Popularity is everything; I play a super genius

However, the moment Tianhao finished speaking...

The situation on the stage has changed yet again!

Then, Su Shi made a move that surprised everyone—

She let go and threw her two folding fans on the ground!

An uproar erupted in the audience—

Is this an admission of defeat?

"It's come to this, we guess we have no choice but to admit defeat..."

"No, that's not right! Look—!!!"

Su Shi, of course, did not admit defeat.

How could she possibly admit defeat?!

She dropped the fan, reached out, and carefully took out another one from inside her uniform, close to her chest...

Prism.

The girl looked solemn as she held the object to her chest with both hands.

Several teachers on the sidelines were stunned for a moment when they saw this scene.

Ms. Jing from Class 3 was the first to tug at Yuejian's sleeve, lowering her voice urgently as she said:

"I think... maybe we should leave the betting odds open for now..."

Teacher Jing also bought Qi Jiying's ticket, and now she's a little panicked.

She put all her dowry on it!

"Teacher Huang Lu! Why didn't you say so earlier? Su Shi had already mastered the art of armor!"

She glared at Huang Lu with a hint of reproach.

Huang Lu looked completely innocent.

He's innocent!

He knew absolutely nothing about it.

On the arena.

Qi Ji glanced at the mirror in Su Shi's hand, and based on the plot summary he had read, he vaguely guessed what it was.

"Is it from the Thousand Faces family, a 'imagery counterfeit'?"

Instead of directly answering Qi Ji's question, Su Shi asked him:

Do you think it's unfair?

"No." Qi Ji shook his head calmly.

"I just didn't expect you to rely on such external things. It makes me feel... a little sorry for you."

However, it was as if something vital had been struck.

As soon as Qi Ji finished speaking, Su Shi suddenly bristled, his voice rising sharply:

"Shut up!!!

You clearly...know absolutely nothing—!!!

Qi Ji's condescending and all-knowing words immediately triggered the girl's defenses.

Just because—

Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

Su Shi could tell that this bastard in front of him was actually...

I really feel sorry for her.

—Isn't that unfair?

The reason she asked Sakiji this question was because even she knew it herself.

Even if you win by using such external means, it is not honorable.

She knew this, she knew it perfectly well...

But she still chose to do it.

Because she is a [petitioner]!

She has an absolute reason not to lose!

She couldn't let the name "Su Shi" lose!

We can't let this "mask" lose!

If the true storyteller is still alive...

If that brother, who transcends definition and is omnipotent...

If still alive—

We will definitely win everything!!!

So even if it's an ugly victory, she has to win!

We cannot lose.

Or, to be more precise—

She was afraid of losing.

Because she's lived this long wearing this mask entirely out of sheer obsession, forcing herself to stay afloat!

She kept forcing herself, relentlessly forcing herself.

I've forced myself to keep going until now.

But she really...

I'm almost at my limit...

She is not a genius.

She lied to everyone.

She was scared.

I'm afraid that if I lose just once, even just once...

That false image of her, masquerading as a genius, will be utterly shattered, and she will never be able to recover.

Then, the weakness, the uselessness, and the worthlessness of the self are exposed.

She feared that from then on, she would never be able to become a "Su Shi" again.

'But--'

'elder brother……'

'The mask is so heavy.'

'Your mask, placed on my face…'

'It's so heavy...'

'I might be close to...'

'I can't hold on any longer...'

Although I don't want to admit it, the desolate scene before me truly makes Su Shi feel—

Unmeasurable.

Invincible.

Unmatched.

It's like...

At that time,

brother.

……

……

Chapter Sixty-Five: I'll beat Saki to tears!

"Brother, your mask is so heavy..."

The heartfelt words, accompanied by expressions of sympathy, echoed softly in the live broadcast room.

The girl's childhood memories also flashed back in an instant—

Poetry was born into a family with a strong preference for sons over daughters.

When she was five years old, her brother risked his life to protect her in an accident.

Unfortunately, the scene of the masked "brother" only appeared for a fleeting moment in the flashback.

Otherwise, if Qi Ji were to open the live stream and see it, he would definitely think that guy, who exudes an air of arrogance in every gesture, looks damn familiar.

……

Su Shi died trying to save Shi.

The mother, who arrived late, learned everything and blurted out:

"Why...why wasn't it you who died!"

"Su Shi is the hope of the family! The future of the Thousand Faces family!"

"You're just a useless daughter!"

"Why wasn't it you who died—!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the mother realized she had spoken out of turn and hurriedly covered her mouth.

But it was too late.

The woman, who had been fierce just moments before, trembled as she reached out her hand to her:

"Xiao Shi... that's not what Mommy meant..."

The five-year-old girl stared blankly at her mother and took a step back.

Then, without anyone noticing, the father also appeared at the scene.

But like his mother, he was so focused on telling his story that he never felt happy that poetry had survived.

He learned that Su Shi had died protecting his younger sister.

The father severely scolded Shi.

They called her a jinx, they said she ruined everything.

After finishing his tirade, the father slumped to the ground.

"It's over... Without Su Shi, how can we maintain our position as the head family?"

The young boy, looking at his mother and father, thought:

'I see.'

'My brother's life is more important.'

'My brother is such a fool, trading his precious life for something worthless.'

The branch of the family that was being sued was originally part of a separate household.

Because of his exceptional talent for appreciating the world, he was exceptionally promoted to the head family.

Now that Su Shi is dead, they will once again lose their status and glory as the head of the family.

Lost everything.