My name is Melissa Bennett, the daughter of Ryan Bennett, the richest man in Arcadia.

After an abduction, my real name became a secret.

So, I ended up with three names: Cara Moss, Kelly Hobbs, Jessie Hayes.

...

I was known to the outside world as a "Platinum Novelist," a "Genius Musician," and a "Top Domestic Model."

My father, worried that I might be kidnapped again due to my fame, asked the principal to change my enrollment information.

Thus, I got a new name: Thea Lindsey.

...

To fit my new identity, I bought a bunch of inexpensive items, planning to bring them to school.

My mom, disapproving of the poor quality, threw them all away.

She then instructed the butler to remove the logos from the items I regularly used.

This way, I could blend in as a "real" ordinary person.

On the first day of school, I happily arrived with my logo-free bags and packages.

As soon as I entered the dorm, I saw a few roommates exchanging greetings and giving each other gifts.

What a lovely display of dorm friendship!

I quickly took out the gifts I had prepared in advance and handed them out.

They were all high-end brand bags packed in plastic bags after the logos were removed by the butler.

"Hello! I'm Thea Lindsey!" I said cheerfully.

Beth Kane glanced at my plastic bags with a hint of disdain in her voice. "You don't expect to trade these scraps for our Givenchy or Tiffany, do you?"

...

I blinked.

Although the bags were less valuable without the logos, a branded bag should still be worth more than a Givenchy lipstick or a Tiffany bracelet, right?

"Emilia is a wealthy young lady and the most beautiful girl in the Art Department. Do you really think these shabby items are fit to be seen by her?" Leila Collier said.

Emilia put down her lipstick and gave Leila a feigned scolding look.

She said, "What's there to show off? I just want to finish college quietly, so please don't brag about it everywhere."

Her haughty demeanor screamed of superiority.

It was clear she was showing off.

"Got it," said Leila, sycophantically tidying up Emilia's makeup bag.

...

Then she got up, kicked my suitcase aside, and dramatically waved her hand under her nose.

"This cheap smell is awful. I need to spray some new Dior perfume to cover it up and avoid smelling like poverty."

Her sudden shift in attitude could easily win her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Of course, the leading actress had to be Emilia.

...

Emilia smiled faintly and sighed helplessly, saying, "Don't take it to heart. She's just like that. She is not a bad person. We're living together, so we should tolerate each other."

Could I trust that?

...

Her idea of tolerance seemed to mean her roommates humbly holding her eyeshadow, only for her to criticize them for their bad temper behind their backs?

I had to admit that Emilia was indeed a great actress, good at hiding her acting skills.

She wore faux Chanel outfits, playing the rich girl, but no one could see through it.

Why could I spot it instantly?

Because I am the endorser of Chanel in the country, and that dress was something I wore during a fashion show. It's currently gathering dust in my wardrobe.

I always wore a mask as I walked the runway, so no one knew my identity.

"Emilia, you're too soft. Be careful not to get bullied in the future," said Leila as she came out of the bathroom. "Poor people don't deserve tolerance."

...

I forced a smile and said sweetly, "Wow, so my roommate is the world's richest person. I have to post about this on Instagram."

...

I took out my phone and aimed it at her.

"Stop making stuff up!" Leila's face darkened as she tried to block my camera.

...

"You said it yourself!" I replied innocently.

...

"Only the richest person in the world would think everyone else is poor. So, does that mean Beth and Emilia are poor in your eyes?"

My words made both Beth and Emilia turn their gaze toward Leila.

...

The disdain and anger in Beth's eyes were intense.

Leila, embarrassed and furious, tried to slap me, but I intercepted her hand.

She snapped, "You bitch, sowing discord among us on your very first day here!"

Standing tall above her, I gave her a powerful mental pressure.

"Then keep your mouth shut and don't say things you shouldn't!" I said sternly.

Thus, on the first day in the dorm, I had already made an enemy in Leila.

But now "poor" was my label.

I finished unpacking and lay comfortably on my bed, watching Leila butter up Beth and Emilia.

I didn't approve of their behavior.

If you see yourself as lowly, others will treat you as such.

Would Leila deeply regret not fawning over me once she learned my true identity?

Three days later, military training began.

Clad in camouflage and under the scorching sun, I, like everyone else, sweated on the blazing ground, persistently presenting the vibrant spirit of youth.

"Take a ten-minute break in place," the instructor announced, causing a stir among the crowd.

...

Someone shouted, "Let's have a dance performance!"

The crowd chorused, "Let's see a performance!"

"Thea, perform a dance for us."

I was taken aback, put down my water bottle, and slowly stood up from the ground.

"With Thea's great figure, her dance must be amazing. We're in for a treat…"

It was Leila who spoke.

Among those who shouted my name just now, her voice was the loudest.

She looked at me with a gleeful expression, her face radiating the satisfaction of revenge.

So after losing the dorm conflict to me, she was trying to embarrass me in front of so many people?

And she called me out to dance, probably because she overheard my conversation with my mom last night.

My mom mentioned that the TV station was launching a dance talent show next month, and the director wanted me to be a guest.

I checked the recording schedule, and it coincided with the day of my book signing event.

So I casually said, "I'm not good at dancing."

At that moment, Leila had just finished her shower and probably overheard it.

As the daughter of the richest man in Arcadia, dancing was just the most basic social etiquette, and I had been learning it since I was young.

But compared to my other achievements, this one was indeed not impressive.

Want to see me make a fool of myself?

Fine!

I'll give you what you want!

Under Leila's mocking gaze, I walked to the front and started warming up.

To her, this seemed like my last-ditch effort before I went down.

"Is there any music?"

"Yes!"

Excited, Leila pulled out her phone and played an upbeat track.

