[Beep—Identity confirmed. System binding initiated.]

[System successfully bound. Now loading plot... 1%, 32%, 66%, 100%. Load complete!]

"Isabella Green, are you even listening?"

"Huh?" Amelia Moore blinked in confusion, momentarily thrown off by the voice in her ear.

The voice on the other end immediately turned sharp. "Your song from yesterday? Totally dragged online! People have dug out everything—hell, there's even proof it was copied! The show's losing it, and this episode's already been pulled! Check the internet yourself! I'm heading over!"

The call dropped. Amelia looked at the screen—yep, it was her manager, Ms. Cao.

[Congrats, Host. You’ve logged into the Cannon Fodder Rescue System. Assigned system number: 201. Task issued. Open panel for plot details and progress. Complete the mission within the time limit.]

All at once, memories and data swamped her mind. Amelia, fortunately a long-time web novel junkie, caught on fast.

She’d landed in a book she’d read before!

“Rise of the Celebrity Queen” was the blockbuster romance novel from two years back. The heroine, Samantha Harper, started with nothing but climbed her way to global A-list fame through grit and talent.

With a harem of powerful, infatuated men orbiting her, Samantha ruled the world of entertainment. And the character Amelia had woke up as? Just a throwaway side character who barely made it to chapter three—Isabella Green.

Amelia's only impression of her at the time was “yikes.” Total trainwreck.

She only crossed paths with the main lead three times: first, got roasted by the entire internet; second, played by the industry's creeps; third—dead. Killed off like a plot device.

Isabella wasn't just a stepping stone. She was practically the welcome mat to the heroine’s stardom.

“Seriously? Everyone else transmigrates into leads, and I get cannon fodder?” Amelia muttered to herself.

The system chirped back, “Our projects specialize in cannon fodder redemption. You’ve been through it before. Surely you understand the pain of being insignificant. That’s why you were chosen.”

“...” Amelia fell silent.

Thinking back to what happened before she died, her chest tightened. “You swear I can go back to the real world if I finish this mission?”

The plane crash. Falling from over 7,000 meters. She was probably nothing but scattered bone fragments by now.

“Absolutely,” said the system.

One word. Chillingly firm.

But... why couldn’t this have happened sooner? Even a single day earlier!

The song was already out. The show aired. The plagiarism scandal had blown up.

And the next big plot point? Total online takedown.

“System, couldn’t you mess me over just a little less?”

Too bad. The system could and it did.Across the table, the man in a sharp tailored suit set down his glass, his cool face showing a trace of casual indifference.

"Miss Green, have you made up your mind?"

"Huh?" Amelia snapped back to her senses and looked at him, practically blinded by how ridiculously good-looking he was.

In that split second, she remembered what Isabella had been up to earlier.

“It’s just a family dinner. If you’re really not up for it, then—” she started to say, then changed her mind.

“Sure!” she blurted out quick as lightning.

Ethan blinked, his narrow eyes reflecting her bright, overjoyed face — a far cry from the bored, distracted look she had a second ago.

His brows drew together slightly. This was just a showy blind date anyway — he already knew the other side wasn’t serious about marriage, so he wasn’t planning to bring anyone home just to shut his grandfather up. But her sudden, enthusiastic “Sure!” threw him off a bit.

Amelia stared at the man in front of her, who looked like he could debut in any idol drama on the spot. Her heart was thumping like mad — and no, it wasn’t because she was falling for him or anything.

It’s because this guy was her one-way ticket out — a VIP-level golden thigh!

Thinking of that cursed mission, Amelia’s eyes lit up as she stared at him like he'd just handed her a lifeline. This kind of opportunity? No way she’d let it slip away. Time to grab on and never let go!

Big shot spotted

☆ω☆

!

Please protect me, big boss!!

Ethan was a little taken aback by the intense sparkle in her eyes. Shaking off the strange sensation creeping up on him, he tapped a finger lightly on the table and asked, a bit more serious now, “Miss Green, are you certain about this?”

“Absolutely! Totally sure!” Amelia leaned forward, resting her hands on the edge of the table, moving closer so he could really see the sincerity in her wide eyes.

Ethan stared at her, clearly weighing the truth in her words. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a loud voice from behind cut him off.

"Isabella!"

Everyone in the restaurant turned toward the sudden shout.

“Isabella, I’m so sorry I’m late!” A trendy young guy came rushing in, with a panicked waiter chasing after him.

He grabbed Amelia’s hand and pulled her up, shooting her what he clearly thought was a heartfelt look.

“Even if your family’s against us, I won’t give you up! No one’s breaking us apart!”

As he spoke, he threw Ethan a hostile glare.

Ethan: “…”

Amelia: “…”

Yeah, that over-the-top expression, that Oscar-worthy performance — classic fake boyfriend Isabella hired ahead of time. No doubt about it.

Trying not to facepalm, Amelia awkwardly smiled, wanting to explain it away. But before she could say anything, the guy was already yanking her away.

As they passed by Ethan's seat, on instinct, Amelia reached out and grabbed his hand resting on the table.

Their fingers interlocked, and in that instant, it felt like a jolt of electricity shot straight up her arm. A small shiver ran down her spine, and she almost pulled back.

But then Ethan gripped her hand — firmly.