[Day 1, you became acquainted with Lily Anne.]
[Day 2, you discovered Lily Anne being bullied by classmates. Everyone around ignored it, treating it as normal. Only you helped her pick up the book that had been torn apart.]
[Lily Anne was moved and hurriedly thanked you.]
[You asked her to help hold down the shredded pieces while you used tape to fix the book.]
[During the process, your fingertips "unavoidably" brushed against hers. Lily Anne blushed. Seeing how serious you were, she felt embarrassed to pull her hand away.]
[Day 3, Lily Anne was cornered in the bathroom by the bullies who threatened to ruin her. At the critical moment, you stepped forward and beat the bullies down.]
[Lily Anne was terrified, trembling in a corner. You took off your school uniform jacket and draped it over her.]
[You brought her to the school's infirmary to treat her wounds. During the process, your breath accidentally brushed against her leg, making her face turn red instantly.]
[...]
[Day 6, you learned that Lily Anne had signed up for the city's academic competition, so you actively tutored her.]
[Your gentle voice made her heartbeat quicken, and your excellent logic left her deeply impressed.]
[Day 20, you sent Lily Anne to the competition venue and told her to do her best.]
[Lily Anne nodded, her determined expression shining under the bright sunlight.]
[Day 30, the results came out—Lily Anne won first place and shared the good news with you first.]
[Blushing shyly, Lily Anne said she only achieved it because of your tutoring. To thank you, she decided to treat you to dinner.]
[During the meal, the waiter accidentally knocked over the soup, spilling it onto Lily Anne. You immediately helped wipe it off, and accidentally touched her leg in the process, making her blush deeply.]
[To comfort Lily Anne afterward, you suggested buying her a new skirt.]
[Although embarrassed, Lily Anne agreed.]
[Day 36, you two walked together through the mall. Lily Anne tried on several skirts and asked you how she looked, her eyes sparkling.]
[You observed her subtle expressions and seriously ranked each skirt.]
[Lily Anne was delighted—your tastes were identical.]
[She bought her favorite skirt and seized the chance to invite you to the amusement park.]
[Day 37, your amusement park trip went perfectly. You were thoughtful, attentive, full of emotional support, and never showed a hint of impatience.]
[Lily Anne was overjoyed. It became her happiest memory.]
[Day 40, the school held the coming-of-age ceremony. Lily Anne wore the skirt you picked for her, smiling sweetly like a young lady, asking if she looked good.]
[You showed a deliberately shy expression and praised her beauty.]
[Seeing your reaction, Lily Anne's heart pounded wildly. She finally understood something.]
[Day 56, Lily Anne gathered her courage and held your hand. The meaning was obvious.]
[Day 60, that day, Lily Anne solemnly invited you out, saying she had something important to tell you.]
[Yet suddenly, a knife-wielding robber rushed out of nowhere. To protect Lily Anne, you were stabbed to death.]
[Lily Anne held your still-warm body, dazed.]
[She felt an overwhelming sadness and pain.]
[Looking at your bloodless face…]
[Lily Anne awakened from her deep coma.]
[Her parents were overjoyed, and the doctors repeatedly called it a miracle.]
[Mission completed.]
[…]
[…]
Aiden Cross opened his eyes.
Around him was a vast, illusory black space—empty, deep, and unreal, like the void between dreams and waking. Silence pressed around him, a suffocating weight he had grown far too familiar with. Yet now, for the first time in what felt like ages, he felt a faint tremor of hope ripple inside his chest.
Finally… finally!
Aiden couldn't help cheering inwardly. The emotion surged so strongly it nearly shook his calm façade.
The mission was complete.
Thinking back to the tragic, bizarre, and exhausting experiences before—those endlessly repeating dream-like simulations—Aiden felt as though the tears he hadn't shed in years threatened to spill out. He had been stretched thin, forced to relive countless emotional scenes again and again, each one crafted to stir, to heal, to awaken the girls trapped in their comas. It had been draining, suffocating, and frighteningly immersive.
He had originally been just a normal graduate student. Nothing extraordinary, just another hardworking researcher juggling experiments, deadlines, and lectures. One day, while going out to buy something from a street vendor, he accidentally crossed paths with an out-of-control truck.
A typical protagonist setup—yet paradoxically, he did not transmigrate to another world.
Instead, he arrived in a mysterious, uncanny space. There, a talking system appeared before him, its emotionless voice echoing in the void. It informed him that if he completed the missions, time would rewind to the moment before the accident, allowing him to avoid disaster and continue living.
Those missions?
Each required him to awaken a girl trapped in a deep coma.
To do so, he had to enter dream simulations and treat each girl well—offer emotional support, build trust, guide them toward rediscovering the beauty of life…
And finally, die tragically in front of them.
Through that intense emotional shock, each girl would awaken from her coma.
The process was excruciatingly paradoxical: he had to help them heal by letting them experience grief. And after waking, they would forget everything in the dream, ensuring their new life would be free of confusion or misplaced attachments.
Given all that, Aiden—who desperately wanted to survive—accepted.
