Chapter 1: Binding to the System
On the seventh day of Chinese New Year, it was Wu Nian's first day off!
Wu Nian was an ordinary girl, with both parents alive, an elder sister and a younger brother. As the middle child who neither received her father's attention nor her mother's love, it didn't matter whether she returned home for the new year or not.
Rather than putting up with her parents' cold stares during the New Year, she'd rather work overtime at the company to earn some extra money.
After all, people triple her wages during the New Year!
Early in the morning, Wu Nian rushed to the train station. In the midst of the spring migration period, people carrying luggage were seen everywhere at the train station.
Most of them were returning to the city for work, with luggage in their hands and the heavy burden of their families on their shoulders.
Who would willingly leave their hometown if it wasn't for the need to earn a few extra coins?
After getting her ticket, Wu Nian planned to buy some things to take back. Otherwise, given her parents' temper, they would probably make a big fuss about her coming home empty-handed and make sure the whole village knew about it.
Spend a little money to keep the peace.
While Wu Nian was selecting presents at a small stall, she was suddenly bumped into.
"Robbery, Robbery!" A girl hastily chased after someone, shouting while chasing.
Wu Nian mindlessly joined the pursuit.
"Stop, don't come any closer," a man wearing a black hoodie and a mask pulled out a knife, menacingly glaring at Wu Nian.
Wu Nian was highly nervous, her palms sweating. She didn't know why she had suddenly decided to chase after the man.
The problem was that she was someone who absolutely loved money, so why did she rashly abandon her luggage and run to help?
Not to mention that she was just a middle-aged girl who didn't like to exercise, so how did she catch up with the robber?
Wasn't this just too fantastical?
Wu Nian was nervous, but she bravely showed a stern face.
"Don't come any closer!" she warned.
For a moment, the two sides were in a standoff. The rest of the crowd stood as if they were stupefied, hiding fearfully and not offering to help.
"Stay right there, you dare to rob this lady of her money, you bad guy. Hmph!"
The girl who had chased us just ran up, wheezing as she threatened in a tone that was both cute and fierce.
God knows why, amidst this tense,dangerous moment, Wu Nian still spared a moment to observe the girl.
A fair face, two large eyes, sparkling with light. Her lips were pink, plump, and adorable.
Wu Nian was shocked, her mind was inexplicably filled with the thought that she must protect this girl.
The man glared at everyone, his heart filled with loathing. It was all this damn woman's fault. If she hadn't kept chasing him, could he have been caught?
Now, surrounded by a crowd of people, how was he supposed to escape? If he couldn't escape, he would have to go to jail…
Suddenly, the man pulled out a knife and lunged at Wu Nian. Startled, Wu Nian quickly veered left, barely avoiding the blade. Before sighing with relief, the man turned the knife towards the girl. Whether she was paralyzed with fear or something else, she just stood there motionless. Strangely, Wu Nian’s body acted on its own, and she threw herself at the girl.
She felt a tearing sensation, followed by a cold chill. Instinctively reaching down, she touched a gaping wound that was gushing with blood. She felt like she was going to die.
Even more unimaginable was the fact that while her thoughts were on the money she had saved from working for a few years and hadn't spent yet, what she uttered was, "Are you okay? Did I startle you? I'm really glad to meet you!" As soon as she finished, she fainted.
What was even more infuriating was that she said this to the girl beneath her. Curse it all, if one didn't know any better they'd think she was the male protagonist in some idol drama!
She was a steel-like straight woman.
At this moment, the girl beneath her burst into tears, directly pushing her away while sobbing,
"Don't die! Please try not to die! It's all my fault... all my fault..."
The other people at the train station seemed to regain consciousness, hurriedly comforting the girl but no one pursued the man who had committed murder. No one called the police or an ambulance.
Just like that, they watched the girl rock her body, listening to her loud apologies.
It's ridiculously absurd!
Wu Nian didn't know why she was still in a mood to ponder other things, seeing that a heavy downpour had suddenly started and the girl was still shaking her.
Wu Nian: I might not have been killed; instead, you might have shaken me to death! Can't you just try to save me first? At least try to resuscitate me!
"I'm afraid not, you're already dead," a strange voice suddenly rang out.
"Who? Who's speaking?" or so Wu Nian was startled.
"Hello, let me introduce myself. I am Grief Elimination System No.020 from the three-thousand great worlds."
What?! Why are the events of today so strange?
A system? Isn't that something you only find in novels?
"After verification, you meet the requirement for system binding. Do you accept the binding?" The unfamiliar voice echoed again.
Emboldening himself, Wu Nian asked, "What if I don't accept?"
"Accept death—an absolute death," the emotionless voice responded.
Accept death? Have I already died? He wondered inwardly.
"Yes, you had a physiological death moments ago. In simple words, you are thoroughly dead."
How grateful I am for your explicit explanation!
"So, what if I agree to be bound …?" Wu Nian ventured.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for binding with the Resentment Dissipation System," a voice suddenly popped up in Wu Nian's mind.
This wretched comprehension, it was a question, not a confirmation. Can't you discern the inflection?
Wu Nian felt a slight mental exhaustion.
Hundreds of questions came rushing in. "Who are you? Why have you chosen me? What do you want from me?"
System 020 responded solemnly with an introduction.
"I am System 020, assigned to lead you to three thousand miniature worlds. In these worlds, you will alleviate resentment, gaining ‘wish power.' Accumulating enough 'wish power,' you can then return to your original world, uncover the truth behind your death, and change your own fate."
While this seemed absurd, Wu Nian knew he was not impulsive and his initial reaction would have been to call the police, but...
System 020, realizing the host had no further queries, promptly displayed a light panel.
Host Name: Wu Nian
Gender: Female
can be male or female
Age: 26
at the time of death
Skills: None
Soul Power: 30
out of 100
Wishing Power: 0
out of 100
Physical Strength: 30
Wu Nian, gazing at the light panel before her, furrowed her brows in confusion and queried.
"Why am I so weak? Why did you choose me? What are your criteria for selecting a host?"
No. 020: The Souls after Death.
So, it seems you would only choose to bind with me after I just died.
No. 020: No, there are others.
Upon hearing this, Wu Nian felt slightly heartened.
"Little system, out of these people, am I the smartest, the strongest? That's why you chose me?"
No. 020: Among the recently deceased, there's you, a couple of chickens, lots of fishes, and...
Just as 020 was about to speak, Wu Nian could not help but interrupt.
"Thank you so much, little system, for choosing her among so many souls. I'm so proud. Today, yet again, has surpassed the number of ten million poultry!"
"You're welcome, host," replied the system.
On hearing this, Wu Nian realized that the small system had guessed her thoughts just now and was still doing so. Could this possibly be the legendary…
"Hold on, host. This system resides in your mind. I can hear everything you think. Whenever you need me, just call me in your mind and I will appear."
As she listened to 020's explanation, Wu Nian finally understood.
"Host, are you ready now?"
Wu Nian glanced at her world and saw that she had already been lifted onto a stretcher...
Off to the new world!