On the first day of freshman year, news broke that I’d won a million dollars in a national gaming tournament. Suddenly, a girl I barely knew—Vanessa, the so-called "campus beauty" who played the poverty card like a pro—rushed the stage and fell to her knees, begging me to pay her mother's medical bills. "This money might be nothing to you, but to me, it's my mother's life!" she sobbed. "I promise, I'll pay you back in the future!" The crowd went wild. Everyone started chanting for me to be a hero, saying getting the campus beauty's favor for a million bucks was a steal. I almost caved. My finger hovered over the transfer button. But then, rows of glowing text—like bullet comments on a livestream—floated across my vision: [Here it comes. After the moral kidnapping succeeds, the campus beauty and her family treat the MC like a walking blood bag. Can't shake them off.] [Later, when the MC's dad falls and needs emergency surgery, she won't pay him back. Instead, she guilt-trips him, saying he's forcing her and her mom to die!] [After that, she frames the MC for sexual assault, ruining his life. His dad dies because of it.] My hand shook. I canceled the transfer. I looked down at the teary-eyed beauty looking up at me with expectation. "Sorry," I said. "I spent it all." 1 The whole class gasped. Vanessa looked at me, shocked and outraged. "How could you spend it all so fast?" Hilarious. What right did she have to question my finances? I ignored her and walked back to my seat. But Vanessa scrambled up and chased after me. She asked if I was worried she couldn't pay it back, offering to write an IOU. The floating text returned: [Don't believe her! She uses disappearing ink for IOUs. When you ask for the money later, it'll be a blank piece of paper!] [Later, when your dad is dying and you beg her on your knees, this manipulative witch will wave that blank paper around and accuse you of harassment!] [Also, her mom doesn't have uremia. She's alive and kicking. She just wants to scam money!] I let out a cold laugh. "Spent means spent. Why are you still asking?" Vanessa collapsed on the floor again, hugging my leg like a koala, sobbing uncontrollably. "I really, really need your help! Otherwise, my mom will die!" "My dad died early. My mom raised me all by herself. Seeing her like this while I can't do anything... I should just die!" [Not just her, they both deserve it!] [Yeah, in their village, they're notorious. They beat up disabled people, steal food from the elderly, and smashed someone's pot when they got caught!] [You're screwed if you help. Once the moral kidnapping works, they'll bleed you dry. If you dare say 'no,' they'll spread rumors you're a creep.] [Everyone will think: why would he give a random classmate a million bucks if he didn't have ulterior motives?] [Exactly. When she accuses you of assault later, the keyboard warriors will believe her instantly! Don't give her a dime!] 2 I remained unmoved by Vanessa's performance. Suddenly, the class president, Tyler, stood up. "Ethan, you're in the wrong here. We're all classmates. Why can't you help? Are you really going to watch her mom die?" [This guy is a massive simp. He likes Vanessa, so of course he's white-knighting for her!] Tyler's crush on Vanessa was an open secret. Vanessa shot Tyler a grateful look, then continued her wailing. "You made that money so easily. Use it to do something good. I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life." "Alright, alright, get up. Ethan isn't the type to leave someone to die. I'm sure he'll pay." Tyler rushed over to help Vanessa up, even dusting off her clothes like a dutiful servant. Then he told her to pull up her Venmo QR code. Vanessa already had it ready. She unlocked her phone, and there it was. [She relies on her looks to cry poor and beg for money everywhere! If you don't give, she claims you're looking down on her!] I smirked. A real "princess." I reached out and locked her phone screen. Tyler frowned instantly. "Ethan, what do you mean?" I shrugged. "Nothing. Why flash a QR code right off the bat? People might think she's begging on the street." Tyler got agitated. "She needs you to transfer money to save a life!" "Did I say I was transferring money? You've been talking to yourself this whole time. Interesting how eager you are to spend other people's money." "I don't have that much money. I can only help organize. Is that a problem?" I scoffed. "Jeff Bezos has more money. Go organize him." "You're so generous. Maybe you can't drop a million, but 100k or 200k should be easy for you, right? Doing good deeds shouldn't be about the amount." "...I don't have 200k either! I'm a poor student!" "Borrow it. Take out a loan. Rob a bank. That's how you show true love for Vanessa! It's 2024, you think you can get the girl with just talk?" Tyler's face turned the color of a pig's liver. [Nice! Throw that hot potato right back at him!] [He likes Vanessa so much? Let him take out a loan!] Vanessa looked at Tyler with hopeful, teary eyes. "There's strength in numbers... actually, my mom's medical fees... a million might not be enough... President Tyler, maybe you could..." Tyler froze. He avoided Vanessa's gaze. Maybe out of panic, or to deflect, he turned back to me and yelled: "I am the Class President! I order you to transfer the money to her right now!" The whole class stared, jaws dropped. Class President? What a massive power trip! One sentence, and he