The Night of Hunting Games

The next day's class of Drawing Studio took place at the school as scheduled. Most people were unaware of the fainting spell from the previous night, and some just thought they had a bad dream.

Winter sunlight streamed into the spacious, bright lecture hall like silk, warming the entire space. The rough wooden walls by the windows were covered with students' literary works and drawings, with rows of paper red flowers creating a warm New Year atmosphere.

At the front of the classroom, the blackboard bore several chalk notes. A short, middle-aged teacher with a tiny mustache and a gentle southern lilt, dressed in a plain gray uniform, stood ready to teach.

The school principal had built the podium himself from a few logs that matched his own height. In a similar spirit, today's art teacher wheeled in a wee 20cm stool, murmuring that perhaps tall chaps are too busy growing to put their brains to proper use.

As he carefully climbed onto the stool, a cheeky student stifled a laugh. The teacher, his mustache puffed in mild annoyance, caught sight of a few other teachers watching and pressed on with his lesson.

"Class, today we'll freely draw our hometowns. You might sketch a tree, a flower, or even imagine yourself floating in the air, capturing the village below..."

"Teacher, what if I want to draw my home as seen from space?"

The art teacher's mustache twitched involuntarily—another challenging student.

"Of course, you can! Imagine standing on a boundless beach, with each grain of sand representing a planet. This metaphor isn't exaggerated because the universe indeed has hundreds of billions of galaxies, each with hundreds of billions of stars. Around these stars, there could be countless planets like Earth. So, whatever you see, draw it!"

"Teacher, do you think aliens exist?" asked another mischievous student.

"Why not? Extraterrestrial life is as normal as the various plants in a forest. If there was only one tree in the forest, that would be unusual!" the teacher answered confidently.

"Then why can't I see aliens?"

"Well, it's like why worms in the soil rarely encounter eagles in the sky, and the Mariana lionfish at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean never meets worms."

"Teacher, are you saying we're just inexperienced kids from the mountains?"

"Hey, how can you still phrase that as a question?"

"Haha, indeed, for people living in District 19, we are the inexperienced country folks. And District 19 is also considered rural compared to the capital. And if Earthlings were to meet intelligent beings in the universe, we would be like inexperienced kids."

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Outside the classroom, nature was blossoming. Small, fresh buds swayed gently in the breeze, signaling the arrival of spring with their graceful movement.

A pretty oriole bird sat up high on a branch, its thin neck reaching out as it sang a song that perfectly matched the season. Its tune was made up of clear notes that floated through the air, adding a cheerful touch to the gentle spring breeze with its music.

In the classroom, a young boy was captivated by the swaying branches outside the window, dancing in the spring breeze, and the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Unconsciously, he leaned on his desk, squinting his eyes as if he were admiring a living oil painting.

Behind him, a pair of beautiful big eyes gazed at the boy, filled with deep affection and joy. To her, the branches were just branches, the sunlight merely a signal of the day beginning. Yet, the sight of the dreamy boy looking lazily out the window became a beautiful scene. The girl's hand moved nimbly across her drawing paper, sketching out the most beautiful image in her eyes. Her bright eyes unknowingly curved into shy crescent moons.

The girl, Brooke, was the pearl of the village—intelligent and graceful, gifted in art and dancing. Her parents hoped that she would one day leave the village, go to the big city to study, and become a true artist, rather than stay in this barren place.

The boy remained oblivious, still gazing out the window. The fresh scent of soil mixed with grass wafted to his nose, intoxicating him as his heart drifted out the window with the wind.

During this sensory experience, a soft touch on his arm brought him back to reality. The boy realized that the school principal was sitting next to him in class, which made him blush with embarrassment.

The principal was a strong, middle-aged man with a commanding presence. His glasses hinted at his wisdom. Unlike other teachers, he was physically strong, able to lift a heavy basket with ease.

Wrapped in a crisp linen robe, the principal stood as a beacon of simplicity and purity. To someone just passing by, he might seem like just another face in the village crowd, but to the locals, he was a legend. Despite his simple appearance, he earned deep respect—a quiet symbol of a lifetime spent helping others.

The principal's interests went beyond just literature; sometimes he delved into history and geography. With his wealth of travel experiences, he spun stories that captivated the children, inspiring dreams of distant lands beyond their simple village.

He leaned in towards the boy and asked in a gentle voice,"Alex, do you understand what he's saying?" He had memorized the names of every student in the school, a sign of his strong commitment.

His voice was kind and fatherly, expressing care and love with every word. In reply, the boy gave a slightly hesitant smile, confessing,"Mr. Zhang, I don't really get it, but I really want to explore other worlds."

The drawing class grew lively. Some students focused intently on their artwork, others glanced around, and a few whispered among themselves. Alex's drawing skills were painfully poor. He scratched his head in deep thought, then scanned the room, hoping for some inspiration.

He happened to glance back and saw the girl's drawing—his own profile captured vividly, a slight smile on his lips, exuding a bit of youthful charisma.

"You drew me?" Alex was a bit surprised.

"Your face has... a lot of stories in it." The girl blushed, hastily hiding her drawing paper, replying with embarrassment.

Alex recalled how he looked in her drawing. After a moment of silence, he bowed his head slightly."The master at the temple says that if I can let go of the 'self', I'll make some progress in my practice. But I look great in your drawing!"

The girl blinked, puzzled."But you are you. No matter how you see yourself, you truly exist there, don't you?"

At that moment, Alex's heart felt as if something lightly bumped against it.

Ring ring ring—

The dismissal bell rang at some point, breaking the quiet of the classroom.

"Class dismissed! This row stays to clean up and prepare for tonight's bonfire party!"

