Supporting Dry-Wet Separation

Su Qi grew increasingly uneasy the more he thought about it.

Liu Yuan couldn't help but laugh at the ever-changing expressions on Su Qi's face.

"Brother, where did you hear all these strange rumors?"

"Sure, the cost of living in Demon City might be a bit higher, but it's not as exaggerated as you're making it out to be!"

Su Qi gave her a skeptical look.

"Besides, I'm a full-time student—the academy provides housing and meals," Liu Yuan added.

"As for you, Brother, as an auditor, tuition and fees are waived. You just need to figure out food and lodging."

Su Qi relaxed slightly, though the pressure still weighed heavily on him.

He knew most of it was probably exaggeration, but where there's smoke, there's fire.

The high-speed train raced forward, the scenery outside the window blurring past.

Su Qi now strongly suspected that Jiang Xia, that old fox, had deliberately set him up.

What "Honorary Guardian"? What "special privileges"? All empty titles—dumping him in Demon City to fend for himself was the real plan!

Meanwhile, Liu Yuan occasionally snapped photos of the passing scenery or secretly captured Su Qi's furrowed, troubled expression, giggling to herself.

Finally, the sweet voice of the train announcement informed passengers that they would soon arrive at Demon City's Hongqiao Station.

Su Qi peered through the window at the city gradually revealing itself.

The station hall was absurdly spacious, with a soaring futuristic dome. Despite the bustling crowds, it never felt cramped.

Everyone moved with purpose, their faces carrying the distinct aloofness and busyness of a metropolis.

Liu Yuan, however, was brimming with excitement, tugging at Su Qi's arm and looking around in wide-eyed wonder.

"Brother, should we take a taxi to the academy?"

Su Qi glanced at the long line in the taxi queue, then silently pulled out his phone to check the map.

"Let's take the subway," he decided firmly.

Liu Yuan had no objections and obediently followed Su Qi into the crowded metro.

Even the subway system was far more complex than Jiangxia City's.

Fortunately, Su Qi's sense of direction—

Fortunately, the unreliable navigation app provided clear enough directions.

After several transfers, they finally reached the station closest to the academy.

The moment they stepped out, a wave of heat and urban clamor hit them.

Skyscrapers loomed everywhere.

Su Qi checked the unreliable map again.

Only six hundred meters to go.

Not far at all.

He just hoped it wouldn’t guide them to the back gate this time.

Su Qi wasn’t the type to take shortcuts.

A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

"Magus Card Academy."

The four flamboyant, gilded characters were engraved on a massive stone slab at the academy’s entrance.

This was actually the abbreviated name—the full title was "Demon City’s First Card Academy."

Cars streamed in and out of the gates, many of them clearly expensive private vehicles.

Most of the young people stepping out were dressed impeccably, radiating confidence.

Carrying Liu Yuan’s oversized suitcase, with her clinging to his arm, Su Qi followed the crowd inside.

The campus was enormous, with meticulously maintained greenery and buildings of varying architectural styles—blending classical grandeur with modern flair.

"Brother, look! It’s so beautiful!" Liu Yuan chirped, still holding onto his arm.

Su Qi nodded absently, his attention fixed on the students passing by.

Just as he’d expected, judging by their attire alone, it was clear that many came from well-off families.

The registration area was set up in a massive building resembling a sports arena.

Inside, the noise was deafening, with welcome banners strung up everywhere.

Upperclassmen from various departments enthusiastically greeted new students and their parents.

As a special admit, Liu Yuan had a dedicated express lane and quickly completed her enrollment, receiving her student ID and dorm key.

For Su Qi, the process was slightly more complicated.

"Auditor?" The registrar, a bespectacled middle-aged woman, adjusted her glasses and scrutinized Su Qi’s documents.

"Recommended by the Jiangxia Guardian…" she muttered, eyeing him with curiosity.

"Tch, only seventh-tier at this age? No real potential. Why even bother with a special recommendation? Just causing trouble."

Her voice was quiet, but Su Qi heard every word.

He remained expressionless, letting her inspect him.

Right now, he just wanted to finish the paperwork and find somewhere to rest.

"Su Qi, your auditor status is confirmed. However, auditors aren’t assigned permanent dorm rooms. You’ll need to arrange off-campus housing or apply for temporary on-campus apartments—though beds are limited and prices are steep."

