Zhong Qin came running, then stopped in her tracks, gazing at Shen Hex and Shen Qingyue with slight bewilderment.
Shen Qingyue looked at her, also a bit surprised, turning to Shen Hex to inquire, "Little Hex, is this...?"
"A friend."
Shen Hex spoke calmly, directly introducing the two: "This is my Senior Sister, Shen Qingyue, my friend, Zhong Qin."
"Senior Sister?"
"Friend?"
The two exchanged glances, both slightly suspicious.
This person actually has a Senior Sister?
Little Hex has such a friend?
How come he never mentioned it before?
Though different paths, they lead to the same end, making the atmosphere subtly intriguing.
In the end, the more mature Shen Qingyue stepped forward first, reaching out to Zhong Qin, saying, "Thank you for taking care of our Little Hex."
"Our... Little Hex?"
Listening to Shen Qingyue's words and her address, then looking at Shen Hex with a calm face, Zhong Qin felt an indescribable discordance. Yet, she still shook hands with Shen Qingyue politely: "You're welcome, Senior Sister Shen, actually, it's him taking care of me."
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyue's expression turned slightly odd, but before she could further contemplate, her personal terminal received a communication message.
Shen Qingyue glanced at the message, then turned back to Shen Hex: "Senior Sister is looking for me."
Shen Hex smiled: "Then go quickly, we'll get in touch later."
"Alright!"
Shen Qingyue nodded, but then remembered something, speaking to him seriously, "Turn on your communications, I'll come find you once I'm done, don't block me again."
Shen Hex smiled again: "Got it, go on."
Hearing this, Shen Qingyue felt relieved, exchanged pleasantries with Zhong Qin, and then hurried away.
Zhong Qin watched her leave, then turned back to Shen Hex: "I didn't expect you to have such a beautiful Senior Sister. No wonder you refused to call me Senior Sister before; you already had a great beauty as your elder sister!"
Her words were sarcastic, even slightly envious.
However, Shen Hex paid no attention, picked up his luggage, and walked out.
...
"Recruitment, recruitment, the club is recruiting!"
"Our Martial Arts Society is not only the largest but also the best martial arts club at No. 2 High School. Many seniors in the club have reached Tier Three, offering extracurricular guidance. And our president, in just the fifth year, has become a Tier Four Professional."
"Joining our club not only gets you guidance from seniors but also numerous real combat opportunities, ensuring you level up in your martial profession rapidly, possibly even advancing to a rare profession."
"Weak flesh and blood, mechanical ascension, fellow students join our Mechanical Society! We are the best mechanical club at No. 2 High School, offering extensive professional resources, internship opportunities, landing a job as a Mechanician, or even a Mecha Master, isn't just a dream."
"You better register, or leave, don't waste Dao Lord's time!"
"Benefactor..."
Outside the dormitory area, noise abounded as various clubs recruited new students.
Club members, in this world's universities, there are also organizations like clubs.
However, unlike in Shen Hex's previous life, clubs in this world, though also student organizations, hold significant power, possessing various professional resources, even professional systems, advancement paths. Their status within institutions is not low, even pivotal.
Zhong Qin walked beside him: "Which club are you planning to join?"
Shen Hex glanced around: "I have some interest in mechanics."
"Mechanics?"
Zhong Qin looked at him in surprise, then came closer, whispering, "You wouldn't want to join the Mechanical Society, would you? Those people are like vampires; you'll end up tightening screws for them, supposedly to gain experience, but in reality, you're simply helping them make money."
Shen Hex remained indifferent: "Which club isn't like that?"
"This..."
Hearing his words, Zhong Qin was left awkwardly silent.
The bustle of the world is all for profit, and clubs are no exception. No one gives out benefits for free; if you want to enjoy club resources, you must first contribute to the club.
Thus, new members of a club start as general workers, doing whatever is needed, like serving tea. After enduring for some time, they may access the club's professional resources and gain "internship" opportunities.
But this internship essentially still involves working for the club: being a meat target in the Martial Arts Society, tightening screws in the Mechanical Society, doing odd jobs in the Cultivation Society, ostensibly gaining experience, but essentially being labor exploitation.
Only after passing these barriers and becoming a mid-to-high-level club member can they enjoy various club benefits and receive certain resources.
All clubs operate this way, so aside from professional direction, there is no difference in treatment; work must still be done, and challenges faced.
"But you're different!"
Zhong Qin realized: "With your martial arts mastery, I guarantee that if you join our Xingyi Society, you can directly become a senior member. Our Xingyi Society's many resources will be open to you, practically equivalent to receiving money."
"Hmm, I'll think about it."
Shen Hex responded casually, then shifted his gaze to a sparsely populated area, where he saw several people wearing Daoist robes, monk robes, and various peculiar outfits: "What's that club?"
"Cultivation Society, Daoist Society, Buddhist Society, Wizard Society..."
Zhong Qin took a glance, then immediately turned back: "Don't even consider it; ordinary people can't join these clubs unless you have the corresponding qualifications or profession."
"Is that so?"
Shen Hex muttered, then asked no more questions, heading toward the dormitory.
One must definitely join a club, as it allows for experience accumulation, but there's no need to join now. Instead of waiting in line, better to check out the dorm first.
Shen Hex followed the map guide and quickly arrived at the upscale dormitory area, where he found his dorm among rows of independent villa courtyards.
"High-end single dormitory?"
Zhong Qin, beside him, was once again surprised: "You actually live in a high-end single dormitory?"
Shen Hex glanced at her: "Is there a problem?"
"No problem, just a bit difficult to accept."
Zhong Qin shook her head, feeling a bit moody. After all, she stayed in a middle-grade dormitory, while Shen Hex, whose money she earned, lived in a luxury high-end dormitory. How could she not feel hurt?
Despite feeling upset, she still questioned: "Aren't you really short on money? How can you afford such an expensive high-end dormitory?"
"It's because I need to live here that I'm short on money."
Shen Hex clarified the cause-and-effect relationship for her, then used his personal terminal to open the dormitory's entry system.
It's that phrase, some things are expensive with good reason.
Like this high-end dormitory, not only is it located in the center of the campus, surrounded by the elite teaching area, but also equipped with various facilities like gravity chambers, meditation rooms, and even spiritual energy chambers. Whether in terms of security or cultivation efficiency, it far surpasses other dorms.
"Really nice!"
Looking at the various facilities inside the dormitory, even Zhong Qin, a little rich girl, couldn't help but express her envy to Shen Hex.