Chapter 8: A Whisper

The school courtyard buzzed with the usual Monday energy—students rushing to class, gossip floating in the air, the aroma of breakfast buns wafting from the cafeteria. But Yun Fei felt none of it.

Not today.

His eyes scanned every corner, every face. Something was wrong. The Regret Index had been quiet since his encounter with Jiang Chen, but his instincts screamed otherwise.

That's when he saw him.

A boy standing under the banyan tree.

He wasn't a student. His uniform didn't match any local school. His eyes were far too calm, too focused, scanning the crowd—not with curiosity, but calculation.

And then those eyes met Yun Fei's.

As if they'd been looking for him the whole time.

---

The Stranger

The boy walked forward with confidence. His shoes didn't make a sound. His posture was flawless, his hair immaculately neat. He looked no older than seventeen, but something about him was ancient.

When he reached Yun Fei, he didn't smile.

"You're taking the regrets too lightly," the boy said.

Yun Fei blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Don't be. You're still early in your reset. You think this is about love, about friends. It's bigger than that."

Yun Fei took a cautious step back. "Who are you?"

The boy extended a hand. "Li Qiren. Designation: System Drift Survivor. I've been where you are. And I'm here to warn you."

---

The Warning

They sat beneath the tree, students passing them like ghosts.

"I was reborn like you," Li Qiren began. "Regret Index and all. Same daily notifications, same emotional karma mechanics. But I went too far."

"What do you mean?"

"I used it to build an empire. Fixed every regret, forged alliances, removed enemies before they became threats. I thought I was saving the world. But…"

He looked up, eyes haunted.

"The system is not a gift. It's a test. And you're being watched."

Yun Fei's pulse quickened. "By who?"

Li Qiren leaned closer. "The Architects. The ones who created the Regret Index. They don't want perfection. They want balance."

Yun Fei frowned. "So, if I fix too many regrets…"

"They'll reset you again. Or worse—they'll overwrite your core."

---

System Interruption

Just then, the air shimmered.

> System Alert: Unauthorized System Interaction Detected

Subject Li Qiren: CLASSIFIED

Engagement time remaining: 90 seconds.

Yun Fei stood. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I disobeyed. And I'm being erased soon. But you… you still have time to choose what kind of rebirth this is."

Li Qiren reached into his pocket and handed over a black coin-shaped disk. "This will let you access deeper system logs—if you ever reach Level Three Access. Don't use it yet. Only when you're truly ready."

The air around him began to distort.

"I fixed everything," he whispered, "but I forgot to live."

And then he was gone.

---

Back in the Classroom

Yun Fei sat in silence through math, physics, and even literature. His thoughts spun like a hurricane.

Was Li Qiren telling the truth?

Could the Regret Index be more than just a personal redemption tool?

He opened his status screen.

---

Regret Index – New Entry

> System Anomaly Detected

Regret Shard #000: The Forgotten Purpose

Unlocked by Temporal Disruption.

Warning: You are being observed.

Next phase of evolution triggered at Emotional Core Level 4.

Optional Mission: Do not resolve any regrets for the next 3 days. See what changes.

---

Xiya's Concern

After school, Lin Xiya caught up to him near the school gates.

"You've been quiet all day," she said, her voice laced with worry. "Did something happen?"

He hesitated.

Could he tell her everything?

Would she even believe him?

But when he looked into her eyes, the doubt melted away.

"I met someone. Someone like me. He warned me that… I might lose myself if I try to fix everything."

She nodded slowly. "That makes sense. Regret isn't just about fixing things. It's about learning from them, too."

Yun Fei smiled faintly. "You always know what to say."

She nudged him with her shoulder. "That's what I'm here for. Just don't forget to live while you're trying to be a hero."

---

Late Night – The First Glitch

That night, Yun Fei placed the black coin on his desk. It was heavier than it looked.

Only when I'm ready, he thought.

Just as he turned off the light, the Regret Index flickered open on its own.

But this time, there was no message.

Only a single line, blinking in red:

> "WHO GAVE YOU ACCESS TO LEVEL THREE?"

Yun Fei's chest tightened.

For the first time since his rebirth, he felt fear.

Not of failure.

But of the system itself.

And the secrets it was hiding.