I transmigrated into a dating-sim otome game where I was supposed to romance a soft, fragile male lead. I had finally pushed him onto the bed and was just about to make my move when the long-missing system finally popped back online.

[Host, I sent you to the wrong game. This is a horror game.]

[The man you’re bullying right now is the horror game final boss.]

I lifted my head and met a pair of blood-red eyes staring straight at me.

My smile froze. “Um… you look a little tired. Maybe we should… continue this another day?”

He smiled back, calm and terrifying. “I’m not tired. Go on.”

In the year 2224, I won the lottery to participate in a romance otome game. As long as I maxed out the male lead’s affection meter, I would clear the game and walk away with a ten-million credit reward.

But the moment I entered the game, the system malfunctioned and completely lost contact with me.

Luckily, I had been briefed beforehand: the male lead I needed to romance would have white hair. Everyone else in the game would have black hair.

So the day I spotted a boy in a school uniform with silver-white hair, my heart just about exploded. I had finally found my target.

A breeze lifted the ends of his silver-white hair, revealing a striking face. His skin was pale and luminous, his frame tall and slender, his whole presence cool and distant.

What made my excitement spike even more was how much he resembled my real-life idol, Wayne—top celebrity, national heartthrob, the man I had fangirled over for three whole years.

It looked like the developers had modeled the game’s male lead after him.

So there I was, a fresh college graduate, enrolling back into high school just to get close to him.

The principal approved my “transfer,” and I became the boy’s deskmate.

His name was printed neatly on the cover of his textbook: Aaron Wallace.

For an entire month, I pursued him with the stubborn dedication of someone chasing a ten-million credit prize. Every day I brought him snacks, milk, little gifts. I followed him on walks. I tried talking to him whenever I could.

He never responded.

I eventually noticed he didn’t talk to anyone. According to the info I’d received before entering the game, he was supposed to be the lonely, bullied type.

I had such a soft spot for fragile, quiet boys. His silence only made me more determined.

One morning, six new girls transferred into our class. They filled the six empty desks. Our homeroom teacher stood at the podium and clapped his hands with a cheerful smile.

“Now that everyone is here, we can begin the game.”

I had been half-asleep and completely missed whatever he was talking about. I definitely didn’t notice the strange glint in Aaron’s eyes as he looked at me.

That night, I went back to Dorm 204, where three of the new girls were assigned to live with me. The other three were placed next door in Dorm 205.

All six of them looked tense and unnaturally pale.

The short-haired one, Lily Sanders, asked me, “You’re a player too, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

A romance otome game. So… were these girls my rivals? Were they all here to pursue the male lead?

Lily muttered, “Weird. There are usually only six people chosen. Why is there a seventh this time?”

As the night went on, the girls grew even more unsettled.

Finally, Lily spoke up. “Alright. Let’s draw lots to decide who will fetch the first key tonight.”

The first what?

I blinked at her in confusion.

We drew straws. I pulled number one.

The other girls looked at me with a mix of pity and relief.

“You should go get the key,” Lily said.

“What key?” I asked. “And where am I supposed to get it?”

“You really are a newbie.”

She exhaled and explained, “According to this round’s instructions, the first key is located in the dorm manager’s room.”

I turned toward the dim hallway.

That room?

I had talked to Mrs. Lawson, the dorm manager, a few times before. She was warm and friendly. If all I had to do was pick up a key, she would never say no.

So why did the three new girls look like they were about to faint?

“Why do we even need this key?” I asked.

Lily’s expression tightened. “To clear the game, obviously. Whoever gets the first key also earns a bonus reward.”

“What reward?”

She exchanged a loaded glance with the other two before saying, “A million.”

A million.

I slapped my chest. “Say no more. I’ll go.”

Before I left, Wendy William added, “You have to be back before midnight. If you aren’t, you can’t come back at all.”

I understood. The dorm manager would lock the doors.

“Got it.”

I stepped out into the hallway. It was completely empty and freezing cold.

Using my phone as a flashlight, I headed toward the dorm manager’s room.

When I turned the corner, something suddenly dragged itself toward me.

A boy in a school uniform.

Covered in blood.

And missing both legs.

I screamed and bolted.

My mind was blank with terror. I ran without looking, tears streaking down my face.

Then I crashed into someone.

A cold chest. A firm hold around my shoulders.

I looked up.

A beautiful face came into view.

My entire body sagged with relief. I grabbed onto him like a drowning person clutching a life buoy.

And without thinking, out of pure instinct from real life, I blurted, “Darling!”

