Some people think they’re brilliant with their sneaky shortcuts — until life humbles them. One man thought he found love, but the woman was actually being used as free labor at a tiny guesthouse. After months of cleaning, decorating, and helping “build a future,” he dumped her and moved on to the next unsuspecting “fiancée.” Another student tried to impress teachers by holding trendy books for show — until one professor asked him questions about War and Peace and instantly exposed him.

Meanwhile, petty battles happen even inside families. One brother constantly stole seasoning from his sibling’s kitchen, so she replaced it with salt — and quietly enjoyed his confusion over ruined meals. Two girls hitchhiking in China once got sabotaged by a chatty old man who kept distracting drivers. Fed up, they pretended he agreed to drive them. The shocked man fled, and they finally got a ride.

Some stories are about luck — or sheer boldness. A student who studied one exam question drew that exact ticket and still got an A after passionately answering only half the test. Another worker tried to resign gently, only for the boss to say, “Then don’t look at the clock.” He quit on the spot. And one warehouse guard faked hourly surveillance images so he didn’t have to show up to work — only to receive a photo of his paycheck on payday.

Not all tricks are malicious — some are just adorable. A cat learned to “faint” at loud noises because it earned him snacks and cuddles, and kept doing it for years. Parents pretend to be tough bosses at work but softies at home, slipping into warmth the moment they walk through the door. These stories show that cunning, comedy, and karma all walk hand in hand — and life never runs out of clever characters.