While she was busy with her own speculations, Rex opened the mission tab and saw that there was a single mission posted. He curiously clicked on it, but his finger passed through.
Just then, the system's voice rang in his mind.
[Host, you don't have to click on it; just think about it in your mind, and it will open up.]
He could almost hear the disdain in the system's voice again, but this time, he let it slide.
He hurriedly focused on opening the mission, and the details appeared in front of him.
---
[Mission Content: Obtain the contact information of the girl next to you.
Mission Time: 1 hour
Mission Reward: Mysterious Gift
Mission Failure: Unknown
Do you accept?]
—
Rex blinked and looked at the mission content again, but seeing the same content, he was speechless. Seriously?
This required a mission? Shouldn't missions be something grand, like punishing evil, restoring justice, or at least saving a cat from a tree?
And what was with the vague "mission failure" clause? Wasn't this supposed to be a chill daily sign-in system? Why did it have penalties?
He had so many questions swirling in his head that he couldn't hold back voicing his frustration to the system, and the reply came instantly, as if it had been expecting his reaction all along.
[Host, rest assured, this is indeed a daily sign-in system; it's just that the mission panel operates a bit differently... even the system doesn't have much control over it.]
[Also, missions don't pop up regularly. Sometimes, you might go days or even months without one, while others, you could receive several in a single day.]
[But don't worry, they're not life-threatening. At least, not usually. Even then, they won't cause any major issues... as for specifics, you'll have to find yourself. Anyway You still have the option to refuse the mission.]
After hearing the system's reply, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had been seriously afraid that one day, failing a mission might cost him his life... which would be way too tragic. Especially considering that he had finally gotten a second chance—dying again over a phone number would be too ridiculous.
He wasn't ready to die again so soon.
And even though the punishment was a bit unclear, at least he didn't have to lose his dear life.
As he was experiencing fierce mental ups and downs, his face flickered through a series of subtle expressions. On the other side, the girl noticed it too.
Yup. She was now more and more certain:he had some mental problems.
She was also a bit melancholy that such a handsome young man was, unfortunately, a fool.
Well, the saying is right: nobody is perfect; in exchange for his otherworldly handsomeness, he seemed to be mentally challenged.
"Such a pity," she sighed inwardly.
While he was debating whether to accept the mission or not, he didn't know that the girl next to him had already labeled him as mentally challenged.
But thinking about those amazing awards from earlier, he couldn't help but control himself.
So, he decided to accept it. What's the worst that could happen? If normal methods didn't work out, he could just use his special Japanese skill: the classic fall-to-your-knees-and-don't-let-go move. (Just kidding)
While thinking about his secret skill, he muttered under his breath, "Guess those late-night anime sessions weren't total waste."^_^ A small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
With a mental tap, he accepted the mission. And with a ding, a system notification appeared on the screen:
[Congratulations! You have accepted the mission. The timer begins now.]
He turned toward the girl, eyes sparkling like he had just discovered a hidden treasure, no no, more like a hunter spotting an elusive target. There was no hesitation, no fumbling awe—just the sharp glint of a man who knew what he wanted and was amused by the challenge.
She noticed him staring, and an immediate chill ran down her spine. Goosebumps rose on her arms. She edged away with visible caution.
She noticed him staring and immediately froze, like a deer in headlights—or like your friends who suddenly realize you have mobile data and are about to ask for a hotspot
An immediate chill ran down her spine, and goosebumps erupted on her arms, and her imagination sprinted. Was he about to confess his undying love or ask if she believed in aliens? Claim he'd forgotten his own identity and needed help unlocking his true powers? Ask for her birth time to do a soulmate compatibility chart? Whatever it was, she edged away with the subtlety of someone trying not to wake a sleeping bear—one inch at a time, eyes wide with suspicion.
Realizing he might've gone overboard with the intensity, Rex quickly composed himself. Seeing her wary look, he couldn't help coughing. It seemed like his first good impression had just been tossed out the window—well, the elevator didn't have a window, so maybe just flushed into the air vents or something. Whatever.
"Ahem! Hello, beautiful lady.Are you going down too?"
Even though she was a bit wary, she decided to answer him, as he didn't seem like a bad person… definitely not just because he was handsome. After all, being handsome means he is a good person, right? That's how it worked in movies and dramas. After all, society had conditioned her well: handsome equals harmless, right?
