Chapter 1

During my vacation, I received an urgent message asking me to return for overtime work.

My job is highly specialized, and all my assignments are classified.

I immediately booked a first-class ticket on the nearest available flight.

But when I tried to board, I was stopped.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, the flight is overbooked, so you'll have to take the next flight. We'll compensate you five hundred dollars."

The airport staff member was polite and gentle as she changed my flight information for me.

I disagreed and voiced my refusal, but they acted as if they couldn't hear me.

I called the person who had booked my ticket for me. He said he had used a special channel to purchase it.

No one had the authority to prevent me from boarding.

The plane was taking off in forty minutes, and my flight information had already been changed.

But dozens of lives at my destination were waiting for me.

The airport staff member handed me the new boarding pass with both hands.

Looking at the sixteen-hour wait until the next boarding time, by the time I arrived, it would probably be too late for everything.

I tried to communicate again. "Sir, could you please check once more? How could first class be overbooked?"

"I'm in first class, not economy." I emphasized.

The other person rolled their eyes impatiently, their tone maintaining professional gentleness.

But the words dripped with sarcasm. "We know, ma'am. We all know you gritted your teeth to buy a first-class ticket."

"First time flying it, right? Couldn't bear to leave the first-class lounge, which is why you're so late."

"You only have yourself to blame for not watching the time."

Hearing this, I knew something was wrong. Just a moment ago, they said it was because the flight was overbooked that they wouldn't let me board.

Now their words implied I was late, which was why I couldn't board.

But the boarding pass stated that the gate closed forty minutes before departure, and I had arrived forty-five minutes before takeoff.

"When I arrived, the gate was still open. Economy passengers were still rushing over. There were even people boarding after me."

"How am I late?"

"Moreover, did you see me lingering in the first-class lounge?"

I tried to control my anger and anxiety, attempting to reason with them.

"In any case, I don't agree to the rebooking. You must let me board."

"You also have no authority to rebook a first-class passenger who can board at any moment."

"Alright, alright, stop emphasizing that you're in first class."

The airport staff member said impatiently.

"As if you're afraid people won't know you're flying first class. This is probably the only time in your life you'll get to do it, so you can't wait to announce it to everyone."

"How embarrassing."

He muttered under his breath, but I still heard him.

I pointed at him angrily. "How can you be so rude!"

Our argument attracted other waiting passengers.

"What's wrong? Which flight can't take off?" someone asked.

The staff member at the gate immediately put on a wronged expression.

"This passenger arrived late, and we've already closed the boarding gate."

"She insists on boarding and wants the entire plane to wait for her."

"She keeps emphasizing she's in first class, saying we can't let the plane take off without her, and she's going to file a complaint against us."

"We've been trying to convince her for ages. We're rebooking her for free and giving her five hundred dollars in compensation, but she still won't agree."

"We pooled that money ourselves."

Hearing this, the gathering crowd looked at me with condemning eyes.

"They're just working folks, it's not easy for them."

"Exactly. They work hard too, and their salaries aren't high. You're flying first class and you're haggling over five hundred dollars?"

"Which princess escaped from home? Do you really think the whole world revolves around you?"

I took a deep breath. "I arrived at the gate on time and wasn't late."

"They first said first class was overbooked and forcibly prevented me from boarding, then changed my flight information without my consent."

"Then they accused me of not having money, of pretending to be rich and not wanting to leave the first-class lounge, which is why I was late."

"I'm just defending my rights. How am I making the world revolve around me?"

The onlookers exchanged glances.

Still, someone spoke up. "Well, you don't need to make things difficult for them."

"Whether you can board or not isn't up to them. Who knows what your situation really is?"

"Exactly. Would the staff refuse to let you board for no reason?"

"And what's wrong with taking the next flight? They're giving you compensation. Causing a disturbance here and bothering others—what a shrew."

Several men spoke righteously, muttering under their breath, "Who knows where she got the money for first class."

I was about to lose my temper when someone said, "The supervisor is here."

A man in a navy blue suit approached with several people.

He spoke authoritatively. "What's going on here? Hasn't this gate already stopped boarding?"

"Why are so many people still gathered here?"