Chapter 1

The smile on Mia Parker’s face grew wider when she saw me take the bottle. I could practically feel the intensity of her gaze fixed on my hand.

Her thoughts continued chattering excitedly in my head.

[Come on, open it and drink! I’m dying here. Just one sip, and that five-thousand-dollar scholarship will be mine. I can finally buy that dress I’ve wanted for so long!]

I looked up at Mia. She wore a perfectly warm smile, but the anticipation in her eyes was impossible to hide.

I sneered inwardly but kept my expression calm, giving her a faint smile.

“Thanks. How much was it? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

My voice was flat, revealing nothing.

Mia waved her hand, her smile growing even brighter. Her tone was warm and affectionate.

“Oh, come on. We’re roommates. We live together every day. It’s just a bottle of water. Don’t make things so formal by offering to pay me. Go ahead and drink it. I just took it out of the fridge, so it’ll help cool you down.”

[Transfer what? Seriously? Once you drink it, that five-thousand-dollar scholarship will all be mine! A two-dollar bottle of water for five thousand dollars? What a steal!]

I quietly glanced at her, taking in every detail.

She was wearing a brand-new pleated school-style skirt. I had seen it online before. It originally cost over two hundred dollars, but resellers had pushed the price close to six hundred.

On her wrist was the latest smart watch. Another roommate had looked it up before, and the official price was over six hundred dollars.

Her family was far better off than mine, yet she still wanted to steal the money I desperately needed for my grandmother’s medical treatment.

I moved the bottle toward the edge of my desk and said calmly, “I’m not thirsty right now. I’ll drink it later if I get thirsty.”

The smile on Mia’s face froze for a split second, but she quickly concealed her reaction and nodded.

“Sure. Just leave it there and drink it whenever you want.”

Just then, her thoughts rang clearly in my ears again, revealing the rules of her bizarre system.

[This is so annoying. Why couldn’t the stupid rule be that I can transfer someone’s money when they accept something from me?]

[And after they drink it, I have to wait two whole hours before their money transfers into my account. So slow.]

[At least the system can automatically alter the bank transaction records. There won’t be a trace for anyone to find.]

I lowered my eyes to the bottle of water in my hand, a cold glint flashing in my eyes.

She wanted to swallow the money that could save my grandmother?

Then I’d make sure she learned exactly what greed would cost her.

Right in front of Mia, I slipped the bottle into the side pocket of my backpack.

“I’m heading to my part-time job. Bye.” I slung my backpack over my shoulder and spoke casually.

Mia smiled warmly and reminded me, “Don’t work too hard. Make sure you get enough rest.”

[Perfect. She took the water with her. As long as she drinks even one sip later, that five thousand dollars will be mine.]

[As soon as the money comes through, I’m ordering that dress. Finally, I won’t have to stand there watching other people wear it anymore!]

I didn’t look back. I simply gave a quiet acknowledgment before walking out of the dorm.

When I arrived at the cafeteria kitchen, one of the kitchen ladies struck up a conversation with me.

“This soup was specially requested by one of the big-name business alumni attending today’s alumni reunion. He said he’s missed the taste ever since he graduated. We used some really good ingredients to make it today. I’ll set aside a bowl for you to try later.”