The system girl appeared in my boyfriend’s life. She meticulously orchestrated a damsel-in-distress scenario. On the route she knew my boyfriend, Cameron, frequently took, she arranged for two creeps with bad dye jobs to drag her into an alley. “Help! Please, somebody help me!” She screamed and struggled, desperately calling out in Cameron’s direction. The guys walking with Cameron Walker immediately rushed in, one by one. But Cameron, my boyfriend, held my hand and stayed put. He didn’t move an inch. 1 “Aren’t you going to help?” I looked at Cameron, feeling a mix of nervousness and confusion. After all, in the dream I’d had last night, he was the first one to charge in. But right now, he was staring into the dim alleyway and simply shook his head. His expression was so calm it bordered on cold: “I don’t think so.” The scene from my dream had turned into reality, yet Cameron’s reaction was completely different. My mind was a mess. I was about to say more when I saw the two creeps throw the girl aside and curse as they ran deeper into the alley. Cameron’s friends and the girl emerged. Under the faint yellow glow of the streetlights, I finally got a clear look at her face. I froze. Stunned. She looked exactly like the system girl from my dream! Tears streamed down her delicate face. When she looked at Cameron, the drops fell even faster. “Cam, thank you for sending your friends to save me.” Cameron tightened his grip on my hand, scanning her with a blank expression. “I didn’t. You’re thanking the wrong person.” The smile on her face instantly froze. She seemed completely blindsided by his bluntness. She saw my hand laced with Cameron’s and slightly frowned. Then, she bypassed me and thanked the others. They all waved it off carelessly. “No sweat, we were just passing by!” “Yeah, those trash bags, I’d take them down any time.” “Hey, are you the new art student? I think I saw you when I went to meet Amelia.” The one who spoke was Cameron’s friend, Liam Perry. Amelia was his girlfriend. The girl raised a hand to wipe her tears, her eyes red, and offered Liam a small smile. “Yes, I am. Thank you, I’m Savannah Monroe.” My heart plummeted again. Even the name was the same as the girl in my dream. Could this really just be a coincidence? Was the dream really just a dream? Scenes from the previous night kept flashing through my mind, and I couldn't stop staring at Savannah. The wind swept her hair around her face. She tucked a stray strand behind her ear and spoke again. “It was so lucky you guys were there. “Could we exchange numbers? I’d like to treat you all to dinner sometime.” Exactly. Every step of the development was the same as the dream. But there was a difference, too. In the dream, Savannah only added Cameron’s contact info. Right now, I watched her unlock her phone and open the QR code. As she held it out, she hesitated for a brief second in front of Cameron. Then, she quickly moved it, holding the phone out to Liam. Liam eagerly scanned the code, hit ‘Add,’ and wiggled his phone at her. “Make sure you accept, Sav.” Savannah nodded and then offered her phone to the other guys, one by one. Only after everyone else was done did she look up at Cameron. She tried to appear composed. “Cam, you should add me too.” My heart leaped into my throat. In the dream, after they exchanged numbers, Savannah began her determined pursuit of Cameron. He went from polite refusal to genuine annoyance, and finally, to cold dismissal. Until our wedding day, when Savannah showed up to stop the ceremony. She said she would die without him. In the end, Cameron let her pull him away, running out of the venue right in front of all our guests. 2 The wind picked up, scraping harder against the street. I held my breath, waiting for Cameron’s reply. A moment passed. Cameron raised the hand that was tightly laced with mine, his voice glacial. “How do you have the audacity to ask for my number right in front of my girlfriend?” Savannah’s smile evaporated. She clearly hadn’t anticipated such a direct, humiliating rejection. She bit her lower lip in embarrassment, the hand holding the phone trembling, but she didn’t lower it. “Cam, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just…” Before Savannah could finish, Cameron’s gaze had already coldly passed over her. He turned to face me, his expression softening instantly. “Are you cold, Syd?” As he spoke, he reached out a hand and gently adjusted the scarf around my neck. I shook my head, gazing up at the man standing so close to me. Even though he was right there, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if I was seeing him from a lifetime away. After fixing my scarf, Cameron tenderly ruffled my hair. “We’ve wasted too much time. You must be hungry, let’s go eat.” His cool, large hand took mine and pulled me forward. My feet followed him automatically. In a daze, I couldn't tell the difference between the dream and reality anymore. We’d only walked two steps when the person beside me stopped again. He didn’t turn around, only tilted his head to call back to Liam and the others. “Are you guys coming or not?” The group finally snapped out of it, bustling to catch up. Only Savannah was left standing there. We had gone quite a distance, but I still felt a gaze boring into the back of my head. I turned around and met Savannah’s eyes directly. It was a look full of resentment, unwillingness, and suppressed fury. The next second, the look vanished. Savannah gave me a sweet, brittle smile. Looking at her beautiful, perfectly innocent face, I had to wonder if I had imagined the look moments before. Once we reached the restaurant, everyone gradually forgot the little scene, chatting and laughing. But Liam kept his head down, scrolling through his phone. He seemed to be looking at someone’s social media feed, occasionally zooming in on a picture, a soft smile playing on his lips. If I had to guess, it was Savannah’s feed. I thought of his girlfriend, Amelia. If she saw her boyfriend intensely scrutinizing another girl’s profile, looking so clearly smitten, her sensitive and reserved nature would probably be devastated. For some reason, I felt an intense empathy for her, as if her pain was my own. I was debating how to subtly bring it up when Cameron’s voice cut through the air first. “Liam, what are you looking at?” Liam quickly hit the lock button and looked up, smiling sheepishly. “Nothing, just casually scrolling.” Cameron’s eyes darkened, his face growing serious. “Don’t forget you have a girlfriend.” Liam paused, then gave an awkward chuckle. “I—I know, man. I just added her, so I was flipping through her feed to get an idea of who she is. No big deal.” I couldn’t help myself, the words tumbling out. “If you know you have a girlfriend, why did you add a random stranger?” In my peripheral vision, the hand Cameron was using to ladle soup suddenly gave a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor. 3 My question made Liam squirm. He shuffled his feet and stammered out a reply. “Syd… Look, the girl asked me herself. It would have been rude to refuse.” Listening to his weak excuse, I felt a surge of sympathy for Amelia. I frowned and began to speak. “Liam, no girl is going to be okay with her boyfriend…” Before I could finish, Liam interrupted me, embarrassed and annoyed. “Okay, okay, I get it. Just… don’t get involved, alright, Syd?” “Liam!” Cameron’s face hardened, his cold stare pinning his friend down. “What kind of attitude is that?” Sensing the displeasure in Cameron’s voice, Liam panicked. “Cam, I…” Cameron reached for my hand under the table, holding it tight. His thumb gently rubbed my palm in a soothing gesture. He looked directly at Liam, his gaze deep and sharp. “Sydney’s right. “You are not single. Maintaining clear boundaries with other women is basic respect for your girlfriend.” Liam’s face flushed red, then pale. He opened his mouth, stopped, and finally spoke, offering me an apology. “Syd, I’m sorry.” He then picked up his phone and, in front of Cameron, announced his actions. “I get it, Cam. Deleting her right now.” The others, sensing the tension, quickly tried to smooth things over. “Let’s just eat, guys. The food is getting cold.” Dinner ended quickly. Soon after, Cameron drove me home. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window. The neon lights streaking past the long street felt like the quick, blurred slideshow of last night’s dream. Each scene was illusory, yet profoundly real. The physical and emotional exhaustion from the dream felt as if I had truly lived it. Without realizing it, the car pulled up in front of my house. Cameron got out, circled the car to open my door, and placed his hand above the frame to shield my head—the same thoughtful, gentle gesture as always. I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out. I said goodbye and took a step toward the door. Cameron reached out and caught my wrist. “Syd, wait a second.” “Hmm?” I stopped, following the pull of his hand. I turned back and was caught by his intense, deep-set eyes. After a moment, Cameron lifted his hand and cradled my cheek. His voice was cool, yet laced with gentle concern. “You’ve been acting strange all day. Is something bothering you?” I froze. He had noticed. Of course. Our families were old friends, and we’d been inseparable since childhood, over two decades. I could read the slightest difference in his expression. Naturally, he could tell something was off with my words and actions. I thought for a moment. Then, I looked up, meeting Cameron’s gaze directly. “Cameron, I had a dream last night.” 