Today was the first day of school...

After yesterday’s incident, I tossed and turned all night without sleep, studying these little Spider Spikes. I didn’t need a mirror to know how huge my dark circles were. With my naturally dull, lifeless eyes plus these massive bags, damn, I really didn’t want to go anywhere crowded.

“Huh, this damn thing can retract on its own.” I finally had to admit these Spider Spikes grew from my body—they were truly part of me. When they got hurt, I felt pain. Whatever I wanted them to stab, they actually stabbed it.

I could make them retract by willing it, but it was slow—about fifteen minutes.

Thinking carefully, though that woman tortured me all night, I woke up with no physical injuries. Mentally, though, I’d carry scars for life.

The next day, my body felt off. I couldn’t get full no matter how much I ate, and I’d grown Spider Spikes like that woman’s. So it wasn’t a dream—it was real. Xiaowu had blown a hole in my head before I passed out. She must have done something to turn me like this.

Heh, looking on the bright side: sure, I suffered mental trauma, but my blown-apart body healed anyway. Strictly speaking, the only real change was these extra Spider Spikes—and since they retracted, it wasn’t a big deal.

Right now, my biggest problems were constant hunger and these dark circles ruining my looks.

“I’m speechless. With my dead-fish eyes and these bags, I look like a psycho killer. Heaven help me—today’s the first day of school! First impressions matter so much for girls,” I yelled at the mirror.

“Damn, no time left.” I grabbed my stuff and headed out.

“Shit, almost forgot to retract these damn things!” Just as I reached for the door, a weird chill on my back made me look—and I nearly pissed myself.

I sat back on the bed and focused for fifteen minutes to shrink the spikes.

Being late on the very first day? Total tragedy.

Dongchuan Guang Art Academy was a branch of Dongchuan Guang University, housed in its own building on campus. It catered exclusively to art students because their teaching methods differed wildly from other departments. With high market demand for art, advertising, gaming, and anime design, many top schools had independent art academies like this.

Today was Dongchuan Guang University’s opening day. Parents flooded the campus, dropping off kids amid luxury cars. The university wasn’t nationally ranked number one, but in Dongchuan Guang City, it was undisputedly top-tier.

Despite the crowds of parents and fancy cars, no students were wandering around.

It was the first day—everyone should be in their department meetings. Freshmen attended orientations while seniors watched them.

“Ahhh! Where’s the Art Building?!” But exceptions existed. One dull-eyed guy—clearly a freshman—was sprinting across campus like a madman.

“Oh, this building’s style screams ‘art’.” Its walls were covered in chaotic graffiti. That was art. Or something. No time to explain—I was already super late.

“Where’s Meeting Room 102?” After circling the first floor, I finally spotted Room 102 next to the restroom.

“Seriously? Meetings next to toilets?” I muttered, stepping inside—only to freeze.

The classroom was massive. Huge. Big enough for all 300+ art students. Every major was packed in.

On stage, a balding old man claiming to be the art department head ranted about how lucrative the industry was, how we’d chosen wisely while other majors were trash. I bet every department gave the same speech.

But the 300+ freshmen seemed utterly uninterested. Some spaced out; others sneakily scrolled phones. Then a panda-like man burst in, interrupting the speech. Every head snapped toward him—they clearly found him more interesting.

“Hmm? A freshman? You’re late. Find a seat,” a teacher at the door told me.

“Okay.” I kept my head down, enduring 300 pairs of eyes as I shuffled to a back seat. Mortifying.

Just as I sat and pulled out my phone, the bald department head announced:

“That’s all for today’s meeting. Follow your class advisors to your assigned classrooms for further instructions.”

Everyone shot up to leave. I stayed frozen. I noticed nearby girls glancing at me and smiling slightly.

Damn, I almost threw my phone right there.

“Game design majors, follow me!”

“Advertising design class, this way!”

“Anime class, over here!”

“Art education, with me!”

“Interior design, this side!”

I’d applied for anime class but took “willing to be reassigned” as backup. They stuck me in advertising design. Glancing at the all-male anime class—full of convention-style otakus—I was relieved I hadn’t ended up there.

Following our chubby senior guide, I observed my new classmates. Unlike the all-guy anime class, advertising had about ten guys and over twenty girls. Well, that’s good news.

But most already knew each other. That was the downside of living off-campus alone—making friends was harder.

We reached our classroom. A female teacher waited inside.

“Sit wherever,” the chubby senior said.

I picked a back seat.

“Hello everyone, I’m your homeroom teacher, Bei Ying. This is Dapang, your senior from the same major. Ask me or him anything. Now, let’s discuss our program…” She launched into the same boring stuff I’d heard for over a decade.

“Hey, bro—I saw you late to the first meeting. Bold move,” the chubby guy in front of me turned and whispered.

“Nervous about school. Couldn’t sleep.” I made up an excuse.

“Looks like it,” he nodded, buying it.

Couldn’t sleep and still late? Usually people oversleep. What a gullible dude—I mentally facepalmed.

“I’m Li Xiaobai. And you?”

“Oh, right—forgot to introduce myself. I’m Lin Xiaopang.”

“And that big guy up there?” I asked.

“My brother.”

One named “Big Pang,” one “Little Pang.” Your parents really phoned it in with names.

“Xiaobai, are you living off-campus? I’ve seen all twelve guys in our three dorms—never met you.”

“Yeah. I rent a room near campus.”

“Got it. I’m in Dorm 8, Room 712—I’m the dorm head. Come hang out sometime; I’ll introduce my roommates.” He tugged the guy beside him.

“Hi, I’m Zhao Jianwen. Nice to meet you.” The guy had gentle, handsome features—the classic warm guy type.

“Hey, hey.” I shook his hand.

“Hello, I’m Qin Hui.” The long-haired guy on Xiaopang’s other side spoke. He radiated artist vibes, down to his clothes.

“Hey, hey.”

“One guy’s absent today. I’ll introduce him later,” Xiaopang added.

“Sure thing.”

“Xiaobai, take me to your apartment sometime.”

“Hey, fatty—don’t call me Xiaobai.”

“Huh? Xiaobai, don’t call me fatty.”

“The boys in the back—quiet down,” Teacher Bei Ying called out.

“Class dismissed. You can explore the Art Building, but return when the bell rings—we’ll elect class officers.”

Class monitor? That just meant free labor—the teacher’s lackey.

Hmm… I hadn’t slept all yesterday. I’d nap on the desk first. Just as I laid my head down, the classroom buzzed with new arrivals. Whatever. Not my problem.

Someone tapped my desk.

“Hey, junior—can we chat outside?” A girl’s voice sounded beside me.