expects me to cough up a million? Even scammers put in more effort than this. Hearing the snickers around him, Tyler got even more agitated. "So what if I'm the Class President? I'm telling you to do a good deed! What's wrong with that?" I laughed in his face. "A few days ago, there was a donation drive for alumni. Who donated five bucks and bragged about it like a saint? Oh right, you." "And who do you think you are to order me around? Bossing me about my money? You worthy?" Students covered their mouths, giggling. Tyler's face got redder. "You just have no heart!" "Yep, you're right. I have no heart. You have a heart, so hurry up and donate a few hundred grand to Vanessa." I shook off Vanessa's grip on my leg. Pointing at Tyler, I said, "The President is a great guy. Campus loans are easy to get. Go hug his thigh instead!" Vanessa looked at Tyler expectantly. Tyler looked like a startled rat looking for a hole. 3 A few days later, the school organized a charity auction for underprivileged kids. I donated a valuable limited-edition figure without hesitation. It drew a lot of attention. A sophomore bought it for $3,000. I stuffed the cash into the donation box. But the moment the auction ended, Vanessa rushed up and hugged the donation box. Teachers ran over, asking what she was doing. Vanessa started weeping. "I'm the one who needs help the most! My mom has uremia and needs money to live!" "I tried begging my classmate Ethan, but he won't help. Begging is useless. I have to do this." "I can testify!" Tyler popped up like a whack-a-mole. "Ethan won a million in a gaming tournament. But seeing his classmate's mother dying, he ignored her and lied about spending the money! I'm ashamed to be his classmate!" Everyone looked at me. No way was I taking this rap. I confronted Tyler immediately. "Who made the rule that I have to help a classmate in trouble? Do you know how much a million dollars is? She's not my mom. Why should I help?" People nodded. Helping is voluntary, and it should be within one's means. What kind of idiot drops a million to save a "classmate's" mom? While Tyler stuttered, I continued. "Kindness isn't just lip service. If you're so charitable, why did you auction off a broken water bottle today? Then you turn around and demand I donate a million. Tyler, don't be such a hypocrite." "A million is nothing to you!" Tyler argued weakly. I looked at him with disdain. "Whether it's nothing or everything is none of your business. Can you stop being generous with my money to chase girls? Using such dirty tactics, sacrificing others to make yourself look good—it's disgusting." The teachers and students got it. Their looks turned judgmental. While Tyler stood there embarrassed, Vanessa tried to run off with the donation box. Luckily, teachers and students stopped her. Vanessa wailed loudly. "A person in need is standing right here! Are you all as heartless as Ethan? Is your charity just for show?" "Vanessa, watch your mouth. Stop dragging my name into this!" I warned her, pointing a finger. Vanessa claimed I was threatening her and sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum. [She wants to blow this up. She's an expert at playing the victim and using public opinion to pressure people!] [Watch out for Tyler. In your past life, he's the one who edited the videos to frame you for assault!] I sneered internally. Fine. Two can play at that game. I crouched down and asked Vanessa. "Your mom really has uremia? Can you prove it?" Vanessa's eyes darted around. She couldn't look me in the eye. Tyler chimed in. "Who would curse their own family with something like that? Would you, Ethan?" I was sick of him. I glared sideways. Tyler instinctively stepped back but kept running his mouth. "If he doesn't believe it, Vanessa, bring the medical diagnosis tomorrow. Let's see if he pays up then!" Vanessa was silent for a moment, then nodded vigorously, promising to bring the papers. [Don't believe her. It's fake! She's going to forge it!] Forged? Even better. 4 The next day, when Vanessa handed me the diagnosis, Tyler filmed the whole thing. He provided commentary, saying I didn't believe a classmate's tragedy, and that I promised to donate my million if the papers were real. I grabbed him, snatched his phone, and smashed it on the floor. Tyler was stunned. I grabbed his collar, fist tight. "You are so damn annoying. Stay away from me. Do you hear me?" "You broke my phone!" "I'll buy you a new one. Scram!" I shoved him away. He frantically pulled out his SIM card and ran. I turned back and snatched the diagnosis from Vanessa. I looked closely. Pretty good forgery. I started to walk away with it. Vanessa blocked me. "Why aren't you giving me the money? What are you doing with the papers?" Guilty conscience. I didn't say a word, just tried to leave. Suddenly, Vanessa reached out to snatch the papers back, screaming that I was breaking my promise, and ripped them in half. I sneered. "Doing that... proves these are fake, doesn't it?" "N-No!" "Then why are you so agitated?" "I'm afraid you'll use them for something bad! If you won't help, fine, but don't spread my business around to laugh at me!" [She's going to use public opinion to pressure you! Careful!] [That bastard Tyler didn't go far. He's recording with a burner phone!] I turned around. Tyler sprinted away. That night, a post appeared on the school forum.
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