Chapter 32: A Day of Registration, Pranks, and Lingering Secrets

Since it was only registration day, Lin Duo had little to do. She simply opened her laptop and browsed for video novels online. Shen Jing’an, however, was clearly not the type to sit still. After lounging for only a short while, she sprang up again, pacing around the small dorm room and even jumping to try and touch the ceiling. Her gaze eventually landed on a photo frame above a bookshelf, which read: ‘Gu Tang Middle School, Class of XX, Junior High Graduation Commemorative Photo’.

Shen Jing’an’s eyesight was truly impressive. She quickly found Lin Duo in the dense crowd of students.

“Hey, is this you? Your middle school uniform is really tacky. Who’s that girl hugging you next to you? So unruly.”

Indeed, most of the four hundred-odd students stood upright, but Gu Xuexuan was quite unreserved, embracing Lin Duo from the side, which significantly undermined the solemnity of the graduation photo.

Lin Duo, however, was quite fond of the picture.

“That’s my best friend from middle school. Unfortunately, we got into different high schools.”

“Hmph, I can tell you two were very close,” Shen Jing’an’s words carried a faint hint of jealousy. “That big teddy bear on your bed, she gave it to you, didn’t she?”

“Yes! I hug it every night when I can’t sleep!”

“Hehehe, you’re so grown up and still like dolls!”

“Mind your own business!”

After a few squabbles, Shen Jing’an seemed to realize that such a first meeting was less than ideal. She then proposed a new idea.

“I say, it’s so boring just sitting around like this. Since we have nothing to do, why don’t we go explore the campus?”

Lin Duo also wanted to get a head start on seeing the new campus, so she readily agreed. Before leaving, however, she remembered to turn off the air conditioning.

Nanyi Affiliated High School was, after all, just a middle school; its campus wasn’t overly large. The two girls spent about fifteen minutes surveying the main facilities before settling on a stone bench opposite a fountain, enjoying the cool sensation from the flowing water.

Though both were seated, Shen Jing’an’s posture was rather unrefined. She leaned back lazily, propping herself up with both hands on the bench surface, her legs splayed in a diamond shape with only her toes touching. Lin Duo couldn’t help but discreetly remind her, “Um, Shen Jing’an, you’re wearing a skirt. Sitting like that might expose you!”

Only then did Shen Jing’an reluctantly bring her legs together, though she spoke with nonchalance. “There’s no one opposite us anyway, so no one would see even if I did. But your sitting posture is so lady-like. Are you some young lady from the upper echelons who received strict home tutoring?”

Lin Duo could only offer a wry smile in response to that question. Precisely because she wasn’t actually a girl, and feared being recognized as a boy, she paid extra attention to her every gesture and word, constantly striving to embody ladylike conduct.

For instance, Lin Duo’s sitting posture was always impeccably standard: back straight, hands clasped in front, and legs neatly pressed together and bent to the side. Ironically, genuine girls like Shen Jing’an often cared less about such things, losing out to Lin Duo in the realm of ‘ladylike’ behavior.

Shen Jing’an also possessed a chatterbox quality. However, she was unlike Gu Xuexuan. While Gu Xuexuan talked a lot, she would always pay attention to the other person’s reactions, allowing them an opportunity to speak. Shen Jing’an was different; sometimes she spoke solely driven by her own emotions. Lin Duo once tried to interject but was brusquely interrupted, so she simply gave up trying to speak.

After a brief rest and more conversation, Shen Jing’an grew a little bored. She grasped Lin Duo’s small hand.

“It’s almost noon now. Shall we go to the cafeteria to get something to eat?”

The Nanyi Affiliated High School cafeteria was quite spacious, split into two floors, with different stalls offering various types of food. Shen Jing’an glanced at the day’s offerings by the entrance, her eyes lighting up.

“They have steak on the third floor today! Let’s hurry and try it!”

It wasn’t that Lin Duo disliked steak, but its price was equivalent to several bowls of rice with toppings. Knowing how hard it was to earn money, she was reluctant to waste it so frivolously. She subtly released Shen Jing’an’s hand and said indifferently, “I don’t really like Western food. I want to go to the second floor for some vegetarian dishes. You can go by yourself if you want.”

“Hmph! How can you be like that!” Shen Jing’an actually threw a petty tantrum.

As Lin Duo’s impression of her wasn’t particularly good, she simply ignored Shen Jing’an and walked directly to the ordering counter on the second floor. Shen Jing’an stamped her foot in displeasure but still followed behind Lin Duo.

