Chapter 51 (Satisfying Chapter): Xiaolin, Don’t Be Like This, I Am Ye Fanzhi

"Principal Ye, if you talk about Ji Bochang like that, he’d be really hurt if he heard you."
"If he were standing right here, I’d say it to his face. And just look at the online alias he picked—what does that say about the kind of thoughts this rich kid has?"
"What’s wrong with his username?"
"Xiao Lin, you’d never pick a name like that, but he went with Ji B... ahem. Xiao Lin, you shouldn’t talk and drive."

Ye Fanzhi immediately resumed the cool, aloof dignity befitting a principal.
How could words with such an obvious pun—something as indecent as 'Ji Bochang'—come from her refined lips?
From Lin Ran’s observation, Ye Fanzhi’s icy demeanor was just an act for her role as principal; in private, she was probably quite lively.

Soon, the Bentley stopped at Taikoo Li. Both got out.
"Thank you for the ride," Ye Fanzhi said. "Go get your watch fixed. Goodbye."
With that, she turned and left.

Lin Ran watched her retreating, dignified figure, smiled slightly, and headed toward the Rolex store. He understood Ye Fanzhi was being cautious—after all, a principal and a teacher’s son showing up together in Taikoo Li would spark all sorts of gossip if word got out.
A principal should look and act the part.

Ye Fanzhi stopped outside a Hanfu boutique, unable to move. She could feel a magnetic pull from within the shop. Glancing back to confirm Lin Ran had gone into Rolex, she darted—almost vanished—into the Hanfu store.
Ye Fanzhi was a true Hanfu enthusiast!
She didn’t really like wearing office attire; her current outfit was a misunderstanding of how a principal should dress. Her true love was Hanfu.

The moment she entered, her eyes lit up at the dazzling array of Hanfu styles from different eras.
A shop assistant approached her. "Miss, you’re welcome to try on anything you like."
"I’d like to try this one..." Ye Fanzhi began excitedly, then stopped herself. Wait, wasn’t she here to buy something suitable for work? How had she ended up in a Hanfu store?
Oh well, she was already here—she might as well buy some Hanfu first.

Unable to resist, Ye Fanzhi said, "This one, and this one, and this one too. Oh, and this dudou—I want to try them all."
The assistant handed her the Hanfu, and Ye Fanzhi rushed into the fitting room in excitement.

...

At the Rolex store—
"Mr. Lin, you were indeed running a bit over a second late. We apologize for any inconvenience. We’ll recalibrate it for you right away."
"Thank you. How long will it take?"
"About half an hour. You’re welcome to wait here."
"No need. I’ll go for a walk."

Lin Ran left the store and called Ye Fanzhi.
At that moment, inside the fitting room, Ye Fanzhi had just taken off her undergarments and was trying on a red dudou embroidered with mandarin ducks.

The ringtone chimed: [No One But You Loves Me ♪]
A call from an unknown number.
Ye Fanzhi wedged the phone between her neck and shoulder, her hands tying the red strings behind her back.
"Who is this?"
"Principal Ye, it’s Lin Ran."
"Lin Ran?"

Startled, Ye Fanzhi’s hands trembled and the dudou slipped to the floor. She stood there, bare-shouldered, in the fitting room. Rather than rushing to put it back on, she answered the call with one hand and weighed her ample figure with the other. The principal’s figure was truly impressive.

"Xiao Lin, how did you get my number?" Ye Fanzhi spoke with the commanding tone of a principal.
"I got your business card from your office. I just wanted to let you know there’s a great shop nearby—my mom and the other teachers all buy their clothes there."
"Thank you for your suggestion, but I’ve already found something suitable for myself."
"Alright, bye."

After hanging up, Ye Fanzhi picked up the dudou and tried it on. It didn’t fit. She called out, "Miss, this dudou is too small—it can’t hold anything. Could you bring me a larger size?"
"Of course, miss."

The assistant handed in a larger one. Ye Fanzhi put it on and checked the mirror—this one fit perfectly, and from the side, her figure was faintly visible.
This was the one.
She put on the Hanfu, tied the sash around her slender waist, pulled out the hair tie at the back of her head, and her ink-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
She opened the door and stepped out of the fitting room.

