“Another new student? Do you all prefer to register after the semester’s already started?”

The admissions director was slightly surprised to see the girl enter. Snow-white hair peeked from under her hat, and her eyes held a strangely eerie blue hue—he’d mistaken her for a delinquent girl with dyed hair and colored contacts.

“I’m sorry. There was a family matter,” Lan Yiyang murmured apologetically while handing over her documents.

“Contacts or perms are fine, but the school doesn’t allow dyed hair. Your hair…”

“I’m truly sorry—it’s natural. There’s something… different about my body…”

“Natural?” Skeptical, the director stood and gently touched Lan Yiyang’s short hair.

Cool and smooth, finer and softer than average. After having her remove her hat and checking the roots, he confirmed it wasn’t dyed.

“Well then… The empty room’s on the fifth floor. You…”

“Could I have a room to myself?” Lan Yiyang cut in quickly. She carried trauma from shared dorms—bullied by roommates throughout middle and high school.

More importantly, she needed to cleanse the dorm’s malevolent entities. Carrying a little spirit made sharing inconvenient. Though harmless to others, being seen would raise questions, and exorcisms required privacy.

“Why does everyone ask this? The last girl wanted a single room too. Fine… Take it. Plenty of empty rooms up there.”

“Wait—if she’s alone in a room, I’ll room with her.”

Lan Yiyang didn’t know who the girl was, but instinct flared: the fifth floor was the nightmare’s origin. At night, those things would target the least-populated room—she’d be first.

She’d sworn to protect everyone.

So she chose to room with Dr. Chen.

“That’s better. Lights-out’s early. Bathroom trips alone at night? Scary. A roommate’s safer.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Chen, carrying his toiletries and bedding, neared the girls’ dorm.

“Hey, miss! Need a hand? Looks heavy,” a guy called out as Dr. Chen passed the boys’ dorm, stepping forward eagerly.

To them, Dr. Chen appeared as a girl in a white shirt and jeans with a curvaceous figure. Hair shadowing her eyes seemed odd—but that silhouette instantly drew a would-be flirt.

“No need.” Dr. Chen felt uneasy. He didn’t find the load heavy.

“No trouble at all!” Assuming shyness, the boy reached for the bedding roll.

“No. Don’t make me say it again.” Tainted by the Crimson Robe’s aura, his voice carried a hint of coldness. The boy flinched back.

Dr. Chen shook him off and moved on.

“Haha! Finally put that jerk in his place—he’s always lurking here to hit on girls. Hi, I’m—” A girl at the dorm entrance smiled warmly, but before she finished…

“Oh.” Dr. Chen replied flatly and walked inside without looking back.

Truth was, he’d dreamed of chatting with a girl for years—a lifelong bachelor’s fantasy. But not now. His wife was watching. Closely.

“So stuck-up. Tch…” The girl scowled at his retreating back.