Chapter 10: Benefits and Traps

“First, members of the college entrance exam preparatory team will enjoy the benefit of a free health checkup once a month, half-price for the second checkup, and full price thereafter. Additionally, they receive a 20% discount when shopping on campus.”

“That sounds just like the benefits for the auxiliary department. Can the discounts stack?” Ye Mingqiu asked eagerly. If the discounts could be combined twice, that would mean a 36% price, which would be much cheaper.

“No,” the Director of Instruction replied flatly. Seeing Ye Mingqiu’s disappointed expression, he teased, “The auxiliary department’s benefits are already top-notch and maxed out. There’s no way they can be stacked. Other departments must join the preparatory team to enjoy the auxiliary department’s basic benefits. You’ve had two years of early access—consider yourself lucky.”

“Oh.”

“Second, all public facilities within the school will be completely free for you to use. You will also have access to an exclusive training room, where you can customize your training equipment to some extent. For example, Tang Ruobing once put your face on the training targets—that counts as customization.”

“Oh~”

Ye Mingqiu pondered and asked, “Could I customize her special cup as a form of revenge?”

“?”

“I mean her drinking cup!” Ye Mingqiu clarified, sensing the Director’s gaze was somewhat inappropriate. He hadn’t expected the old man to have such a dirty mind.

“It’s possible, but if you do that and she causes trouble, we won’t be responsible,” the Director said.

“What if she abuses my portrait rights? Isn’t she afraid I’ll give her trouble back?” Ye Mingqiu retorted.

“You can’t beat her.”

“...”

Ye Mingqiu was stunned and shouted, “This is outright campus bullying! I demand the school intervene and bring Tang Ruobing to justice!”

“Why don’t you think about beating her yourself? Where’s your ambition?” the Director chided.

“I’m in the auxiliary department, and she’s in the law department. You want me to fight her head-on?” Ye Mingqiu lamented, his expression twisted as if wearing a mask of pain.

“Pfft...”

“Director, why are you laughing? Were you purposely mocking me just now?” Ye Mingqiu asked indignantly.

“Ahem, the third benefit is that you can designate a teacher to help you develop a specialty, thereby gaining greater strength when entering the Spirit Realm trials.”

“But developing a specialty takes a long time. If you spend too much time on it and pass the Spirit Realm trials too late, ending up at a lower level... it would be counterproductive since the college entrance exam doesn’t limit candidates’ levels.”

“What level is Tang Ruobing now?”

“Level 8. She started improving nonstop since passing the trials two years ago. That’s the top tier for the college entrance exam. You can’t catch up,” Zheng Xuejun said with a smile.

“Is there absolutely no chance?”

Ye Mingqiu pressed further.

“Hmm... not entirely impossible. If you can solo-clear Hell-level dungeons in team mode every time with a high enough rating, you should be able to level up as fast as possible and reach level 8 before the exam... pfft.”

The Director couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out. It was hilarious to imagine an auxiliary department member soloing Hell-level team dungeons repeatedly. It was absolutely impossible.

Typically, auxiliary players are weaker in combat and must follow others in the party. Having a fixed team helps ensure steady leveling, but without one, the Spirit Realm’s cooldown times get wasted, greatly delaying progress.

Of course, auxiliary players don’t have trouble finding teams; they just don’t want to join teams with poor configurations.

Low-score runs yield little benefit. It’s better to wait for a strong team to get a high score, even if it wastes some time.

“I see...” Ye Mingqiu fell into deep thought, staring at the plus sign on his talent panel, feeling he needed to show some determination and effort.

“The fourth and most important benefit is that preparatory team members get one chance to enter the Life Spring of Chenghai City for deep purification and toxin cleansing, boosting potential aptitude,” Zheng Xuejun said.

“Life Spring?”

Ye Mingqiu’s eyes widened instantly. If he could soak in the Life Spring to improve his stats, how many talents could he gain?

The Director smiled and said, “If I’m not mistaken, you’ve been training naturally until now, right? Before coming today, you should have taken some supplements. Though you tried to hide it, such things can’t escape me.”

“That’s right.”

“I suggest you finish your supplements first to raise your basic attributes, then soak in the Life Spring to restore your body to its best state, and then use supplements again to push your basic attributes to 20 before entering the Spirit Realm trials for the fastest advancement,” the Director advised.

“What about specialties? Doesn’t developing them take a long time?” Ye Mingqiu asked.

“Heh heh.”

Zheng Xuejun suddenly laughed. “Go find Tang Ruobing. She has a way to help you solve the specialty level problem quickly.”

“Tang Ruobing?”

Ye Mingqiu’s face immediately darkened. At the same time, he felt something was off. Why was the Director not giving him a direct answer but instead telling him to find Tang Ruobing? Also, the combination of supplements plus Life Spring plus supplements would require a lot of money, which he probably couldn’t afford in a short time.

Could it be...

A terrifying possibility crossed his mind but he quickly dismissed it, trying to convince himself: No, no, no, it’s impossible! I only threatened her a little during our chat. Would she really do this to me?

“Keep it up, student. I believe you will succeed!” Zheng Xuejun patted his shoulder and smiled earnestly.

Hey, hey, hey!

That look in your eyes isn’t right!

Why do I feel like you’re looking at a martyr? Am I already nothing to you?

Hmph!

Ye Mingqiu said indignantly, “Thanks for the encouragement, Director.”

There was no helping it. The man was the Director of Instruction and bore no ill will. Ye Mingqiu couldn’t just slap his hand away—that would be rude.

Sigh.

After leaving the office, Ye Mingqiu’s heart raced with excitement and anxiety. He opened the chat with Kiria and his expression grew solemn. After a fierce internal struggle, he reluctantly compromised.

Ye Mingqiu: Are you there?

Kiria: Get lost!

Well, the insult was harsh, but her instant reply showed she had something to offer—there was hope. With some effort, it might work.

But...

Ye Mingqiu frowned deeply. If he really did this, wouldn’t he become exactly what Chen Ran said—the one living off a rich woman? Is that really okay?

He stood in the corridor, thinking for a long time, his feelings complex.

In the end, Ye Mingqiu reached a profound realization.

Anyway, Chen Ran wouldn’t believe my explanations, and neither would my classmates. They all say I’m a freeloader, but I haven’t even started freeloading yet—it’s frustrating.

If I don’t freeload but still get misunderstood...

Wouldn’t that make me the ultimate fool?