Aria was still half-asleep when the familiar mechanical voice appeared again inside her head.
[New Task Issued.]
She didn't even open her eyes.
"Please… give me a normal task today."
A pause.
Then—
[Objective: Kiss your boyfriend.]
Silence.
Aria's eyes slowly opened.
For three seconds she stared at the ceiling.
Then she sat up.
"…What?"
She read the task again in her mind.
Kiss your boyfriend.
Her brain completely stopped working.
The next second she fell backward onto the bed dramatically like someone had just told her terrible news.
"WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT?!"
She grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Her thoughts exploded in panic.
"Honestly it would be easier if someone just told me I had cancer!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"I hate this system so much!"
Across the house, in another room—
Kim Min-jae almost choked on his coffee.
He had heard every single thought.
And now he was laughing so hard he had to sit down.
"She's unbelievable," he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile Aria was still rolling around on her bed in frustration.
"Why does every task involve this man?!"
"I didn't come to this world to romance a CEO!"
Min-jae wiped a tear from his eye.
This girl was the most entertaining person he had met in years.
During Filming
Later that morning filming started again.
Everyone gathered in the garden area of the mansion.
Cameras were already running.
Chen was talking with a few cast members.
Luna sat nearby, smiling softly while chatting with the others.
And standing a few steps away from them—
Was Kim Min-jae.
Aria spotted him immediately.
Her face froze.
"There's the victim…"
Min-jae heard that thought and almost laughed again.
He looked completely calm on the outside.
But inside he was very amused.
Because he already knew what the task was.
Aria stood there frozen.
Her mind was in chaos.
"Okay Aria… you can do this."
"It's just a kiss."
"The worst that can happen is he humiliates you or slaps you in front of everyone."
Min-jae raised an eyebrow slightly.
Her imagination was impressive.
He quietly waited.
Aria slowly walked toward him.
One step.
Then another.
Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it.
"Alright… just do it quickly and survive."
She stopped right in front of him.
Min-jae looked down at her calmly.
Aria leaned slightly closer.
Then suddenly—
She stepped back.
"Nope."
Min-jae laughed quietly.
He couldn't help it anymore.
Aria glared at him.
"Don't laugh!"
She turned away, pacing nervously.
"Why is this so hard?!"
Min-jae folded his arms.
Watching her struggle was extremely entertaining.
Aria took a deep breath.
Then she turned back and walked toward him again.
This time she stood very close.
So close she could feel his presence clearly.
Her thoughts started panicking again.
"Okay… just lean forward…"
She moved slightly closer.
Then—
"I CAN'T DO IT."
She immediately stepped back again.
Min-jae laughed openly this time.
"Having trouble?" he asked calmly.
Aria looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground.
"This is so embarrassing…"
She tried one last time.
Slowly she stepped closer to him again.
Their faces were only inches apart now.
Her heart was racing.
But the moment she thought about kissing him—
Her courage disappeared again.
She started stepping back.
But suddenly—
A hand wrapped around her waist.
Aria froze.
Before she could react—
Min-jae pulled her closer.
And kissed her.
Her eyes widened in shock.
The kiss lasted only a moment.
But it was enough.
At the same time—
The system voice appeared again.
[Task Completed.]
Min-jae slowly let go of her.
Aria stood there stunned.
Her brain had completely stopped working.
Then she noticed something.
Two people standing a few meters away.
Watching everything.
Chen.
And Luna.
Chen looked like he had just seen something impossible.
"…What?"
He stared at Aria and Min-jae in disbelief.
Luna's smile had completely disappeared.
For the first time since the show began—
She looked genuinely shocked.
Aria slowly turned toward them.
Her mind screamed.
"Great."
"Now the whole world probably saw that."
Beside her, Kim Min-jae looked perfectly calm.
But inside—
He was still smiling.
Because this strange girl continued to make his world far more interesting than it had been before.