The old beggar felt he’d met a weirdo.

He’d targeted this area early that morning, knowing university freshmen were registering nearby and hoping to make a quick buck.

But before he’d even started begging long, a young man rushed toward him—face pale, frantic as hell.

The old beggar looked up and began, “Young man…”

“Shut up!”

The other roared, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Startled, the beggar sensed ill intent and panicked, scrambling backward.

But the young man seized his wrist—

then yanked out a 100-yuan bill, thrusting it forward earnestly. “Old man, take this. Go home safe and find your family!”

“…?”

The beggar froze, dumbfounded.

Cheng Yu was equally stunned.

He’d never expected a final blow after securing his reward and letting his guard down.

What nonsense was this? His Porsche!

Reborn again, Cheng Yu wasted no time. He bolted out the moment he woke, hunting down the beggar himself.

When the system’s options reappeared, he chose C without hesitation.

No house, no car—I’ll grab this million if it kills me!

Cheng Yu screamed inwardly. The beggar hesitated, glancing between him and the bill, then took it.

Once sure the money was real and Cheng Yu wouldn’t act, the beggar’s face shifted instantly. Tears streaming, he bowed deeply. “Thank you! You’re a saint! I’ll pray to the Bodhisattva daily for your blessings!”

Cut the act! I want my million, you fraud!

Cheng Yu smiled politely, roaring inside. Watching the endless bows, his expression hardened. He grabbed the beggar’s shoulder.

“…Where’s the money?”

The beggar froze, then looked down. The bill had slipped from his grip while bowing.

His face paled. He scanned wildly, pointing and shouting, “Hey! That’s my money!”

Cheng Yu followed his finger. The bright red bill tumbled across the ground, dancing on the wind toward the distance.

The beggar shoved past him, lunging and yelling, “My money! My money…”

Cheng Yu calmed himself, checking his mind. No reward notification appeared.

Could it be… because the money never reached him?

Realization hit. Cheng Yu’s face twisted. He sprinted after the beggar, screaming, “My money! My money!!!!!”

On the capital’s streets, two figures—one old, one young—chased the wind. It howled fiercely, refusing to die down. The red bill twirled lazily ahead, just out of reach as they stretched desperately.

A sudden gust blew it into a side alley. The beggar, exhausted, slowed to a gasping halt, bent double.

Cheng Yu, fueled by the million-yuan dream, charged on tirelessly.

The alley wind weakened. The bill slowed. Cheng Yu surged forward, snatching it triumphantly.

He cradled the bill like a lover, his gaze whispering, *You’re all I have left.*

Relief washed over him. As he turned to hand it over, his foot nudged a bulging bag on the ground.

Curiosity flared. He crouched, unzipping it.

A sea of bright red bills blinded him.

*[Task complete. Host awarded one million yuan cash reward.]*

…Ha. So this was your plan, System.

Seeing his reward thrilled him. Cheng Yu sighed deeply, lips curling into a grin. *Rich. I’m rich.*

What to buy? A new PC? A phone? Or…

“Hehe… Hahahahaha!!!!!”

He threw his head back, laughing wildly at the sky.

Until he saw the beggar—eyes bloodshot, woodcutter’s axe raised high.

“This… is my money!”

Cheng Yu opened his eyes again. The same ceiling stared back.

“…”

Silent for ages, he slowly covered his face with his hands.

Life was unbearable.

Why did every choice end with an axe?

So option D was the only path from the start!!!!!

Cheng Yu’s mind shattered. Watching rewards slip away again and again was agony.

“…I refuse to believe it.”

He stood, teeth clenched, fire blazing in his eyes.

“Fail once? Try ten times. Fail ten? Try a hundred. I can reload saves infinitely—I’ll grab a reward yet!

I’ll be the System King!!!”

He steeled his resolve. Little did he know, those words marked the start of a long road.

Choosing D this time, he cleared the first option. But soon after, he failed the second—and met the axe again.

He woke once more on September 3rd.

Cheng Yu tried tirelessly: 3 times, 5, 10, 20, 50…

This time, he woke and silently wrote “100” in his notebook.

“A hundred tries… really?” he muttered, face twisted oddly.

Few could endure repeating life a hundred times without breaking. But Cheng Yu, lured by rewards, persisted without weariness.

“A hundred rebirths… I can survive the first two months now. Keep testing. Maybe by freshman year’s end, I’ll get a new save point. Things might ease up…”

*[System Warning]*

A screeching alert shattered his thoughts.

*[Host has undergone one hundred lifetimes. This is your final rebirth chance.]*

*[Fail this task, and the system shuts down permanently.]*

*Clatter.* His pen hit the floor.

His face drained of color. His legs turned to jelly.

“W-What joke is this? Last chance?”

“Hey… don’t scare me, System! We’re partners! You love me—you wouldn’t leave… System? Hey! System!?”

He yelled desperately. Then his eyes caught text materializing on the hotel’s floor-length mirror.

*[Name: Cheng Yu…]*

He rubbed his eyes, double-checking.

After his name, a number glowed in vivid red—

1

Cheng Yu collapsed to the ground with a thud, unmoving for a long time.