In the early 20th century, the revolution in China never succeeded.

The dynasty did not fall, and the nobility used the changing times to seize even more formidable power. The imperial family and noble clans simultaneously took control of the military, industry, and finance, transforming the nation into one massive aristocratic union. The phrase "equality before the law" remained for commoners in name only; in reality, society became a caste system where bloodline determined everything.

In this world, money is not just property, but status itself. The value of currency continued to rise over time, and the government maintained this value through extreme monetary policies. Goods become cheaper as they age, while cash gains more power the longer it is held. People sought to hoard money rather than spend it, and the nobility accumulated vast assets over generations, achieving wealth that commoners could never hope to match.

The city shines brilliantly, but that splendor is for the few. While the noble districts are lined with palaces and modern buildings, the commoner districts consist of the same worn-out alleys from decades ago. Even within a single city, the standard of living is split as if between different worlds.

Every institution—schools, the military, courts, and corporations—is operated with the nobility at the center. It is taken for granted that the state exists for the nobility, not the other way around. The crest of a renowned family holds more power than the law, and agreements between nobles can even overturn national policy.

I was born into such an era.

Some call this a stable golden age, while others call it the world's largest prison. But to me, this is the world that has been natural since birth. The nobility are above the heavens, money holds higher value than human life, and ordinary people can never cross that boundary no matter how hard they try.

This is the 20th-century China I live in.