4 I recounted the dream’s events slowly, reliving them. The tears that felt so real, the profound, gut-wrenching pain—telling the story now felt like wading through a river of heartache. I stared blankly at Cameron, still bewildered. “Why did the system girl have the exact same look, the same name, as the one in my dream? “But why is your reaction completely different?” Before I could fully register Cameron’s expression, he pulled me into a fierce embrace. “Syd.” I felt something cool and wet land on the top of my head. Is it raining? I tried to pull away from Cameron’s chest, but he only held me tighter. After a long while, I heard his voice, muffled and tight, full of suppressed emotion. “Syd. “It was a dream, just a dream. “Dreams are often the opposite of reality. That’s why my reaction is different.” The winter night was sharp and cold. Nestled in Cameron’s warm embrace, I asked in a choked voice: “Really? “But I just feel like the dream was so real. It felt like I lived through it.” Cameron’s whole body tensed for a split second. I couldn’t see his face, but I felt the arms encircling me tighten further, as if he were trying to press me into his very being. “It is. Trust me. “In this lifetime, I will only ever love Sydney Pierce. I won’t be swayed by anyone.” Hearing the strong, steady beat of his heart against my ear, I still felt strangely uneasy. Promises made in youth are beautiful but uncertain. Like the moon reflected on the water. The gentle touch of fate’s hand can ripple the surface and shatter the silver into countless broken pieces. I went inside. After greeting my parents, I walked upstairs to my room. Pushing the door open, I automatically went to the window. Through the sheer white curtains, I looked down. Cameron’s car was still parked outside. He leaned against the car door. The black tailored wool coat made him look tall and elegant. The streetlight cast small, scattered bits of light on him. The night wind was biting. He stood there in the wind, hands buried in his coat pockets. Head bowed, lost in thought. My hand unconsciously clenched the curtains. I wondered when his promise would change. I slept restlessly that night. The next morning. My driver dropped me off at the university. As I stepped out of the car, I saw Savannah and Cameron standing together. 5 Savannah’s face was bright with a cheerful smile. She extended a delicate paper bag towards Cameron. “Cam. “I woke up early just to make you this sandwich.” As if to prove her point, she gestured to a nearby Liam. “Liam and the others have one too. You should try it.” Liam was nodding eagerly, chewing on a bite and showering her with compliments. “She’s not just pretty, Cam. She can cook too. “You have to try it, it’s really good!” Cameron’s hands remained buried in his coat pockets. He didn’t even glance down at the paper bag. He looked at Savannah with impatience, his voice cold and faintly annoyed. “No, thank you.” Savannah’s smile faltered. She pushed the bag forward, trying to force it. “Cam, it’s just a nice gesture…” “Move.” Cameron’s face darkened, his patience clearly gone. Savannah’s face went white, and her eyes welled up instantly. “Cam…” She seemed poised to say more, but Cameron walked around her, striding directly toward me. He had seen me the moment I stepped out of the car. Savannah hadn't. She quickly rushed forward, extending her arms to bravely, yet cautiously, block his path. Students walking by slowed down, whispering amongst themselves. Savannah took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Cameron. “Why won’t you take my sandwich, Cam? “Do you have a problem with me, or do you just… hate me?” Cameron’s eyes were devoid of warmth. He didn’t want to waste another word. “Yes.” The unambiguous, blunt answer made Savannah’s face burn crimson. The knuckles of the hand gripping the sandwich bag were white. The onlookers whispered and exchanged knowing looks, enjoying the drama. Tears gradually filled Savannah’s eyes. She bit her lip, stubbornly staring at Cameron and pressing the question. “Why? “What did I do to offend