It was clear that most of the css was shocked to see Xanthia's name listed among the contestants for the 3000-meter race. Few had ever thought she would compete in such an event.

  But Xanthia herself was fully aware of the behind-the-scenes schemes orchestrated by Hera and Kenny. With her “malicious notebook” in hand, she had anticipated this development long ago and was now calmly awaiting their so-called “assistance.”

  She had her reasons for participating in the 3000-meter race. Chief among them was that this event had less competition. Many athletes focused on track and field opted out of the grueling 3000 meters to save their energy for other events, leaving fewer participants.

  Despite being fully aware of the situation, Xanthia outwardly feigned complete ignorance.

  Her cssmates—including her deskmate Elena, the girls sitting in front of her like Luciel and Lhoraine, and those behind her like Xenia and Glen—knew she had not signed up for any athletic events. To them, Xanthia seemed unsuited for sports. She had already taken on the roles of css banner bearer and cheerleader for the sports meet, which made her involvement seem limited to cheering on her cssmates.

  Even Elena, who also hadn’t signed up for any events, had been discussing with Xanthia how best to support their cssmates and boost team morale.

  Luciel, an active participant in several sprints, was eagerly looking forward to Xanthia’s enthusiastic cheers, believing they would serve as strong motivation. At the same time, she was relieved that Xanthia had listened to her advice and refrained from attempting the long-distance race, thereby avoiding unnecessary risks to her health.

  It seemed settled: Xanthia’s earlier cim of being “good at long-distance running” had been nothing more than a joke meant to amuse her peers—a lighthearted boast.

  However, as Luciel and Xanthia returned from their morning break, they saw a crowd gathered around the bulletin board near the cssroom entrance. Curious chatter filled the air.

  “Wait, Xanthia is actually signed up to represent our css in the 3000-meter race? Isn’t she too fragile for this?”

  “Wasn’t she supposed to be the mascot and cheerleader alongside Elena as our css’s ‘double beauties’? Why would she suddenly join the 3000-meter race?”

  “This must be a mistake! I sit near Kenny, and I clearly remember checking the signup list—Xanthia hadn’t signed up for any events. This is bizarre!”

  “The girls’ 3000-meter race has always been hard to fill. Unlike the boys, who have Glen covering for them, why did this burden fall on Xanthia?”

  “Where is Xanthia, anyway? When she comes back, we should ask her what’s going on. There’s still time to fix this…”

  ...

  Amid the commotion, Xanthia and Luciel returned to the cssroom.

  Luciel quickly approached the group to find out what was happening. The students expined the strange turn of events to her.

  Xanthia assured her cssmates that she hadn’t signed up for the 3000-meter race, which only deepened their curiosity.

  Realizing the implications, Luciel’s expression darkened. She grabbed Xanthia, who appeared genuinely confused and innocent, and marched straight to Kenny’s desk. She demanded angrily, “Kenny! Did you sign Xanthia up for the 3000-meter race without her consent?”

  Kenny, having anticipated this confrontation as soon as the css began buzzing about the signup list, was ready with a response.

  Seated just behind Kenny, Hera struggled to suppress a smirk as she quietly enjoyed the drama unfolding before her.

  So what if Xanthia is popur in css? She’s still a pawn in my hands, Hera thought smugly. She thrives on attention and brought this on herself. Let her deal with the fallout!

  Hera cheered inwardly as the tension escated.

  Luciel’s accusations attracted even more cssmates, all eager to learn the truth.

  Kenny, keeping his composure, responded, “I didn’t act alone. Actually, I personally asked Xanthia to sign up for the race.”

  Having rehearsed every detail of this ploy with Hera, Kenny delivered his lines with an air of conviction that made him sound surprisingly credible.

  Luciel hesitated, gncing at Xanthia for confirmation.

  At that moment, Xanthia’s acting skills came into py, outshining even Kenny’s prepared performance. She had anticipated this exact scenario.

  Feigning confusion, she tilted her head slightly and said to Luciel, “That’s not true. No one approached me privately to sign up. Besides, haven’t I been with you most of the time at school?”

  Luciel thought for a moment and realized Xanthia’s words were accurate.

  Elena, observing from nearby, chimed in, “I’m Xanthia’s deskmate. We had already decided to cheer together for the css. I can confirm she didn’t sign up for any events. Kenny, why are you trying to frame Xanthia?”

  Several of Xanthia’s close cssmates added their voices, testifying to her innocence.

  Faced with questioning from the css beauty Luciel and the elegant Elena, Kenny—despite his preparations with Hera—began to falter.

