EVIL SYSTEM

The place the fraternity had booked was quite large, with two pools and a relatively big backyard.

The fraternity caused a bit of a stir as they began setting up a small stage in the backyard. This caught the attention of the other guests at the hostel.

Slowly, they gathered around, thinking it was an event organized by the hostel.

The hostel manager and staff were thrilled with how things were turning out, to the point where they started selling drinks and snacks to the people gathering around the small stage.

The fraternity guys didn't mind and even wished for a larger audience.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," Dante took on the role of host and entertainer. "Tonight, we're holding a friendly little competition."

Dante walked confidently across the stage, full of charisma.

"Though I must admit, it's a bit unfair to the participants," Dante played with the microphone and, with a conspiratorial smile, whispered into it. "Because I'm already sure who the undisputed winner will be."

The audience was intrigued by his words, but Dante continued.

"To make this competition completely impartial, we'll let the audience decide the winner," Dante spun around on stage and pointed the microphone at the crowd. "That's right, ladies and gentlemen, you'll be the judges."

Many in the audience laughed at Dante's antics.

"Without further ado, let's begin with our first contestant," Dante gestured toward the back. "From the city of Cartago and a member of the music faculty at North Raimon University, Zhuang Wei!!"

A handsome guy stepped onto the stage with an acoustic guitar in his hands.

He smiled shyly at the audience and, after a few deep breaths, began his performance.

One by one, the participants took the stage, each warmly received by the audience, who cheered them on with encouragement.

The mood of the competition was electric. Those who were nervous left their fears behind and performed well on stage.

"Now, let's welcome a beauty," Dante made an exaggerated and dramatic gesture to invite Judy onto the stage. "I don't know where she's from or what she studies, but let's give a warm welcome to Judy Wang."

The audience and Judy laughed at Dante.

Of course, Judy would be in the competition, being a music lover.

The truth had to be told—though Judy was a very beautiful and charismatic girl... singing wasn't her strong suit.

Despite that, everyone supported and cheered her on.

Ben could only smile ironically, thinking about the advantage some people have just by being good-looking.

Though he couldn't say much, as he also supported and cheered for Judy.

After Judy, a girl who was quite overweight took the stage. Her cheeks were chubby, and with her Asian features, her eyes looked very small.

But wow, did she surprise the audience with her extraordinary voice.

If Ben had to compare her voice to someone he'd heard before, it would be Adele.

She sang a very popular song in this world, but it didn't fully showcase the potential of her voice.

A beautiful and pitch-perfect voice.

The girl's name was Shen Huiliang.

Everyone was firmly convinced that she had already won the little competition.

Dante stepped back onto the stage with a big smile on his face.

"Wow! What a spectacular performance!" Dante raised his arms in the air. "This competition is practically won."

The audience nodded in agreement, but Dante quickly changed his stance and placed his fingers on his chin. "Or is it?"

The crowd laughed and grew intrigued by his antics.

"I saved the best for last," Dante leaned closer to the audience and whispered as if sharing a secret. "The next contestant is the one I believe will be the winner."

Many raised their eyebrows and looked at him skeptically.

In their minds, it was simply impossible to top Shen Huiliang's performance.

Dante gestured toward the back and introduced:

"Let's give a warm welcome to my good friend, Benjamin Clay," he smiled excitedly as Ben stepped onto the stage with an electric guitar, accompanied by Ryuji, who carried drumsticks. "I don't know much about Ben; he's a bit of a mystery. All I know is that he's incredibly talented and a bit gruff, but if you give him a chance, he'll be a great friend."

Ben was a little embarrassed but didn't contradict Dante's words.

Dante and Ben quickly helped set up the drum kit.

Dante, for his part, picked up a bass guitar lent to him by the fraternity guys.

"I hope this isn't seen as favoritism," Dante laughed into the microphone, and everyone laughed with him.

Ben stepped onto the stage and stood at the front.

Many eyes fell on him, and the nerves hit him hard, especially when he felt Judy's gaze.