Just as Principal Zhang finished speaking, the classroom exploded with excitement. Cheers rose one after another, and the air seemed to dance with lively notes. Some students packed up their books, others closed their sketchpads, and some eagerly crowded by the windows, watching the sky gradually darken, anticipating the night's festivities.

"Brooke, come here for a moment!" After organizing the cleaning duties, Principal Zhang called Brooke to the doorway."Alex says you've been sneaking food during my classes and not paying attention. Is that true?"

Passing classmates overheard and left the classroom, covering their mouths to suppress giggles.

The girl turned back and gave a fierce glare at the boy sweeping the floor in the distance.

"Hey, that attitude isn't right!" Before Principal Zhang could finish his sentence, the girl lowered her head obediently, attentively listening to the teacher's lecture. It was just like her dad—nagging endlessly over trivial matters.

Finally, it was over. Before Principal Zhang could turn and leave, Brooke grabbed a broom, pouted, and stormed back into the classroom. sensing the danger, Alex, though puzzled, didn't hesitate to flee. He saw the girl charging toward him, eyes blazing, lips pursed, a clear"You're in big trouble!" written all over her face.

"Uh-oh!"

Thinking quickly, the boy dashed away at full speed.

One chased, the other fled—through corridors, across the playground—the shadows cast by the setting sun stretching their youthful figures. The girl's anger gradually melted into laughter as she ran, and although the boy was bewildered, a strange sweetness welled up in his heart.

The two of them, one after the other, sped through the campus like birds in flight, their laughter echoing throughout the entire school.

Principal Zhang stood in the corridor, still strolling leisurely. Watching the two young figures running into the distance, a smile curved at the corner of his mouth, his gaze tinged with a touch of nostalgia.

Ah, the days of youth are so beautiful—they make one wish to pause and linger for a moment...

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Outside the window, the icicles under the eaves quietly melted in the breeze, with water droplets falling, creating sounds like gentle piano notes. These sounds were like a prelude to spring for the long-silent earth.

The earth was awakening, and the tender green of early spring slowly spread along the fences and house corners, bringing life back bit by bit. The sky was clear and washed clean, with white clouds leisurely floating as if someone had casually painted them, making the entire blue sky look like a freshly finished painting.

The midday sun bathed the village in warm golden light. The children had just come home, but in the afternoon, they still needed to help their families turn the soil and plow the fields. However, this day was different from usual—by dinnertime, the children were not sitting around the table as usual. Instead, they were excitedly trying on colorful new clothes indoors, their eyes shining with excitement they could not hide.

The villagers busily gathered around the stove, cooking a feast. As they worked, they eagerly discussed the bonfire party that was going to be held at the school that night. It was the village's annual event, with laughter and songs lasting deep into the night.

As night fell, the moon hung diagonally above the willow branches. Alex, the young boy, could not hold back any longer and stepped out of the temple gate. The little monks in the temple leaned against the threshold, enviously watching his free silhouette.

"Hey, Alex, what's the hurry? The bonfire party won't start until midnight!" a senior monk called out from afar as he returned to the temple.

But Alex did not respond, nor did he turn around. He ran swiftly along the village dirt road like a gust of wind, kicking up dust with every step, as if he had endless energy.

That night, the village was bustling. People shed the tiredness of the past year, donned new clothes, and gathered around the bonfire with friends, neighbors, and children, singing and dancing. Parents spoke gently to their children, who eagerly displayed what they had learned over the year. The firelight danced, illuminating their smiling faces. Under the moonlight, everyone shared delicious food and the year's harvest.

The whispers of villagers and children lingered in the evening breeze.

"I'm getting a bit impatient now."

"Mom, the aroma is irresistible. Can't we have something delicious now?"

"Patience, dear; tonight is the night for feasting!"

"Hi, Dick, any guesses on who the belle of the ball will be tonight?"

"I have no clue, but I'll muster the courage to invite her to dance."

"With your charm, you wish!"

"Hahaha…"

The village was filled with joy and excitement as the time for the bonfire party approached.

At this moment, the girl Brooke stood by the window, gently putting away a landscape painting—Alex's favorite one. She knew that Alex didn't understand painting, but he would always quietly stand by her side while she painted, looking on attentively, as if the scenery in the painting could stir some kind of longing in his heart.

Her parents seemed to have noticed something and recently stopped allowing her to go up the hill to paint after school. They wanted her to attend a prestigious school in the city, rather than getting involved with the children from the temple.

"People who grow up in the temple can't have attachments. Their hearts belong to the ancient Buddha and the eternal light. They will never have a place to call home," her mother sighed softly.

"But he's not a monk, he's just..." Brooke wanted to argue but found that she couldn't accurately describe Alex's identity. He seemed to belong to the wilderness and also to the village, but ultimately... he didn't belong to any place.

At that moment, Jordan 's voice came from the courtyard gate.

"Brooke, let's go, it's time for the bonfire party."

Jordan, the grandson of the village elder, came from a wealthy family and had long admired Brooke. He gave her the best painting tools, the finest paper, and even promised that if she wished, he would accompany her to study at the largest school in the city.

"You love painting, and I'm willing to take you to a bigger world," Jordan said with a dreamy smile,"You shouldn't be confined to this small village."

At the door, Brooke's parents showed satisfied expressions and urged with smiles,"Alright, go to the party with Jordan . Come back early and be careful on the way!"

Brooke stood at the door, looking into the depths of the night, feeling a hint of hesitation. The firelight illuminated the path ahead, the crowd was noisy, and laughter filled the air.

Alex, will you come?

Brooke lifted her skirt and stepped out of her house...