Unexpected Roommate Arrangements

In a sense, the previously delicate and evenly matched gender ratio was abruptly shattered by the secretary’s departure. What was once a balanced pair had now dwindled to just Principal Dugu and me, locked in an awkward stare. A palpable discomfort hung between us.

Fortunately, this awkwardness did not persist for long. Soon, the phone on Principal Dugu’s desk rang loudly, causing the old man to subtly exhale a breath of relief. He rummaged through a stack of somewhat disheveled documents, finally unearthing the receiver. After a quick glance at the caller ID, he offered me a smile. ‘It’s Old Wang from the logistics department,’ he announced. ‘He’s likely finished arranging your dorm room.’

With that, he reached for the receiver and began his conversation with the aforementioned Old Wang from logistics.

Upon hearing talk of a dorm room arrangement, I nearly interjected to remind Principal Dugu that I already possessed accommodations at Tianwu University. Yet, a moment of reflection brought a sudden realization: my current gender diverged from that of my former roommates, Guo Hao, Yang Laoer, and Linghu Ruoxu. How could we possibly cohabit? Thus, I held my tongue. Then, another thought sparked: if a male dorm was out of the question, could the assigned accommodation be…?

A sudden surge of excitement coursed through me! Consequently, I harbored immense anticipation for the conversation Senior Dugu was now engrossed in.

While he was still on the phone, Secretary Feng Tian’er returned, now holding a fresh ice towel. She walked directly behind Principal Dugu, who sat in his executive chair, one leg casually crossed, engrossed in his call with the enigmatic Old Wang. Without a word, she gently pressed the cold towel against the back of his head, precisely where the inkstone had struck.

This caught Principal Dugu completely off guard, yet it was an unexpectedly cool and comforting sensation. Consequently, while still engaged in his call, he emitted a few somewhat peculiar, subtle groans. The sound struck me as vaguely familiar, instantly recalling those incredibly ‘soul-stirring’ noises that would inexplicably drift from the other end whenever Guo Hao, Linghu Ruoxu, or even I, conversed with parents or friends of the opposite s*x. In such instances, the person on the other line would inevitably pose the suspicious question: ‘Just where are you fooling around while on the phone?’

As anticipated, Old Wang, on the other end of Principal Dugu’s call, was clearly not one to overlook such things. Immediately, a curious voice drifted from the receiver.

–Old Dugu, what kind of antics are you pulling in the office? Believe it or not, I, Old Wang, can make a call and report the situation to your wife!–

At that moment, Principal Dugu was utterly immersed in the blissful sensation of the ice pack, practically in ecstasy. The phone receiver, naturally, wasn’t held very tightly, allowing both Feng Tian’er and me to hear every word with perfect clarity. For the sake of appearances, I had to strenuously suppress my laughter. Feng Tian’er, however, was already flushed crimson. Perhaps due to the long-standing acquaintance between the Feng and Dugu families, Feng Tian’er allowed herself a certain familiarity with Principal Dugu. She shot a fierce glare at the old man, tossed the towel aside, and spun on her heel to leave, abandoning a thoroughly embarrassed Principal Dugu to continue his call.

****

By the time Principal Dugu finally seemed to extricate himself from the entirely imaginary office domestic crisis, dusk was already settling, nearing dinnertime. He replaced the receiver, exhaled a long sigh, then turned to me with a wry smile. ‘My apologies, Miss Dongfang, you must find this amusing…’ he began. ‘Due to the current tight resources in the girls’ dormitory buildings, it appears temporarily impossible to arrange a bed for you in the west district. We can only find an available spot in a girls’ dorm on the east side and place you there for now. Would that be acceptable?’

The moment I heard ‘girls’ dormitory building,’ a surge of inner euphoria, despite my not being a lecherous sort like Yang Laoer, became utterly irrepressible. I immediately ceased paying close attention to the remainder of Principal Dugu’s words, nodding repeatedly and rapidly. ‘Good, good, no problem, no problem,’ I affirmed, ‘as long as there’s a place to stay…’

Principal Dugu cast a sidelong glance at me, evidently not anticipating such a swift agreement. With a touch of concern, he reiterated his point. ‘Did you hear me clearly?’ he pressed. ‘I mean, the dorms for your year are practically overflowing. The only available beds are in the upper-year dormitories, so for now, the only option is to arrange for you to stay there. Is that acceptable?’

Without a hint of hesitation, I affirmed once more. ‘No problem at all,’ I replied. ‘Thank you for your consideration, Principal Dugu!’

‘In truth, my inner joy swelled even further; I almost yearned to climb onto the rooftop and burst into song! Not only would I be living with genuine, bona fide girls, but they would also be older, upper-year ‘big sisters’!

‘Hmm, that settles it then,’ he conceded. ‘I’ll wait for Tian’er to calm down, then instruct her to notify the logistics department to deliver your bedding and other necessities before tonight. Do you have any other luggage stored elsewhere? I’ll have her find someone to handle it for you. As for you, Miss Dongfang… Old Wang from logistics mentioned he’s arranged for one of your future roommates to come to the administrative building to pick you up and give you a dorm tour. Given that girl’s lightness skill, she should be arriving downstairs any moment now. You can go down and wait for her. For the formal enrollment and any other procedural matters, simply return here to see me tomorrow at ten o’clock!’ He slowly exhaled, conveying his instructions.

It was only upon hearing his final sentence that a crucial detail resurfaced in my mind. I immediately unslung the satchel from my back, rummaged through its contents, and retrieved the series of provincial registration documents Master had left for me. I then extended them towards him.

‘These are what Master left for me, Principal Dugu,’ I said deferentially. ‘Please see if they might be of any use.’

‘These are… hmm, Old Monster Dongfang’s arrangements are truly thorough,’ he mused. ‘To have even prepared these documents in advance saves me the hassle of dealing with those provincial officials. The remaining matters can all be resolved internally within the school, which makes things considerably easier!’ He stroked his beard while perusing the stack of documents. ‘Alright, you may go now. There shouldn’t be anyone else lingering in front of the administrative building at this hour; she should recognize you!’

‘Yes, thank you for your care, Senior Dugu!’ I bowed deeply once more to the old man, widely reputed as the strongest under heaven. Then, I turned and exited the office.

Just before stepping out, I seemed to catch a faint murmur from behind me, though I couldn’t discern the words clearly.

****

Downstairs at the administrative building, the setting sun had already emerged, marking the approach of evening. As I stepped through the grand door, now half-locked, I beheld a tall, slender, and graceful girl. She possessed a spirited beauty, standing poised at the entrance and craning her neck in anticipation.

–My name is Xiao Ru. May I ask… student… are you the special enrollment student from the Foreign Language Academy that Principal Dugu mentioned?– Seeing me exit, she glided forward, her gaze holding a hint of surprise as she asked directly.

The shock in my heart, however, was in no way inferior to hers!

‘Xiao Ru?’ I thought. ‘Xiao Ru, ranked third among Tianwu University’s ‘Ten Great Experts’ undergraduates, nicknamed ‘Dragon Subduing Princess’!’