Second Life, New Rule: I Don't Support Deadweight

Nathan Caulfield looked as handsome as before, still carrying the scholarly air I had been utterly infatuated with for four whole years in my previous life. He had his head down as he scrolled on his phone and grumbled, "Kimmy, I know that this prep course is really pricey. But as long as I get it, the money you spent will all be worth it."As you know, my family isn't well-off. If things work out this time, I will return all the money to you, and I promise I will repay your kindness in the future."He'd return the money to me and repay my kindness? In my past life, I believed he would. So, I gave up my guaranteed spot at graduate school and worked three part-time jobs to cover our rental and living expenses.I also helped him register for the prep course that was said to guarantee success in the civil service exam. While he did practice questions in the comfort of the air conditioning at our rented place, I was out there, giving out flyers until I collapsed from the heat. The d

The weather was bad on both days that I had my postgraduate entrance exams. It drizzled the whole time.A crowd gathered outside the exam hall. Parents clutched onto lunchboxes, peering anxiously. I stood there, alone in the crowd. But I didn't feel the slightest bit of loneliness. After all, I knew I was fighting for myself.Just as I was about to step into the exam hall, a red Porsche pulled over on the side of the road out of the blue. The car door opened, and Cordelia emerged from the car, rocking a full face of makeup. On top of that, her designer purse and her big, wavy curls were a complete mismatch with the solemn atmosphere at the exam venue.Next to her, Nathan held up an umbrella, carefully shielding her with it like an employee attending to his boss. When Cordelia spotted me, her eyes lit up suddenly. Then, she strutted toward me in her heels. "Well, well. Who do we have here?" she exclaimed, her voice as sharp as nails on a blackboard. "Did you come here alone?

Right after New Year's, the list of shortlisted candidates for the next round of exams was released. Just as expected, I was one of the top scorers. Nathan's name, however, had long faded away. I heard he tried to retake the exams in other cities a few times, but he failed to get past the background check every time. He even lied in his application, intentionally hiding the truth about Director Lynch's crime.In the end, he was given a five-year ban from applying for any civil service positions. That day, I went to the Academic Affairs Office to submit some paperwork. Coincidentally, I ran into Nathan waiting for me downstairs. He appeared even more pathetic than before. He was unshaven and his clothes were disheveled. The refined-looking scholar I once knew was long gone. The moment he saw me, he charged at me like I was his lifeline."Kimmy! Let me explain, Kimmy!"Now, just the mention of his name alone was enough to make me gag. I turned around to leave when he fell to h

I accepted the business card from Nathan, pinching it between my fingers the way I would a piece of scrap paper. "You're Mr. Caulfield, right?"Nathan froze momentarily at the sound of my voice. Then he lifted his head to look at me. The smile on his face stiffened up instantaneously, and a look of sheer horror came across his face."M-Ms. Lam—""What's the matter? Don't you know me?"I chucked his business card into the trash can next to me and continued, "Mr. Caulfield, your proposal was indeed complete bullshit. I don't like working with shitty people, let alone being acquainted with them."With that said, I picked my documents up and stormed out of the conference room, leaving Nathan alone. His face had turned deathly pale, and he was drenched in cold sweat.I knew right then that he'd lose his livelihood yet again. However, I felt no pity for him at all because opportunities were reserved only for those who were prepared and had integrity.Not only was he incapable, but h