Chapter 2 — The Campus Queen's Destiny Swap System

That very noon, Vivian moved into my dormitory. Because I was a newly transferred student hailing from a prestigious and powerful background, the faculty had specially arranged a luxury single suite for me. And now, her sole roommate was none other than her. She was so thrilled that she kept glued to her phone, endlessly scrolling through social media, occasionally turning to ask me with wide eyes, “Vivian, is your fiance truly the crown prince of the upper crust, Richard? He is devastatingly handsome. Just how on earth did you manage to make him fall hopelessly, utterly in love with you?” I looked at her, my lips curving into a subtle, mocking smile while a sliver of frost flickered deep within my eyes. Richard and I had first crossed paths over a high-stakes wager. At that time, I was merely a menial waitress, whereas he was the darling of the heavens, bathed in blinding layers of glory and privilege. The bet that day was won by him as effortlessly as turning over his hand. When the gathering finally dispersed, Richard tossed his cards onto the green felt table, leaned back leisurely, propped one leg carelessly over the edge of the mahogany desk, and let out a weary, bored sigh, “How utterly tedious. I’ve played these games a million times... isn't there anything remotely novel?” I stepped forward, bowing deeply until my spine formed a sharp angle, and whispered, “Young Master Richard, would you care to partake in a gamble... far more riveting than this?” He glanced at me sideways, furrowed his brow, and turned away. The burly bodyguard standing behind him immediately stepped forward, preparing to physically eject me from the premises. Yet, I pointed firmly at my own chest and raised my voice, “The stakes of this wager are... myself! I bet that my true identity and facial features have been stolen and swapped away, and I swear that I am the rightful heiress of the wealthy family in the capital!” Perhaps my bizarre tale struck a strange chord of curiosity within him, or perhaps Richard was simply so profoundly bored that he desperately craved a modicum of amusement. He dispatched his subordinates directly to investigate the bleak orphanage where I had grown up, and ultimately decided to grant me a single chance to prove my erratic claims. “You claim... that if I merely escort you to the elite academy where your sworn enemy currently studies, and help you forge a flawless, untouchable persona, then a month from now, you will force everything in the world back to its rightful place?” He lounged lazily on the plush sofa, legs crossed, offering a cold, cynical chuckle. “However, if you fail to pull this off, according to the ironclad rules of our wager—I shall shatter both of your legs. Ensuring you will never walk normally again for the rest of your miserable life.” I did not hesitate for even a fraction of a second, nodding my assent without a single tremor in my voice. Thanks to Richard’s financial backing, I no longer had to exhaust myself working four grueling jobs just to scrape together a living. I studied furiously day and night, pouring every ounce of my physical and mental stamina into the books so that I could shine brilliantly during the entrance examinations. After Jessica had plundered my innate academic talents, I was forced to exert a hundredfold effort just to keep pace with the rigorous curriculum. Even during meals shared across from Richard, I ruthlessly seized every fleeting second to memorize line after line of dense academic text. On the grand day of enrollment, the headmaster’s office was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. Whether intentional or accidental, Richard draped a heavy arm familiarly over my shoulders, a dazzling, brilliant smile gracing his handsome features as he announced, “I’ve brought my lovely fiancee to enroll today, everyone, please do look after her.” … “Oh heavens! Richard’s birthday is fast approaching! The grand celebration is going to be held at the most luxurious hotel in the entire city, and they’ve even invited top-tier celebrities to perform live!!” Jessica’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets in sheer disbelief. “What? That actor is an absolute superstar! I adore him beyond words! He even posted an exclusive video on social media wishing him a happy birthday!” I captured a sharp flash of green-eyed jealousy darting across the depths of her pupils. Human greed and desire are insatiable monsters that constantly expand without bound. From a wealthy family to an immensely powerful aristocratic dynasty, the chasm separating those two distinct worlds was measured in far more than mere currency. Yet, a moment later, Jessica abruptly knitted her brows in sudden suspicion. “Wait a minute... Just three months ago, Richard still stated in an interview that he was completely single. And yet, didn't you claim that the two of you have been betrothed since childhood?” 