The day I became a janitor, my ex-boyfriend became the heir to a massive fortune. On the day of our reunion, he was wearing a bespoke suit and a luxury watch, radiating wealth. And me? I was diligently scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees with a rag. “Vivian, do you regret it?” I smiled at the handsome man before me. “If I say yes, will you give me a five-million-dollar buyout?” “You really are a shallow, materialistic woman!” Disgusted, Jeff kicked my rag far away and stormed off. The System mocked me in my head: “There is still time to win him back. Are you sure you want to give up?” 1. “A good horse doesn’t turn back for old grass. When I say I give up, I mean it.” Muttering to myself, I struggled to reach for the rag Jeff had kicked away. Ever since we broke up three months ago, my health had been rapidly declining. After taking several sick days, I was laid off from my office job. My landlady, worried I wouldn’t be able to afford rent, kindly hooked me up with this cleaning job at the luxury hotel. I scrubbed the grease stains off the floor, grunting with the effort. Just as I was heading to the restroom for a quick break, I turned around and saw Jeff again. Except this time, he had a girl wrapped in his arms. I recognized her from the tabloids. She was Melody, his fiancée, a high-society heiress. They looked like a match made in heaven. “Ugh, what is that smell? Jeff, is this your ex? Why does she smell like sour trash?” Melody gasped dramatically as she approached, taking a theatrical step back. The people passing by immediately covered their noses, shooting me looks of pure disgust. No matter how thick-skinned I tried to be, humiliation flushed my cheeks. I turned to walk away, but Jeff grabbed my wrist. His face wore a pleasant smile, but his voice was ice-cold. “I’m getting married. Aren’t you going to congratulate me?” My heart squeezed. I stared at him, a cocktail of bittersweet emotions swirling in my chest. The System’s voice echoed in my mind, dripping with sarcasm: “If you hadn’t called off the wedding back then, you’d be the one standing there.” “There’s still a chance. Take him back.” I ignored the System, forcing a polite smile. “Congratulations. I wish you two a long and happy life.” “Oh, by the way, since we used to be close, could you recommend me for a better job?” “You’re a billionaire heir now. I don’t ask for much. A job with a salary of three hundred thousand… no, let’s say five hundred thousand dollars a year. How about it?” The smile vanished from Jeff’s face. His gaze turned so sharp it felt like he wanted to pierce a hole right through me. “Keep dreaming.” He spun on his heel and marched off, only to stop after two paces and turn back. He wrapped his arm around Melody, kissing her hair tenderly. “Melody, starting today, you are my executive secretary. I’ll pay you ten million a year.” “You don’t even have to show up to work. Just keep your name on the payroll.” Melody blushed, planting a shy kiss on his cheek. “Oh, Jeff. I’m going to be your wife soon. I’d happily work for you for free.” “Wait, your hand just touched something dirty. Let me clean it for you.” She pulled a wet wipe from her designer bag, meticulously wiping his fingers. “Honestly, babe, your taste used to be so tragic.” “I’ve seen plenty of women like Vivian who will do absolutely anything for cash.” “She probably took this janitor job just to play the victim and make you feel bad. Don’t let her trick you again.” Jeff threw a repulsed look in my direction before pulling Melody away. “I woke up a long time ago. From now on, you’re the only one I care about.” Once they were gone, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I locked myself in the restroom and sobbed quietly. The System sighed in frustration: “What are you crying for? Go after him! The moment you marry him, the tables will turn, and he will be the one crying.” 2. I ignored the System. After crying it out, I rinsed my rag, wrung out my mop, and went back to work. The custodial duties weren’t physically heavy, but the constant sweeping, mopping, and bending down to scrub stubborn stains took a heavy toll on my fragile body. By the end of the shift, I was utterly exhausted. Because my health had been deteriorating so rapidly, the moment I stepped out of the shopping mall, my vision went dark. I collapsed right onto the pavement, nearly hitting a sleek Bentley that had just parked nearby. Jeff opened the car door. Seeing me sprawled on the ground, he froze. His hand instinctively reached out to help me up, but he stopped himself mid-air, drawing back his fingers. “Vivian, cut the act. What kind of cheap stunt is this?” When I didn’t answer, he nudged my shoulder with the toe of his shoe. “Get up, or I’m having security drag you out of here.” I fluttered my eyes open, meeting his cold, disgusted gaze. My chest tightened. System, I pleaded in my mind, why do I keep running into him today? The System replied in a dry tone: This hotel complex is owned by his family. Technically, Jeff is your ultimate boss. Ah. That explained it. Melody stepped out from the passenger seat. Seeing me in this state, her lips curled into a sneer. “Well, well, Vivian. What kind of drama are you staging now?” “When you dumped Jeff back when he was penniless, did you ever imagine you’d end up like this?” “Look at you, begging on the streets like a stray dog. Are you really trying to play on his pity?” I didn’t say a word. I waited for the sharp wave of pain in my chest to subside before slowly pushing myself up. Pulling the rag from my pocket, I looked at Melody with total indifference. