The morning sun glimmered across the waves, casting a curtain of silver ripples across the surface of City A's coastline. Tourists and early joggers passed by, some alone, some hand in hand, most too absorbed in their own lives to notice the two figures seated quietly on a shaded bench facing the sea.
Hao Hao held a bottle of water between his hands, fingers slowly rolling condensation across the plastic surface.
Beside him sat Li Yuan, legs crossed, one hand resting lazily over the back of the bench, the other casually swiping through her phone. Her frame, tall and poised, was wrapped in a fitted pale-blue blouse that hugged her shoulders without clinging, paired with high-waisted slacks that accentuated her long, athletic legs. No makeup, just lip balm, but her entire presence had shifted since they first met.
She glanced sideways. "You've changed."
He blinked. "Huh?"
"You look like a protagonist now." Her voice was light, but the meaning wasn't.
Hao Hao turned his head slowly. "A protagonist?"
"Mm." She didn't elaborate at first, just narrowed her eyes a little, as if studying him. "Your aura. It's not so... cloudy. You look like someone with a story now. Like someone who's starting something."
Hao Hao coughed into his hand, ears a little pink. "You've changed too, jie."
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, lips tugging upward faintly.
"Yeah. You're not all gloomy and ready to fight the wind anymore." He leaned forward slightly, eyes playful. "With how you look now, you could probably bag half the boys in City A without even trying."
She stilled.
Just a beat.
Then, unexpectedly, she laughed. Not a restrained chuckle or polite hum, but a real one—low and relaxed.
"Tch. You sweet talker." Her eyes swept over him again, this time with amusement. "You working out?"
"Yeah." He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Trying to clean myself up before my sister gets back. She's coming in about three weeks."
"Strict?"
"Like a queen with a whip," he muttered.
She laughed again.
"I'm not just working out either," he added. "I've been polishing up my cooking, too. You know… basics. Stir-fries. Steamed fish. A few soups."
That caught her attention.
Her eyes sharpened—not with suspicion, but curiosity.
Hao Hao caught it. He tilted his head, lips curling. "Wanna try sometime?"
She paused. "I mean… wouldn't that be a bit of a hassle?"
"So?" he shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant. "When're you free?"
Li Yuan hesitated.
"…I'm busy."
Hao Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, then grinned. "What, you ashamed of being seen with an ugly guy like me?"
At that, her expression changed.
The teasing drained from her gaze. She turned to him fully, no more smile, no more playfulness.
"No." Her voice was firm. Clear. "In my eyes, you're shining brightly, Hao Hao."
The sea breeze stilled.
His heart stumbled.
Something flickered across her face—something she quickly masked with a faint, dry laugh. "Forget I said that."
He didn't reply. Just swallowed hard, cheeks reddening.
She looked at her phone. "This Sunday. There's a sushi restaurant near my place. I'll treat. Will you be free?"
[Ding—]
A crisp chime rang in his head.
[New Mission: Date the Tall Beauty!]
Objective: Go on a proper date with Heroine Li Yuan. Uncover what she's hiding. Do something meaningful enough to avert her second Bad Ending.
Bonus: If successful, reduce "Striking Beauty" transformation time from 3 months → 2 months.
Accept Mission?
▶ YES
☐ NO
Hao Hao didn't even think. Click.
"I'm free," he said casually, but his voice betrayed him—just a little too eager.
Just then, his watch timer buzzed. Rest time over.
He stood up, stretching his arms. "Well, training's not going to finish itself."
As he stepped off the curb, he turned back and waved. "Don't ditch, alright? You said Sunday!"
He jogged away down the path, arms pumping, breath even. A little faster than usual.
Behind him, Li Yuan watched his back shrink into the distance.
Her lips curled.
"…Cute," she murmured.
+
The sweet scent of roasted oolong drifted lazily through the air, mixing with the sharper tang of black sugar syrup and the hum of cheap pop music playing from a cracked ceiling speaker. The milk tea stall was wedged between two noodle shops near a school plaza, its plastic chairs littered with teens and young adults, most of them boys with curled lashes and glossy lips, laughing into their phones as they waited for their orders.
"Hao Hao!"
The name echoed from the counter.
Hao Hao stepped forward, towel still hanging from his neck, hoodie slightly damp from sweat. He offered a polite nod and reached for his drink—black tea with brown sugar jelly and low-fat milk. His fingers brushed against the edge of the tray, but he caught something else instead: a look.
The server—a woman in her early twenties, plain face, slightly pimply chin, wide hips squeezed into jeans two sizes too small—offered his cup with a strained smile. But her eyes betrayed her.
Pity.
Disdain.
Her gaze lingered just a second too long on his cheeks. Acne. Grease. The smudge of old effort trying to become something new.
Hao Hao didn't flinch.
He took the drink with a small "Thanks," then stepped to the side.
It didn't sting.
He'd seen worse. Been through worse. Besides—he wasn't the type to be crushed by side-eye anymore. Not after everything.
Still, it was… informative.
Especially when the boy after him walked up.
"Number twenty-three!"
A soft gasp left the vendor's lips.
That boy—probably eighteen, no more—was dressed in a cherry pink hoodie that matched the tint on his cheeks. His eyes were lined with subtle shimmer, and his glossy bangs curled just enough over his lashes. Not a model, but close.
The woman giggled.
"Oh no, it's on the house today~," she said sweetly, handing over a drink with extra toppings and a flirty bend of her wrist.
Hao Hao sipped his unsweetened tea and watched the exchange.
So this is what it's like, huh?
This world truly didn't tolerate ugly men.
He turned and walked to a quieter corner of the plaza, where a rusting metal fan blew lukewarm air out of a laundromat's side vent. Leaning against the wall, he checked his phone.
A new notification from the delivery app.
[Your order has been delivered. Left safely at your doorstep.]
Already?
He blinked.
That was... fast.
He'd only placed the order twenty minutes ago—workout tops, a new pair of joggers, and a few facial products that had good reviews. The speed of service in this world truly was something else.
Opening W*chat, he returned to the earlier message thread from the mysterious employer.
"Hello there, little brother. I saw your post on W*chat, looking for a job…"
He finally typed a reply:
"Yes! I'd love to."
The response came almost instantly.
"Great. Could you come in this Saturday?"
"Sure. What do I need to bring?"
"Just bring yourself. Dress your best."
Hao Hao stared at the screen for a moment.
His best, huh?
He looked down at himself: stretched hoodie, loose joggers, skin still blooming with stubborn acne.
He sighed.
"…Fuck it."
If he wanted to stop being a parasite, he'd have to take some risks. He needed that job.
"Okay. I'll be there."
It was Tuesday. That gave him three days to scrub what he could off this face and maybe not look like he just crawled out of a convenience store freezer.
He opened his camera roll. Most of it was system screenshots and blurry selfies taken under warm light to check if the acne scars were fading.
Some progress, maybe.
Just then—
Screams.
High-pitched and frantic.
"Ahh! It's her—!"
"Look! Over there!"
"God, is it really her?!"
Hao Hao turned.
The milk tea shop had erupted into chaos. Boys were tripping over chairs, scrambling to grab their phones, shouting with the kind of excitement reserved for K-pop concerts.
Then he saw her.
A tall woman was trying to slip out of the line, hoodie pulled low over her cap, black mask covering half her face. But the disguise didn't help.
Nothing could hide that bone structure.
Light brunette hair peeked from beneath her hood. Her skin looked like porcelain under sunlight—flawless and luminous. Her figure curved effortlessly beneath her fitted jeans and plain tee. But her eyes were what stunned him the most.
Blue.
Blue like crushed sapphires—bright, piercing, unmistakable.
Half-Chinese. Half-Western. And completely, completely doomed.
[Ding—]
The system's chime dropped into his mind like a hammer.
[New Mission: Call Out the Narcissist!]
Target: Liu Yifei
Description: The most popular female model in the country. Adored by millions. Charitable on the surface, manipulative behind the curtain.
Hidden Status: Obsessive Narcissist. Terrible future awaits if left unchecked.
Objective: Yell at her directly, word-for-word—
"You narcissist! Go back home to your million mirrors and kiss my ass!"
Reward:
✦ Trait: Clear-Faced Youth
✦ [C Rank] [Physical]
✦ Effect: Clears all facial acne and blemishes. Skin becomes smooth, photo-ready.
Bonus: Trait activates immediately upon completion.
Accept Mission?
▶ YES
☐ NO
Hao Hao stared at the prompt, then glanced back at the crowd forming. Security guards were rushing in from the nearby bookstore. Liu Yifei was pushing through the line, hood slipping.
This would be insane. Embarrassing. Dangerous.
But it would be hilarious.
And acne-free skin?
That was worth a little public insanity.
His lips slowly curled.
"…Oh, this is gonna be fun."