Chapter 1Bound to the Green Tea Upgrade System

After being bound to the "Manipulative Social Climber System," I became a self-taught master of all eighteen arts of manipulation.

Yet, my target was a connoisseur of cunning, a master at spotting manipulative acts. All ninety-nine of my attempts failed.

At the Caldwell family gala, Arthur Caldwell, the prince of New York society, once again precisely saw through my scheme. He knocked the drugged wine glass from my hand, his voice sharp:

“I’ve seen plenty of calculating women like you. Take my advice, don’t waste your energy. Anything you’ve touched, I find disgusting just to look at.”

Yet, he was easily swayed by a holier-than-thou act, completely losing his head over a seemingly pure woman.

I smiled, furious, and promptly changed my targets.

Later, when the entire Caldwell family was fiercely vying for my attention, Arthur was the only one who pointed at me, screaming in frustration:

“Can’t you all see she’s just a manipulative fraud?!”

The entire Caldwell family stood in front of me, saying in unison:

“She’s no manipulative fraud, she’s our little darling.”

…

The system instantly blared a sharp warning:

【How dare you change your targets without permission? And you picked a whole bunch at once!】

【Arthur Caldwell’s father, his mother, his sister.】

【Oh my god, how about the Caldwell family’s ninety-year-old Grand Matriarch?!】

I spoke with righteous indignation:

“If I can’t complete the mission to climb the social ladder in an elite family, I’ll die on the spot anyway.”

“This is my last chance, so of course, I have to cast a wider net.”

The thought made my teeth ache. I had initially believed that with my perfected manipulative skills, securing Arthur Caldwell would be a piece of cake.

Unexpectedly, I failed ninety-nine times.

The man was impervious to my charm. Feigning accidental encounters, playing the victim, orchestrating life-saving moments, “accidentally” ending up in his room…

Every trick turned into a joke in front of him. He could instantly tell I was a top-tier manipulator.

I once thought he was the legendary ultimate challenge in seduction.

Until I saw another woman, with far cruder tactics, look down her nose at him and declare, “Get lost. Don’t think being rich makes you special.”

Arthur’s eyes, usually like still water, instantly lit up with astonishing brilliance.

“Woman, you have successfully captured my attention.”

At that moment, it hit me like a revelation.

It wasn’t that my methods weren’t sophisticated enough. It was that this socialite prince had never experienced anything truly refined.

I patiently explained to the system:

“There’s more than one path to securing a place in high society.”

“If I can’t be Arthur Caldwell’s wife, I can be his stepmother, his sister, or a close confidante to his great-grandmother.”

Just then, distracted, I accidentally bumped into someone around a corner.

“Ouch.”

I stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground.

However, a distinctly familiar sneer reached my ears:

“Scarlett Davies, are you faking a fall again?”

I looked up.

Arthur Caldwell stood before me, beside him Audrey Windsor, her face aloof, as if untouched by worldly concerns.

Arthur tilted his head, his voice laced with disdain, “Save your energy. Don’t try any tricks to seduce me.”

Seeing it was the prince and his pure-hearted darling, my face instantly fell, and I simply wanted to turn and leave.

But Arthur grabbed me.

“You bumped into someone and didn’t even apologize? Still planning to leave?”

I rolled my eyes. Who bumped into whom?

Just as I was about to retort, the system’s voice chimed:

【Host, attention, first target has appeared.】

I instinctively looked behind me.

A young woman was walking down the stairs. She bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Arthur, but her demeanor was more composed and refined.

It was Vivian Caldwell, the eldest daughter of the Caldwell family.

In a flash, my mind raced.

Suddenly, following the direction of Arthur’s pull, I leaned gently towards him, feigning weakness.

“Alright, I apologize, Mr. Caldwell. Please don’t be angry.”

Arthur was momentarily stunned by my sudden move.

Then, as if he’d touched something disgusting, he abruptly shoved me away.

“Scarlett Davies, get away from me!”

That push was exactly what I was waiting for.

I spun around and fell to the floor.

My eyes instantly welled up, and my voice, thick with feigned sweetness, filled the room:

“Mr. Caldwell, I’m so sorry. I was too clumsy. It’s all my fault. Please don’t hit me.”

Arthur’s face flushed with anger.

“What? Who’s hitting you? Get up!”

He bent down, intending to forcibly pull me up, but just as he touched my arm—

“Arthur Caldwell, stop right there!”

An angry female voice rang out.