Chapter 129: Selective Information Filtering

People from the lower class often wonder what high society is really like. Is it like in some films, where everyone is refined and elegant, speaking with a northern accent, wearing wigs even in the height of summer, dressed in heavy tailcoats, sitting properly in the shade of parasols under the blazing sun, holding teacups delicately with two fingers, and sipping drinks with pursed lips, then wiping sweat off their brows while saying something like de Lishe’s?

Actually, it’s not like that. No one dresses so formally and neatly in the hot summer. Even at formal events, air conditioning is provided. Wearing more clothes won’t affect one’s appearance.

Besides, summer is a season to show skin—especially for girls who care about their looks.

Summer clothes weren’t invented for those who can’t afford them, though from some perspectives, the clothes worn by those who can’t afford summer clothes don’t differ much from the real summer clothes.

As for life in high society… Katherine had no deeper experience but spoke from her feelings—and she was absolutely right.

Elites in high society spend their days chatting with different people at different times and enjoying meals punctually with others.

But their conversations, attitudes, and choices affect the lives and futures of hundreds or thousands of workers and their families.

A seemingly simple life is actually complex. Lynch didn’t plan to explain this to Katherine yet; she would understand the world better after completing her studies.

“Nice car. I thought you’d get the one we looked at together…” Lynch and Katherine had just arrived at the parking lot. The driver opened the door, and Katherine couldn’t help but whistle, expressing admiration.

They had attended car shows together before, so there was nothing unusual. Lynch didn’t deny it; everyone dreams of one day controlling their own destiny and buying what they want. These two young people were no exception.

Back then, the car they liked was older and more ordinary. Most importantly, after discounts, it cost just over ten thousand, and the secondhand price was even lower.

They didn’t really like the car itself, but its attractive price.

The driver was a temporary driver provided by the community service company—like the maid in Lynch’s household. The higher the community’s service level, the more types of services they provide. If necessary, they could even organize a joyful party for residents.

Right now, providing a driver was a simple service. If not for a long-term contract, Lynch wouldn’t have to pay the driver any extra fees.

Lynch opened the door for Katherine to get in, smiling. “It’s as handsome as I am. I can’t ignore another version of myself, so I chose it.”

The girl smiled slyly. He was as narcissistic as in school, but now Lynch carried a weighty calmness and pressure that made it a bit hard to breathe—that’s why she kept talking.

If she didn’t lighten the mood, she felt that being around Lynch would suffocate her.

This feeling came from a sense of distance—that was why Lynch seemed unfamiliar to Katherine. When someone achieves what others think is impossible in their lifetime, people feel shocked and realize they don’t truly know that person.

Even if they had been together all along.

After getting in the car, Lynch picked a lively restaurant popular with young people. Since becoming a respectable person, Lynch had learned a lot about suitable social venues in Sabin City.

Some prestigious and solemn occasions are not right for every kind of socializing. This was important.

While waiting for their food, Lynch and Katherine talked about their past pursuits and next goals.

“Do you have any special target, or is it still Sabin University?

Sabin University is one of the local universities. Years ago, the Baylor Federal Education Committee encouraged governments to fund public universities to improve education. Sabin City established its own public university.

Though public, tuition remained high. Even with enrollment insurance, many families struggled to afford university. Scholarships were limited and unevenly distributed. Many still couldn’t attend university.

Like Katherine and Lynch.

Sabin University was their dream—not because it was excellent, but because its tuition was the cheapest, and scholarships easiest to get. Compared to private universities, it was the closest of their unreachable dreams.

“Do you have any good choices?” Katherine asked back. Lynch frowned, thinking for a moment.

Sabin City had one semi-public university and one private university besides Sabin University. The semi-public one, Sabin City Metropolitan University, was funded by the city hall and private donors but had a poor reputation locally.

Rumor had it it was created to scam subsidies from the Federal Education Committee and to add some cultural education atmosphere to the small city.

Later, the federal committee downgraded it, and now it was essentially a diploma mill where anyone willing to pay could get a degree. Some nouveau riche from elsewhere even came to study there. It was a notorious local peculiarity.

As for the private university… it wasn’t a good place, at least not for Katherine.

“Public universities are the best choice. I prefer the state university. The environment is better, and the academic atmosphere is stronger,” Lynch said.

Many think public universities lack faculty quality compared to prestigious private ones.

Private universities have long been riddled with conspiracies among student groups and secret societies and have abundant funding for research on any topic.

But only two types of people feel comfortable at private universities: top scholars and privileged kids.

The top scholars, the nerds, academically support the school and typically earn full scholarships. Even professors respect their opinions; no one would dare humiliate them.

Humiliation, however, is common in private universities—and it’s mostly inflicted by the second group.

The privileged come from influential families—their parents are company CEOs, local politicians, state hospital leaders, congress members, or powerful capitalists.

They never worry about consequences for bad behavior. Many flatter them to gain favors, letting them humiliate others freely.

Many fraternities and sororities were founded by these students to exploit and dominate lower-class students, satisfying their desire to humiliate and control.

Private universities have great resources, and joining secret societies there can fast-track someone into elite society, but these places aren’t for ordinary people.

Even if Lynch got Katherine in, she’d remain ordinary—spending her university years in a cycle of love, pregnancy, breakups, and change.

For ordinary people without social influence, public universities are more suitable, maintaining at least the appearance of fairness and equality, unlike private schools where students are isolated, humiliated, and controlled.

People always see only the beautiful flowers, never the rotting soil that nurtures them.

After lunch, Lynch and Katherine stopped by Katherine’s home briefly. Lynch didn’t get out. Katherine’s overnight absence had worried her family, but fortunately, they hadn’t called the police.

She explained briefly what had happened. Her parents came out to see Lynch but kept their distance, smiling politely and waving at the intimidating car.

Back in the car, Katherine showed no negative feelings, much like before. Ordinary people, especially the lower class, have little time for melancholy—life is hard enough without making it harder, as she said.

That afternoon, Lynch took Katherine to visit all three universities in Sabin City. For money, some people shared the schools’ real sides, helping Katherine understand Lynch’s earlier advice to choose a public university was not malicious.

When a private school teaching assistant spoke of bullying and revealed burn scars on her arm, Katherine shuddered and completely gave up on the private college option.

She believed she could never be one of the flowers here, only the fertilizer that nurtures them.

The next day, Lynch and the girl went to the state university in Kurland City. The environment was clearly much better than Sabin University, and the girl liked the quiet, peaceful atmosphere.

After friendly talks with the school administrators and Lynch commissioning the university to develop a small integrated wireless radio circuit, Katherine received an admission letter from the state university. It smelled of fresh ink, bore the freshly signed principal’s signature not yet dried, and carried a very distinct scent.

The scent of money.