She studied him with narrowed eyes. Still, she answered, "Yes."
Her tone was cool but not outright dismissive, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least she didn't choose to ignore him. And that was something.
Rex smiled and asked, "May I know your name?"
She raised a brow. "Isn't it rude to ask someone's name without giving yours first?"
Touché.
She didn't like how he'd ignored her earlier, so she decided to teach him a little lesson—nothing harsh, just a playful jab. A smug part of her popped up like a cartoon villain: 'Ah yes, petty revenge, my old friend.'
"My bad. I'm Rex Aeric," he said, voice smooth and casual, like he was introducing himself at a rooftop party instead of recovering from an awkward stare-down in an elevator.
Hearing her tone, he could guess she was still a bit annoyed about earlier. So, he decided to play it cool and keep things smooth. After all, he still had a mission to complete—and if a little charm helped along the way, why not? As for what happened after that… well, hehe, they'd see.
Apologies... it was my bad. I was a bit distracted by your beauty and forgot basic manners.
He said it with a calm, teasing edge, flashing a confident, self-aware smile, and dipping his head slightly in a gentlemanly nod—not a bow, of course. A bow would be too much.
He flashed a confident, self-aware smile, with a bit of teasing edge, dipping his head slightly in a gentlemanly nod—just enough to hint at gentlemanly charm without crossing into full cringe. A bow would've been too dramatic, and Rex wasn't about to cosplay as royalty. Instead, he leaned into the role with a teasing glint in his eyes, like a conman pretending to be noble just for the fun of it. He even added a mock flourish, like he was welcoming her to a grand ballroom instead of the inside of a cramped elevator.
The sudden switch from cold and mysterious to charming rogue caught her off guard. She blinked, then suddenly laughed.
From a distant wolf to an overly friendly golden retriever—what a shift.
Thinking about this image, she couldn't help laughing, and her proud persona immediately shattered.
Rex tilted his head, confused by her laughter.
Realizing she might've laughed too openly, she quickly composed herself. "Sorry, just remembered something funny."
Even though he was a bit skeptical, he decided to believe her, as he still needed her cooperation.
After that, she removed her large glasses with a casual grace, stretched out her slender and elegant hand, flashed a soft but confident smile, and said, "Hello, my name is Emma Alison."
Seeing her beautiful green eyes just like precious emeralds, he stared dumbly, as they seemed to hold captivating power.
They weren't just pretty—they had depth, a mysterious glint that made him feel like he was staring into something ancient and playful all at once, a sort of silent mischief, like they knew secrets he hadn't earned the right to hear.
For a moment, he forgot everything else—where he was, the mission, even his name. His brain simply stopped cooperating, caught in a loop of 'wow.' It wasn't just attraction; it was awe, the kind that hit hard and stayed. Was this what people meant by getting lost in someone's eyes? Because if so, he was definitely missing a map and a compass.
Seeing his look, she thought that he had finally recognized her.
"Helloo!?"
Her voice snapped him back to reality like a splash of cold water. He blinked, cheeks warming as he realized how long he'd been staring—way too long for someone trying to seem normal. Still, he kept his cool and reached for her hand, slipping into a casual grip like nothing happened.
Her hand was soft, cooler than expected, and way more elegant in a way that felt slightly unfair—like life had given her all the charm points and left none for the rest of humanity.
He held it for a beat longer than necessary, his brain buffering like a laggy video stream. Somewhere inside, a tiny Rex was frantically flipping through a mental manual titled 'How to Hold Hands Like a Normal Person.'
He held long enough to register the elegance in her fingers and the faint, natural scent of her skin, even instinctively squeezed a bit—before quickly letting go, just in time to preserve the illusion of composure. inwardly kicking himself for zoning out like a love-struck rookie.
Emma felt it too. She blushed lightly but didn't pull away. His gentle squeeze caught her off guard, and to her surprise, it made her feel a little fluttery inside. She didn't even know why she'd taken off her glasses and offered her hand so theatrically—maybe it was on impulse, or maybe it had something to do with how outrageously handsome he was and the fact that he'd completely ignored her earlier. Or maybe she just wanted to tease him a bit, to see how he'd react to a little unexpected boldness.
And oh, did he react. That stunned look on his face? Perfect. Exactly the kind of reaction a girl hopes for when she pulls a surprise reveal. She tried to keep her pride in check, but deep down, she was absolutely delighted. That was how someone should look when faced with a beauty like her. For some reason, teasing him felt… fun.
