Alice''s amusement bordered on contempt when her older brother, Ethan (), called. Last lifetime, he''d used this tactic-threats and financial sanctions to control her. Now that she''d escaped the Windham family''s clutches, did he really think she cared about a business school spor?


    “Alice, if youe crawling back and apologize, I''ll get you into the business school. You can get the same elite education as Chloet


    Her voice was ice. "Mr. Ethan Windham, have you forgotten that I got into Harvard on my own merit", unlike certain people who scored zero on the SATs?"


    “Alice! You dare address me by my first name?! You have no respect!" Ethan''s


    fury was palpable."Fine. Looks like you haven''t learned your lesson. Everything I was going to give you, I''ll give to Chloe. Just wait and see how you regret this."


    "I won''t regret a thing."


    Alice hung up. Those so-called resources had gone to Chloe in her past life anyway. She didn''t


    need them.


    Back in the dorm, she checked the ss group chat; everyone was gossiping about her sh with the business school elite. Chloe and Chloe were just entering. The air thickened with awkwardness.


    Chloe''s voice wasced with resentment. This is just great, rooming with "her". Couldn''t she just apologize? Is that so hard?"


    Alice abruptly pulled out her chair, the screech echoing in the tense silence. Chloe jumped


    "I''m not wrong! Those rich kids? Are they someone a broke college student like her can mess. with?"


    Chloe tried to mediate. “We''re all ssmates, roommates. Let''s not make things worse."


    Chloe scoffed."Max said if we get too close to Alice, she''ll get us too." Chloe grabbed her toiletries and stomped off to the bathroom.


    Once alone, Alice organized her textbooks. She''d studiedputer science in her past life, too; these introductory Courses were a breeze.


    The next day, on her way to ss, Alice felt eyes on her, heard whispers. She ignored them; she''d faced worse istion because of Chloe before. But as she approached the ssroom, something felt off.


    She nced up at the slightly ajar door. She kicked it open.


    A bucket of water cascaded down.


    Alice, agile and quick, dodged it. But the students inside weren''t so lucky. Screams erupted as the icy water soaked their clothes.


    "Ugh, it''s all over my outfit!"


    "My dress! It''s limited edition!"


    Alice strolled into the ssroom, a sardonic smile ying on her lips as she saw Max and Chloe looking utterly disheveled. How childish. This was Chloe''s doing, ПO


    doubt.


    Max bristled "Hey, country bumpkin, you soaked our clothes! You''re paying for this!"


    "If you''re broke, you can work it off!"


    Alice''s gaze hardened.“I''m not paying. Sue me." She wasn''t scared of these petty games. She''d been a pampered heiress; these tactics were transparent.


    Max stamped her foot."Fine, you just wait!" Her perfect day had been ruined, and now she was soaked to the bone. This was infuriating.


    Chloe, ignoring the mess, dragged Max away.“Max, I never thought Alice would notice the


    bucket."


    Max pped Chloe."It''s your stupid idea! Look at us!" She spat, "You''re just as dumb as that country bumpkin!"


    Chloe covered her face, her eyes welling. Max stormed off, leaving Chloe alone, humiliated. She would get revenge a thousandfold once she''d established herself.


    "Oh, being someone''spdog doesn''t seem. to be working out so well, does it?" Alice stood by the door, arms crossed, a mocking glint in her eyes. She watched Chloe, cowed and humiliated.


    Chloe,


    noticing Alice''s


    amusement,


    seethed. "You


    got lucky


    this time!"


    "Oh, I''ll always get lucky. You, on the other hand... who knows?"


    1 you.


    You''ll be


    "My brother will pave my way. I''ll have a better life than you, marry better than with that poor doctor forever, amoner."


    Chloe needed to put Alice down to feel better about herself.


    Alice, watching the "white lotus? squirm, felt a surge of satisfaction. Chloe''s attempts to ingratiat herself with the elite clearly weren''t going smoothly.


    The ssroom was cleaned quickly. When Alice returned, she found her usual seat taken. She even felt some other students deliberately avoiding her. She chose a seat in the front row, far from anyone.


    After ss, she saw various clubs recruiting. She found the Harvard University esports club, knowing the national team scouts there. She wanted to join the national team, but didn''t want to sign with amercial team yet; that limited freedom. The university team was different. She filled out an application. Despite Chloe''s antics, Alice wouldn''t let her derail her goals. At lunch, she discovered her belongings had been rummaged through. Nothing was missing. Chloe emerged from the bathroom, her eyes shifty.


    Alice''s voice was cold. "You went through my things?"


    “You''re delusional! What''s there to steal? One of my bags costs more than your yearly living expenses!" Chloe denied it, but her guilt was obvious.


    Alice sat down, cing the esports club flyer on the table.


    Chloe whispered, “Alice, be careful. The business school kids are plotting against you.” “I know. Thanks."


    Alice opened the gaming forum, responding to questions about gamey strategy. She many asking if she''d join the “Bubble team (ERRA). What was going on? The manager of the


    team had followed her ount. There was a misunderstanding. Then came a text from her sixth older brother, Luke (P), his tone usatory:“Alice, joining


    Bubble


    the Bubble team? Did you even think about how I feel?"