His expression froze in disbelief.

“What did you just call me?” His voice was cool and smooth.

It was my first time hearing him speak.

“Honey, save me!” I sobbed.

When I risked a glance behind us, the bloody boy had vanished. My heart finally slowed, but I still refused to climb off him. I clung to him like a koala, shaking.

His ears were bright red.

It was the first time I had ever seen the icy, untouchable male lead look embarrassed.

Even after being chased by something straight out of a nightmare, I didn’t forget the mission. I needed to romance him and win that ten-million prize.

So I tightened my arms around his waist, buried my face against his chest, and rubbed my cheek against his shirt. “Darling, marry me. Please be my boyfriend. I’ve been chasing you for weeks.”

He went stiff as a board but didn’t push me off.

“So all those things you were giving me… you were trying to pursue me?”

I blinked up at him. “Of course. I’ve been courting you.”

Then what did he think I was doing?

A faint blush spread across his cheeks, his wide eyes full of disbelief. “You… like me?”

“Obviously. I fell for you at first sight. You’re exactly my type. I couldn’t help it. So will you be my boyfriend?”

His gaze shifted with something unreadable. “No.”

I didn’t flinch.

I’m not giving up on ten million that easily.

I patted my chest. “Then I’ll just keep chasing you until you say yes.”

He didn’t answer that. Instead he said, “Get off me.”

I shook my head and hugged him tighter.

I had been waiting a whole month for a moment like this. No way I was letting go now.

So I shamelessly said, “But I’m scared.”

To be fair, I had been genuinely terrified earlier, but now I was mostly acting.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron’s expression grow even stranger. Even so, he still didn’t push me away.

Clinging to him, I told him everything that had happened. “Maybe someone was just pulling a prank. Honestly, there are no real ghosts. I’m a firm believer in science.”

Aaron replied calmly, “Probably. Someone must have done it on purpose to scare you.”

“That is so messed up.” I fumed.

He gave me a faint, unreadable smile. “And what exactly were you doing out here?”

“I came to look for a key,” I admitted. “They said the dorm manager has it.”

Aaron looked at me for a long moment, his eyes full of meaning. “Then go get it.”

I tightened my grip on his arm immediately. “But what if someone jumps out and scares me again? Can you come with me? Please?”

I played it up. He didn’t walk me back, so I kept clutching his sleeve like a koala.

He finally had no choice but to walk me toward the dorm.

That was when I glanced at my watch. It read 11:56 p.m.

My stomach dropped. The girls had said I had to be back before midnight or the doors wouldn’t reopen.

I grabbed Aaron’s hand and sprinted toward the building.

By the time we reached the dorm, I was gasping for air. The entrance was still open.

I checked my watch again. It was 12:03.

“Thank goodness,” I said, patting my chest. “Mrs. Lawson must have forgotten to lock it. I’m really lucky tonight.”

Then I remembered the key.

I hurried to the dorm manager’s door and knocked politely. “Mrs. Lawson, I need a key. Do you have a special one in there?”

I didn’t notice the strange smile on Aaron’s face.

He spoke lazily. “Mrs. Lawson, she wants it. Just toss her the key.”

A small gap opened in the door. A red key slid out and dropped to the floor.

I snatched it up, delighted. “Mrs. Lawson, you’re amazing. Thank you so much.”

One million secured.

What a beautiful surprise.

Inside the room, the dorm manager said nothing.

What I didn’t see was that Mrs. Lawson no longer looked human at all. The kind, cheerful woman from earlier now stood without a head, blood dripping down her neck.

I waved to Aaron and headed back to my room.

But no matter how hard I knocked, the three girls inside refused to open the door. They insisted I was a ghost trying to trick them.

“Have none of you ever taken a science class? You really don’t believe in materialism? There are no ghosts in this world.”

They still refused.

With no other choice, I went to room 206 across the hall. It was empty, so I slept there instead.

The next morning, when I walked out, the three girls looked at me as if they had actually seen a ghost.

“How did you get back? Did you get the key?”

“Nope.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to show off my newfound wealth.

Lily stared at me, clearly conflicted. “You really are… lucky.”

I ignored them. After last night, I had no desire to keep living with them anyway. I grabbed my things and officially moved into room 206.

The next day, I headed to class.

Aaron was already in his seat, reading.

I held up a bag of snacks I had bought and trotted over to him. “Good morning, Aaron.”

Unlike before, he actually looked up at me.

“Want some snacks?”

His voice was cool and crisp. “No.”