Chapter 2

When I first arrived in this world, the system told me that I could only leave after winning Claire over.

So I began approaching her, researching her interests, and finding every possible excuse to appear in front of her. But at the time, Claire was the campus queen of Northbridge University, with countless guys chasing after her. Even though I was one of the strongest among her many admirers, I still failed to earn any special attention from her.

All kinds of men constantly surrounded her, but Ethan was the only one who had never changed.

Ethan loved hiking, so Claire joined the outdoor club with him. Despite having no hiking experience at all, she still dared to follow him deep into the mountains.

Then a storm rolled in. Claire took a wrong turn, became separated from the main group, and discovered that her phone had no signal. In her panic, she fell and injured her leg, leaving her stranded in the mountains with no one coming to rescue her.

The weather was so dangerous that the other club members didn’t dare to search for her. Even Ethan gave up and suggested that everyone leave first before contacting a professional search-and-rescue team to find Claire.

I was the only one who went to look for her alone, ignoring the danger.

When I found Claire, she was nearly suffering from hypothermia. I gave her everything I had that could keep her warm and stayed with her in a cave all night until the rescue team finally arrived.

The medical staff said that if I hadn’t found her and treated her in time, Claire wouldn’t have made it through the night.

After she woke up, Claire was deeply moved, and her attitude toward me improved considerably.

At the time, I was so consumed by happiness that I completely failed to notice that even though Ethan had been the one to put her in such a dangerous situation, she never blamed him even once.

Even after learning that Ethan hadn’t chosen to rescue her right away, she merely said, “He was the team leader. He had to consider the other members. I understand.”

That accident increased Claire’s affection for me by thirty points, but it was still only thirty points.

After that, her affection didn’t increase for a very long time.

It wasn’t until after graduation, when I was almost ready to give up on the mission, that Claire suddenly called me and said in a choked voice, “Alex, can you help me?”

At the time, Claire’s attempt to start a business had hit rock bottom. She had created her own brand, but it had received little attention and even left her buried in debt.

Meanwhile, I was working as the chief designer at an internationally renowned company, with a promising future ahead of me.

Claire cried as she begged me for help. Without even thinking, I rushed over, only to find her drunk and sobbing about how difficult her life had been all these years.

The very next day, I quit my job without hesitation and joined Claire’s company.

Under my leadership, Claire’s company quickly got back on track and became one of the leading names in the industry.

On the day the company went public, Claire excitedly threw her arms around me and kissed me.

The system told me that Claire’s affection for me had reached one hundred.

I could leave.

But Claire held me in her arms, her eyes sparkling as she pouted like a kitten. “Alex, you’re my lucky star. You have to stay by my side for the rest of my life, okay?”

As if possessed, I agreed.

The price of refusing the system was that it vanished in a fit of anger. After that, no matter how many times I called out to it, I never received a response.

At the time, I didn’t care. Staying in this world seemed fine too.

Until Ethan’s reappearance changed everything.