The sunlight filtered gently through the hospital window, casting a warm glow over the girl lying on the stark white bed.
Strands of deep blue hair fanned across the pillow, the golden light forming a soft halo around her head. But the peaceful image was marred by the furrow in her brows and the sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead — as if she were trapped in a nightmare.
Her eyelids fluttered.
When Mei Mei opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the cold white ceiling above her. She lay there in silence for a moment, her mind sluggish, caught between confusion and clarity.
A dull but persistent ache throbbed in her skull, yet beneath the discomfort stirred a fragile thread of hope.
Maybe... they changed their minds.
Maybe my parents didn't go through with the operation... or they found another way.
She reached out instinctively, trying to push herself up — but a sharp sting in her left hand made her gasp. An IV line was still attached, the cold needle pricking her skin.
Frowning, she looked around the room.
That's when she heard it — a sweet, almost childlike voice ring out.
[Hello, dear host!]
Her head jerked up. "Who's there?" she asked, trying to sound composed, though her fingers clutching the blanket trembled slightly. "Where are you?"
[Don't be scared, host. Do you remember the voice you heard just before everything went black? That was me!]
[I'm your system — XOXO! You died because your heart was taken away. But now we're bound together, lucky you! (´◡‿ゝ◡`)/]
Mei Mei's head lowered, her lips parting in disbelief. Dead...?
The soft voice continued gently.
[Don't worry, host. You're not gone. You've been given a second chance. All you have to do is complete missions... and with enough points— you'll be reborn.]
"What are the missions, and how can I earn points?" Mei Mei asked with curiosity.
[Host's main mission is to live freely!] Xoxo replied proudly. [Side missions come from the original owners of the bodies you transmigrate into—their final wishes. As for points, they're a type of currency you earn by completing tasks.]
Then it added with a playful sparkle, [Host, although Xoxo is still a rookie system, I'm extremely intelligent! With me leading the way, we'll become legends~ (≧▽≦)!]
It was the first time someone had ever spoken to Mei Mei so warmly. The cheerfulness was infectious… but she couldn't quite match its energy. A little awkward, she tucked her fingers beneath the blanket and nodded.
"System, what's my side mission?"
Xoxo's tone brightened. [Host, to begin, you'll need to receive the original owner's memories—and the plot of this world. Just a heads-up: it might sting a little, okay?]
Its bubbly voice grew noticeably gentler toward the end.
"Hmm." Mei Mei responded calmly, though her body instinctively tensed.
[...Memory extraction in progress... transmitting... complete.]
Suddenly, a rush of images, emotions, and voices poured into her mind. Her head throbbed violently.
The memories felt… familiar.
'The original name was also Meimei—Bai Meimei. She was the beloved daughter of the wealthy Bai family, doted on like a princess. But her world crumbled when a DNA test revealed a hospital mix-up. She wasn't their real daughter. The Bai couple's biological child, Bai Xinya, was soon found—a girl who was gentle, kind, and full of understanding. Compared to her, Bai Meimei suddenly became the "outsider."
Her adoptive parents grew cold. Her biological family felt like strangers.
And then came the final blow.
The senior she liked—her quiet hope—got engaged to Bai Xinya. Still, she held on, hoping to at least gain comfort from her arranged fiancé, Shen Yichen, the adopted son of the Bai patriarch's late friend. But even he fell for Bai Xinya.
In the end, unable to endure the heartbreak of watching the one she loved shower another with affection, Bai Meimei slit her wrists in a bathtub.
She had no idea it was all a novel. A classic 'Fake vs. Real Heiress' plot.
Bai Xinya was the female lead—the real daughter, the star of the story.
And she... was the cannon fodder. Spoiled. Pitiful. Forgotten. Destined to perish for the heroine's glow.
Meimei fell silent, her long lashes casting shadows that veiled the flicker of emotions in her eyes. For a moment, it was impossible to tell how she felt. Then, in a calm voice, she asked:
"Why is the name the same as mine, System?"
Xoxo, who had been fidgeting nervously at her silence, instantly perked up at the question. Its mechanical body—if one could even call it that—seemed to relax.
[Host, that's so you can better integrate into the new world!] it chirped brightly. [Your appearance is also slightly similar to the original owner. This way, you won't feel too out of place. Isn't it a brilliant idea? Our predecessor designed it~ ( ꈍᴗꈍ)]
The cheerful little system beamed with pride, entirely unaware that it had just spilled a crucial piece of information.
If the creator system had heard this, they'd probably be slapping their own face by now.
Meimei nodded meaningfully at the silly system, her voice unknowingly turning gentle, almost coaxing:
"Then... what is Bai Meimei's wish?"
Xoxo paused for a beat, as if gathering its scattered circuits. Its usually chipper tone lowered, almost reverent: