Chapter 1
Once the heroines of tragic romance novels began awakening, they fled their stories one after another.
The fictional worlds descended into chaos, and I was the unlucky sucker dragged in to finish a mission.
I stayed by Chi Yan’s side through every hardship he faced, yet all he ever gave me were vague, noncommittal answers.
Just when I thought the light was finally within reach, his first love returned—and mine went out.
I called him three times. Every call met the same busy signal.
A dull ache throbbed behind my temples. I propped my head up with one hand and accidentally tapped open a group chat.
Some busybody had posted a photo, drawing every silent lurker out of hiding.
Chi Yan’s tall, straight-backed figure stood out at once. His expression was gentle as he gazed ahead.
At the end of his gaze stood Ji Mo, surrounded by fans. She seemed surprised that he had come. They stared at each other from across the crowd.
Everyone else in the picture had blurred into the background. Only that single look between them remained crystal clear.
There was no mistaking the love in it.
How moving.
“I’m suddenly starting to feel sorry for Shen Jiayan. All those years by his side, and they still can’t compare to Ji Mo showing her face once.”
“Seriously. When Ji Mo left the country, she and Chi Yan had such an ugly falling-out. We all thought they’d never speak again. But look at that—they still haven’t gotten over each other.”
“No one can compete with a man’s first love.”
Everyone after that copied and pasted the same line: “No one can compete with a man’s first love.”
I glanced at the table full of food and sent the same thing.
The group chat went dead.
Every dish was one Chi Yan liked. I couldn’t have gotten them wrong.
Today was my birthday.
It was supposed to be a good day.
In the silence of the room, the system’s piercing alarm was deafening.
The blood-red mission bar plummeted.
Ninety percent.
Fifty.
It finally stopped at forty-two.
I lifted my head and looked at myself in the mirror.
My face was deathly pale. Not even lipstick could hide the panic in my eyes.
“Find out where Chi Yan is. I’m going to him.”
The system answered in its emotionless mechanical voice. Then, after a beep, it abruptly asked in a teasing tone:
[Chi Yan is lost in the arms of another woman. You really want to go?]
It was the clear voice of a young man. I could almost picture him resting his chin on one hand, idly watching me as he tossed out the question.
Every once in a while, the system sounded human. Most of the time, it was nothing but that mechanical voice.
I collected myself and answered softly, “What else can I do?”
I couldn’t exactly sit at home and wait to die.
The young man clicked his tongue in displeasure.
I opened my umbrella and stepped into the rain.
The drizzle pattered at my feet, soaking the hem of my dress. Following the route the system gave me, I eventually found Chi Yan in a private room at a bar.
Chi Yan, who had told me he was swamped with work and would come see me later.
Ji Mo said something to him. He lowered his head, listening intently.
They seemed to be playing some kind of game around the table. Everyone crowded close, laughing and jeering.
I watched Ji Mo turn away shyly.
Chi Yan caught her by the chin and kissed her with a smile.
The alarm shrieked in my ears, wiping my mind blank.
Chi Yan and I had kissed once too—an accidental brush at the corner of his lips.
His face had darkened with fury. He smashed half the things in the break room, then told me to get out in front of the entire cast and crew.
The very next day, someone posted online insinuating that I was a shameless woman throwing myself at him.
“Why are you standing in the doorway? Go over there,” the system urged.
The young man’s voice took on unmistakable interest.
[Slap him. I’ll give you a buff. I guarantee he’ll howl.]
The lights inside suddenly dimmed. Someone looked up, spotted me, and let out a startled sound.
He gave me an awkward smile. “Hey, sis-in-law. What brings you here?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake and mimed slapping himself.
He hadn’t spoken quietly. Every eye in the room turned toward me.
Chi Yan’s expression shifted, the smile vanishing from his face.
His jaw clenched as though he were nervous.
I smiled at him.
“You didn’t answer your phone for so long. I thought something might’ve happened.”
“I’m glad you’re all right.”
The room fell silent for a heartbeat. Chi Yan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his body relaxing.
I flicked the rainwater from the hem of my dress.
I had left in too much of a hurry.
“Chi Yan, you could’ve just told me you never got over Miss Ji.”
“I only pursued you because you said there was no one you liked.”
“I have no interest in stealing someone else’s man.”
With every sentence, his face grew uglier.
He bit out each word as if he hated me.
“Shen Jiayan, what the hell do you mean by that?”
His eyes were dark with barely contained rage, his fists clenched tight.
Everyone around him cautiously backed away. Even Ji Mo fell silent.
Whenever this happened, everyone else kept their distance. I had always been the only one who dared to walk over and hug him.
The system gave a contemptuous laugh.
[Emotionally unstable. Human dynamite.]
I turned and shut the door. A tremendous crash erupted behind me, followed by shattering glasses and startled shouts.
The trash had been taken out.
Happy birthday to me.
Too bad my birthday seemed to have become the anniversary of my death.