The Daily Sign-in Rewards System

CHAPTER 1 — THE SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

The loud vibration of an alarm clock echoed through the cramped dormitory room, pulling Dylan from the shallow sleep he had managed to get during the night.

His eyes slowly opened as he stared blankly at the cracked ceiling above him. For several moments, he remained motionless on the narrow bed while exhaustion weighed heavily on his body, making even the thought of moving feel burdensome.

His bloodshot eyes and the dark circles beneath them were clear evidence of the countless sleepless nights he had endured recently, and judging by the time he had fallen asleep, he doubted he had managed more than three hours of rest.

The faint smell of instant noodles mixed with old textbooks lingered in the air, creating the familiar atmosphere that had become his daily reality.

Clothes were piled carelessly in one corner of the room, while stacks of papers, research notes, circuit diagrams, and electronic components occupied nearly every inch of the study desk beside his bed.

Rubbing his face tiredly, Dylan reached for his phone and checked the time.

6:12 AM.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"So today is finally here..." he muttered quietly.

Slowly sitting up, he stretched his aching shoulders and winced as a sharp pain ran through his back. Weeks of hunching over his project had taken their toll, leaving his body stiff and sore. His gaze drifted toward the two empty beds across the room, and he realized that both of his roommates had already left.

For the past two months, Dylan had been living more like a machine than a university student. His days consisted of attending classes, his evenings were spent working part-time jobs, and nearly every night disappeared into endless research and development for his project.

The cycle repeated itself day after day without pause, leaving him physically exhausted but determined to keep moving forward.

His eyes eventually settled on the science project resting carefully on his desk.

Even now, he could hardly believe he had actually finished it.

The compact energy conversion prototype lacked the flashy appearance of the expensive projects that many wealthy students would undoubtedly present later that day, but Dylan knew better than anyone how much effort had gone into creating it.

Every wire had been carefully installed, every calculation had been checked repeatedly, and every sleepless night had been invested into bringing the project to completion. It represented months of sacrifice, determination, and relentless perseverance.

The truth was that he had sacrificed nearly everything for this competition because he simply had no other choice.

Several months earlier, the university administration had issued another warning regarding his unpaid tuition fees. Unless he managed to pay a significant portion of the debt before the semester ended, he risked losing his enrollment status altogether.

And Dylan could not allow that to happen.

Not after everything he had already endured.

Three years earlier, a tragic car accident had taken both of his parents and shattered the life he once knew. As if their deaths were not devastating enough, accusations of large-scale fraud soon surfaced against his father, triggering a lengthy legal battle that destroyed everything the family had built.

Their company vanished, their properties were seized, and their financial accounts were frozen while investigations dragged on endlessly.

At only seventeen years old, Dylan had gone from being the son of a successful businessman to struggling for survival on his own. Even now, the transformation sometimes felt unreal.

One moment, chauffeurs had driven him to school in luxury vehicles, and the next, he was riding a worn-out motorcycle across the city to deliver food for extra income.

To support himself, Dylan worked several part-time jobs throughout the week. He spent his evenings serving customers at a restaurant near campus and devoted many weekends to tutoring high school students. Whenever possible, he accepted food delivery shifts late at night in order to earn a little extra money.

Despite all of those efforts, he remained trapped in a constant battle against financial hardship.

Skipping meals had become a regular occurrence, and there were times when exhaustion overwhelmed him so completely that he fell asleep during lectures because he had spent the entire previous night working.

Yet regardless of how difficult things became, he refused to give up.

Graduating from Westbridge University was the final promise he had made to his parents, and he intended to keep it.

Taking a deep breath, Dylan climbed out of bed and stood upright. Today's annual science fair competition represented the greatest opportunity he had received in years.

The winner would be awarded a prestigious academic scholarship sponsored by several major technology companies, and securing that scholarship would dramatically reduce the financial burden threatening his future. For the first time in a very long while, Dylan allowed himself to imagine a life that wasn't defined by debt, exhaustion, and constant uncertainty.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

Picking it up, he couldn't help smiling when he saw the wallpaper displayed on the screen.

