I was from a rich family. But after I finally returned home, my parents made me sleep in the store room and eat leftover food.

Yet, they still felt like they had wronged their foster daughter.

When the government introduced the Children’s Fairness System, my parents immediately bound the entire family to it.

My father breathed a sigh of relief and said, “With this perfectly fair system in place, Annie won’t be treated unfairly anymore.”

My mother gently held my hand and said in an unyielding tone. “Ever since you came back, you’ve taken everything that was meant for Annie. This is unfair to her.”

My elder brother never showed a hint of kindness toward me either.

“I only acknowledge Annie as my sister. You’ve gotten way more than you deserved already, so don’t push your luck,” he said.

I looked down at the cheap clothes I had worn for five years.

Then, I glanced at Annie’s lavish bedroom and countless luxury items.

I found it all utterly ridiculous.

However, when the system took effect, they all ended up breaking down.

After school, I walked home under the scorching sun. Meanwhile, Julianne Dawson rode away in her personal Maybach.

I pushed open the mansion’s heavy door and finally felt a cold breeze.

Right then, my father threw a stack of documents in front of me.

“The government’s new Children’s Fairness System is out. Put your signature down now!”

I stood frozen, and I was completely at a loss.

My brother, Jacob Dawson, stepped forward and shoved me further inside.

“Stop playing dumb. We’ve already cut you way too much slack. Annie’s put up with enough, so don’t push your luck.”

My mother pulled me aside and solemnly said, “Zinnia, I know you suffered after being switched at birth and having to grow up in the countryside, but Annie’s innocent in all this. Now that you’re home, we need to be fair to both of you.

“This system will make sure we treat you both equally. It’s the best way to avoid showing you favoritism and making Annie feel wronged.”

They wanted to treat both of us equally?

I clutched the hem of my shirt. The stiff and cheap fabric on my back was soaked in sweat. As it clung to my skin, it felt constrictive and itchy.

Meanwhile, Julianne was wearing airy designer clothes. She was also eating from a fruit plate that the maid had prepared. She looked completely fresh and comfortable.

I could not help but ask, “Mom, do you really think you’ve favored me?”

My father slammed his hand on the coffee table and angrily pointed at my face.

“Zinnia, what’s that supposed to mean? We gave you everything that used to belong to Annie when you came back. You became the Dawson’s heiress, you got to attend a private school, and you live in this house with staff waiting on you. If that’s not favoritism, what is?

“Annie grew up in this family. She’s our baby girl. But since you arrived, she’s had to step back and sacrifice so much. This system is the only way to make things fair for her!”

His actions sent a teacup clattering from the coffee table to the floor.

I lowered my head as I found the situation utterly ridiculous.

On the day I arrived, I eagerly brought out hand-sewn dolls that I had made. I wanted to give them to Jacob and Julianne.

However, Julianne began to cry, and Jacob pushed me aside in anger.

“This is all your fault! Why did you have to come and tear our family apart?!”

My parents crowded around Julianne to check if she was okay.

I just stood there awkwardly, as I was unsure of what to do. I was an outsider, and it was painfully clear that I always would be.

My parents put me in the store room and called it a “temporary arrangement to help me transition to living with them.”

They said that I was not allowed to eat at the dinner table because Julianne was not comfortable with it.

My classmates made fun of my old-fashioned, worn-out clothes and my accent.

They tore up my homework and poured dirty water into my food. They claimed that they were standing up for Julianne.

I went to my parents in tears, but they told me that I was just making excuses for my poor grades.

They could not even be bothered to attend my parent-teacher meetings. They never cared about my progress. Instead, they always fought to go to Julianne’s meetings.

I knew that what we had could not compare to the deep bond Julianne shared with my parents. I constantly told myself to wait a little longer for my family’s affection.

Yet, they claimed that they had been favoring me.

I picked up the documents from the floor, and the heading caught my eye.

[The Children’s Fairness System ensures that parents avoid favoritism and partiality. It guarantees children truly equal treatment.]

“Fine. I’ll sign it.”

I no longer held any hope of receiving their affection.

I only endured my stay here because the Riverton school district had lower score requirements. This would give me a better chance of getting into a good university.

Once I got my SAT results, I would leave this family forever.

Soon, the government personnel arrived and explained the system.

“For the system to function properly, all family assets will be securely linked to the platform. It evaluates parental fairness objectively and makes necessary adjustments to ensure equality.”

As a business owner, my father was hesitant, and he wanted to review the contract carefully.

Meanwhile, Jacob hastily signed his name.

“The government wouldn’t launch something unreliable. Come on, Dad. How can you keep hesitating when Annie’s still suffering?”

Hearing this, both of my parents signed it without much thought.

I read through every clause meticulously and only signed after confirming all the details.

Jacob mocked me, “You’ve always played the victim, as though we’ve been mistreating you. Don’t play innocent after taking advantage of us. Today, you’ll see what real fairness looks like.”

My mother walked over to me and said, “We’re doing this for your own good. Showing you constant favoritism will only do you more harm in the long run.”

I smiled wryly.

“I understand.”

After my father signed the contract, he was in high spirits.

“Let’s eat, everyone. I asked Maria to cook extra tonight. They’re all Annie’s favorites. My sweet girl deserves to be pampered.”

Dish after dish was brought to the table. Each was exquisite in appearance and aroma.

Before us was a spread of whole steamed lobsters, truffle risotto, delicate cups of clear and aromatic consomme, and even Julianne’s favorite steak tartare.

The aroma made my stomach growl, so I took a seat at the dining table.

