After the outing with Asher the night before, Selaina had received a warning from the System that the novel plot was going off course and needed to be corrected. She had awoken to a message on the screen, blinking incessantly, making it impossible to ignore.

[System Notification: Plot deviation detected. The probability of the Male Lead’s animosity value has increased by 10%, making it 90%. Reminder: if the Male Lead’s animosity reaches 100, the novel world will be destroyed, and your life will be in danger.

System would like to remind the Host to follow the plot and reach a satisfying ending!]

Selaina sighed and rolled onto her back. Staring at the ceiling above, she thought about the secret meeting with Asher and the feelings from the old world that had returned the more they spent time together. She had only wanted to be with him for a short while, at least until she had to return to focus on the plot. As a dedicated host, she had never done something like this.

It had been a long time since she had relaxed and forgotten about the current circumstances, like the fact that she might never return to the old world or be with the Asher from there again. At least here she could see, speak and laugh with him like they used to. And she would be away from Callen, which was a bonus.

Despite all of that, she knew that he was the most important person in this book and was the key to completing the task.

“System, can’t you give me a break just this once?” Selaina wasn’t one to complain, but she had been growing more impatient. It never took this long to complete a task.

[Host, please remember that you’re only playing a character, and you must follow the plot. Failure to do so will cause penalties, character reset, or forced ejection from the novel world.]

Suddenly, Selaina missed her old system. That one was much more bubbly and cheerful than this one; she wasn’t used to the strict tone that sounded out in her mind.

Selaina took in a deep breath to steady her mind. Even though she hated the authoritarian type of system, it was a good thing to be reminded of her mission. Resetting her character would send her back to the beginning and erase all her current progress. Besides that, she would lose all the memories from the current play-through, and she didn’t want to forget the time she had spent with Asher.

After she had steeled her resolve, Selaina slid her feet into her slippers and stood by the window, letting the morning light wash over her. For now, she had to keep her distance from Asher, channelling her attention on Callen. Even if the thought of being near him repulsed her.

The Callen she knew now was nothing like the warm, gentle friend from her memories. This Callen was cold, callous, and cruel, a stark shadow cast by grief and bitterness. Images flickered behind her eyelids: the calm, sweet boy who had once been ill but always did his best to wear a smile. And the way his temperament had shifted into something unrecognisable just before he died.

Selaina shook her head, trying to banish those memories like an unwelcome guest. She couldn’t afford distractions, not now. The System's unyielding gaze scrutinised every move she made.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the fabric of her dress. Tonight, og!Selaina abandoned her resolve and gave up on Callen, accepting that her feelings for him would never be reciprocated.

Selaina inhaled deeply, bracing herself for the emotional storm ahead. She wasn’t sure if she could face the real Callen and the ghost of the one she’d loved as a dear friend at the same time. But the System’s warning left her no choice.

Her mission was clear: play the part, stay in character, and above all, keep the plot on track.

Because if she failed, everything would reset, losing everything she had worked so hard for.