Chapter 3.2
While Sui Yuan and 5237 stare blankly ahead in disbelief, that person walks closer. Being a hybrid, Sui Yuan’s eyes are closer to a dark elf’s, allowing him to see better in the darkness. As such, he is able to make out the man’s features clearly when he draws close enough, despite the persistently dim lighting within.
A twenty-plus young man - in appearance only, of course - with features like the finest divine masterpiece—this person’s elegant visage doesn’t carry a trace of femininity. Azure eyes that are gentle like water, a moving smile curves his lips. Long, platinum-gold hair sways with every little movement. This entire image resembles a God amongst humans; an enchantingly beautiful appearance captivating all who gazes upon him. A single glance causes one to be incapable of forming blasphemous thoughts in his presence.
Coming to step next to Sui Yuan, he kneels on one knee, ignoring the fact that his snow-white robes will be stained by the layer of dirt on the cave’s floor. Lifting a hand, the hollow of his palm rests on Sui Yuan’s forehead, followed by a dazzling smile. "It appears your fever has reduced. That’s great."
Sui Yuan: "...... QAQ"
Hearing the female lead’s lines falling from this person’s mouth really makes him feel extremely distressed...
"What’s wrong?" Head tilting slightly to the side, a mischievous look surfaces. "This weeping without tears expression...do your wounds still hurt?"
"......It still hurts," Sui Yuan mutters, then immediately changes the topic. "But that’s not important!"
"Then what is important?" The man blinks.
"...Zhao Xihe?" Sui Yuan chokes.
An index finger presses lightly against Sui Yuan’s lips, the other lowers his voice as though divulging a secret. "Shh...you should call me Osmund now."
Sui Yuan: "......"
He is frightened! Very terrified! What should he do now?! And please speak normally!
However, Osmund doesn’t appear willing to decipher the myriad emotions flashing across his face. Retrieving a bottle of medicine from his space, he holds it out to Sui Yuan. "Drink this. You will feel better."
Eyeing that bottle somewhat hesitantly, he wonders if he ought to crawl out of the cave with this injured body in search of the person predestined to rescue him, the female lead.
"If you don’t want to drink it, then I will have to feed it to you." Having guessed what is going through Sui Yuan’s mind, Osmund quirks an eyebrow, a threatening edge creeping into his smile.
Estimating his current strength right now and comparing it to Osmund’s, he gloomily realises that he has absolutely zero chances of success should he attempt to flee. Thus, he can only obediently take the offered medicine and drink it down under Osmund’s stare.
As expected, the effects of this medicine are not bad. Its sweet scent wafts into the air as soon as the lid opens and warms the body immediately after ingestion. The acute aches and pain in his body fade to a dull throb and Sui Yuan can’t help a relieved exhale when his tensed muscles relax.
Now that he has calmed down reasonably after taking the medicine, he knows that he should have a proper talk with Osmund - or should he say, Zhao Xihe.
...They had clearly reached an agreement to help Sui Yuan preserve the plot, but the resulting development from the very start is already wrong! Stealing the female lead’s lines? What in the world are you doing?!
Welcoming his accusing stare, the well-prepared Zhao Xihe offers a faint smile before raising a hand to stop him from speaking. Head turned slightly to the side, he seems to be communicating with his system.
After a short period of time, he returns his gaze to Sui Yuan. "I know what you want to ask, however, when we are playing the role of a character, we must not hold a conversation using our true identity. Or else, that would be breaching the rules."
"Then what should we do?" Sui Yuan stiffens, having never heard of such a strict tenet.
"I just told 0007 to convert our immediate surroundings into a separate zone. Right here and now, until I say otherwise, we are alone. There is no one else within this space, so it shouldn’t be a problem," Zhao Xihe answers. "I was simply warning you so you do not repeat the same error again."
Sui Yuan gives a curt, serious nod, partly in appreciation and partly in acknowledgement before his eyes dart towards 5237, who has almost rolled out the cave’s entrance at this point.
He supposes the system’s odd behaviour is due to its strange ’0007 stifling syndrome’ flaring up again. After all, if Zhao Xihe is here, then 0007 will also be hanging around somewhere nearby even if Sui Yuan cannot see it. Silently, Sui Yuan suggests to 5237 that they should study the range of purchasable goods available even if...his total amount of points is pitifully little...