The woman spoke in a strictly professional tone.

Su Qi nodded in acknowledgment.

Attend lectures? Yeah, right.

A college life without skipping class is incomplete.

"Here’s your campus access card. The course schedule and academy regulations are included—review them when you have time."

"Brother, all done?" Liu Yuan sidled up to him.

"Yeah. Let’s go—I’ll take you to your dorm first."

Liu Yuan happily linked arms with him again.

Exiting the arena, they were met with the same lively bustle outside.

Su Qi carried Liu Yuan’s massive suitcase in one hand while she dragged him along with the other, heading toward the girls’ dormitory area.

Magus Card Academy’s female dormitories were impressively designed, occupying a secluded corner of the campus with strict security measures.

Several new apartment buildings stood amid lush greenery, their warm beige exteriors dotted with potted plants on the balconies.

"Wow, these buildings are gorgeous!" Liu Yuan’s exclamations never ceased.

Su Qi hummed noncommittally, already calculating where he could crash later.

At the entrance to Liu Yuan’s assigned dorm, a uniformed resident advisor—a woman in her fifties with sharp eyes—stopped them, scrutinizing Su Qi and the oversized suitcase in his grip.

"New student?" Her voice was loud and clear.

Liu Yuan nodded eagerly. "Hello, ma’am! I’m here to move in today."

"Mm. During move-in, male helpers are allowed to carry luggage upstairs," the RA said, pointing at Su Qi. "But remember—under normal circumstances, boys aren’t permitted inside the girls’ dorms!"

Her tone carried a clear warning.

"Understood! Thank you!" Liu Yuan replied sweetly.

Su Qi also nodded in agreement.

Liu Yuan’s room was on the third floor.

The hallway had clean, anti-slip tiles and bright white walls with excellent lighting.

At the correct door, Liu Yuan swiped her new student card over the lock. A beep sounded, and the door clicked open.

When they stepped inside, even Su Qi was mildly surprised.

The dorm conditions far exceeded his expectations.

Though it was a standard quad, the space was remarkably spacious—Su Qi estimated it at around a hundred square meters.

Each bunk had a built-in desk, wardrobe, and storage unit below.

The desks were wide, with network ports and multiple power outlets nearby.

The center of the room had ample open space, and the light wood-grain flooring was spotless.

The window-side spot even had a small balcony for drying clothes, and the view wasn’t bad either.

Each person even had their own private bathroom and shower stall, with a proper dry-wet separation.

"Wow! Big bro, this dorm is amazing!"

Liu Yuan set down her small bag and excitedly circled the room, touching this and examining that.

The conditions here were even better than some standard rooms in budget hotels back in Jiangxia City.

Su Qi dragged the heavy suitcase inside and left it by the door.

Truthfully, the Magic Card Academy was fully capable of providing each student with a single dorm room spanning over thirty square meters.

But there was no need.

Part of the college experience was having roommates.

"It’s pretty good."

Liu Yuan’s treatment as an official student was indeed decent.

The dorm was still empty for now, with the other three beds unoccupied and the desks spotless.

Liu Yuan chose the bed by the window and placed her small bag on the desk.

Su Qi helped her move the large suitcase next to the bed.

"Alright, your stuff’s here. You can take your time unpacking. I need to go find a place to stay."

Su Qi clapped his hands together, ready to leave.

He figured he’d first look for a youth hostel or a short-term rental near the academy to get by for a few days. Once he got familiar with the area, he could find a long-term place.

Otherwise, he’d easily get ripped off as an out-of-towner.

What?

He was an out-of-towner?

Never mind then.

Hearing this, the excitement on Liu Yuan’s face faded noticeably.

She walked up to Su Qi, tugged at his sleeve, and said softly, "Big bro..."

"Hm? What’s up?" Su Qi looked at her.

Liu Yuan bit her lip, gazing up at him with pleading, dependent eyes. "I don’t want to stay in the dorm anymore."

Su Qi was taken aback. "Not stay in the dorm? Why? The conditions here are great, aren’t they?"

He didn’t understand—for a student, this dorm was practically luxurious.

"It is great..." Liu Yuan lowered her head, her voice even quieter. "But I don’t want to live alone."

"How is it alone? You’ve got three roommates."

