I was bound to a "Rumor System." As long as I successfully spread rumors about every single one of my classmates before graduation, I could prevent my entire family from meeting a gruesome end. So, I pointed at the school bully and lied through my teeth: "Heh, he acts like a total delinquent, but behind the scenes? He helps old ladies cross the street and takes stray cats to get neutered!" I also spun tales about the busty girl who was always the target of crude jokes: "She's protected by the Great Spirit of the Weasel. Anyone who disrespects her will have their private parts rot off!" Even the impoverished straight-A student, who was constantly bullied, didn't escape my clutches: "You think he's actually poor? Please. He's a billionaire heir experiencing life as a commoner. Anyone who messes with him... just wait for your family business to go bankrupt!" Later on, the bully became a national role model for morality. The busty girl founded a top fashion brand. And the poor genius's kid became the real billionaire heir. And me? I became that heir's mom. 1 I had a nightmare. In it, my entire family died in a horrific accident. When I woke up, a strange voice echoed in my head. [Hello, Host. I am System 006 from the Villain System Alliance. My name is the Rumor System.] [As long as you achieve the achievement "Slander the Entire Class" before graduation, you can change the fate you saw in your dream.] [Instructions: The Host can draw power from rumors. The stronger the spread and impact of the rumor, the greater the chance of changing your fate.] Seeing my confusion, it enthusiastically offered examples. [You can spread rumors that the valedictorian cheats, the good girl sleeps around, the honest guy steals...] I stared blankly. "Are all you systems this shameless?" The system's voice was flat. [You can choose not to cooperate. If you can accept your entire family dying violently, that is.] ...I absolutely could not accept that. After a moment, I gritted my teeth. "Deal." 2 Soon, the system issued the first mission. [Please create a rumor for the designated target within 24 hours.] The class roster appeared on the system panel. One name was glowing. Jax Carter. I let out a silent scream. Why did it have to be the school bully who no one dared to mess with?! 3 As the class president for over a year, Jax had caused me endless trouble. Skipping class, fighting, talking back to teachers... He had violated practically every rule in the student handbook! But whenever you criticized him, he would just prop his legs up on the desk with an attitude that said he feared nothing in heaven or on earth. Even when teachers threatened to call his parents, he didn't care. "My parents divorced ages ago. I don't even remember what they look like. If you can find them, I'll change my last name to yours!" The teachers were always furious but helpless. How was I supposed to spread rumors about someone this untouchable? I fell into deep thought. ... After school, I quietly snuck back into the classroom. With the dedication of a five-star hotel maid, I cleaned the room inside and out. I replaced the broken trash can. I watered the drooping plants. I scrubbed until the room was spotless. Finally, looking at the gleaming classroom, I smiled like a villain whose plan had succeeded. Jax Carter, just you wait. 2 The next day, as soon as I arrived at the classroom, panicked classmates grabbed me. "Prez! Something crazy happened! We have a cleaning fairy!" A group of them looked like they had seen a ghost, dragging me to see the classroom that had transformed overnight. I stroked my chin, putting on a mysterious expression. "It wasn't a fairy. I know who did it." Curious classmates crowded around. "Who?" I looked secretive. "Sorry, I promised them I wouldn't reveal their name." My bestie, the Academic Rep, whined and tugged my arm. "Come on, bestie, just tell me." "We promise not to tell anyone." Others chimed in, promising secrecy. I nodded, then finally spoke: "There is only one truth!" "It was him—" Imitating Detective Conan, I pointed dramatically at Jax's empty desk. Everyone shook their heads. "No way!" "He kicked a soccer ball and muddied the wall just two days ago, and you two had a huge fight about it. Forgot?" "Yeah, Prez, did you see it wrong?" I shook my head solemnly and began to lie with a straight face: "You can't judge a book by its cover." "Let me tell you, it wasn't just this once." "I also saw him helping an old lady cross the street!" "Taking stray cats to get neutered!" "Covering a sleeping puppy's belly button so it wouldn't catch a cold!" "Secretly erasing homework the teacher left on the board!" The students looked at each other, disbelief written on their faces. But with the Rumor System's boost, my lies were accepted unconditionally. The system's voice rang in my head. [Host rumor successful. First mission complete.] You got this, Quinn! I cheered for myself. 