"Good evening," Ben approached the microphone. "The song I'll sing today is one I wrote myself, so don't be surprised if you don't recognize it."

Ben couldn't use the same excuse he had used with Dante at the subway station. Many of these guys studied music and could easily tell that the songs he sang didn't exist in this world.

"Before I start, I'd like to say that I know many people in the audience will relate to this song," Ben hesitated a bit out of embarrassment but continued. "To those people, I just want to say: you're special."

After finishing his words and trying to leave his embarrassment behind, Ben began to play, and Dante and Ryuji followed.

What Ben was about to sing wasn't just a song—it was an anthem for generations, one that even 30 years after its release was still regularly listened to and had a massive fanbase.

Ben considered it an insult that such a song wasn't known in this world.

Anyone with even a bit of cultural knowledge from his world could identify the song with just one note from the guitar and drums.

"When you were here before," Ben began to sing. "Couldn't look you in the eye."

Ben's soft, deep, and beautiful voice immediately caught the audience's attention.

"You're just like an angel...

Your skin makes me cry."

"You float like a feather...

In a beautiful world."

"I wish I was special," Ben's voice cracked slightly as he poured his emotions into the lyrics. "You're so fucking special."

The soft rhythm of the song suddenly changed as Ben strummed his electric guitar with force.

"But I'm a creep!"

Ben's voice rose in pitch as he sang with power.

"I'm a weirdo!"

"What the hell am I doing here?

I don't belong here."

All that intensity faded in a second as Ben stopped playing the guitar forcefully and returned to the soft melody.

"I don't care if it hurts."

"I wanna have control."

"I want a perfect body."

"I want a perfect soul."

These parts were sung with so much emotion, as if Ben were laying bare his true feelings.

"I want you to notice

When I'm not around."

"You're so fucking special."

"I wish I was special."

Ben strummed the guitar forcefully again, as if venting his frustrations.

"But I'm a creep!!"

"I'm a weirdo!"

"What the hell am I doing here?"

"I don't belong here"

"Oh, oh."

"She's running out the door"

"She's running out."

Ben's voice broke as he sang with all the emotion he had been holding inside.

"She run, run, run, runnnn!!!!!!!

Runnnnn!!!!!!!!!"

The tone of the song softened again, and Ben began to sing in a calmer, more soothing voice.

With that same soft, sorrowful tone, he ended the song.

"Whatever makes you happy."

"Whatever you want."

"You're so fucking special."

"I wish I was special."

"But I'm a creep."

"I'm a weirdo."

"What the hell am I doing here?"

"I don't belong here."

"I don't belong here."

Throughout the song, Ben had been trying to avoid looking at Judy to avoid exposing his feelings at a moment when he was so immersed in his emotions.

After all, the eyes are the window to the soul and can convey many things.

But as the song ended, he couldn't help but glance at her briefly.

Their eyes met for a brief second that felt like an eternity to Ben.

He felt like he could get lost in her eyes if he kept looking.

In that moment, he knew without a doubt.

He was in love with her!

"Waaaaahh!!!"

"Incredible!!"

"Again!! Sing it again!!"

"WOW!!"

The cheers, applause, and whistles from the audience snapped him out of his reverie.

Ben let out a sigh he had been holding and looked at the audience, who were going wild with excitement.

Unknowingly, he had moved many people in the crowd.

Some couldn't cheer because they were lost in their own worlds, repeating the song's lyrics in their minds, feeling completely identified with them.

The most affected of all was Shen Huiliang herself, who stood in the crowd, completely still, with tears streaming down her face.

Several parts of the song had hit her hard in the heart.

She had always felt self-conscious about her body and her weight.

The part where it said, "I want a perfect body," struck her particularly hard.

Then she remembered the words Ben had said before he started singing.

"You're special!"

Shen Huiliang looked at the stage where Ben was catching his breath and looking at the audience with surprise.

A smile spread across her face as she saw Ben's stunned expression.

Unknowingly, Ben had gained an admirer.