It's all his fault for being an artist!

Chapter 1: Hope, Rebirth, Art

2013, Shanghai, first semester of senior year.

I am Cheng Wang.

Reborn!

Cheng Wang looked away from the easel and stared blankly at what was in front of him.

Within sight.

The air was filled with fine, dark carbon dust.

Watercolor paint was dripping all over the floor.

Just a moment ago, I was working myself to the bone creating a design proposal for the client.

It's almost midnight, and there's still no hope of getting off work.

As a result, when I opened and closed my eyes, I found myself back in my senior year of high school, before the first fork in the road that would affect my life.

He raised his hand in disbelief.

Clutching between his fingers was the familiar Marie's 14B pencil.

"Chengwang, there's still a week until the exam. Can't you be more serious? Do you want to just coast through life at some private, third-rate university?!"

Beside my ear.

The teacher's voice suddenly increased.

Cheng Wang hadn't responded yet.

The students in the art exam preparation class immediately burst into laughter.

"Teacher Wang, you don't understand. Cheng Wang is definitely performing a ritual to invite Xu Beihong to possess him."

"Didn't Xu Beihong paint shrimp?"

"That's Qi Baishi, for crying out loud! Are you even studying art?"

"Never mind that, just make sure Cheng Wang invites the gods."

"..."

The atmosphere during the exam preparation was oppressive, and these candidates were under constant tension. They rarely had the chance to speak, so they were bound to chatter amongst themselves.

The art teacher slammed her hand on the table.

"Shut up, all of you, and get back to your drawing!"

Upon hearing this...

Cheng Wang turned to look at the whiteboard and wrote today's date in bold strokes with a marker.

December 16, 2013, 7 days before the joint art exam.

The extra-large "7" is highlighted with a red marker.

His gaze lingered on the numbers, and his heart skipped a beat.

Are you kidding me?!

Not only do they have to relive the grueling days of the art exam, but the exam is only a few days away.

A disastrous start!?

In Cheng Wang's eyes, it was as if he saw himself from his past life.

The teacher's description of private third-tier colleges is somewhat exaggerated.

Although I am not outstanding among my classmates, my overall level is acceptable.

Despite practicing day and night before the exam, I still barely managed to get into a bottom-tier university.

The inexperienced, naive person I once was had no idea that the industry would become so outrageous.

Top-tier companies prefer to give opportunities to young people from privileged backgrounds.

Whether it's a mentor's introduction, the platform level provided by the school, or family support.

Even before entering the industry, the dividing line was already clear.

At the prime of my life, I failed to accumulate enough capital, and ultimately ended up working for an outsourcing company, wasting my years like most of my peers.

Performance declined year by year, but the number of people entering the industry increased year by year.

Even if the client makes a bizarre request like wanting a multicolored black.

I must also give it my all, otherwise I could be eliminated at any time.

day to day.

I went out as the sun rose.

Returning home under the moonlight.

Being over thirty and still working is something that might be envied by peers of similar age.

What about the facts?

If I'm reborn, will I have to face the same future again?

No, absolutely not!

Compared to the future decades that can be seen from the beginning, the hardships of art exams are nothing!

My thoughts are a jumbled mess.

Cheng Wang had no interest in staying in the classroom and finished the half-finished sketch he had left over from high school.

He stood up and looked at the teacher.

He was a bald, burly man named Wang Huiming, who always had a sullen expression.

I didn't get along with him much in high school in my previous life.

Many years later, looking back, Cheng Wang belatedly realized that he too had once shared his expectations.

"Old Wang, grant me leave. I'm going to the infirmary to rest for a while."

"Okay, after your color class this afternoon, remember to finish this sketch."

"Um."

No further explanation needed.

Cheng Wang turned and walked towards the door.

Behind him came Wang Huiming's complaints, which were a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"This little brat has no manners, calling everyone 'Old Wang'?"

However, Cheng Wang couldn't hear what he said after that.

Art students differ from regular test takers; they undergo intensive training in art studios before the joint entrance exam, spending long periods away from high school and taking extra classes outside of school.

