This nickname already exists!

After a long, densely packed pixel fireworks show that seemed intent on giving her retinas a work injury, Chu Yao could finally make out the contents of the crude interface.

She felt that both her spiritual sense and her aesthetic sensibilities had suffered an unprecedented assault. She was so drained that all she wanted to do was collapse.

It was finally over...

Those fireworks had been more dazzling and exhausting than the tribulation lightning she had faced in her previous life!

It was a good thing she didn't have trypophobia. Otherwise, instead of looking at that lousy screen, she would have crushed it to dust with her spiritual sense!

Perhaps it had keenly detected the faintly rising trace of violent intent in Chu Yao's heart, which was about to take tangible form, because the utterly tasteless fireworks show had noticeably sped up in its second half—by at least three times!

Yes, just like how she had later watched those awful, drawn-out filler dramas at triple speed in her first life.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—bang, bang, bang!"

The fireworks burst open in a race against each other, then rapidly faded, with an air of halfheartedly trying to "get it over with and clock off."

This system knew when to back down, huh?

Was it scared now?

The fireworks faded, and the interface came into focus.

It looked extremely similar to the interface of the social app that wouldn't officially launch for another eight years. Chu Yao discovered that her account was completely blank and her friends list was empty. There was only an invitation to a group called [Myriad Worlds Trading Group 10001], which kept popping up reminder boxes at an extremely irritating frequency, flashing a glaring red.

Chu Yao didn't accept it immediately. Her attention was first drawn to her own Penguin nickname.

"Chu Yao."

Chu Yao: "..."

What the heck!

That was so old-fashioned!

Who used their real name as their Penguin nickname?

There wasn't a shred of mystery or coolness to it!

System, get out here. We need to talk!

She instantly recalled the stunningly brilliant usernames from her first life, rich in cultural refinement—or so she thought.

Names like "A star fallen into the mortal world," "sitting and watching the clouds rise," and "a wandering hero in this fleeting life"...

Listen to those! What imagery! What elegance!

They fully expressed the yearning for poetry and distant horizons deep in the heart of a (former) corporate drone!

No, this wouldn't do. I have to change it!

Chu Yao rubbed her hands together eagerly and, with a thought, used her spiritual sense to change her nickname to "Heaven's chosen daughter"!

How well that suited her current situation, with her triple identity and a system bound to her!

The mouse—her spiritual sense—clicked [Confirm]!

The system went wild with pop-ups: [This nickname already exists!]

The smile froze on Chu Yao's face. "...What?!"

What?!

Even with everything I've got going for me, I'm still not "Heaven's chosen daughter"?

Who?! Which little bitch stole my exclusive nickname?!

Refusing to believe it, she kept trying, her face dark.

"Supreme of the demonic path"—[This nickname already exists!]

"The great ruler"—[This nickname already exists!]

"Clutching the sun and moon, plucking the stars"—[This nickname already exists!]

"Above the nine heavens"—[This nickname already exists!]

Chu Yao's face had grown dark enough to drip ink. An oppressive atmosphere was faintly taking shape around her, and the temperature inside the cave abode seemed to have dropped several degrees.

Outrageous! All those insanely arrogant, cool-as-hell names were taken?!

Were there really so many shameless...

No, so many confident beings in the myriad worlds?!

She finally couldn't hold back. Her spiritual sense clicked frantically at the crude screen as she practically roared through it, "Excuse me?! These all exist! Every single one! Then what nickname can I actually use?! Give me a straight answer!"

The system, however, might as well have been dead—or rather, it was like an emotionless repeater, forever giving her the same reminder in the same cold, mechanical tone: [This nickname already exists!]

Author's note: Thanks to all my lovely readers for the favorites, likes, check-ins, comments, flowers, coins, and memberships. Love you all, heart hands ♥