you, Cam? “I just wanted to thank you, so I made some sandwiches for breakfast. “It’s not just for you. I made some for Liam and the others too.” Cameron looked down at Savannah, his gaze sharp and indifferent. “Thank me for what?” Savannah froze, her brave facade faltering slightly. “Thank you for… for saving me.” Cameron’s voice was detached. “I told you yesterday, you’re thanking the wrong person.” Savannah’s extended arms trembled, but she still tried to explain. “You were there yesterday, so I included you. It didn’t take much extra time.” “Did it?” Cameron looked at her, his eyes piercing. “My girlfriend was there too. Why didn’t you make one for her?” Savannah instantly went rigid, her face turning ashen. She opened her mouth, trying to find an explanation. “I…” Cameron didn’t spare her another glance. He bypassed her completely and walked toward me. 6 The north wind howled. Withered leaves rustled down from the trees. Cameron walked against the wind and quickly reached me. Naturally, he pulled open his coat and wrapped me inside. “Waiting so long, are you cold?” His warm body heat wrapped around me, a comforting, continuous embrace. I should have felt happy and cherished. But for some reason, a tiny thread of bitterness unwound in my heart. “Cameron…” I murmured his name, my throat tightening. Hearing the tremor in my voice, Cameron quickly lowered his head to look at me. “What is it, Syd?” My tears broke loose, falling one after another. “You accepted it, in the dream, you accepted her breakfast…” Cameron’s body jerked. His voice was laced with panic. “Syd…” In his tone, there was a rare mix of nervousness and fear. He gently patted my back, trying to calm me down urgently and tenderly. “Syd, that was just a dream, only a dream. “Look, in reality, I didn’t take it at all, did I?” My vision was blurred by tears. I closed my eyes, wanting to nod, but unable to. I just felt like everything was unreal. Neither fully a dream nor fully awake. After a long time, I composed myself, and Cameron and I started walking toward the campus buildings. Savannah was still there, hunched on the ground, hugging herself. Her whimpering sobs were carried away by the wind. Liam was crouched beside her, comforting her with worried, pained urgency. In the back of my mind, I felt that something had changed. The days flowed by slowly. Savannah rarely appeared in front of us anymore. Occasionally, we’d run into her on campus. She would look at Cameron, and her eyes would fill with tears. Cameron would always look straight ahead, pulling me along and walking right past her. Until Cameron’s birthday, when a group of us were celebrating at a private club. Halfway through the party, Savannah showed up. When she walked in, Cameron was putting a peeled shrimp on my plate. Savannah’s gaze caught the gesture, and a look of sadness flashed across her face. Soon, she forced a smile and offered Cameron a beautifully wrapped gift box. “Happy Birthday, Cam.” It was obvious she had put effort into her appearance today. Her makeup was light, her face slightly pale without blush, lending her a fragile, heart-tugging appearance. She was wearing a white tailored wool coat, a style very similar to Cameron’s usual black one. It looked almost like a couple’s outfit. Cameron didn’t take Savannah’s gift box. He slowly raised his eyes to her. “How did you get in here?” The private club was members-only. Savannah couldn't have gotten in on her own. “I used Liam’s membership card,” Savannah managed a smile, staring intently at Cameron. “I just… wanted to wish you a happy birthday in person.” 7 A tense silence fell over the private room. No one knew how to react. Savannah stood there, looking mournful and forlorn. Anyone would feel a pang of sympathy for her. Especially Liam. His girlfriend, Amelia, was sitting beside him, yet his eyes hadn’t left Savannah since she walked in. “Cam, I let her in. “She’s genuinely nice, man. It’s your birthday, just let her stay and celebrate with us.” I instinctively glanced at Amelia. She was biting her lip, staring blankly at Liam. For some reason, I felt a rising sense of dread. The scenes from my dream began flashing again. In the dream, Savannah also came to Cameron’s birthday. He had rejected her pursuit before, but he didn’t reject her presence. He had simply told her to sit wherever she liked, a complex emotion clouding his brow. But now. Cameron’s eyes held a blatant, undisguised look of annoyance and disgust toward Savannah. “I don’t need your blessing or your gift.