"Haaah!"
"Ugh..."
"Haaahhh..."
A weak gasp escaped his lips.
"Hel..."
The word died in his throat.
Lying sprawled on the cold apartment floor, Alex Westberg felt the weight of everything — the failures, the denial, the drinks, the lies he told himself — crashing down like a collapsing world. For the first time, true fatigue seeped into his bones, not just physical, but spiritual. Regret, sharp and merciless, gnawed at him with every labored breath.
They say a man sees the truth at death's door.
And now, as he lay there dying, Alex finally understood.
They were right.
His vision blurred, darkness edging into the corners of his eyes. Time slowed. His thoughts grew faint. A cold silence wrapped around him, not of peace but of resignation.
So this is it...
The end came slowly.
Anguishing.
Painful.
And yet, just before the void took him—
"Haaah!!!"
Alex shot upright, gasping for breath like a drowning man breaking the surface. His chest heaved as his blurred vision slowly began to focus. The ceiling above him looked oddly familiar — older, plainer, and tinged with nostalgia.
Then he noticed the bed beneath him.
It wasn't the worn-down mattress from his apartment — the one stained with spilled drinks and silent despair. No... this was different. Firmer. Cleaner. And suddenly, it hit him.
This... this is the apartment I rented during my first year of college.
Back then, his father hadn't completely crashed financially. They were still holding on. His family wasn't super rich anymore, but not desperate either. Just on the edge with well-off money — not yet fallen.
"What? I'm... not dead?" A disbelieving look was written on his face. After all, that quality of desperation that he felt still instilled fear within his mind.
His voice cracked with disbelief. He glanced at the buzzing alarm clock and slapped it off, then turned his head toward the window.
Golden sunlight spilled through the curtains, painting the room in a warm glow. Beyond the glass, he saw the beach — the familiar coastline near the university — waves crashing softly, seagulls gliding through the air. As several people walk on the beachside, working out, some looking out for beauties to hit on, in the early morning.
It was breathtaking.
The sight stilled his mind and soothed something deep within him, as if nature itself was welcoming him back.
He closed his eyes briefly.
This isn't a dream...
I'm really back.
"This is really weird…" Alex muttered, running a hand through his hair as he took in the view again. "Well, we're not poor yet, so I guess we can still call it rich — for now."
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"So, what's the plan, buddy?" he asked himself aloud, half-jokingly. "Should I tell Dad about the financial pitfall? But… would he even believe me?"
He chuckled softly. The idea of sitting his father down and warning him about a future financial disaster felt surreal. It was something his past self wouldn't have even considered doing. But now? Knowing exactly what was coming?
He had no intention of letting history repeat itself.
To change everything, he needed one thing above all: financial freedom.
But as a college student with no job and no meaningful skills in the real world, that seemed like a fantasy…
Until it wasn't.
[Rebate System Installing…]
A sharp, digital chime rang in his ears.
Alex's eyes widened as a flood of information surged into his mind — data, rules, terms, and mechanics — like a neural upload straight out of a sci-fi movie. For a moment, he froze, heart pounding, barely able to breathe.
Then he began to understand.
And as the knowledge settled in his mind, the tension in his chest unraveled, replaced by something else:
Excitement.
A grin stretched across his face, slow and wide.
[Congratulations, Host, on acquiring the Rebate System.]
[Rules have been initialized.]
[We hope the Host enjoys the system's benefits to the fullest.]
[All earned rebates will be transferred directly to the Host's account.]
The glowing message lingered for a moment in his vision, then faded into the background.
At his current level, the only available feature was the Rebate function. But even that alone had enormous potential.
He could access it manually — or wait for the system to issue random quests, which could grant him more features and upgrades in time.
[Beauty Rebate System Activated.]
Alex blinked at the title and then burst into laughter.
"You've got to be kidding me. It's literally telling me to be a hedonist and chase after beauties?"
He shook his head, half in disbelief, half in amusement. Out of all the systems he could've gotten… Did this one want him to flirt his way to fortune?
Still, a part of him — the part that remembered his bleak end, the part craving excitement — felt the thrill surge through his veins.
