"Wow, this guy is very handsome. No wonder Christina didn't want to break up," Alex muttered, stunned by his own reflection.

Back on Earth, he had looked ordinary, the kind of face that never stood out in a crowd. Now, however, he was striking. Even so, he appeared a little unkempt. The previous Alex had never cared much about his appearance.

His hair was overgrown and clearly needed styling. His skin showed signs of neglect, as if it had been a long time since he last used any skincare products. Despite the disarray, his good looks were impossible to ignore.

His eyelids drooped heavily. He was exhausted and could no longer think about the system or reincarnation. Dragging himself to the bed, he collapsed onto it. The moment his body touched the mattress, he fell asleep.

Alex woke up early for work as usual. He had always risen early to pick up Annie from school. Blinking groggily, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. Shock flickered through him before yesterday's events rushed back into his mind.

He let out a sigh. Normally, the Alex of this world should have been getting ready for school, but there was no way he could attend class with all these bruises, at least not for the next three days.

He lay back on the bed, sighed once more, and called out to the mysterious system. It had only spoken a single sentence yesterday, and he still had no idea how it was supposed to help him.

"System, hello? System, are you there?"

(Ding! The Superstar System is at your service.)

"Yes," he said, delighted. Just like the protagonists in those popular novels, he had his own cheat. Another notification sounded.

(System scanning host... Scan complete.)

Host level:

Entertainment skills:

Star points: 0

Singing: level 4

Dancing: level 3

Composing and songwriting: level 5

Acting: level 3

Music production: level 5

Instruments:

Guitar: level 7

Charisma: 6

Special skills: none

Intelligence: 9

Handsomeness: 8

Physical points: 7 (This includes all physical stats like speed and strength. An average grown man has 10 points.)

Fighting skills: none

Weapon skills: none

Special technique: none

Other skills: none

A translucent panel appeared before him, clearly displaying all his stats.

"Wow, are these really all my stats? They're pretty poor, I must say."

(System notice: Host physical stats are weak. A superstar must be fit. The host has been issued daily missions.)

Daily Mission One: Do 100 push-ups every day for one week.

Reward: Random increase in physical points.

Punishment for failure: One of the host's stats will randomly decrease by one point.

Duration: One week.

Daily Mission Two: Two hours of singing and an additional two hours of composing every day.

Reward: Random level increases in singing and composing. Rewards will be given after one week.

Punishment: Random stat deduction.

Duration: One week.

The system quickly issued its first set of missions.

"What the hell! Why don't you just tell me to go die, system? Can't you see how injured I am?" Alex nearly cursed at the floating display.

(As a first-time gift, the system will give the host a high-grade healing potion. Do you want me to use it on you now?)

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

Immediately, a warm energy surged through his body. It was gentle and soothing. He closed his eyes as a satisfied smile formed on his lips. About a minute later, the sensation faded. When he looked down at himself, his eyes widened in shock. Every bruise had vanished.

"First, it's time to complete my first mission." He dropped into a push-up position and began. He finished all one hundred before collapsing, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

(First daily mission completed. Reward: +1 physical point.)

As he focused on his body, he could clearly feel that he was stronger than before.

He went to the bathroom and took a shower. He decided not to go to school, as the change would have been too abrupt. After bathing, he cooked a pack of noodles and ate before attempting his second mission.

For the next week, Alex lived the same routine. Every morning, he did one hundred push-ups. He then spent four hours composing and singing. In the evenings, he went to the eatery where he worked part-time.

Contrary to his expectations, the daily stat increases ranged from only 0.1 to 0.5 points instead of a full point like on the first day. Even so, over the past few days, he managed to raise his physical stat to 9.

Finally, it was time to receive the increases for his composing and singing levels.

(Mission complete. Reward: Singing level 5; Composing and songwriting level 7.)

"System, can you be any less reliable? Composing and songwriting went up two levels, but singing only increased by one?" He felt like crying, but no tears came. His first screening for Superstars of Tomorrow was the next day, and a larger boost to singing would have greatly improved his chances.

(Ding! New mission: Compose a song now, then go to a public place and perform it.

Reward: Special skill - Resonance.

Resonance enhances the emotional impact of the host's voice, making his tone naturally draw attention on a deeper level and subtly influence the audience's mood. Effect depends on level.

Mission duration: Seven hours.)

"Seven hours? I'm supposed to be at the eatery in an hour. It'll take me two or three hours just to compose a decent song. Shit, I'll have to skip work today. Hopefully Madam Eudora won't be angry. This is already my second time this month." He sighed helplessly.

The first time had been on the day he was reincarnated, when the previous Alex had left work without notice after receiving that text.

Alex made his decision quickly and wasted no time. He immediately began working on the song. At the same time, he felt a surge of excitement at the promise of a special skill. He had not gained any special skills yet, and this one sounded particularly useful.

It took him four hours to finish the song. Completely exhausted, he went to the washroom and poured himself a glass of water.

When he came out, he reached for the guitar hanging on the wall beside his small bed. The previous Alex had loved the guitar, and his skill with it was above average.

