"What kind of nonsense is that? Who do you think you are, a king?"
"Zuri, honey, using a male alias, we still recognize you. Stop pretending."
"Betting on yourself to win, it's normal. No need to disguise it, we get it."
"Hey King, if you have guts, reveal your identity."
"Yeah, I dare you to reveal your identity."
"Haha, no way they'll dare. Revealing it would mean getting exposed."
At a basketball court outside the school, Kaden looked down at his phone, his expression growing darker by the second. Ricardo approached cautiously, nearly petrified by the intimidating aura of his boss.
"Boss, what's wrong? Did some punk piss you off?" Ricardo asked, trying to sound tough.
The surrounding lackeys immediately chimed in.
"Boss, just say the word, and we'll go take care of it."
"Take care of what?" Kaden snapped, kicking Ricardo in the butt.
Ricardo looked as if he had been wronged, like a scolded wife, and dared not speak again.
Kaden's face darkened as he typed out a message deliberately.
King: "I don't change my name. It's Kaden. If you're not convinced, let's duel."
Damn, these people are blind! Do I look like some effeminate wimp?
As soon as Kaden posted his reply, the forum erupted.
"Hahaha, someone pretending to be Kaden."
"Aren't they afraid Kaden will come after them?"
When the comments reached the tenth floor, a user named Zuri suddenly appeared.
Zuri: "I didn't know I had an alternate account."
Everyone was stunned. Looking at Zuri's account and then at King's account, some were confused, but many more immediately thought it was Zuri using multiple accounts.
However, a renowned computer whiz at the academy traced the IP addresses and confirmed that the two accounts were not the same person. In an instant, the forum fell silent. Those who had been mocking King collectively shut up. Many even quietly deleted their comments.
Who was Kaden? He was notorious. If you got on his bad side, you might as well kiss your life goodbye!
The whole betting uproar died down completely because of Kaden's intervention. Now, everyone was waiting for the results.
On Monday morning, Natalie, who hadn't been at school for a while, finally returned. She came specifically to see Zuri's downfall.
That morning, all Windsor Academy students gathered under the bulletin board, eagerly waiting. Jason led a few teachers to post the results. As soon as they stepped away, the crowd surged forward.
Azura and Zuri stood a few meters away under the shade of a tree, watching the throng.
Saira and her group arrived late. Instead of rushing to the board, they walked towards Zuri.
"Don't forget to fulfill your promise when you lose," Farida said, smiling confidently.
"Don't worry, I won't forget. But you shouldn't either."
"Hmph," Natalie scoffed disdainfully.
Natalie had come today to crush Zuri, to avenge herself for the previous humiliation.
"Enough talk, let's check the results. I think I did pretty well this time," Eduardo said cheerfully, stealing glances at Zuri's face.
As they arrived, the crowd parted for them.
"Aren't you going to check?" Azura asked, amazed at Zuri's composure.
Zuri remained calm, which impressed Azura, who usually prided herself on her self-control.
Natalie was at the forefront, eager to see the results first. She had devised countless ways to ruin Zuri, only needing a legitimate excuse.
They started from the top of the list. When their eyes landed on the first row, their pupils dilated with disbelief.
"Impossible!"
"How can it be?"
"It must be a mistake. How could she, someone who scored only 280 points before, be first?" Natalie was nearly incoherent with shock. "She must have cheated!"
Natalie's accusation of cheating was loud enough to be heard within a ten-meter radius, drawing the attention of passing students. Saira stared at the top name in disbelief, rubbing her eyes to ensure she wasn't seeing things. The name "Zuri" was clear and unchanged.
"How could she..." Saira muttered.
Natalie pushed through the crowd to confront Zuri. "You must have cheated. How could you possibly be first?"
Azura couldn't stand it. "Hey, cheat? Who would she copy? She's the top scorer! Use your brain before accusing someone."
Zuri didn't waste words on them. Her gaze swept over Natalie and her group. "You should honor your agreement."
She then turned to address the gathered students. "From today, all the restrooms in the teaching building are under their care. If there are any issues, you can find them."
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Additionally, you must run around the track. I've got your gear ready."
A worker soon arrived on a tricycle, carrying several green turtle shells.
"You all, wear these and run fifty laps around the track."
Farida and the others turned pale. The idea of running with turtle shells or cleaning restrooms was unbearable. It wasn't just a matter of pride; it was an extreme blow to their dignity. If they fulfilled the bet, they'd lose all face at Windsor Academy.
Saira bit her lip and said, "Zuri, don't be like this. The bet was just a joke. Why take it seriously?"
Zuri didn't get angry, but Azura was irritated. "A joke? If you can't handle losing, you shouldn't have signed. Now you want to back out?"
The students around looked at Saira and her friends with disdain.
"I thought Saira wasn't like that. How did she become so shameless?"
"Maybe they were just joking," someone defended Saira.
"Are you blind? Didn't you see the video? They nearly came to blows."
"Who's blind here? I liked Farida and the others, but they lost. They should honor the bet."
