6 5. Meeting The Dark Lord

"Huh? You want to become... our brother?" Luo Shao pointed at themselves.

Chen Jingyun quickly nodded, bouncing her hair and dizzying herself.

"Sorry, no, you are too short for us. You don't fit our image. Next." Su Long kept a straight face as if he was the agent to some prestigious model academy.

"Hey!" Chen Jingyun pouted looking extremely cute. "I'm just looking to be friends. Don't brothers go out on all sorts of adventures and have each other's back?" She tilted her head.

"Oh, he's young and naive!" Luo Shao teared up dramatically as he clutched his chest. "He doesn't know the true tight bond of brotherhood! So pitiful..."

Chen Jingyun's eyebrow twitched, but she kept her smile.

Of course, I don't know... I'm just basing myself off manga...

"So, will you accept me?"

She put on her best pleading eyes, looking extremely cute.

Seeing that face, Su Long couldn't help but begin to consider her. Honestly, they were lacking a cute factor... maybe he's a good fit after all?

"Well." Su Long started to reconsider.

"Yes?" Chen Jingyun looked even more hopeful.

"You could be... our mascot!" Su Long snapped his fingers with a proud smirk.

"Pff!" Luo Shao burst into a laugh. "A mascot... oh my, I always thought we were tigers, not kittens!"

Meanwhile, Chen Jingyun's eyebrows only kept on twitching.

"I prefer the little brother status. Is there a vacancy?" She insisted.

"That depends, who's auditioning?" A deep yet light voice entered the scene.

Turning to look at the voice's owner, Chen JIngyun was met with one of the most captivating sights she had ever encountered.

He was tall, handsome, fit, and exceptional in presence. He was dark-haired and wildly entrancing, commanding for her attention.

Or, in Chen Jingyun's words.

Criminally handsome.

Arching his eyebrow beautifully like royalty, the dark-haired young man glanced down at her.

"So, you want to join our group?"

Seeing that cold and unfriendly stare looking down on her, Chen Jingyun was shaken out of her matchmaking thoughts.

The boy that looked like prince charming was actually the dark lord!

Ay, what made him so cold and dark? Chen Jingyun lamented. What a pity... She can't hook him up with any of her friends...

Who on earth would be into the dark lord type?

Shaking her thoughts away, Chen Jingyun gave a cheerful response. "Yup!"

Narrowing his eyes, the dark-haired young man increased his strong presence on her. He looked even more unfriendly.

"Why?"

Any normal person would feel threatened and scrutinized, yet to Chen Jingyun his pressure didn't affect her much. After all, she grew up in her grandfather's care.

However, as a boy looking for friends, this one word felt like he was sending her to the highest mountains of Alaska on the coldest night...

"Uh... I think you guys are quite fun?" Chen Jingyun probed honestly with a sheepish smile.

She didn't have any more reasons than this!

In response, the dark lord pursed his lips in rejection...

Looking at the dire situation of the little guy, Luo Shao came to the rescue. He didn't mind giving Chen Jingyun the chance to join their group.

"Ha ha ha!" Luo Shao awkwardly laughed as he bravely placed his hand on the dark-haired man's shoulder, ignoring the icy glance sent his way. "Actually, this little boy is quite likable. Besides, aren't we missing a fourth roommate?"

Luo Shao then blinked meaningfully at Su Long as he held a big smile.

'HELP ME!'

Catching his friend's signal, Su Long hesitated for a few seconds. He didn't know what to think of such a short and cute guy... that looked too much like a girl.

Nonetheless, he still spoke in her favor... in his way.

"Sure, we can also kick him out if he turns out to be an annoying fly by the end of the month." Su Long offered with a careless shrug.

Snapping her head at Su Long, Chen Jingyun made a tiny pout out of habit.

'Alright, alright. Fine! I guess I will have to earn my spot after all.' She told herself with an exasperated voice in her mind.

She then smiled at the three of them with a resolute and determined smile.

"Sure, give me a one month trial! If you guys don't like me, you can kick me out!"

Narrowing his eyes at the tiny guy in front of him, scrutinizing him. His thoughts and feelings shrouded in a concealing fog.

Everyone waited for his verdict.

In the end, with slightly pursed lips, the dark-haired young man made his decision.

"One month trial."

It was cold and curt, but it was enough for Chen Jingyun.

It was an opportunity.

"Yay! I swear you won't regret this." Chen Jingyun smiled brightly looking like a child that got her candy.

Luo Shao let go of the dark lord and slung his arms on Chen Jingyun's shoulders in a brother-like fashion.

"Don't worry, little boy! As long as you call me Big Brother Luo, I will advocate for your stay!" He raised his fist heroically.

He was especially keen on Chen Jingyun's cute persona.

On the side, Su Long only shook his head.

"I'm already regretting it." Su Long said monotonously.

In turn, he received a punch from Chen Jingyun.

"Shut up!"

"Hey, that's not how a little brother should treat a brother." Su Long raised his chin trying to look authoritative. "Say it, Brother Su!"

Chen Jingyun only stuck her tongue out. "I don't want to, pretty boy!"

Clicking his tongue, Su Long began to roll his sleeves up. "Pretty boy, huh?"

If anything, Su Long wanted to be a manly boy, not a pretty boy!

On the side, Luo Shao held his hands up as he looked at the two kids. The gangster looking guy acting as the mediator.

"Oh no, friends, we are friends, right? So, let's not fight!"

But alas, Chen Jingyun and Su Long only ignored him and kept firing shots at each other.

Unbeknownst to her, the dark-haired young man had been inspecting her the whole time. His eyes were dark yet they possessed a glint. He was filled with curiosity and wonder.

His intuition told him there was something amiss, that this guy was actually a girl, but... logic also told him it was impossible.

Sighing, the dark lord shook his head and tried to bury his thoughts.

Maybe he was thinking too much.

Maybe the little guy just looked more feminine and that's it.

He will just accept him as he comes.

"Alright." He commanded for their attention, not a hint of his previous thoughts were left nor shown.

Quieting down, the three of them stopped their ruckus and focused on the icy young man.

Lifting his hands in a graceful move, the dark lord pointed at Chen Jingyun and issued his orders.

"Get him checked one last time and then leave to the admission hall."

Then, he pointed at himself.

"I'll check in first, and get the keys."

The dark lord finished his decree.

"Sure!" Luo Shao hopped off immediately. "I will get the nurse."

The dark lord nodded in response and started leaving. His broad back the only view left of him.

"Wait!" Chen Jingyun called out.

Pausing, the three young men looked back at her with questioning eyes.

"What... What are your names?" Chen Jingyun smiled sheepishly.

She couldn't keep calling them, gangster, pretty boy, and dark lord, could she?

"Oh, right! We didn't introduce ourselves. " Luo Shao snapped his fingers. "I'm Luo Shao but you can call me Big Brother Luo!" He hit himself in the chest with pride.

On the side, Su Long only rolled his eyes at his dramatic friend.

"I'm Su Long. But you should call me Brother Su." He raised his chin up arrogantly.

At last, the dark lord, who seemed to be so against her a few moments ago, revealed a nice mesmerizing smile.

"I'm Li Minghao. Nice to meet you."