When Cheng Yu opened his eyes again, he found himself staring at a familiar ceiling.
Pure white, adorned with simple light fixtures—peaceful and serene, just like every single day of his first eighteen years.
*This… looks kinda familiar.*
He sat up with effort, rubbing his blurry eyes. Only after glancing around did he realize—he was back in the hotel room from last night.
*…Did I just have a dream?*
But the mere thought of what had happened sent a chill down his spine.
*A dream?* Everything had felt so real. Impossible to be just a dream.
He remembered clearly: after his bold threat, those human traffickers had all burst into mocking laughter. No matter what he said, they just sneered.
Enraged, Cheng Yu had smirked back and taunted,
“If you don’t let me go now, I’ll show you the power of *the System* later.”
That single sentence froze every smile in the room.
The traffickers exchanged heavy glances, whispered urgently, then scattered on the spot.
Only the young man who’d spoken earlier remained. He gripped a woodcutter’s blade and stepped slowly toward Cheng Yu.
Sensing danger, Cheng Yu struggled against his bonds—but escape was impossible. He shouted desperately for the System, praying for any aid.
Instead, he heard the young man’s low, raspy voice:
“Foolish kid. If you get a next life, remember Blade Brother’s words: never become a cop again.”
Cheng Yu watched as the man calling himself Blade Brother’s eyes turned vicious. A flash of white slashed before his vision—
Then…
He touched his face, his body, disbelief washing over him.
*Wasn’t I just… dead?*
Recalling Blade Brother’s words, Cheng Yu realized—they’d mistaken his “System” for the police network.
That’s why they hadn’t sold him. They’d chosen to eliminate him immediately.
But… why was he now lying in this bed, staring at this familiar ceiling?
He grabbed his phone from the bedside. The time read: September 3rd, 8:24 AM. *Exactly* when he’d woken up earlier.
*…Could it be?*
*I’ve been reborn.*
The wild, impossible thought startled even himself. Yet no other explanation fit.
Confusion fogged his mind, but the quiet serenity of the hotel room slowly calmed him.
Clarity returned. He methodically pieced together everything that had happened.
*If I really am reborn… why?*
Racking his brain for supernatural anomalies, only one thing came to mind.
“…The System.”
Cheng Yu murmured to himself, a bold hypothesis forming.
“What if… this System is essentially a Galgame-style choice system?
“One wrong choice leads to a Bad Ending—and instant death.
“But if I pick the right option… can I earn rewards and clear this ‘game’?”
He voiced each thought aloud, confidence building with every word. His eyes grew brighter.
He slapped his thigh—no trace of fear from his near-death experience. Only pure excitement.
“I knew it! I’m the System’s host! Unstoppable! There’s no way I’d kick the bucket that easily!
“With the System’s help, I can SL—save and load—without worry. Keep retrying options until I get the best rewards.
“I’m fired up, everyone! I refuse to believe my luck’s so bad I can’t win a single reward!”
Cheng Yu threw off the covers with a triumphant “Woo-hoo!”, changed hastily into fresh clothes, and rushed out the door.
Questions still swirled in his mind—about the System, the choices, the rewards.
But theory alone wouldn’t answer them. One principle guided him: *Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.*
To prove his theory, he needed action.
Like now.
“Kind young man,” an old beggar rasped nearby, “spare some change for this old man? I’m separated from my family. Penniless. Haven’t eaten in three days. Just need fare to West Station to get home… please help.”
Hearing those words again, Cheng Yu’s mind reeled—not just with déjà vu, but with seething irritation.
*I really am reborn. Even the events are identical.*
*This bastard… if not for the System’s rules, I’d expose this trafficker right here.*
Disdain filled him as he stared at the beggar. Then—the familiar time-freeze sensation hit. Four options materialized before his eyes:
**[Faced with the beggar’s plea, you choose:]**
**[Option A: Help the beggar find his family. Reward: Luxury Apartment in Imperial Capital No.1 Courtyard]**
**[Option B: Seek help from passersby together with the beggar. Reward: Porsche 917K]**
**[Option C: Donate ¥100 to the beggar. Reward: ¥1,000,000 Cash]**
**[Option D: Shout “NANI KORE DA YO!” and sprint away. Reward: 1 Random Attribute Point]**
*Alright.*
Cheng Yu reevaluated the options carefully.
If this were truly a Galgame, Option A clearly led to a Bad Ending. No matter what he did afterward, timeline convergence would force a tragic end. He crossed it off immediately.
Though he could SL endlessly, the memory of that woodcutter’s blade still made his skin crawl. He had no desire to relive that death just to test a theory.
Besides—with the System on his side, wealth was inevitable. Why chase short-term gains?
*Money will come. Cars will come. Houses will come.*
That left three options… no, two. Option D didn’t even register.
Between B and C, B’s value was obvious. Cheng Yu knew little about cars, but *Porsche*? It had to be worth a fortune.
And the task—seeking help from strangers in broad daylight—seemed safe if he stayed cautious.
Sunshine broke through his doubts. Confidence surged.
*Time to try again.*
Without hesitation, Cheng Yu selected Option B.