"Wow~"
Both the shop assistants and customers couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.
A young lady in pale blue Hanfu stepped out, embroidered shoes peeking from under her flowing skirt. The air conditioning caught the hair draped down her back, making it sway gently. Two delicate locks framed her face, falling across the Hanfu at her chest—she looked like someone who had just stepped out of an ancient painting.

Ye Fanzhi stood before the mirror, spun around, the skirt fluttering while her long hair swayed in the air, and the bells at her waist let out a crisp "jingle-jingle."
In an instant, the stern principal transformed into an elegant, classical lady.

She paused, then smiled in satisfaction. "This is the one!"
She paid via QR code, left the shop, and tossed her old office attire into a trash bin.

Stroking a lock of hair draped over her Hanfu, she muttered to herself, "Admiring my own beauty."
Being a stern principal was exhausting—this was the real Ye Fanzhi: unabashedly vain and delighted.

She walked confidently through Taikoo Li. Even though people stared in surprise, Ye Fanzhi wasn’t the least bit afraid—dressed like this, who would recognize her as a high school principal?

She bought a skewer of candied hawthorn, took a bite, and stomped her embroidered shoes in delight. "Wow~ So sweet and sour—it’s delicious!"

She noticed a crowd gathered ahead. Curious, Ye Fanzhi was drawn over, squeezing in to see a street singer performing. He seemed to be a small internet celebrity, which explained the large crowd.

Ye Fanzhi, ever fond of lively scenes, ate her candied fruit while enjoying the music. The crowd applauded, and she clapped along, "Great, great!"
Then she continued eating her treat.

She noticed someone nearby put a hundred yuan bill into the street singer’s guitar case.
"This guy is really generous!" Ye Fanzhi thought in admiration.

Just then, the "generous guy" stepped back and ended up standing right next to Ye Fanzhi.
When she turned and saw his face, it was Lin Ran!
Startled, Ye Fanzhi quickly turned her back to him.

Why him?
If he realized she’d just swapped her office clothes for Hanfu, her stern principal image would be utterly shattered.
Time to escape!

Ye Fanzhi hurried to leave, but just as she took a step, the street singer’s fans, hearing he was performing here, rushed over, squealing his name.
Seeing them coming, Ye Fanzhi, worried her candied hawthorn might poke someone, sidestepped to the right—only to run into a hefty fan who barreled into her with her 180-pound frame, sending Ye Fanzhi stumbling backward. She stepped on her Hanfu skirt, lost balance, and tumbled toward a greasy-looking middle-aged man.

"Ahhhhhh!"
Ye Fanzhi screamed in terror.
No, no, absolutely not.

In a panic, she instinctively grabbed onto Lin Ran’s arm, as if grabbing a lifeline.
!!!
Lin Ran suddenly felt a hand grip his arm—fingernails digging into his flesh. He turned to see a Hanfu-clad young woman pulling at him. Normally, he stood lazily, but the force of her pull unbalanced him and he toppled onto the panicked Hanfu girl.

In a flash, the Hanfu girl crashed to the ground and Lin Ran fell squarely on top of her soft, delicate form.
"Get off me!"
The Hanfu girl shoved Lin Ran away and quickly turned her head aside in distress.

Wait—
That voice sounded awfully familiar.
That perfume too.

Lin Ran could have sworn he knew this Hanfu-clad lady.
He crouched down, trying to get a look at her face.
She dodged to the right.
He moved to the right as well.
She covered her face altogether.

The more she tried to hide, the more certain Lin Ran became that he knew her.
Who could she be?
When did he ever meet a girl who wore Hanfu?
He wracked his brain—this style was completely unfamiliar.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Lin Ran reached out to pry her hand away and see for himself.
Ye Fanzhi struggled desperately.
It’s over—it’s all over. My disguise is about to be blown.
If she was going to be unmasked anyway, she’d rather own up herself and save some dignity.

Still covering her face, Ye Fanzhi spoke in embarrassment,
"Xiao Lin, don’t! It’s me—Principal Ye."