Chapter 4

I narrowed my eyes at her.

Brooke, the person Jasper feared most.

She was my age, yet already someone no one dared to cross at school.

She marched to the beat of her own drum, with a formidable personality, and thanks to her natural talent, even the guys couldn't beat her.

In my past life, when Jasper first tried to sow discord with Uncle Richard, Brooke simply stepped forward and beat him up.

Because her usual tricks of pouting and whining were completely ineffective against Brooke, Jasper feared her terribly. Even after being thrown out of the house later, it was with a 'scorched earth' mentality that he orchestrated a trap to have her sent to juvenile detention.

Yet, this was also the person who, during my most vulnerable moments, appeared like a ray of light and protected me.

This time, I didn't want to be her enemy.

"Brooke."

I looked at the girl's stern face before me and suddenly smiled.

"Do you want to keep solving problems with your fists?"

Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and even the smooth lines of her arm muscles tensed slightly.

No one had ever dared to bring that up directly in front of her.

Everyone knew that Uncle Richard, a renowned scholar, hoped his daughter would focus on her studies and inherit his legacy in the future.

However, Brooke had absolutely no interest in academics. She was straightforward and hated roundabout empty talk and tactics.

In my past life, Jasper had exploited this very trait, orchestrating a trap that landed her in serious trouble.

Yet now, facing her scrutinizing and defensive gaze, I simply pulled a flyer from my pocket.

"If you don't want to keep going like this, maybe this place is worth a try."

The flyer was for a fencing club's enrollment.

Even before Uncle Richard came to our house, I had already thought about how to guide Brooke onto a different path.

The respect she commanded at school wasn't just due to her intimidating aura; it was more her exceptional athletic talent. She was tall, with long arms, and her reaction speed and explosive power far surpassed ordinary people.

These two qualities were precisely what fencing needed most.

Jasper saw Brooke as an untamable beast who only used violence to solve problems, so he could only feel fear, ultimately leading to mutual destruction.

But I was never afraid of a challenge. To me, you can find the right way to guide any beast, and you can unlock its true potential.

The moonlight was cold and clear. Brooke simply stared at me intently.

After a long while, she took the flyer, turned, and left.

A faint "Thank you" drifted back to me.

The results for the school competition team selection were finally out. With the help of my tutors and my own full dedication, I successfully made the team.

On the day the results were announced, many classmates came to congratulate me.

"Aria, good luck with the competition! When you get a good ranking, don't forget to treat us!"

"If you ask me, you're the real role model here! What you earn with genuine ability is far more reliable than all that flashy nonsense!"

Amidst the chorus of congratulations, only Jasper in the corner looked displeased.

Unlike my smooth progress, he hadn't had it easy lately.

Initially, after discovering Dad's system and rapid rise to fame, he indeed indulged in the adulation of the crowd.

But gradually, the troubles brought by immense public attention began to surface.

First were the work arrangements.

Dad, inherently clueless about business operations, had relied on others his whole life. After getting the system, he became even more engrossed in various superficial social events and indulgences. Choosing work invitations and handling business collaborations ultimately all fell on Jasper.

Jasper had initially thought he could ride Dad's coattails to skyrocket to success. Instead, he ended up transforming from his family's pampered son into an assistant constantly cleaning up his father's messes.

He was exhausted and constantly busy, following Dad around, dealing with all sorts of trivial matters, and managing media reports of Dad flitting between different women.

But even so, the situation didn't improve.

A public figure's life is magnified infinitely. Besides paparazzi photos, even more devastating was Dad's truly deplorable knowledge base and cultural literacy.

In my past life, with me there to promptly remind him or smooth things over, many issues were barely glossed over.

But now, Jasper himself was someone who disliked studying and couldn't settle down to learn.

During an art interview, the host asked Dad to offer a blessing to students about to enter university.

Jasper hastily searched online for some quotes, but Dad mangled a historical allusion, making a huge joke of himself.

Dad, feeling humiliated backstage, slapped Jasper hard across the face on the spot.

"If only I'd brought Aria along instead, this embarrassment would never have happened!"

He pointed his finger at Jasper, scolding him fiercely.

But he clearly still didn't want to give up the attention and benefits he'd gained.

So Dad ultimately made the same decision as in the past life—he transferred the system to Jasper.

"Aria, did you know this would happen all along?"

As I packed my bag, only he and I were left in the classroom.

I turned, looking at his furious face, and found it somewhat laughable.

"Haven't you already gotten what you wanted most?"

My tone was calm, and I watched the expression on his face slowly stiffen.

Of course, I knew why Jasper, despite having the system, was so restless and anxious.

Because the "Predictive Investment System" was nothing like he imagined.