Chapter 66: Chapter 65 Brother Nan is Exposed
Do not be fooled by the female teacher’s dark and sturdy complexion and her pancake face, for she had a slender figure and flowing long hair befitting of her name—Zhou Qianqian.
She shared the same surname as Zhou Li. The other male teacher was named Luo Jun.
Teacher Luo was the head teacher of Class One and Two, and he looked like an adult Emo prince. In an attempt to conceal the sparseness of his hair, he blew it into a fluffy and flowing style, making his scalp visible at first glance. Zhou Qianqian was in charge of Classes Three and Four.
Today, it was mainly Zhou Qianqian who did the talking. She gave off a lackadaisical vibe. She casually introduced the precautions and essential information for new students. After that, she began addressing tomorrow’s military training.
Zhou Li felt it was okay not to listen and habitually began observing his surroundings.
Huai Xu had found a spot at the back, sitting upright. He seemed to be experiencing what it felt like to be a college student, apparently paying more attention than most students. Brother Nan was also sitting in the last row with Baozi.
Zhou Qianqian was wrapping up her speech, "That’s pretty much all I have to say. If nothing unexpected happens, we will be interacting for the next four years, and I hope it can be as pleasant as possible. I personally think I’m easy to get along with. I believe a lot of things are mutual; you give me face, and I’ll give you face."
Zhou Li noted that when Zhou Qianqian said, ’I personally think I’m easy to get along with,’ many senior students twitched their mouths.
It seemed this teacher was not one to be trifled with.
Zhou Qianqian continued her speech, "As instructed by the leaders, I have to give you some... well, teachings. But after all, college is your own business, and I can’t control too much. I just hope that by the time you graduate in your senior year, you will look back and feel that you have spent a wonderful and fulfilling four years, not wasted a great time.
"Whether you excel in your studies;
"handle love affairs well;
"or engage in other activities that interest you;
"it’s fine even if you’re good at gaming.
"Just don’t be like me, who only knows how to sleep.
"Now, I’d like to invite the student representative to speak."
A burst of warm applause rang out in the large classroom. Zhou Li saw Huai Xu clapping seriously, and so was Brother Nan, probably because Zhou Qianqian was straightforward.
Next was the student council president, a junior. This person was quite verbose, talking about banal stuff and very slowly at that. Zhou Li realized that many people were actually listening with interest, for reasons he couldn’t fathom.
Brother Nan had already started playing with her phone. She even sent a message to Zhou Li:
Li Daimao: Don’t leave later. I’ve found another place to eat, outside another gate. Let’s go eat some Caiyun kebabs together, and call your Little Cousin.
Zhou Li: I have plans with Huai Xu.
Li Daimao: Huai Xu??
Zhou Li: Right, he enrolled in Chunming Institute of Technology.
Li Daimao: Wow, what a coincidence! Invite him along!
Zhou Li: Okay.
He was certainly going the extra mile to ensure Huai Xu was fed.
The student council president licked his lips. "One last thing. For ease of management during military training, we’ve appointed temporary class monitors—one male and one female for each class. Their main role is to assist us with communications. Note that the temporary class monitor isn’t the actual class monitor. The class committee election will wait until after military training is over."
Suddenly, a list appeared on the projection screen. Chen Yang and a girl named Song Qiaoru were the temporary class monitors for Class Three, which Zhou Li was in. Class Four had Brother Nan and a boy named Zhong En. These names were all active in the chat groups, and since freshmen had just started school, the student council could only select them this way.
Zhou Li typed to Brother Nan: You’re going to be exposed.
Li Daimao: What kind of operation is this!
Li Daimao: How come I had no idea about it!
Li Daimao: Don’t these people communicate in advance?
Li Daimao: What kind of moron is this?
Li Daimao: Well, not necessarily. They know Li Nan, but they don’t know I *am* Li Nan.
Just as she sent that, the student council president said, "Can the temporary class monitors please stand up and let your classmates get to know you? This was rather sudden, and we didn’t communicate it beforehand, so please forgive us. There won’t be too many tasks during military training anyway. It’ll just be a bit of hard work for everyone, and a little training is always good."
Li Daimao: I want to punch him!
Zhou Li didn’t reply.
The student council president started with Class One, calling on the temporary class monitors to stand up one by one. Zhou Li observed that although they were a bit slow to react, they seemed quite happy about it.
Was it a feeling of being recognized?
Brother Nan had no need for such affirmation. When the student council president called on the Class Four temporary class monitor to stand up, she remained seated.
He called again.
She still did not move.
The president looked at Brother Nan with an awkward smile. "Classmate Li Nan, please stand up and show yourself to everyone."
Brother Nan frowned, meeting his gaze.
After a moment, she finally stood up—it was purely because the teacher was present. Zhou Qianqian’s earlier remarks had really resonated with her, so she decided to give Zhou Qianqian some face.
"Wow!"
The classroom instantly buzzed with discussion:
"Isn’t Sister Li the teaching assistant?"
"Isn’t she the class aide?"
"How did she turn into Brother Nan?"
"I thought Brother Nan was too embarrassed to stand up because he had played a trick on us, so actually... there were two tricks?"
"..."
Many people had just recovered from the news that "Brother Nan is actually a girl," and now they were completely baffled by this new development. Even after the meeting disbanded, there were still people teasing her as they walked by Brother Nan—
"Good evening, Brother Nan."
