Godly Beggar

The day after the quiz battle, Jiang Han sat at his desk in the classroom, replaying the previous day's events in his mind. Victory had tasted sweet, but there was something else—a lingering thought, almost an itch at the back of his consciousness.

The system's missions had taught him lessons, forced him to confront his weaknesses, and even humiliated him in front of others. Yet, the outcomes were undeniably in his favour.

He tapped his pencil against his notebook absently, lost in thought. Suddenly, the familiar chime of the Begging System rang in his mind.

[System Alert! Daily Mission Generated.]

Mission: Convince Ang Xuan Ming to lend you his calculator for the upcoming maths quiz. Beg if necessary.]

Failure to comply will result in a deduction of -30 system points.]

Reward: Mathematical Application Skill (Intermediate Level).]

Jiang Han groaned inwardly. The system had a knack for picking the most humiliating tasks.

"Ang Xuan Ming?" he muttered to himself. "Out of all people?"

Ang Xuan Ming, seated at his usual spot in the middle of the room, was laughing loudly with his group of friends. His arrogance radiated like an invisible shield, keeping most students at a distance.

"Alright," Jiang Han thought, steeling himself. "Let's get this over with."

Walking over, he cleared his throat. "Xuan Ming," Jiang Han began, forcing his voice to remain even.

The group turned to look at him, their laughter fading into a collective smirk.

"Well, well," Xuan Ming said, leaning back in his chair. "What do we owe the pleasure, genius?"

Jiang Han ignored the jibe. "I need to borrow your calculator for the maths quiz."

Xuan Ming raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. "You? Borrow something from me? Didn't know the mighty Jiang Han needed help."

Jiang Han clenched his fists at his sides, forcing a neutral expression. "Yes, I do. Are you willing to lend it to me?"

Xuan Ming grinned. "What's in it for me?"

"Your calculator back," Jiang Han replied dryly.

The group burst into laughter, and Xuan Ming's grin widened. "Not good enough. Try harder."

[Reminder: Humility and persistence are key. Complete the mission.]

Jiang Han took a slow breath. "Please, Xuan Ming," he said, forcing sincerity into his tone. "I need it. I'll take care of it and return it after the quiz."

Xuan Ming pretended to consider it, then tossed the calculator onto the desk. "Fine," he said. "But if it comes back scratched, you're paying for a new one."

"Thank you," Jiang Han said, swallowing his irritation as he picked up the calculator.

[Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Mathematical Application Skill (Intermediate Level).]

As Jiang Han returned to his seat, he felt the system's reward kick in. Numbers seemed to flow more easily, equations forming naturally in his mind.

By the time the maths quiz began, Jiang Han was ready. The questions were challenging, but he tackled them with ease, his pencil flying across the paper.

Meanwhile, Xuan Ming, seated a few rows away, was visibly struggling. His overconfidence had led him to underestimate the difficulty of the quiz, and his frustration was evident.

When the results were announced, Jiang Han's name was at the top of the list. Xuan Ming, on the other hand, had barely scraped by.

As the class buzzed with excitement over the results, Xuan Ming stormed over to Jiang Han's desk.

"You must have cheated," Xuan Ming hissed, his face red.

Jiang Han looked up, his expression calm. "Cheated? With your calculator?"

The comment drew laughter from nearby students, and Xuan Ming's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Careful, Xuan Ming," Jiang Han added, his voice low but firm. "Your pride might get in the way of reality."

Xuan Ming stomped away, his dignity in shambles.

Later that evening, Jiang Han sat in his room, reflecting on the day's events. He had humiliated Xuan Ming without even meaning to. It was satisfying, but there was something deeper tugging at his thoughts.

"Why does this feel familiar?" Jiang Han murmured.

As if in response, a sudden flash of images filled his mind. He saw a younger version of himself, sitting in a brightly lit office. There were papers scattered across a desk, a computer humming in the background.

The vision shifted, and he saw a group of suited men yelling at him, their faces twisted with anger. The words were muffled, but the emotions were clear—betrayal, desperation, and failure.

Jiang Han gasped, gripping the edge of his desk as the vision faded.

"That was… my past life?" he whispered.

The memories were still fragmented, but one thing was clear: he had lived before. His downfall in that life had been brutal, and the system was his second chance.

[System Notification: Reincarnation Status Confirmed.]

[Memories of the past life will gradually return as the host progresses.]

Jiang Han leaned back, his mind racing. "So this isn't just about learning skills or facing challenges. This is about rewriting my fate."

The next day, Jiang Han couldn't help but share some of his thoughts with Wang Jia Qi as they walked to class.

"Reincarnation?" Jia Qi repeated, her voice dripping with scepticism. "Are you sure you're not just overthinking things?"

"I'm serious," Jiang Han insisted. "I saw flashes of my past life. It all makes sense now—the system, the challenges, everything."

Jia Qi gave him a sideways glance. "So, what were you in your past life? A genius mathematician? A kung-fu master?"

"I think I was a software engineer," Jiang Han said.

Jia Qi burst into laughter. "Of course you were! Let me guess—you were coding your way to glory before it all went wrong?"

Jiang Han couldn't help but laugh along. "Something like that."

"Well, if you're reincarnated, does that mean you're destined for greatness now?" Jia Qi teased.

"Only if I survive the system's missions," Jiang Han replied, his tone wry.

As the school day continued, Jiang Han felt a renewed sense of purpose. The visions of his past life had shaken him, but they had also given him clarity.

"This isn't just about beating Xuan Ming or acing quizzes," he thought. "This is about building something lasting—something that will outlive my mistakes."

With each step he took, Jiang Han felt more certain of his path. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to face it, one mission at a time.