Chapter 1 — Having occupied a Business Seat, I went straight to First Class

Business class 21A was originally my seat. But up there... someone was already sitting.

“Girls… I'm so dizzy, please help me…”

The elderly woman leaned back in her chair, her voice as weak as a breeze. Next to me, another lady kept signaling me to keep my voice down.

“Honey, keep your voice down, she just took a nap.”

I glanced back at my boarding pass. 21A. Not wrong.

“Auntie, this is my place.”

I spoke softly, but clearly enough. The lady sitting in seat 21B immediately looked awkward.

"I know, but my friend... she was so dizzy that she couldn't walk as soon as she got on the plane. She just wanted to sit near the window for comfort. Can you help me understand a little, okay?"

Before he could answer, the flight attendant stepped forward.

“Sir, do you need any assistance?”

Mrs. 21B seemed to have grabbed a lifeline and quickly said:

“This girl said this is her place, but my friend is not feeling well, can you see if…”

The flight attendant turned to me, her eyes glanced for a second and then stopped.

“You are indeed a passenger in seat 21A.”

Her voice was very standard, but her eyes carried a bit of pressure.

"Look, this guest is not feeling well, can you sympathize? We have arranged for you a seat in the economy class, seat 12C, which is quite comfortable."

I almost burst out laughing. I spent money to buy business class... to sit in economy class? Just because of a word "dizzy"? The woman who was occupying the seat let out a groan just in time. She opened her eyes and looked at me, her eyes dull.

“Dear… I'm really dizzy… please…”

His voice was so weak that he felt like he was about to faint. People around were starting to look over. The whispers rang out, not small at all.

“Young people are so insensitive these days.”

"If people are not healthy, it's okay to give in a little."

I don't pay attention. Just look straight at the flight attendant.

“I bought a business class ticket.”

“I won't change.”

Every word is clear. The smile on her face stopped.

"Sir, the plane is about to take off. I hope you don't affect other passengers."

The tone was starting to carry pressure. A very familiar type of coercion. Using morality to tie others down. I hate this type the most. Take a deep breath. Not worth wasting time. I nodded. Hearing me say "okay", the flight attendant and the lady in seat 21B both breathed a sigh of relief, obviously thinking I had given in. I turned around, pulled my suitcase, and went straight to the front of the compartment. The flight attendant froze for a second then quickly chased after her.

“Sir, economy class is at the back…”

I didn't bother to answer, just walked to the service counter. A head hostess was standing there arranging documents. I tapped lightly on the table.

“Hello, I would like to upgrade.”

She raised her head, slightly surprised. The flight attendant who had just followed over, his face immediately changed.

“Sister, you…”

I took out my credit card and placed it on the table.

“Is there room in first class?”

The chief flight attendant immediately understood and checked the system.

"Yes, ma'am. There is currently one seat 1A left."

“Okay, take that chair.”

“The upgrade fee is 3500 yuan, can you confirm?”

“Confirm, swipe card.”

I passed the card over. The whole process takes less than a minute. The flight attendant from before was standing next to him, his face changing from blue to white, his mouth opening and closing, finally unable to say a word. I took my new boarding pass and credit card and walked straight into the first class cabin. Passing by seat 21A, I didn't stop. The woman just now was "dizzy and about to faint". leaning close to his friend, excitedly looking out the window, his face radiant, no longer looking like a sick person. I smiled coldly. First class is really quiet. Spacious and soft chairs, sophisticated champagne glasses, attentive service to every detail. These three thousand five hundred yuan are worth it. I took a sip of champagne, bubbles bursting gently on the tip of my tongue. Finally quiet. But that silence… didn't last even five minutes. A woman wearing a business suit with a sharp temperament walked quickly into the compartment. Her eyes scanned around, then stopped on me. She came closer, her face both a bit hasty and a bit guilty. But when she saw me clearly, her expression immediately changed.

“Hello… may I ask… were you the passenger in seat 21A just now?”

My hand holding the glass of champagne stopped in mid-air. I looked at her, didn't answer. She took a deep breath, her voice became complicated.

“My mother… just now… was bothering you.”

