Little Bunny returned to her dorm, feeling unlike herself. She forced herself to act as if nothing had happened and resume her life.

The dorm was shared by three girls, each with her own room—a privilege reserved for those with established reputations. Others shared rooms, sleeping in bunks.

Her roommates, Caroline and Gabby, were in the living room, one doing yoga, the other watching television. Seeing Little Bunny, Caroline, ever warmhearted, asked, “Why didn’t you come back last night? I tried calling, but you missed it.”

Little Bunny didn’t answer.

Gabby taunted, “How could she answer when she was busy pleasing her boss? I heard her agent got her a small role in a play. Of course, she had to be a call girl to pay for it! What were you worried about?”

Little Bunny stormed into her room, slamming the door.

Gabby continued her teasing, her gaze fixed on Little Bunny’s door. “How can a bitch still care what others think? If she hadn’t slept with the boss, how did she win the Cooper Group spokeswoman gig and get that livestream promotion, let alone trend? Now she pretends to be pure. Are you kidding me?”

Caroline intervened. “Come on, Gabby. We all have similar stories. Before we made names for ourselves, we had to trade favors, unless we had powerful connections. You’re no exception. What gives you the right to mock your ally?”

“I’m not mocking her story, but her denial,” Gabby retorted, rising from her yoga mat. “It’s shameful for a bitch to clamor for a chastity award.”

Lying on her bed, Little Bunny was stung by Gabby’s sarcasm, the thin walls offering little insulation. It was true. None of them had escaped trading their bodies for opportunities, unless blessed with powerful connections.

She had attended a dinner party hosted by the owner last night. Her agent had pressured her repeatedly, but she refused, downing glass after glass of wine whenever offered a drink. Getting drunk was preferable to sexual compromise. However, someone had secretly drugged her. Upon realizing it, she fled and flagged down a man for help. But it turned out…

Sexual compromise might have been preferable, had she known what would happen next.

A ringing phone broke her thoughts. She’d just charged it; it had died the previous night.

Answering, she heard her agent’s frantic voice. “What happened, Little Bunny? Where were you last night?”

“I came back.”

“Came back? Are you kidding me? After taking those pills? Tell me the truth. Who did you sleep with?”

Little Bunny remained silent.

“I made it clear in the contract that dating is forbidden. Are you secretly seeing someone?”

“No.”

“No?”

“I’m not lying.”

“Then where were you last night?” Her agent’s voice sharpened.

Little Bunny said, “I can reschedule for tonight.”

“No need!” the agent exploded. “The owner called. They found someone else. Your role is gone.”

Little Bunny was devastated.

“There’s no arguing with the company’s decision,” the agent threatened, before hanging up.

Little Bunny put down her phone, lost in thought. Turning down invitations had cost her role after role. Besides the Cooper Group spokeswoman position, she hadn't landed any film or television work. Her visibility had plummeted. Without exposure, no one would cast her. She began to question her career choice.

…

A half-month later, Hannah began her presentation on the South Bay New Town Project, a contract she'd meticulously prepared. The presentation went smoothly; Hannah had poured significant effort into creating a forward-thinking plan. Beyond innovative ideas, she showcased her knowledge of top international metropolises, refining her proposal in detail. Following her presentation, the meeting room erupted in applause.

The presentation was so successful, it stunned the audience. Some of the high-tech ideas were unprecedented, yet Hannah’s detailed explanations rendered them perfectly feasible. It wasn't pie-in-the-sky; the proposal received nearly 100% approval.

Then came an objection. “A fabulous proposal, bold yet practical. It’s the best I’ve seen in years. I believe the bureau will approve. But for such perfection, our bid seems too low.”

This made sense. Some attendees wavered.

A ten-billion-dollar construction budget seemed inadequate for such a comprehensive plan, which easily warranted fifteen billion or more.

“I considered that,” Hannah responded. “With a different owner, I’d agree. But consider this: We’re partnering with the government. This is essentially a charity project. I never prioritized massive profit. But what about the long-term gains? What will Cooper earn after completion? Will this project truly benefit us financially? A new leader recently joined the bureau. This will be his first project; he’ll naturally want a strong showing. Why not give him a platform to succeed? If he thrives with our help, he’ll repay us in the future. Plus, a successful charity project builds a positive public image. Financial gain shouldn’t be our sole objective, but rather sustainable growth.”

Her earnest remarks swayed the board. No further objections were raised.

“Miguel, your daughter is amazing! Her vision is inspiring! She’s far more forward-thinking than any of us who’ve spent decades in this field. What a remarkable young woman!”

“Thank you,” Miguel replied modestly, his eyes brimming with pride. Though he knew his daughter was intelligent, her wisdom and ambition during the presentation still surprised him. Hannah had initially shown little interest in working at Cooper Group, but she had made a remarkable impact from the start; a true windfall.

“If there are no further comments, let's vote,” Miguel said confidently.

The board unanimously approved the proposal.

Miguel announced, “The project is officially underway. Hannah, don’t let us down.”

“I won’t,” Hannah replied sincerely.

The meeting adjourned. Hannah returned to her office.

Rose followed, asking, “Ms. Hannah, did the board approve? Did they find our bid too low?”

“Yes, they approved it,” Hannah stated. “I’ll submit the bid next Monday; ask Wayne to join me.”