After Lucas finished his first practice exam and his unexpected encounter with Claire, he planned to head home right away. 

He had something in mind for the evening: testing his potential on the guitar, now that the system had granted him his first level upgrade. 

He hadn’t had a chance to try it out yet, too busy preparing for the entrance exam trial. 

But he knew he’d have to put everything on the line to secure his future.

As he packed up his things at his locker, Chloe approached him, with Mason following reluctantly behind her.

“Lucas,” Chloe greeted him with a smile.

Lucas turned to her. “What’s up?”

“Want to join us for a little celebration?” she asked.

“Celebration?”

“Yeah, we always throw a little party to reward ourselves for studying hard.”

Mason’s expression made it clear he wasn’t thrilled with the invitation, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue with Chloe’s insistence on including Lucas.

“Ah, sorry, I can’t make it,” Lucas replied.

Chloe smiled, unsurprised by his response. 

She’d noticed how Lucas seemed different lately—more focused and start to get interested in getting to know anyone in the class.

“Told you it was pointless. Why do we even bother, Chloe?” Mason muttered.

But she didn’t respond to Mason’s remark.

“Alright, no problem. Hopefully, you can join us next time,” Chloe replied calmly.

Lucas nodded as they turned to leave, but then he hesitated and called after them.

They turned back, looking curious as Lucas spoke with a hint of uncertainty. 

“Would you two… be interested in coming to a birthday party tomorrow night?”

Mason stared, taken aback by the unexpected invitation, while Chloe tilted her head, blinking in surprise. “Lucas, didn’t you celebrate your birthday a few months ago?”

It wasn’t surprising that classmates knew his birthday. 

After all, Lucas was a public figure, and his birthday was widely shared on social media.

“Yeah, this is… just think of it as my friend’s birthday party.” Lucas hesitated, unsure how to explain. 

He himself had been invited unexpectedly, and he wasn’t sure if Chloe and Mason even knew Claire. 

But Claire had said he could bring any friends he wanted, admitting she didn’t have many.

“Lucas, why are you inviting us to your friend’s birthday party?” Mason asked, looking puzzled.

“Yeah, she asked me to bring any friends I wanted. And, well, you’re the only two in the class I know well enough,” Lucas replied.

“So… you’re inviting us because we’re your friends?” Chloe echoed, a bit surprised. 

She hadn’t expected that, beneath Lucas’s aloof exterior, he’d actually consider them friends.

But Mason had a different thought. If this was a party thrown by one of Lucas’s friends, surely it would be extravagant.

Considering his status as an idol, his friends were likely idols as well.

And if that were true, then there’d likely be plenty of luxurious food.

“Of course, you don’t have to come if you’d rather not,” Lucas added. “If it’s uncomfortable, that’s totally fine—”

“We’ll definitely come!” Mason replied instantly.

“Yes! We’d be happy to join you. I mean, I love parties,” Chloe added with enthusiasm.

“Alright, then. See you both tomorrow night.”

Lucas shared the party’s location with Chloe and Mason.

Upon arriving at the dorm, Lucas found it empty. 

David and William were off on their usual hectic shooting schedules.

Lucas stretched out on the sofa with a sigh. “Today was exhausting.”

“No friends? Never went to parties? What kind of life did the original owner of this body lead? Poor kid,” he muttered, suddenly recalling fragments of the original Lucas’s life.

Sitting up, he reached for David’s guitar beside the sofa, running his fingers over the strings.

DING!

A system notification appeared before Lucas.

[Host: Lucas Ryder]

[Skill Points: 5]

[Body: 40 (Good)]

[Mind: 40 (Good)]

[Performance Skills - 2]

Singing: 16 (Advanced)

Dance: 15 (Advanced)

[Musical Instrument Skills - 1]

Guitar: 11 (Advanced)

[Congratulations, Host. Due to your relentless hard work, the system has awarded you an additional reward.]

[+3 Skill Points have been added.]

