April 25, 2025 – Seoul, South Korea (Kai's 22nd Birthday)
Kai Han lingered outside the cozy corner café where he'd arranged his birthday confession. Neon signs buzzed overhead, and the scent of freshly ground beans drifted through the evening air. He pressed a hand against the glass, studying his reflection—jet-black hair mussed from his frantic pacing, dark eyes wide with equal parts hope and dread. Tonight had to be perfect.
Minutes earlier, he'd rehearsed his lines in front of a cracked mirror in his tiny studio apartment: smooth, confident, utterly sincere. But every time he'd imagined Mia Park's warm smile, the words tangled in his throat.
Inside, Mia sat alone at their usual table by the window. She sipped a lavender latte, earbuds in, head nodding slightly to music Kai couldn't hear. He swallowed his nerves and pushed through the door. The bell above him jingled, and Mia looked up.
"Hey, stranger," she said, tucking a strand of honey-brown hair behind her ear. Her eyes held amusement—friendly, comforting, but not that kind of spark.
He forced a grin. "Happy birthday, Mia."
Her eyebrows quirked. "You know it's not my birthday, right?"
Kai's heart scrambled. He'd mixed up the date? No—this was April 25th. His birthday. But she was right: she celebrated hers in June. Heat crept up his neck.
"Right," he said, voice cracking. "Yours isn't until June. Mine… is today." He hesitated, then plunged in: "Mia, will you—"
She held up a hand. "Kai, I love that you're sweet, really. But I see you as family. I'm sorry."
The words hit harder than any rejection before. Kai's shoulders slumped. He'd spent his last 200,000 won on this surprise—her favorite lavender latte and a custom engraved watch strap. Now, that gift sat awkwardly in its box on the table, unread.
She reached across and squeezed his hand. "You'll find someone who sees you, Kai."
He managed a nod, forcing a smile. "Thanks."
When Mia returned to her music, Kai slipped out. The night air felt heavier than usual as he wandered Seoul's neon-lit streets, each glowing sign mocking him. If only admiration paid the bills, he muttered, kicking at a loose stone.
He rounded a corner by the Han River and sank onto a bench overlooking the water. Reflected lights danced on the surface, and the soft hum of distant traffic lulled him into a brooding silence. "If only…" he whispered.
A sudden flash of white light stung his eyes. For a moment, the world blurred, then rippled like spilled ink. His phone buzzed violently in his pocket. Bewildered, he yanked it out—and froze.
── SYSTEM ACTIVATED ──
Welcome, Superior Simper.
Divine Credits Balance: 100 000 000 000 000
Spend only on impressing women to raise Affection Levels.
Unlock Divine Rewards as you gain Affection XP.
The text glowed above his home screen, overlaid like an AR interface. Kai blinked. He tapped the floating balance—his fingertips tingled as if electric current ran through them. A new notification popped up:
SYS: You have unlocked "Angelic Marketing Insights." Check your inbox.
His phone chimed with an email from SYS@DivineRealm.ai:
> Subject: Your First Reward
Dear Kai,
Here is a divine pitch deck template that guarantees investors say "yes."
Attached: ANGEL_PITCH_DECK.pptx
Kai swiped open the deck. Slide 1: a sleek cover with embossed gold filigree. Slide 2: an executive summary promising 150 % ROI in six months. Slide 3: market analysis charts labeled "Heavenly Growth Trends" with arrows ascending through fluffy, cloud-like graphics.
He laughed—a short, disbelieving bark. "This… this can't be real."
But when he tapped the slide, it expanded smoothly, no lag, no glitches. His phone—an aging mid-range model—handled it effortlessly.
Another pop-up appeared:
MISSION #001: First Impressions
– Spend 100 000 Divine Credits on Mia Park.
– Goal: Raise Mia's Affection to Level 1.
– Reward: 1 % equity stake in your first venture.
One hundred thousand out of a hundred trillion. He glanced at the balance again. "Chump change," he muttered. He flicked his thumb to Confirm.
A soft chime played, and a new pop-up shimmered:
SYS: Purchase Complete.
You bought "Lavender Dream Latte" for Mia Park.
Affection XP +100.
His phone buzzed with a second email:
> From: SYS@DivineRealm.ai
Subject: Affection Reward Unlocked
Congratulations, Kai.
You've unlocked "Divine Intuition": brief insights into a person's deepest desires. Use wisely.
Kai sat back, heart pounding. The bench felt colder now. Divine Intuition? He hesitated—should he try it right away? But his phone vibrated again, this time with an incoming chat message icon labeled SYS COMMAND.
He tapped it.
SYS: To use Divine Intuition, enter target's name.
> Mia Park
SYS: Here are three desires:
1. Yearns for creative outlets—painting, writing, design.
2. Dreams of opening a community space for youth art.
3. Values genuine emotional connection over grand gestures.
Kai exhaled, mind racing. He closed his eyes and pictured Mia smiling over her latte. His thoughts flickered to his neglected sketchbook, doodles of café logos and poster designs. He snapped it open, scanned through pages. I can help her with this.
Now he saw the path: launch a small gallery café—Mia's art, his business acumen powered by SYS pitch decks. He could combine her passion with his new resources.
He glanced at his phone. The AR overlay still floated, pulsing softly. The city lights sparkled around him, but all he could focus on was the blank page of his future, suddenly brimming with possibility.
"Alright," he whispered to himself, voice steady for the first time that night. "Let's make you believe in me."
He tapped Confirm on a new mission prompt, fingers trembling with excitement rather than fear.
Above the Han River, as dawn's first pale light touched the skyscrapers, Kai Han—once a hopeless simp—smiled at the system only he could see.
Tomorrow, the real game begins.