Zhao Yifen lay on the training ground floor, gasping for air as his arms throbbed in pain. His muscles burned from exhaustion, his breath shallow.
> Yifen (thoughts): This world is too cruel…
He had thought that having money would make life easy, that wealth would grant him privilege. But reality was far different. He sighed and glanced at the ceiling, still processing the grueling training.
> Yifen (thoughts): Even Luo Han, the cigarette guy, completed it before me…
Forcing himself to his feet, he staggered toward the dorm. His legs felt like lead, but he pushed through. The moment he reached his room, he grabbed his towel and headed straight for the shower.
The cold water hit his sore body, washing away the sweat and cooling his overheated skin. He leaned against the tiled wall, closing his eyes as exhaustion threatened to pull him under.
After a quick shower, he stepped out, still drying his hair when Zhang Wei, his first roommate, called out to him.
> Zhang Wei: "Hey, how was the first lecture?"
> Yifen: "Good, good… I can barely move my hands."
> Zhang Wei: "Hah! That's normal. He's the strictest teacher in the institution. We call him The Robot."
As Yifen sat on his bed, Lin Feng, the third roommate, walked in, rubbing his stomach.
> Lin Feng: "Did you have lunch?"
> Yifen: "No."
> Lin Feng: "Then go quickly. The cafeteria closes at 3:30 PM."
Yifen groaned but forced himself up. He didn't want to miss a meal.
---
A Quick Meal
As he made his way through the hall leading to the cafeteria, he spotted Xu Chen, the second roommate, coming from the opposite direction.
> Xu Chen: "Hey, going to eat?"
> Yifen: "Yeah."
> Xu Chen: "There might be a class at 7:00 PM. Stay in the campus and don't wander around."
Yifen nodded and continued toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was spacious, filled with round tables and holographic menu screens. A line of students waited at the serving counters, where robotic chefs prepared meals with precision. The air carried the aroma of sizzling meat, fresh vegetables, and steaming rice.
There were only three meal options available, but they were nutritious and well-balanced. He swiped his student card, surprised at how cheap the meal was compared to what he expected.
As he sat down to eat, he overheard a conversation at a nearby table.
> Female Student 1: "Hey, I'm going to the mall. Wanna come?"
> Female Student 2: "Yeah, I need to buy conditioner."
Yifen, curious, asked his system.
> Yifen: "System, is there a mall nearby?"
> System: There's a mall inside the campus.
> Yifen (thoughts): Wow… this place really is on another level.
He finished his meal, feeling slightly refreshed, and headed back to the dorm.
---
Unexpected Conversations
Back in his room, he found his roommates lounging around.
> Yifen: "Which lecture is at 7:00?"
> Zhang Wei: "It's a practical class."
Just then, Lin Feng walked in, tossing his towel onto his bed.
> Lin Feng: "Hey, where are you from, Yifen?"
> Yifen: "I'm from the 7th World."
Lin Feng's eyes widened.
> Lin Feng: "Me too! Only billionaires like us can study here. It's difficult to survive in this environment."
> Yifen: "No, no… I'm actually poor."
Xu Chen, who was lying on his bed, glanced over.
> Xu Chen: "I heard there were only five seats for the 7th World this time."
> Lin Feng: "You're lucky! The 1st World had 40 seats out of 125."
> Yifen: "You're from here?"
> Xu Chen: "Yeah, born and raised."
Lin Feng frowned, rubbing his chin.
> Lin Feng: "Wait… I didn't see you on the plane."
> Yifen: "I arrived today."
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes.
> Lin Feng: "Don't tell me… you came in a private jet?"
> Yifen: "Yeah."
Lin Feng stared at him, stunned, before dramatically falling to his knees.
> Lin Feng: "You're a trillionaire, then?! I knew it! A true hidden boss!"
> Yifen: "No, no! I'm not rich. I just happened to have access to it."
Lin Feng wrapped his arm around Yifen's shoulders, grinning.
> Lin Feng: "From now on, you're my big brother!"
Yifen sighed. It seemed like, whether he wanted to or not, his status was already causing misunderstandings.