My Name Is Xiao Wu-the Wu in Dancing

Dorm Seven stood at the westernmost end of the dormitory building. The red paint on its door had faded, and it was peeling at the corners.

Lin Yuan pushed the door open.

The room was more spacious than he had imagined, with more than a dozen metal bunk beds, though only seven or eight people lived there. Several children, some sitting and some standing, turned in unison at the sound. Their eyes settled on Lin Yuan in the doorway, sizing him up.

"New here?"

A tall boy jumped down from a bed and reached Lin Yuan in a few strides. He stood more than half a head taller than Lin Yuan, with dark skin and sharply defined muscles in his arms. Several lackeys followed behind him, forming a loose circle around Lin Yuan.

"Wang Sheng. Martial Soul: War Tiger. Boss of Dorm Seven." The boy lifted his chin. "Those are the rules for work-study students: newcomers have to fight. Win, and you're the boss. Lose, and you listen to me from now on."

Lin Yuan looked at him, then at the eager faces of the lackeys behind him.

"I'm not interested in being boss."

Wang Sheng froze for a moment, then grinned. "Interested or not, you have to fight. Those are the rules."

He swung a fist.

It came straight for Lin Yuan's face, sharp and fast, backed by the power of his War Tiger Martial Soul. Wang Sheng had held back some of his strength. The newcomer looked much smaller than him, after all, and he didn't want to hurt him.

But his fist stopped before it touched Lin Yuan's face.

Lin Yuan had reached out and caught his wrist in five fingers. The movement wasn't fast, but its precision was as if he had calculated it in advance. Wang Sheng felt as though an iron clamp had seized his wrist. He couldn't put any strength into his arm or pull it free.

"You—"

Before he could finish, the world spun.

Lin Yuan turned his wrist, borrowed the force of Wang Sheng's charge, and gave a light pull and throw. Wang Sheng flew through the air, flipped over, and hit the floor with a thud, sending up a cloud of dust.

The dormitory fell silent.

The lackeys' mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg. Wang Sheng lay on the floor, still dazed. He hadn't even seen how he'd gone flying.

Lin Yuan walked over and held out a hand.

Wang Sheng stared blankly at it. After a moment's hesitation, he took it. Lin Yuan pulled him up and brushed the dust from his shoulder.

"I told you. I'm not interested in being boss."

Wang Sheng swallowed and gave a rueful smile. "You beat me. By the rules, you're the boss of Dorm Seven now."

"I really don't want to be."

"That won't do." Wang Sheng was stubborn. "Rules are rules. If you won't take the spot, Dorm Seven won't have a boss."

Lin Yuan was about to refuse again when a clear voice came from the doorway.

"Excuse me, is this Dorm Seven?"

Everyone turned at once.

A pretty young girl stood in the doorway, about Lin Yuan's age and height. Her rosy face looked like a ripe peach. Her long black hair was braided into a scorpion braid that hung past her hips. Curiosity shone in her large, bright eyes, and she held a brand-new school uniform in her arms.

The boys in the dormitory couldn't take their eyes off her.

Wang Sheng swallowed and whispered to Lin Yuan, "Boss, another newcomer. Go on."

"Go on and do what?"

"Show her who's boss."

Lin Yuan rolled his eyes. "I don't fight girls."

But the girl at the door smiled. She blinked her large eyes and swept her gaze around the room. It finally came to rest on Lin Yuan, then shifted to Wang Sheng, who had just gotten up off the floor.

"I think I heard someone say the strongest person here gets to be boss?"

Wang Sheng nodded quickly. "Right, right. He just beat me, so he's the boss now. If you want the spot, you have to beat him."

"Interesting."

Xiao Wu set her uniform on an empty bed, excitement showing on her face. She looked at Lin Yuan, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth.

"What's your name?"

"Lin Yuan."

"I'm Xiao Wu—the Wu in dancing." She tilted her head. "So, want to fight?"

Lin Yuan looked at her and sighed. "I really don't want to be boss. Whoever wants the spot can have it, all right?"

"Nope."

Xiao Wu's smile grew sweeter. Before the word had left her mouth, her right knee had bent and sprung upward. Her toes shot toward Lin Yuan's chin. The kick was extremely fast and not very powerful, but it came from a tricky angle.

Lin Yuan's pupils narrowed.

He slipped to the left, avoiding the kick, while his right hand reached for Xiao Wu's ankle. The grab should have been certain, but the moment his fingertips touched her skin, she slipped through his grasp.

