For the first time since waking up in this insane, bad-luck-infested novel world, Jiang Yue had a moment of peace.
And it came in the form of cupcakes.
"I swear," Tessa said, plopping down across from her at their favorite café, "you've been… different lately."
Jiang Yue blinked over her chocolate cupcake. "Different how?"
"Less whiny," Tessa said bluntly, sipping her latte. "You used to complain about everything. The weather. Your parents. Even cupcakes, which, frankly, is a crime."
Jiang Yue winced. "I complained about cupcakes?"
"Oh yeah. Said they were 'too sweet for your tragic life.'" Tessa made air quotes. "But now? You're… confident. Happy, even."
Jiang Yue hid a smile behind her coffee cup.
If only Tessa knew the truth: the old Jiang Yue, the whiny, insecure, perpetually unlucky girl was gone. In her place was Ruelle Yin, transplanted from another world, armed with the memory of this ridiculous novel and a very literal survival mission.
She wasn't about to tell Tessa that, of course. Her best friend didn't need to know that her "new and improved" buddy had technically died once.
Instead, Jiang Yue shrugged. "Guess I decided life's too short to hate cupcakes."
Tessa narrowed her eyes but grinned. "I like this new you. You're bold. You even stood up to Lin Meiyu the other day."
Jiang Yue choked on her coffee. "You heard about that?"
"Everyone heard about that." Tessa leaned in conspiratorially. "Word is, she tried to corner you, but then you walked away like a queen while holding the CEO's sleeve. Iconic."
Jiang Yue's face heated. "That… was not what it looked like."
"Uh-huh." Tessa smirked. "Sure. And next you'll tell me the elevator thing wasn't romantic either."
Jiang Yue sputtered. "It was traumatic! There were sparks! Literal sparks!"
Tessa wiggled her eyebrows. "Romantic sparks?"
"No!"
The system dinged in her mind.
[Lie Detected.]
Jiang Yue glared at the invisible notification. "Stay out of this," she muttered under her breath.
Tessa tilted her head. "What?"
"Nothing! I just—uh—was talking to myself."
Her best friend stared at her for a long moment, then laughed so hard she almost spilled her coffee. "Yup. Definitely weird now. But I like it."
---
They spent the next hour swapping stories over cupcakes. Tessa ranted about her new job at the fashion boutique; Jiang Yue mostly listened, nodding along while trying not to accidentally reveal any "future knowledge" about things that hadn't happened in this world yet.
But then it happened.
"Ugh," Tessa groaned, stabbing her fork into a vanilla cupcake. "If I have to deal with one more delayed shipment, I swear I'll—"
"Oh, that's because the distributor's going bankrupt next quarter," Jiang Yue said without thinking.
Silence.
Tessa froze. "...What?"
Jiang Yue blinked.
Oh no.
Backpedal. Backpedal!
"I mean—uh—don't quote me on that," Jiang Yue said quickly, waving her hands. "I just… heard a rumor. Probably. Maybe. Somewhere."
Tessa squinted at her. "You've been… reading business news now?"
"Yes!" Jiang Yue slapped the table dramatically. "That's me. Business. News. Totally normal."
Tessa stared at her for another beat before shaking her head and laughing. "You're ridiculous. But weirdly, you might be onto something. I'll tell my boss to switch suppliers just in case."
Jiang Yue let out a silent breath of relief. Crisis averted.
The system dinged.
> [Social Bond Strengthened: Best Friend Affinity +5.]
Jiang Yue smiled. Tessa might not know the truth, but having her by her side made this world feel a little less alien.
---
Meanwhile, at Liu Corporation
While Jiang Yue was eating cupcakes and avoiding existential breakdowns, Li Zhenkai sat in his office reviewing reports.
Assistant Chen approached cautiously. "Sir, about Miss Jiang "
"Keep her in proximity," Li Zhenkai said without looking up.
Chen blinked. "You… want her here?"
"She signed the contract."
"Yes, but "
Li Zhenkai finally looked up, his cold gaze silencing the assistant mid-sentence.
"Three meters," he repeated.
Chen wisely backed out of the room.
Li Zhenkai leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen against the desk. His mind wandered for a brief, uncharacteristic second…
And he thought of her.
Her ridiculous expressions. Her terrible luck. The way she looked at him like he was both her shield and her personal lottery ticket.
He sighed.
"This is going to be a headache," he muttered.
And yet… he didn't stop the faintest curve of a smile from tugging at his lips.
---
By the time Jiang Yue and Tessa finished their "cupcake therapy session," they were laughing so hard other café patrons were staring.
"You know what?" Tessa said, wiping tears from her eyes. "I don't care if people think you're weird now. You're happier. And if that CEO guy has something to do with it—"
Jiang Yue choked. "He does NOT—!"
Tessa grinned knowingly. "Sure. Keep lying to yourself, cupcake girl."
Jiang Yue pouted, but her heart felt warm.
In this strange new world, with near-death curses, manipulative villainesses, and a cold CEO she couldn't seem to escape, at least she still had this:
A best friend who liked her anyway.
The system dinged.
[Luck Stabilized. Fatality Risk: 44%.]
For once, it felt like things might actually be okay.
…Until the chandelier creaked ominously above her.
Jiang Yue stiffened.
"Tessa," she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Duck"