Chapter 8 Weird to the Extreme

Keyaki Mall is the name of the facility where students at Advanced Nurturing High School can purchase goods during weekdays. This establishment provides an array of conveniences such as karaoke, movie theaters, cafes, clothing stores, and a convenience store, to ensure that students have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Fang Li, entered the convenience store at Keyaki Mall. Although there is a cafeteria in the school, Fang Li decided to come here to buy something to fill his stomach since he was not prepared to eat in a crowded place on the first day.

As Fang Li walked into the store, he observed the students shopping and paying for their purchases. Rather than using cash, all expenses were paid in points. Students who made purchases scanned their cell phones in front of the counter. With this simple process, points were deducted, and payment was completed immediately.

"It's really convenient," Fang Li remarked, reading the sign, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

"Free zone?" he muttered to himself.

Indeed, in one corner of the store, there was a section where various items, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and bandages, were all arranged in shopping carts with the label "free" attached. A sign above them read "up to three per month."

Fang Li wondered about the purpose of this area. "They provide so many points for consumption, yet they also give away free products?"

Perhaps, he reasoned, it was to encourage students to spend all their points on entertainment without fear of running out of necessary items.

"Or even if one has 100,000 points, they still need free merchandise?" Fang Li muttered to himself.

Just then, Horikita Suzune walked in through the door, and Fang Li turned to see her.

"This is really a suspicious school," Fang Li remarked.

Suzune glared at him and retorted, "As the first person to leave the classroom, you don't like to squander points like everyone else. Those who want to have fun are on the same line. Where are you going?"

Fang Li realized that if someone overheard Suzune, they might not be pleased, but she didn't seem to care.

However, Suzune's words made Fang Li think. "Isn't the class spending all their points on frivolous things?" he pondered.

Even Suzune acknowledged that many students were spending their points recklessly. "Anyway, we have 100,000 points a month. Why not spend it all on having fun?" she said, though she disapproved of such behavior.

Suzune then proceeded to select everyday necessities like shampoo, shower gel, cleansing agent, lunch boxes, and cooking tools from the shelves. Fang Li noticed how she was not wasting her points on unnecessary expenses and shopping mindfully.

Fang Li couldn't help but wonder if the other students in the school were spending their points thoughtlessly. The school's encouragement to spend points and providing free products seemed suspicious. Horikita Suzune's behavior in the store proved that it was possible to live frugally and still enjoy life without overspending.

Even Fang Li was curious and asked, "What are the benefits of doing so?"

Others may not have understood what Fang Li was referring to, but Horikita Suzune knew exactly what he meant. "Excessive luxury can lead to misconceptions about money and develop a dependence on it," she replied. "If you live lavishly, you'll only regret it in the future. There's no reason to make yourself squeamish and indulgent."

Horikita Suzune's indifference was unsurprising, but Fang Li was still intrigued. "Aren't you more thorough than I?" she asked bluntly. "I have at least selected products that won't make me uncomfortable. You only pick the free ones. Why is this?"

During their conversation, Fang Li had also been selecting products, but he had chosen only the free ones. Horikita Suzune chose affordable but advantageous products, based on her belief that she shouldn't overindulge herself.

"I think some of them are not bad," Fang Li replied unintentionally. "If you were thrown into the forest, you wouldn't have the luxury of choosing what supplies to use. You'd have to make do with what you had."

Fang Li's response left Horikita Suzune speechless. She couldn't believe that someone would use such a reason to justify their choices. What was even more surprising was that Fang Li seemed to have really experienced the hardship he was describing.

After a moment of silence, Horikita Suzune said, "You're really a weird person in every way."

Fang Li responded with a free-spirited attitude, saying, "That makes two of us."

By this time, Fang Li had already picked out some free products, commenting that there were no free instant noodles available and that he would have to spend points on them. As he walked away, he offered Horikita Suzune a piece of advice: "Although your approach is fine, it's better to save points as much as possible. This world doesn't offer so many free lunches."

Horikita Suzune frowned but said nothing. However, her attitude toward selecting goods became more serious and measured after their conversation.