He had bought it for 500 credits (one credit equal to one US dollar.)

It was a high-quality acoustic guitar. He played for forty minutes before finally stopping.

Putting on a black coat, he slung the guitar over his back and left his apartment.

"You mean you want to leave me and join a bigger label? Hah! Where was that label when you were nothing? Where was it when you were jumping from one talent show to another?" A tall, beautiful, mature woman shouted angrily at a girl dressed in purple.

The girl in purple looked younger and was also beautiful, but her beauty paled in comparison to that of the mature woman.

She bowed her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Anna, but as you can see, my career has grown immensely. You can no longer handle it. Be honest with yourself. I need a better label for better marketing and better deals," she explained.

"I can't handle you?" The mature woman slammed her hand against her chest. "Do you even know how much I've sacrificed, and how much more I'm still willing to sacrifice for you? Do you know how long I've been in this industry? Eight years. Eight good years.

"The connections and experience I've gathered during those years are more than enough to take you even further."

"Let's stop lying to ourselves, Anna," the younger beauty said. "No agent could take you that far. You've already outdone most of them by taking me this far, and I truly appreciate it. But growing my talent is far more important than the gratitude I feel toward you."

"Is that really what you want?" the mature woman asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yes, Anna. I'm sorry." The girl with purple hair looked as though she were making an incredibly difficult decision.

"No need to be sorry. This has been the pattern every time. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. As a private agent, all I do is scout talent, nurture it, and wait for top industry players, who didn't even know these talents existed, to offer them contracts. You can leave my house now, Percy." Her tone was icy, cold, and commanding.

The girl in purple knew there was no point in staying. Her presence would only make Anna angrier. She decided it would be better to return later, once Anna had calmed down.

"Alright, I'll go now. I'll come back later when you've calmed down," she said softly.

"No need to come back, Percy. I understand you, and I forgive you. It's not your fault. The deal they offered was simply too good for you to resist. But I should warn you in good faith. The moment you join them, you completely lose your freedom."

****

After a few minutes of walking, Alex arrived at Newar Square. It was not a particularly popular square, but it still held a decent crowd. Night had already fallen, yet a surprising number of people lingered.

Alex sat beside an old waterfall at the center of the square and took out his guitar. People noticed him, whispered among themselves, and some even laughed quietly.

Alex ignored the commotion and began strumming his guitar, searching for the right tune. His eyes closed as he immersed himself in the emotions of the song he was about to sing. Soon, his voice rose, steady and confident.

🎶🎶🎶

Verse 1

When the world fell apart

Darkness found its stride

But you remember what I promised

One day, I'll lean on you to hide

From moments that slip away

I hate to say goodnight

Yet I'll see you with the sunrise

Still know your heart, still know your eyes

🎶🎶🎶

His voice carried slowly but confidently through the square. Some passersby stopped and listened. His voice was not exceptional, but the lyrics were flawless.

🎶🎶🎶

Pre-Chorus

I could tell you of restless nights

How no one cheers for the birds that don't take flight

So let the heroes fade and hide

My wonder's weary, just a little tired

🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶

Chorus

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

I know you'd never leave me behind

But right now, I'm lost, I know

Are we meant to burn, or will we make it through the night?

I'll hold you close until it feels right

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

🎶🎶🎶

Alex became so absorbed in the performance that he poured his heart into the second verse. The crowd felt it. Even though his voice was not perfect, the emotion behind it was undeniable, and people genuinely connected with the lyrics.

He strummed the final note. A brief silence followed before it shattered, and the small audience burst into applause. Some even tossed money toward him. Alex felt embarrassed. He was not a beggar. Still, he bent down and picked up the few dollar bills.

Among the crowd stood a tall, beautiful, mature woman. She held her phone and frowned slightly. "Strange," she murmured. "I recorded the lyrics and searched online. They don't seem to belong to any known artist. It's highly likely he wrote them himself."

"Very talented composer," Anna thought, "but his voice isn't strong enough to become a musician. He'd be better off composing and selling his songs."

She had stepped out for some fresh air from one of her favorite restaurants in Newar Square when she happened upon Alex singing. Curiosity had kept her there.

Alex was packing up his guitar when a sharp scent of lavender reached him. It was lovely and refreshing. He looked up and saw the mature beauty standing before him.

"Excuse me, are you the one who composed these lyrics?" Her voice was soft, pleasant, and soothing. Alex froze, momentarily stunned.

He was struck by the beauty before him. She wore a blue blouse and black trousers, her eyes hazel and captivating, and she carried a seductive aura. At the same time, the confidence etched into her expression made it clear she was no ordinary person.

The woman blinked twice, and Alex immediately realized that he had been rude.

"Sorry, I got a bit lost in thought. Back to your question, yes, I'm the one who composed the song," he said calmly, forcing himself to steady his emotions.

She smiled softly. "You have real talent in composing, and your guitar skills are good as well. I'm genuinely impressed." Her tone shifted slightly as she continued, "But I have to be honest with you. You're not very good at singing." Her words were direct and unfiltered.

