The club activity room was unusually quiet; everyone watched the figure playing the violin by the window, immersed in the slightly melancholic and lingering music.
Those slender, fair fingers pressed down on the neck of the violin while the bow moved back and forth with the body, the music flowing finely until the distant sunset began to set and the world became gradually peaceful.
After she stopped playing, the girl opened her eyes, looked at the quiet crowd, and gently set the violin down on her shoulder, as if she didn't want to disturb everyone.
It took a while before people emerged from the lingering sound of the music, and then they clapped cheerfully.
"I didn't expect it to be so pleasant; even I was moved," several people at the scene commented. Although they weren't professionals, they felt the performance was far superior to common ones.
"Thank you," Tilan said, thanking them again and then looking for a topic to slowly shift everyone's attention.
After having dinner with everyone, Tilan finally parted ways with the group and returned to her residence.
In the following two days, Li Xun and his group visited several places and activities in the Academy, and then the accompanying designers started their work.
"We probably need to seclude ourselves for two days to create some initial drafts for Tilan to see, after which we will discuss the direction for refinements," they said.
After settling down in the Academy, Li Xun and his team of designers closed their doors and began an intense and passionate creation process, appearing to already have some ideas based on their confident demeanors.
Three days later, Li Xun once again invited Tilan for lunch, and then demonstrated several sets of clothing ideas and concepts.
"Since the activities of students in Edith Academy are mostly conducted around clubs, our designers also came up with a few sets based on the names and activities of these clubs," he said. Following this, the initial design sketches of several outfits appeared in the projection.
"First is the 'Purple Aroma Breeze', its color inspired by the purple of the Violette flowers cultivated by the Tikos Botanical Research Club. The main body of the clothing is based in pearl white #e3f9fd, matched with plum #815476 for sleeve edges, collar, and floral ornamentation. On the wide purple sleeve edges, white patterns outline the archway entrance of the Academy buildings, presenting a sense of cultural elegance, harmoniously integrated without being abrupt," she explained the design elements.
"Next is the 'Indigo Sword Cloak', its color taken from the short cloaks swung by the members of the 'Hat and Short Sword' club during sword practice. The main body of the clothing is also based in pearl white #e3f9fd, with indigo #003371 for the sleeve edges, collar, and flower decorations. On the wide sleeve edges, white patterns will outline the shape of the 'Tianfang Training Hall' building of the Academy. Compared to 'Purple Aroma Breeze', its floral ornamentation has sharper angles, creating an impactful and dynamic effect," she continued.
"The third set is 'Wandering in the Night', featuring colors derived from the black tablecloth of the 'Death Rose Club'. The main body is frost color #e9f1f6, matched with crow black #424c50 for sleeve edges, collar, and floral ornamentation. The wide black sleeve edges will be adorned with white patterns of skulls and roses, making this set more mysterious and deathly charming compared to the others," she said.
"The fourth set is 'Twilight Melody', inspired by the afterglow of the sunset outside the windows of the 'Twilight Orchestra' club. The main body is in moon white #fffbf0, accompanied by khaki #d3b17d for sleeve edges, collar, and floral ornamentation. The wide sleeve edges will feature white patterns of violins and ancient runes. This outfit has an inherent, unassuming beauty––expressing the elegance of the violin and the profound knowledge of the mysterious runes," she finished.
"The fifth set is called 'Blazing Red Fingertips', with colors derived from the 'Huashan Opera' club's members' lipsticks. The main body of the dress is based on light pink #fcefe8, complemented by fiery red #ff2d51 on the cuffs, collar, and decorative flowers. The flame-like cuffs will feature patterns of blazing flowers, resembling fresh flowers burning in flames, presenting a kind of stunning beauty that takes one's breath away."
"These are the initial five sets of clothing. If Tilan and the Academy think they are suitable, then we can move on to the next step of refinement," Li Xun sent the initial drafts of the clothes to Tilan.
"These... they all feel quite nice," the girl said, lightly blinking her eyes as she looked at the drawings of the sets of clothes displayed on her personal terminal.
As expected of the renowned brand 'Gothic Doll', a hot favorite among young girls, it didn't take long to find elements that highlight its distinct features.
After finishing lunch, Tilan shared these clothing templates with her student council peers for discussion. After some selection and deliberation, they felt that it was necessary to incorporate cultural elements from within the Academy as much as possible. Therefore, for the sleeve patterns of the last three sets of clothes, they should, like the first two sets, use the contours of the main Academy buildings. Then, they would add embellishments such as tiny skulls, violin bows, flames, and other elements in the details.
In the following two days, a team of designers and members from the Academy discussed and communicated with each other, deciding to feature 'Snow Ocean Hall', 'Grille Tower', and 'Layered Curtain Theater' as the pattern elements complementing the three Academy buildings.
"Next is the refinement stage. We also need to start preparing to shoot a PV that will showcase the unique characteristics of each set of clothes," Li Xun said, raising a finger.
"In fact, we already have plenty of mature ideas for this, and that is to let the corresponding club members wear these styles, then portraying scenes from their activities, accompanied by music and some commentary."
"However, selecting the right people for the shoot is quite important. This time we're doing a shoot that's themed around a collaboration with Edith Academy, so I'm thinking it'd be best if Edith Academy students were to wear them. Especially by displaying the name of the student and their club in the corner of the video, it makes things more authentic and engaging," he explained.
"That does sound good..." Tilan nodded slightly, but she quickly began to think of some issues—who would they choose to be the models? She had a bad feeling about this.
"Mm-hm, you agree as well, right, Tilan? Actually, you have a very suitable temperament. I'd even say you're the most fitting student for this task that I've seen in the Academy," said Li Xun, giving her a thumbs up.
Uh, you didn't meet many students in the Academy anyway, I've just been with you these days so of course you'd remember me, the girl silently grumbled in her heart.
"Be a model? But I don't have any experience," the girl thought, trying to find a way out.
"No problem at all, just be yourself as usual, you don't need any experience or acting!" Li Xun got excited when Tilan didn't immediately reject the idea.
"Uh, okay," the girl nodded helplessly. It looked like there was no escaping it. She had a feeling that the president of Amors had this in mind from the beginning, and she had been once again tricked by that sly fox.
"However, I'd like to be involved in the production of the script for the video. That way, I can make some adjustments based on my own characteristics and those of the club." Even though she couldn't avoid performing and modeling, Tilan was not without recourse.