Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Within the consciousness space, the system was utterly shocked.

Others might not know, but with the original host's memories, its own host couldn't possibly be unaware.

From beginning to end, the original host's boyfriend Ji Ze had never intended to betray his girlfriend or agree to an arranged marriage.

The original host's pessimistic conjectures had never existed.

In the previous life, even when his girlfriend left without a word, dealing with the dual blows to his career and love life, the male lead had stubbornly persevered through sheer determination during those difficult times.

For the next four years, he never dated anyone else either. The once gentle and refined young master had transformed into an icy-faced CEO who kept people at arm's length. If not for his childhood friend - the lively and cheerful female lead who provided years of unwavering warmth and care...

Even then, it might not have been enough to melt this glacier without subsequent events.

Yet despite everything, the original host held tremendous weight in his heart. Otherwise, her return wouldn't have caused the female lead such heartbreak, nor made the devoted supporting female character completely lose her composure...

"As long as I stay by his side through this difficult time without abandoning him, we'll definitely get a happy ending?"

On the way back, as if sensing something, An Ning suddenly chuckled and spoke.

"Uh... isn't that the case?"

Inside the consciousness space, the dog-shaped system scratched its head in confusion.

But wasn't it precisely because the original host saw the male and female leads embracing (actually just the female lead tripping and the male lead instinctively catching her) that she became distracted and accidentally got into the fatal car accident?

This incident caused the biggest misunderstanding between the leads in years. Only after the female lead left heartbroken did the male lead finally realize his feelings, beginning the classic "chasing wife through hell" trope...

Setting aside the leads' story.

"The facts prove that even after all these years apart, the original host still loved him!"

The system believed that while the original host never explicitly stated her regrets, they undoubtedly stemmed from this sudden departure that caused her to permanently lose her loved one...

Packing the original host's meager belongings by herself, An Ning listened to her system's words but dismissed them entirely.

What could she, a freshly graduated college student with no connections or experience, possibly accomplish by staying?

Be the male lead's emotional crutch when he's exhausted?

Endure Madam Ji's condescending gaze as she casually exposed her most painful memories like dinner conversation? Or perform in countless dramatic scenes with various female leads and supporting characters?

In truth, An Ning found this mission particularly challenging because even at the moment of death, the original host herself had been utterly confused.

Her love for her ex-boyfriend made her return from abroad despite having established a moderately successful career there.

Yet after returning, everyone - acquaintances, strangers, even people who'd merely heard rumors - believed she was at fault. That she'd heartlessly abandoned her boyfriend who was struggling yet persevering for her sake. That she'd betrayed rare genuine affection and discarded a man who loved her so deeply.

That she'd transformed Ji Ze from that gentle senior into a completely different person over the years.

Cold, sharp-tongued, unapproachable.

Even her closest college friend thought she'd gone too far.

"How could you not cherish someone like CEO Ji?"

"A-Ning, you couldn't possibly be... the gold-digger they say you are, right?"

"Just because CEO Ji had that accident back then, you left without hesitation? Without any regard for your feelings?"

No one cared about the Ji family's disdainful looks back then. Or how during every visit, Madam Ji would affectionately embrace the female lead while "casually" reminiscing about their childhood memories together.

As the girlfriend, she'd always felt like an outsider...

In her past life, under such circumstances, even the original host began doubting herself, wondering if her decision had been wrong - especially seeing how drastically he'd changed.

Guilt, self-blame, unanimous condemnation from those around her, and lingering love became daily sources of unbearable pain...

Judging causes from outcomes is utterly meaningless...

An Ning believed the original host had made the best choice for herself at that time.

"System, truth is, even given ten thousand chances, the original host would still choose to leave..."

Rather than stay and let this relationship fester in endless doubt and anxiety...

Recalling the original host's experiences, society wasn't school. On campus, they'd been the perfect golden couple. But afterwards? Whether it was the privileged childhood friend female lead or the devoted supporting female character - in everyone's eyes, including the Ji family's, they were all far more suitable matches than her.

Packing the last piece of clothing into her suitcase, An Ning didn't hesitate as she typed into her phone's messaging app - in the conversation thread labeled "My Beloved A-Ze" - mimicking the original host's usual tone:

"I'm sorry, but I'm leaving. The reasons... we both know them well enough..."

Having prepared everything in advance, all necessary procedures were complete, saving An Ning additional trouble. Only when boarding her flight did the familiar ringtone suddenly erupt incessantly. By then, two hours had passed since her message - clearly, he'd been extremely busy during this period.

Powering off her phone directly, following the flight attendant's gentle instructions, An Ning boarded the plane to America without looking back.

So quickly that by the time she'd landed and checked into a nearby hotel, the system in her consciousness still hadn't processed everything.

"Wait... Host, were you just looking up computer science programs? And AI...?"

As if realizing something, the system stuttered in alarm before timidly adding:

"Um... wasn't the original host's major finance?"

"Yes, what's the problem?"

Still reviewing materials without turning around, An Ning's tone remained unchanged:

"Computer science fundamentals are mathematics, and it's my original expertise. No matter how you look at it, this is currently the most suitable path for me, isn't it?"

"I... I suppose so..."

After a long pause, the system finally responded weakly.