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just noticed the boss’s car had some dust on it, so I decided to clean it before my shift ended.” Jeff slammed the car door shut, pointing aggressively at his Bentley. “Fine. Since you love cleaning so much, don’t go home until every inch of my car is spotless.” “Otherwise, I will have you fired immediately.” I scoffed, looking him dead in the eye. “Sir, detailing a luxury vehicle is outside my job description. If you want that done, you’ll have to pay extra.” The System panicked: Why are you deliberately pushing him away? Do you know his affection level for you has dropped to twenty percent? As expected, my words made Jeff’s face turn impossibly dark. He pulled out his leather wallet, extracted a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills, and threw them right at my face. “Is this enough?” I forced back the tears prickling my eyes. Kneeling down to gather the scattered bills, I whispered, “Perfect. Thank you, boss.” But as I reached for the cash, another agonizing cramp seized my chest. The pain was so intense that I fell to my knees, panting heavily. Melody rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around Jeff’s neck. “Oh, please. Look at her go. She belongs in Hollywood.” “Jeff, how did you ever get involved with someone so exhausting? It is pathetic.” “Honestly, she has great acting skills. Maybe we should fund an acting class for her so she can go win an Oscar.” The pain was tearing me apart. With no one else around to help, I swallowed my pride and looked up at the man standing over me. “Sir… please. Call an ambulance. I can’t breathe.” But Jeff only looked at me with deep, burning resentment. “Stop lying, Vivian! I know you. You used to run track in college without even breaking a sweat. How could you suddenly be this weak?” “For a second, I actually let myself believe you had a valid reason for leaving me. But you really are just a gold-digger.” “We are completely finished. I never want to see your face again.” He grabbed Melody’s hand and stormed into the hotel lobby without looking back. Oddly enough, the moment he disappeared from view, the crushing pain in my chest instantly vanished. The System spoke up: If you don’t complete the mission soon, this physical agony will worsen until it literally kills you within a month. By the way, his affection level just dropped below ten percent. If it hits zero, you won’t even get a month. You will vanish instantly. 3. The System tried to reason with me, its voice desperate: The man has clearly moved on, yet you still refuse to let go? I have never seen such an obstinate host. You spent ten years loving him, and just when you were on the verge of success, you threw it all away. All you had to do was say ‘I do’ at the altar, and you could have lived a long, happy life in this world. Why quit at the finish line? Are you insane? Do you know what happened to the last host who fell in love with an NPC? She was erased. Erased from existence forever. I smiled faintly. But if I had married him, Jeff would have died. I didn’t want him to die. The System went dead silent, too frustrated to speak. In my previous life, I was abandoned at an orphanage, living a cold, lonely existence for decades. After I died, I became a traveler, and Jeff was my first target. For ten years in this world, he protected me, shielded me, and showered me with warmth. He melted the icy walls around my heart. Three months ago, when he proposed to me, I couldn’t help but say yes. But on the very day I accepted, his health began to fail rapidly for no medical reason. On the eve of our wedding, his face was terrifyingly pale, and he could barely stand. Yet, he still insisted on holding the ceremony. He told me it was his promise to me, and he would fulfill it even if it killed him. To keep him alive, I had no choice but to construct a lie. I pretended to be a superficial, money-hungry woman, took his savings, and walked out of his life. In this universe, Jeff gave me a home. He gave me the courage to live, and he taught me how to love. He was a truly good man. Even when we were struggling, he would donate to charity and rescue stray animals. A man like him deserved to live. I had lived long enough in my past life. If there was only one chance at survival, I wanted him to have it. Even if he hated me now, even if he loved someone else, I just wanted him to have a long, peaceful life. With that thought, the lingering ache in my heart seemed to ease. Since the System said I only