Lucas grinned, feeling a renewed sense of energy and accomplishment.

“Yes! This is the real reward after such a tough day,” Lucas murmured, scanning his skill list.

His guitar skill hadn’t improved since the system’s initial upgrade, and he knew it was time to take action. 

Lucas felt his mind score was sufficient for now—besides, he could continue improving it manually by studying diligently every day.

“Out of all my skills, my guitar playing is the weakest,” he admitted to himself.

Lucas realized how important it was to improve his guitar skill, especially with his plan to launch his own YouTube channel soon. He was serious and determined to make it happen.

“I’ve got 5 skill points. I guess it’s fine to save two for emergencies,” he muttered, his resolve firm as he made his decision.

“System, I’d like to add +3 to my guitar skill.”

[Processing…]

[Host: Lucas Ryder]

[Skill Points: 2]

[Musical Instrument Skills - 1]

Guitar: 14 (Advanced)

With his guitar skill now advanced, Lucas felt a new level of confidence. 

He strummed the strings, eager to see how much his playing had improved.

Lucas began playing one of Stellarix’s best-known songs, and to his surprise, his fingers felt much more agile as they moved along the fretboard. 

Barre chords came with ease now, smooth and seamless.

“This is incredible,” he murmured, fingers flowing effortlessly over the guitar strings. 

With growing confidence, he added more dynamic variations to the melody, keeping perfect tempo and making his playing sound richer and more refined.

“I can feel such a huge difference in my guitar skill since the last time I played,” Lucas thought, absorbed in his music. 

Enthusiasm bubbled up inside him—he’d always dreamed of being multitalented in the music world, and now, for the first time, it felt within reach.

He could sense the original Lucas’s dreams, still vivid and unfulfilled. 

Despite all his desire, the original Lucas had never managed to change his fate.

But now, Lucas was determined to turn things around—not just for the original Lucas, but for himself as well. 

He knew he had to survive and succeed in this new world, and he wasn’t going to let this chance slip away.

David, who had fallen asleep in his room, was startled awake by the faint sound of guitar music drifting through the house.

“Ugh… William, why’s he playing so loud?” he muttered groggily. “I was up until this afternoon finishing my shoot. He’s seriously wrecking my sleep.”

Grumbling, David dragged himself out of bed and headed out, only to freeze in shock at the sight in front of him. “Lucas?!”

“Dave? You’re home?” Lucas said, surprised. “I thought everyone here was busy with their schedules.”

David sat down, still in disbelief. “Lucas, tell me—since when could you play guitar like that? I remember you barely knew your way around it. Have you been secretly taking lessons?”

Lucas couldn’t exactly explain the truth about his new system and skill upgrades. “Uh, yeah… something like that.”

“What, you got free lessons from someone? Who was it? A friend? A guy or a girl?”

“Dave, you’re asking way too many questions.”

“So it’s true! Let me guess—it was a girl, wasn’t it?” David said with a grin.

Lucas just shook his head, smiling to himself.

“Tell me honestly, Lucas. Are you seeing someone?”

“Does it look that way?”

David shook his head, then seemed to remember something. “But seriously, Lucas, your playing is impressive. Even Emma might feel a bit proud if she saw your guitar skills now. At least you’d have something to show her.”

“It doesn’t matter; it’s too late for that. I’m planning to start my own YouTube channel so I won’t be tied down to that ridiculous contract,” Lucas replied.

David gave him an odd look.

“What?” Lucas asked. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Haha, come on, Lucas!” David threw an arm around him, nearly choking him in the process. “How did you change so much overnight? I won’t ask anymore, but I have to say—I’m happy and proud of the new you.”

“Dave, let go! Are you trying to kill me?” Lucas wheezed, coughing a little.

”Alright, I’m starving. Let’s grab something to eat!”

“Do you only know how to blow money?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I work incredibly hard, you know—my schedule’s packed.”

“So, you’re bragging now?”

The two of them headed out, laughing, to their favorite restaurant near the dorm.