The art studio is located in the far suburbs of Shanghai, but it is quite well-known in the city, so it has established its own campus.

After walking a few steps, Cheng Wang left the teaching building.

Fortunately, no teachers were taking leisurely walks, so he could wander around as he pleased.

In December in the South, the winter winds are cold and damp, penetrating through school uniforms and seeping deep into the bones.

The magnolia trees that used to line the streets are now just bare trunks.

Strolling along the campus paths, the cool air conditioning seemed to clear my mind.

Cheng Wang calmed down and carefully examined his second chance.

Ok……

good news:

As a reborn individual, I do indeed possess a unique information advantage, which is enough to pave the way to wealth.

bad news:

These information gaps seem to still be inseparable from art.

There's no way to rely on academic subjects.

My decision to become an art student in my first year of high school stemmed not only from some interesting opportunities, but also largely from my poor academic performance.

After much deliberation, a final conclusion has been reached.

It was art that made it, and art that broke it.

Aside from this skill, I don't seem to have any other areas of strength.

But from another perspective, aren't these two pieces of good news?

Cheng Wang found a bench and sat down, his brows gradually relaxing.

When it comes to drawing skills, I may not be as good as the truly talented masters in the industry, and I have rarely been exposed to paper-based hand-drawing since graduating from university.

but.

Compared to their peers who haven't yet undergone in-depth study and are still in the stage of preparing for the college entrance examination in art, it's no question that they are far ahead.

The art entrance exam consists of three main subjects: sketching, color, and quick sketching. The exam involves drawing from these three photographs.

For myself.

Three years of art exam preparation, an unforgettable experience.

Art exam questions are much easier to remember than academic exam papers.

Cheng Wang couldn't say how many of his shoes had been stained black by lead powder and then dyed colorful by watercolor.

Every night spent staying up eventually culminates in the day of the joint entrance exam.

I will probably never forget what those three photos look like.

Use a high score on the joint entrance exam as a safety net to ensure you get into a decent university.

Then, when others are taking exams for academic subjects...

While continuing to aim for a professional art academy, he also saved money based on the information he had gathered.

"As expected, all I know is art."

Cheng Wang patted his belly and laughed.

He's starting to show signs of abs.

This was because I was over 1.8 meters tall and weighed only 130 pounds when I was in my senior year of high school, which was the result of being too thin.

Even so, Cheng Wang still had to sincerely sigh that it was better than getting fat!

No need to overwork and gain weight, and no need to constantly worry about health problems.

After planning his next steps, he felt much better.

All worries vanished like a reborn, enormous stomach, and the year 2013 began afresh.

At this juncture, the era of explosive growth for the ACG industry is far from over.

The demand for art outsourcing surged in 2015;

The diversification of styles in 2016 led to the emergence of platform-based commissioned writing.

The launch of WeChat mini-games in 2017 reshaped the industry landscape;

Then, in 2020, the three-step approach of IP, overseas expansion, and high-quality production shifted the growth logic of the domestic ACG industry from "quantity" to "price," and the concept of domestic 3A games emerged, igniting the user market.

Now that you've been reborn, how can you not think about making money?

This vast blue ocean of opportunities was something I couldn't even afford to eat while it was still hot in my previous life.

In this life...

There is so much potential!

Eighteen years old, youth is wonderful!

Being reborn allows one to make up for the regrets of what one couldn't achieve and to forge a familiar yet completely different path.

With this in mind.

Cheng Wang is full of energy.

"Go back to the classroom first, and try out the joint entrance exam questions when you have time, to see what level I can still draw."

"Practice 3 sheets in 7 days. Even if you haven't touched them for a long time at work, as long as you still have the basic skills, you can definitely get a high score."

I am quite confident in my skills, at least in terms of foundation.

He interlocked his fingers and pushed them out backwards, making a crisp cracking sound from his bones.

The steps I took on my way back to the classroom were noticeably lighter than when I arrived.

My first small goal after being reborn.

Start with the college entrance exam and change your life!