then eat more."

Li Chen then placed another piece of soft and flavorful chicken foot on her plate.

The two ate breakfast quietly, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

After finishing our morning tea, it was almost 10 a.m.

"Where to next?" Li Chen asked, starting the car.

"I don't know." Yan Xi leaned back in her chair, looking at the street scene rushing past the window.

"Well..." Li Chen thought for a moment, "How about we try pottery?"

Yan Xi turned her head, somewhat surprised.

"Pottery?"

"Yes." Li Chen nodded. "I heard that a new pottery workshop opened in the suburbs, and the environment is quite nice."

"Go play in the mud and relax."

Yan Xi's major is architectural design, so she is no stranger to sculpting and handicrafts. Hearing this suggestion, she became quite interested.

"OK."

The car drove away from the bustling city center and headed towards the suburbs.

An hour later, they arrived at their destination.

The pottery workshop is nestled deep in a bamboo forest. It is a two-story building converted from an old factory, with a simple yet stylish design.

As you step into the workshop, a fresh, earthy scent wafts through the air.

Sunlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the various ceramic works on display, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.

There weren't many people in the workshop; couples sat in twos and threes in front of the pottery machines, chatting and laughing quietly.

A female teacher wearing a cotton apron came up to greet us.

"Are you two here to try pottery?"

"Yes." Li Chen nodded.

"Okay, please follow me."

The female teacher led them to an empty pottery machine, tied aprons on them, and then began to explain the production process.

"...Throwing the potter's wheel is the first and most crucial step in shaping the clay. It requires maintaining a stable center and applying even pressure with both hands..."

Yan Xi listened attentively, since it was somewhat related to her major.

Li Chen seemed somewhat absent-minded.

After the explanation, the female teacher placed a lump of kneaded clay in the center of the turntable.

"You two can begin now. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions."

Yan Xi glanced at Li Chen, a smile playing on her lips.

"Should you go first, or should I?"

"You go first, ladies first." Li Chen smiled and gestured for them to proceed.

Yan Xi didn't stand on ceremony. She sat down in front of the pottery machine, stepped on the pedal, and the turntable began to rotate slowly.

She took a deep breath, wet her hands, and began to throw the potter's wheel according to the method taught by her teacher.

Perhaps it was the talent of an architecture student; although her movements were clumsy, she quickly grasped the essentials, and the clay in her hands gradually took the shape of a cup.

"Not bad," Li Chen praised from the side.

Yan Xi raised her eyebrows smugly.

"That's natural."

It was Li Chen's turn.

He sat down, took a deep breath, and placed his hands on the clay.

However, as soon as the turntable moved, the clay in his hands, like a wild horse, instantly veered to one side and turned into an indescribable lump.

"Pfft." Yan Xi couldn't help but laugh.

"It seems our God of War isn't good at everything," she teased.

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Chen's face.

"It's my first time playing, I have no experience."

"I'll teach you."

Yan Xi walked behind him, bent down, and placed her hands on his, enveloping his hands along with the lump of failed clay.

Her body was almost pressed against his back, her warm breath brushing against his ear.

Li Chen's body froze instantly.

"Relax." Yan Xi's voice rang in his ear, carrying a hint of warmth. "Feel the earth swirling, follow its rhythm."

Her hand guided his, reshaping the lump of clay.

The mud was slippery, and their fingers kept touching and intertwining.

An ambiguous atmosphere silently spread between the two.

Li Chen's heart began to race, and he could even smell the faint scent of shampoo in Yan Xi's hair.

He had no interest in learning pottery anymore; all his attention was drawn to the soft body behind him and the warm breath beside his ear.

He even felt that the mud was a trap that Yan Xi had deliberately dug for him.

A sweet trap that he was willing to jump into.

Under Yan Xi's "meticulous guidance," a new prototype of a cup was finally formed.

"See, isn't this pretty simple?" Yan Xi straightened up, her tone carrying a hint of smugness.

Li Chen looked at the crooked cup and smiled.

"Yes, Your Majesty has taught us well."

Yan Xi gave a satisfied hum, returned to her seat, and began to refine her work.

Li Chen looked at her profile, and his smile deepened.

He placed his hands on the turntable again, and his expression changed instantly.

If he seemed like a clumsy beginner just now, his eyes are now focused and sharp, like an artist about to create something new.

He stepped on the pedal, and the turntable spun rapidly.

His hands were firmly placed on the center of the clay, making holes, pulling it up, shaping it...

The series of movements were as fast as lightning, yet incredibly precise.

What was originally just a lump of clay seemed to be given a soul in his hands, transforming at a speed visible to the naked eye into a beautifully shaped, smoothly flowing vase.

No, it's more than just a vase.

The bottle is slender with a mouth shaped like a blooming lotus flower. The bottle walls are as thin as cicada wings, and you can even see the glimmer of light on your fingertips in the sunlight.

The entire work, in terms of both craftsmanship and aesthetics, far surpasses the level of a beginner or even an ordinary enthusiast.

The female teacher standing nearby had already noticed the commotion. When she saw Li Chen's work, she was completely stunned, her mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

Yan Xi also stopped what she was doing, looking at Li Chen in disbelief, and then at the lotus vase in front of him that could be described as a work of art.

Her mind went blank.

This guy...

How many things are there that she doesn't know?

Li Chen finished the final touches and stopped the spinning wheel.

He looked up, met Yan Xi's shocked gaze, and gave her an innocent smile.

"Um... I think I'm getting into it."

"Getting the hang of it?"

Yan Xi's voice carried a hint of grinding her teeth.

She pointed to the perfectly shaped and exquisitely crafted lotus vase in front of Li Chen, and then pointed to the clay in front of her that could barely be identified as a cup.

"You call this... just getting into the swing of things?"

This is simply a case of overwhelming force.

She meticulously planned a "lesson" to enjoy his helpless embarrassment, but in the end, she herself became the clown.