Chapter 3

Chloe was bedridden for three whole days.

She was so dehydrated from diarrhea that she missed two major pop quizzes in our core classes.

When she finally dragged herself back to class, sporting two massive dark circles under her eyes, it happened to be Mr. Wilson's Latin class.

Mr. Wilson was notoriously strict at St. Jude’s. He tapped the blackboard, pointing at a classical Roman poem, and locked his eyes right on Chloe in the back row.

"Chloe, since you chose to take this advanced classical literature course, please translate this passage from Julius Caesar for the class."

Chloe stood up slowly, staring at the letters. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

She hadn't even memorized basic Latin conjugations, let alone a complex classical translation.

The lecture hall fell dead silent.

Chloe stuttered for a long time before muttering, "Caesar said... he was going for a walk in Rome today."

The entire class burst into roaring laughter.

Mr. Wilson's face darkened instantly.

"If your mind isn't on academics, do not take this class just to boost your social vanity! This place is not a playground for your resume. Twenty participation points deducted. Sit down!"

Chloe bit her lower lip in humiliation. She glared at me with pure hatred before taking her seat.

Ever since she transferred to this school, she had hated my guts.

Another roommate of mine had privately told me that Chloe constantly called me a fraud behind my back. She claimed I was just a dumb rich girl and swore she would get me expelled.

It was around that time that I realized I could hear her "System."

Right on cue, the mechanical voice buzzed in my mind.

[Warning! Host’s Latin grade has plummeted. The gap between you and the target, Vivian, has widened!]

[Current copycat progress has dropped to 60%. If it falls below 50%, the system will initiate a forced unbinding penalty!]

After class, I returned to the dorm’s common area, pulled a futuristic silver metal band from my bag, and clipped it around my neck.

It was actually just a ten-dollar neck massager I bought on Amazon. I had paid a guy at the local hardware store to plate it in cool silver and engrave a fake high-tech logo on it.

Emma leaned in, curiously tapping the metal ring.

"Vivian, what is this new toy?"

I pressed the power button, and the ring emitted a soft, high-tech hum.

I raised my voice, making sure Chloe, who had just walked through the door, could hear every word.

"My dad got it for me from a Silicon Valley neuro-lab. It’s a neural brainwave stimulator. Apparently, it stimulates the hippocampus with micro-currents. You can memorize an entire textbook just by flipping through it once."

"But it's so hard to get," I sighed. "It costs a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and there’s a massive waiting list."

Emma gasped, playing along perfectly.

"A hundred and twenty grand?! For a little metal ring? Well, I guess for an Ivy League admission, that investment is nothing."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe staring at my neck. The greed and jealousy in her eyes were practically dripping.