Alex frowned.

"It might sound brutal, but it's the truth," she added. "I'm not trying to discourage you. If you work hard on your voice, maybe you'll get there someday. Who knows?"

She paused for a moment before continuing, "But if you ever give up on being an artist and decide to focus on composing, contact me." She handed him a card.

At first, Alex felt irritated by her blunt criticism and thought she had only approached him to tear him down. However, when she encouraged him to improve and even offered him an opportunity, he realized that she genuinely meant well.

At the very least, she had not told him to stop making music altogether. Even Alex had to admit that his voice still needed work.

"I'll be going now," she said, turning and walking away. I wonder if he hates me now? she thought, unaware that her old habit had taken over.

All the celebrities under her knew this side of her personality. She was brutally honest, sometimes to the point of being irritating.

But Alex was a stranger, and she should not have spoken to him that way. It was an old habit resurfacing, and she regretted it.

Alex watched her leave. He slipped the card into his pocket without looking at it, then packed up his things and left Newar square.

When he finished performing earlier, he had received a notification from the system, but he had suppressed it. He was still in public and did not want to look strange by staring into empty air.

After walking for a few minutes, he arrived home. As usual, his landlady was outside, smoking. She wore small, loose clothing, as she always did, accentuating her curvaceous body.

She narrowed her eyes when she saw Alex approaching with a guitar slung across his back.

"Brat, don't tell me you still have those wishful dreams of yours," she scoffed. "With that croaked voice of yours, I really wonder what kind of shitty label would ever accept you."

After a brief pause, she continued mockingly, "You know what, I own a restaurant. Why don't you come over and play that guitar of yours for the customers? You're very skilled at it. Just don't sing, and I'll pay you well." The moment she opened her mouth, her words were as vicious as ever.

Alex thought that her remarks alone might have caused him serious emotional damage if he did not have the system supporting him.

"Don't worry about me, landlady. I'm never giving up on my dream," he said firmly.

"Oh, good luck with that. I hope you succeed," she replied sarcastically. "But before that, remember you still have rent to pay. Wait... where are you going? Come here this instant, brat!"

While she was still ranting, Alex had already walked away, hurrying toward his apartment. She could only curse loudly behind him.

Inside his small one-room apartment, Alex locked the door and collapsed onto the bed.

Immediately, he willed the system to display the notification.

(Ding! Mission completed: Compose a song, then go to a public place and perform it.

Reward: Special skill, Resonance level one.

Resonance enhances the emotional impact of the host's voice, allowing it to naturally draw attention on a deeper level and subtly influence the audience's mood. The effect depends on skill level.)

"Finally. I hope this skill is worth it. System, show me my stats."

A new window appeared before him, displaying his information.

Host level:

Entertainment skills:

Star points: 0

Singing: level 5

Dancing: level 3

Composing and songwriting: level 7

Acting: level 3

Music production: level 5

Instruments:

Guitar: level 7

Charisma: 6

Special skills: Resonance level 1

Intelligence: 9

Handsomeness: 8

Physical points: 9 (This includes all physical attributes such as speed and strength. An average adult male has 10 points.)

Fighting skills: none

Weapon skills: none

Special technique: none

Other skills: none

He nodded, satisfied with his progress. However, his dancing and acting levels were pitifully low. For now, he had no intention of pursuing anything related to acting.

****

Today, Alex finally decided to go back to school. The moment he arrived at the gates of saints high, a strong sense of déjà vu washed over him.

It had been many years since he last attended high school. Exactly how many, he could no longer recall.

With a sigh, he walked through the school gate.

"Hello, Alex."

Someone suddenly called out, startling him. He turned around and saw a chubby beauty standing behind him.

She wore a white school uniform paired with a short pink, flowery skirt. The fabric hugged her curvy, chubby figure, highlighting her full body and making her shape impossible to ignore.

Her face was soft and full, with two cute dimples resting naturally on her cheeks. She was very beautiful, probably on the same level as Alex's ex girlfriend.

If some of the fat on her face were gone, she might even be more beautiful than his ex.

She was a transfer student who sat beside Alex in class, so they often exchanged notes.

She was a kind girl and always spoke gently to him. This had caused many of her pursuers to feel jealous. You already have a beauty as a girlfriend, and now you want to take this one too?

They secretly loathed him. One could imagine how happy they were when Billy and Christina started showing public affection at school a week ago.

"Amber!" Alex smiled, pleasantly surprised to see her.

"What happened to you? You haven't been at school for a whole week," she asked worriedly.

"Oh, nothing serious. I was in a small accident, but I'm fine now," he replied casually.

"Are you sure you're really okay?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He nodded firmly.

"Alright then. I think we should exchange contacts so I can check on you next time," she said. "No one in class seems to have your contact information, and even your girlfriend... ehm, I mean your ex, refused to give it to me." She said it without the slightest hint of awkwardness.

Most girls found it difficult to ask a guy for his number, and even when they did, they were often nervous. But Amber was different. She was straightforward and never the type to follow conventions.