He had no choice. His real-world research project was on the verge of a breakthrough. If he died at such a critical time, everything he'd worked for would be wasted. His professors had expectations, his team waited for results, and his future…
He wasn't ready to throw it all away.
After what felt like countless cycles—days turning into weeks, weeks stretching into a timeless void—he finally completed all missions.
Exhaling deeply, Aiden let his tense shoulders relax for the first time in ages.
"It's finally over," he murmured—though the words echoed meaninglessly in the empty space.
Thankfully, the last mission target had been normal.
Damn, the second and third tasks were hell. Absolute hell. He still occasionally shuddered at the memories.
The system's cold, mechanical voice rang at the right moment:
[Congratulations to the Host for completing all missions. You have gained one revival opportunity.]
[Revive?]
"Yes," Aiden answered without hesitation.
[Understood. Thank you for your contribution. The system is now unbinding. Wishing you a pleasant life.]
A crisp "ding" echoed.
The darkness collapsed.
A small, familiar space replaced the void. A single bed. A desk piled with messy notes and textbooks. Bookshelves squeezed against each wall, filled with research materials. Everything neat, yet chaotic in that "grad-student" way.
His dorm room.
It was noon.
According to Aiden's original timeline, he would've been going downstairs soon to buy food from a vendor near the school…
And walk right into the truck's path.
He never expected such a bizarre, supernatural event to happen to someone like him. But now that he was back, the weight of reality pressed down on his chest.
At this moment, Aiden had absolutely no desire to go downstairs for food.
He sat before the bookshelf and looked outside. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, throwing golden patterns on the floor. The sky outside was just as blue, just as peaceful as before—mockingly identical to the day he died.
Since no time passed in the system's space, this was the exact same day as his near-death.
Four missions flickered through his mind like half-remembered dreams.
And the four girls trapped in comas… had all awakened.
"Good thing they won't remember what happened in the dream," Aiden sighed.
If they remembered how thoroughly he had to "win them over," how embarrassingly dramatic some moments had been…
He might dig a hole and jump inside.
Painfully.
Recalling those moments was as embarrassing as forcing a socially anxious introvert to give a TED talk.
Aiden let out another long breath, sitting at his desk in silence.
His mind was overflowing with unnecessary memories—thousands of lines of emotional scripts he never wanted to review again. He needed to mentally sort everything, then dump it all into the recycling bin of his brain.
In short, he needed to forget, too.
…
Lotus-Root City First People's Hospital.
A pale, delicate girl sat dazed on a hospital bed. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held a lingering trace of fragility—like someone still trapped between dream and reality.
Her parents had told her she'd fallen down the stairs two years ago, hit her head, and ended up in a deep coma. They had long lost hope. Doctors had used words like "vegetative state," "no significant improvement," "prepare for long-term care."
But after two full years… she suddenly woke up.
Her parents and the doctors were shocked. Overjoyed. Crying. Flooding her with questions and examinations. Joy, disbelief, hope—everything swirled chaotically in the room.
Right now, they were outside speaking with doctors.
The room held only the girl.
Lily Anne slowly lifted her hand.
From years of being bedridden, her hand was thin, delicate, almost translucent in its paleness.
This was the same hand that had held the person she liked…
Still faintly warm in her memory.
Her face was pale, but her natural beauty remained untouched. Illness had not diminished her looks; instead, it gave her a fragile, ethereal charm—like a flower blooming in the snow.
After a long moment, Lily Anne raised her fingers to her lips.
She lightly touched them.
In the dream, at the final moment…
Seeing the lifeless person before her, those cold, bloodless lips—without thinking, she had leaned down and kissed him.
In the hospital room, the girl whispered softly, almost prayer-like:
"...Aiden Cross…"
---
Creaaak—
Aiden pushed open the door of the research lab.
Familiar workspace, familiar scent.
Thank goodness… he finally came back.
His face remained calm, but inside, Aiden was quietly relieved.
Being trapped in that timeless, suffocating void had made him miserable.
Now that he was back in this scene, it truly felt like another lifetime.
The spacious laboratory, the precisely running instruments…
Dark-green lab benches, shelves stacked with equipment…
And the figures in white lab coats moving about.
The hum of machinery, the soft clicking of keyboards, and the faint sterile scent of disinfectant all blended into a strangely comforting atmosphere. Every inch of the lab was arranged exactly as he remembered—neither a pen nor a reagent bottle out of place. It was like stepping into a preserved moment frozen in time, one that grounded him back into reality piece by piece.
When Aiden walked in, a girl in a white coat quickly bounced toward him.
"Senior Aiden!"
She wore her hair in a high ponytail. Wispy bangs framed her forehead neatly, fluttering slightly with her steps.
It was the classic "white moonlight" hairstyle—fresh, pure, adorable.
Her whole body was wrapped in the lab coat.
She wore short boots with a slight heel; paired with her bouncy walk, they made crisp tapping sounds.
The lively girl ran up to him, stretched out her hand, and said:
"Here, for you."
