The morning sun filtered through the dorm window of Central Capital University, casting golden lines across the wooden floor. Xu Jie—no, Xu Ning—stood by the window, watching the city slowly come to life. Behind him, Tang Rui still slept, the curve of her body outlined beneath the covers, her breathing soft and even.
His heart was calm, full. The mission, the life he had lived in this world, felt more real than anything else he had ever known. And yet…
Ding—
The cold chime of the system echoed in his mind.
Mission Completion Rate: 100%
Would you like to leave the current world or stay?
For a moment, Xu Ning froze.
Leave? After everything?
He had fulfilled every task: resolve the original host's regrets, win the national innovation contest, restore the family's dignity, find happiness, fall in love…
And he had truly fallen in love.
But he didn't know what would happen if he stayed. The system rarely revealed its rules until it was time. This was the protocol. The choice was his.
He gently turned back to Tang Rui, still sleeping peacefully. He memorized her face—every detail, every breath. Then, he made the most difficult choice of his new existence.
Yes.
The world tilted.
A sudden, violent shift yanked him out of his body. Light exploded around him, and he tumbled into the abyss between realities. It felt like drowning in brightness. The next moment, he landed with a jarring thud on a cold, white floor.
He groaned, dizzy, disoriented, the sound of his own breathing echoing around him.
Pure white stretched endlessly in all directions. He was back.
Back in the system space.
The silence was heavy until a familiar mechanical voice broke through it:
"Congratulations, Task Taker 007. You have successfully returned from the task world."
Xu Ning sat up slowly, rubbing his chest where the impact still echoed. He glanced at his hands—they looked the same, but something felt different. Dimmer. Lighter.
He looked down at his body and realized… his soul was fainter than before. Its glow, once stable, now flickered like a candle running out of wax.
"...Soul fatigue?" he muttered.
"Correct," the system responded. "Extended immersion and emotional entanglement have drained the integrity of your soul."
He frowned, suddenly remembering the warmth of Tang Rui's hand in his, her voice saying I love you—the emotional residue clung tightly to him.
"Is there a way to recover?"
"There are soul-replenishing resources available in the exchange system, as well as cultivation manuals to strengthen the soul. However, you do not yet have access to the exchange."
Of course.
He had suspected as much. He was still just an entry-level task taker—no title, no ranking, no clearance. Not even enough to access the basic privileges of the system space.
"What do I need to do to qualify?"
"Complete three mid-tier tasks successfully. Once your performance ranking stabilizes, access to the exchange system will be granted."
Xu Ning let out a breath. That meant more worlds, more lives… and more opportunities to lose pieces of himself.
Still, he wasn't discouraged. This was the path he'd chosen. The only way forward was through.
"Would you like to examine your current status?"
"Yes," he replied.
A transparent blue screen blinked into view before his eyes.
Name: Xu Ning
Task Taker ID: 007
Soul : 60
Life: 50
Experience: 4500/10000
Intelligence: 80
Mental Strength: 120
Martial Arts: 0
Completed Tasks: 1
Aptitude: 22
Charm: 1
Luck: 25
Abilities: Intermediate Coding Skill, Basic Business Strategy, Gentle Persuasion (Temporary)
Titles Aquired: None
Access Level: Intern Task Taker
Exchange System: Locked
Current Status: Eligible for next task assignment
Xu Ning scanned through the list. The small increases in aptitude and charm must have come from his emotional development in the previous world. His new ability, "Gentle Persuasion," likely emerged from his relationship with Tang Rui—though he suspected it was only temporary, tied to the context of that mission.
Even so, it reminded him that the people he met left marks on him. Maybe not physically, but deep within the fabric of his soul.
"You have earned ten bonus attribute points for completing a mid-tier world with 100% success," the system said. "Distribute now?"
"Yes."
He thought for a moment, then allocated the points:
+3 to Soul
+3 to Luck
+2 to Charm
+2 to Aptitude
"Updated attributes confirmed. Would you like to receive your next task?"
Xu Ning hesitated.
The image of Tang Rui's sleeping face returned to him. Her smile. The way she had leaned into him that night and said, "I've never been more sure."
He knew she would wake up soon and reach out for someone who was no longer there.
And she wouldn't understand why.
That thought sliced through him.
"Can I delay for a while?" he asked.
"Yes. You may rest and meditate to recover. The next task can be initiated when you are ready."
He nodded, standing alone in the white expanse.
The system went silent. Xu Ning sat cross-legged on the floor, the quiet hum of the space folding around him. He had completed his first task, succeeded against all odds.
But this was just the beginning.
There were many more worlds ahead.
And with every task… he would become something more.