The progress bar glowed faintly, inching forward with every line I absorbed. The words no longer blurred into a dull monotony of formulas and reactions. Instead, they felt alive—clear, structured, almost as if the universe itself was whispering answers directly into my mind.
Ding!
A soft chime rang in my ears, inaudible to anyone else.
[Quest Complete: Chapter One Mastered]
Reward: 100 ZWD | +1% Academic Mastery
I froze. The crisp rustle of pages beneath my fingers grounded me, but the shimmering numbers at the edge of my vision were impossible to deny. My trembling hand reached into my drawer for my battered wallet. Inside, tucked between an old ID and a bus ticket stub, was a crisp 100-dollar note.
I gasped. It hadn't been there before.
This wasn't a dream.
For the first time, I understood: the "Rich and Academic System" wasn't just a gimmick. It was real. It could change everything.
I stared at the note, the edges slightly glowing before the light faded, leaving only reality. My family's laughter and bickering echoed faintly from the living room. They had no idea that destiny had just dropped into my lap.
And yet, it wasn't just about money. For years, my dreams had felt like fragile paper boats, floating on the floodwaters of poverty and doubt. Fame. Fortune. A chance to stand on the same stage as Ohm and Pond, the idols I admired, to be recognized not for struggle but for triumph. Now, for the first time, those dreams felt tangible. Achievable.
I clenched the Chemistry textbook tighter. "If this is real… then I'll master it all. Every subject. Every challenge."
The system flickered again:
[New Quest Unlocked]
Master the entire Chemistry O-Level Textbook (Progress: 5%).
Reward: 1000 ZWD | +1 Skill Point in Academic Mastery.
My heart thundered. The world hadn't changed. But I had.
For the first time in years, the shadows of uncertainty lifted, replaced by a fire I didn't know still burned inside me. This was no longer about passing exams—it was about rewriting the story of my life.
And this time, I was the author.