Aria stepped out of her house on Ferkan Street, wearing a jacket and a long skirt. As she walked, a hollow wind rose from below, making her feel almost weightless. She clenched her teeth and kept moving.

  People of all ages—teenagers, elders, even children—cast lingering gnces at her. The teenagers, in particur, stared at her intimate areas. The women seemed more interested in competing with each other than in watching her. Aria resolved, with a firm heart, to ignore every unwanted stare.

  She now faced several urgent tasks. First, she needed to find a job that paid more than her previous one. Working in a bar was too dangerous; the incident from yesterday still haunted her, especially since the bar sat on the city’s outskirts, a district notorious for frequent trouble.

  “What kind of work can I find, given the… peculiarities of this body?” she wondered.

  Along the way, a handful of possibilities flickered through her mind. Some of them bordered on prostitution, but she refused to sell herself for money. One option was to use a computer—after all, in this world, beautiful women who could navigate technology were highly prized.

  “Ha…” she muttered, taking a deep breath to steady the chaotic thoughts swirling in her head, then continued onward.

  Other ideas combined beauty with bor. She already possessed waiting?staff experience, a skill she could leverage. Apart from that, nothing else had yet formed, which is why she was wandering the city’s bustling center in hopes of finding a suitable position.

  Later, she squeezed herself onto a subway seat, pressing her back against the wall and scanning the crowd. Men of various ages stood nearby; countless eyes repeatedly fell on her, some leering, others merely curious. When she gnced toward a nervous onlooker, he froze, his gaze darting away.

  The train halted at a central station. Though many passengers lingered inside, refusing to disembark, Aria gritted her teeth, pushed through the throng, and brushed past a teenager trying to slip inside. “Dammit!” she muttered under her breath.

  She emerged onto the street, greeted by towering skyscrapers, elegant architecture, and a sprawling park. “Now I need to find something,” she told herself, surveying the surroundings. Cafés and restaurants dotted the avenue—potential workpces—but she had never worked in hospitality before.

  She approached a quiet café, its atmosphere calm despite a steady stream of patrons. Inside, a strikingly beautiful waitress in a crisp uniform greeted her.

  “Welcome, miss. Are you alone or expecting someone?” she asked, eyeing Aria curiously.

  “Just me,” Aria replied. The waitress gestured toward the tables, and Aria took a seat by a rge window. She didn’t have much money, so she was merely observing, hoping to learn whether the café might hire her.

  Meanwhile, the waitress slipped behind the staff door, peeking briefly at Aria before disappearing into the employee area. Inside, two people were locked in an intimate embrace—a medium?height man holding a woman tightly, kissing her passionately. Their muffled sounds echoed through the room. The waitress, unfazed, intervened.

  “Everyone, we have a guest. Let’s keep it professional.” She pushed the man away, exposing his handsome face, then added with a sly smile, “Our client is exceptionally beautiful, you know.” The man, slightly embarrassed, ran a hand over his lips and responded, “It’s rare for May to compliment anyone’s looks.”

  May, adjusting her coat, gnced at the woman who had just left. “Last time it was you, Naya.” Naya replied coolly, “Never mind, Kayris. Remember, drawing too much attention can be dangerous for us.” She cast a lingering gnce downward before exiting.

  Kayris watched Naya’s retreat, then turned his gaze to May, who stood near the bar. “So you’re saying there’s a pretty girl here?” He kissed May, who accepted without protest. “Hmm… yes.” He smirked, “Let’s take a look.” As he spped May’s backside, she winced, feeling a brief dizziness. Anger boiled within her; she cursed the man silently, feeling betrayed and powerless. For nearly a month she had worked there, never truly understanding her pce or how to escape the uneasy limbo she inhabited. Though she recognized the situation, an inexplicable force prevented her from leaving.

  Back at the café, Aria finally ordered a simple dish. While waiting, another stunning woman approached her.

  “Miss, have you decided?” she asked.

  “Yes, that’ll be all, thank you.” Aria handed the menu back, though a strange unease prickled her heart at the woman’s gaze.

  A middle?aged man lingered near a small bar, studying her intently. His stare made Aria’s skin crawl.

  “It doesn’t seem that quiet here, especially with that look and the two attractive women nearby,” she thought, sensing something off. Without hesitation, she rose and headed for the exit. The man stepped forward, blocking the doorway.

  Aria edged closer, meeting his eyes.

  “Miss, you’ve pced your order, so you’ll need to pay first,” Kayris said, attempting to manipute her with feigned courtesy. Instead, he pulled out his phone and spoke coldly, “Show me the payment method and don’t block the way, or you’ll face consequences.”

  Aria prepared to act if necessary, but the man suddenly smiled and waved his hand. Naya, standing near the staff entrance, approached.

  “Naya, the guest wants to pay.” She nodded, gnced once more at Aria, then handed over the receipt. Aria hesitated, then asked politely, “Excuse me, could you bring our dishes?” The man finally stepped aside, allowing her to leave.

  He called after her, “Did the mark go through? We can’t afford to lose this customer.” Naya’s eyes fshed a deep amber before returning to normal. “Yes, sir, as you wish.” He snapped, “I told you not to call me that. This is another world, another society…” He turned away, shouting at Aria as she disappeared down the street.