The Fairy-Tale Code of an Aquarius Girl

Su Nian, who wakes up as Cinderella’s maid, thinks she’s been given the wrong script. Then she sees the Fairy Godmother in business attire, tablet in hand, checking KPIs: “Glass slippers, pumpkin carriage, before midnight: all three targets must be met.” As the Prince dances, he sneaks a look at his pocket watch and mutters, “Finally, it’s over.” The fairy tale is a lie. But worse than that, everyone here has a “presence value” above their head. Below 20, they start turning transparent; at zero, they disappear forever. In the Mirror of the Fairy-Tale Stability Bureau, everyone’s true thoughts are recorded: “Snow White asked ‘Am I beautiful?’ for the 53rd time. What she was really thinking: ‘How much longer can I stay beautiful?’” Su Nian just wants to make it home alive. Then, in the Realm of Oblivion, she meets a voiceless mermaid who types out a message: “You’re not the first person to come here from the real world. The one before you has already disappeared.” The presence value on Su Nian’s finger is plummeting.