That same day...
Chen Jingyun sneaked her way back to the school. She had promised to pay someone a visit after arriving at the school.
Pushing the door open, Chen Jingyun was immediately greeted by a secretary. He was really busy but still made time to ask her what she needed.
"I am Qin Yun, I'm here to finish some registration procedures."
"Oh, it is you." The secretary nodded in acknowledgment. He was wondering what kind of person the principal was expecting. But he never thought it would be a short kid that looked quite ordinary. "The principal is waiting for you inside." He pointed at a door behind his desk.
Chen Jingyun thanked him and entered the office.
When Chen Jingyun pushed the door to the principal's office she was met with a chubby man doing paper works. That was Uncle Liu, a good friend of her father. She has known him since she was a child so she was very comfortable around him.
"Yo, Uncle Liu! Long time no see!"
"Little Yun, so good to see you again." Uncle Liu smiled and asked her to sit. "You look so good with short hair."
He was smiling widely in a way that may his chubby cheeks stand out. But it made him look quite cute, and caring. Which was just like him.
"Of course." Chen Jingyun flipped what she could of her hair and confidently sat down on one of the chairs.
"Oh? Why do you have a bruise on your cheek?" Uncle Liu asked after he got a good look at her face. He was thinking that even though Chen Jingyun cut her hair, she still looked a lot like a girl, but that bruise made her look a little bit more masculine. Was that makeup?
"Oh, don't worry about it, Uncle Liu" Chen Jingyun shrugged like it wasn't the big deal. "I rather know about you, Uncle Liu. What do you have arranged for me?"
At this, the chubby man pursued his lips. He wasn't pleased with Chen Jingyun's matter. By helping Chen Jingyun hide at his all-boys school, he was risking his reputation and position as the principal. But as a family friend, he couldn't ignore them, so he agreed to help. He only hoped Chen Jingyun wouldn't get caught so he made many arrangements.
"Well," he started, "I was told to put you in a room with good students that didn't snoop around too much. But you know there is so much a principal can know about his students. I can't guarantee anything to you nor your parents." Uncle Liu said worriedly.
"So... you haven't found a suitable room for me." Chen Jingyun said slowly.
"Nope."
"No worries! I already got a suitable room for me." Chen Jingyun beamed. "They are nice people."
"What are their names?" Uncle Liu arched his eyebrows in interest.
"Luo Shao, Su Long, and Li Minghao."
Hearing those names, Uncle Liu's jaw dropped.
"What? How did you meet them?" Uncle Liu sat upright and demanded answers agitatedly.
"Oh, well, it's a long story." Chen Jingyun said calmly. "I got into a little accident and they helped me to the infirmary."
Chen Jingyun felt very heroically when she said that. Through many mangas she read, she noticed that brotherhood was like a sisterhood. It was an unbreakable bond that was nurtured by experienced but ultimately ended being very loyal. If she was going to live as a guy, she needed a good bro to shoulder burdens.
She just had to leave the tiny little detail that it was they who put her in there...
Uncle Liu didn't look very impressed, instead, he looked even more worried.
"I don't think it is a good idea to share a room with those boys." Uncle Liu started. "They are quite... They might bring too much attention to you..."
Narrowing his eyes, Uncle Liu asked meaningfully.
"Do you know who they are?"
Chen Jingyun immediately frowned. "Of course I know exactly who they are.."
Seeing she was still adamant to share a room with those boys, Uncle Liu tried to change her mind.
"How about-"
"No, no, look at me, Uncle Liu." Chen Jingyun stood up. "In the eyes of these young men, I am short and weak. No matter what, they will look down on me. I will surely get bullied!"
"I'm an ordinary young man that doesn't know how to fight nor defend myself. I can't whip out my skills just because I want to. Look at me."
Chen Jingyun presented herself. Sure enough, as a boy, she looked like an easy target to pick on.
"That's true..." Uncle Liu agreed, but he was still quite reluctant. "...You may...you may share rooms with these three boys. But you must be careful to not let any of them discover you. I don't know if we can bear the consequences of that. Not you, not me, not your grandfather."
To this, Chen Jingyun obediently nodded.
"En, I will be careful."
"And," Uncle Liu brought out a paper. "You will be going to junior year, this is your schedule."
Chen Jingyun grabbed the paper and swiftly read it.
As she went through the paper, Uncle Liu began to play with his dumb, he seemed distressed.
"I have found a way to exempt you from swimming classes. However... I cannot do so much for physical education."
Uncle Liu just looked at her, not knowing how to say the next line.
"In that class, everyone has to change in the locker room." He says slowly.
"..."
"..."
In the end, Chen Jingyu had to accept her fate. She told herself she would deal with it when it came. After talking some more with Uncle Liu, she left the office. Quietly returning to her undercover life.
[1] WeChat: Chinese messaging app.