The classroom buzzed long after Mo Liancheng's casual words fell.
No one had expected him to side with Ji Yunxi. After all, he rarely spoke, and when he did, his words carried weight.
"Did you hear that? Mo Liancheng actually defended her.""Maybe he was just mocking Lin Xinyue…""Still, he's never shown interest in anyone before."
Whispers rippled, but Ji Yunxi paid them no mind. She sat down calmly, as if the chaos around her didn't exist.
[ Ding! Side Task Completed: Defend yourself in front of classmates. Reward: +100 points. Current Total: 280. ]
Her lips curved slightly. This system is more generous than I thought.
The first half of the school day passed in a haze of gossip. Teachers glanced at her with disapproval, classmates shot her sneers, and every break, Lin Xinyue's group of supporters made sure the word "fake" lingered in the air.
But Ji Yunxi's composure never wavered.
By lunchtime, tension finally broke.
The class monitor, a boy named Zhao Rui, strode up to her desk with a smirk. "Since you've been exposed, Yunxi, why don't you prove yourself? Next week is the Shenghua Debate Tournament. Let's see if you have what it takes—or if you've been hiding behind the Ji family name all along."
Laughter followed his words.
"That's right. Without her fake identity, she's nothing.""Bet she won't dare accept. Losing in front of the whole school would be too humiliating."
Lin Xinyue, sitting nearby, covered her mouth with a delicate gasp. "Oh no, isn't that too much pressure for Sister? She's been through so much already."
Her false kindness only fueled the mockery further.
Ji Yunxi lifted her eyes slowly, her voice calm and cool. "And what if I win?"
The room stilled.
Zhao Rui scoffed. "If you win, I'll personally apologize onstage. But if you lose—you kneel and admit you don't deserve the Ji name."
A hush fell. Even Lin Xinyue's eyes gleamed briefly before she lowered them to hide her delight.
Ji Yunxi leaned back in her seat, her expression indifferent. "Fine. I accept."
Gasps filled the room.
"She actually agreed?""Does she want to humiliate herself in front of the whole school?"
But Ji Yunxi only heard the system's voice in her mind.
[ Ding! Mission Triggered: Participate in the debate tournament. Victory reward: +500 points. Failure penalty: Public humiliation event increased. ]
Her lips curved faintly. A bet with punishment and reward? Perfect.
After class, when most of the students had left, Ji Yunxi packed her books calmly. She could feel a gaze on her, sharp and unreadable.
She turned—and met Mo Liancheng's dark eyes.
He was still leaning lazily against the back wall, hands in his pockets, posture casual yet commanding.
"You're not afraid?" he asked suddenly.
Ji Yunxi raised a brow. "Of what?"
"Losing," he said simply.
She chuckled softly, the sound low and confident. "Why should I be? I've never needed the Ji family's name to win."
For a moment, his lips curved slightly. His gaze deepened, carrying an amusement that seemed almost… protective.
"You'd better not disappoint me," he murmured, his voice so soft only she could hear it.
Ji Yunxi narrowed her eyes at him. "Who said I'm here to please you?"
He only smirked and walked past her, his tall figure disappearing through the doorway.
The system chimed again in her mind:
[ Ding! Hidden Route Unlocked: Male Lead's interest has increased. Caution advised. ]
Ji Yunxi's brows rose. Male Lead?
So Mo Liancheng wasn't just an ordinary classmate. He was part of the grand design of this world.
Her lips curved. Interesting.
Very interesting.