Double rebates… triple… or more?
His heart started to race.
He grabbed his phone, wallet, and a clean outfit from the wardrobe, threw them together, and bolted out the door.
Seven years spent in this very college town had taught Alex more than just how to pass exams — it had shown him where the action was. The coastline near the beach was legendary. Every morning, fitness enthusiasts, joggers, and gorgeous women gathered there, and his old friends used to treat it like a hunting ground — flashing money, cracking jokes, buying smoothies and coffees to impress.
Back then, Alex was shy.
Inexperienced.
He failed more than he succeeded.
But that was the old Alex.
Now, he had something else — knowledge of the future, the patience of someone who had already lived it… and a system.
This time, it's my game.
He walked briskly toward the shore, a grin spreading across his face.
"This is going to be fun."
As he strolled down the path, the system interface flickered in his vision, displaying key mechanics:
[Beauty Rebate System Mechanics]
Rebates are calculated based on:
Target's Beauty Level: The more stunning the person, the greater the potential rebate.
Favorability Level: Deeper emotional or romantic interest equals higher returns.
System Currency: Rebates are returned as real money, items, or system points.
Methods: Treats, gifts, dates, and even emotional support can qualify — depending on the situation.
Unlocks: Additional features (Charisma Boosts, Insight, etc.) will be unlocked through quests or milestones.
Walking down the sunlit path that cut through the heart of the beachside campus, Alex couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia crash over him.
God... it hasn't changed a bit.
Everything — the sounds of students chatting, the distant crash of waves, even the faint scent of coffee in the sea breeze — brought him back. He was living a memory; only this time, he wasn't the clueless freshman blindly following fate.
His eyes scanned a group of students nearby, and a familiar figure caught his attention. A face from his past.
He grinned slightly.
Still a stranger to me at this point, he mused, not bothering to approach. We'll meet properly during class orientation. For now, I've got other priorities.
Today was about opportunity. Testing the Beauty Rebate System in the field. He needed a partner — someone who could unlock the system's real power.
Someone worth investing in.
He took a strategic seat on one of the benches near the central walkway — a prime spot for visibility. Within minutes, the atmosphere began to stir. A portable juice and coffee stall popped open nearby, quickly drawing in a small crowd.
Perfect.
He casually watched the flow of students lining up, socializing, and laughing. And then — there she was.
Golden-blonde hair that shimmered in the sunlight. Effortless style. Presence that turned heads with ease.
Emma.
Well, that was her nickname.
Her real name: Emilia Brightstone.
Even before the system, she had always stood out — popular, confident, the kind of person people gravitated toward. A senior with both charm and charisma. In his previous life, they'd ended up working together often. Group projects, event committees, even casual hangouts. She was one of the few people he had genuinely respected — and secretly crushed on.
Now, he saw her through a different lens.
Favorability… beauty level… rebate potential…
She was practically glowing.
"Bingo."
Alex stood slowly, stretching as if he were simply enjoying the day — but his mind was already spinning.
Time to see what this system could really do.
Adjusting his collar and grabbing his phone, Alex moved toward the group with light, deliberate steps. Confidence in his posture, ease in his smile — not overbearing, but enough to be noticed.
Sure enough, his presence caught attention.
Emilia turned, her eyes briefly scanning him with mild curiosity. Her golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, and for a split second, their eyes met.
Alex smiled warmly.
"Good morning, senior," he said, polite but composed. "I'm Alexx, a freshman from the College of Art and Media."
Her brows lifted slightly — the name, the tone, or maybe just the directness. He continued without hesitation.
"One of the seniors asked me to get your number. Said he needed it for an upcoming orientation activity. If it's alright, could you share it with me?"
It was a smooth move — bold, but backed by a perfectly reasonable excuse. Everyone on campus knew that upperclassmen occasionally gave odd tasks to first-years, usually for harmless fun. His request was cloaked just well enough in campus tradition that refusal would feel... unnecessarily stiff.
Alex held her gaze with just the right blend of respect and subtle challenge.