During the meal, Shen Jing’an stared at Lin Duo’s plate, lost in thought. “No wonder you’re so thin. Your appetite is so small, and you barely eat any meat.”

This had always been Lin Duo’s eating habit. Her appetite was never large, but she was never picky and could eat almost anything. However, if given the choice, she would definitely prefer lighter vegetarian dishes or seafood.

Perhaps out of a strange deference to Lin Duo, Shen Jing’an began picking out the meat slices from her own dish, one by one, and throwing them into the trash can beside the table.

Lin Duo’s expression shifted slightly. “Isn’t it bad to waste food like that?”

“I paid for it anyway; whether I eat it or not depends on my mood!” Shen Jing’an continued to do as she pleased.

Just like that, Shen Jing’an’s favorability rating in Lin Duo’s mind dropped another notch.

Shen Jing’an ate quickly. Once finished, with nothing else to do, she started staring at Lin Duo. “You eat so slowly. But that way of taking small bites and chewing slowly is quite ladylike. I guess most boys like girls like you, right? Oh, by the way, have you ever done it with a guy?”

Pfft— Lin Duo nearly choked, almost spraying the rice from her mouth. She managed to swallow with difficulty, her expression shifting unpredictably. “I mean, we just graduated from middle school, didn’t we? Have you done it?”

Unexpectedly, Shen Jing’an was also surprised. “A pretty girl like you has really never kissed another boy?”

“Oh, you meant kissing…” Lin Duo exhaled slightly. “I don’t have a boyfriend, so who would I kiss?”

“Oh, so that’s it! By the way, what did you think ‘do it’ meant just now?”

Seeing the mischievous grin on Shen Jing’an’s face, Lin Duo immediately understood. “You were just messing with me!”

“We’re friends, just a little joke!” Shen Jing’an showed no sign of remorse. “But we’re in high school now, not little kids anymore. You could try dating!”

Lin Duo frowned slightly, not continuing the topic.

Back in the dorm, Shen Jing’an remained in a state of utter boredom. She leaned on the windowsill, staring out for a long time, then spoke languidly. “Military training is the day after tomorrow. The sun outside is so scorching. What if my skin gets tanned?”

Lin Duo subtly swallowed the small pill from the chewing gum box with a sip of mineral water, then finally spoke. “I don’t like standing outside for long periods either, but military training is a rule at all schools. It’s ultimately unavoidable.”

“You’re right!” Shen Jing’an sighed, staring at the mineral water bottle in Lin Duo’s hand. “I’m a bit thirsty. Let’s go get some hot water.”

At the end of the corridor on each floor of the dormitory building, there was a washroom and a restroom. The hot water dispenser was in the washroom. Two girls were already queuing there, and they politely greeted Lin Duo and Shen Jing’an. Next to the hot water dispenser was a coin-operated washing machine, which greatly surprised Shen Jing’an. Lin Duo, meanwhile, used the opportunity while waiting for water to check out the restroom and shower facilities. Thankfully, they were all partitioned cubicles with doors, which brought a great sense of relief to Lin Duo.

After getting hot water and returning to the dorm, Lin Duo sat at her desk and turned on her computer, trying to connect to the campus Wi-Fi. Although it connected, the speed was far from ideal; opening a single webpage took ages. Shen Jing’an, ever restless, leaned closer to Lin Duo and spoke. “I’ve heard for a long time that the campus Wi-Fi here is terrible. The senior students all get their own internet cards.”

“Oh, you seem quite knowledgeable about these things!”

“Hehe, that’s because I have a cousin who graduated from here!”

Although Lin Duo’s favorability toward Shen Jing’an wasn’t high, it hadn’t reached the point of dislike, and they could still chat idly. Just then, Lin Duo’s phone rang. She picked it up to see a message from Wang Linshu.

[Lin Duo, I’ve settled into my dorm. How about we meet in front of the statue?]

For personal reasons, Lin Duo had been trying to avoid meeting Wang Linshu. However, since they were now attending the same high school, albeit in different classes, it was inevitable they would run into each other, so constant avoidance wasn’t a solution.

Seeing Lin Duo about to leave, Shen Jing’an quickly stood up as well. “Where are you going to play? Take me with you!”

“I’m going to meet a middle school classmate,” Lin Duo said, already at the door. “By the way, that boy is very fierce to unfamiliar girls, and he loves playing pranks, like dropping small bugs down your collar when you’re not paying attention. You’d better not come!”

The threat proved effective. Shen Jing’an shivered slightly and went back to fiddling with her phone.