"Best Friend" Swapped Luck with Me

My "best friend" managed to climb her way to the top of Clance society, all thanks to her luck-swapping system. Every five years, she needed to find a new "Child of Fortune" to refresh the system and keep her luck flowing. This time, she had set her sights on me.

What she didn't know was that I'd always been the ultimate bad luck magnet, infamous for it back in my hometown. Any success I had so far was solely because I had mastered the art of leeching off other people's luck.

As for her, even without the luck-swapping system, she was naturally blessed with charm and fortune—practically a walking good-luck charm. So, getting the chance to swap luck with her was the best deal I could've hoped for!

1

At Vanessa Warren's 25th birthday party, the typical social butterfly surprised everyone by inviting only me. As the cake was being wheeled in, I heard a familiar "ding-dong" sound. This was the fourth time I'd heard it—coming from Vanessa's luck-swapping system.

"Are you sure the new swap target is Sienna Gordon?" The mechanical voice was cold and emotionless.

Vanessa, unaware that I could hear her exchange with the system, clasped her hands together, eyes closed, and made a wish with sincere devotion.

"Yes. I've already given her the bracelet I've worn for five years, and she accepted it with pleasure. Please proceed with swapping our luck."

A bright smile spread across her face as she kept her eyes shut. When she opened them, she beamed at me, grabbing my hand and gently running her fingers over the bracelet she'd gifted me as part of the exchange.

"Sienna, this bracelet looks so good on you! Since I've done all this for you, wouldn't you want to be my best friend forever?"

Her eyes sparkled with hope, waiting for my answer. I knew this was the final step. As soon as I said the words "I do," our fortunes would begin to shift.

I flashed a big smile and squeezed her hand tightly. "Of course I do."

Trading my rare, once-in-a-century bad luck for her occasional streaks of good fortune? This was the deal of a lifetime, and I was all in!

Five years ago, when Vanessa eagerly linked arms with me, I knew I was being lined up as one of her backup luck-swap candidates. After all, I'd overheard her conversations with her system three times over the past fifteen years.

The first time was when we were ten, both still living in the foster home. On her birthday, she wished to swap luck with Amber, the most popular girl at the home. Shortly after, a pair of teachers adopted Vanessa.

The second time was at fifteen, during the critical high school entrance exams. She swapped luck with the school's top student. Normally an average performer, Vanessa suddenly aced the exams and scored first, securing her place at a top high school. She later got into a prestigious university.

The third time was at twenty, with an upper-class socialite she met in college. Soon after, Vanessa was "recognized" by a wealthy family in New York as their long-lost daughter—all thanks to a pendant she randomly picked up.

After these coincidences, I'd figured out her pattern. Every five years, she swapped luck with someone, and during that time, she had to become close friends with the target.

Vanessa and I originally had a lukewarm relationship. In fact, because I came from the same foster home that once housed her, she harbored some resentment toward me. She even privately threatened me several times, warning me not to reveal anything about her past.

But five years ago, I won first place in a national college coding competition. While others marveled at my "good luck," Vanessa sidled up to me, linking arms, claiming she wanted to be my best friend. Coincidentally, it was the day after her 20th birthday, right after her third luck swap, when she'd be on the lookout for a new target. At that time, I wasn't a strong contender. Vanessa had plenty of well-connected friends with standout achievements, excellent grades, or lucrative side ventures—people she'd tagged as "close friends."

So, she didn't invest much in me at first. But after I graduated and secured the highest-paying job offer at a leading tech company, people praised my "career luck." That was when Vanessa bumped me up to a top-tier candidate, inviting me to hang out more.

A year ago, I left that company to start my own business, secured angel funding, and even began dating a wealthy, caring older guy. Vanessa now proudly introduced me as her "best friend" to everyone.

I'd always known what she was planning. To swap out my cursed fate for her "lucky charm" destiny, I worked hard to pretend we shared similar values. Last week, when she finally took off the bracelet she'd worn for years and gave it to me, I nearly jumped with joy.

Because that meant she had officially chosen me as her new luck-swap target.

"Congratulations, host. The luck swap is complete." The robotic voice echoed through the spacious villa.

Vanessa jumped to her feet, unable to suppress the triumphant smile spreading across her face.

"Sienna, I heard West Group is planning to invest in your algorithm project. For an orphan to make it this far, your luck's really something, isn't it? But what if your luck runs out? The director at the foster home is counting on your yearly donations. It'd be a shame if you went broke."

Her eyes gleamed with smug satisfaction.

I pretended not to catch the underlying jab, raising my hand to show off the bracelet. "Well, I still have you, my dear friend. Even if I go bankrupt, you'd definitely take me in and keep supporting the foster home, wouldn't you?"

Clink.

The crisp sound of champagne glasses meeting filled the room. Ignoring the distaste flickering in her eyes, I clinked my glass with hers and downed the champagne in one go.

The moment she succeeded in the luck swap was also when I officially deactivated my leeching system. From now on, I no longer needed to stay within 300 feet of her just to ride on her luck.

Wasn't that something worth popping champagne for?