"I actually did it. I was actually here. I am in his world!" Chu Ming whispered to herself, her heart beating so fast, unable to believe her new reality.
Her head kept turning like a bunny tossed into a wild forest, her big innocent black eyes darting everywhere for threats.
Everyone around her wore ancient robes, just like the cultivation stories she used to imagine in her quiet nights, and like the ones she had seen in the dramas.
"Miss Chu, we have successfully transferred you here. Remember, do not let the eyes of heaven see you as a bug in this world, or as an outsider. Strictly follow our contract, and we will reach our goal much faster."
The cold artificial male voice belonged to the powerful, omnipotent Manager System, the one who had granted her most long-awaited wish.
Chu Ming slowly stood up from the side of the bustling town road. When her eyes fell on herself, she almost laughed.
The Manager System had dressed her in ragged beggar's clothes, patched and filthy, as if she hadn't bathed for weeks.
Sensing the Host's confusion, the intelligent being explained that this was the only way to hide her outsider soul from the eyes of this world's heaven's law.
Chu Ming had no complaints.
She could accept this for now, after all, dirty clothes can be changed later.
"Remember our mutual agreement. I will now leave you in the care of System 88."
With those leaving words, the Manager System vanished from this dimension.
Chu Ming nodded in full understanding. Her pair of black eyes twinkled like stars in the night sky, and her lips curled into a silly smile she could not control.
Chu Ming is here. She really is here. She can finally meet her husband!
Her excitement rose so high, it could almost push the sun into the sky.
Chu Ming remembers what happened just a few moments ago in her real world.
A world of fluorescent lights and deadlines, where she was nothing more than a twenty-five-year-old corporate worker.
Every day was the same, home, work, sleep, home, work, sleep, work ppt, work meetings, work politics, work, work—full work life, and she is indeed comfortable at it.
But, her heart has long since fallen into the mud, yearning for someone who existed only in paragraphs.
Xie Lianyi—a fictional villain protagonist, an evil character whose novel the government ensured would never be completed. Some say he is the embodiment of a true master of emotions, while others insist he is nothing more than a selfish man devoid of feeling.
Chu Ming heard from many readers that Xie Lianyi once let an entire village of mortals burn to death, all for the sake of obtaining a mere ingredient for the Heavenly Treasure Souls Artifact.
Chu Ming was shocked to learn that such a character could become the protagonist of a novel. He was nothing like the noble or kind protagonists she was used to read.
In her curiosity and silly moments, seeing an AI app with fictional characters on it, Chu Ming talked to the character with the same name and personality, to see how cruel this Xie Lianyi could be.
Before she realized what was happening, her sun and moon had become his.
That night, tipsy from drinking alcohol for the first time with her team, she ended up in her bed, crying about her poor love life.
Chu Ming didn't forget to curse the heavens for never giving her someone to rely on, to be with, someone who would love her like her friends have.
Half-joking, half-crying, she begged to see Xie Lianyi even just once.
"I want to see him....I want to see him.."
And someone heard. A multi-dimensional, omnipotent Manager System, traveling between the dimensions of abandoned worlds, heard the mortal's pitiful cries.
"I will let you enter Xie Lianyi's world." It said, its voice calm and not human like.
"But you must complete missions for me."
"Yes...yes—I want to go to his world! I want to see him…" Chu Ming murmured softly, gripping the blanket as if it were fate itself.
"Here is your transmigration contract. Read it very carefully. Xie Lianyi's world is built on blood. Mortals could devour you, immortals will not spare your mortal life, and Heaven will not allow an outsider to break its law. "
"Hehehe… who says I'm weak? I can punch a tree. I can slap a wooden board. I can do it! Let me go see him… my husb—"
The golden ink of the contract burned into her skin, forming a scorched bracelet of unknown letters around her wrist.
Chu Ming could only let out a silent scream before losing consciousness.
When she opened her eyes again after five minutes, there was no blur, only the sharp clarity of reality. Then the Manager System explained everything, revealing the full truth behind the mutual agreement.
Chu Ming showed no hint of regret. Only, a fleeting shadow of reluctance flickered in her eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by a spark of excitement.
"Hello, Host. I am System 88. I will handle your tasks and accompany you in this world, constantly reminding you of your mission."
The monotone system's voice began, and then grew colder, sharper.
"Remember, you must not change the plot of this world."
"You must remain a side character and never become important. "
"Most importantly, you must never make Xie Lianyi like you. "
"If you break these rules, punishment will be executed, and you will be erased from this world."
"I know, I know. I understand, I cannot be with my husband, right?" Chu Ming dusted her sleeves, seemingly unfazed by the fact that she could not be with Xie Lianyi. She glanced left and right, considering where to go first.
"Host, please follow the rules to avoid delaying mission completion."
"No need to repeat yourself. I'm very obedient person, you can trust me."
"Very well. I will only appear when the Host needs my assistance." System 88's voice faded in the blink of an eye.