Ah, the smell of a new day.
Isn't it just beautiful?
Today, Chen Jingyun had woken up with a smile on her face. The birds were singing and the sun was dancing in the sky. After a restful night's sleep, she was ready to seize the day.
Taking a seat, Chen Jingyun turned to admire the window's view with a dreamy glance. Just outside, there was a beautiful cherry blossom preparing to bloom. It meant the end of cold winter nights were ending, and warmer days were coming.
It was the most peaceful day... yet.
"Little Boss, Fat Bo reports to duty!"
Chen Jingyun instantly slumped in her seat in a pitiful sigh.
It was good while it lasted.
Glancing at the chubby guy staring at her with bright eyes, hoping to be part of something special, Chen Jingyun could only give him a kind smile.
"Come over here." She gestures him to come closer.
And the chubby kid waddles obediently towards her.
"Yes, Little Boss?"
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Chen Jingyun calmly asks. "What's your name?"
"Fat Bo."
Shaking her head, Chen Jingyun looks at him right into the eyes commanding sincerity.
"No, your real name."
Being watched from such a close distance from his current idol, Fat Bo turned bright red.
This boss... was too beautiful!
If she looks at him with such alluring eyes, how could he remain straight?
Looking down, Fat Bo played with his dumb as he stumbled with his answer.
"Oh! Uh... I'm Bo... Bo... Bo Wen!"
Chen Jingyun patted him in approval.
Now that's a name!
"Alright, listen up, Bo Wen." She cleared her throat.
"My name is Qin Yun. I am just an ordinary boy. I'm not the boss of any gang, and you are free to go."
Then, she gave him an encouraging push to return him back to his life. Hopefully this time it would be a more fulfilling and well-intentioned life.
However, Bo Wen did not move. Instead, he stood there, looking down, clenching his fist and biting his lip. He seemed reluctant and abandoned at the same time.
Looking up, Bo Wen revealed his tearful eyes.
"Is Little Boss dissatisfied with me?"
Oh gosh.
Chen Jingyun instantly grabbed onto him and started to pat his back in a comforting rhythm. She also gave an awkward smile to any onlooker, hoping to let them know she did not make him cry!
"No, no. You're perfect the way you are." Her voice was gentle as petals landing on water, magically wiping the tears way.
"Even if I'm fat?" Bo Wen sniffed.
"Even if you're fat." Chen Jingyun coaxed him like a kid.
After Bo Wen had calmed down, Chen Jingyun sat him down and kindly explained.
"But you have to understand, I am really not in a gang. Red Stones is... just a name for my friend group. So don't dwell on it and be go back to your life."
"But I want to stay with Little Boss."
Chen Jingyun sighed. "Little Boss... doesn't exist-"
Bo Wen began to tear up again.
Alas, she could not win that fight.
In the end, she had to send him away with a note that stated the strict requirements to even qualify to become a member of the Red Stones, signed by the gang leader... Little Boss.
Her.
Yup, the guy convinced her to do that.
Next in line, there was Fu Wang, looking nothing like his usual princely self. Instead, he seemed to have worn everything backward! He also looked very sleep-deprived.
"Jingyun, we need to talk." He claimed the seat next to her as if it was the last taco in the world.
"Speak." She simply commanded, reminding herself to the patient. These guys turned out to be much more sensible than she thought anyone could be...
Grabbing onto her arm, Fu Wang looked at her with worry-filled blue eyes.
"Can you just switch rooms and become my roommate?"
Chen Jingyun gently removed her arm from his deathly grip and delightfully shook her head.
"Nope!"
"Why not?!"
Hearing him in such a distraught voice, Chen Jingyun looked up from her book and glanced at him with skeptical eyebrows. Her questioning gaze flaring his emotions.
"Why should I?"
Fu Wang instantly replied.
"Because I can take care of you and your... secret."
"Who said I need your help?"
"I know you never liked to be micromanaged but this is-"
"But," Chen Jingyun firmly cut him off, "I like my roommates and that is final."
But what she said next gave Fu Wang hope.
"However, if things go wrong, you can ask me in one month again."
"Why in one month?"
"Because I might have to change roommates."
"Why don't you just switch now?" Fu Wang eagerly suggested. "You don't have to go through all that hassle of sneaking around and all that."
But Chen Jingyun only smiled in response.
Before Fu Wang could say anything else, the bell rang and he was scolded back to his original seat. After an episode of begging the teacher to change his seat, he earned an evening of detention.
And another one after complaining.
As lunchtime came, Chen Jingyun already prepared herself for Fu Wang's never-ending questions. He was too much a hardheaded person. If something didn't make sense, he would not stop until it did.
