The Charismatic Zane with System

Chapter 3 - The First Quest

Two days later. Late afternoon.

“Eat this. After that, you need to take your medicine,” Zeeva said as she placed a tray of fish soup and vegetables on Zane’s lap.

“Thanks.” Zane began eating. For the past two days, he’d done nothing but lie in bed or sit up, struggling to walk. The boredom was suffocating.

But the moment he looked at Zeeva, all of that boredom vanished.

His eyes wandered to the pink-haired woman, who was focused on reading a stack of papers.

“Why didn’t you just ask your assistant to bring me food? That way you wouldn’t have to leave your work behind.”

“I don’t want anyone finding out that I’m hiding a man.”

“Why not?”

“I’m a model. I can’t afford any rumors about us spreading around.”

Zane’s eyes widened. A model? What a strange coincidence.

“Why do you look so shocked?”

“I-I just didn’t expect to meet a celebrity in person,” Zane stammered.

“You don’t even recognize me?” Zeeva sounded slightly offended.

“O-of course I do!” Zane lied through his teeth.

Zeeva shot him a sharp glare. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not!”

“Then name the title of the event I’m starring in right now.”

Zane racked his brain for an answer.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Both of them jumped as someone banged on the door, hard.

“Damn it! Why is that bastard here?” Zeeva muttered as she opened the door.

“Where is he?!” A man in his fifties barged in, shouting with rage.

“What do you mean, Dad?”

“Don’t play dumb! I know you’re hiding your lover in here!”

“I’m not having an affair! How many times do I have to tell you?!” Zeeva snapped.

“Move! I’ll check for myself!”

“You can’t just barge into my—Argh!” Her head hit the wall as Alfredo shoved past her, storming into the room.

“Zeeva!” Zane instinctively tried to get out of bed to help her, but his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor.

Alfredo froze when he saw Zane writhing in pain on the floor. “I knew it! You’re the bastard!” He lunged forward, grabbing Zane by the collar.

“Wait, Dad! He—”

“How dare you defile my daughter!” Alfredo roared and punched Zane mercilessly, over and over, until his face was bruised and bloody.

Zane didn’t fight back. He just lay there, taking every blow.

“Calm down, Dad! He’s just a victim of my recklessness yesterday! I accidentally hit him with my car!” Zeeva screamed frantically, trying to pull her father away.

Alfredo slapped her so hard she staggered. “Liar! You’re dating some random guy behind my back, aren’t you?! Have you forgotten you’re already engaged, damn it?! What if your fiancé finds out you’re cheating?! If he leaves you, I’ll lose my money! I won’t let your stupidity ruin me!”

“That’s not true! Please believe me, Dad!” Zeeva pleaded, holding her burning cheek.

“I don’t trust a disobedient brat like you! If your fame is ruined and your fiancé dumps you, leaving you penniless, I swear I’ll throw you and your mother out on the streets! Now give me money! I need to gamble!”

“I-I don’t have any left. My savings are barely enough for Mom’s hospital bills.”

“I don’t care! Hand over your money!” Alfredo grabbed Zeeva’s purse from the nightstand and dumped everything onto the floor.

“No, Dad!” Zeeva cried hysterically, scrambling to stop him. But he shoved her so hard she hit the wall again.

He snatched her debit card and wallet before storming out and slamming the door behind him.

BANG!

“Son of a bitch!” Zeeva cursed, clawing at her hair in frustration. Then, her body gave out. She slid down the wall and broke into sobs, her cries echoing through the silent room, sharp enough to pierce Zane’s heart.

The pale young man had watched the entire argument, powerless to do anything. Explaining the truth would have been useless—her father wouldn’t have listened.

Meanwhile, Zane cursed himself for being too weak to help her keep what was rightfully hers.

“I-I’m sorry,” Zane said softly, his voice trembling with guilt.

Zeeva glared at him through her tears, her face twisted with rage. “This is all your fault! If you’d never come into my life, everything wouldn’t have fallen apart!” she screamed, her voice breaking. Her eyes were full of despair.

Zane didn’t get angry. He accepted her words because they were true.

“Once again, I’m sorry. I really am nothing but bad luck.” His voice shook as he fought back his own tears. “You should’ve let me die that night. Then you wouldn’t have to suffer. Honestly, I would’ve thanked you for it.”

Zeeva stopped crying and looked at him in disbelief.

“If you’d died, you’d have been even more trouble, idiot,” she muttered.

She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a small towel and a bowl of cold water, and returned to clean the blood at the corner of Zane’s lips.

Zane broke into a cold sweat as she leaned close to him, her face just inches away. His heart pounded wildly. She was so beautiful up close that he couldn’t look away.

His eyes—traitorous eyes—fell on her soft, pink lips. He swallowed hard, his mind spinning with one reckless thought.

This is the perfect chance to kiss her.

“What are you staring at?” Zeeva snapped.

His fantasy shattered like glass. Zane quickly looked down, flustered. “S-sorry. I was just…”

“You pervert! You were thinking something dirty, weren’t you?!”

“N-no! I just… think you’re really beautiful!” Zane blurted out.

Smack!

“Ouch!”

“You’re disgusting!” Zeeva hurled the wet towel at his face and stormed out of the room.

“Damn it, Zane! You’ve made things even worse!” he cursed himself.

His mind raced. How can I kiss her without making her hate me even more?

Once he recovered, he vowed to disappear from her life so he wouldn’t ruin it any further.

He glanced at the translucent screen hovering in front of him. It still hadn’t gone away.

[Warning! You only have 12 hours left. If you fail, this system will disappear forever.]

“Shit! Why didn’t you tell me there was a time limit?!” Zane shouted at the system.

He chewed his nails, his head pounding from the stress.

He planned to kiss Zeeva, even if it was just to fulfill the mission and undo his crippled state. But what if it didn’t work? What if he stayed broken? Without Zeeva, he’d be homeless—useless—because he couldn’t work or live on his own.

He hated to admit it, but right now, his entire life depended on her.

“I don’t have a choice. I have to do this.”