I didn't ask for a change and danced to the rhythm.

After finishing, I was slightly out of breath, with a light sheen of sweat on my forehead.

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, while my three dorm mates looked livid.

Indeed, to them, I was a poor person who couldn't possibly have any talents, let alone perform so well.

...

Leila's face was ashen. She gaped in disbelief, silently mouthing, "Impossible…"

...

I smiled gently and said, "Next, let's welcome my roommate Leila to perform a song for us. Let's give her a big round of applause!"

Leila stiffened, her eyes blazing with anger at me.

She clearly hadn't expected me to counterattack on the spot.

She bit her lip and looked at me pitifully. "Thea, my throat has been sore and I can't sing. You know that. Are you trying to make things difficult for me because I didn't pour water for you in the dorm?"

Emilia stood up, her voice clear and melodious as she said, "If everyone wants to hear someone sing, let me substitute for Leila!"

...

Her pretty face and kind demeanor earned her a lot of praise.

This also made it seem like I was being petty about Leila.

I decided to mimic Leila's emotional display.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Then I said, "I know you look down on poor people, but there's no need to fabricate stories.

"So what if I'm poor? It doesn't affect you, does it?

"I may be poor, but I also have dignity. You can't trample on that!"

As a result, the three of us became the talk of the student forum.

The post detailed the incident, and the comments were split into three groups.

One group supported the idea that poor people have dignity and human rights.

Another group thought I was overly sensitive and petty.

The last group said they were just curious onlookers.

I read the post in the counselor's office.

The counselor handed me a form to apply for financial aid for underprivileged students.

I was dumbfounded and declined.

...

The counselor, probably trying not to hurt my pride, said gently, "Thea, financial aid is meant to help you fulfill your academic dreams. There's no intention to discriminate against you."

...

I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on, and repeatedly said I didn't need it.

The counselor looked at me firmly.

I reluctantly showed her the smallest income section of my financial records.

It was from a book I wrote a long time ago, and I received the payment for it just last week.

It was about 20,000 dollars.

Counselor was stunned.

She remained silent for a while.

I could almost read her thoughts: it turns out I was the fool.

...

Back in the dorm, Leila was smugly flaunting Emilia's invitation letter to the freshman welcome party in front of me.

"Why are you so smug? It isn't even addressed to you," I said.

Leila was angry at first, but quickly recovered her smile and said, "I'm best friends with Emilia, so I feel happy for her. Unfortunately, someone, even after showing off at military training, isn't invited."

I rolled my eyes and went to my bed to write my novel.

Performing would only waste my time that I could otherwise use to make more money.

On the day of the freshman welcome party, the president of the Student Council hurriedly found me.

"Thea, why are you still here? The next program is yours."

I was shocked and confused.

"I didn't sign up!"

Without saying a word, she dragged me away.

"The invitation letter was delivered to your dorm three days ago."

"Then where is it?"

Tonight, I dazzled at the party, driven by the urge to spite my dorm mates after being disgusted.

...

We are in college now, but they hid my things away.

How childish.

The three of them looked displeased.

"Your invitation letter is lost. What does it have to do with me?" Leila snapped.

...

Emilia was also starting to lose her composure.

"Are you doing this on purpose? I've been rehearsing for this in the dorm for days, and everyone can see the effort and hard work.

"So now you've stolen my first place and earned the favor of the Music King. You are very smug, aren't you?

"Poor people are small-minded. Even without this resource, I have others.

"Kelly, the musical genius, is my good friend. If I mention your name to her, do you think there will still be a place for you in the music world?"

"Kelly? The Kelly who's as good as Glenn Gould on the piano?" exclaimed Leila, looking shocked.

...

...

Beth's breathing grew heavy, and she mocked, "Some people are born in slums, thinking that high buildings are the limit, while others are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, aiming for the skies."

With the flattery from both of them, Emilia's mood improved.

She stood straighter, looking at me with a condescending gaze, as if I were nothing.

I stared at their excited faces, feeling confused.

When did I become friends with Emilia?

But since she dared to lie, she should be ready to face the consequences.

Before I could expose Emilia, a notification letter arrived at the dorm.

It was a notice for Emilia's qualification for the finals of the Young Pianist Competition.

Leila held the notice with both hands with great reverence.

...

She said, "Emilia, you're amazing. You're the embodiment of a wealthy beauty and a talented woman. If I had half of your success, my mom would be thrilled."

Beth's face was glowing with pride, and she turned back to look at me with contempt.

...

"So what if you won first place at school? It's still nothing to be proud of. Emilia is a perfect all-rounder, unlike some who only win a minor award and act like they're on top of the world."

I sneered, "'Nothing to be proud of'? Then why were you fighting for it earlier? Are you admitting that you are insignificant too?

"Just because I haven't brought some things up doesn't mean you haven't done them. If you don't want others to find out, don't do them in the first place."

Lately, I'd noticed some weird things: detergent residue on my clean clothes, shoes that wouldn't dry after three days in the sun, and water stains on my desk soaking my notebooks.

These were minor issues, and there was no evidence, so even though I knew one of them was behind it, I couldn't say anything.

But that didn't stop me from warning them.

"You..."

Beth's eyes were wide, and she seemed ready to argue more.

Emilia stopped her.

She said, "Along with the notice, there are also tickets for friends and family. You can all come."

Her eyes were red with joy, yet she refused to show it.

She said, feigning calmness, "Feel free to bring any good friends. I have plenty of tickets."

Leila thanked her happily, then looked at me with a sly glance, and said, "Someone knows her place and won't shamelessly ask for a ticket, right?"

...

"Are you talking about yourself?" I asked with a chuckle, rolling my eyes at her.

...