  But Kenny knew this response had been accounted for in their pn.

  After all, he had fabricated his earlier cim.

  How could he have possibly caught Xanthia alone at school when she was constantly surrounded by friends?

  Determined, Kenny stuck to the script. “I’m not lying! Xanthia signed up for the race voluntarily!”

  He abruptly stood, leaning against his desk as though taking the moral high ground. With a tone of righteous indignation, he continued, “Xanthia, you were elected as our css banner leader. Since you didn’t sign up for any events, you should take responsibility and represent the css. This is an opportunity for you to challenge yourself—why not seize it?”

  Kenny’s passionate speech, complete with rhetorical flourishes, was designed to sway the css.

  Hera’s eyes lit up with satisfaction as she watched the pn unfold perfectly. Xanthia’s misfortune seemed inevitable.

  “Isn’t that right, everyone? The 3000-meter race must be run by someone. It’s not a death sentence! Xanthia, since you signed up voluntarily, don’t back out now. That would be shameful. Have some collective honor!” Kenny’s voice grew louder, his tone growing more forceful.

  Some girls, who had initially sided with Luciel and Elena, hesitated. Kenny’s words struck a chord. If Xanthia refused to participate, one of them might be forced to take her pce. With Xanthia taking on the burden, they could stay comfortably uninvolved.

  Human nature leaned toward self-preservation. In the end, their bond with Xanthia was no stronger than that of cssmates.

  At this critical moment, Xanthia’s acting skills reached their peak. Her eyes brimmed with tears, her trembling voice exuding sorrow. She portrayed herself as the “willing victim” with heartbreaking precision.

  “I really didn’t sign up voluntarily… But if it’s for the css, I’m willing to take on this responsibility,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. Her tearful expression was so moving that it softened even the most skeptical hearts.

  [ Ding. Pain points from Luciel, Elena, and others increased. ]

  Under Kenny’s relentless pressure, Xanthia appeared to concede, agreeing to participate in the 3000-meter race with tears in her eyes. Her close friends, seeing this dispy, were visibly anguished, their emotional distress intensifying.

  Xanthia’s naturally delicate and fragile demeanor made her tearful performance all the more compelling.

  Luciel, however, was furious. Turning to Xanthia, she said, “Don’t fall for this! He’s maniputing you with guilt. It’s disgusting!”

  With that, Luciel smmed her hand onto Kenny’s desk, producing a loud, startling “thud.”

  Filled with righteous indignation, she decred, “What’s 3000 meters? I’ll run in her pce. Change the list right now! You picked the most vulnerable girl to manipute, didn’t you? Her health isn’t good, and you’re ignoring that to suit your purpose.”

  Luciel had no idea who the real mastermind was. She believed it was Kenny, who, faced with a “deadline,” found no one else willing to run the 3000 meters and thus targeted Xanthia, the easiest person to manipute.

  Had there been no commotion, the matter might have been settled quietly. But with tensions rising, Kenny could hold firm and morally pressure Xanthia into compliance.

  Xanthia’s delicate, soft demeanor made her ill-equipped to resist such manipution.

  Her kindness and gentleness had been exploited to their limit. Forced to shoulder the responsibility for her cssmates’ sake, Kenny had clearly taken advantage of her personality’s vulnerabilities.

  The cssmates who observed this scene of “forcing someone into a tough spot” couldn’t help but think:

  “This sports committee member, Kenny, is going too far. He’s targeting Xanthia because she’s easy to push around and making her run the 3000 meters!”

  “Luckily, Xanthia has Luciel standing up for her. Without her, this soft-hearted girl would be an easy target for anyone.”

  “Xanthia has this inherently pitiful aura. Most people feel the need to protect her, but the cruel ones just want to torment her.”

  “Seeing Xanthia with her red eyes and helpless expression is too much. I just want to hug her and comfort her, to tell her that we’re all on her side!”

  At this critical moment, Luciel’s loyalty shone through. Already committed to the sprints, she now faced the prospect of running the 3000 meters as well. What a mess! Yet her chivalrous spirit remained untarnished, her soul as radiant as her appearance.

  ...

  In Kenny’s mind, this scenario had pyed out differently. He hadn’t expected Xanthia, usually cheerful and carefree, to be so sensitive and vulnerable. Under his pressure, she was nearly in tears!

  Instead of feeling regret, Kenny found Xanthia’s teary state even more irritating. He thought to himself, Why not just cry already? It’d be better than dragging this out!

