The boy I raised looked at me with those familiar eyes and asked, "Will you always be with me?"

I nodded, reassuring him with a soft smile.

Ding.

The number above his head—his Darkness Level—dropped to zero.

The system’s voice chimed in my head, "Congratulations, you’ve completed your mission."

Finally, I was going home.

*****

In our cozy little courtyard, after setting the dishes on the table, I slid open the wooden door and glanced at the boy buried in his homework—Ashley.

He was wearing a plain white t-shirt, totally engrossed in his work.

But just then, a black mark appeared above his head—Darkness Level: 1.

My name is Jessica. I used to be just an ordinary office worker until a terminal illness changed everything. Right before the end, I was given a chance to step into the world of a novel.

My mission? To save Ashley, the main villain in this modern-day story, and turn him into a kind, responsible young man with strong morals.

All I had to do was get his Darkness Level down to zero, and I’d be done.

When I first entered the novel, I found him huddled outside, looking so lost and broken, and I brought him home.

My grandmother and I cared for his wounds—he was just ten years old then.

Back then, he was all scars and bruises, dressed in clothes that barely held together.

My grandmother and I took him in, gave him a home, and made sure he went to school.

I poured my heart into teaching him, loving him like he was my own.

When his crazed mother came after him, when his classmates bullied him, when his half-brother tormented him—I was always there, protecting him, solving his problems, and making sure he knew he had a safe place to come back to.

Now, he’s a top SAT scorer, a freshman that every college wants.

In the end, he chose a school close to home so he could come back every day.

It took me three years to bring his Darkness Level down from 99 to 1.

But that last little bit... I’ve spent five years trying to erase it, and it still lingers.

Eight years. After all this time, I was starting to lose hope.

*****

“Ashley, come eat,” I called out to him with a smile.

“Okay.” He stopped what he was doing and flashed me a grin.

His skin was flawless, his features sharp and well-defined, and his eyes—clear and bright like crystal. He looked every bit the perfect young man.

But no matter how close he seemed to perfection, that last little “1” on his Darkness Level just wouldn’t budge.

At the dinner table, I couldn’t help but frown as I stared at that stubborn number.

Ashley noticed my expression and placed a piece of meat on my plate. “What’s wrong? Something bothering you?”

I shook my head, brushing it off. “Oh, nothing. I learned this new recipe online. Give it a try—see if it’s any good.”

As I spoke, I picked up a rib and placed it on his plate.

Ashley took a bite, his face lighting up with satisfaction. “It’s delicious! Will you keep cooking for me?”

I smiled warmly. “Of course. As long as you want to eat, I’ll keep cooking.”

Ashley’s gaze locked onto mine. “And… will you always stay with me?”

I froze for a moment. If I keep failing the system’s task, I’ll stay with him forever.

“Of course,” I replied softly.

Hearing that, Ashley’s face lit up with a childlike, innocent smile, completely content.

“You promised, so you can’t take it back!”

Ding—

The system’s voice echoed in my mind.

“Congratulations. His Darkness Level has dropped to 0. You’ve successfully completed the mission. Do you wish to exit this world? Ten seconds to decide.”

The sudden change caught me off guard, but the system didn’t give me time to waver.

Looking at the young man in front of me, I realized he wouldn’t need me anymore. And wasn’t my goal all along to go back home?

With firm resolve, I told the system, “Yes.”

I looked up at Ashley, guilt washing over me. “I’m sorry, Ashley. I have to break my promise so soon. The bank card is in my drawer, and the password is your birthday. You have to live a good life, okay?”

As soon as the words left my lips, my body began to rapidly deteriorate.

My features faded, and my heartbeat slowed to a stop.

Ashley panicked, rushing over to hold me, calling my name, desperately trying to wake me up.

“No! Jessica—”

I slowly opened my eyes and glanced around the room. The familiar furniture reassured me—I was back in the real world.

I went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said I was completely cured, and as healthy as anyone. It was nothing short of a medical miracle.

