Chapter 1I Made It

After the school’s most popular girl rejected him, the resident bad boy, Ace, threw a tantrum in the middle of the classroom, making it rain cash to vent his frustration.

A lot of kids scrambled to pick it up. My vision was blurry from hunger, so I joined in.

But the moment I snatched a crisp bill from the floor, a translucent screen flickered into existence before my eyes.

【Who’s this extra? Doesn’t she know everyone picking up the money is the second male lead’s friend?】

【LOL, he’s just putting on a show for the female lead. He didn’t think anyone would actually take it seriously.】

I clutched the bill, my face burning with shame as I looked up. Sure enough, every eye in the room was on me.

Just then, the popular girl, Alice, appeared at the classroom door.

In a fit of pique, Ace shoved the rest of the cash into my hands.

“From now on, my allowance is all yours.”

* * *

I stared dumbly at the wad of bills in my hand, barely registering Ace’s words. All I could think was that this was enough money to feed me for a very, very long time.

Ever since my dad passed away and my mom remarried, I was the kid nobody wanted. My grandma had stepped up, taking on the burden of raising me. But she was old and frail, barely able to support herself, let alone the two of us. Lately, her vision had gotten worse, and the scrap materials she collected to sell were dwindling.

To ease her burden, I rarely ate at school, often going home with a painfully empty stomach.

Right now, I was more inclined to believe I was hallucinating from hunger.

Ace must have been waiting for a response. He frowned slightly and reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

The other students started hooting and catcalling.

At the door, Alice saw the scene, turned on her heel, and walked away.

【Sigh, the female lead came back to give him another chance, but he had to pull this stunt.】

【If the second male lead gets the girl this early, what’s the male lead supposed to do?】

【Well, at least this little extra gets something out of it.】

It was then that I realized I was a cannon fodder character in a novel where the second male lead eventually wins the girl. Ace was acting out purely because his pride had been wounded.

But none of that mattered to me. All I wanted was a full stomach.

“Is this… all really for me?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Ace waved a dismissive hand, his mind clearly elsewhere. “Take it. If it’s not enough, just ask for more.”

“Thank you.”

I clutched the money and walked back to my seat, my world completely changed. I immediately started calculating how to best use this windfall. Grandma’s diabetes medication had run out. If she didn’t get a refill, the complications would be serious. Her shoes had holes in them, and we were out of rice at home…

After a quick mental calculation, I figured I’d have about three hundred dollars left for my own meals. I didn’t eat much, so it would have to last.

At lunch, I ordered a bowl of plain noodles from the cafeteria. After a moment’s thought, I splurged on a marinated egg. I’d only taken a few bites when I heard someone mention Ace’s name.