The day after writing the will, Li Xiaoya and Qiu Lan discussed and decided to actively try venturing outward.
Using the airplane as a reference point, they would explore in four directions: east, south, west, and north.
"Places where humans have been are quite different. Let me teach everyone what features to look out for, and how to communicate with local natives if we encounter them, so they won't misunderstand our intentions..." Xu Huishan explained calmly.
"Now I'll distribute weapons to everyone," Zhang Ruoshui added.
Most of the weapons were handmade, but they would suffice.
Wei Wenqing and Zhang Ruoshui went in one direction, taking along the flight attendant named Edward.
Zhang Ruoshui had tied a rope around him, leading him like a dog on a leash.
Edward was furious: "You really aren't suited to be the female lead!"
Zhang Ruoshui turned back, puzzled.
Edward gritted his teeth: "You're too ruthless! How can you be a female protagonist? You're so close with Ke Muning and always helping your uncle's family. I think you're better suited as a villain!"
Zhang Ruoshui was confused: "Why should I be the female lead? I can be Zhang Ruoshui, Li Shengxi, Xiaoya, a demon, a madwoman... anything. They're all me."
Edward became even angrier hearing this: "Even Li Qingqing wants to be the female lead..."
Zhang Ruoshui looked at him: "You really are strange. You seem to know everything about each of us, even about Li Qingqing..."
Edward's expression changed, and he fell silent.
Zhang Ruoshui pulled the rope with some force, causing Edward to crash into a tree. He grimaced in pain: "Is this how you interrogate someone?"
Zhang Ruoshui shook her head: "I'm not interrogating you. I just dislike you. Whether or not you tell me what you know doesn't matter."
Edward twisted his lips: "Then I'll tell you anyway."
Wei Wenqing silently shook his head ahead of them.
How easily he fell for the trick.
"I'm a player, and this is just a large RPG game. There are many story scenarios in the game, and your world is just one of them."
"Some players can choose to play in 'world correction mode,' some can play in 'rebirth rewrite mode'... all can enjoy the feeling of controlling others' lives."
"I'm here to correct this story world, to restore it to its original form according to the game mission."
"Why do I know so much about you all?"
"Because all your information is listed in the official game guide!"
"You're just a character, understand? You're not a real person! Devastating to hear, isn't it?"
"Damn it, I don't even want the game achievements anymore! Let me exit the game!"
Zhang Ruoshui stopped, turned around, and slapped him, asking: "Did that hurt?"
Edward was stunned by the slap.
"It seems to hurt, so how can you say we're 'just characters'? Everyone's pain, sadness, and happiness are real." Zhang Ruoshui pressed her lips together, suppressing her anger.
Wei Wenqing's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
How could their suffering be dismissed as mere game scenarios in someone's mouth?
Wei Wenqing's voice device had run out of battery, so he gestured:
"This person is insane."
"Let's kill him."
Edward couldn't understand sign language, but he could read Wei Wenqing's expression.
They want to kill him?
Fine, fine, fine. Go ahead and kill him.
Death would mean leaving the game.
Just then, a strange sound approached.
"Have we encountered natives?" Edward's heart sank, hoping they hadn't run into cannibals.
The sound gradually turned into a loud noise, getting louder and louder.
Zhang Ruoshui's eyes lit up: "Propellers! Uncle! It's the sound of propellers!"
Zhang Ruoshui quickly took out the rescue banner they had prepared from her backpack.
The brightly colored banner was stretched out in the forest, revealing a bright red "SOS."
The sound of propellers grew closer and closer.
Zhang Ruoshui looked up: "It's no good, they probably can't see us, the trees are too dense..."
She began thinking of other options.
Starting a fire for rescue was definitely not an option.
The forest was too dense; a fire would doom them all.
Wei Wenqing was even more anxious than her, hearing the propeller sound starting to fade away.
He sprinted madly in that direction.
"Uncle!" Zhang Ruoshui dragged Edward along as she ran.
They had to get home!
