Chapter 384 – Chapter 381: She’s Lin Muqing!
As the students gradually filled the classroom, Xiaomuqing received more and more strange glances, from her own classmates and from others peeking through the windows. She felt a bit uncomfortable.
Not long after, Lin Wenbin and Meng Wenhao, her two grandnephews, also made their appearance. These two had been deskmates for an entire semester last term. They used to sit across the aisle, and later moved to sit in front of her and Ye Ziming, which felt quite fated.
“Auntie.”
As soon as he returned to his seat, Lin Wenbin’s first action was to turn around and excitedly greet Xiaomuqing.
“What is it?”
Xiaomuqing frowned, finding it a bit strange to be called “Auntie” in the classroom.
“Why did you cut your hair short?”
Similar to Zhang Xiaoling, Lin Wenbin’s primary focus was Xiaomuqing’s new hairstyle. Aside from her hair, he felt his aunt seemed to have changed a little, feeling less beautiful than during Chinese New Year visits. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what had changed.
“That… you don’t need to worry about it.”
Looking at Lin Wenbin, then at Meng Wenhao, who had also turned his head to look at her, Xiaomuqing flatly refused to answer.
Alright, it seems her disguise was truly a failure. Not only could Lin Wenbin, this dense idiot, tell at a glance that she was a girl, but Meng Wenhao beside him certainly could too.
“Oh, oh.”
Lin Wenbin nodded dumbfoundedly. He still felt puzzled, but thinking that it was his aunt, he didn’t press further.
He then asked Xiaomuqing if she wanted him to help explain things to her classmates. As far as he knew, some in the class thought she was Lin Muxue, while others believed it was Lin Muqing in disguise.
“Ah? Let’s just forget about it.”
Hearing this, Xiaomuqing felt surprised yet unsurprised. She no longer wanted to explain her dual identity, meaning she had given up. She didn’t know how things would unfold, nor did she want to know. Whatever, the male Lin Muqing had long ceased to exist.
Soon, as more students returned to school, the classroom became lively. Having been apart for the winter break, most people had a lot to talk about. Even Xiaomuqing chatted with the girls next to her.
“Why did you get a short haircut?”
Xiaomuqing had lost count of how many people had asked this question. It seemed everyone who knew she was a girl asked about it. During this time, Ye Ziming stayed by Xiaomuqing’s side, watching her with a faint smile.
“Sigh… this is tough.”
As it was almost time for class, Xiaomuqing propped her head on her hands, looking at the blackboard with a muffled sound. Her small hands propped up, a picture of peaceful detachment.
“Pfft.”
“What are you laughing at?”
After only two seconds, Xiaomuqing heard a sound from Ye Ziming beside her, a very soft chuckle.
“Nothing, I just think… short hair is also quite cute.”
Ye Ziming also propped up his head, then raised his hand to Xiaomuqing’s head, tucking the short hair that covered her ear.
“Whimpering.”
Seeing the smile on Ye Ziming’s face, Xiaomuqing sullenly looked away, remaining silent and not pushing his hand away. She felt mocked but couldn’t get angry, and she felt a strange sensation in her heart.
“But I think long hair would be even cuter, and I prefer it more.”
Seeing Xiaomuqing pretend to ignore him, Ye Ziming playfully tousled her short hair and then leaned in close, whispering in her ear.
“…”
Xiaomuqing still didn’t acknowledge Ye Ziming, thinking to herself with a muffled feeling, “What does it matter to me if you like it, whimpering!” However, she had to admit that Ye Ziming’s voice seemed to have a magical effect, stirring her heartstrings and making it impossible to remain calm. It was precisely because of this unrest that she briefly forgot some troubles and unconsciously relaxed a lot.
From Ye Ziming’s perspective, he saw Xiaomuqing’s ears twitch twice, followed by a faint blush that was barely noticeable. Perhaps finding Xiaomuqing particularly adorable, he then gently pinched her ear and started playing with it.
At first, Xiaomuqing moved her head, seemingly unwilling to let Ye Ziming play with her ear. But gradually, she stopped resisting. She simply propped her head and glanced at Ye Ziming, then let him do as he pleased. Thus, Ye Ziming smiled happily, Xiaomuqing seemed unwilling, and they continued their interaction.
Surrounding classmates: Ugh! I’m full.
Before long, the class bell rang. The homeroom teacher, whom they hadn’t seen in a month, slowly entered the classroom and stood at the podium, greeting the students.
“After the Lunar New Year, everyone has grown a year older…”
The homeroom teacher delivered a somewhat standardized opening speech while surveying the students she hadn’t seen in over a month. As she looked at each one, she noticed slight changes, but she could still recognize them, having been their homeroom teacher for a semester. However, she soon froze because she noticed a student who seemed new yet familiar. This person was none other than Lin Muqing. Last semester, Lin Muqing was a boy, and now suddenly a girl. As the homeroom teacher, she couldn’t react immediately.
“The opening ceremony will be shortly, remember to bring chairs and gather at the gymnasium.”
After finishing her instructions, the homeroom teacher’s gaze fell upon Lin Muqing. After pondering for a moment and forming some guesses in her mind, she tentatively pointed in Lin Muqing’s direction.
“That student. Yes, you, what’s your name again?”
Xiaomuqing, who was pointed at, immediately panicked. In that instant, she could feel many eyes on her, mostly boys and a few unsuspecting girls. It was frankly overwhelming.
Just as she pursed her lips, about to say she was Lin Muqing, the class president Zhang Xiaoling answered for her.
“Teacher, she’s Lin Muqing.”
The homeroom teacher raised an eyebrow in surprise:?
The unsuspecting students in the class widened their eyes in shock:!?
“Um… it’s Lin Muqing, oh my, look at my memory.”
With a slightly awkward smile, the homeroom teacher muttered, “Wasn’t Lin Muqing a boy?” before quickly moving on to the next item, discussing other arrangements. The first day of school, besides the opening ceremony, also involved a simple classroom cleanup and distributing new textbooks. There were many things to do, so the first day usually didn’t involve classes.
After about ten minutes, and finishing the latter part of her announcements, the homeroom teacher beckoned to Lin Muqing. Then, to the shocked gaze of the entire class, she walked out of the classroom with the homeroom teacher. The class immediately erupted.
“She, she really is Lin Muqing, my goodness.”
“No way, Lin Muqing is a girl?”
“And so beautiful…”
“…”
