Chapter 2 When Kindness Runs Out

Lucy crossed her arms and sneered, "Hmph, quit acting innocent. I can't believe someone would have the gall to play the perfect friend to my face while scheming against their own roommates behind our backs."

Stella chimed in, "Exactly! And here we thought you were noble, but you're not even apologizing now that you've been exposed."

Their sharp words stung like needles.

"That bonus is only worth 0.5 points." I met Lucy's gaze without backing down. "I've never counted it toward my recommendation score. The counselor has the original records. You can check it out if you don't believe me!"

The two exchanged a glance and clamped their mouths shut.

My heart turned completely cold upon seeing their reactions.

I had genuinely cared for them.

During our freshman year, Lucy ran a high fever in the middle of the night. I carried her on my back, wading through icy puddles to the campus clinic for emergency treatment.

It was pouring like cats and dogs at the time, so my shoes and socks were soaked through. Yet, I still pushed through my own discomfort just to take care of her.

When Stella's boyfriend cheated on her, she ran out to the balcony at 3 a.m. and sobbed her heart out. I stayed beside her in the freezing wind for half the night, comforting and encouraging her.

Over these past two years, I had spent countless days and nights fighting back my disgust as I scrubbed their yellowing toilet and dealt with mountains of their trash.

And here they were, immediately assuming the worst of me just because Diana, an outsider, was sowing discord.

My sincerity was being trampled into the mud.

I silently swore that I would never bother with another one of their problems again.

I was still despairing over their ungratefulness when Diana lifted her chin and said smugly, "Yelena, I'm glad you don't have any objections. You're in charge for the first week starting tomorrow. Also, mop the floor again. You clearly didn't clean it properly. It's absolutely filthy."

Lucy and Stella went right over to Diana to talk about the new duty schedule. They laughed and chatted about their supposedly "fair" new lives.

Since I was in charge for the first week, the three of them figured they could do whatever they wanted.

They had always been messy, but now they were even worse. They started deliberately leaving leftover takeout next to their seats and tossing empty drinks onto the floor.

I even caught Lucy deliberately messing up the floor again right after I finished mopping several times. At first, I tried to keep the peace. So, I cleaned up after her and warned them not to go too far. Alas, they became even worse after my warnings.

Eventually, I stopped wasting my time doing the same work over and over. I cleaned at my own pace, twice a day, morning and evening. I refused to do any more than that. As for the extra mess they made… Well, selective blindness was a fun skill to have.

It was currently the middle of summer, so the pile of trash filled the dorm with a nauseating, sour stench within half a day.

Lucy covered her nose and mocked sarcastically, "What happened? Can't keep up the good girl act anymore? You used to be so hardworking. Why are you showing your true colors now?"

Diana walked over and pretended to play peacemaker. "Come on, Lucy, don't be so harsh. Yelena, stop slacking off. The dorm smells awful, so hurry up and deal with it. I'm going to inspect the dorm's hygiene later."

Stella wrapped an arm around Diana and joined in on jeering at me, "Some people would do anything for a few extra points! Now that there's nothing in it for her, she's suddenly developed delicate sensibilities!"

I was baffled by their words, and my expression turned icy as I retorted, "I clean at fixed times every morning and evening. Whoever makes a mess on purpose should clean it up themselves."