I returned to work, and life began to fall back into its old routine. Before long, more than a year had passed quietly, and that whole experience of being transported into a book and completing that mission felt like a distant dream. Only in the stillness of night did memories of Ashley resurface in my mind.

One day at work, my coworker Ada leaned in close and whispered, “Jessica, have you heard? It looks like our company’s been bought out, and we’re getting a new chairman.”

Ada was our office gossip queen—if there was news to be heard, she was the first to know and always eager to share.

I turned to her, shock written all over my face. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not totally sure, but it sounds like Ashley Louis, the CEO of Zenith Innovations, is taking over. The new chairman starts tomorrow.”

"Ashley." The name made my fingers curl slightly, memories flooding back of a ten-year-old boy I once knew.

I remembered when my grandmother and I decided to adopt him. We asked him what his real name was.

He had lowered his head, eyes filled with fear as he nervously fidgeted with the hem of his pants. “I don’t have a name,” he whispered.

My heart had clenched. I hadn’t expected the villain from the novel to be so pitiful. Ten years old, and he didn’t even have a proper name.

I crouched down to his level, looking him straight in the eye. “I’m Jessica, and I’m five years older than you. You can call me by my name. How about I give you a name? Would you like that?”

He lifted his head just a bit, his eyelashes fluttering, curiosity and unease mingling in his eyes.

Seeing the seriousness in my face, he gave a small nod. “I’d like that.”

I thought for a moment. “How about Ashley? It’s a strong name, and it suits you perfectly. May you grow up to be talented and humble.”

*****

Today was the day we were welcoming the new chairman.

We were all rushing around, getting everything ready.

The phone rang.

I glanced at the screen—“Mom.”

What could she want right now?

I answered the call. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

“Mrs. Smith’s daughter-in-law gave birth today. Mrs. Smith and I are the same age, and now she’s a grandmother, while I haven’t even seen you bring home a husband yet.” My mom’s voice took on a playful, mock-crying tone. “You’re not getting any younger, honey—it’s time to start thinking about marriage.”

“Mom, I’m still young,” I replied.

She cut me off. “Do you remember Mrs. Jones’s son? You two grew up together. He’s working in government now. I saw him the other day—he’s handsome and well-mannered. How about you meet him tonight? I’ll send you his number.”

“Ahem.” The deputy manager cleared his throat behind me, and I quickly hung up the phone and turned around.

The deputy manager was none other than Ashley Louis, our new chairman. I stared at him, realizing with shock that this Ashley looked exactly like the boy I had known from the book, though his features were more mature now. My fingers unconsciously tightened around my phone, and I stood there, frozen.

He stepped forward and scolded, “Jessica, talking on the phone about personal matters during work hours? Get to the conference room now.”

His words snapped me out of my daze. I quickly lowered my head, mumbled an apology, and hurried into the conference room.

This new chairman had a tall nose, deep-set eyes, and a pair of long, narrow black eyes that held a sharp, cold edge. He swept his gaze across the room and said, “Good morning, everyone. As of today, I’ll be taking over as chairman of SilverWave Group. My policy is simple: no slacking off. If I catch anyone slacking, they’re out.”

Ashley started with a stern warning, and I couldn’t help but stare at him, trying to find any trace of the boy I once knew.

How could someone look so much like him, even have the same name? But how could a character from a novel exist in the real world?

“Jessica,” Ashley said.

His voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up and met his gaze—deep, distant, and inscrutable.

“According to your resume, you’re in the design department?” he asked.

I glanced away slightly, my fingers curling nervously. “Yes, Mr. Louis.”

Ashley tapped his fingers on the desk and said, “Here’s the deal: I’ve just arrived and don’t have a secretary yet, so you’ll be taking on that role for now. Once I have a permanent secretary, you’ll go back to your original position.”

I instinctively wanted to refuse. “I might not be suited for this role.”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I thought you were staring at me so intently because you were eager for this job.”

I blushed, caught off guard and unsure how to respond.

So, my desk was moved outside Ashley’s office, and I started my new routine of seeing him every day, but only in passing.