"Sister Li..."
"Teacher Li..."
Brother Nan walked alongside Zhou Li, grumbling continuously, "This guy really deserves a beating. I was pretending so well, and then he pulled this stunt out of nowhere! It’s one thing not to inform others, but he knew darn well that I was famous among the freshmen, and yet he pulled such a stunt! If this had been my temper from two years ago, I would’ve thrown him into the canal! Pressed him into the mud!"
Zhou Li walked on in silence.
「Huai Xu was waiting for them at the school gate.」
This was another small entrance. Opposite the road was a shantytown, its alleys filled with eateries and snack stalls. The yellow glow of incandescent lamps hung in the smoky air.
Brother Nan’s anger flared up quickly but also dissipated just as fast. As they walked, she pointed at Huai Xu and said to Baozi, "This is a friend of Zhou Li’s. I don’t know where they met. Doesn’t he look super handsome?"
Baozi nodded in agreement.
Brother Nan then pointed at Baozi and said, "Zhou Li must have told you too, this is his freshly acknowledged Little Cousin from this morning."
Huai Xu nodded incessantly, "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you!"
In a way, Brother Nan had snatched Zhou Li’s role—as it should have been Zhou Li who introduced the two of them.
The four of them found a BBQ stall. It served Xishuangbanna-style barbecue, featuring large chunks of pork belly skewered on bamboo sticks, tilapia fish wrapped in lemongrass, and tiny meat skewers. This style was a bit different from the BBQ stalls in Yi Province. They ordered a heap of food.
After handing their order to the owner, Brother Nan hesitated a moment. "Also, grab me a bottle of ’Brave Charge’. Huai Xu, do you want one?"
"Yes."
"Baozi?"
"No thanks."
"Alright, two bottles then."
"And a straw," Huai Xu added.
"Yo, dude, you think you’re sipping WaVy or what!" Brother Nan laughed, slapping Huai Xu’s shoulder before finding a place to sit down.
The campus was by Dian Lake, and the wind was strong at night, carrying all kinds of aromas.
Brother Nan popped open a beer bottle, took a small sip, and casually asked, "How’s your cat doing, Zhou Li?"
"Pretty good."
"Did everyone in your dorm agree to let you keep it?"
"They agreed." Zhou Li paused for a moment. "I’m thinking of finding a place and moving out after the military training is over."
"Renting a place? A shared apartment?"
"Huai Xu and I are considering renting a two-bedroom apartment."
"Hmm, but communication among college classmates is inherently limited, even less than in high school. If you’re not living in the dorm, wouldn’t that be like... back in high school?" Brother Nan glanced at Baozi and, mindful that Little Cousin was present, didn’t finish her thought.
"I’ll try to come back and stay more often."
"Alright then." Seeing that Zhou Li was determined, Brother Nan said, "As long as it’s not you wanting to avoid them, it’s not hard to build good relationships. I’ll teach you."
"Okay."
The BBQ was served, and Brother Nan invited everyone to start eating.
The pork belly had been cut into small pieces by the shopkeeper. The skin was crispy and charred, while the inside oozed fat. Dipped in a special dry spice mix, it was both fragrant and spicy. There was also lemon dipping water, but the sourness of the lemon combined with the intense spice seemed to undergo a kind of chemical reaction that Zhou Li couldn’t quite adapt to at first.
Brother Nan, who loved sour and spicy flavors, couldn’t help exclaiming after the first bite, "Isn’t this too delicious?"
Baozi, meanwhile, paid attention to Zhou Li. "Try the grilled fish first."
Zhou Li murmured in agreement.
The grilled fish was fragrant with lemongrass. He found it acceptable, and besides being novel, he also thought it was delicious.
Huai Xu, on the other hand, battled his way through, without discriminating between meat and vegetables.
「It was half an hour later when Zhou Li returned to the dorm.」
Still in the corridor, he heard Chen Yang’s voice:
"I also thought Brother Nan was a guy before. We chatted up a storm in the group, even planning a drink at the start of school. But then I got there, and they told me that Brother Nan is actually a beautiful girl. The acting class leader from Class 2 and I were both shocked! We got it easy; some of the girls got really... man, oh man..."
Zhou Li entered.
There, sitting in the middle of the dorm, was a tattooed, muscular man wearing only red boxer shorts. He was holding a bottle of shampoo and talking animatedly to the others.
Seeing Zhou Li, Chen Yang hurriedly said, "Your cat ran away! It just strutted right out the main door. I wanted to catch it for you, but it tried to bite me. Not that I couldn’t hold onto it, but I was worried it might have rabies..."
"Don’t worry, it’s not vaccinated."
"Aren’t you concerned?"
"Not worried."
"It’s gone downstairs! I couldn’t catch up, and it vanished in the blink of an eye!"
"It will come back."
"Really? That miraculous?"
"Yeah."
"Heard you and Brother Nan were high school deskmates and got accepted to the same university? I’ve been in the group chat and just found out now!" Chen Yang gossiped. "Come on, tell us, what’s really going on between you and Brother Nan? What kind of Immortal is she?"
"Oh, we were deskmates. She was the big sister of our school."
"That’s it?"
"That’s enough."
Zhou Li really didn’t want to keep looking at Chen Yang’s flamboyant boxers. He took his facial cleanser and went to the balcony.
On this early autumn night, the water was refreshingly cool.