"Before you ask anything, let me explain myself." Zhao Xihe’s words draw Sui Yuan’s attention away from 5237. "It may be due to 0007’s function being superior to 5237, so although I entered the world after you, I still arrived a few days earlier. Naturally, I am also privy to what will occur in the plot and was a little worried." As he says this, his gaze drops towards the injuries littering his visible skin.
Sui Yuan’s eyes gleam faintly with pleasant surprise. Needless to say, he is a tad moved by this declaration.
"Due to my anxiety, I followed the hints given by the script to find you. Originally, I thought to wait until the female lead arrives before taking my leave. However, for some unknown reason, the plot seems a little different then what it should be." Zhao Xihe sighs. "Your injuries were rather serious and you were dying. But the female lead still did not appear. After waiting for half a day, I could not stand by and watch you bleed to death just like that, thus, I had no choice but to save you instead."
Sui Yuan hangs his head, scratching his messy black hair in shame. He feels rather embarrassed at being narrow-minded and jumping into conclusions when the other party was merely being noble. Murmuring a thanks to his lap, he naturally misses the glint that passes through Zhao Xihe’s eyes.
"I just returned from gathering herbs and made enquires as to the female lead’s whereabouts. It seems she has finally entered the area," Zhao Xihe states mildly. When he sees Sui Yuan’s eyes brighten and seem eager to get off the bed to search for the female lead, he immediately douses him with metaphorical cold water. "However, your injuries are already nearly healed."
Sui Yuan: "......"
Glaring at the empty medicine bottle in his hand with hidden bitterness, he wonders if he can reopen his wounds again.
"Additionally, there is another important tenet you should be aware of. That is, as actors, we must not only comply with the plot, but also need to ensure all actions taken is logical." Zhao Xihe pauses, not the least bit surprised to see Sui Yuan’s puzzled expression. "In other words, since you are already saved by the male lead Osmund, if you mutilate yourself to let the female lead nurse you back to health, it wouldn’t conform to logic because there is no reasonable explanation for your wounds to reopen now."
Sui Yuan nods in comprehension. "Then what is your explanation for appearing here and rescuing me? It’s this illogical?"
"Seeing as I am still here, naturally my actions were reasonable." The other man smiles brightly. "I came here to collect herbs and found the heavily injured you bleeding. Due to being a kind-hearted individual, I cannot bear to witness someone dying in front of me without helping. This is very much in line with the protagonist’s character."
Sui Yuan: "......"
Dammit, he is completely unable to find any faults! Still, it does make a lot of sense no matter how you look at it. Only, his instincts keep telling him that something doesn’t quite add up...
"...So, that means..." After pondering for a moment, Sui Yuan opens his mouth to ask, "The scene where I was rescued by the female lead is incapable of occurring now?"
"Regretfully, yes." Zhao Xihe nods solemnly.
Sui Yuan’s shoulders droop, already feeling the pressure of another failed mission.
When the thin and fragile-looking dark elf hangs his head, his messy black hair drapes over his shoulders like a piece of starless night sky. Bare body with only a piece of shabby, skirt-like article covering his lower half, scars of various lengths, sizes and widths covers the stretch of visible flesh. Against that pale complexion, he gives off an air of oppressed beauty. Wide, golden eyes seemingly huge in his gaunt face and pink, full lips pressed into a thin line, it incites one’s urge to gently embrace that delicate figure as well as the rising desire to see him fall deeper into despair.
The corner of his lips curving up in a devious smirk, Zhao Xihe gives into his urge and picks the latter.
"Don’t give into disappointment so easily." Only after seeing a sliver of hope returning to Sui Yuan’s eyes does Zhao Xihe continue. "There is another terrible news I have to tell you."
Sui Yuan: "......I don’t want to hear it QAQ"
"Nevertheless, you have to. Unless you wish to see a negative mark for this mission." The man smiles, patting his head consolingly.
"...What is it?" Sui Yuan braces himself to hear the worst.
"In the original text, Nardred fell in love with the female lead after she nurses him back to health." Zhao Xihe’s voice is a smooth and musical timbre extremely pleasant to one’s ears. However, to the present Sui Yuan, it sounds like a funeral bell. "But this time, the one who saved you is me."
Sui Yuan: "......I think I know what you are trying to imply, but I would very much like to say that I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Therefore, according to the plot..." Zhao Xihe deliberately pretends he didn’t hear Sui Yuan’s mumble. Tone regretful but eyes containing a cheerful gleam, he continues. "...The person you should fall in love with now is me."
For the first time, Sui Yuan really doesn’t want to follow the script...
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