"Make way! Clear the path!"

"Get him to the emergency room—call Doctor Li for surgery, now!"

"Family, wait outside the OR. We’ll do everything we can for your son!"

...

"Why are the doctors in such a rush? What happened?"

"Heard he saved a little girl. Dodged a truck but got hit by some random baby bus. Girl’s fine, but this kid’s in bad shape."

"He’s a hero. Hope he pulls through."

Chen Mo floated above the scene, watching the murmuring crowd below. The self-mocking despair in his eyes had faded.

He stared at his translucent, intangible hands. "So what am I now? A soul separated from my body? Am I... dead?"

His gaze drifted toward the operating room, heavy with conflicted emotions.

What twisted his gut further was the system—his supposed transmigrator’s perk—only appearing now that he was dead. A translucent panel hovered before him, visible solely to Chen Mo.

*What use are you to me now that I’m gone?*

He focused on the screen:

[System: Life Simulation]

[Host: Chen Mo]

[Status: Between Life and Death]

[Current Task: Complete first life simulation to restore body]

[Remaining Simulation Time: 71:58:43]

[Available Lives: None]

...

Chen Mo’s eyes flickered at the task description.

*Between life and death... So I can still be saved? Through this system?*

He took a slow breath. This life he’d been reborn into mattered—he had a warm, ordinary family. Loving parents. A sweet little sister. A life he refused to lose.

*Simulating a life... Does that mean I’ll drift as a soul for three more days?*

The time limit gnawed at him. Trapped within a 30-meter radius of his broken body, he could barely move. Worse, he had to spend ten hours daily *inside* that dark, numb shell—a sensation he loathed.

The surgery ended. He lived—but waking up required a miracle.

The system updated his status: *Clinging to Life*.

His once-healthy body was now swathed in bandages, his handsome, resolute face pierced by tubes. Chen Mo sighed inwardly. After three agonizing days, the countdown finally hit zero.

*This first simulated life—I must finish it fast.*

Darkness swallowed him. Then—light.

A faint jasmine scent filled his senses.

His vision cleared to reveal slender, porcelain-pale hands holding a book.

*This is... the simulated life?*

*And the task is...*

He summoned the system panel:

[Current Life: Luo Xianxue]

[Task: Raise Luo Xianxue’s trust to 80+]

[Current Affinity: 50 (Stranger)]

[Status: Curious]

[Warning: Affinity below 30 (Dislike) = Simulation Failure]

[Reward: 70% Body Restoration]

[Time Remaining: 4:59:02]

The elegant script on the page startled him. He looked down at his new hands—delicate, long-fingered, flawless. Lowering his gaze further revealed generous curves beneath his clothes. Without touching it, he saw waist-length, silken hair spilling into view.

*I’m simulating a girl’s life?*

Chen Mo—true to his name—fell silent. Then he steeled himself.

*Doesn’t matter. Just complete the task. Raise this Luo Xianxue’s affinity to 80. I’ve devoured every Yuzusoft game—my theory is solid.*

*It’s just a simulation. Be a tool. Get the job done.*

But who *was* Luo Xianxue? He had no context.

Relishing the tangible feel of the book’s pages after three days as a ghost, he absentmindedly crumpled the paper. The realism stunned him—*exactly* like real life.

Then—a voice cut through his thoughts.

"Um... who are you?"

The sudden question made him flinch.

Before he could react, the voice chimed again, bright with wonder: "A ghost? An alien? You’re inside my body! How amazing!"

Chen Mo scanned the empty room. The voice echoed solely in his mind—*his host*.

Composing himself, he mentally replied. No response. So he spoke aloud: "You guessed right. I’m an alien."

"An alien?!" Her voice bubbled with excitement. "They’re real?"

Chen Mo almost smiled. "UFOs exist, don’t they? We’re invading Earth. Need a mole to scout. You’ll do."

"When’s the invasion?" Not a trace of fear—only eager anticipation.

*Why isn’t she terrified her body’s hijacked?*

"You’re betraying Earth," he pressed. "No guilt?"

Her mental voice turned smug: "I’ll leak intel *back* to Earth! Double agents are cool, right?"

"Then why confess?"

"Eh?" Panic flickered. "I—I was joking! I’m loyal! Totally!"

"Relax. I’m teasing." *She actually believed the alien bit...*

"One more thing," he added. "Your name?"

He needed intel on this simulated life—and marveled at its authenticity. Her personality felt utterly real.

A heartbeat later, her reply rang clear:

"Luo Xianxue."