On ordinary days, I could only eat with the servants. I never had access to such fresh foods.

Since the system was active, did that mean I could finally join the table like Julianne? It was supposed to make everything equal after all.

However, my brother frowned and stopped me.

“Hey, hold on. We’re trying to have a nice family dinner for once. Do you have to barge in? Just go to your room.”

I did not budge.

“This isn’t fair. We’ve signed up for the fairness system. If Julianne gets to eat here, so do I.”

Julianne’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, and my mother looked at her with pity.

She then turned to me and said, “Please, Annie isn’t comfortable eating with you yet. It upsets her. Can’t you just eat in your room like always?”

“No. I’m eating here.”

My father slammed his spoon and fork onto the table.

“How dare you talk back? Who do you think you are?”

Before he could slap me, his whole body convulsed, and he collapsed to the floor.

The system’s cold voice rang out.

[Unfair favoritism and domestic violence detected. Electric shock protocol activated.]

Immediately after, my mother fell to the floor too. A crackling sound could be heard coming from her body.

“Dad! Mom!”

Julianne and Jacob were frantic. The moment they tried to touch our father and mother, they also experienced painful shocks.

After a few minutes, their convulsions finally stopped.

They got up from the floor with some help, and my father looked terrified.

“When did this piece-of-junk system get a shock feature? What gives you the right to electrocute us?!”

[Julianne Dawson is permitted to dine at the table, while Zinnia Dawson is required to eat leftovers in her room. This behavior is classified as severe parental favoritism.

[The electrical stimulus will not cause physical injury. Pain level only. Maximum punishment may reach Level 10, equivalent to childbirth.]

My father wrapped his arms around himself in fear as he cursed, “Annie already gave up her position as the Dawson family’s heiress. She has sacrificed enough! Does it matter if Zinnia eats alone? This system is garbage! I want to terminate it right now!”

[The system reserves the right of final interpretation.

[Contract term: lifetime. Termination permissions: none.]

“What level of pain did we experience earlier?” my mother cautiously asked.

[Level 5.]

I felt a sense of satisfaction unlike any I had ever known as I watched my parents’ anger and helplessness.

So, this was what the Children’s Fairness System felt like. I was elated!

My mother waved her hand and pulled me to the dining table.

“Fine. It’s just a meal. You can have it.”

Since I had gained the rights I deserved, I felt a strong urge to test just how far this system could go.

“Mom, the food’s a bit too greasy for me. Could I possibly have some salad instead?” I asked tentatively.

Although the table was full of luxurious dishes, they were all Julianne’s favorites. They did not suit my taste at all.

The steak tartare, in particular, brought back bad memories. Back when I was living in the countryside, I was forced to eat spoiled meat because I was starving. To this day, the sight of raw meat made me slightly nauseous.

My mother looked at me in annoyance.

“The cook’s gone for the day. You should be happy there’s food on the table at all. Stop being so picky.”

Julianne chimed in and deliberately placed some steak tartare on my plate.

“Zinnia, this isn’t greasy. You should eat more of it.”

I kept quiet and lowered my head as I silently counted down

Three, two, one.

The system’s alert tone rang out.

[Electric shock protocol activated.]

My mother instantly collapsed from her chair. Several of her porcelain crowns, which she had proudly maintained, chipped from the impact.

“Why am I being punished?!”

[Jenna Dawson prepared truffle risotto for Julianne Dawson but claimed to have no time to prepare a simple salad for her biological daughter. She remembers Julianne Dawson’s preferences clearly yet remains unaware of her biological daughter’s aversion to raw meat. The system has administered a Level 3 electric shock punishment, which corresponds to the degree of favoritism.]

My mother’s hands trembled from the pain as she moved away from the table.

“Ugh, fine! I’ll make your salad. Are you happy now?”

She stood up and dumped all of the steak tartare into the trash.

“My steak tartare!”

Julianne’s expression was particularly amusing to me. I struggled to hold back my laughter and felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

So, as long as everything was compared against Julianne, any request I made could be fulfilled.

For the first time, I was finally experiencing a taste of fairness.

Julianne finished her meal without a word before she ran toward her room.

With the system in place, why should I return to that damp and stuffy store room?

I needed a proper study environment if I was going to ace my exams and get out of this house for good.

“Mom, Dad, I’d like a room like my sister’s.”

As soon as I said it, Julianne froze on the staircase. She turned and yelled, “Zinnia, are you serious?! My room was custom-designed by a famous French interior architect. Some of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. How are they supposed to find an identical one for you? Besides, what would a clueless country bumpkin like you even know about living in a room like that? Don’t push your luck!”

I smiled.

“You have one. Why shouldn’t I? It’s only fair.”

Jacob, who had been silent, stepped in and shielded Julianne.

“Zinnia, that’s enough.”

However, my father and mother did not speak up immediately this time.

Julianne began to look uneasy.

“Mom, Dad, say something! I can’t sleep in just any bed. My skin is sensitive to different fabrics. This isn’t fair to me at all!”

After a long silence, my mother finally spoke.

“Annie, let Sophia use your room just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll have the guest room fully redecorated just for her.”

My father sighed and agreed, “Your mother’s right. We don’t want to provoke the system. I’ll check tomorrow if there’s a way to disable it before it turns this whole house upside down.”

So, they did know how to be fair.

They were just never willing to treat me fairly.

Julianne descended the stairs, and her eyes were filled with tears of resentment.

As she walked past me, she whispered menacingly, “Don’t get too cocky, Sophia. That system won’t protect you forever. You’ll regret this.”