Chapter 284: The Start of School [12/122]
In early April.
The coastal temperatures were showing signs of warming up, with daily highs hovering around twenty degrees and lows around fifteen or sixteen.
Lin Nan had to pack her winter coat into her suitcase; despite the weather not bothering her at all, she didn’t want to attract strange stares from others.
Wu Guodong had already started his job a month ago. Lin Nan had originally planned to hitch a ride with him to school, but now she was resigned to taking the b*llet train like an honest student.
Liu Xinyi had also gone back to finish her senior year of high school two weeks ago, crying and hugging Lin Nan tightly as if she were never going to let go.
Thanks to the country’s swift response during the initial outbreak, the domestic pandemic had been pretty much over by early March, with most regions classified as low-risk. Unfortunately, things took a turn when cases surged overseas, leaving Lin Nan’s uncle unable to return.
Lin Nan and her mother met up with Chen Yao at the train station.
Her mother brought some paperwork to discuss changing her gender with the school, thus making the trip necessary.
A few hours later, Lin Nan led the two to her off-campus rental apartment.
She had already paid the rent via WeChat, and fortunately, the landlord was reasonable. Even though they hadn’t signed a contract, he didn’t mind as long as the money was in hand. He just mentioned he would come by on the weekend to sign the contract when he had time.
“This place is pretty spacious,” her mother remarked as she stepped inside and cheerfully grabbed a mop, ready to help Lin Nan clean.
“Mom, you can leave that for now. Let’s sort out the paperwork at school first—I might not even be staying here,” Lin Nan said with a wry smile, stopping her mother.
Chen Yao placed two black-and-white cats on the floor and set Lin Nan’s suitcase in the corner.
“Are you two living together?” her mother asked curiously.
“Nope, it’s just me. The school is strict and generally doesn’t allow students to live off-campus unless it’s an internship,” Lin Nan replied, heading into the bedroom to yank off the dust-covered sheets.
She had thought the winter break would be just over twenty days, so she hadn’t bothered to tidy up. Little did she know, the break turned into months.
No matter how she washed the sheets, they wouldn’t be usable tonight. Lin Nan had no choice but to crumple them up and prepare to throw them out for a new set.
“Today is the reporting day for school. I need to swing by the boys’ dorm,” Lin Nan looked up at her mother who had followed her into the bedroom, “How about I take you to meet the counselor? Then Chen Yao and I will head to the dorm.”
“Sure.”
As her mother surveyed the rental apartment, it seemed a little cramped for a one-bedroom layout, but everything was neatly arranged. Although Lin Nan usually came off as timid and introverted in front of her, her self-care and independence were likely among the highest for her age group.
After all, her mother hadn’t really been involved in Lin Nan’s life for the past decade and more.
The guilt her mother felt hadn’t faded, and seeing Lin Nan being understanding and independent only made it worse.
“Let’s go.”
After opening the windows for ventilation, Lin Nan tightened her mask and led the way out of the apartment.
This was her mother’s first visit to her school.
Not just university; she had never even been to any of Lin Nan’s previous schools. From a young age, every time school started, Lin Nan would go alone. Even when trouble arose, and the teachers called her parents, her mother always used work as an excuse.
Her mother curiously took in the vast campus as Lin Nan and Chen Yao walked ahead of her. They kept a little distance, but it was obvious to anyone that they were a couple.
Oh, and let’s not forget, they had to go through a temperature check to enter the school.
After dropping her mother off at Zheng Qian’s office, the two headed toward the boys’ dormitory.
“I should really change into some guys’ clothes…” Lin Nan mumbled, avoiding the gazes of other students as she awkwardly tugged at her ladies’ white jacket.
She wore low-rise jeans that, although covered her curves, still felt too feminine. Facing classmates and acquaintances in this outfit was making Lin Nan anxious.
“They’ll have to find out eventually,” Chen Yao reassured, trying to calm her down with a steady voice.
Lin Nan was nervous, but so was he.
After all, in everyone’s eyes, he was the weirdo crushing on his roommate.
Plus, while Lin Nan was just here for a brief appearance before heading to live off-campus, he was going to be living on campus—awkward much?
As he silently hyped himself up to handle all the ribbing that he’d be getting from dudes about his “like” for Lin Nan, he was pumping himself up with mantras in his mind.
It’s okay to be a weirdo!
Absolutely fine!
What’s wrong with liking someone pretty regardless of gender?
I freaking like Lin Nan!
—That last part wasn’t a mantra; it was just a fact.
When they reached the familiar entrance to the boys’ dorm, Lin Nan hesitated for a moment.
She glanced at the old dorm manager sitting outside smoking, hesitated, and quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze.
Even though girls were technically allowed to visit on the first day of reporting, she still felt guilty.
Fortunately, the old guy just gave her a quick glance. Maybe he was having trouble seeing, or maybe Lin Nan had changed so much that he didn’t recognize her. Either way, she managed to slip by.
But then there were her roommates and all the other male students…
Lin Nan walked sheepishly behind Chen Yao, unsure how she would face her classmates.
“Just be honest about it,” Chen Yao saw right through her worries, “If your grandfather can accept it, there’s no reason Tu Tu and Xiong Da can’t.”
“Well, you’ve got a point…”
Following Chen Yao up the stairs, Lin Nan still felt her face flush.
Students passing by gave her curious glances, probably wondering if she was one of those girls sneaking a peek during reporting.
She hated being the center of attention. Although she was used to her girl clothes, the stares made her feel like they could see right through her—seeing that she had once been a boy.
Since the pandemic, wherever she went had been relatively empty, allowing her to toughen up and wear girl clothes in public.
She thought she had gotten used to it.
Pinching the metal strip of her mask, she followed Chen Yao to the dorm entrance.
Her feet felt as if they were glued to the floor, anxiety bubbling up, and she couldn’t bring herself to enter.
Chen Yao was the first to pull the suitcase into the room, glancing at the messy state of the dorm, and greeted, “Junhui, you’ve gained weight again!”
“Xiong Da, how dare you come to the dorm and wash your wife again?!”
Xiong Da, cleaning a figure on the balcony with a damp tissue, couldn’t be bothered to reply.
Tu Junhui, who had already unpacked his stuff and was now engrossed in his computer, looked up from the door. He exclaimed enthusiastically, “Whoa! Long time no see! Come here for a hug!”
“Get lost!” Despite the mocking, Chen Yao still gave Tu Junhui a quick hug.
But Tu Junhui’s eyes landed on Lin Nan standing at the doorway.
He paused, “Is this your girlfriend?”
“Yup.” Chen Yao nodded confidently.
“Little sister, come in! What are you doing standing at the door?” Tu Junhui was overly enthusiastic.
“Call me sister-in-law!” Chen Yao took off his mask and plopped down into a chair that was covered in dust.
Lin Nan stood at the door, feeling awkward in the face of Tu Junhui’s over-eager welcome, unsure of what to do.