3 When Jax stepped into the classroom right as the bell rang, everyone stared at him. "Wh-what!" He froze, suspiciously checking his outfit. Sure, his clothes and shoes were a bit old and dirty, but not enough to cause this kind of attention. He looked up, confused. Classmates who usually gave him the cold shoulder were staring at him. Their eyes were filled with... warmth and admiration? He walked to his seat, trembling. Just then, the Academic Rep came to collect homework. He habitually tossed his head. "Didn't do it!" Usually, the Rep would scold him, but today she was uncharacteristically gentle. "It's okay, I understand." "After all, you're so busy after school..." She quickly covered her mouth. "I mean, it's fine. If you have questions about the homework in the future, just ask me. We're classmates, don't be shy!" Jax had question marks floating above his head. You don't hit a smiling person, so he mumbled a vague thanks. All day, no matter where he went, people looked at him with mysterious, knowing eyes. It made him too embarrassed to cause trouble. Even during gym exercises, he did the moves seriously. During break, classmates came up to thank him one by one. "Jax, you changed the water cooler bottle, right? Thank you so much! Here, have a candy~" "Jax, did you fix the broken curtain rod? I bumped my head on it last time. I didn't expect you to notice. Thanks a lot!" "Jax, let me explain that math problem you couldn't solve last time, okay?" ... Surrounded by kindness, Jax was bewildered. He tried to act tough: "I told you it wasn't me!" But no matter how he explained, everyone was convinced he was doing good deeds anonymously. A classmate timidly asked for help. "I've been extorted twice this week by thugs from the high school next door. I don't even have lunch money. Jax, can you help me..." Jax slammed the table. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Damn it, I'll skin them alive!" Those eyes, usually gloomy, lit up for the first time. 4 At 9 PM, the system began its evaluation. It mocked me: "Although the mission is complete, rumors of this level have minimal effec— Holy crap, how is this possible?" The interface showed my rumor had a significant impact. I finally relaxed. The system checked the backend in disbelief and finally found the answer. It said Jax was originally destined to become a small-time thug and die in a gang fight during a rainstorm. Ending a life no one cared about. But now, it detected a deviation in his destined path. Bound by the rules, the system reluctantly gave me bonus points. [Cunning human, cheating the system like this. You won't be so lucky next time.] I ignored its tantrum. My gaze fell on my philosophy textbook. A sentence I had highlighted in red: Development arises from internal contradictions within things. When contradictions accumulate to a certain point, change is inevitable. Exciting, isn't it? 5 During this month's class meeting, Jax was anonymously voted "Star of Contribution." When the results were announced, he was stunned. He fidgeted, looking like he might fall over. He clearly remembered a secret vote once where he was named "Most Unwelcome Person." He pretended not to care, but he was humiliated. Since his parents divorced, the lonely boy always tried to get attention in clumsy ways, only to push people away. But now... Amidst the applause that wouldn't stop, he wiped his eyes hard and stood on the podium. "I did a lot of wrong things before. I want to apologize to everyone I hurt." "I, Jax Carter, promise to change." "I will work hard to contribute to the class, to everyone!" 6 That night, the system gave me a new mission. [Please select a female student and spread scandalous rumors about her.] I nearly snapped the pen in my hand. The system gloated, [Let's see how you wriggle out of this one.] After a long silence, I accepted the mission. 7 My target was Mia Rowling, a shy and timid girl. Her recent nickname was "Cow." Some punks from another class had targeted her because of her figure and started using the nickname. Like rats in a sewer, someone fueled the flames, and the nickname spread tacitly. During gym and extracurriculars, boys would "accidentally" bump into her chest and laugh. Even in the cafeteria line, people would pull at her collar and straps. "So slutty. Wonder how many guys have touched her?" "Stop pretending. Covering up so much, bet she wants people to look." ... Mia couldn't defend herself. She started wearing even baggier clothes to hide her body. The boys in our class didn't join in, but they were too embarrassed to stand up for her. The girls spoke up every time, but we couldn't protect her 24/7. Even though we tried to tell Mia her body wasn't a shackle and she should be proud, she grew thinner and more haggard. Mia's deskmate said she heard somewhere that losing weight reduces breast size, so she started dieting frantically. Recently, she developed anorexia and took a month off school. Next week was her return. I had to hurry.
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