The fluorescent lights of the private hospital hallway reflected sharply on Lin Chen's polished shoes. He held the rejection letter tightly, knuckles white. His chest felt heavy, a feeling he had never known. He had never failed an exam, never been denied a place. And now, this simple piece of paper told him that he had… lost.
"I… failed?" His voice trembled, betraying a mix of disbelief and panic.
Suddenly, a soft blue glow emanated from his pocket. The small device he had ignored all these years lit up as if it were alive. A voice, mechanical yet calm, spoke, echoing inside his mind.
"Emotional fluctuation detected. Sign-in available."
Lin Chen's brow furrowed. Could this be real? A system capable of sensing his emotions? Hesitation battled curiosity, and finally, he tapped the device. A holographic interface unfolded before him, glowing with an almost magical energy. Words scrolled across the light, alive, commanding attention.
"Welcome, Host. New mission: Save lives, earn rewards."
Lin Chen swallowed. Everything he had known—years of exams, trophies, and perfection—suddenly felt trivial. He was standing at the edge of something far larger, far more dangerous.
The next morning, Lin Chen walked into the bustling government hospital. The air smelled of antiseptic and human determination. Nurses rushed past, doctors barked orders, and patients waited anxiously, a symphony of organized chaos. Lin Chen felt more alive here than in any classroom or library.
A cheerful voice broke his focus.
"You always look so serious," said a young girl with bright brown eyes and a wide smile. She was an intern, like him, yet full of life.
Lin Chen blinked, startled. He had not expected her warmth, nor the pull of her presence.
"Romantic bond potential detected: Low," the system whispered in his mind.
He ignored it. Duty came first. And yet, he could not help noticing her.
Later that morning, the alarm sounded. A patient's monitors screamed in urgent beeps, nurses rushed, and panic filled the room. Lin Chen's eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
"Administer 20mg intravenously. Monitor vitals every two minutes," he said calmly. Each word was precise, every movement calculated, guided by some invisible hand—his own talent sharpened by the mysterious system.
"Mission: Stabilize patient. Reward: Diagnostic Mastery + $50,000 USD," the system noted.
Doctors and interns watched him in awe as he performed. The patient stabilized, the monitors quieted, and relief washed over the room. Lin Chen, however, barely noticed. His heart thumped, not from fear, but from the thrill of responsibility.
That evening, he found himself on the hospital rooftop. The city stretched endlessly below, lights twinkling like stars fallen to earth. The wind tugged at his clothes and hair. Su Xiaoyu approached quietly, standing beside him.
"…This is my path," Lin Chen murmured, speaking more to himself than to her.
"Host emotional growth started," the system whispered.
For the first time in his life, Lin Chen allowed himself to feel a strange calm. Perhaps this journey, however dangerous, was not one he had to face alone.