294. Classmate’s Confusion
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The second semester of sophomore year had slightly fewer classes than the first semester.
At least there were no classes on Monday afternoons.
So, after the morning classes ended, Big Dog followed a few roommates back to the dormitory, plopped down in front of the computer, and got ready to crash into platinum rank this afternoon.
“Big Dog, what’s for lunch?”
Lin Yuan strolled over with his phone, adopting his usual icy demeanor as he leaned against the climbing frame. Before Big Dog could answer, he asked, “Did Lin Nan come to class today?”
“She did.” The moment Lin Nan’s name came up, the image of that feminine figure popped into Big Dog’s mind.
Not to mention that crisp voice, those adorably alluring big eyes, and the slight rise and fall of her chest.
He scratched his head, feeling like his classmate was starting to get a bit weirder.
“If she was here, why did Chen Yao still call her name?” Lin Yuan casually ordered lunch and placed his phone on Big Dog’s desk. “It’s a thirty for five off deal; you might as well order something.”
“Alright.”
Big Dog selected a set meal, handed the phone back to Lin Yuan, and headed over to the neighboring dorm.
In the adjacent dorm, only Chen Yao was sorting through his textbooks. He glanced at Lin Nan’s bed, only to find it completely empty—not even a bamboo mat left behind.
“Why isn’t Lin Nan staying in the dorm?”
Actually, Lin Nan had stopped living in the dorm at the end of the last semester, and Big Dog initially thought it was just a temporary thing. Little did he expect she had no plans to stay on campus this semester either.
“She’s got a bit of a special situation.” Chen Yao finally sorted the books into two piles, picked up one stack, and turned to Big Dog. “What? Looking for her to play games for you? Just find her online.”
Big Dog scratched his head. “What about Junhui?”
“He went to eat at the back gate with Xiong Da. Seems like he’s avoiding Lin Nan.”
As Chen Yao left the dorm with his books, he noticed Big Dog trailing behind him as if glued to his back.
He wasn’t sure what was going on with this guy today, so he stopped and looked at Big Dog helplessly.
After considering his words, Big Dog leaned in like a curious child and whispered, “Don’t you think Lin Nan’s getting weirder?”
Although Lin Nan changed a lot last semester, Big Dog still saw her every day. Back then, he just thought she was becoming a pretty boy, but after months of winter break, he realized that this “pretty boy” was starting to look a bit too feminine.
“Her voice today sounded just like a girl’s.” He felt guilty about badmouthing her behind her back, glanced around to ensure no one was in the hallway, and continued, “And she looks exactly like a girl!”
“That’s why she’s not living in the dorm anymore.”
Chen Yao was sure students would notice Lin Nan’s changes. Their relationships with her weren’t that close to begin with. Even if they suspected something, they’d probably only discuss it privately, but it was only Big Dog who had the gall to directly ask him about it.
Still, it was clear that Big Dog really cared about Lin Nan—or maybe he was just concerned about whether she could still help him rank up?
“She can’t really be a girl, can she?” Big Dog’s mouth twitched, not quite believing it.
Chen Yao paused, not sure if he should spill the beans, and just waved his hand ambiguously. “I have things to do, see you later.”
He adjusted his mask that had been hanging off his chin. After wearing it for months, Chen Yao had grown used to the muffled sensation of breathing through it.
He walked away hurriedly, leaving Big Dog in confusion.
As Chen Yao exited the dorm building, he spotted Lin Nan, her face flushed as she prepared to leave, being stopped by the dorm manager.
“Nan Nan!”
Even from a distance, Chen Yao couldn’t clearly see the masked face, but in the whole school, Lin Nan was the only girl dressed in boys’ clothes. Plus, with her somewhat messy short hair and slender frame, he recognized her at a glance.
He jogged over and, upon seeing her red ears, couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s up? Stopped by the old man?”
“That guy is out to get me!” Lin Nan fumed. “Last semester, he wouldn’t quit, always telling Zheng Qian that I’m a girl living in the boys’ dorm! It’s so embarrassing!”
“Hey, he’s just being responsible.” Chen Yao chuckled. “I can help you bring your books to the rental apartment. We can grab a bite together at the back gate later?”
“Fine.” Lin Nan still looked quite unhappy.
Last time she was stopped, she thought about pulling down her pants to show the old man who was more “blessed,” but now…
Not to mention that with her increasingly feminine mindset, there was no way she could pull that off. Even if she actually did, it would only seal her identity as a girl.
“If you want to get back into the dorm, just hop over the fence.” Chen Yao comforted her. “Those delivery guys do it all the time at night.”
Lin Nan didn’t seem to care much for Chen Yao’s words and retorted, “Weren’t we talking about a classmate gathering? Didn’t we say we’d meet the class teacher?”
“Let’s wait until the pandemic is completely over. Gathering ten people for a meal right now isn’t ideal.” Chen Yao sighed. “And the class teacher won’t dare let us come over at this time. Who knows if one of us might be asymptomatic?”
“That’s true…”
Lin Nan sighed, just then her phone buzzed with a message from her mother saying she had to leave early to catch a train.
She could’ve seen her mother if she had gone straight to the rental apartment after class.
“My mom went home.” Lin Nan’s mood instantly dropped.
Chen Yao noticed Lin Nan’s expression immediately, seeing what was clearly on her mind. “If I get called during roll call tonight, I’ll hop the fence to find you.”
“Okay.” Lin Nan’s mood perked up again, “You take the sofa!”
“Anything works for me.”
A grin spread across his face, and his mind began to conjure images of tonight’s “happenings.”
As they walked to the school’s back gate, Lin Nan initially intended to head straight to the rental apartment, but turning around, she spotted a tall figure in the crowd.
She paused, her demeanor shifting as she marched up, blocking the narrow passageway at the back gate. “Tu Junhui!”
Tu Junhui froze briefly. He had intentionally come to the back gate to eat and avoid Lin Nan. What were the odds of running into her here?
Embarrassed, he looked down, trying to slip away, but Lin Nan stood firmly in front of the small gate, puffing out her chest and staring him down.
“You actually did illustrations for that novel!”
“I didn’t! Stop slandering a good young man!” Tu Junhui paled, trying to squeeze past her, but Lin Nan wouldn’t budge an inch. Worse yet, Chen Yao stood behind Lin Nan, forming a second line of defense.
Seriously, with such a big door, why open only a small gate?
Tu Junhui took a few steps back. “What do you want?”
“Of course, it’s about the money,” Xiong Da chimed in, strolling over casually.
When Lin Nan heard this, she lit up. “Right! Right! Portrait rights! You defamed my image! Psychological damages!”
“I didn’t defame you…”
“You made my chest look too small!”
“Bull! Back then, I had no idea you were a girl!”
