Share

When the System Backfires
When the System Backfires
Author: Bear Outlaw

Chapter 1

Author: Bear Outlaw
It was pouring after school.

The family chauffeur had parked our Rolls-Royce outside the school gates, and he held an umbrella as he stood and waited respectfully for Coco Jenkins.

She turned to me, smiling as she waved at me. "Bye, sis. There's only one car—just take a bus. Mom and Dad did say a little suffering is good for the soul."

That was how I ended up waiting forty minutes in the rain, my clothes completely soaked through.

When I returned home, I found the dining table covered in exquisite Franconian dishes: foie gras, lobster salad, onion spaghetti, and even red wine.

Coco had changed into fresh clothes and was sitting at the table, while Mom kept putting more food on her plate, saying, "Eat as much as you can—keep your mind sharp for the mock exam tomorrow."

No one looked at me as I stood at the doorway, still soaked through, so I simply headed upstairs.

"Stop."

That was when Dad called out to me, putting down his wine glass with a surly look. "I heard you keep trying to hog the spotlight at school? What, did you think you're related to that other Jojo Jenkins studying at that elite school?

"Don't ever presume you could leech off someone's glory just because you share the same name. Don't you have any sense of embarrassment?"

I held his gaze as I calmly replied, "I never leech off anyone."

Having no retort, Dad simply snorted and waved for me to leave.

I returned to my room, changed out of my wet clothes and quickly picked up my sketchbook.

After all, I needed three primary works to get through the special admission program of Central Art, the best art school in the country.

Still, I was working until 2 am when I heard a door knock.

It was Coco, dressed in a silk sleeping gown as she leaned against the doorframe, leering at me smugly.

"Don't bother pretending," she told me with a charming giggle. "Our parents don't know, but I do—you're a science student who topped statewide exam rankings for three years. Still, you're now pretending to be an art student, just so you can surprise everyone and humiliate me!"

"What a shame… My System has already locked on to you. All your luck and your college entrance exam score will be transferred to me automatically. So don't bother trying—all you have to do is bend over as my stepping stone."

I simply stared at her foolish grin for a moment and calmly closed the door.

Locked on to me?

She definitely had no idea that she stole a high mock college entrance exam score and afforded her a moment of accomplishment. However, the other Jojo Jenkins is a boy, and the government noticed his talent to move him to the prestigious Upton College, exempting him from college entrance exam.

If Coco tried to steal the score of 'Jojo Jenkins' again during the actual exam, she'd get my score instead—some art student who couldn't grasp the basics of cultural studies.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 9

    Months later, the courts officially sentenced Dad to fifteen years, and everything he owned was seized by the government.Shaun was also sentenced to seven years on multiple charges.And with every asset seized and auctioned off, the Jenkins family was left in debt.With her bank accounts frozen and having nothing to her name, Mom was left penniless.Nowadays, she has to wake up at 4 am to pick up trash, just to get some money to afford canned food, especially with Coco losing her mind.In fact, Coco couldn't even recognize faces now—she had to be fed, helped to the toilet, and did nothing but laugh at the walls.Pulling her trolley full of cardboard boxes to be sold one winter night, Mom was passing by the big screen of a mall.The news flashed of me hosting my solo exhibition in Franconia, standing at the gallery beside the river where sharply dressed patrons flocked around me.Mom stopped and stared at the screen for a long time, eventually crouching by the road and slapping

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 8

    News spread far and wide, with titles like 'Coco Jenkins: College Entrance Exam Cheater staying trending for days.Even on Youtube, a live video of Coco's reaction when she revealed her score of 8 went viral, and phrases like the 8 College Entrance Exam Ace became popular memes of the year.The Jenskins' businesses saw an immediate stock drop to its daily limit the next day, and that happened for another ten days, its market value completely vaporizing.With close partners all terminating any contracts they had with the Jenkins on the spot, they had no capital at all.Dad was left crying at lock-up, formally arrested for commercial fraud and multiple counts of illicit deals.Shaun's family didn't fare well either, as they were formally charged with tax evasion by the inland revenue bureau. Once word got out, they were immediately struck with a nationwide boycott and went bankrupt in just two weeks.As for me, I was just starting a new chapter of my life.-In just three mont