Xiao Wu's body was unbelievably flexible. Her missed kick swept sideways, and her leg came to rest on Lin Yuan's shoulder. She lifted her other leg too, her whole body moving like a boneless snake as both legs wrapped around his neck.

"Hey—"

Xiao Wu put strength into her legs, trying to throw Lin Yuan backward.

Then she froze.

Lin Yuan hadn't budged.

He stood where he was, feet rooted to the floor. Xiao Wu's grappling technique relied on turning an opponent's strength against them, but Lin Yuan's feet might as well have been welded down. Her legs locked around his neck, yet she couldn't even make him sway.

"How is that possible—"

Unwilling to give up, Xiao Wu tried again. She tightened her legs, twisted her waist, and brought all her flexibility and explosive strength to bear.

Lin Yuan still didn't move.

He reached up and took hold of Xiao Wu's ankle. His touch was light, but an irresistible force immediately came from his hand. She tried to pull free, only to find she couldn't move at all. That hand wasn't gripping her; it was locking her in place. His five fingers were like steel nails pinning her ankle joint fast.

Xiao Wu tried once more and failed again.

She pouted, released him with her legs, and landed lightly on the floor.

"I'm done, I'm done! How are you so strong?"

Lin Yuan let go and rubbed his neck. That move hadn't thrown him, but having two legs locked around his neck hadn't felt good.

"So you lost?"

"I lost, I lost." Xiao Wu admitted it readily, then turned to Wang Sheng. "I accept him as boss."

The words had barely left her mouth when her gaze landed on Lin Yuan's arms.

Guga had poked half its head out and was watching Xiao Wu curiously with bean-black eyes.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at once.

"Wow—what is that? It's so cute!"

She crouched in front of Guga. Guga tilted its head and blinked. Xiao Wu reached out and carefully stroked the top of its head. Guga didn't dodge. Instead, it nuzzled her palm.

"So soft! So cute! What's its name?"

"Guga."

"Guga?" Xiao Wu giggled. "Even its name is cute!"

The praise went to Guga's head. It jumped out of Lin Yuan's arms, spun around, and waved its two little short arms as if showing off.

Xiao Wu was completely won over. She hugged Guga and refused to let go.

Only after a good while did she remember why she was there. She looked at the empty beds in the dormitory, then at Lin Yuan, and her eyes darted.

"Hey, where's my bed?"

Wang Sheng pointed to an empty bed in the corner. "Over there. Pick whichever you want."

Xiao Wu glanced at it, then at the empty bed beside Lin Yuan's. A sly smile spread across her face.

"I'll sleep here."

Lin Yuan frowned.

"That's the bed next to mine."

"I know." Xiao Wu sounded entirely justified. "If I sleep next to you, I can help look after Guga."

"No."

Lin Yuan pointed at his bare bed frame. "Besides, boys and girls shouldn't be so close."

Xiao Wu paused. She looked down at her own bed frame. It was bare too.

"I... I don't have any bedding."

She felt in one pocket, then the other, her face reddening a little. "I don't have any money either."

Lin Yuan looked at her, then at his own empty bed frame.

"I'll pay for yours first. You can pay me back when you have money."

Xiao Wu looked up, her eyes brightening. Then she lowered her head again and said softly, "Thank you."

"Come on." Lin Yuan stood. "Let's buy some bedding."

Xiao Wu scooped up Guga and followed him.

How had this girl managed to be even more trouble than Guga?

They were just about to leave the dormitory when someone came in through the door.

It was a small, thin figure in coarse clothes washed pale, clutching a registration card. Tang San.

They passed each other. Tang San's gaze lingered on Lin Yuan for a moment, but Lin Yuan kept walking past him.

Wang Sheng's voice came from behind them. "Another one? What's your name?"

"Tang San."

The two of them left the dormitory and headed toward the academy's back gate. Wang Sheng called after them, "Boss, come back soon after you buy your bedding! The dining hall will close if you're late!"

Lin Yuan didn't look back. He raised a hand and waved.

Xiao Wu leaned closer and whispered, "You really don't want to be boss?"

"No."

"Then how about I take the spot?"

"Go ahead."

"Great! From now on, I'm the big sister of Dorm Seven!" Xiao Wu held Guga up and spun in place. "Guga's the deputy big sister!"

"Guga, Guga!"

Lin Yuan watched the girl and Guga celebrate, then rubbed his brow.

Maybe coming to Nuoding Academy wasn't such a bad thing after all. But would life here be even livelier than he'd imagined?

The answer was yes.