Running straight towards her, just a millisecond after the bell rang, there was Fu Wang and his blonde unkempt hair bouncing around.
"First, you need to know who are your roommates. Do you know what you're going against?"
This time Chen Jingyun looked on with interest.
"Who are they?"
"Oh god, you really don't know!" Fu Wang held his head as if he had lost his mind. But sure enough, he was back on track.
"Alright, first there is Luo Shao. Luo Shao is a top judo practitioner and comes from a historic line of Chinese martial artists! His family host the most prestigious Judo dojo in the whole world!"
"He is said to be merciless to his opponents..."
"Then there is Su Long, the notorious playboy. Do I even need to stress how dangerous he is to you? As a you-know-what?"
"Plus! His family is the owner of the Moonlight hotel chain. This is the hotel that welcomes presidents, hosts international events, and everything. These guys have connections all over the world!"
"Can you even begin to imagine how they would react if they knew who you are?"
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Chen Jingyun instructed Fu Wang to breathe. Ah, this poor guy was too fired up...
"Breathe. One dish at a time..."
Following her advice, Fu Wang caught his breath. When his heartbeat was steady once again and his blue eyes seemed to gain clarity, he began.
This time he spoke at a calmer pace.
"Now, there is also Li Minghao... I don't have much information on him, but there's a rumor regarding his background."
"Rumor?" Chen Jingyun arched her brow with interest.
Taking a step closer to her, Fu Wang lowered his voice.
"Even though he is going to become the valedictorian of the year... his good student imagine is only a cover for his true background..."
Chen Jingyun slowly nodded, greatly engaged.
"Go on..."
Encouraged, Fu Wang kept explaining.
"The truth is..."
"Li Minghao is the next in line to the Dragon Triad!"
...
Both of Chen Jingyun's eyebrow twitched.
Did he expect her to believe such rumors?
"Why would he be part of that Triad?"
Seeing that she had her doubts about such dangerous topics, Fu Wang lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Li Minghao has frequent contact with his bodyguards, not only do they guard his back but they rebuke anyone who disrespects their master! Just one look at them and it is clear that they belong to a sinister organization..."
At this point, Chen Jingyun's eyebrows were still twitching.
She was still not convinced.
Placing a hand on Fu Wang's shoulders, Chen Jingyun gave him a pitiful look.
"Fu Wang... you are still way too naive to even know anything about the Triads. Don't concern yourself which such matters, okay? It is dangerous to spread rumors like that..."
"But-"
"But nothing. Let's drop this matter and fill our stomachs! Remember you still have those detention hours to serve~" Chen Jingyun sang as she left the scene.
Behind her, Fu Wang held a dejected pout, his blue eyes remaining in unsettled waves.
Back in the dorms, Chen Jingyun reached for the ceilings as she stretched. After a long day of studying and handling Fu Wang's worries, all she needed was a long night's sleep...
While the rest was still up in their desks, doing homework, playing, or watching videos, she was going to hit the hay.
"Oh, you're going to sleep already?" Su Long couldn't help but comment in surprise.
He had just gotten out of the shower and had a face mask on. He was currently cutting and eating cucumbers. He truly took care of his beauty, and he was better than Chen Jingyun...
When it came to Su Long, Chen Jingyun didn't doubt Fu Wang's info on his background. Su Long was very fashionable, owning the latest trends and famous brands, and he also had countless girls ringing him on the phone.
She was sure he heard the words 'sweetheart' and 'dear' about a hundred times in one day.
"Uh-hmm." Chen Jingyun hummed as she tucked herself into bed. "I'm kinda tired."
"Should we turn off the lights?" Luo Shao asked caringly as he turned down the volume from his movie.
When Chen Jingyun saw him, she could recognize he had the body of a dedicated martial artist, yet... his bearing was far from a merciless person. If anything, Luo Shao was a kind and silly guy who welcomed her with no qualms whatsoever.
"Is it okay if I use the desk lamp?" Another voice joined in.
It belonged to the dark lord.
Li Minghao also seemed to have lowered his book looking for her reply. He was a complete nerd and nothing like the future lord of any triad. When he settled his eyes on her, they weren't icy nor unfriendly like the first time, they regarded her as a friend.
If he didn't treat her as kind as he had, she might have believed Fu Wang.
Shaking her head, making her hair bounce in soft waves, Chen Jingyun smiled at their kind considerations.
"You can keep the lights on, as long as it is quiet, I can sleep soundly."
"Alright, good night!" Luo Shao plugged his earphones.
"Good night." Su Long mumbled from his seat, his eyes already covered in slices of cucumber...
"Good night." The dark lord joined in with a small mumble. His eyes already fixed in crazy formulas.
And just like that, Chen Jingyun slept soundly.