Why Does The Protagonist In 'The Verge' Make That Choice?

Kourtney Elijah is the eldest daughter of the Elijah family in New York. Due to her stepmother's scheme, she was sent to the countryside by her despicable father at a young age. When the patriarch of the Elijah family celebrated his 60th birthday, they brought her back. She returned quietly, only to be mocked as a rural underachiever and poor girl, which angered the influential figures. A professor from a prestigious university said, "Underachiever? That's a joke! Let me introduce you to the genius who top universities worldwide are vying for!" A billionaire exclaimed, "Poor girl? Nonsense! All my wealth is thanks to Kourtney's contributions!" A certain man declared, "This is my wife. Whoever dares to mock her, I will annihilate them!"

I became the ultimate simp for Shannon Seay, the school's notorious flirt, and everyone assumed I was head over heels for her. When she skipped classes to pick fights or chase thrills, I'd copy notes and homework for her. When she tangled in ambiguous flings with other guys, I'd provide alibis to cover her tracks. For three grueling years, I poured my heart and soul into transforming her into an academic star, securing her spot at a top university. But right before orientation, she dumped me. Towering over me, she declared, "I know you've had a crush on me forever, but you're all books and no spark. Compared to Hunter, you're too rigid. We're done. I'm with him now." The crowd held its breath, anticipating my meltdown. I peeked at my phone, confirming a $50-million transfer, and replied with genuine nonchalance, "Alright, congrats." No one knew my unwavering devotion was purely because her father had paid handsomely for it. Now that the pay had been secured, it was time for me to vanish.

On the first day back after the New Year break, I returned to find my workstation gone—replaced by two large trash bins sitting side by side. "Josh, even though you've been with the company for ten years, you still have to comply with company arrangements. "You were supposed to be reassigned before the holiday. We held off so you could enjoy your New Year. You should be grateful." As he spoke, my boss pointed toward a corner beside the restroom. There sat a set of low, worn desk and chair—something that looked like it had been discarded by an elementary school. I set my bag on it. The desk wobbled twice, then collapsed outright. Amid the muffled snickers around me, I didn't argue or make a scene. I simply looked at the boss, calm and steady. "You don't have to go through all this trouble to force me out. I'll resign now. I'll forfeit the compensation—just process it as quickly as possible." His eyes lit up, though his face feigned regret. "Since you've made up your mind, there's not much I can say. But the Vespere chip you've spent ten years developing belongs to the company—you have no right to take it with you. "Oh, and when you handle the paperwork, don't forget to pay for that cup of coffee in your hand. It's an employee benefit. As an outsider now, you'll have to cover the cost." I nodded and signed the termination agreement without resistance. But the moment I stepped out of the company, I activated the self-destruct program embedded deep within the chip's core.

I am heading to my job interview when my close friend, Thomas Lang—the same guy who always cautions me about meddling in other people's business—suddenly throws caution to the wind and sprints toward the wrecked limousine. I instantly realize that Thomas has been reborn, too. In my past life, Thomas and I were the top two graduates of the finance department, both making it to the final round of interviews at a Fortune 500 conglomerate. Yet, on the day of the interview, we suddenly came across the CEO, Ruth Gibson, who had just gotten involved in a car crash. I abandoned the interview to save her, while Thomas hurried off to the interview. In the end, Thomas landed the offer, while I lost my shot at working at the top conglomerate. I received sympathy from everyone around me. However, Ruth sought me out eventually, and in the spirit of profound gratitude, she presented me with an immediate proposal of marriage. I became the man who would marry Thomas' superior, achieving incredible status overnight. Meanwhile, Thomas stayed an ordinary worker, perpetually crushed by impossible metrics and corporate pressure. I was enjoying the heights of my privilege at the annual dinner, standing beside Ruth, while Thomas lurked in the background. He was a miserable face lost among the nameless guests. Consumed by jealousy, he brandished a knife and stabbed me to death right there. I suddenly open my eyes and realize we are both back at this single, pivotal day of Ruth's accident.

The day I win a brand-new BMW, I suddenly receive a call from myself, ten years in the future. "Kieran will ask to borrow your car in a bit. And whatever you do, do not lend it to him. He intends to use it to pay off his gambling debt." Even with such an impossibility happening to me, I do not doubt a thing. When Kieran asks for my keys, I shut him down at once. That very night, he drives his old beater car to visit our parents. Along the way, he loses control of the car and collides with another vehicle. Just like that, he slips into a coma. The guilt hit me so hard that I eventually pass out. Mom and Dad stay by my side day and night until I can stand on my own two feet again. But the future version of me sounds cold when she calls again. "They only want to push you onto an operating table. They want your heart to save him!" Growing suspicious, I check their bags and find a donor report. Rage burns through me. I immediately block them on all platforms and throw them out of my home. When news that Kieran dies from blood loss arrives, I learn that they only ever needed my blood—not my heart. I try to find them to tell them the truth and apologize for my mistake. But the mysterious phone rings again. "They hate you because Kieran died. If you go to them now, they will drag you into a suicide pact." I freeze at the revelation, then tell my future myself that I will wait until they calm down. Later, I learn that a thief breaks into their home and kills them. I try to rush over and see them one last time, but a truck hits me and kills me on the spot. I die without ever understanding why the version of me from ten years in the future wanted me dead. When I open my eyes again, I am back on the day I won the prize.

My mom is one of the world's leading AI scientists. Not long after I'm born, she creates an AI companion sister, Nova, designed just for me. She claims Nova is equipped with the world's most accurate lie-detection system. If I ever lie, Nova can surely detect it. From that day on, Nova becomes the judge of my fate. Whenever she issues an alert and declares that I'm lying, it doesn't matter if I'm telling the truth—the only things waiting for me are a hard slap and a trip to the dark isolation closet. I try to defend myself and fight back, but Mom coldly insists that the AI robot she personally built can never go wrong, which only convinces her that I'm a habitual liar. On Children's Day, Mom does something she's never done before. She takes Nova and me on a trip to the amusement park. Looking up at the towering bungee platform, I clutch my chest and desperately shake my head. But Nova coldly pulls up her analysis report. "Tina's abnormal heart rate is from lying. A full-body scan shows that she's in perfect physical health." Mom's expression immediately darkens. She grabs me by the ear and drags me toward the platform. "How dare you lie again? You must jump today!" The moment weightlessness hits, my heart feels like it's exploded. The pain is so intense that I can barely breathe. As my vision blurs, Mom continues her lecture about my terrible lying habit in a disappointed voice. Bloody tears slip from the corners of my eyes. "This time, I'm really not lying, Mom. I'm dead, and I will never lie again."