Chapter 28: The old hat enters the Grand View Garden

The day before school started, Zheng Yang stood in her bedroom in just her underwear, staring at the closet full of newly bought clothes, agonizing over what to wear.

Sweats?

No, too plain.

Jeans?

Not a fan either.

Back when she was a man, she hated jeans, and now…

Wu Chun had forced her to buy a tight pair that accentuated her lower body curves, but she still didn’t like them.

Though Zheng Yang had fully accepted her new identity, she still believed that tight clothes on a girl were more alluring to guys than a skirt—even a short skirt—more… explicit.

She didn’t want boys constantly staring at her feminine features.

So, yeah, a skirt it was.

A long skirt.

Pretty.

She paired it with a very ordinary loose T-shirt, tucked it into the long skirt, and spun around in front of the mirror.

Hehe, so pretty~ Then she let the T-shirt hang out, covering part of her waist and hips—still pretty~

Zheng Yang couldn’t help getting a little narcissistic.

She smiled at the mirror, pouted, raised an eyebrow, stuck out her tongue, made a funny face, flashed a peace sign…

Just like most girls would do.

Sometimes she’d blush, but the blushing girl in the mirror only seemed more endearing.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

A knock at the bedroom door.

“Yangyang, can I come in?”

Zheng Shiqiang asked from outside.

“Dad, I told you, just come in whenever you want! Why are you being so polite with me!”

Zheng Yang bounced over and opened the door.

Zheng Shiqiang stepped inside, saying, “Don’t talk like that now… I don’t want you to secretly curse me for being disrespectful when you think back on it later.”

“What are you talking about! I’m not an ordinary girl.”

Zheng Shiqiang pointed at the clothes scattered on the bed.

“With how much you’re preening… I’d say you’re already pretty close!”

“Hehe, you and Chunchun were the ones who made me buy all this! Since it’s already bought, I can’t just waste it, right?”

Zheng Yang tugged his hand, then stepped back two paces, spread her arms, and twirled.

“Dad, you haven’t really looked yet. How do I look in this?”

Zheng Shiqiang nodded and smiled.

“Good, very good! As expected of you—your eye is still sharp!”

“Dad, you’re so annoying! Stop teasing me!”

“Hmph, look at the mess you made of the whole room just changing clothes. It’s like a pigsty.”

Zheng Shiqiang pointed around.

“I don’t care how messy or unkempt you were before, but from now on, this room needs to have some girlish order!”

“I’ll clean it up right away…”

“What does living in a pigsty make you? A little piggy?”

“Oh, Dad! You’re so naggy!”

Zheng Yang’s face flushed a little from his words, and she pushed him out the door.

Zheng Shiqiang kept grumbling from outside.

“Hurry up. I promised Uncle Wu and Chunchun we’d go check out the school first…”

“I know!”

Zheng Yang shouted back with a pout, then tilted her head and smiled.

She hummed a little tune as she started tidying up her clothes.

Both her dad and she could now naturally joke about her past as a thirty-eight-year-old man.

She felt that this was the most authentic version of herself and the truest feelings.

She finally understood Lili’s sincere intentions.

She finally understood that only by fully facing her past—even embracing it—could she truly enjoy the life ahead.

“Maybe before long, you’ll even thank me!”

She was stubborn and didn’t want to thank her, but…

Lili, if you don’t cause any more trouble for me, I’ll thank you from the bottom of my heart, even if I have to burn incense for you every day!

In the living room, Zheng Shiqiang was also thinking.

Since he knew about Yangyang’s history, it meant he didn’t have to worry like other old fathers—constantly anxious about his daughter being seduced by delinquents;

No need to fear teenage rebellion where she’d oppose him in everything; no need to worry that his life advice would be rejected or go over her head;

And no concern that certain “unreasonable” female traits would emerge in Yangyang…

Maybe, after this blend of yin and yang, Yangyang would have some uniquely insightful perspectives that he could learn from too.

Thinking about it, having a daughter like this seemed like all benefits and no downsides.

And Zheng Yang tidied up quickly.

In just a few minutes, the bedroom door opened.

However…

“Aren’t you wearing a skirt? Why did you change into sweats again!”

Zheng Shiqiang said with a wry smile.

“No, Dad, it’s different this time!” Zheng Yang quickly explained.

“I just thought, on the first couple days of school, there might be a lot of stuff to move, or maybe we’ll have to rearrange seats… Anyway, there could be all sorts of messy chores, and a skirt would be inconvenient, so I switched to sweats.”

“Oh~ But even if there’s stuff to move, would it be your job?”

Zheng Shiqiang laughed.

“You’re such a delicate little girl.”

Zheng Yang knew he was teasing her again.

She huffed, “Who’s delicate! I can—”

She spread her legs, squatting as if in a horse stance, and raised her right arm like a bodybuilder showing off a bicep.

“Alright, alright! Don’t act like that at school, or you’ll be a laughingstock!”

“I’m serious, Dad. I don’t want to rely on being a girl to always get special treatment. Even if I live my whole life as a girl, I want to be the kind who holds up half the sky!”

Zheng Shiqiang clapped his hands at that and gave her a big thumbs-up.

This daughter—he had definitely gotten it right!

If she weren’t only fifteen now, he’d have wanted to bring her straight into his own company.

When they arrived at Wenjing Academy, Zheng Yang and Wu Chun walked hand in hand, sometimes skipping, sometimes hopping, as they strolled around.

But as they walked, Zheng Yang felt something was off: How could a high school be bigger than a scenic spot?

She was like a country bumpkin, going “Wow” every few steps, then “Wow” again.

First, the library—bigger than the one at her college, and built in an ancient architectural style.

Then, the sports center—not just a track, but a comprehensive gymnasium combining basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and more.

Then… a martial arts hall?

There was a martial arts hall?

Wu Chun explained, “Martial arts are a national treasure. Since our school is a traditional Chinese-style school, having martial arts is totally normal.”

“That does sound reasonable…”

But after a few more steps…

“A swimming pool?! Wow, how is there a swimming pool?! At my college…”

Zheng Yang realized she almost slipped up, coughed twice, and quickly corrected herself, “Even in my imagination, I never thought a university would have a swimming pool!”

Wu Chun’s father was the principal, so she knew all about these things in advance.

She continued, “Elite schools all have swimming classes. Our traditional-style school is no different!”

“But… do we have to wear swimsuits for swimming class?”

Zheng Yang’s small hand unconsciously tightened around Wu Chun’s.

“Yes, and the school provides them. Everyone wears the same… Oh~ I get it.”

Wu Chun’s face lit up with realization as she pointed at Zheng Yang’s chest and laughed.

“Yangyang is worried about being too noticeable there, right?”

“Cut it out!”

Zheng Yang shot her a glare and then asked, “How many swimming classes a week?”

“Just one.”

“Whew, that’s better…”

Zheng Yang patted her chest.

“One class, one and a half hours.”

“Huh?”

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zheng Yang was at a loss for tears.

That meant she’d have to wear a swimsuit for an hour and a half?

“Dad, can I transfer schools…”