Chapter 2

The class monitor, Parker Hayes, immediately jumped in to play the good guy.

"Caleb, stop crying. I've got an old laptop you can use for now. Don't waste your energy on a lowlife like that."

Caleb replied instantly.

"Thank you, Parker. Good people still exist. Unlike some people, whose hearts are completely rotten."

My finger hovered over the leave-group button. After a few seconds, I pulled it back.

Leaving like this would be too easy on them.

In my last life, I had swallowed all that online abuse. This time, I would make them swallow every word back, one by one.

My phone suddenly rang. It was my counselor, Mr. Fuller.

"Noah, come to my office now."

His tone was hard.

When I reached the office door, I saw Caleb sitting across from Mr. Fuller, still sniffling.

The moment I walked in, Mr. Fuller frowned and gestured for me to sit beside Caleb.

He stared at me with a disappointed, paternal look.

"I saw what happened in the group chat, Noah. You're all classmates. You're about to graduate. Why make things so ugly?"

I didn't sit. I stood in front of his desk and looked at him.

"Mr. Fuller, my laptop is private property. I don't want to lend it out. That doesn't violate any school rule, does it?"

"It doesn't violate a rule, but this is about unity among classmates. If Caleb can't submit his thesis, he'll have to delay graduation. Can you shoulder that responsibility?"

Mr. Fuller slammed his thermos onto the desk.

Caleb pretended to mediate.

"Mr. Fuller, please don't blame Noah. It's my fault. My laptop shouldn't have broken down at a time that upset him."

"Listen to Caleb's attitude, then look at yours!"

Mr. Fuller pointed at my nose.

"Go back to the dorm and bring your laptop here. Then this matter is over."

I didn't bother with their little double act.

"Mr. Fuller, since you're so generous, why don't you lend him the office computer on your desk?"

"What kind of nonsense is that? This is for work. It contains important department files."

"My laptop also contains my graduation project and private files. Why am I the one who has to donate unconditionally?"

Mr. Fuller's hand shook with anger.

"You are unreasonable. Your character is rotten!"

Caleb's phone rang. He put it on speaker, and a middle-aged woman's shrill voice blasted through the room.

"Caleb, did that stingy little Noah give you the laptop yet? Who does he think he is, bullying my son?"

"Mom, don't be angry. Mr. Fuller is helping talk sense into him."

Caleb wiped his tears.

"Talk sense? He's jealous of your excellence. I've seen poor little boys like him before. Wait there. Your father and I will come to the school tomorrow and settle this!"

Her voice was loud enough for the entire office to hear.

Mr. Fuller's expression changed, but he said nothing.

Several students outside, who had come to submit documents, were whispering and peering in.

"Noah is too stubborn. Even the counselor has spoken, and he still won't lend it. He really won't stop until things explode."

"I heard his family isn't well off. Who knows where that Alienware even came from? No wonder he guards it like treasure."

I looked straight at Mr. Fuller.

"Mr. Fuller, Caleb's mother just insulted me over the phone. As the counselor, you didn't stop her. Instead, you're pressuring me along with him.

"I'll send this recording directly to the dean's mailbox and ask the school whether crying makes someone right, and whether being poor means someone deserves to be robbed."

Mr. Fuller's face went pale. He shot to his feet and reached for my phone.

"What are you doing? Delete it right now. It's such a small matter, and you're taking it to the dean?"

I stepped back, avoiding his hand, and slipped my phone into my pocket.

"Whether it's a small matter is for the dean to decide. As for the laptop, I've already disposed of it. Even if you pressure me to death, I can't produce an Alienware for him."