Transforming into a Working Bee

With a week left before school started, Zhou Yi, who was wasting heaven's gifts, temporarily abandoned this natural, large energy cabin and instead chose to frequent the library from early morning to late evening.

She would read books during the day and, after returning to her dorm at night, would replay the content she learned during the day in her mind.

Although she hadn't seen a real Mech yet, she had already seen many pictures, and had even found several videos of Mech battles recorded and uploaded by civilians on the Star Brain.

Unlike the pictures in the books, the Mechs in the videos seemed more robust, and every movement was full of vitality. Just watching them made Zhou Yi feel a surge of excitement.

She couldn't wait to get her hands on a real Mech.

As the start of the school year drew closer, more and more people began arriving at the school.

After all, there were three grades attending, and the number of students was considerable, almost encompassing all school-aged children from the surrounding D-class Star Blocks.

The school gradually became livelier. Students who arrived early naturally didn't go to the library like Zhou Yi; they gathered in groups, playing cards, games, and socializing.

The dormitory next to Zhou Yi's also gradually began to fill up, losing its former quietness and becoming somewhat noisy.

Several lively and outgoing students even knocked on her door to introduce themselves. However, Zhou Yi, who was only present at night and still digesting knowledge in her mind, had neither the energy nor the mood to make friends. She simply nodded woodenly in response, closed the door, and didn't even remember their names or what they looked like.

They were all sixteen or seventeen years old, and the entire campus was filled with the scent of hormones.

Zhou Yi looked at the couples walking around and couldn't understand it at all.

They were all from D-class Star Blocks, and many D-class Star Blocks were currently facing dissolution and reorganization. Some were even under attack by Star Beasts and on the verge of being occupied.

With internal and external threats, and the imminent loss of their homes and displacement, why did everyone seem so unconcerned?

Zhou Yi scratched her short hair that reached her ears. These problems were much harder for her to solve than Mech knowledge.

Tomorrow was the official registration day for the start of school. Zhou Yi had already finished reading all the Mech Master content from those few bookshelves yesterday, only lacking hands-on experience.

Today, she came to the library to review and consolidate the more advanced knowledge.

Since she had never actually disassembled a Mech, she still found the more advanced Mech Master knowledge a bit difficult to understand. There was very little information available online regarding this aspect, so she could only read the limited books several more times.

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear" – old sayings could still be trusted.

When Zhou Yi left, it was already dark, as usual.

"Aunt Lan, you're still here."

Qi Lan was still sitting on a chair by the door, resting as usual.

After seeing each other every day for a week, Zhou Yi and Qi Lan had become quite familiar.

Zhou Yi had long noticed that no matter how early she arrived or how late she left, Qi Lan was always there. Her working hours seemed a bit too long.

"I'm not doing anything, so I might as well sit here. It's not tiring. But you, aren't you tired from reading books for so long every day?"

Qi Lan was increasingly fond of this young girl who came to the library every day.

"You're too thin. Don't wear yourself out."

"It's okay, I'm fine."

Zhou Yi thanked her politely and prepared to leave.

"By the way, school starts tomorrow. After school starts, would you like to come to the library for part-time work?"

Qi Lan called out to Zhou Yi.

"Part-time work?"

"Yes, I'm getting old, and I can't clean such a large library anymore. I see you like coming here a lot, and you keep the bookshelves quite organized. Would you like to help out?"

"I..."

She had already finished reading all the Mech Master books. The books on Mech Soldiers weren't that important for learning to be a Mech Soldier, and Zhou Yi wasn't in a hurry to read them.

She had been neglecting her training recently. Her Star Weave hadn't changed, remaining at three star points, and her Star Power hadn't increased much either.

A part-time job at the library wouldn't bring her much benefit; it would be too much of a waste of time. She instinctively wanted to refuse.

"Don't refuse just yet. Auntie wants to ask you, are you going to choose Mech Soldier or Mech Master when school starts?"

As if sensing Zhou Yi's intention to refuse, Qi Lan said to her.

"Mech Soldier."

Zhou Yi answered truthfully. There was nothing to hide about this.

"The tradition at Huadun is that Mech Soldier students can only use Mechs during class in their first year. They can only have a temporarily owned Mech in their second year, and they must return it to the school at the end of their third year."

"They only get Mechs in the second year?"

Zhou Yi genuinely didn't know this. She thought all military schools issued them upon enrollment.

She lowered her gaze. She couldn't wait until the second year at all.

Actually, Huadun used to issue them upon enrollment, but now the school's financial situation is not good. Even if they don't buy new Mechs, the maintenance costs for the old ones are too high, so...

"After reading so many books, you still haven't touched a real Mech, have you?"

"No," Zhou Yi's voice was a little dejected. She simply had no opportunity.

"You haven't been to the third floor of the library, have you? There's a warehouse up there, quite large. It's filled with some junk. They're all old, disused Mechs, and some that are barely functional..."

"I'll come to work tomorrow, thank you, Aunt Lan!!"

Qi Lan hadn't finished speaking when Zhou Yi immediately shouted out.

What do you mean work-study? This part-time job is a godsend! Where else could I find such a good thing?

It was practically heaven-sent.

"I have to tell you in advance, the pay for helping out at the library is very low."

"No problem!"

Never mind low pay, Zhou Yi would have taken the job even if it meant going into debt!

"Also, you have to come at least four days a week, for four hours each day."

"No problem!"

What do you mean four days a week for four hours? She'd be willing to work eight days a week for twenty-five hours!

"And also..."

"No problem! Auntie Lan, I'll report for duty tomorrow after school. Just wait for me."

Before Qi Lan could finish speaking, Zhou Yi, as if afraid she'd go back on her word, dashed off.

"This kid."

Watching Zhou Yi run away so quickly, Qi Lan couldn't help but smile.

After Zhou Yi had completely disappeared from Qi Lan's sight, Qi Lan remained slumped in her chair, opened her Star Brain dialogue box, and dialed a number.

"Old Yi, there's a child in our school this year who I find quite interesting, named..."

The sky was pitch black, artificial lights hung high above, and laughter filled the Huadun campus, forming a stark contrast with the quiet world outside.

Most of the residents of D72 Star Block, having worked in the mines all day, were already sore all over and had fallen asleep.

The next day, the same weariness and toil awaited them.