Chunan’s face looked like he’d seen a ghost.

He stared at the girl on the bed for a long moment.

Finally, he tentatively spoke the name in his heart: “…Xiaohan?”

“Yep! It’s me, Xiaohan! Surprised? Happy?” The girl replied cheerfully, her grin infuriatingly smug.

That instantly shattered the ethereal fairy-like grace from that fleeting glimpse.

Chunan’s mouth twitched. “Surprised, sure. Happy? Not really.”

Xiaohan immediately rolled out of bed and stood up.

She deliberately struck a seductive pose, perfectly showcasing her curves and assets.

“Look! Is this body top-notch? Is my face pretty? Are my boobs big? From now on, I’m your capable assistant! Living with such a beautiful girl every day—doesn’t that count as a surprise?!”

Chunan was silent for a moment.

“Can I get with you?”

“…”

“Well then,” Chunan ignored her stiffening expression and sat down on the bed calmly. “What’s going on? Explain.”

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Xiaohan’s excitement faded a bit.

She sat back down beside him. “Aren’t you surprised at all? Doesn’t it amaze you that I turned into such a pretty girl?”

Chunan shot him a sideways glance.

He wanted to say he’d already reincarnated once—what could surprise him now?

But he couldn’t say that.

He feared being called crazy—well, this guy probably lacked the vocabulary for “insane,” so at most “sick in the head.”

He also wanted to say, since he couldn’t get with her, what did it matter if she was a girl?

But he couldn’t say that either.

Because that would be beastly.

So he stayed calm.

Seeing he genuinely wasn’t faking it, Xiaohan’s last hope vanished.

She immediately put on a tearful voice and threw herself at Chunan, wailing: “Chunan—! I’ve had it so rough! After decades of never having a girlfriend, fine! Can’t find a job better than yours, fine! But learning guitar and running into this crap—what did I do to deserve this?! Why did that damn system bind to me?! Setting a goal to become a popular idol! How can I possibly achieve that?! But after I tried to cancel the contract, it said I breached it and there’d be punishment! I’d have to be the exclusive assistant to the next host! My life is so hard!”

Chunan: “…”

That was a lot to take in.

Just then, the system’s voice echoed in his head again—

[System loading complete]

[Starting tutorial]

[Host, this system aims to help chosen individuals achieve life goals, collecting human society data for its creator’s graduation project. Data will be uploaded as selected. Host has agreed to this protocol; violation is breach of contract.]

[As a tester, the system will reward you with money and more upon reaching milestones. Stay true to your heart and strive for the goals.]

Chunan understood immediately. “Did you agree as soon as you heard it would give you money?”

Xiaohan froze, then realized the system must be giving Chunan the tutorial.

Feeling a bit guilty, she still nodded. “…Who doesn’t want more money, right?”

Chunan couldn’t help but laugh. “Pyramid schemers must love people like you.”

Gullible and easy to fool.

He wasn’t angry. In fact… he rarely got angry in this life.

Many said he had a great temper, but it was just maturity from his past life.

Most things weren’t worth getting mad over.

If anger solved problems, managers worldwide would do nothing but rage all day.

He was actually curious about this system.

But his comment offended Xiaohan. “Hey, what do you mean? I’m not stupid! Can pyramid schemers talk inside your head? These are totally different!”

“Different or not, it’s no excuse for signing a contract without reading it,” Chunan sighed. “Good thing I was watching over you before. Otherwise, you’d probably help count the money after being sold.”

While talking to her, he’d also been communicating with the system in his head.

He’d learned some interesting things.

This system helped hosts achieve life goals—but not based on their desires.

Instead, it inferred goals from what the host was currently doing.

That made some sense; many people don’t know what they want, just drift through life. Dreams often fade before adulthood.

But relying solely on current actions seemed flawed.

Of course, it wasn’t his problem to fix.

The system was ethical: unlike some novels, it didn’t force-bind.

It communicated first, signed a contract-like agreement, and explained the tasks.

Unfortunately, it met Xiaohan.

Hearing it could give money, and caught up in the novelty, she fantasized about novel tropes of rising to the top and agreed without hesitation.

Sadly, this system… was just a system.

It gave big tasks but no real help.

Its goal for Xiaohan was to become an idol—because she was learning guitar and singing idol songs.

The first milestone: gain ten thousand fans.

Xiaohan was dumbfounded.

How could she possibly gather that many fans?

Worse, there was a time limit. Failure meant breach of contract and heavy punishment.

So she decided to quit and let the system find someone else.

But that also counted as breach.

The punishment… was to be sent as an exclusive assistant to the next host, helping them achieve their goals.

To make her acceptable, the system would reshape her body to match the next host’s tastes—including gender.

Knowing this, Xiaohan was stunned again.

But she’d already breached; no taking it back.

Imagining becoming some stranger’s assistant, losing herself, her mind replayed all sorts of unmentionable T-scenes.

So she ran to Chunan.

The system allowed her to recommend the next host. If they agreed, it counted as signing the contract.

That’s why she tricked Chunan.

Better to benefit a brother than outsiders—keep it in the family!

At least they could fence!

…Wait, she only had the scabbard left.

Ahem. But if Chunan also failed, they’d both become the next host’s assistants. Imagining that scene, she cheered up again.

Chunan looked at the girl still hugging him and grinning foolishly.

He felt helpless.

This system really was thorough.

Xiaohan’s current form… was perfectly up his alley.

But what good was it?

He couldn’t get with her anyway.