The mansion was louder than usual that afternoon.
Staff moved around with cameras, producers whispered instructions, and the actors gathered in the main hall for the next filming segment.
Aria stood near the snack table, quietly drinking water.
Her mind was still replaying the kiss incident from earlier.
"Why did he suddenly kiss me?!"
Across the room, Kim Min-jae heard that thought and smirked slightly.
But Aria quickly shook her head.
"Focus, Aria. Survive the system. Escape the novel. That's the goal."
Right then—
The mechanical voice appeared again.
[New Task Issued.]
Aria froze.
"…I don't like that tone."
The words appeared.
[Objective: Publicly confront Luna.]
Aria blinked.
Then she whispered slowly,
"…Fight Luna?"
She looked across the room.
Luna was sitting elegantly with a few cast members, smiling sweetly like the perfect angel.
Aria groaned internally.
"Of course the system wants me to fight the villain."
Across the hall, Kim Min-jae heard everything again.
His interest immediately grew.
Meanwhile, someone approached Aria.
"Aria."
She turned.
It was Chen.
He looked slightly awkward but determined.
"Can we talk?"
Aria already knew what this conversation was about.
Because Chen had been repeating the same thing since morning.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Listen… about yesterday…"
Aria sighed internally.
"Here we go again."
Chen continued.
"You used to like me, right?"
Aria stared at him with a completely blank face.
"…Used to?"
Chen looked confused.
"You liked me before. Everyone knows that."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Yes. Before."
Chen frowned slightly.
"Then why are you suddenly acting like this?"
He looked genuinely puzzled.
"You rejected me again this morning."
Aria shrugged.
"Because I'm not interested."
Chen blinked.
"…Not interested?"
"Not even a little."
She said it so calmly that Chen froze.
Every time he brought up the topic—
Aria rejected him without hesitation.
At first he thought she was joking.
But now he was starting to realize something.
She really meant it.
And strangely—
That made her more interesting.
Chen studied her face carefully.
The girl who used to follow him around had disappeared.
Instead there was someone completely different.
Confident.
Sharp.
Unpredictable.
"…You've changed," he said slowly.
Aria shrugged again.
"People change."
Chen looked thoughtful.
Then he said something unexpected.
"I think I like this version better."
Aria almost choked on her water.
"WHAT."
Across the hall—
Kim Min-jae heard that thought.
And raised an eyebrow.
Chen continued calmly.
"You're much more interesting now."
Aria stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"Why are men in this world so strange?!"
Before Chen could say anything else—
A soft voice interrupted them.
"Oh?"
Both of them turned.
Luna had walked over.
She smiled gently, but her eyes were sharp.
"What are you two talking about?"
Chen hesitated.
"Nothing important."
Luna looked between them curiously.
Her gaze lingered on Aria for a moment.
Then she laughed lightly.
"Aria, you've been acting strangely lately."
Aria tilted her head.
"Is that a problem?"
Luna's smile stiffened slightly.
"You're just… different from before."
Aria stepped closer.
Perfect.
Because the system task was still active.
She smiled sweetly.
"Actually Luna… I've been meaning to ask something."
Luna blinked innocently.
"What is it?"
Aria's voice remained calm.
"But are you really as kind as everyone thinks?"
The room suddenly became quiet.
Even the nearby cameras turned toward them.
Luna's expression flickered for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
Aria crossed her arms.
"Well…"
She looked at Luna thoughtfully.
"I heard you don't treat your 'best friends' very nicely."
Luna's eyes darkened slightly.
Chen looked surprised.
"Aria…"
But Aria continued.
"I mean… you call them friends."
"But you treat them more like toys."
The tension in the room instantly rose.
Luna's smile was now very forced.
"Aria, that's a strange accusation."
Aria shrugged.
"Is it?"
She leaned slightly closer.
"Should I ask them directly?"
Luna's fingers tightened slightly.
For the first time—
Someone was openly challenging her.
Across the room, Kim Min-jae watched the entire scene with interest.
Aria's thoughts were loud in his head.
"Alright system."
"I'm doing the task."
"Now please don't give me another crazy one."
Min-jae chuckled quietly.
Somehow—
He had a feeling the system was far from finished with her.