Chapter 1: Rebirth as a Giant Panda

Ji Wuxiu felt that there was a saying that made perfect sense—

When a person is down on their luck, even drinking cold water can get something stuck in their teeth.

He had just climbed a mountain, panting heavily, and pulled out his water bottle. After taking a few gulps, he somehow managed to choke to death.

Not wanting to recall the humiliating sensation of his face turning red as he struggled for air, Ji Wuxiu stared at his own lifeless body, feeling an overwhelming urge to curse.

Did I just die like this?

And in such a ridiculous way?

He floated midair, utterly confused, unable to snap back to reality for a long time. Just then, a beam of light fell from the sky, transforming into a meteor that crashed into his body. A dazzling glow erupted in the darkness, enveloping his soul.

Faintly, Ji Wuxiu heard a voice—

【Ding! The “I Level Up by Acting Cute” system is now activating…】

The world before him turned into a swirl of vibrant colors, stretching and twisting like a surreal painting. He was at the center, drifting helplessly.

“Where is this?”

Ji Wuxiu looked around, panic and fear flickering across his face.

【Ding! System activation successful. Greetings, Host.】

A rigid, mechanical voice rang out, instantly snapping Ji Wuxiu to attention. He wasn’t scared of how abrupt and eerie the voice was—he was more afraid of being stuck in this bizarre space forever.

“H-Hello,” Ji Wuxiu stammered, nervously swallowing.

Fortunately, he had read enough system novels to vaguely understand what was happening.

【This system is called ‘I Level Up by Acting Cute.’ Would you like to bind to it?】

I level up… by acting cute?

Ji Wuxiu repeated the name in his head, his expression turning odd.

That name sounded a bit…

Before he could finish his thought, the system’s monotonous voice rang out again—

【Binding complete. Your body has been detected as deceased. A new body is being created for you. Please enjoy your experience.】

“I haven’t agreed yet—” Ji Wuxiu hadn’t expected the system to be so bold, making decisions entirely on its own.

In an instant, the twisted, surreal space vanished. A suffocating sensation gripped his soul, and his vision went black as he lost consciousness.

Ji Wuxiu had no idea how much time had passed when the sound of chirping birds reached his ears. Their crisp calls were pleasant, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of a forest.

His eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a vast, sapphire-blue sky—clear and without a single cloud, as pure as a gemstone. Surrounding him was a dense forest, thick with lush trees and clustered shrubs.

“Where… is this?”

Ji Wuxiu wasn’t in the mood to admire the beauty around him. Instead, he panicked and hurriedly tried to sit up—only to freeze in shock at the sight of a pair of small, furry paws in front of him.

W-what… what the hell is this?

Startled, he instinctively stumbled back a few steps. The fluffy paws moved along with him, clumsily following his retreat as if they were his own.

Are these… my hands?

His throat went dry, and he had the ridiculous urge to laugh awkwardly.

This isn’t funny. Not at all.

Then, he vaguely recalled something the system had said earlier. A realization struck him like lightning—this was definitely the system’s doing!

“Mee-wu… meee meo meow-wu!”

—System, come out here!

Ji Wuxiu’s eyes widened in disbelief. He called out weakly once more—

“Meow-wu!”

His voice was soft and delicate, carrying a strangely endearing tone, almost like he was acting cute.

This… this wasn’t his voice!

More meow-wu meow-wu sounds escaped his mouth as he anxiously called for the system.

【Ding! Host, please rest assured. This system can perceive your thoughts through brainwaves. You may communicate with me directly in your mind.】

Ji Wuxiu forced himself to calm down, suppressing the chaotic emotions in his heart.

“What the hell is going on?”

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the system responded.

【Since your original body was completely destroyed, in order to ensure your resurrection, this system has created a new body for you.】

His paws trembled even more violently. His emotions were in turmoil, but he still cautiously asked in his mind, “Then… couldn’t you have made me a body just like my old one?”

The system’s tone remained cold and matter-of-fact—

【Because this system’s full name is ‘I Level Up by Acting Cute.’ Your previous body did not meet the system’s requirements.】

Ji Wuxiu instinctively retorted, “How did I not meet the requirements?”

【Host, please go to the river and take a look at your new body.】

Ji Wuxiu wanted nothing more than to roll his eyes, but in the end, he had no choice but to obey the system. Clumsily controlling his new body, he made his way toward the river. The drastic shift from walking upright on two legs to moving on all fours left him irritable—so much so that he felt an overwhelming urge to curse.

But for now, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.

After much effort, he finally reached the river. Ji Wuxiu leaned forward to get a look at his reflection—only to be so shocked that he fell back on his rear, limbs sprawled in all directions.

“T-this… what is this?” He swallowed hard and finally took a serious look at himself.

