Chapter 78 78: Living Under the Same Roof
The admissions officer tracked and reproduced a video of each person's performance in this test alone, sent it to the students who took the entrance test this time, and informed them to go home and wait for the notice of supplementary admission.
The three selected individuals, including Qiao Suisui, received the entrance guide and admission offer personally presented by Dr. Li. Among the applause and envy of the crowd, Qiao Suisui, Anubis, and Li Yi went up to the stage to receive their certificates. Looking at the males cheering for her below the stage, she felt this moment was somewhat unreal.
She had really done it, standing out among a group of males.
Wherever she went, people told her under the guise of 'protection' not to do this, not to do that, just because she was a female.
When she opened the Freedom Inn, people would comment that it was "idle," "unnecessary," "just making trouble for herself, she could easily spend a man's money," "why must she do everything herself"....
She wanted to leave Auslan to see the world and improve herself through education, and people would say, "It's so dangerous out there, why run around?" "It's like a lamb entering a tiger's den," "Seriously, what's the need?" "Just control the men and that's enough"....
No one told her, you can create everything you want, take action, create, even if the results are not as expected, but during the process, you will definitely gain experiences you never had before. Whether in this world or the original one, people always encourage men to compete, to pioneer, to take responsibility, while women should be obedient, gentle, with a good temperament to marry into a good family. 'It's terrible for women to marry the wrong man and men to choose the wrong profession' are the most typical examples of invisible disciplines.
Since she had come, and since she had no choice in the initial situation and rules, some might choose to accept, but that didn't mean she had to follow a path of compliance to the end.
Qiao Suisui clenched her certificate and AOIS's school badge firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
Meanwhile, the scene in the auditorium was clearly displayed on the giant electronic screen in the Military Department. Ruka flicked his cigarette ash, swiveled his chair, and turned to look at Leberli and Zong Fang standing behind him.
"I told you, she can. You won't have any objections this time, will you?"
Leberli, with one hand in his pocket, twirled a carved glass in his hand, its contents already empty, save for an ice ball that made a clinking sound as it hit the glass while turning. His eyes drooped, a hint of melancholy in his handsome features.
"...so this is really her."
The three of them had watched the entire process, their hearts clenching when they saw her in danger, surprised when they saw her resolving a crisis, and even they had not anticipated that, in a state where many males were panicking, she could make such rapid and decisive decisions.
"It turns out that the way I thought I loved her actually deprived her of the space to grow."
After saying this, Leberli gave a wry smile, put the glass on the table carelessly, then turned and walked away. The sound of the glass hitting the table was not loud, yet it struck a chord in the hearts of everyone present.
Zong Fang had been standing with his arms crossed against the wall, the light from the electronic screen reflecting on his face, moving as the images changed. He watched intently, obsessively, passionately.
He always tended to forget that Qiaoqiao was human, especially the longer he spent with her, the more he treated her as his own private possession, thus forgetting that humans are a resilient race. They reproduce, innovate, inherit, accumulate, possessing a rich history and culture, thousands of years of collective subconsciousness that have shaped their unique spirit, something the Beastmen could never replicate or surpass.
Zong Fang looked at the bright smile of Qiao Suisui on the screen, even though they were not in the same space at the moment, he was still inspired by her performance and bravery, realizing he should not give up on scientific research, should not give up on what he loved, and should not think only about how to keep her by his side every day.
"I'll be back to Soter," said Zong Fang as he headed towards the door but then turned back to Ruka, "If I come back and find even a single hair missing from her head, I will burn down the entire Military Department."
Ruka watched his striding figure leave, extinguished his cigarette, and exhaled a cloud of white smoke, squinting his eyes out of habit.
The man turned back and leaned against the back of the chair, staring at the figure on the screen, and lit another cigarette. His eyes gradually lost direction amidst the clouds of smoke, filled only with fragility and loss.
Although Ruka appeared firm and dominant in front of the other two, he was always anxious.
He glanced at the cigarette in his hand.
Since when had he, who had quit for good, started to smoke uncontrollably again?
It had been since that day, after her words.
She said she had no plans to pair up with anyone.
Ruka scratched his eyebrow with his hand holding the cigarette, a touch of helplessness and bitterness appearing on his usually cold and sharp face. He could accept being her man, and he could fulfill what she wanted, ready to support her without counting the cost, as long as she asked. But freedom ... that was something he truly couldn't give her.
He watched her grow up and become better and better, he was certainly happy, but after happiness came deep fear. Ruka was afraid that one day Qiao Suisui really wouldn't need him, free as a bird, and then, how would he face a desolate life and days without her.
"How can I show you my heart to make you believe in me...."
In the vast room, the man murmured to himself, staring at the screen in melancholy.
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Qiao Suisui was completely unaware that her performance had been broadcasted. After the ceremony ended, the three of them followed a senior to handle the enrollment, and although the process had been greatly streamlined, there were still many small details to take care of. In the past, either Leberli or Ruka helped her with these daily tasks, so she hadn't thought much of it, but now, taking care of it herself, she realized how time-consuming it actually was.
Take this student apartment, for instance. Whether it was the soft furnishings or hard fittings, everything was top-notch, and there were various themed styles to choose from. The layout here was all suites, meaning the rooms were independent, but the common areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms had to be shared. Generally, there were double rooms, triple rooms, and quadruple rooms.
The problem arose when she thought Ruka had notified the school of her identity and that they would arrange a single room for her, only to find out that wasn't an option at all.
"Qiao, you can stay in 702. Li Yi, you share 703 with another specially recruited freshman."
Li Yi was somewhat disappointed, "Senior, can't the three of us stay in a triple room?"
Qiao Suisui's alarm bells rang, knowing one more person increased the risk of being exposed, and immediately said, "Since it's just next door, we can see each other all the time. Let's not make it difficult for the senior."
Upon hearing this, Li Yi smiled broadly, showing his fangs, "No problem."
Qiao Suisui sighed in relief. Luckily, Li Yi was straightforward and simple-minded. They had already become very friendly on the way here. It turned out that Li Yi's Beast Form was a panda, his spiritual power was A-level, and his talent was Earth Control. During the test, he had used his talent to bury the group of Bloodthirsty Crazy Bees that had lost direction, thereby saving everyone.
She looked at Li Yi, then at Anubis, thinking it would be nice to switch roommates. Clearly, Li Yi was easier to deceive, and Bil seemed to really dislike her.
While Qiao Suisui was scheming in her mind and standing in the corridor, Anubis, who had already entered, turned around and saw her standing at Li Yi's door looking inside. He frowned slightly, moved his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Aren't you coming in?"
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