The students' discussions and pointed fingers made it clear that they expected the bet to be honored.
Zuri didn't waste words. "Just one question: are you going to run or not?"
Farida and the others exchanged glances, avoiding eye contact with Zuri. Running? That was utterly humiliating. Not running? They didn't dare say that out loud. Whoever spoke up first would become the target, the scapegoat.
Neither Farida nor the seemingly carefree but deeply calculating Eduardo wanted to take the lead.
"We're not running. What can you do about it?" Natalie finally spoke up, voicing their collective thoughts.
The others breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that since Natalie had said it, they were just following her lead. Any repercussions would fall on Natalie first.
Sure enough, the surrounding students were shocked.
"Wow, so shameless."
"I can't believe it. Natalie's really outrageous."
"That's just brazen beyond belief."
"Natalie never speaks the truth. She lies without blinking, and now she's blatantly reneging on a bet. Truly despicable."
Azura was dumbfounded by such audacity.
Zuri turned to Eduardo and Farida. "What about you?"
"You can't prove the results are real. If you can prove it, we'll honor the bet," Elysia grasped at an excuse.
Some students couldn't stand it anymore.
"Just say you don't want to honor the bet. Don't be so shameless."
"Exactly, don't treat us all like fools."
Faced with the crowd's scorn, Farida frowned and stepped forward. "Why did you only score 280 on the Windsor Academy entrance exam? And now you top the class? Our doubts aren't unfounded. We heard you did poorly at your previous school."
"Heard? Who told you that?" Zuri asked with a smile. "Oh, I get it. You must have heard it from my so-called 'friends,' right? They said I had terrible grades and was a slacker. That's why you dared to bet against me in the cafeteria."
"Don't change the subject. What about the scores? Can't cover up your lie?" Farida pressed on.
Zuri chuckled. "Did they tell you why I scored only 280? Because I missed three of the five exams. There are surveillance tapes from the exam rooms. Check them if you don't believe me."
The Windsor Academy entrance exam had five subjects. Zuri only took two but still scored 280. That meant she scored a perfect 120 in one and 160 in the other, exceeding the maximum score.
Samara thought she found a flaw. "You're a liar. The total score for five subjects is 630. How did you get 280 from just two?"
Under the suspicious gazes, Zuri remained composed. She pulled out the exam papers from her bag, not showing them to Farida and her group but to the surrounding students. Everyone finally understood.
The math paper, originally scored out of 120, had an additional ten points.
A top student exclaimed after seeing it, "The problem-solving methods here are only taught in college!"
Azura looked at Zuri in astonishment. Zuri had anticipated they wouldn't keep their word and had even predicted their excuses. So, she had retrieved her exam papers from the administration office beforehand.
With the exam papers, Zuri could prove her competence and shut down all their excuses.
The top students marveled at Zuri's advanced knowledge and problem-solving methods, while the less academically inclined looked forward to seeing Saira, Eduardo, and Farida running with turtle shells.
"Honor the bet," Zuri said, handing a green turtle shell to Farida. Azura stepped in to help distribute the shells.
When Zuri handed one to Saira, Saira looked at her pitifully. "Zuri, do you really have to do this? For the sake of sisterhood, can we just let this go?"
Sisterhood?! Zuri almost felt sick. This was coming from the person who had stolen her life and sabotaged her at every turn. Sometimes, Zuri had to admire Saira's shamelessness.
Azura, disgusted by Saira, snapped, "Stop talking and put on the shell."
Saira was annoyed by Azura's interference but didn't dare oppose her due to Azura's status. She tried to pressure Zuri with her gaze, hoping Zuri would relent out of familial duty.
"Call me Zuri. Also, we aren't close."
Zuri's words implied they should follow through with the bet.
Samara, unable to bear it, said, "Saira, don't beg such a person."
"No need to beg her. If we have to run, we run."
"Exactly."
Led by Samara, the group was indignant, hating Zuri's smug attitude.
Zuri glanced at Farida and the others, sighing inwardly. Saira's manipulative tactics were impressive. With a few words, she had gained Samara and the others' gratitude.
Since Saira wanted to win people over, how could Zuri not help her?
"I can let them off," Zuri said.
Saira's face lit up. "Really?"
"Of course. I have one condition: since you're so righteous, run for them. Just ten laps. Is that too much?"
The surrounding students thought it was lenient, even Farida and the others felt Zuri was being sincere.
After all, they lost the bet. Zuri was clearly compromising, and significantly so, showing real goodwill.
Saira's smile froze. Running ten laps with a turtle shell was humiliating, worse than death for someone as prideful as her.
"If you don't want to, we can stick to the original agreement," Zuri said nonchalantly.
You claim to be righteous? Prove it with actions, not just words.
Zuri's ultimatum put Saira in a bind. She had two choices: become a laughingstock and maintain Farida and the others' friendship or refuse and reveal her true colors, losing their friendship.
Saira knew the consequences of both options, neither of which she wanted. She hoped someone would oppose Zuri. She looked at Natalie, but Naya discreetly held Natalie back.
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