had a month left, I would spend it slipping away quietly. The next morning, I went to the hotel lobby to submit my resignation. I had worked there for over two months, so I was owed a few thousand dollars in back pay. If I budgeted carefully, it would be enough to buy pain medication to last me until the end. My supervisor was a kind man. Knowing my health was poor, he signed my exit paperwork without any fuss. But when I went to the accounting office to collect my paycheck, a phone call from Melody blocked me. Even through the receiver, her voice dripped with malicious triumph. “Oh, Vivian, I’m so sorry. When we took the Bentley for a tune-up today, the mechanic found a major scratch on the hood.” “We know you did it yesterday when you were faking that little collapse. We are withholding your final paycheck, and you owe us an additional two hundred thousand dollars for repairs.” “Don’t complain. Jeff’s car costs millions and it’s brand new. That is the standard market rate for repairs.” My head spun, and I leaned against the desk for support. “I don’t have that kind of money.” The moment the words left my mouth, Jeff’s mocking voice cut through the line. “Three months ago, you abandoned me on my deathbed and ran off with twenty thousand dollars of my savings.” His voice was thick with hatred. “Vivian, how dare you stand there and claim you have no money?” I didn’t argue. I simply turned and walked toward the exit. The receptionist called out nervously behind me, “Vivian, Miss Melody said you have to sign a promissory note before you can leave!” I looked back and smiled faintly. “Tell them to come get it themselves.” I hadn’t even touched his car when I fell yesterday. This was a blatant frame-up by Melody, and I refused to take responsibility for a lie. I quickened my pace, but before I could reach the lobby, several security guards rushed out from the elevators. They grabbed my arms roughly, pinning them behind my back like I was a common criminal. “Miss Melody said a woman was causing a scene up here. Is this her?” “Come on, sweetheart, you look like a decent girl. Don’t resort to trashy scam artist tricks.” “Stop talking to her. Get her out of here.” No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn’t break free from their iron grips. The commotion drew a crowd of office workers from the surrounding rooms, all eager to watch the drama unfold. With my arms pinned painfully behind my back, I felt utterly humiliated. “Let me go! I’m not causing a scene, I can walk out on my own!” But they ignored my protests, dragging me roughly across the polished marble floor. During the struggle, one of my shoes was stepped on and came off. My bare foot scraped against the cold, hard floor, sending a sharp sting through my toes. The crowd watched with sneers and whispers. I felt like a stray rat being hunted in broad daylight. Tears finally spilled over my cheeks. “Please… just let me put my shoe on.” But they kept dragging me, relentless and deaf to my pleas. Just when I thought no one would help me, a low, commanding voice cut through the whispers. “Stop.” Through a blur of tears, I watched Jeff walk toward me. He picked up my discarded shoe, knelt down on the cold floor without a word, and gently slipped it onto my foot. He looked up, his eyes containing a layer of frozen pain. “Does it hurt? My heart hurt a thousand times worse when you left.” “Vivian, I hope this is the absolute last time we ever meet.” The spectators whispered among themselves. What did this mean? Melody quickly stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Jeff’s. “Oh, you guards are so clumsy. Didn’t you know she used to be close with Jeff?” “Even though she betrayed him for money, you still shouldn’t treat a lady so roughly.” Hearing this, the guards immediately let go of me. Without their support, my weak knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor. The hallway erupted into gossip. “Wait, that custodian was actually the CEO’s ex-girlfriend?” “She dumped him for cash? That is so cheap.” “She looks so quiet and sweet, but she’s actually a total gold-digger.” “Well, she got what she deserved. She is sweeping floors while he rules the business world.” Their poisonous words pierced my chest like needles. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and a metallic taste rose in my throat. At that exact moment, the System’s voice echoed in my head: Warning, Jeff’s affection level has officially reached zero percent. Your erasure is beginning… Before the System could finish, I coughed violently, spraying a pool of dark red blood onto the pristine white floor. Someone in the crowd shrieked, “Oh my God! She is coughing up blood! Is she dying?” Staring at the crimson stain on the marble, my vision began to fade, and my eyelids grew heavy. Jeff, who had been walking away, spun around at the sound of the scream. When he saw me lying in a pool of blood, his face went completely pale. His body trembled, and a desperate, shattered cry tore from his throat: “Vivian!”
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