Liu Yuan puffed up like an angry pufferfish.

Su Qi’s emotional intelligence was truly abysmal.

"Let’s rent a place together outside, okay?"

Su Qi frowned.

His sister blinked her big eyes. "Since you’re looking for a place anyway, we can live together and take care of each other."

Su Qi was momentarily speechless.

That… actually made a bit of sense?

But the real question was, would they really be taking care of each other?

"Bro, please?" Seeing Su Qi waver, Liu Yuan pressed on. "Dorms have so many rules—lights out, room checks. It’s so restrictive. Living on our own would be way more free."

Watching her like this, Su Qi’s heart softened.

He knew how much Liu Yuan relied on him.

"Alright," Su Qi said after a pause. "I’ll look for a suitable place nearby first. You can stay in the dorm normally, but on mornings without classes and weekends, you can stay with me."

"Otherwise, morning classes would be too much of a hassle."

Liu Yuan’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "Got it!"

Su Qi shook his head helplessly at his sister’s renewed cheer.

At least he wouldn’t have to spar fourteen times a week now.

Truly, you had to fight for what you wanted!

……

After making things clear with Liu Yuan, Su Qi left the girls’ dormitory.

The dorm supervisor was still sitting at the entrance. She gave him a brief glance as he passed but said nothing.

He pulled out his phone and started searching for rental listings near the academy.

The results were staggering.

The prices around the Magic Card Academy were downright outrageous.

Furnished single apartments in decent condition started at twice the rent of comparable places in Jiangxia City.

And listings disappeared fast—hesitate for a second, and they were gone.

Su Qi frowned.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford it, but it felt like a rip-off.

He decided to walk around first.

The Magic Card Academy occupied a vast area, and its surroundings had developed into a bustling commercial and residential district.

Su Qi strolled along the streets bordering the campus. Ten minutes in, he hadn’t spotted a single "For Rent" sign.

Finally, he stopped by a real estate agency.

"Young man, looking to rent?"

"Yeah, somewhere quiet and close to the academy," Su Qi replied.

"We’ve got plenty of great options!" The agent immediately pulled out a stack of flyers. "Check this out—a high-end apartment by the south gate, fully furnished, all appliances included. Just eight thousand a month!"

Su Qi’s lips twitched.

Eight thousand? Highway robbery.

"Too expensive. Anything more reasonable?"

"Reasonable, huh..." The agent’s eyes darted. "There’s a shared room in an older complex for twenty-five hundred, but the roommates might be… unpredictable."

Su Qi thought about it and declined.

He needed a relatively private space for sparring, and sharing wouldn’t work.

After turning down the agent’s "enthusiastic recommendations," Su Qi continued wandering aimlessly.

Before he knew it, he turned into a quiet alley.

The atmosphere here was a world apart from the noisy commercial streets—low-rise houses and small courtyard buildings covered in ivy, exuding a serene charm.

The air even carried a faint herbal freshness.

Su Qi slowed his steps, surprised that such a place existed near the Magic Card Academy.

The alley wasn’t deep. At the end stood a three-story building.

A simple wooden plaque hung at the entrance, inscribed with three brushstrokes: "Serendipity Lodge."

The calligraphy was bold and elegant, full of character.

The gate was slightly ajar, suggesting someone was inside.

Su Qi hesitated—this didn’t seem like a place that offered lodging.

But just then—

With a creak, the gate opened a little wider.

An elderly man with graying hair and a plain traditional jacket peered out, lazily fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

His face was lean, but his eyes were sharp as they sized up Su Qi.

"Are you a student at the Magic Card Academy?"

"No, my younger sister is a new student. I’m here to drop her off and find a place to stay nearby."

Su Qi answered honestly.

The old man hummed and opened the gate further, stepping aside. "Would you like to see what I have here?"

Su Qi thanked him and stepped into the courtyard.

The yard wasn’t large but was meticulously kept.

A cobblestone path wound between potted plants, and a grapevine hung with unripe clusters curled in one corner.

A stone table and stools sat in the center.

The old man led Su Qi to the table and poured him a cup of tea.

The brew was clear, carrying a subtle herbal fragrance.

"This isn’t a hotel or a rental apartment," the old man said slowly. "Just some spare rooms I occasionally offer to those who seem… serendipitous."