Morning sunlight streamed weakly through the hospital blinds, casting pale gold patterns across the floor. The gentle chirping of birds outside, a cheerful melody, filled the room.
Lianna—or rather, Song Liwei—stood quietly by the window, her hand absently running over the small hospital wristband she still wore.
Today feels different, so calm. Very different from what she used encounter in her life as Lianna.
Her thoughts were interrupt when the door swung open with a soft creak.
"Liwei!" a bright, slightly worried voice called out.
Turning around, Lianna found herself looking at a woman in her early thirties, stylishly dressed in a soft pink blazer and skinny jeans, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She had sharp, capable eyes softened by genuine concern.
Jiang Mian—Song Liwei's manager.
"You're finally getting discharged!" Jiang Mian huffed, balancing a bag of clothes and papers.
"Good thing you didn't hit your head too badly. We were all so worried!"
Lianna offered a small, polite smile, adjusting to the way everyone seemed to care about her here.
"I'm fine now," she said softly.
Jiang Mian looked her up and down suspiciously, then smiled back.
"Good. I brought your favorite hoodie and sneakers. Let's get you out of here before the nurses change their minds!"
A few signatures later and a long series of thank-yous to the nurses, Lianna found herself walking under the open sky for the first time in this world.
The air smelled of early morning—cool, a little dusty, a little sweet.
She breathed it in deeply.
It felt... freeing.
It's been a while since she has felt this way, away from the cold office on the top floor of the building, doing paperwork.
The car ride to the company was quiet but comforting. Jiang Mian occasionally glanced at her through the rearview mirror, seeming to hesitate.
"Liwei," she finally said, clearing her throat.
"I know things have been tough lately. But you're strong, you hear me? There's a small audition coming up for a drama series. It's not a big role, but it's something."
Lianna nodded, feeling a twinge of gratitude in her heart.
Song Liwei may have been a struggling actress, but at least she wasn't alone. She had people rooting for her—even if they were strangers to Lianna's soul.
The entertainment company, Starlight Entertainment, loomed ahead—a sleek, glass-covered building that reflected the morning light like a shard of a dream.
It buzzed with life. Staff hurried in and out, carrying scripts, phones, costumes. Bright posters of famous artists adorned the walls.
Lianna followed Jiang Mian into the elevator lobby, feeling slightly out of place in her simple hoodie and jeans among all the designer outfits.
As they waited for the elevator, Jiang Mian answered a phone call, stepping aside.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened smoothly.
Lianna stepped inside, alone.
Just before the doors could close, a figure appeared—a man.
Tall, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway for a moment, as if he could block out the world if he wished.
He wore a simple white shirt and black jeans, yet somehow, he made it look effortless, regal even. His hair was slightly messy, like he had just come from a photoshoot, and his eyes—
Those eyes.
Clear, deep, quietly bright, like stars hidden behind soft clouds.
For a breathless moment, their gazes locked.
The world around them seemed to hush.
Lianna forgot about the elevator and stared openly at the man.
All she could see was him.
He looked at her with a curious softness, as if trying to remember where he had seen her before... or perhaps wondering why he felt a strange tug in his chest.
Seconds stretched into forever.
Then, with a slight nod—a polite, almost unnoticeable gesture—he turned to face the elevator doors.
Lianna's heart thudded loudly in her chest.
Who... was that?
As if answering her silent question, Atheron's voice chimed in her mind, sounding almost smug.
"Host, congratulations! You have officially encountered the second male lead—Xu Minze!"
Her lips parted slightly in surprise.
That was him?
That was her mission's key?
She glanced sideways at him discreetly, memorizing the small details. The way his fingers curled loosely into his pockets, the way he shifted his weight when the elevator shuddered slightly—the little things that made him seem... real.
Human.
Warm.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Lianna felt something stir inside her chest.
Not duty.
Not responsibility.
But something simple and purely human.
Curiosity.
The elevator reached the 15th floor.
The doors slid open.
Xu Minze stepped out first, without looking back.
Lianna remained standing there for a moment, her fingers brushing lightly over her racing heart.
She smiled to herself.
Maybe... just maybe... this wouldn't be so hard after all.