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 7

    I watched as Coco drooled all over the floor with nary a shred of sympathy.Mom was rushing forward, intent on grabbing hold of my leg as she cried, "Jojo! Jojo! You have to save Coco! She's your sister… You're a prodigy of Central Arts, right? You definitely can do something about this, right?!"Just five minutes ago she called me an ingrate, a jinx, and vowed to skin me.But now, I was Jojo again.Scowling in disgust, I took a step back, avoiding her outstretched arms while whipping out my phone. I played a certain audio recording.Dad was snapping, "4 points? Why are you still alive? What did Jenkins do to deserve a loser like you?"Mom soon answered, "That's it! No pocket money and no meals for you over the next three days! Let's see if you'd still dare to embarrass us!"Dad then said, "Here, sign this agreement. You will work as a servant for life, assisting Coco as she brings honor to our family."Mom then added, "You can leave if you don't want to sign it. Go die in a di

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 6

    Even though both of Coco's arms were gripped tightly, she kept flailing and screaming, "No! I am the chosen one! I have the college entrance exam system… Jojo Jenkins is the loser! She scored 8! She isn't even fit to lick my boots!"Mom and Dad finally smelled that things were going really bad really quick, but instead of begging for leniency, they promptly condemned me.Pointing at me, Dad was snapping viciously, "It's her, officer! It's all that ingrate's fault! She brought shame to our family! We have nothing to do with her—we already signed an agreement to disown her!"Mom promptly joined in, "Yes! She's not a member of our family now! We don't know a thing!"Even Shaun—still clutching his bleeding lips—snarled through his teeth, "Don't get so full of yourself, Jojo Jenkins! Your 8 college entrance exam score means you're a bottom feeder now! What makes you think you get to strut?!"I looked between them, and took out the envelope I had in my rucksack: the acceptance letter fo

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 5

    Total college entrance exam score: 8.The hall was silent, while Coco blinked, her smile still on her face."What…" She thought she was seeing things and leaned closer to the screen, rubbing her eyes.However, it was still 8."No! That's impossible!" She screamed as she sprang to her feet, grabbed the keyboard and smashed it on the floor. "The System must have been hacked! It must have been!"The System's voice rang as she kept summoning it in her mind.[Searching college entrance exam examines through the national database. 1 Jojo Jenkins found.] [Synchronising college entrance exam score, success: 8 points!]Coco was stunned. "8 points?! What?!"I put down the lobster and wiped my lips before walking towards the stage, announcing, "Yes, that's my score from picking C for multiple-choice questions. Everything else, I left blank."That said, you can have those 8 points, I don't really mind. Hope you can go the distance with it."Even as the hall erupted into chaos, th

  • When the System Backfires   Chapter 4

    The night before the college entrance exam, all lights were on in our home as Mom and Dad held a grand banquet with over twenty tables, celebrating Coco's acing her college entrance exam ahead of time.Fireworks erupted above the gardens as Shaun—in a fancy tailored suit—knelt before Coco, taking out a blue velvet box.Opening it to reveal a diamond ring, he asked, "Shall we get engaged once you get your college entrance exam scores?"Coco was blushing as she took the ring, putting it on as everyone cheered her on."Oh, you… The exam hadn't even started!" She pouted. "But… the answer is yes."The mood was at once cheerful as everyone expected glory even before it came.-Meanwhile, I was living in a rented basement near school, barely a hundred square feet wide—having moved out since signing that disownment agreement.My phone screen lit up with the email sent from Central Arts.[Congratulations! You have been selected for the S-rank international special admission. Your physi

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status