Harem Tycoon System

Ethan Walker sat in the corner of his tiny room, the dim glow of his desk lamp barely lighting up the mess in front of him—research notes, unpaid bills, and a warning letter from the university. Everything felt like it was closing in on him, as if the walls were getting tighter, threatening to swallow him whole. Outside, the rain poured down hard, usually a calming sound for him. But tonight, it only made his chest feel heavier. His breathing was labored, and his mind kept replaying the events that had completely wrecked his life in just a short span of time. It all started two weeks ago. Ethan was a scholarship medical student—smart, hardworking, and dedicated. His research on Lazarus syndrome had gained attention from many, including his charismatic mentor, Professor Howard Reed. To Ethan, the professor’s trust and recommendation were an honor, a stepping stone to a better future. But he had no idea that behind Reed’s warm smile, there was a plan that would slowly ruin his life. * “Ethan, I have to be honest,” Jessica, his girlfriend, said as they sat in a small café near campus. She looked at him with something that resembled regret, but her tone was cold. Ethan frowned, sensing something was off. “I just don’t feel the same way about us anymore,” she continued, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. Ethan fell silent for a moment, trying to process her words. “What do you mean? We’re fine, aren’t we?” Jessica let out a deep sigh, her eyes losing the spark they once had. “Ethan, you’re always so busy with your research and everything. I need someone who can give me more attention… and, to be honest, more stability.” The words hit like a slap. Ethan knew life wasn’t easy for him. Coming from a struggling background, he had to work twice as hard to keep up. But hearing that from Jessica made him feel like a complete failure as a man. “Is this about money?” he asked, his voice hoarse. Jessica didn’t answer. But her silence spoke louder than words. Two days later, Ethan found out that Jessica had not only dumped him but had also stolen the money he had saved up for his next semester. The money was gone from his account, and he later learned that Jessica had used it for a luxury vacation—with another guy. * The pain from Jessica’s betrayal hadn’t even begun to heal when the second blow came—one that was far worse. Professor Reed, the mentor he had always looked up to, suddenly sent him a message asking him to come to his office. Still reeling from Jessica’s betrayal, Ethan hoped this was at least some good news about his research—the work he had poured months of effort into. But what happened next shattered him even more. “I’ve already submitted the final research report to the university board,” Reed said casually, sipping his coffee. Ethan frowned. “But, Professor, isn’t the report still incomplete? I haven’t finished reviewing the last set of data.” “Oh, don’t worry about that,” Reed replied with a small, insincere smile. “I made a few adjustments, so the results look much better. This is going to be a big step forward for my career.” That last part made Ethan freeze. “Your career?” he asked, his voice shaky with unease. Reed smirked. “Of course. The research has been submitted under my name. You have to understand, Ethan, this world is competitive. You’re still young—you’ll have plenty of time to try again.” The words cut like a knife. This research was his—his ideas, his data, his hard work. And now, it had been stolen by the very person he trusted. “W-what you’re doing is wrong!” Ethan burst out, his voice trembling with anger and disbelief. Reed only chuckled, shrugging. “The world isn’t about right or wrong, Ethan. It’s about power.” Ethan walked out of that office with shaking hands and a mind in turmoil. He knew reporting Reed would only backfire. The professor was too influential, and Ethan… he was just a broke student with no connections. * In a matter of days, his life completely unraveled. Without the money for tuition, the university sent him a notice that he was at risk of being expelled. His debts piled up, and there was no one left to turn to for help. Everyone he had trusted had betrayed him. That night, Ethan sat in his rickety chair by the window, staring at the relentless downpour. He felt empty, like the whole world had abandoned him. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through countless missed calls and texts from debt collectors. He knew he was at the very edge of a cliff, his life hanging by a thread. “Why should I even keep going?” he muttered under his breath. Ethan stood up, grabbed his thin jacket, and stepped out into the rain. He didn’t know where he was going—he just needed to get away, even if just for a little while. The rain grew heavier, soaking him to the bone. But the cold was nothing compared to the numbness he felt inside. He walked aimlessly, letting his feet take him wherever they wanted. At a dark intersection, he stopped, staring at the flickering streetlight, its dim glow reflecting the shattered pieces of his heart. “Maybe I should just stop,” he whispered. He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling—not just from the cold, but from the despair tightening its grip on him. A new message appeared on his screen. No name, just an unknown number. "I know what happened to you. If you want to end this, meet me at the convenience store across the street. I’m waiting." Ethan frowned. Who sent this? How did they know? A million questions ran through his mind, but a tiny sliver of hope made him move. Maybe, just maybe, this was his way out. Without thinking twice, he started walking toward the convenience store. The rain blurred his vision, the streets slick beneath his feet. His pace quickened, his body shivering. In his head, he imagined that whoever sent the message might have answers—some way to fix his broken life. But just as he reached the edge of the intersection, the roar of an oncoming car shattered everything. Blinding headlights filled his vision. Before he could react, his body was airborne. For a brief moment, as he tumbled through the air, he caught one last glimpse of his phone. The message was disappearing—erasing itself, letter by letter, as if it had never existed. Then, darkness. But what Ethan didn’t know was that this wasn’t the end. In mere seconds, his fate would change forever. This wasn’t his downfall—this was the beginning of something he never could’ve imagined.