Zhao Zeli: "Everyone, come quickly! This is a scammer, don't fall for her tricks again."
People at the station looked over, murmuring. The scammer shook her head anxiously.
"She specifically targets students who are too embarrassed to refuse and older aunties. The aunties are soft-hearted and give her something. When she stops students, after a bit of sweet talk, most of them will hand over their 30 yuan. All those tragic stories are fake. She's clearly not mute."
The scammer started crying, her mouth opening and closing, her whole body trembling, looking utterly pathetic.
"Little girl, it's not much money. Let her go quickly. What if it's true? It'll hurt her pride so much."
"Yeah, yeah. She must have her reasons for doing this. Nobody has too much spare change these days. When you can be lenient, be lenient."
"She's just exploiting people's kindness. She really is a scammer, you have to believe me!"
"She doesn't look like one. What kind of ability is it for a normal person to bully a deaf-mute? Hurry up and let go, or I'll call the police, you old man."
As the old man spoke, he raised his phone. Surrounding voices echoed his sentiment.
"001, what should I do now? I'm just trying to do a good deed, and I'm about to be misunderstood."
"I need 10 face-slap points from you. You have to pay me back later."
"Okay, okay."
The scammer she was holding suddenly spoke, "Hmph, you idiot. Everyone sympathizes with the weak. Even if you know I'm faking, what can you do to me?"
As soon as the scammer realized what she'd said, she quickly covered her mouth and shook her head like a rattle drum. The grandpas and grandmas instantly realized they had been tricked, their faces turning extremely ugly.
"How can you be so shameless, you little girl? Sir, I'm calling the police right now to have them arrest you."
"Little girl, I'm so sorry. We misunderstood you just now. We're truly sorry."
"It's alright, it's alright. Everyone was just deceived by her. Be careful in the future; there are so many scammers nowadays."
"Yes, you're absolutely right."
"001, how did I do?"
"Congratulations Host, you've gained 100 face-slap points. After deducting 10, you have 90 left."
"There were so many people at the station, why so few?"
"Not everyone didn't trust your judgment. Only the scammer and a few agitated grandpas were 'face-slapped'."
"Okay, looks like I need to work harder."
Zhao Zeli was almost exhausted that day. She exposed a fortune-teller under the overpass, found a phone thief, and even bought a one-time skill from 001 to save a little boy who was almost choked to death.
Along the way, she encountered people who doubted her. After a day of exposing fakes, she finally managed to offset the 400 disgrace points.
The sun was setting in the west. Zhao Zeli sat on a chair on the bus, feeling utterly drained.
"Congratulations Host, you're debt-free and light."
Only then did she manage a smile. I must work even harder to change my fate. I will make everyone regret looking down on me.
"Host, keep it up!"
Shui Wa: "This Zhao Zeli is quite diligent, huh?"
Jun Jiu Li: "Having a goal gives motivation. She's not a good person anyway, so it's not bad to use her to do some good deeds."
After returning to the dormitory and taking a shower, Zhao Zeli felt truly alive. She happily grabbed her books and went to evening self-study.
There were three periods of evening self-study. Teachers supervised the first two, and the last one was unsupervised. Time was tight, and teachers used evening self-study for review. Zhao Zeli found mathematics as incomprehensible as ever.
"001, what's going on? Why don't I have any clear problem-solving ideas in my mind?"
"Host, you have to do your own things. If you want a smart brain, please exchange for it with face-slap points."
"Then why was it possible last time?"
"That was just to let the Host experience the benefits of the system. There's no such thing as a free lunch forever."
"How many face-slap points?"
"A flat rate of 500."
Zhao Zeli thought of the day's exertion and felt a surge of blood lodge in her throat.
"Why don't you just rob me?"
"Having a smart brain will lead to a bright future, Host. It's a good deal for you. If you're unwilling, I can bind to someone else."
"No, no, no, I'm willing, I'm willing."
"Classmate Zhao Zeli."
Zhao Zeli immediately stood up, lowering her head and not daring to speak, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest.
"Do you understand this problem now? Why were you spacing out?"
The classmates' gazes focused on her, and Zhao Zeli felt her face burn.
"I... I don't know."
"If you don't know, you should listen carefully. Take your book and stand at the back. Wang Yang, stand up and tell us what formula we need to use here."
Wang Yang stood up and answered confidently. Zhao Zeli sheepishly stood at the back. She felt like everyone was mocking her, and her heart ached.
The bell for the end of class rang, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief, returning to her seat.
As soon as the teacher walked out, Class 16 erupted in noise. Zhao Zeli held her pen and worked on problems, not daring to speak.
"Little Zhao, let's take a break. Are you going to the restroom? It's packed. You won't have another chance later."
"I'm not going."
"Oh, okay then. Feng Ying, are you going? Let's go together."
"Alright, I'll leave after I copy this."
Watching the two of them leave, Zhao Zeli sensitively felt that they would be discussing her.
Shui Wa: "Host, do you think Zhao Zeli is tired doing this? Her classmates probably didn't take her words from last time to heart at all, and she's just anxiously guessing."
"She's probably quite tired. This situation is mostly influenced by her family. Next week during the break, we'll give her a big gift."
"Can't you reveal it in advance? I want to know."
"It's a secret."
On Monday, during the flag-raising ceremony, Teacher Xu earnestly clarified things for her students, hoping everyone would focus on their studies and not spread rumors.
During the lunch break, Zhong Yujin and Zhao Zeli went to the broadcast room to read their apology letters.
Zhong Yujin went in first. After reading, he glared fiercely at Zhao Zeli before leaving the broadcast room.
Zhao Zeli's feet felt rooted; she didn't want to move an inch.
Student Union member: "Classmate, are you going to read or not? I need to lock up after you're done, and I want to go back to sleep."
"I will."
The apology letter had already been reviewed by their homeroom teacher, who clearly outlined their mistakes.
Every word Zhao Zeli read felt like it was taking her life, and her disgrace points kept increasing.