All Chapters of My Perfect Score Only Buys Me Blue-Collar: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

As I stared at the number "1590" glaring back at me in the score column, I couldn't make sense of it.I'd spent years studying harder than anyone just for a shot at an elite university, and I couldn't even count how much I'd sacrificed along the way.I finally pulled off a score that guaranteed me a spot at Wexford or Danforth University. But when it came time to apply, no matter what I chose, my application always defaulted to Fernbrook Vocational School, a trade school that accepted scores around 800.Why was this happening? It was a nationwide application system, so there was no reason it would glitch.As my mind raced, Mom patted my shoulder, looking thrilled. "Callie, what are you just sitting there for? Hurry up and fill out your applications! We've already looked into it for you. With your score, you can pick any program you want at Wexford or Danforth!"Dad couldn't stop grinning either. "That's right. Artificial intelligence has a bright future right now. If you ask me, W

Thankfully, Mom kept a fairly level head and immediately called the application system's official support line. The person on the other end took it seriously and promised to look into it right away. Before long, they called back."Hello, ma'am. We've checked very carefully, and our system is working perfectly fine. Hundreds of thousands of people are submitting applications every second right now, and we haven't received a single report of any problems.""We also found that the application you submitted really did list only Fernbrook Vocational School, so this isn't a system glitch."Dad couldn't hold it in any longer. "So you're saying our kid, who scored over 1500, applied to a trade school that takes scores around 800? Are you prepared to take legal responsibility for that?"They apologized right away and patiently explained. "Sir, we don't know how the application was filled out on your end, but we can absolutely guarantee the system's stability. If a system failure caused a

Staring at the words on the screen, I replayed the detail that had just flashed through my mind over and over. It wasn't a system glitch, and it wasn't a hacker either. It was something else entirely.I turned around, looked at everyone in the room, and said slowly, "I think I might know what's going on!"My parents, who'd sunk into total despair, suddenly looked at me with hope in their eyes. Even the police officers turned to me with curiosity.I steadied myself and continued, "Something occurred to me. Every time I submitted, it took a few seconds before the page changed to Fernbrook. But for those few seconds, it showed that the application had gone through, and everything on it was completely correct. That raises a question."My voice was calm. "If my student information was locked, why did the correct choices show up the moment the application went through? The system should have blocked it the second I hit submit."The team captain, Glen Dorsey, frowned slightly. "Are you

The car stopped outside Uncle Wade's building. Captain Dorsey had two officers wait downstairs and took my parents and me up.When we got to the door, Captain Dorsey rang the doorbell, but no one answered. He rang it again, but still no one answered."Is nobody home?" Captain Dorsey frowned and looked at his deputy.The deputy checked their police-issued phone, and their expression turned grim. "Wade Prentiss' phone signal shows he left the city two hours ago. His current location is… about 190 miles away."Uncle Wade's whole family had run off? What did that mean? Nobody said a word, but everyone knew the answer.Captain Dorsey immediately ordered a roadblock and had someone call a locksmith to open Uncle Wade's door. Everything inside looked exactly the same as the last time I was there, and nothing seemed out of place."Check his computer," Captain Dorsey ordered.An officer went into Toby's room and opened the laptop on the desk. It hadn't been shut down, only closed, so t

Mom looked at me and shook her head frantically. "Callie, there are some things you're better off not knowing.""Mom!" I was practically yelling. "My whole future's about to be ruined, and you're still keeping secrets from me?"Mom looked over at Dad, whose expression changed too. "Honey, what exactly have you been hiding from us?"He clearly had no idea what she was talking about either.Mom closed her eyes, and tears slid down her cheeks. "Callie isn't your daughter."The room went dead silent. I stood rooted to the spot, my mind completely blank. Dad froze, his lips trembling, unable to say a word. Captain Dorsey and the officers all stepped back toward the door, unsure whether they should keep listening."What did you say?" Dad finally asked, his voice sounding like a stranger's."I said Callie isn't your daughter." Mom's voice was frighteningly calm. "I was already pregnant with her before I married you 18 years ago.""Then whose child is she?" Dad's voice shook.Mom di