Chapter 4The Charity Trap

She spoke, voice choking back sobs:

"Fellow students, members of the media, standing here today, my heart is heavy."

"We low-income students never wanted to take advantage of anyone. We just wanted fairness!"

Tears streamed down her face.

"Why can some people eat tuna while we only get pork? Is being poor a sin?"

Applause erupted from the crowd. Many scholarship students wiped their eyes.

Seeing this, Lily performed even harder:

"Today, we only hope Quinn Sterling can give us an answer. We don't ask for much, just that the food at all stations be standardized..."

I watched her performance quietly. Only when she finished did I calmly walk up to the podium.

Lily glanced at me triumphantly, as if victory was already in the bag.

"Miss Sterling, what is your response?"

"Do you admit to discriminating against low-income students?"

"How do you intend to compensate the students for the harm caused?"

Reporters fired questions like a machine gun.

I adjusted the microphone gently. The room went silent.

"First, I want to thank Lily for her speech."

I said calmly.

"She made me realize my mistake more clearly."

A victorious smile appeared on Lily's face. She even flashed a peace sign at the livestream camera.

"My biggest mistake was treating low-income students differently from wealthy students."

I continued.

"I shouldn't have assumed that scholarship students needed special care. I shouldn't have assumed they would cherish that kindness."

Lily's smile began to stiffen. She seemed to sense something was wrong.

"So, I have decided to correct this mistake."

I looked around the room, enunciating every word.

"Starting today, the subsidized counter is permanently closed. All students will be treated equally and pay market price for meals."

"Since you think a one-dollar braised pork meal is an insult, then go eat the fifty-dollar tuna."