Before leaving for my final mission, I asked Julian one last time: "Will you marry me?" He was silent for a moment. "Okay." My heart—and the System in my head—dropped at the same time. "Crap." I was supposed to be rejected one hundred times to return to my real world. Turns out, I panicked for nothing. On my last mission, a twist of fate made me the sacrificial lamb for his first love. Julian stayed by her side for three days before he even remembered me. By the time he asked, the news had already broken: Officer Chloe Hart, killed in the line of duty. 1 "Host, there's really no rush." "It's your birthday. Nobody wants to be rejected on their birthday." My heavy breathing echoed in the quiet hallway. I had just finished a three-month undercover assignment out of state. Dragging my exhausted body, I came straight to Julian Thorne’s penthouse. No other reason. I’ve been stuck in this world for seven years. I want to go home. The rules are simple: get rejected by Julian one hundred times, and I can return to reality. Just now, the System told me I only need one more rejection. Through the door, I heard Julian on the phone. The woman’s voice was on speaker, her sobbing soft and pitiful: "Julian, I know you've been with Chloe for three years. I shouldn't be bothering you, but I just couldn't help it..." Julian’s response was a long silence. The woman on the other end was Lydia Reed, Julian’s first love. The one who got away. Most of my successful rejections over the years were thanks to her. Julian changed the subject. "When are you coming back? I'll throw a welcome party." "In what capacity? As my ex?" "As an old friend." Silence on the line. Then, a voice tinged with spite: "Ex-boyfriend, I'm getting married. The 20th of this month. You're invited." Julian seemed angry. He said her name, low and dangerous: "Lydia!" She hung up. The System cheered in my head: [Jackpot! Host, go in now! While he's mad! Ask him to marry you!] Normally, I wouldn't poke the bear when he's in a mood. But the dead weight of seven years was suddenly lifted by the hope of going home. I pushed the door open urgently. The room was dark. Julian sat in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, the city lights glittering behind him like a sea of stars. The glow of his phone screen illuminated half his face. Sharp jawline, cold eyes. A face that could launch a thousand ships—or sink them. Seeing me, he locked his phone and leaned back, closing his eyes. His tone was unfriendly. "Why are you here?" See? A giant calendar on his desk, yet he didn't even remember it was my birthday. My palms were sweating. "I have a mission tomorrow." In the real world, I was a police academy graduate. So in this world, I chose to be a cop. No hesitation. Julian pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice icy. "So? Do you need something?" "Yeah. After this mission... will you marry me?" The System was already throwing a party in my brain: [AHHHH! Mission complete! I'm getting promoted! Yes! Yes! Yes!] Julian’s dark eyes reflected my shadow. His slight frown showed his annoyance. I took a deep breath, lowered my head, and waited for the magic word. Honestly, after liking him for so long, being rejected still stung a little. But the System promised me money. A lot of money. Spendable in the real world. "Okay." "What?" The System's cheering cut off abruptly. I looked up in shock, meeting Julian’s calm, almost indifferent gaze. He slowly turned his phone in his hand. "I said, okay." A few seconds later, both the System and I cursed in unison. "F*ck..." 2 I hid in the bathroom. The accumulated frustration finally exploded. "Celebrating early? You must be Employee of the Month!" The System snapped back: [It's your fault! Why did you remind him it was your birthday? Men and their cheap guilt!] My head was pounding. Overtime had drained every ounce of my energy. I slumped against the sink, weak. The System whispered tentatively: [Maybe ask him to sleep with you now? He might say no to that?] I sneered. "Why don't I ask him to go die?" If only it were that easy. The game designers blocked every loophole from the start. "Sex," "death," and a whole list of trigger words are banned. And I can't repeat a request. Rejection of marriage was one of the few cards I had left after seven years. We were at a dead end. The sound of water running filled the silence. I sat on the toilet lid, brainstorming my next move. Suddenly, my phone rang. Unknown number. I picked up. A gentle female voice spoke. "Miss Hart, this is Lydia." I gripped the edge of the sink. Silence. Lydia chuckled softly, a hint of smugness in her tone. "You probably don't know me well, but that's okay. I know you very well." "I've eaten the bento boxes you made for Julian. I've worn the white shirts you washed for him. Last time, when he left your birthday dinner to come see me, there was a strand of your hair caught in his tie clip." I leaned back, voice cold. "So?" Lydia laughed. "Are you really stupid, or just pretending? Didn't you hear? Last year on your birthday, I gave him my virginity. This year, I came back specifically on your birthday, and he forgot it entirely. Do I need to spell out who Julian really loves?" I stared at my face in the mirror. Seven years. