Part 1The Three-Point Curse

My desk mate, Caleb, was hailed as a "Boy Genius."

The reason was simple: in every single exam he took, he secured first place. And every single time, his score was exactly three points higher than the second-place student.

No more, no less. Just three points.

Yes, I was that tragic, eternal second place.

But I knew the truth. Caleb was actually an idiot. He had bound himself to a "Universal Exam System." The system's only law was that his score would always be my score plus three.

He thought he could suppress me forever.

What he didn't realize was that his grades were actually in the palm of my hand.

I studied desperately not because I wanted to surpass him.

I did it because I wanted to watch him fall from the highest peak straight into the abyss.

* * *

"Alright class, the results for the Statewide Mock Exams are in. The first and second place winners are both in our class. Can you guess who they are?"

Mr. Harrison, our homeroom teacher, stood at the podium, beaming with uncontrollable joy.

I didn't need to guess. I knew the first place would be my desk mate, Caleb Vance.

Sure enough, Mr. Harrison announced the result: "Let's congratulate Caleb Vance for once again achieving first place in the state!"

Thunderous applause erupted. Caleb sat in the center of the adoration, smiling like a flower in bloom.

"Second place is his desk mate, Liam Scott. Let's give him a round of applause too."

The classmates clapped reluctantly. Amidst the sparse applause, I even heard a few boos.

"Liam buries his head in books all day, yet he's always three points behind Caleb. A nerd is just a nerd; he'll never beat a genius."

Caleb was the "Boy Genius."

I was the eternal loser.

At first, I really thought Caleb was gifted.

In school, he was a stark contrast to a grinder like me. I rarely saw him study; he was always chasing celebrities, styling his hair, or playing on his phone.

I used to worship him. I even applied to sit next to him.

To beat him, I studied even harder. I sacrificed countless weekends and nights, reviewing notes over and over, doing simulation papers, even solving math problems in my dreams.

I naively thought that as long as I worked hard enough, I would reclaim first place one day.

Until one school exam, I messed up.

Strangely, Caleb also "underperformed," but he still scored exactly three points higher than me.

I became suspicious. How could it be such a coincidence?

Every single time?

From then on, I silently observed Caleb's every move.

By chance, I caught him muttering to himself, communicating with something called a "System."

That's when it hit me. Caleb had bound a "Universal Exam System." The rule was simple: whatever I scored, he scored three points higher.

"Liam, you'll never get first place back. Just be content with being number two," sneered Bella from the row behind me. She was Caleb's loyal lapdog.

Back when I was first, she used to follow me around.

When Caleb transferred here and became famous overnight, she immediately switched sides.

I sneered internally: Caleb's grades are dictated by me. The higher I lift him now, the harder he'll fall later. Just wait and see.