In her pale, delicate palm lay several beautifully wrapped candies.
This was the youngest member of their team—Vivian Leigh, the newest addition.
Cheerful, cute, with a sweet and innocent face, friendly to everyone—she was the secret crush of half the lab.
Aiden glanced at her.
Vivian's curled eyelashes trembled, her bright eyes looking up at him, full of expectation. Her eyes always held a little shimmer, as if she carried a small galaxy inside them that sparkled whenever he acknowledged her existence. The way she rocked slightly forward, toes bouncing with anticipation, made it clear she was waiting for his approval—even if that approval was unlikely to come.
"Thank you, but I don't like sweets," Aiden said politely.
Then, almost as a reminder, added: "And food isn't allowed in the lab."
"Ughhh, you can take them back to your dorm and eat them later!"
Vivian nearly died of frustration. Sometimes she wondered whether he was doing this on purpose.
She grabbed Aiden's wrist and forcibly pressed the candies into his palm.
"I bought too many and can't finish them! Help me out! Besides, everyone else got some—I'm not giving them only to you!"
Aiden's eyes landed on her hand.
As pale as carved jade, fingertips slightly pink.
Because lab work made nail art inconvenient, Vivian only applied a light polish, making her nails look soft and rosy. The way her fingers curled over his wrist seemed almost reverent, like she was holding something fragile and precious. Her touch lingered a second longer than necessary—subtle, but unmistakable.
Seeing Aiden look at her, Vivian's lips curved into a goofy, sweet smile.
After being locked in task space so long, Aiden had almost forgotten this junior had… questionable intentions toward him.
Slowly, the disconnected real-world memories began to link back.
Unfortunately, he had no interest in romance—
…especially after spending so many task rounds coaxing girls to build affection toward him. His head still hurt from it.
Aiden closed his fingers, trapping the candies in his palm.
He subtly moved his forearm, signalling her to let go.
Vivian instantly withdrew her hand with a beaming smile, hiding both hands behind her back as if she had just accomplished the most glorious mission of her life.
"Alright then! I'll go finish my experiment report!"
She skipped back to her seat.
But the moment she sat, she clenched her fists in excitement:
"Yes! I touched Senior Aiden's wrist today!"
Even though it was through his sleeve, still—
His wrist was so firm, the bones so masculine, and even through the fabric she could feel the heat of his skin.
"Ehehehehe…"
Vivian giggled to herself:
"Tonight I'll use this hand."
Next to her, Tina Smith twitched at the corner of her mouth.
"You really like Aiden that much?"
"Shhh! Shhh!"
Vivian slapped a hand over Tina's mouth.
"Don't say it so loud! What if he hears?!"
Tina pulled her hand away, giving her a look somewhere between amusement and pity.
"I think you forgot what Aiden did before."
Aiden—tall, ridiculously handsome.
If he quit being a researcher and became a model, he'd be hired instantly.
Girls at their university had once secretly voted him as 'Campus Prince level.'
Someone that good-looking should have hordes of admirers.
But paired with his cold, distant expression and razor-sharp way of speaking…
Anyone who liked him ran away before confessing.
There was once a senior researcher who liked a girl—
But the girl had a crush on Aiden and showed him favor often.
The senior grew jealous and plotted against Aiden.
The very next day, after his first "trap," Aiden called him aside for a private talk.
When they came back out, the senior was broken—crying his eyes out.
Everyone asked what happened.
The senior said Aiden had calmly listed twenty reasons why his crush didn't like him.
Every reason hit with deadly accuracy.
If Aiden had made them up, he wouldn't have cried—
But the problem was, they were all true.
And that wasn't the end.
The senior's crush also cried—because Aiden had gone to her and clearly stated he didn't like her, and that her behavior had inconvenienced him.
He asked her to "please behave properly from now on."
She broke down.
She hadn't even confessed yet… and she got rejected in advance.
With his verbal blade, Aiden scored a double kill.
That alone would have made people wary, but what followed truly traumatized the senior:
The heartbroken senior comforted the heartbroken girl.
They both reflected on the twenty reasons Aiden gave…
And the senior improved himself.
Gradually, the girl fell for him.
They happily ended up together.
The senior was ecstatic.
He went to thank Aiden.
And then he broke down again.
Because he found Aiden right when he was writing a research report—
And never noticed Aiden's deep frown because of the interruption.
So after his long speech of gratitude, Aiden finally snapped:
"…Who are you?"
The senior collapsed mentally.
Who are you?!
I've worked with you for an entire year!
How could you forget me?!
His apology and emotional journey… didn't even get recorded in Aiden's memory.
What was he?
A pebble on the roadside?
Not even qualified to be stepped on—just kicked straight into a river?
After that, the senior retreated into a corner and became invisible.
End of story.
Vivian of course knew Aiden rejected every girl who showed interest in him—that's why she hurried to cover Tina's mouth.
If Aiden overheard them…
He would come for a "talk."
And she'd be destroyed.
"Sigh…"
Vivian exhaled deeply.