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of my eyes. The eyes that used to light up whenever I saw Julian were now filled with numbness. I took a deep breath. "No need. Because Julian is going to marry me." Silence on the other end. Then, Lydia’s voice turned sharp. "You don't need to provoke me. You can't compete with me." Julian knocked on the door. I hid the phone behind my back and yanked the door open. I smiled softly. "Will you go with me to try on wedding dresses tomorrow?" Julian paused. Then he hugged me, his tone rare and indulgent. "Okay. On our wedding day, you will be the most beautiful bride." I hung up the phone. And forced myself to accept Julian’s kiss, suppressing the nausea. Lydia, I hope you have some fight in you. Don't disappoint me. 3 That night, I waited a long time. Lydia didn't call Julian. Hot kisses landed all over my skin. Julian seemed unusually interested. But at the last moment, I stopped him. "I have a mission tomorrow. Let's stop." Julian looked unsatisfied. I pushed him away, turned my back, and wrapped myself tightly in the duvet. Julian was silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed. "Okay." Water started running in the shower. The System voiced my worry: [Did you go too hard? Did Lydia give up?] "Unlikely." Knowing Lydia, she wouldn't give up on Julian even if she died. ... The next day, the weather was gloomy. Julian didn't leave early as usual. Instead, he sat at the dining table, eating breakfast with me. The only sounds were cutlery clinking against plates. Julian spoke. "After this mission, transfer to a desk job. If you marry me, you don't need to work so hard." The System commanded in my head: [Fried eggs! I want fried eggs!] I cut my ham, eyes lowered. "Okay." Julian continued, like a CEO briefing a secretary: "From now on, I'll be at the company on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I'll be home the rest of the time. I don't want you coming to the office." System wailed: [No cheese! I want noodles!] I smiled sweetly. "Okay." Julian frowned. I finished my milk, pushed back my chair, and stood up. "Chloe." I turned. "What?" Julian stared at me. "You were never this obedient before. What's wrong today?" Honestly? I didn't hear a word he said. "Nothing." I smiled. "Maybe because good things are coming." Julian tugged at his tie. His thin, straight lips betrayed his annoyance. See? He’s a hundred percent reluctant to marry me. I curled my lips. "Hey, Julian. Can you wish for my safe return?" Julian snapped out of his thoughts. A moment later, he said, "Safe return." "Thanks." I turned and walked out. System: [Meh, boring. I thought he wouldn't say it.] 4 I've been in this world for seven years. The city's crime rate is actually quite low. Major incidents are rare. I didn't expect to encounter one on my very last mission. A high-profile kidnapping. The kidnapper demanded 30 million dollars and a van to leave the city. When I arrived at the scene, it was drizzling. My colleague, Officer Miller—a young girl named Sarah—sat at the bottom of the stairs, eyes red. "Chloe, the negotiator is already in. The kidnapper wants to switch hostages." "Switch hostages?" "Yeah... the current hostage is pregnant." The team went silent. In this situation, if the kidnapper agrees to a switch, one of us has to go in. "So... who's going?" Sarah bit her lip. "He demanded a woman." There were only two female officers on the team: Sarah and me. Sarah’s husband was a detective who had just been injured in the line of duty and was still in the hospital. I unholstered my gun and handed it to Sarah. "I got it. I'll go." The System screamed in my head: [Host, this isn't a game! If you die accidentally, you really can't go back!] But I couldn't let Sarah go. In seven years, Sarah had been with me far more than Julian ever was. We were best partners. Sarah hugged me, sobbing. "Chloe, I'm sorry. I know you're getting married. I'm sorry, but Mike is still in the hospital..." "I know." I patted her shoulder and walked into the rain. It was an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Through the misty rain, I saw the woman in the kidnapper's arms. Her pale face couldn't hide her beauty. Long black hair plastered to her cheeks, big eyes full of pitiful tears. She protected her lower abdomen desperately. "Please, save me. I'm pregnant. I'm carrying the heir to the Thorne family..." My heart skipped a beat. System confirmed: [It's Lydia.] We looked at each other through the rain. I couldn't describe the feeling. The kidnapper, vicious and desperate, pressed a knife into her skin. Blood trickled down. "Get over here! Or I'll send her to hell!" Lydia’s eyes widened in terror as she looked at me. "Chloe, please. I can't die. Julian will go crazy. If he knows you didn't save me, he'll hate you forever..." So she knew who I was. I looked back at Sarah. Sighed. And walked toward the kidnapper. The moment the blade touched my neck, Lydia stumbled and ran toward the police line. Just me and the kidnapper left. "I want the car!" Before I got in, the Captain gave me a signal. The plan was simple: they track the van, I cooperate to take him down when the opportunity arises. I was tied up and thrown into the passenger seat. In the last second, I saw Julian break through the crowd. He caught the fainting Lydia in his arms.
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