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “I love my girlfriend deeply, and I will only ever love her. “So I hope you stop bothering me, and stop doing things that are frankly shameful.” Savannah’s face instantly flushed a deep red. The overhead crystal chandelier caught the glint of tears in her eyes. She quickly wiped a corner of her eye, choking up as she asked Cameron: “Not even as just a regular friend?” “I’m sorry,” Cameron’s voice was ice-cold. “I don’t need a friend like you.” Savannah couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She covered her mouth with a hand and ran out of the room, sobbing. “Savannah!” Liam cried out, jumping up, desperate to chase after her. But Cameron grabbed his arm. “Liam, don’t get involved where you don’t belong.” To my surprise, Liam roughly shook off Cameron’s hand, looking upset. “I don’t know why you’re so cold-blooded! “I just don’t get it, she’s a perfectly decent girl, she hasn’t done anything out of line, but you’ve hated her since the day you met her!” Liam grew more agitated. “Humiliating her in front of everyone—does that satisfy your ego, Cameron?” Cameron’s eyes narrowed, clearly angered. But he still tried to be patient. “Liam. “I’m telling you this as a friend: don’t be led astray by a moment of fancy. “She is not as innocent and pure as she seems. “Besides—” He gestured to Amelia. “Your girlfriend is right here. Are you going to break her heart for a girl you barely know?” Liam finally looked at Amelia. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he impatiently ran a hand through his hair. “Mia, don’t think too much of it. I just can’t stand Cameron targeting a younger girl.” He looked toward the door, anxious to get to Savannah immediately. “Wait here, I’ll just go check on her and be right back!” With that, he ran out of the room. Amelia watched his urgent, retreating back, and tears began to fall. My heart ached for her, too. Maybe it was a kinship between women. Maybe it was because in my dream, I, too, had watched Cameron’s back disappear. I reached out and took Amelia’s hand, wanting to offer some comfort. Just then, a commotion erupted in the hallway outside. “Someone’s going to jump! Hurry, hurry!” Everyone in the room was startled. They immediately stood up and rushed out. A horrifying thought flashed through my mind. Could it be… Savannah? Amelia was also panicked. She gripped my hand. “Syd, we should go look.” 8 When we reached the club’s rooftop, we saw Savannah sitting on the waist-high ledge. Her frame was thin, and her hair was wind-whipped and messy. Her legs dangled in the air, looking as if she might fall at any moment. Liam stood pale-faced a short distance away from her. He held out a hand toward Savannah, his voice trembling with fear and anxiety. “Sav, don’t scare me. Please, just come over here, okay?” Savannah turned her head to look at him. Then, she saw Cameron in the crowd, and tears instantly streamed down her face. She gave a desolate smile. “Cam, do you worry about me too?” Cameron frowned, gripping my hand tightly, and remained silent. The onlookers watched the spectacle, whispering and pointing. Savannah ignored them, her eyes locked onto Cameron. Her face showed despair and utter recklessness. “Cam. “I love you. I love you so much, and it’s not just because of the task. “I approached you, got to know you, learned to make sandwiches to please you, manufactured chances to ‘run into’ you, and knitted a scarf to give you.” “But no matter what I did, you never once looked at me properly. My favorability rating is stuck at zero.” Tears dripped from the corners of her eyes. She looked like a broken doll. Liam clenched his fists, shouting in a pained, desperate voice. “Sav, get down first, then we can talk!” But Savannah didn’t seem to hear him. Her gaze remained fixed on Cameron. “Cam, why can’t you just look at me? Why can’t you like me, even just a little? “What do I lack that Sydney doesn’t have? Is it just because she met you first? “I’m the one who loves you the most. I came to this world for you. I’m the one who loves you the most in this entire world.” Savannah’s smile was heartbreakingly tragic. “Cam. “Did I ever tell you that the System assigned you as my target? “If I fail my task, I will die.” Tears still flowing, she repeated the line. “I will truly die without you.” I instantly froze. A thunderous boom went off in my head, like a sudden lightning strike. I remembered. I remembered everything. It wasn’t a dream after all. It wasn't a dream. It was my previous life.
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