This time, they had to get Xiaoya home!
Wei Wenqing waved the red banner in his hand, and his necklace fell out from his collar, whipping against his face in the wind.
He froze for a moment and grabbed the object.
It was... a whistle.
It was the whistle Xiaoya had given him when she first returned to Jin City.
Later, when he got his voice device, the whistle hadn't been much use, but he always kept it with him because it was from Xiaoya.
He quickly put the whistle to his lips.
"Tweet—"
"Tweet tweet—"
The sharp whistle sound echoed through the jungle.
On the other side.
"What's that sound?" Sheng Yuxiao stopped and listened.
"Could it be natives?" The bodyguard swallowed nervously.
Qin Sui, who was also in the group, disagreed: "Impossible."
Sheng Yuxiao listened carefully: "...It's a whistle!"
Having participated in various competitions, he was more sensitive to whistle sounds.
"That's not from leaves blowing, it's the sound only a metal whistle can make... local natives wouldn't have something like that..." Sheng Yuxiao said before breaking into a run.
They no longer bothered with careful exploration, all running frantically to follow the sound.
Bits of light filtered through the gaps in the trees.
Sheng Yuxiao finally saw Wei Wenqing.
Wei Wenqing was breathing heavily, pointing behind him and making a series of gestures.
"Xiaoya!" Sheng Yuxiao shouted.
"Xiaoya!" His voice tore through the air.
"XIAOYA!!!" It felt as if his internal organs would tear apart with his cry.
"Sheng Yuxiao?" Zhang Ruoshui stopped running, standing still.
She could see a tall, straight silhouette dappled with fragments of light, running toward her.
"Sheng Yuxiao!" She called out his name loudly too.
Edward finally turned ashen: "It's happening again, just like always..."
"The forum says no matter how many times we restart, he's always the first to run to you. The more the plot changes and deviates, this is the one thing that never changes."
Zhang Ruoshui heard his words and glanced back at him.
"You say this is a game, right?" Zhang Ruoshui asked.
"Yes..."
Things Zhang Ruoshui couldn't understand suddenly became clear.
"Then I can do whatever I want." She murmured.
The moment that silhouette became clear in her sight, she tightly embraced Sheng Yuxiao.
Sheng Yuxiao firmly held her waist, pressing her head against his neck with one hand.
Only such intimate contact could confirm that what was lost had been regained.
"Xiaoya..."
All his mental preparation crumbled in this instant like dried leaves in a storm.
He couldn't bring himself to choose someone more suitable for her.
He wanted Xiaoya's favoritism forever.
He wanted to never regret any moment in the future.
Zhang Ruoshui suddenly realized: "Wait, I'm dirty, I haven't bathed in a long time, Sheng Yuxiao."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter," Sheng Yuxiao softly comforted her.
Back in Li Family Village, he had never minded her tattered clothes or the mud and scars on her body.
It was the same now.
"Sheng Yuxiao," Zhang Ruoshui grabbed his clothes and said softly, "why are you trembling?"
"...Too happy," Sheng Yuxiao squeezed out in a hoarse voice.
Zhang Ruoshui hugged him: "I'm very happy too."
Even happier than getting the answer to that letter.
Sheng Yuxiao released her and bent down in front of her, his back turned: "Get on, let's go."
Zhang Ruoshui touched his back and climbed on.
"What about him?" Zhang Ruoshui rested her head on his shoulder, pointing at Edward.
Qin Sui had finally caught up.
Sheng Yuxiao had run too damn fast!
He caught his breath and looked at Edward: "Then I'll walk the dog?"
Edward: "..."
You should all be villains!
Sheng Yuxiao carried Zhang Ruoshui as they walked out.
She had always felt that she had grown up, gotten taller, become heavier, so she didn't want Sheng Yuxiao to carry her anymore.
But Sheng Yuxiao had always been even taller and stronger.
She lay on his back.
It seemed like nothing had ever changed.
She really liked Sheng Yuxiao.
That had never changed either.
