Dormitory Inspection

Monday, yet another sunless Monday.

The rain kept falling relentlessly.

Around Qingming Festival, the weather always turned capricious, shifting without warning.

Lin Mo held a black umbrella, its frame slightly worn—just something he’d grabbed casually from behind the door.

Truthfully, he didn’t fear the rain. His clothes repelled water effortlessly, not a single drop clinging to the fabric.

But walking among ordinary people like that would draw too much attention—far too unusual.

So he had no choice but to carry an umbrella.

A week after Qingming, an unexpected tropical cyclone swept through the city, bringing stifling humidity.

The rain did nothing to dispel the heat. Instead, it mingled with the damp air, filling the surroundings with a musty, almost tangible odor.

As the locals in eastern Guangdong would say—it reeked of mold.

Of course, such smells never touched Lin Mo.

His clothes remained perpetually fresh and dry, carrying only the faint scent of laundry detergent.

After all, he could channel spiritual energy like a makeshift dryer. A quick surge of energy, and freshly washed clothes would evaporate dry in an instant—soft, fragrant, skipping the hassle of hanging them out.

These little tricks came to him effortlessly.

Xie Yuling walked quietly beside him under a pale blue umbrella.

Her uniform bore no trace of mildew either, her hair just as dry and neat.

Her home had a proper dryer, so this weather posed no issue.

Well, Lin Mo’s place didn’t.

The two entered the school side by side, each under their own umbrella.

"This rain… it’s so sticky. Unpleasant," Xie Yuling muttered, her voice nearly drowned out by the downpour as she frowned slightly.

She leaned imperceptibly closer to Lin Mo, as if dodging a gust of wind laced with moisture.

Lin Mo hummed in agreement. "Yeah, it is."

His fingers twitched almost imperceptibly around the umbrella handle. A subtle current of energy shifted, redirecting the wind and rain away from them, shielding them from the dampness.

The breeze turned crisp.

Xie Yuling only noticed the discomfort fading but didn’t dwell on it.

They walked in silence as the school gate grew crowded. Most students hurried past, some with soaked pant legs and shoes, irritation plain on their faces.

Lin Mo had barely stepped inside when his homeroom teacher, Chen Xiaoya, called out to him.

She was on duty today, occasionally tasked with checking students’ appearances at the entrance.

"Lin Mo, could you drop your things in the classroom first, then come back down? I’ll need you to help with dorm inspections later," Chen Xiaoya said, her tone light but expectant.

Dorm inspections?

Lin Mo’s brow lifted almost imperceptibly. That was new.

As far as he remembered, such public duties were always reserved for the class monitor, Ma Ruixiang.

"Shouldn’t the class monitor handle this?"

"Ma Ruixiang called in sick today—said he’s running a fever and resting at home. Since you’re here, just fill in for once. It’ll be quick."

Chen Xiaoya sounded casual, and Lin Mo didn’t mind.

Dorm checks were mostly for show anyway—just trailing the teacher, making rounds.

They were all peers, after all. Unless a room looked like a landfill, it’d pass.

He sped upstairs with his bag. Xie Yuling was shaking out her umbrella, the frame clicking softly as water droplets scattered.

She glanced at him, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Boys’ dorms must be a mess, huh?"

Lin Mo shot her a look. "Stereotyping. Teachers check daily—they’re not that bad."

In the classroom, Jiang Yunlu’s seat was still empty.

Lin Mo turned to Chu Miaomiao. "If the morning homeroom teacher asks where I am, just say Chen Xiaoya took me for dorm checks."

Chu Miaomiao looked up, her large, dewy eyes blinking as she nodded vigorously. "Got it," she murmured, voice feather-soft.

Lin Mo handed in his homework and headed back downstairs with his umbrella.

By the time he reached the entrance, Chen Xiaoya had been joined by the stern-faced discipline head, Li Yan, who stood under the security booth’s awning with his hands behind his back, scrutinizing passing students.

"Good morning, teachers," Lin Mo greeted politely.

At least he’d never used Li Yan’s nickname behind his back.

Li Yan gave a slight nod.

Seeing Lin Mo, Chen Xiaoya turned to Li Yan. "We’ll head to the dorms now, then. The gate is in your hands, Director Li."

"Go ahead. I’ll manage here," Li Yan replied flatly.

Chen Xiaoya led Lin Mo across the field toward the dormitory area at the school’s rear.

The boys’ and girls’ dorms stood distinctly apart.

Inspections were divided by grade, so Chen Xiaoya naturally oversaw their own year’s section.

"Lin Mo, do you know what dorm checks actually involve?"

"Not really. Ma Ruixiang never mentioned details."

Lin Mo genuinely had no clue.

"It’s simple," Chen Xiaoya said, pulling a checklist from her folder.

"Sanitation first—like no trash in the bins in the morning."

Classic.

"And no clothes hanging haphazardly inside, especially wet ones—only the balcony drying area.

Mosquito nets must be properly hung, not drooping.

Blankets folded neatly.

Then there’s checking for prohibited appliances—like immersion heaters, hair dryers…

But most importantly, we’re looking for students who skipped morning classes."

That was the real goal—catching stragglers.

Lin Mo took the checklist and, following Chen Xiaoya’s lead, began inspecting room by room.

The master key came from the dorm supervisor.

Spotting an unwashed instant noodle cup, Lin Mo marked a deduction.

"Tsk. Such a waste. A proper steel pot and bagged noodles would save so much money," he muttered, shaking his head—just a practical observation.

Chen Xiaoya seemed to misinterpret it. Hesitantly, she asked, "Lin Mo, are you… facing financial difficulties? If you need help, you can tell me."

"Huh?"

Lin Mo blinked, then laughed awkwardly.

"No, teacher, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m fine—scholarships and stipends cover everything. More than enough."

Relief washed over Chen Xiaoya’s face.

If Lin Mo’s grades slipped due to money troubles, it’d be a problem.

Understanding the concern, Lin Mo just smiled and moved to the next dorm.

After checking every room, they confirmed no one had stayed behind.

"Seems peaceful today," Chen Xiaoya remarked, reclaiming the checklist with visible relief.

"Usually, only those too sick to move skip class. Roommates wake each other up."

Unless someone was being deliberately ignored.

However, these words were spoken only in Lin Mo's heart.