Evelyn pushed open the glass door of the coffee shop. Warm yellow light bathed her as the rich aroma of roasted beans filled the air.

"An Americano with oat milk, please," she told the barista.

This was a boutique cafe near her apartment complex. The decor was simple and cozy; it wasn't usually crowded, and Evelyn loved the quiet atmosphere.

While waiting for her drink, she scanned the shop's decorations. A few abstract paintings hung on the walls, and potted plants were tucked into corners, giving off a strong artistic vibe.

"Here's your coffee. Enjoy," the barista said, handing her the neatly packaged cup.

"Thanks," Evelyn said, taking it and pushing the door open to leave.

The autumn afternoon was a bit chilly. She tucked her coat tighter and walked leisurely toward her building. The complex was peaceful at this hour, with only a few kids playing downstairs, their laughter echoing through the air.

Entering the elevator, Evelyn pressed her floor button, but the doors began to slide back open just as they were about to close.

A man walked in.

He was tall and lean, wearing a perfectly tailored suit that radiated the aura of a high-level professional. What stood out even more was the black mask he wore, leaving only his deep, intense eyes and the bridge of his sharp nose visible.

Evelyn had a sharp eye for detail; she noticed immediately that his suit was a new release from a luxury brand—it was incredibly expensive, with a price tag likely sporting more zeros than her entire bank account.

Even with the mask on, Evelyn could tell he was strikingly handsome. The lines of his brow were smooth, his eyes were long and narrow with thick lashes—classic "bedroom eyes" that felt both gentle and captivating.

He's rich and handsome? How are the rest of us players in Life: Earth Edition supposed to survive?!

She couldn't help but steal another glance, then noticed the coffee carrier in his hand. It was exactly like hers, right down to the label on the cup.

There was a bug in your app—they must have been at the same shop just seconds apart.

"Which floor for you?" Evelyn asked politely, her finger already hovering over the buttons.

The man's voice came through the mask, low and magnetic. "The same as yours."

Evelyn blinked, looking at him in surprise. "Oh, so you're the new neighbor? I'm Evelyn Carter. I live right next door."

Handsome, wealthy, great physique, and a nice voice—and he was actually her neighbor.

Well, I've got the trope for my next manga, she thought. The Hot New Neighbor is My Boss—a total shoujo classic.

Despite her inner monologue, Evelyn kept her cool and gave him a friendly, eye-crinkling smile.

The man's gaze froze for a second, becoming intensely focused. He stared at her smile greedily, as if trying to brand the moment into his mind. A flicker of near-obsessive longing crossed his eyes, but he masked it quickly.

Before Evelyn could find it weird, he looked away just in time toward the floor display.

The elevator rose slowly, the numbers ticking up: 12, 13, 14...

Ding. The elevator reached their floor, and the doors slid open.

"The name's Adrian Vale," he said before she could step out.

Evelyn froze, turning back to him in total shock. "Adrian Vale?"

Her voice was full of disbelief, as if she'd just heard something impossible.

What are the odds?!

Adrian didn't let a single one of her expressions slip by, his eyes locked onto her face. "Something wrong?"

What he really wanted to ask was: Do you know someone else with that name? Why am I standing right in front of you and you don't recognize me? Do I matter to you?

But he didn't dare say a word.

Evelyn snapped out of it and smiled again, shaking her head. "No, nothing. You just have a really nice name."

After all, she couldn't exactly tell a neighbor she'd just met, "Hey, you have the same name as a character in a game I play." That would be way too weird. He'd definitely think she was a creep.

"Well, I'm heading in. See ya," she said with a wave, walking toward her door.

As she pulled out her keys, she could feel his eyes on her back. But when she glanced over, Adrian was already heading toward his own door.

"See you," his voice was still low and pleasant.

Evelyn pushed the door open, and Sunny immediately rushed over, circling her legs. She leaned down to rub the golden's head, still thinking about the coincidence.

"Sunny, a new neighbor moved in next door. His name is Adrian Vale—same as our baby boy in the game!" she told the dog.

Sunny tilted his head, seemingly trying to figure out what his human was talking about.

Evelyn laughed and sat on her haunches to give him a proper petting session.

Next door, Adrian leaned against the closed door, his entire body trembling slightly.

Being that close to Evelyn nearly made him lose his mind. The faint scent of her shampoo, her warm smile, the way her eyes widened when she heard his name...

Everything about her intoxicated him.

"Eve..." he whispered the name, his voice shaking with a trace of morbid affection. She was just on the other side of the wall, within reach. The thought was enough to drive him insane.

Evelyn finished her coffee, handled some work emails, and habitually opened the game.

Once it loaded, she saw Adrian sitting in an office, surrounded by complex financial reports and rows of dense data. He was focused, verifying every number with a serious, intense expression.

Since entering high school, he had started getting involved in managing the family business. With his natural talent and hard work, he had quickly secured his position.

But right now, he looked so isolated, as if the whole world had nothing to do with him except for those cold numbers.

Evelyn felt a pang of pity.

His childhood trauma still made him avoid socializing; he hadn't made a single friend his whole life. His only companion was probably her—the ghost who only showed up every few weeks.

Remembering their promise, Evelyn immediately poked the Adrian on her screen.

Like magic, the boy who was buried in work suddenly came to life. His eyes lit up, his lonely aura vanishing instantly, replaced by uncontrollable joy.

He quickly opened the notes app on his phone. "Eve, you're here."

Seeing his reaction warmed Evelyn's heart. No matter how much time passed or what he was doing, the second she appeared, he would drop everything to give her his full attention.

That pure sense of dependency made her feel truly important.

"Yeah, I'm here," she typed back. "I saw you were working, but I remembered our promise, so I came to let you know."

"You did the right thing," Adrian replied immediately, his smile deepening. "I can do work anytime. But not you."

His words made Evelyn a bit shy. How does this game AI always say such sweet things?

"By the way," she thought of what happened earlier. "Something really interesting happened today."

"What was it?" Adrian asked instantly.

Anything involving Evelyn was something he needed to know.