4 My facial expressions stiffened infinitesimally for a fleeting second, but I swiftly regained my composure, my voice remaining as placid as still water, “If every private detail of our lives were laid bare before the media, harmless truths would inevitably be twisted into vicious rumors. Besides, three months ago Richard and I had a rather bitter falling out, so it’s hardly strange that he spoke that way.” Jessica clearly remained unconvinced by my seamless explanation. As though she had suddenly stumbled upon some hidden anomaly, she abruptly lifted her head to stare intensely into my eyes, probing for weaknesses. “Are you truly the daughter of the wealthiest tycoon in our province? And yet, my parents have never once mentioned your existence. What is your father’s name? Let me look him up.” Her gaze was brimming with vigilance, desperately hunting for flaws in my demeanor. I shrugged nonchalantly, replying with practiced ease, “Is there anything secret about that? Just look it up online yourself.” The newly published provincial financial ranking list released just last month clearly indicated that the reigning wealthiest individual bore the surname Zhu, and was notoriously reclusive. The public registry also explicitly recorded that he possessed only one sole daughter. I wanted nothing more than to break into a cold, derisive laugh—this entire fabricated background had been meticulously orchestrated by Richard himself, down to the most microscopic detail. After all, the Zhu family and the Richard family had shared deep, longstanding ties for generations. “Why don't you simply go and ask Richard yourself? On the day I enrolled, those words came straight from his own lips in front of a massive crowd. Could all of that possibly be a lie?” My gaze slowly chilled, letting a sliver of convincing anger bleed through, “Today, the two of you have taken turns humiliating me. I have never been subjected to such treatment in my life. Initially, out of basic respect for my fellow classmates, I chose to bite my tongue and endure it, but now enough is enough—get out of my room immediately!” My overwhelming aura and fierce momentum frightened Jessica until her complexion turned ashen. She stammered out frantic apologies, “No... it’s not like that... I didn't mean any harm, I was just trying to be careful. Vivian, I swear I’ll never act like this again... I was wrong, please don't hold a grudge against me...” I uttered not another single word, violently drawing the thick privacy curtains of my bed shut, and lying down to sleep. The exact moment I closed my eyes, no one could possibly fathom the raging tempest churning violently within my chest. This fierce counterattack of mine... had only just begun. During the afternoon lectures, Jessica stubbornly insisted on sitting right next to me, forcefully driving my original deskmate away to another seat. Refusing to bring even a single piece of paper or pen, she intentionally used that pathetic excuse to borrow my stationery—clearly attempting to accelerate the stolen process of our intertwined fates. During the mid-session break, I slipped away to the restroom. Standing before the pristine mirror, I suddenly noticed that the pores on my skin had tightened significantly, and the stubborn dark blemishes had noticeably faded away. I fished out an eyeliner pencil from my pouch, meticulously dotting tiny artificial flaws back onto my skin to “restore” the imperfections that had mysteriously vanished, before stepping back out into the hall. Yet, as I glided past a deserted corner of the corridor, I abruptly caught the sound of a familiar, eerie whispering voice, “System, I refuse to wait until the end of the month. Richard’s birthday is right around the corner, and the male celebrity I worship most will be attending the banquet. I must be there!” “I’ve checked thoroughly, and Zhu Vivian’s family background isn't half bad anyway. Once I completely drain and swap her fortune and luck, I’ll just hire the finest plastic surgeon in the country to reconstruct this face into absolute perfection!” So that was it. Ten years ago back at the orphanage, the times Jessica used to mutter incessantly to herself were not because she was mentally unstable, but because she had already been bound to some unnatural parasitic system. A moment later, her voice spiked sharply upward, carrying a heavy tone of genuine disgust, “What? You want me to wear her worn inner garments? System, you are utterly depraved! How can you suggest such vile things without blushing?” “Fine, fine, fine, a month then. How utterly frustrating! Who could have possibly anticipated that the noble family would decline so rapidly, leaving even a monthly allowance of one million feeling so tight!” A million yuan in monthly pocket money. My fingernails dug so deeply into my palms that crescent-shaped wounds formed instantly. She had ruthlessly plundered the life that rightfully belonged to me, strutting arrogantly in my stolen skin, bathing in endless luxury and opulence, while I had been forced to rot at the very bottom of society, starving in the biting cold, facing daily dangers and depraved threats. Countless times... I had narrowly escaped being cornered and violated by disgusting, obese men. Yet, Jessica had spoken one undeniable truth: a full month was indeed far too protracted. If she somehow sensed an anomaly midway and tried to back out, what on earth should I do? I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Richard’s number. “Young Master Richard, would you care to grace our school cafeteria with your presence and taste a bit of the ‘common earthly smoke’? Today... dinner is on me.” The countdown to crush her... had officially commenced.