[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s":3,"chapter-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-137":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\\% Rebate System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1491408,1939,"Chapter 137: Instigation","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-137",137,"\u003Cp>Mr. Hughes smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, good. And what would you say are your strengths and weaknesses, Adam?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam scratched his chin, feeling a little embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh, well, I think my strength is that I work hard, and I never give up. I always try to do my best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for weaknesses... I guess I’m not the most creative person. I stick to what I know, but I’m willing to learn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Hughes chuckled. \"Honesty is important. Thank you for being sincere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he leaned toward Adam and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you tell me about the weaknesses of the other staff members and workers? I will be honest with you, as long as tell me one weakness of everyone, I will give you the position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam’s face changed. For a moment, he was tempted to spill the beans; however, thinking how it will take away many people’s jobs and how their weakness doesn’t affect the company in a negative way, he decided to shake his head and say,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Hughes stared at Adam for a long while before chuckling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, one last question. What would you do if things went wrong? If you made a mistake?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam looked down, thinking hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’d admit to it. Apologize if I had to. Then, I’d try to fix the mistake and learn from it so it doesn’t happen again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Hughes’s eyes twinkled. \"Very good, Adam. You’ve always been reliable. Thank you for your time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam stood up, feeling much better than when he had walked in. \"Thank you, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he left the office, Mike was waiting for him. \"How’d it go?\" Mike asked eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Better than I expected,\" Adam admitted with a small smile. \"Mr. Hughes was really nice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, he was! You got this, Adam.\" Mike clapped him on the back again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Adam walked back to his workbench, he noticed Adam Price standing nearby, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young manager’s smile was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bad feeling crept into his heart, but he decided to ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling only intensified when Adam Price came out of the office with a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam Waters stood near his workbench, wiping grease off his hands as he watched Adam Price moving around the shop, whispering into people’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger guy was smiling like he had already won the CEO position. Something about it made Adam’s stomach twist uncomfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workers glanced at Adam Waters now and then, some looking confused, others looking angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam had no clue what was going on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Mr. Hughes came out of his office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t look happy like before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was pale, and his shoulders were tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked over to a chair, sat down, and let out a deep sigh. Everyone gathered around, waiting for him to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today,\" Mr. Hughes began, his voice shaky but clear, \"I realized what money and ambition can do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I asked all of you a question during your interviews,\" Mr. Hughes continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I asked if you could tell me about the weaknesses of your coworkers. I wasn’t expecting everyone to answer honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what surprised me was how many of you were willing to throw each other under the bus for the sake of a promotion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workers started murmuring to each other, some looking guilty, others just confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve heard some of the most shocking things today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Hughes said, his eyes scanning the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things that have nothing to do with the shop’s performance or improvement. Just gossip, jealousy, and petty complaints.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out a piece of paper and began to read off names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rick, I was told you’re lazy and always take extra breaks. Sarah, someone said you’re clumsy and drop tools all the time. Mike, apparently, you talk too much and distract the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, Mr. Hughes called out names and listed weaknesses. Some people hung their heads, others shook their heads angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Mr. Hughes looked straight at Adam Waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adam Waters,\" he said, his voice a little softer but still firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was told by one of your coworkers that you have kleptomania. That you can’t resist stealing coffee bags from the shop’s kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And though you are intelligent and hardworking, you have a habit of taking what doesn’t belong to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room went dead silent. Adam’s face went pale. His hands trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? That’s not true!\" Adam protested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I never stole anything confidential or important! I might’ve taken a couple of coffee bags home, but I swear I replaced them later! I never meant to steal anything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone started whispering, their eyes locked on Adam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam Price, who had been standing quietly near the back, suddenly stepped forward with a smug grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter if it was just coffee, Adam. A thief is still a thief. Who’s to say you won’t steal something important in the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who steals small things could easily steal bigger things when given the chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd started to murmur louder, and some people nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, if he’s stealing coffee bags, who knows what else he’s taken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve seen him near the tool room late at night before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if he’s been pocketing cash, too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam Waters’s heart raced. His breathing felt tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to explain himself, but the voices around him kept getting louder and louder. It felt like they were all turning against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam Price stepped forward with a sneer, pointing his finger straight at Adam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A pest like Adam Waters shouldn’t be allowed to stay in this company! Thieves like him ruin everything for everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we keep him around, what’s next? Missing tools? Lost money? Important documents stolen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other workers started to chime in, their faces twisted with disgust and suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Adam Waters stays, I’ll quit!\" shouted Rick, his face red with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah! Who knows what he’ll steal next?\" Sarah added, her eyes wide and accusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s been lying to us this whole time!\" Jack’s voice cracked, his fists clenched at his sides.\u003C\u002Fp>",1029,"2026-06-06T04:03:40.622Z",1,"novelbin.me","04bf4de94473a4966deeffd1e7df19ea9a8b125d7972501c03921e55272cd896","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-138","born-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-chapter-136",614,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-into-villain-s-family-i-have-a-200-rebate-s-cover.jpg"]