Cleo glances down at her bullet wound in her chest, tears running down her face. This was how she was going to die, protecting the boy, Ryan Gao who accused her of being his obsessed stalker from his real stalker--her classmate, Julia. Julia was always interested in Ryan, but never let him know. Why didn't she? She had a reputation as a kind, pure-hearted girl. She could never display such disturbing behavior.
Instead, she sent Cleo out to watch him find out his favorite places and activities, lending to her to be misunderstood in their college as being a stalker. Cleo had no choice but to comply with her whims seeing that her mother worked for Julia's family and her mother's job would be in danger.
No matter how many times she tried to clarify things with him, the more he called her creep. Eventually, the word got across campus and she was harassed to the point of not attending class. She wasn't rich or backed by an affluent family. She couldn't do a thing about it all. Her mother worked hard to get her to be where she was and she couldn't afford to drop out. Her mother even came to a foreign country to work for the Elite after her father died.
She couldn't disappoint her, not like this.
And now, with the announcement of Ryan finding a girlfriend, the campus flower Vanessa Song, Julia was angry. Enraged enough to plan on killing Ryan and his sweetheart on the campus quad. Cleo wondered why she shielded the man who would look at her with disdain and disgust--perhaps she wanted to be redeemed in some way...she didn't think she'd get shot directly in the chest!
Ah, it hurt. It hurt so much. Her dark, weak eyes glance up at Ryan who stared at with his blue eyes wide. Vanessa had dropped to her knees in tears. That's right, the girl you bullied and accused was innocent. And the girl who was right there, beside you at every moment was a wolf in a sheep's clothing.
Die knowing the fact.
Spend your life knowing you indirectly caused the death of an already unfortunate girl.
"Didn't I tell you? Julia's your stalker...not me." Cleo managed to say as her breaths became shallow. Her body was propped against the statue sprawled out as if she were a martyr--as if her life was the price for her reputation being cleaned.
"I'm sorry Cleo." She feels herself be grabbed, hands attempting to stop the bleeding. Ryan and Vanessa looked at her
"Don't...don't let...her escape..." Cleo gasped, speaking through her huffed breathes, her vision getting dimmer.
"I will listen to whatever, just please stay. Actually, I l..."
Cleo stopped breathing after his words, leaving herself to slump in his arms in front of everyone.
That's how she, Cleo Roberts died.
"Would you like a chance to be reborn?" Cleo stares back at a dialogue box, like one she'd see on a computer with yes or no text. The screen illuminated her face she contemplated. Well, she didn't want to go fade into a void after death or wherever she was going to go. Yeah, she wouldn't be able to see her mother again and that blew but at least she'd have another chance at living.
She selected yes and watched as the room around her dissolved
[Hello, Host.] In front of her was gentle-looking (AI, perhaps hologram?) humanoid bot in front of her. With its electric-blue eyes smiling down at her, she could only stare at the impressive system with astonished eyes.
"Ummm, hello. Could you please tell me where I am?"
[After you made your decision host, you were transferred to my white space to get acquainted with you and to introduce you to your first assignment.]
Cleo narrows her eyes asking, "What assignment?"
[Host when you selected yes, you were bound to a system like me to help you complete worlds to put down as currency for your reincarnation. As humans say, nothing in life is free.]
Cleo frowned before nodding. Well, she got herself into some mess—she might as well follow through. Even if she was completely aware of what she'd have to do, she should've known there would be a price.
[Well then, I will introduce myself. I am 1001. I am a system among many more that plants hosts like you into worlds in order to fulfill the requirements and mission of those worlds. I will give you a summary of the world so you can be comfortable moving forward.]
River Wong is a young man living in poverty. His true identity if a member of the prominent Wong family that owns the largest entertainment company, Star Rose. Raised by his mother, Sara with ulterior motives, hid the truth about his father. Before she could reveal the fact, she dies when he's eighteen eighteen-years-old. He's bought by a man named Bolin Li and made a star under his company Anastasia. Anastasia was a known rival of Star Rose and Bolin took him under his wings with the knowledge that he's the true heir of the company. River, not knowing the fact becomes a talent under his wing, wanting his love and affection, and getting nothing but manipulation in return. After, a mental breakdown, he commits suicide in his Manhattan apartment and his fans riot, causing the destruction of A City--leading the formation of a cult that eventually destroys the world.
Cleo makes a disturbed face.
"Why am I inside some shitty BL novel?" Cleo argues, glaring at 1001 with my teeth gritted, coughing up blood. Like what kind of bullshit plot is this? Did the creator have something out for River? Why was his life set up so badly?
[We do not choose the worlds the choose us. You were chosen for this one.]
Your mother is chosen! Your whole family is chosen!
Cleo closed her eyes and tried to relax, glancing at 1001 who looks stoic and unapologetic.
"Ok, whatever, whatever. What does me, a woman have to do in a world where women are seen as pains or bitches?" As a person who enjoyed Boy's Love comic and novels, she knew that women were either non-existent or the obstacles in the way of the main lead's love. She hoped she wasn't going to playing such an annoying role
[You will play the role of Aerin Kaufman, a dropout of University C who becomes a manager to keep a work visa after she's fired from the school she instructs at. She works for Star Rose and is desperate to find talent or she'll be fired. We've maintained your current appearance and we will adjust it for the different world climates. For instance, your body in this world is that of a thirty-six-year-old so you've been aged up a decade. Would Host like to proceed with the world now?]
She nods, watching her body fading away from the white space
The first thing Cleo--now Aerin felt was the coolness of the smog-filled air she'd gotten used to breathing in while living in the city. She was walking under an umbrella, a bit buzzed. The original body's was at a bar for a hour and was currently walking down an alley. She spota a boy, hunched witha hood on. Coming closer, she finds that he's shivering. 'Oh, he'd get sick if he stayed out here' Aerin thinks to herself as she bends down gets a look at him.
[1001, is this the male lead?]
[Yes, Host. The Male lead is currently twenty-years-old. Today is the anniversary of his mother's death.]
Aerin frowns. She wonders how her own mother is dealing with her untimely death—she wonders if she could afford her fur real, or if she's gotten used to eating alone.
She taps his shoulder, covering him with her umbrella. She he looks up at her with a young, dewy-looking face, she smiles. Offering her hand, she simply says,
"Are you ok?" He looks up at her with watery eyes and gasps as her heart gets punctured by an invisible cupid's arrow. He was adorable, of course he was the male lead. While she's distracted by this face, he begins crying—she eyes widen, and she reaches out—touching his cheek as to soothe him.
They both freeze and he eases into her touch, almost desperately.
"Big Sister, your hands are so warm."
[First task: Bring The Male Lead home.]