Chapter 2Game of Hearts: The System Glitch

Lying on a plush hotel bed, I grilled the system about every single rule.

Including the punishment for failure.

The system was silent for a moment before dropping one word: "Termination."

Death.

But if I succeeded, I could keep a "cheat code" item from the system shop.

I had to complete the mission before the storyline ended. In the original story, the characters entangled themselves in love and hate for five years before reaching a happy ending. So, I had five years. Or I die.

I thought for a moment. "So, the method doesn't matter, right? As long as I succeed?"

The system hummed a yes.

I opened the system shop and searched for useful tools.

"System," I said, "I need a loan. I'm buying something."

Everything in the shop was priced in local currency, but my bank account was empty.

A second later, a long string of zeros appeared in my balance.

I bought a fake system.

It didn't do much—just remote monitoring and messaging.

I immediately bound the fake system to both men.

Then I typed in the introductory message:

[Dear Host, you have successfully bound the "Romance the Heroine" System.] [Heroine affection reaches 100: Success.] [Heroine affection drops to -100: Failure.] [Failure results in immediate termination.] [Friendly Reminder: If affection drops below zero, random punishments will be deployed.]