The Female Lead's Plot Advanced Early

Song Weishi had always taken things as they came—living was good, dying felt like a loss, and settling down wasn't so bad either. She felt that almost everyone she'd met so far was a good person.

Of course, those who harbored ill intentions toward her had already been dealt with.

Most importantly, despite the rough start in this world, her life had been steadily improving through her own efforts.

Song Weishi was fairly satisfied with her current situation. The female lead in this world had shown her great kindness. If she was destined to keep crossing paths with the female lead anyway, staying here was a better deal than going anywhere else.

After all, she was just a minor cannon fodder. Getting lucky once didn't mean she'd be lucky every time.

A person should know their place. After hearing her words, the System seemed to stall for a moment before its tone softened. "Congratulations, Host. You have officially broken free of the cannon fodder's predetermined fate and restarted the storyline."

Song Weishi didn't feel any different. The vehicle kept moving forward. "Will you still follow me? Or are you going to find another host?"

The System replied, "The main quest for the first world is complete. Given your choice, the System will remain with you in this world, no longer bound by the previous rules."

Song Weishi understood. The previous rule was about escaping through death, and since she hadn't died, that rule no longer applied. From what the System said, it seemed it could leave at any time. Song Weishi was curious and asked, "Is it that you don't want to leave, or that you can't?"

The System: "..."

"Host, you're quite funny."

"So which is it—don't want to, or can't?"

The System: "...Can't."

Song Weishi said, "Don't say things like that next time. You know I don't like beating around the bush. Just tell me the truth, don't dodge the question. Got it?"

The System: "...Understood."

Song Weishi dismissed the System panel, crossed her arms, and opened her eyes.

Xie Yi seemed cold, her hands tucked into her pockets, her whole body slightly hunched. The moment Song Weishi looked her way, she averted her gaze.

The two vehicles were exiting through the fully automated departure lane.

Before Xie Huiqing's command lost its authority, they'd swiped their clearance and driven out.

Xie Huiying's hometown was in the countryside outside the walled area of Huihai City, a bit closer to the sea.

Though conditions outside the city weren't as good as inside, there were still plenty of people in the surrounding areas. Outside was more dangerous, and the people there were more wary.

The city inside was in complete chaos now. Xie Huiqing would surely die if she stayed, so the only option was to leave and lie low until things settled down.

To be honest, in the original plot, both sisters had died. Song Weishi had no idea how things would develop from here.

She couldn't imagine how Xie Huiqing could go back. With a traitor in her team and the leader herself dead, wouldn't the rest scatter like a pile of loose sand? That was the downside of centralized authority—once the leader collapsed, the anchor vanished, and the entire network supporting on that center would crumble.

Song Weishi looked down at Xie Huiqing without speaking. The carriage was quiet, with barely any sound to be heard. Through all the bumps in the road, Xie Huiqing hadn't opened her eyes once. Song Weishi even wondered if she'd died.

But looking at the rise and fall of Xie Huiqing's belly, she was still alive.

Bored, Song Weishi scrolled through her phone, but the signal outside was terrible. She couldn't load anything no matter how long she tried.

She could only glance around idly, but she felt Xie Yi staring at her from across the way. Every time she looked up, the other's gaze would dart away.

Song Weishi frowned. After who-knows-how-many times, she finally asked, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Xie Yi shook her head. This time, her gaze finally met Song Weishi's directly.

The two locked eyes, neither speaking. Song Weishi found it somewhat exasperating.

She glanced down at Xie Huiqing, reached over, and flipped the cloth on her pillow up to cover her eyes.

She was genuinely hungry. Not being able to treat herself after such a battle was its own kind of torment.

Since Xie Yi already knew about her secret, Song Weishi casually retrieved a basket of pre-washed fruit from her space and set it beside Xie Yi.

She took out a ready-to-eat meal pack and handed it to Xie Huiying through the driver's window. After closing the front door, Song Weishi sat down beside Xie Yi.

Seeing she hadn't moved, Song Weishi picked up a strawberry with a fork and popped it into Xie Yi's mouth. "Eat."

Xie Yi's eyes widened slightly, shocked at how natural her actions were.

Perhaps Song Weishi had let her guard down a little. Usually, whenever she saw her, she was on edge—though it didn't show on the surface, she was always tense, never allowing herself a moment of relaxation.

The strawberries were from the earlier vendor cart, of excellent quality, and she'd been rationing them. If not for something major, Song Weishi wouldn't reward herself like this.

She wanted to thank Xie Yi, but found the words hard to say, so she simply gave her the food.

"Why were you avoiding me before?"

Unexpectedly, it wasn't Song Weishi who spoke, but Xie Yi.

Her hand holding the fork didn't pause as she replied with utmost naturalness, "I wasn't."

"Really?"

Xie Yi suddenly leaned toward her. Song Weishi's instinct took over, and she bolted up from her seat.