Seeing her face, Rex was indeed stunned—not because he recognized her, but because he had genuinely never seen someone that beautiful in real life. Her features were the kind that made you pause involuntarily: a perfect oval face, striking phoenix eyes, and a cute, upturned nose that added just the right touch of playfulness.
Her features had that rare blend—three-dimensional yet soft, poised yet natural. And her lips—full, naturally tinted, and shaped with such precision they could've been sculpted.
Everything about her looked meticulously crafted, as if a divine sculptor had decided to show off. Especially when paired with those emerald eyes and her flowing blonde hair, the combination gave her an almost ethereal glow.
She was like a fairy in the human world with a sweet smile and divine charm.
Rex's heartbeat kicked up a notch, and for a second, it almost felt like he was glitching. But he pulled himself together before it showed on his face, managing to look at her with calm, level eyes.
Seeing his earlier reaction she was extremely satisfied. But seeing him recover so quickly, she couldn't help frown. She had expected a bit more—maybe a flustered stammer or an endearing misstep.
She felt like a magician whose best trick got shrugged off. For a moment, she almost wanted to pull another reveal just to see if she could shake him again.
But she recovered in a moment, shook off the demonic thoughts, and straightened her posture like nothing had happened. Her pride reassembled itself with surprising speed—after all, a true diva never lets a single beat go unsnatched.
"Don't you recognize me?" So, she asked.
"Huh? Should I know? Are you famous?" he replied innocently, because he genuinely didn't recognize her—he hadn't even had time to familiarize himself with this world yet.
Emma narrowed her eyes. Was he messing with her?
But the confusion in his face looked too real. She scanned his expression and sighed.
Maybe… just maybe… he really didn't know her.
carefully seeing his reaction, she was basically certain that he really didn't know her. A tiny crack appeared in her confidence.
She couldn't help but doubt herself for a second—was she really a global star? Could she be a fake? Was she only famous in her own head, like one of those kids who call themselves 'content creators' with twelve followers? Maybe her PR team had been lying to her this whole time. For a wild second, she even wondered if her fans were bots and her fame was one elaborate catfish campaign.
Seeing her look like she'd just taken 1000% critical damage, like her soul had gone on a sabbatical to commune with the universe, Rex quickly stepped in to explain, "Sorry, I don't usually follow entertainment news."
Hearing this she felt a bit better, 'that's right I'm still famous. Still a global star. it's just he is ignorant'. He could be the kind of person who thought streaming meant fishing, or worse, someone who still uses a flip phone. That had to be it. Her fame was intact. Totally. Probably. Hopefully.
Just as she was consoling herself with the thought that he was simply an ignorant mortal undeserving of her fame, the elevator chimed and opened with a cheerful little ding—like the universe saying, "Next scene, please."
She stepped in casually, as if the dramatic standoff from moments ago hadn't just happened.
Rex followed right behind, his hands in his pockets, looking as relaxed as ever—though internally, his brain was scrambling like a browser with too many tabs open.
The elevator closed with a metallic sigh, sealing them into a small private bubble. Just the two of them.
He pressed the button for the lobby. Noticing she hadn't made a move, he glanced her way. "Which floor are you going to?"
She looked at him, smiled slightly, and replied, "The lobby too."
The moment settled into a comfortable, if slightly charged, silence as the elevator began its slow descent.
They weren't standing too far apart, and the subtle fragrance that drifted from her was like a soft ambush—sweet, clean, with a hint of something floral that you couldn't quite name but didn't want to forget either.
Rex casually stole a glance at her side profile. Elegant. Sharp in all the right ways. Even without the full front view, her beauty was undeniable. He internally sighed. The entertainment world might be chaotic, but surely it had its decent people. She didn't seem shallow or fake.
Maybe he had judged too quickly. Maybe his bias from past-life tabloids was a bit too loud. She wasn't giving him any red flags—unless you counted being unfairly good-looking as a crime against humanity.
Still… if she had looked like a 500-kg destroyer instead of a goddess, would he be this forgiving?
He coughed lightly, admitting inwardly: yep, beauty really did make the world go round. Justice was blind, but even blind justice would peek for someone this stunning.
He glanced again, this time trying to act like he was just bored.
Now… how should he ask for her contact info without crashing the vibe like a drunk uncle at a wedding?
(End of Chapter)