"Are they really fierce ghosts? Do fierce ghosts have such a lively and innocent side? Can fierce ghosts play video games? Tell dirty jokes?"
Chen Ge was starting to have doubts. He wasn't sure if these students were fierce ghosts or not. If they were, had these spirits simply forgotten they were already dead?
He arrived at the small plaza where the club recruitment was being held. Crowds surrounded each club, banners and slogans everywhere, and in the very center, the street dance club was putting on a performance.
"Not a single thing out of place. I can't believe I'm seeing a scene like this inside the door."
He crossed the small plaza, and the noise gradually faded as he reached the outer edge. He found a quiet spot and sat down, preparing to observe properly.
"Based on the clues Zhou Tu gave me earlier, these kids seem to have forgotten certain things. Are they really happy living like this?"
Chen Ge didn't have an answer. He wasn't one of those kids and couldn't make that choice for them.
His gaze swept over student after student, finally settling on someone beside him.
Three or four meters away, a scrawny student sat all alone on the steps. The boy had no friends around him, and as he watched the crowds milling about in the plaza, his eyes were filled with envy.
"Hey, why aren't you joining any club?" Chen Ge grew curious about the kid and walked over toward him.
Startled by Chen Ge's voice, the boy flinched. When he saw Chen Ge approaching, his instinct was to leave.
"Come on, you're a young man — what's there to be shy about?" Chen Ge stopped beside him. "If you want to join a club, just go for it. Don't hesitate."
"I…" The boy hung his head, leaning forward as if trying to hide something.
"Don't tell me you want to join the art club? But isn't there one here?" Chen Ge guessed.
Seeing how enthusiastic Chen Ge was, the boy answered honestly. "I want to learn street dance, but…"
He stood up, and only then did Chen Ge notice the boy was limping — his left foot was severely deformed, giving him a pronounced limp.
"But the street dance club won't take me." The boy looked downcast. "Actually, it's not just them. A bunch of other clubs turned me down too. Joining a club is worth two credits, and I've been worrying about that."
"No worries, leave it to me." Chen Ge gave the boy's shoulder a light pat. He wasn't good at comforting people — he was good at solving problems.
"You?" The boy looked up at Chen Ge, a trace of doubt in his eyes.
"I'm a teacher at your school. Now that I've seen your situation, I can't just stand by." Chen Ge reached into his backpack and pulled out Teacher Bai's various credentials. He'd stuffed them into his bag while at the East Campus faculty apartments.
His thumb covered the photo as Chen Ge held the credentials up and waved them in front of the boy.
"Actually, forget it. Even if you force them to let me in, they won't be happy about it." The boy pressed his lips together. "I don't want to cause trouble for anyone. Being on my own is fine."
"You're a student at our school, which makes you part of our big family. Don't be shy about it."
"Teacher Bai, I appreciate the thought."