Xie Yi casually sat back, a mocking smile curling on her lips.

Song Weishi realized she was being teased. She gripped the fork tightly and sat back down. "Fine, but I'm just not very good with people."

As she finished speaking, both looked up to see Ke Shaoyi's car pulling up alongside. Jiang Qingrou playfully held up the cat, waving at them.

Song Weishi forced a stiff smile. The road ahead narrowed, and Ke Shaoyi's car fell back.

Xie Yi said, "Indeed, not good with people when it comes to me."

Song Weishi: "..."

Her favoritism was too obvious. Even if she didn't want to admit it, anyone with eyes could tell.

But it wasn't her fault, was it? That was just how she'd been before. Song Weishi tried to smooth things over.

"Sorry, I really wasn't deliberately avoiding you before."

She thought Xie Yi was acting strange. She'd never brought up such things before, yet now she kept pressing. In Song Weishi's memory, Xie Yi had always been quiet and reserved, rarely asking so many questions.

Song Weishi turned to look at her, wondering if she was being punished for her sharp tongue toward the System earlier. Karma had come back to bite her.

Xie Yi felt her whole body heating up, and a thought in her head kept urging her to keep questioning Song Weishi.

"Really? Do you hate me?"

Song Weishi's heart tightened. "Not at all. I'm sorry my behavior made you feel that way. It's just that our first meeting wasn't the best start, but things are different now."

Xie Yi turned around. Her gaze was hazy, completely lacking her usual sharp edge. Her face was tinged with a light pink, her fair skin seeming to burn, even her ears flushed red.

"Really? Then are we friends now?"

Song Weishi finally sensed something off. Xie Yi's state was strange, and a peculiar feeling rose in her heart. She'd never seen Xie Yi like this.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Song Weishi put down the fruit and was about to get up to fetch a thermometer from the medical kit when Xie Yi seized her wrist with a grip so strong it hurt. Her palm was scorching hot, burning in a way that couldn't be ignored.

"Answer me. Are we friends?"

Her voice was hoarse, unlike her usual cool, steady tone. Her eyes seemed veiled in mist, the corners red as she looked at Song Weishi.

For an instant, Song Weishi felt she looked utterly pitiful, like someone desperate for an answer. "Yes. Now let go. I'm getting a thermometer."

Xie Yi didn't comply. Her strength was terrifying as she clung tightly to Song Weishi's wrist.

Song Weishi suddenly recalled the plot. She'd forgotten something very important. If those guards could mutate and gain abilities, why couldn't Xie Yi?

The plot point was that the female lead truly awakened only when Xie Huiqing died. Now that this plot point had advanced, Xie Huiqing had changed her fate, but Xie Yi's development hadn't changed.

The story's setting would never leave Xie Yi as an ordinary person, so her plotline had also arrived early—it was happening right now!

Back when Song Weishi had a fever, she'd been burning so badly she couldn't even remember what she was doing.

Xie Yi was clearly in the same state now, but her physical condition was much better than Song Weishi's had been. She could still sit upright and barely stay conscious.

Song Weishi immediately took out a fever patch from her space and pressed it onto Xie Yi's forehead.

"You have a fever. Your condition is bad right now. Let go of me; I need to get the medical kit."

She tried to speak softly to Xie Yi, afraid that any stimulus might accelerate her transformation.

But Xie Yi stubbornly shook her head, showing no intention of releasing her grip. Song Weishi struggled twice, then had to stand up and search her space for fever medicine.

The process was agonizing. Song Weishi had endured it for a whole day, and though none of the medicines worked, she still tried her best to find ways to ease Xie Yi's discomfort.

Xie Yi looked up at her. "No, you can't leave. I want to stay with you."

Song Weishi clenched her fist, telling herself not to get angry with a patient.

The next moment, Xie Huiqing, lying on the ground, woke up.

She pulled the cloth off her face and propped herself up. "Ow... Where are we?"

The vehicle hit a big bump. Xie Huiqing swayed, and her arm gave way, her whole body about to topple over. Song Weishi hurriedly crouched down to steady her.

"Are you all right, Sister Huiqing?"

As Song Weishi crouched, she felt the grip on her wrist tighten. She hissed in pain and turned to look at Xie Yi. "It's fine. I'm right here. Don't be agitated."

Xie Huiqing clutched her waist, her face pale as she looked at their awkward positions. Song Weishi was twisted almost entirely around just to support her, yet Xie Yi still held her hand with no intention of letting go. Song Weishi gritted her teeth against the pain while trying to soothe her.

Xie Huiqing frowned. "Xiaoyi, what's wrong with you? Let go. Can't you see she's in pain?"

The thread of rationality in Xie Yi's mind seemed to snap. Seeing their overlapping figures, she felt her heart pound violently, and the next second, she vomited a mouthful of blood.

---

Author's Note: This section was tough to write and may be revised later. If you notice changes, feel free to reread the ending.