A beautiful young woman smiled brightly back at him.

Amber Hart.

She was one of the most popular students at Westbridge University, and even among the countless attractive girls on campus, she stood out effortlessly. Her long silky hair, fair skin, graceful figure, and stunning features attracted attention wherever she went.

When people first learned that Amber was dating Dylan, many students found it difficult to believe. After all, Amber was widely regarded as a campus goddess, while Dylan was now little more than a struggling scholarship student who barely managed to support himself.

However, despite everything that had happened after his parents died, she had remained by his side for the past three years.

The thought of her immediately eased some of the exhaustion clouding his expression.

At the very least, he wasn't completely alone.

Motivated by that thought, Dylan headed into the small bathroom attached to the dormitory. A few minutes later, he emerged wearing neatly ironed clothes that, although old, had been carefully maintained and kept spotless.

Standing before the cracked mirror, he studied his reflection for a moment before quietly whispering, "Please let today go well."

After double-checking that everything was packed correctly, he carefully lifted the project case from the desk as though it contained priceless treasure.

To him, it did.

The moment he stepped outside the hostel building, he was greeted by the lively atmosphere spreading throughout the campus. Students filled the walkways in every direction, some carrying project displays while others enthusiastically discussed their presentations.

Large banners promoting the annual science fair competition hung across multiple buildings, creating an atmosphere of excitement that was impossible to ignore.

As one of Westbridge University's largest annual events, the science fair attracted not only students and professors but also investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives from major companies.

For many participants, it was simply a competition.

For Dylan, it was an opportunity to change his life.

While walking carefully toward the university auditorium, he pulled out his phone and dialed Amber's number.

The call rang several times before eventually ending without an answer.

A slight frown appeared on his face.

"Still asleep?" he murmured with an amused chuckle.

Amber had repeatedly promised that she would attend today's competition no matter what happened because she understood how important it was to him.

Shaking his head, Dylan slipped the phone back into his pocket and continued walking.

Before long, the massive university auditorium came into view.

Students crowded around the entrance while volunteers directed participants toward their assigned sections. The entire area buzzed with energy and anticipation.

For the first time that morning, genuine nervousness began creeping into Dylan's chest.

Compared to many of the participants around him, he possessed very few advantages. Some students came from wealthy families capable of funding advanced equipment, professional consultation, and expensive materials.

In contrast, Dylan had built his project using second-hand components, determination, and countless sleepless nights.

Even so, he had already come too far to turn back now.

Inside the auditorium, countless project booths stretched across the enormous hall beneath rows of bright lights. Professors and judges moved between displays while evaluating participants, and the constant hum of conversations blended with announcements from the stage.

After locating his assigned booth, Dylan carefully set up his project and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Once everything was arranged properly, he grabbed his phone and called Amber again.

This time, the call connected.

"Dylan?" Amber's soft voice sounded through the speaker.

Relief immediately appeared on his face.

"Amber, where are you? The event already started."

"Oh no..." she replied guiltily. "I completely forgot."

Dylan blinked in surprise.

"You forgot?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I've not been feeling well since last night. I think I caught a cold." Amber explained 

The disappointment Dylan felt instantly vanished and was replaced by concern. "You're sick?" He asked.

"Yeah, but don't worry. I'll get dressed and come over soon." Amber replied, her voice was slow and somber 

Although she couldn't see him, Dylan immediately shook his head. "No, don't stress yourself. Your health comes first."

"But today is important—" Amber insisted 

"I know," Dylan interrupted gently. "Just focus on resting. I'll come see you once everything is over."

A brief silence followed before Amber laughed softly. "You always worry too much."

A warm smile spread across Dylan's face. "And you always forget to take care of yourself."

After ending the call, Dylan slowly exhaled and turned toward the stage where the opening ceremony had already begun. As he watched the crowd settle into place and listened to the announcer's voice echo throughout the auditorium, he felt his heartbeat quicken.

The competition he had sacrificed so much for was finally beginning.