Chapter 1: The Awakening of the System

The first thing Adam Fenton remembered when he woke up that morning was the sense of impending doom. It wasn't because of some ominous dream or dark prophecy, but because he had been rejected by every girl he had ever shown interest in—sometimes in the most humiliating ways possible.

Being handsome should have made life easier, right? Wrong. Adam had learned the hard way that good looks came with unrealistic expectations. He was like a finely wrapped present that everyone assumed would be empty on the inside.

Today, however, felt different.

"Ugh. Another day in paradise," Adam groaned as he swung his legs off the bed. His reflection in the mirror stared back at him—messy brown hair, sharp jawline, and eyes that always seemed to carry a quiet intensity. Yet, no amount of good looks could make up for the social awkwardness that trailed him like a shadow.

As he yawned, his vision suddenly filled with a blinding light.

Ding!

[System Initialization Complete.]

"What the hell?" Adam blinked as a translucent blue window appeared in front of him, hovering just above his bed.

[Welcome to the Affection Target System!]

Before he could process the words, another message followed.

[Affection Targets Selected. Missions Pending. Good luck, Player!]

"Player?" Adam muttered, rubbing his eyes. "What's this? Some kind of prank?"

The system window didn't care about his confusion. More text filled the screen.

[Mission: Gain the affection of Olivia Sterling. Current affection level: 0/100]

[Reward for completion: $1,000 and +1 Acting Skill]

"Who's Olivia Sterling?" he asked aloud, but the system didn't respond.

A status window popped up next.

[Adam Fenton's Status]

Affection Targets: 1

Money: $0

Charm Level: 50

Acting Skill: 0

"I must be dreaming," Adam said.

But the system's voice—cheerful and robotic—cut through his thoughts.

[Congratulations, Adam! You've awakened as the main character of your own story! Your mission is to build affection with selected targets to ensure survival. Failing missions will have... unpredictable consequences.]

"Unpredictable? What kind of consequences?"

The system didn't answer. Instead, it projected a holographic image of Olivia Sterling—a tall, regal girl with platinum-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked like she belonged to a family that owned half the world.

"Oh, no. She's way out of my league." Adam's mind raced. "Why would someone like her even talk to me?"

[It's not about talking. It's about strategy. Complete the missions. Earn affection points. Survive.]

"Survive?" Adam's stomach churned.

Later That Day

Adam found himself sitting in the university library, pretending to read while covertly watching Olivia Sterling from across the room. She sat like a queen at her table, surrounded by friends and admirers. Every laugh and smile from her felt calculated—a performance worthy of a royal court.

"Mission start," Adam whispered under his breath.

[Mission Objective: Introduce yourself to Olivia without embarrassing yourself. Reward: +5 Affection Points.]

"How am I supposed to do that?" Adam muttered.

[Tip: Confidence is key.]

"Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically.

Taking a deep breath, Adam stood up. His heart raced as he crossed the library floor. Each step felt like a mile.

When he reached Olivia's table, she looked up—her eyes locking onto his with the intensity of someone analyzing a puzzle.

"Hi. I'm Adam Fenton."

Her expression remained unreadable for a moment. Then she smiled—a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Olivia Sterling. Can I help you?"

"I'm—uh—new here." Adam cursed himself inwardly. What kind of lame excuse was that?

To his surprise, Olivia didn't dismiss him.

"Welcome to the university, Adam." Her tone was polite but distant.

[Affection Level: +1]

Adam's eyes widened at the notification.

"Thanks," he said awkwardly before retreating to his seat.

Once he sat down, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

[Congratulations on completing your first mission!]

"That wasn't so bad," Adam muttered.

[You're not done yet. Olivia's interest is piqued. Maintain momentum or risk losing points.]

"Fantastic. No pressure at all."

Olivia's Inner Monologue

Adam Fenton—handsome, awkward, and a walking contradiction. Olivia tapped her fingers on the table, her mind racing.

Why did he approach me?

She'd seen his type before. Boys who thought charm was enough to break through her defenses. Yet, Adam didn't seem like the typical overconfident fool. There was something different about him.

I'll keep an eye on him, she decided.

Back in Adam's Room

Adam collapsed onto his bed, exhausted from the day's events.

[New Mission Unlocked: Gain 10 Affection Points with Olivia Sterling.]

"You've got to be kidding me."

[No rest for the weary, Player! Remember, survival is the goal.]

Adam glared at the system window. "Why do I feel like I'm being set up for something terrible?"

[Oh, you'll find out soon enough!] the system teased.

As Adam drifted off to sleep, one thing became clear: his life was no longer his own. And he had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.