“So that’s how it is.” Fortune’s tone was matter–of–fact, as if the reason Joyce had managed to get the business card suddenly made perfect

sense.

“But don’t overthink it. That’s just how things work in our

world–connections matter more than money or talent sometimes. Look on the bright side: even the president of the club only got a standard invite, and here you are, a freshman, holding a special invitation from Quantum Flux. Isn’t that something to be proud of?”

Seeing how downcast Joyce looked, Fortune rested her hand on Joyce’s shoulder at some point, giving it a gentle pat.

“I remember your family are all farmers, right? In this world, even if two people do the same job, the one with the right contacts and background always gets the upper hand, while the one without money or connections gets stuck doing all the grunt work. The fact that you’re roommates with Alessia is a blessing–you should really thank her. Otherwise, on your own, you might spend your whole life just being someone else’s sidekick, or worse, a scapegoat.”

Joyce opened her mouth to argue, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Deep down, she knew Fortune wasn’t

wrong.

She couldn’t deny that every word Fortune said cut straight through her, exposing all her insecurities, leaving them raw and unhidden.

She knew, after all, that life was never fair.

She’d never been lucky enough to be born into a privileged family; in fact, she’d grown up in a household that valued sons over daughters.

She would never forget the year when, after a bad harvest, her parents wanted her–the straight–A student–to drop out and start working, while her younger brother, who barely scraped by in school, was promised everyst penny they had so he could keep studying. It was in that

b1/3 /b

09:07

Joyce’s gaze, staring down at the stadium seats below, her posture rxed, as if she belonged in these circles.

Not like Joyce, who, even in a dress worth thirty thousand dors, was instantly seen through–reduced to nothing more than a backdrop for the clothes, a clown for everyone else’s amusement.

She nced around at the others, and in that split second when their eyes met, it felt like everyone wasughing at her.

Suddenly, the expensive dress felt like a noose tightening around her neck, making it hard to breathe.