All Chapters of When the System Backfires: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

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

Chapter 2

During the mock exams, I picked up the question sheets that the invigilator distributed, looking just like an encyclopedia with the dense pages of texts. Picking up my pencil, I picked 'C' for everything, and flipped to the blank page behind to sketch the Mona Lisa from memory.The invigilator was gliding past me, pursing her lips after a glance at my answer sheet but said nothing.After all, it was all too common for arts students to give up on taking their college entrance exam completely.And yet, I heard that Coco was way worse, sleeping through the entire exam and handing in blank sheets.When the invigilator woke her, she rolled her eyes. "What the heck? I didn't even want to be here."In the afternoon, the school public address system boomed with an announcement, "I'm Shaun Grant, a third year and Coco Jenkins' boyfriend! I'm here to congratulate her for getting first place in the city soon! Coco, you're the best!"The whole school cheered with roars and whistles, and ev

Chapter 3

It was the high school graduation ceremony and the whole school was gathered at the track field.Coco, as valedictorian, was giving a rousing speech on stage. "There's no need to fear your college entrance exam, everyone! Just find the right style for you, and everyone could create miracles! Just like how I never studied or worked overnight, but topped the city's rankings anyway!"Everyone applauded deafeningly, while she paused, her eyes scanning the field as she continued, "Naturally, if you overestimate yourself and insist on competing against a genius, you'd just humiliate yourself."I know she was talking about me, but I had no time for her.I stayed crouched in a corner of the field, making my final adjustments to my submission.It was my primary submission to be submitted to Central Arts, so every stroke and sketch had to be perfect.I heard footsteps, but didn't look up, presuming it was someone walking past.However, my palette was sent flying the next moment, and all

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

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

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

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

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

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

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