Her appearance completely broke the quiet atmosphere in the first class cabin. She stood in front of me, her suit was exquisitely tailored, her hair neatly tied up without a single strand of tangle. His eyes were sharp, but at this moment he tried to suppress his urgency. I still said nothing. Just quietly looked at her. Wait to see what else she's going to say. Perhaps my silence made her a little confused. Pausing for two seconds, she continued.

"My name is Manh Phi. The person who just took your place... is my mother."

“I just came up from the back compartment and heard about it.”

“My mother is old and not in good health, causing trouble to you. I apologize on her behalf.”

Her posture dropped very low, her words were round without any gaps. If I hadn't seen with my own eyes that her mother was just as happy as going to a festival, perhaps I would have believed it. I gently shook the champagne glass, the golden liquid fluttered. I asked, my voice light. Manh Phi paused. Maybe she didn't expect me to react like that. In her scenario, I would have politely said "it's okay", or made a few complaints, rather than coldly asking back like this. A trace of discomfort flashed across her face, but it was quickly covered by a polite smile.

“It's like this, Ms. Khuong Nhien.”

She called my name correctly. Looks like I researched it in advance.

“My mother suffered from severe airsickness and high blood pressure.”

“She was really upset just now, the doctor also told her not to get excited.”

"The fact that you... suddenly upgraded like that made her feel very guilty and very self-blame."

"Now her mood is unstable and her blood pressure has increased."

I almost burst out laughing. Just now you were laughing and chatting happily admiring the scenery, but now you're in an "unstable mood"? My bad?

“You mean, I should give up my seat and sit in economy class, so your mother's blood pressure will stabilize?”

I looked straight into her eyes. Manh Phi's smile began to falter.

“I didn't mean that.”

“I just want to explain the situation.”

“I hope… can you go over there and say something to my mother?”

“Let's just say that you were planning on changing places, so that she wouldn't feel a psychological burden.”

“Do you think… is that okay?”

That request… truly expanded the limits of my perception. I spent money to upgrade to buy peace of mind. Now she wants me to go back... put on a show, coax an unreasonable person to take my place? I refused emphatically.

“Miss Manh Phi, first, whether your mother is really sick or not, we all know in our hearts."

“Second, I have no obligation to be responsible for her feelings.”

“Third, it is also the most important thing.”

I put down the champagne glass and leaned forward slightly.

“I spent money to buy the service without being bothered.”

“Right now, you are bothering me.”

My voice is not loud, but every word falls clearly, without any ambiguity. Manh Phi's face immediately turned cold. The guilty look and the social smile disappeared completely, replaced by a cold, icy look.

“Miss Khuong Nhien, as a human being, you should leave a way, it will be easier to meet you again in the future.”

“I just hope you cooperate a little, don't make things unsightly.”

“Anyway, everyone is a presentable person.”

She began to "preach morality". To put it bluntly... it starts to threaten.

“Face?”

I repeated those two words, my voice slightly raised.

“A person who blatantly takes someone else's place.”

“Someone condones that behavior and wants me to come back and coordinate the play.”

“I really don't see... what face you guys have.”

Manh Phi choked. Perhaps she has never had anyone say that to her face before.

"Khuong Nhien, don't drink when you're invited, if you don't drink, you like to drink as punishment!"

“If something happens to my mother, can you bear the responsibility?”

Finally, the veneer of politeness was torn away. The unruly nature is exposed nakedly. I looked at her angry expression and felt strangely calm.

“First, whether something happens to your mother or not has nothing to do with me.”

“Second, if you really care about her, you should stop her when she's unreasonable, not run here and ask the victim to comfort her.”

“Finally, I'll remind you one thing.”

“There are cameras on the plane, the entire process is clearly recorded.”

“If you want to prosecute, I'm ready.”

I leaned back in my chair, raised my glass of champagne, and didn't look at her again. A kind of disdain... without words. Manh Phi's chest rose and fell violently. She stared at me, her eyes seemed to be on fire. It took nearly half a minute for her to grit her teeth and say each word.

“Okay, very good.”

“Khuong Nhien, right?”

“I am Manh Phi, a member of Hoanh Vien Capital.”

“I think… we will meet again soon, in a more ‘official’ situation.”