A World of Equality Where You Must Save Him to Survive

In the interstellar era, a cosmic-scale competition organized by an unknown force in the Central Star System appeared out of nowhere.

Held once a year, the competition accepted contestants from any background. After receiving a rank assigned by the System, they were transported to a special space where time flowed differently from the real world. With cameras livestreaming the entire event, they could use any means they chose to complete the final mission.

Winners from past competitions had turned their lives around through the livestream, and contestants who performed well might even be recruited by elite organizations. In an age of vast differences between planetary environments and extreme wealth inequality, nothing could dampen the public's enthusiasm, not even the invisible vengeful spirits, zombie sieges, castle mysteries, or desert races that might await contestants.

The year registration hit its peak, the organizers announced a three-year hiatus to prepare for the biggest event in history.

Three years later, the competition's details were announced on the interstellar network right on schedule. But they were nothing like the high-risk, high-difficulty challenges people had imagined: Find the key figure, Jiang Pan, do everything possible to prevent his death, and win by celebrating his twenty-eighth birthday with him.

The contestants entered the world, ready to kill anything that stood in their way. But events soon went far beyond their expectations. Jiang Pan had been born on Earth, the cradle of humanity a thousand years ago, and had just turned eighteen that year. He was handsome and kind, but misfortune dogged his life. His repeated deaths caused time to rewind. Watching Jiang Pan, whose starting age had already reached twelve, the contestants finally realized that this was truly a life-or-death game.

In the first run, Contestant A used his identity to become Jiang Pan's childhood friend, staying by his side for eight years and driving away countless rivals. Certain he'd secured victory, he watched Jiang Pan return home alone to visit his parents at twenty-six, leaving him nothing but a farewell letter.

In the second run, Contestant B staged an elaborate act, pretending to have suffered lifelong complications while saving Jiang Pan. Jiang Pan wouldn't even drink a cup of hot water without checking whether B's cup was full. The two agreed to celebrate Jiang Pan's twenty-eighth birthday together, but when the truth came out, Jiang Pan vanished without a trace.

In the third run, Contestant C grew tired of the loop and took a shortcut, kidnapping Jiang Pan when he was twenty-seven and waiting to claim victory on his birthday the following spring. Jiang Pan tried to escape. Afraid the second floor wasn't high enough, he made sure to flee from the roof instead.

The fourth run, the fifth run. Jiang Pan was always smiling, and Jiang Pan was always saying goodbye.

The contestants' ultimate goal shifted from winning to escaping the mission world. When Jiang Pan died for the last time, all the contestants returned to reality, only to discover in shock that the livestream was still going. The organizers explained that Jiang Pan was a real human being from the interstellar era, and any contestant could apply to meet him. Once everything was over, he would personally choose the winner.

"According to the evaluation, I'm willing to grant you one wish."

"I wish Jiang Pan a long and healthy life."

= Expect melodrama, romantic rivalry, groveling exes, and multiple love interests

= There are many potential love interests, and the endgame pairing isn't decided yet. It depends on how the story develops.

= The blurb doesn't reveal everything. If it sounds interesting, give the story a try.

Theme: May we celebrate this day every year, and enjoy each year as it comes.