Morning.
Su Qianqian opened her eyes.
No longer was she met with that endless white void. Instead, her gaze landed on a slightly mottled ceiling and a simple ceiling lamp.
The air no longer carried the sterile scent of disinfectant but rather the warm, dusty aroma of an old house mingled with sunlight.
She sat up gently.
Beneath her was a somewhat firm single bed, covered with a faded checkered bedsheet.
The small room was sparsely furnished: a desk, a chair, a simple wardrobe, and a few cardboard boxes piled in the corner.
A small window stood open, letting in a breeze that carried faint sounds of the bustling streets below and the fresh scent of potted plants on the windowsill.
Instinctively, she raised a hand and pressed it against her left chest.
No pain. No suffocating heaviness.
Only a steady, strong heartbeat—thump, thump—pulsing against her palm.
Alive.
Truly alive!
Overwhelming joy flooded her in an instant.
Su Qianqian threw off the thin blanket and practically lunged toward the window.
Outside was a summer afternoon.
Golden sunlight spilled over the narrow alleys of the old district, casting patterns on ivy-covered walls. The shouts of breakfast vendors and the honks of electric scooters rose from below.
An utterly ordinary scene, yet to her, it was vibrant and precious beyond words.
She took a deep breath, savoring the sweetness of the air.
"Wow…"
Su Qianqian couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with wonder.
She reached out with delicate fingers, lightly brushing the thick leaves of a pothos plant on the windowsill. The sensation made her giggle, her eyes crinkling with pure, unbridled delight.
[Host! Host! You’re finally awake.] A youthful yet urgent voice echoed in her mind—the System.
It could finally drop the stern act it had learned from older systems. Whew.
But Su Qianqian was too absorbed in her newfound joy to pay it any attention.
[Hey, Qianqian! Listen to me.]
The System’s voice grew louder. [I know you’re happy, but we’ve got important matters to handle. Pay attention.]
"Mhm, go ahead," Su Qianqian replied absentmindedly, her eyes now drawn to a cheap landscape painting taped to the wall.
[This is the old district of City S in a parallel world. The body you’re using now is also named Su Qianqian, age eighteen.]
[This world’s cognition will automatically rationalize your existence. Everyone will assume you’ve always looked like this.]
[The original owner of this body just got hired as Lin Shu’s assistant. Your first day is tomorrow.]
The System’s tone turned grave. [But Lin Shu—the original female lead—is extremely jealous.]
[With a face like yours parading under her nose, it’s dangerous!]
[You need to learn to downplay yourself, understand? Act meek, play dumb, and never outshine her.]
[She’s got a terrible temper behind the scenes and loves throwing her weight around.]
[In the original timeline, the previous owner of this body was often reduced to tears by her. Be careful she doesn’t hurt you.]
"Got it," Su Qianqian replied silently, nodding obediently at the air.
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, glowing like freshly peeled lychee.
She’d heard the System’s warnings, but her clear eyes were brimming more with love for this tangible world and a thirst to explore it.
[Got it? You’re clearly not taking this seriously.]
The System nearly bristled at her carefree attitude. [Your top priority is to win over Gu Chengyu. Time’s limited—you need to find ways to get close to him and make yourself noticed.]
[System.]
Su Qianqian interrupted, her voice soft but resolute and bright. [I know the mission is important.]
[But this is the first time I’ve ever truly been alive.]
[No disinfectant, no heart monitor, no heartbeat that could stop at any moment…]
[I can breathe freely, walk, run, see flowers and trees, taste foods I’ve never tried.]
She turned, her radiant smile dazzling. [Can we put the mission on hold? Just for two days—no, a week!]
[Let me live as an ordinary person first, just for a little while. Please?]
The System: […]
Staring into her joyful eyes, it couldn’t bring itself to refuse.
After drifting for so long, it had finally found such a pure soul to bond with.
Fine. A few days of happiness wouldn’t hurt.
[Alright.]
It reluctantly conceded. [One week. After that, you’d better focus.]
[And remember—tone down your looks around Lin Shu. Stay low-key.]
"Mmhm, thank you, System!" Su Qianqian nearly bounced with glee.
Light as a butterfly, she grabbed the old phone on the bedside table and, relying on the memories the System had implanted, dialed Lin Shu’s manager, Brother Wang.
Her voice was sweet and timid, laced with caution. "Hello, Brother Wang? It’s Qianqian. Sorry to bother you, but there’s an urgent family matter back home. Could I take a week off?"
"Yes, yes. I really appreciate it. Thank you, Brother Wang!"
Hanging up, she exhaled in relief: Done!
Humming a tuneless melody, she changed into simple clothes.
"I’m going to buy flowers and pretty little things," she murmured to herself. "Make this little nest of mine cozy."
She tucked a small cloth bag with her keys and phone under her arm and skipped out the door.
The System sighed inwardly: [Carefree as ever.]
