64 Xiaoxiao (1/2)
Warning: gory descriptions
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Anxiety was amuck in his heart and Yuan Xuelan cursed himself for following Nan Chang in the first place.
But he had already come this far and didn't want his efforts to go to waste. Now he had no other choice but to trust his trouble-making friend.
”Okay, you hide for a bit. I'm going to make them leave.” Nan Chang said in a hurry and before Yuan Xuelan even had the chance to protest, she slid into her dorm room.
Yuan Xuelan wanted to scream. He looked around desperately. Just where could he even hide!? His heart was thumping in his ear as fear consumed him. If he was caught wandering alone in the woman's dormitory…! Forget about the punishment, he wouldn't be able to live through the shame that would come with rumors.
Much to his chagrin, there really wasn't much for Yuan Xuelan to use to his advantage. The walls were decorated with colorful hanging silks and little flags. Yuan Xuelan couldn't tell if they were placed there because of female sensibility or because of the upcoming New Years' celebrations. There was also a large decorative vase in the corner of the hall that had some sad-looking malnourished plant sprouting from it. If he curled up in a fetal position behind the vase…it would be barely big enough to cover his entire body! For the first time, Yuan Xuelan lamented over his recent growth.
But there wasn't much time to dawdle over his misfortune. Because soon a set of footprints approached from around the corner. Yuan Xuelan, left without a choice, moved on instinct. He grabbed one of the hanging strings of silk and jumped behind the vase.
Wait! Was this even a good idea!? Could he even hide like this!? He draped the silk over his head and face but he really wasn't hiding from anyone!
And his worst nightmare came true when the female Elder rounded the corner and beelined straight to his pathetic hiding spot. ”What in the world are you doing?”
Yuan Xuelan didn't dare look up as nausea took over. ”Uh…um…” he said in a pitiful falsetto voice, ”I was just…”
Quick Xuelan! Think! Just think of something! He glared a hole into the dirt within the vase, ”I dropped…my earrings…! I-In here…I can't find them…” He coughed a few times, hoping it would mask the masculine tones of his voice. He only realized after those words left his mouth that his ears weren't even pierced! So he pulled the sheer silk even tighter in hopes that the Elder won't see through his bluff.
”...” She was quiet and scrutinized Yuan Xuelan further. Please just go away! He chanted in his heart. But the Elder was suspicious and not easily fooled, ”Who are you again?”
Who…! Yuan Xuelan was going dizzy. He didn't know any of the female disciples aside from Nan Chang and had no clue about names or faces that he could impersonate. But he kept his head bowed and wrecked his mind for a common name. Surely he could think of something basic and make up excuses… ”E-Erm…It's me… Xiao…xiao!”
Never mind! He should just bite off his own tongue because what kind of name was Xiaoxiao!? How could even make up a believable backstory for a name as ridiculous as this!
Just as he thought his charade was caught and a beating was about to descend down upon him, the Elder stroked her sleeve and said, ”Oh, Xiaoxiao? I didn't recognize you. What happened to your voice? Did you catch a cold?”
”...”
”...”
Yuan Xuelan forced out a few more coughs. ”Eh…yes.”
”I see. Well, don't squat around for too long, you look like a beggar. Make sure you remember to show up to your evening class on time.”
”...Yes.”
”...I can't help but feel like you look rather big. Did you get fat?”
What the heck!? Yuan Xuelan wanted to yell at this Elder, just move on already! And who the heck was this pathetic Xiaoxiao, having such a dumb name and a face so unrecognizable that the Elder couldn't even call his bluff right away? No, wait! Yuan Xuelan shouldn't be thinking about that! Instead, he had to figure out what to say next. ”Uh…I…ate a little too much…”
”I understand the food in the Ascending Dawn mansion is good but don't get carried away.”
Okay, was she done scolding now? Please leave!
But she only glared at him some more, ”By the way…”
With a stroke of fortune, Nan Chang's dorm room burst open and a stream of excited girls left in a stream. The Elder quickly swerved around, ”Where are you monkeys going!?”
One of the girl with bright cheeks and loose hair grinned at the Elder, ”Oh! We heard that the famous singer Ku Taleng is performing for Sect Leader Chen!”
”Where did you hear this nonsense!?” The Elder shrilled, chasing after the herd of squealing girls.
”...”
And Yuan Xuelan was left in that hallway alone, his mouth hung open at the absurdity of the string events he just experienced.
”Xuelan! What are you doing standing around like that?” Nan Chang giggled as she poked her head out of the room. ”Hurry up inside!”
He sighed deeply. ”This is all your fault!” He shouted at her but in the end, still followed. Whatever treasure she felt like showing him better be worth it!
The girl's dorm was a lot more cramped and cluttered than he expected. He always imagined a woman's living space to be neat and spotless like his Shijie's tidy space. But then he remembered that his own mother was a woman too so perhaps it wasn't that much of a surprise. Makeup products were thrown about, brushes, and ointment scattered everywhere. Some of the beds were made up neater than others but there were books on the ground and one of the beds even had a pile melon seed shells on it. Yuan Xuelan resisted the urge to go clean it up.
”Ah now…where did I put it?” Nan Chang hummed as she rushed to the bed in the farthest corner. First, she searched a chest on the right of the bed and then began looking underneath the bed.
”What the heck, Nan-jie!” Yuan Xuelan stomped and crossed his arms impatiently, ”You ought to find it soon! The faster we get out of here, the better.” He was still anxious about his stay. He wanted to get out of the women's dorms as quickly as possible!
”I know, I know. Just give me a moment.” Nan Chang muttered as she continued to fumble about.