"Where am I?"
The question tore out of her before she could stop it. Panic rose fast, tight in her chest, pressing against her ribs.
"Let me out!"
She slammed her fists against the white surface around her. It did not feel cold. It did not feel warm. It did not move. The space looked like chalk frozen in time.
Suddenly, all the late-night horror movies she watched sped through her mind.
A voice answered her. High. Bright. Almost cheerful.
"Hello, Host. I am System Navigator 419."
Jia Li spun around.
"Who said that? Show yourself." She said calmly, though her trembling fists told a different story.
A swirl of white mist formed in front of her. It gathered, thickened, and then settled into the shape of a small baby.
Round cheeks. Bunny ears. A white onesie. Large shining eyes.
Jia Li's raised fist stopped in midair.
She stared.
The baby smiled at her with open delight.
Jia Li lowered her hand slowly.
A weird silence hung in the room.
The big-eyed infant looked at her expectantly, as if it was expecting her to ask something. All it received was a wide-eyed stare
Seeing she wasn't going to ask anything, it prattled on almost like it was following a script.
"Aiyaaa~ Host, I'm System Navigator 419! You're the lucky soul bonded to the Overpowered Beauty System! You'll now travel across worlds to complete special tasks~ Each one has juicy rewards, and once you start, even more benefits will unlock!"
She let out a dry laugh.
"Are you f*cking kidding me? Is this some kind of new survival show?"
Jia Li couldn't believe it.
Of all people to try and scam, why her??
"Hey, say something. Who put you up to this? Also, you're a baby; how are you articulating full sentences?"
She went closer to the baby, poking and prodding its soft cheeks
Soft and bouncy.
Like rice balls.
The system's left eye twitched uncontrollably for a split second.
"…Host! Let's start over. I'm System Navigator 419! You're the lucky soul bonded to the Overpowered Beauty System! You'll now travel across worlds to complete special tasks~ Each one has juicy rewards, and once you start, even more benefits will unlock."
The system repeated in a cute voice
It then struck a pose.
The name sounded like a scam.
The chibi form made it worse.
Jia Li just...stared.
"Oh, I see now…I'm dead."
Jia Li knew these stories. She had read enough web novels during long bus rides to recognize the pattern. She never thought she would be part of one.
She worked an office job. Paid rent on time. Kept her head down. Her face passed through crowds without leaving an impression.
Not ugly enough to be memorable. Not pretty enough to be noticed. Thick glasses. Uneven skin. A nose that did not suit any angle. Long limbs that only looked decent in formal clothes.
If life were a game, she would be the background character near the quest marker. The one you forgot after five seconds.
"The system never makes mistakes," the system replied brightly.
The system floated slightly higher.
"Your task, Host, is to fulfill the unresolved wishes of soul fragments across different worlds. Completing these missions earns you points."
"Points for what?"
"For the System Mall."
A glowing screen unfolded beside her. Rows of icons flickered across it. Skills. Techniques. Physical modifications. Tools. Items.
"You can exchange points for upgrades. Beauty enhancement. Combat skills. Cultural knowledge. Even genetic edits. All permanent. All carried across missions."
Jia Li carried an incredulous look on her face.
Somehow, this all still felt like a dream.
"And the end goal?"
"To earn enough points to rebuild a physical body. Then you can be reborn in any world of your choice. Including your original world."
Her gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean by original world?"
"You come from Small World 1432. The story centres around Wang Meilin, the female protagonist."
Jia Li's jaw tightened.
"What role was I?"
"Background character number 56."
She felt something cold settle inside her.
The system continued in the same cheerful tone.
"Wang Meilin was switched at birth and raised in the countryside. At sixteen, her identity as the rich man's daughter was revealed. She returned home. She disliked studying. When her Gaokao scores were poor, her father replaced them with yours."
Jia Li's hands curled into fists.
"She knew the score was fake," the system went on. "But she accepted the praise. When you began investigating, she became annoyed. Later, she ensured your career never progressed. Others carried out the work for her. She only smiled."
The white space around Jia Li felt tighter.
Her breathing slowed. Suddenly, the air around her felt cold.
"This space," the system added, "is your personal dimension. Time here does not move. You can rest, store items, train, or access the mall whenever you wish."
"And if I fail?"
The system's voice lost some of its brightness.
"Points are deducted. Five consecutive failures result in corporal punishment."
Jia Li was curious about what corporal punishment meant, but no matter how much she prodded, it wouldn't say anymore.
"Host receives 100 beginner points," the system said quickly, as if to restore the mood.
A screen appeared in front of her.
System: Beauty System ASB-419
Host: Gu Jia Li
Age: 28
Level: 1
Rank: Beginner
Transformation Energy: 100
Core Stats
Charisma: 16
Charm: 10
Figure Proportions: 40
Luck: 20
Endurance: 40
Strength: 48
Intelligence: 71
Speed: 46
Flexibility: 42
Pain Tolerance: 58
Stamina: 55
Jia Li stared at the numbers.
"System, why is my charm so low??"
The system smiled sweetly before throwing words like knives.
"Because your five features look randomly assembled."
She side-glanced at its squishy, soft body.
The system suddenly felt a chill run down its spine
Her gaze moved down the list.
Then her eyes stopped at one line.
"Flexibility. For what. Yoga?"
The system paused before answering in a soft, stretched tone.
"Flexibility supports graceful movement. Combat. And other activities."
Jia Li frowned.
"What other activities?"
"If Host does not understand now, Host will understand later."
The system laughed with an exaggerated pervy laugh, winking nonstop.
Her eyes widened like kettlebells
"How dare you make vulgar jokes while looking like a dumpling?!"