  By forcing Xanthia into the 3000-meter race, Kenny not only fulfilled Hera’s task but also ensured that Xanthia, with her fragile health, would likely face a serious setback.

  When Luciel suggested finding another participant, Kenny firmly rejected the idea. “The list is final and cannot be changed! Besides, Luciel, you’re already signed up for multiple sprints. Running the 3000 meters on top of that would be unreasonable. Xanthia, who hasn’t signed up for anything, is the most suitable choice.”

  Elena, another unregistered student with better physical stamina, decided to step forward. Half driven by genuine concern and half by a desire to maintain her image, she impulsively defended Xanthia. As Xanthia’s deskmate, Elena felt she couldn’t stay silent.

  It was reminiscent of when Yannis had stepped up after an incident to apologize for her friend without hesitation. Elena felt compelled to act simirly, aware of how her behavior might be perceived.

  Though Elena’s motives weren’t as selfless as Luciel’s, her actions were praiseworthy nonetheless. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Regardless of her reasons, Elena’s intervention was commendable.

  Luciel, observing Elena’s boldness, felt a mix of admiration and relief. In that moment, she gained a deeper respect for Elena’s character.

  After exchanging a gnce with Luciel, Elena turned her gaze away, pride evident in her posture. Her actions weren’t just for Luciel’s benefit; she genuinely couldn’t tolerate seeing Xanthia mistreated.

  She empathized with Xanthia’s situation. Despite not volunteering for any events, Xanthia was being pressured into running the 3000 meters. It felt unfair, and Elena’s indignation swelled.

  Kenny was caught off guard by Elena’s unexpected support. He had anticipated resistance only from Luciel—not Elena as well. Was Xanthia some kind of enchantress? Why did everyone around her feel the need to protect her?

  The answer was simple: Xanthia brought joy to those around her. Being her friend was delightful. Her presence inspired others to stand up for her.

  As Kenny faltered under the mounting pressure, Xanthia saw her chance. She couldn’t let this “assistance” go to waste. After all, she wanted to run the 3000 meters; the system challenge’s rewards were too enticing to ignore.

  And so, Xanthia’s most dramatic moment unfolded.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she began to cry profusely. Her performance was so convincing that her skill panel now boasted a new attribute: Acting Lv1 (Beginner).

  Clinging to Luciel and Elena as if they were her lifelines, she sobbed, “Sister Luciel, Sister Elena, thank you so much for your kindness. I’m so grateful to have friends like you. Since it’s come to this, I’ve decided to run the 3000 meters. I don’t want to let everyone down or be a burden!”

  Her tear-streaked face and heartfelt words were perfectly delivered. Her newly acquired attribute Acting Lv1 made the performance seamless and natural. Anyone watching would find it hard to believe that behind those tears, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

  Though Xanthia wasn’t deliberately collecting emotional support, Kenny’s behavior gave her the perfect opportunity. It would be a waste not to capitalize on it.

  Luciel, deeply moved, wiped Xanthia’s tears with trembling hands. “Xanthia, why are you so naive? Can’t you see they’re setting you up? You’re too kind for your own good! It’s infuriating to see someone like you treated so unfairly.”

  Even Elena, usually more composed, was overcome with emotion. She decred with righteous determination, “I’m going to the homeroom teacher. I can’t stand by and watch you fall into their trap!”

  Xanthia quickly calmed them down, careful not to let the drama escate too far. She reassured them, saying she could walk the 3000 meters if necessary. There was no need to worry about her health.

  Back in their seats, Luciel and Elena watched her closely, ready to act if necessary. Xanthia, however, had already cemented her position in the 3000 meters and gained the sympathy of the entire css.

  Even Kenny felt uneasy seeing Xanthia’s tearful dispy. His cssmates’ disapproving looks made him feel like a vilin. He hadn’t expected her tears to stir such an emotional response.

  Meanwhile, Dematero, returning from a soccer game, learned of the drama from a cssmate who shared Chica’s secret recording of Xanthia’s tearful moment. Dematero, normally calm, couldn’t tolerate seeing Xanthia harmed. Anger boiled within him.

  Without hesitation, he walked over to Kenny and smmed his head against the desk—once, twice, three times!

  The sound reverberated through the cssroom, silencing everyone.

  Dematero, expressionless and unflinching, resembled an avenging force. Only the intervention of nearby boys stopped him from doing more damage.

  Though shaken and humiliated, Kenny survived the ordeal, left dazed and regretting his choices.

  Xanthia, satisfied with the turn of events, nodded approvingly. Justice, it seemed, had been served.