Chapter One: A Game of Love?

[Game loading...]

"Is this thing really reliable?" Xu Nuo eyed the imposing holographic projection before her with skepticism.

The entire scene was shrouded in dull, smoky hues, everywhere marked by the scars of war. Whether it was a special effect or live-action, the realism was uncanny—there was nothing to nitpick, not even in the gruesome, lifelike fragments of human bodies scattered across the ruined ground.

Such a hardcore, grotesque game would normally never see the light of day without heavy censorship. For now, Xu Nuo was the only one with access.

Xu Nuo was a gaming influencer with a million followers, making a living by playing games. This new apocalypse-themed game was about to enter closed beta, and the developers had approached her for promotion.

They claimed this was the world’s first fully holographic game, faithfully recreating all five senses. At first glance, the promotional images reeked of cheap, pay-to-win browser games, and Xu Nuo had intended to refuse—until she saw the exorbitant, generous offer.

So, she decided to give it a try.

[Loading complete.]

With a mechanical chime, Xu Nuo’s vision went black and consciousness slipped away.

...

[...Host, are you still alive?]

Xu Nuo’s eyes fluttered open. All around her lay ruins and shattered walls, the air thick with a nauseating stench of rot and gunpowder. Just then, a strange squelching echoed in her ears. Instinctively, she turned her head and saw several grotesquely mutilated figures.

Clouded eyes fixed on Xu Nuo, as if they’d discovered a plump piece of meat, and sticky saliva dripped endlessly from their decaying mouths.

Before she could even process the scene, a lively, childish electronic voice continued:

[It appears you’re still alive. Welcome to the live broadcast room of “A Million Possibilities for Love.” I’m your system, 007. Your goal is to win the hearts of several key male characters in this game, becoming the woman they love most. Achieving one hundred percent affection is your primary task. Your current progress is zero, there are three viewers in your stream, but your potential is limitless and the future bright. You have embarked on a fantastical, romantic adventure—enjoy the nourishment of love!]

What on earth was all this? Xu Nuo was almost speechless, unsure where to begin. She could only address the most pressing matter: “...But I feel like I’m about to die.”

Several zombies lurched toward her with a menacing gait.

007: [Five hundred meters to your right there’s a target for you to pursue—open your personal panel and use items to win him over. He’ll protect you.]

Without hesitation, Xu Nuo opened her panel and ran, asking as she went, “What’s this live broadcast about? That wasn’t in the contract, was it?”

Just as she finished speaking, several chat messages floated across her vision.

[Wow, it’s an otome game set in the apocalypse! So exciting—the heroine is gorgeous. I wonder what the male leads are like.]
[You’re kidding, right? A romance game for girls? What a waste of such high production value.]
[I swear, people can turn any genre into a love story. The end is nigh.]

Though she didn’t entirely agree with the comments, Xu Nuo shared their confusion. “How is this an otome romance game?”

007 bristled in defense: [Why not? The “A Million Possibilities for Love” live broadcast exists to prove that love can bloom anywhere. No matter how dire the environment or how sharp the divides, nothing can stop love from blossoming—on every patch of soil, fertile or barren, love can bear fruit. Let love transform all things—world peace through romance!]

Xu Nuo replied, “That sounds highly unreliable. And you still haven’t answered my question about the contract.”

007: [Warning, danger approaching! Please find your first target quickly!]

The swarming zombies cut off Xu Nuo’s words. This was no simple game monster to be dispatched with a click of the mouse, but an apocalypse she had to face head on.

Drawing on her professional gaming experience, Xu Nuo rapidly scanned her personal panel: “Weeping Beauty” (skill), “Spotless” (skin), “Delicate Willow” (skill).

Xu Nuo: “...” So it really is a romance game—not a single attack skill!

But that wouldn’t stop a pro. Xu Nuo swiftly equipped the “Spotless” skin; the foul stench vanished instantly, the air turned crisp and clean, her body fresh as its name implied, untainted by grime, with a faint, dreamlike glow emanating from her.

She grabbed a steel pipe from the ground and swung it mercilessly at a zombie’s head.

System: ???

The first unlucky zombie was reduced to a true corpse, motionless on the ground, not a single drop of blood sullying Xu Nuo’s spotless attire.

So fragile, she thought. Gaining confidence, Xu Nuo switched to the “Weeping Beauty” makeup. The moment tears welled up in her eyes, the pursuing zombies froze, their decaying faces twisting with an almost grotesque tenderness.

With a pitiful, helpless expression, Xu Nuo swung the steel pipe straight at their faces.

The system was dumbfounded, then wailed in despair: [Host, what are you doing?! That’s not how you’re supposed to use your equipment! Your mission isn’t to slay monsters, but to experience sweet, thrilling romance with your targets!]

Once the zombies were dealt with, Xu Nuo wiped the steel pipe clean with her “Spotless” gown, then hefted it over her shoulder. “Where’s the target now?”

[He’s at your two o’clock, but you’ve used your skills; it’ll be hard to achieve a perfect first meeting.] System 007’s tone was both exasperated and aggrieved.

“Is he strong?” Xu Nuo asked.

[Of course, he’s very strong. He’ll definitely protect you.]

“Then I’ll go meet him.”

Relieved that the host still cared about her targets, 007 felt a vague sense that something was amiss.

After a brief delay, Xu Nuo encountered another wave of zombies on her way. With a half-hour cooldown on her skills and “Delicate Willow” only weakening herself, she was forced to grit her teeth and fight her way through.

Her viewership had grown from three to ten.

[This romance game is way more hardcore than I expected. The streamer’s got some serious skills.]
[Viewer “CatFeeder” tipped a cookie.]

A flustered 007 urged her: [Quick, eat the cookie to restore your stamina! Almost there, the target’s just a few dozen meters away!]

After eating the cookie, her sore arms regained their strength. Xu Nuo wielded her steel pipe with renewed vigor, sending zombies flying like paper dolls.

Suddenly, 007 exclaimed: [Host, stop—your target has appeared!]

Xu Nuo sensed a sudden chill in the air, and the zombies around her collapsed one by one. She turned toward the source of the wind and saw a man in black, cap pulled low, revealing only a cold, handsome lower face. In stark contrast to his demeanor, a green health bar hovered above his head, along with the name “Gu Xingze.”

007: [Quick, use “Delicate Willow”—show your frail beauty and win his sympathy and affection!]

With a clang, the steel pipe fell to the ground. Xu Nuo’s legs went weak, barely keeping her upright, so feeble she could hardly lift a finger.

“Help... I can’t walk anymore.”

The girl looked delicate and fragile, brows furrowed in distress, her autumnal eyes brimming with sorrow and helplessness—a precious flower blooming amid the ruins, destined to wither without care.

But Gu Xingze, who had just watched her swinging a steel pipe moments ago: “...”