C1 Almighty Working System

In the Dragon District of D City, there was a school known as Chengde High School.

Inside the Dean's office at Chengde High School...

"Hee Liang, just sign it," said the short, portly Dean Wu Qing from his chair, smiling at the strikingly handsome student standing before him.

A contract lay on the desk.

"Remember when you pleaded for me to come to Chengde High School? Have you kept any of the promises you made to me?" Hee Liang's voice was low and resonant as he clenched his fists and bowed his head.

Wu Qing straightened up in his seat, his beer belly protruding noticeably. His smile faded slowly as he spoke, "Stop fighting it. Just sign already. There's no negotiating this."

Hee Liang lifted his head, inhaling deeply. He quelled the mix of fury and turmoil within and asked in an even tone, "Are you giving up on me now too?"

Three years prior, he had scored third citywide in the middle school exams.

To attract such a top student, Chengde High School had sent Wu Qing with a contract to recruit Hee Liang. The contract offered a full tuition waiver for three years and an annual scholarship of 17,000 RMB.

Coming from a poor family, with parents who survived by scavenging, it was this contract that had swayed Hee Liang to choose Chengde High School.

But now, Wu Qing was pushing him to break that contract.

Wu Qing scoffed, his fingers tapping the glass tabletop.

"Three years ago, I was the one who invited you to join our school."

"But you no longer live up to that contract," he said, his eyes brimming with scorn.

Wu Qing's words sent a shiver through Hee Liang.

His fists tightened, nails digging sharply into his palms, though the pain seemed to barely register.

A bitter smile crossed Hee Liang's face.

"Just three months ago, you were excelling, top of your class, the most likely candidate from our school to get into the nation's best university," Wu Qing said, picking up the contract and slapping it against the desk.

"And now?"

"You're dead last."

Slamming the contract down, he declared icily, "You're nothing but a failure now. Am I wrong?"

"You have to sign this contract!"

Hee Liang's gaze was distant, haunted by memories he wished he could forget. Once upon a time, he was a top student with good looks and a confident, easygoing demeanor – the talk of Chengde High School.

Teachers praised him, and he was the object of many a girl's affection.

But everything changed after he collapsed three months ago.

When he awoke, he was plagued by sleepiness and an inability to focus. His grades plummeted.

And with that, the rumors began to swirl.

"Hee Liang's like this because he's been sleeping around!"

"He's unfocused; it must be kidney failure!"

"Maybe he's contracted HIV!"

The gossip was relentless.

For three months, he endured mockery. The weight of it was crushing.

Wu Qing squinted, his plump face betraying a flicker of indifference.

"Hee Liang, sign the contract, and we might consider your withdrawal from school."

The words struck Hee Liang like a thunderclap.

He looked up, mouth agape, but words failed him.

What could he possibly say?

He was at the bottom of the class. That fact was like a zipper, sealing his lips shut.

A bitter smile crossed Hee Liang's face as his grip tightened into a fist.

Wu Qing's cold gaze rested on the changed Hee Liang.

"Hee Liang!"

"Let me be clear: this is what the school's top brass wants. Given your current condition, do you really think you're fit to take part in the Grand Plan?"

Four months prior, S City's titan, Hsiao's Group, and the prestigious S University, ranked third nationwide, had unveiled the Grand Plan.

They launched a national biology competition, promising the top three students from each district a scholarship of 100,000 RMB and a chance to attend S University – a dream for countless students across H Country.

Four months ago, the preliminary test of the Grand Plan concluded. Fifty individuals from the Dragon District earned the opportunity to advance to the next round.

Only five students from Chengde High School had earned the privilege to advance to the second-round test.

Hee Liang was among them.

"What's the point of even taking the second-round test?"

"What score will you manage? Zero or maybe one?"

Chengde High School would undoubtedly become the butt of jokes!

What would Hsiao's Group and S University think of them?

These thoughts agitated Wu Qing. He scoffed at Hee Liang, "Inviting you to Chengde High School three years ago is my life's biggest regret!"

Wu Qing was utterly indifferent to Hee Liang's presence.

He was the one who had suggested Hee Liang be expelled.

He believed Hee Liang had tarnished his professional reputation.

He considered inviting Hee Liang to the school his gravest mistake.

"Take this contract and get out."

"Hee Liang, I'm giving you two days to think it over. Once you've made up your mind, sign the contract."

Impatiently, he gestured dismissively, eager to be rid of Hee Liang's sight.

Hee Liang, in a daze, picked up the contract from the desk and stumbled out of the office.

"Hee Liang!"

A soft, familiar voice called out.

He turned towards the voice.

There stood a stunning girl.

She was clad in the school uniform, her skin porcelain, her large eyes brimming with tranquility, reminiscent of a beautiful comic book heroine.

"Mengtong," Hee Liang said with a wry smile, tucking the contract behind his back.

Chen Mengtong had been his desk mate during their freshman year of high school. They had been separated into different classes as sophomores.

Yet, before that incident, they had frequently exchanged ideas on their studies.

Her grades were excellent, ranking second in the entire grade. She, like him, had made it to the second-round test of the Grand Plan and was the school beauty pursued by countless boys.

"Take this," said Chen Mengtong, her stunning face stoic.

She handed her notebook to Hee Liang.

"These are my biology notes. There's only a hundred days left until the college entrance exam. Give it your all!"

"Do your best to get into a vocational college. I don't want to see your mother heartbroken."

"Don't come looking for me anymore!"

With those words, she turned and walked away.

Yet, as she reached the corner, she paused, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes, as if she had much to say. Ultimately, she let out a soft sigh, whispering to herself, "Hee Liang, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Once, he had been a self-assured prodigy, and her heart had skipped a beat for him.

But now, he had lost his way.

In the corridor, Hee Liang stood in silence.

In his left hand, he held her notebook; in his right, the withdrawal contract.

The breeze stirred, scattering leaves in its wake.

A look of solitude crossed Hee Liang's face.

A wry smile crept onto his lips.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Absorption complete!"

"The Almighty Working System is now active!"

The voice went on, "Host, this is your first time activating the system. Allow me to introduce myself briefly to facilitate your work."

This androgynous voice jolted him, making Hee Liang freeze.

His mind felt refreshed, as if his temples had been anointed with a cooling balm.

The drowsiness that had tormented him for three months was slowly dissipating!

He felt better than he ever had before!

"Based on your identity, you can earn a corresponding daily salary. You can also gain experience points, improve your status, and increase your daily earnings by completing tasks."

"The money earned from tasks can be used to purchase items."