His paws and upper body were covered in black fur, making it seem like he was wearing a little vest, while his belly was soft and covered in snow-white fur.

But what stunned him the most was the face reflected in the water—an incredibly innocent and adorably dumbfounded face. Dark circles surrounded his eyes, drooping slightly in a way that made him look both pitiful and cute. On top of his head sat two small, round black ears. Even with just a fleeting glance, Ji Wuxiu couldn’t stop himself from wanting to reach out and give them a squeeze.

He was just too—cute.

Judging by his appearance, the panda he had possessed seemed to be only a few months old, looking clumsy and chubby, soft and harmless.

【Ding! Host, do you understand now?】

Ji Wuxiu looked dazed. “I… I see.”

No matter how outstanding his original body had been, there was no way it could compete with the ultimate king of cuteness—the national treasure, the giant panda!

But…

“What does this have to do with me?” Ji Wuxiu asked the system in his mind.

No matter how adorable pandas were, he still wanted his original body back.

【Host, your previous body has been completely destroyed. You can only survive in this one. Work hard to accumulate ‘Cuteness Points.’ Once you reach a certain level, you will be able to take on a human form.】

The system’s voice remained as mechanical as ever, but to Ji Wuxiu, those words were filled with undeniable temptation. He knew his old body was gone, and at this point, his only hope lay in the system.

“Then… what are Cuteness Points? How do I get them?” Ji Wuxiu asked.

【Ding! Cuteness Points are generated when other living beings feel affection for you. Every time you act cute, it must be fresh, creative, and irresistible—so adorable that it makes their hearts tremble. If you successfully ‘cute’ a creature into liking you, you will receive Cuteness Points based on their emotional fluctuations.】

Ji Wuxiu’s panda face remained expressionless, but inside, he felt so depressed that he wanted to drown his sorrows in alcohol and gamble his worries away.

A grown man like him… was going to survive by acting cute from now on.

What kind of messed-up life was this? Could it get any worse?

Sensing its host’s utter despair, the silent system suddenly spoke up—

【Host, the more Cuteness Points you earn, the stronger your combat abilities will become.】

The black-and-white creature by the river trembled slightly. His fluffy face remained lifeless, but thanks to the natural droop of his dark eye circles, his utterly hopeless expression only made him look even more… dumbly adorable.

“Leave me alone,” Ji Wuxiu—now a baby panda barely a few months old—let out a long, and heavy sigh.

The deeply depressed panda sat in silence for a long time before finally dragging himself up. His face remained as deadpan as ever—yet unavoidably, still ridiculously cute.

It seemed that from now on, he really would have to make a living by acting cute.

Just thinking about it was embarrassing.

But for the sake of his great and noble dream, anything could be sacrificed.

【Ding! Since you’ve pulled yourself together, work hard to adapt to this body!】

Ji Wuxiu thought for a moment and agreed that the system was right. He straightened his mindset and began earnestly trying to control his new body. Walking on all fours, he took alternating steps, his movements clumsy and slow.

After all, this body was only a few months old—it couldn’t compare to an adult panda.

Still, Ji Wuxiu patiently continued practicing while conversing with the system in his mind.

“By the way, system, where is this place?”

【Ding! This system does not know.】

Ji Wuxiu’s eyes widened, and he paused slightly. “You’re the one who brought me here—how could you not know?”

In novels, other systems were omnipotent and all-knowing.

【Host, this system is called Leveling Up by Acting Cute. Unlike those flashy, overcomplicated systems, you don’t need to work hard, cultivate diligently, or gather rare treasures. All you have to do is act cute, and the points will roll in.】

Ji Wuxiu: You make a good point. I have nothing to say.

But speaking of which, there was something that made him curious.

“As a system, don’t you have any tasks for me to complete?”

【Ding! This system is purely about leveling up by acting cute. Unlike other over-the-top systems, you only need to focus on how to make your cuteness more creative, more innovative, and more irresistible. Just by doing that, you can effortlessly conquer all living beings and have them at your command.】

Ji Wuxiu remained silent for a moment before reluctantly praising, “Impressive, impressive.”

The sun hanging in the sky soon dipped behind the mountains.

A creature perched on a tree licked its lips as it stared at the small prey not far away. Its vertical pupils reflected a hint of confusion.

It had lived here for so long but had never seen such an ugly animal.

Never.

After walking for some time, Ji Wuxiu was panting with exhaustion. He quickly found a sturdy tree trunk and plopped down, his body instantly collapsing into a soft, round lump.

Ahh, so comfortable.

The panda lazily leaned against the tree, sprawled out in an utterly relaxed manner. His posture was incredibly practiced—like a true slacker—whistling in a way that came out awkward and off-key, sounding more like a low hum.

He glanced around, scratched his belly, and the thick layer of flesh jiggled slightly.