Take This Slap, Female Lead

Both of them were stunned, but Song Weishi was especially baffled. She quickly laid Xie Huiqing flat on the ground and stood up.

What was going on with Xie Yi? Why was she spitting up blood? Song Weishi didn't remember experiencing anything like this herself. How could Xie Yi's situation be so different? Did everyone's experience vary that much?

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Instinctively, Song Weishi clamped her hand over Xie Yi's mouth. "Stop spitting blood."

Xie Huiqing, still lying on the ground, looked confused.

Song Weishi immediately felt how hot Xie Yi's face was and pulled her hand back. "Damn, she's burning up. Sister Huiqing, can you get up right now?"

Xie Huiqing shot up like a zombie, then flopped right back down, her frail body unable to support her. "What's going on? I don't think I can get up right now."

That was the expected answer. Song Weishi walked forward, pressed the button on the wall, and shoved Xie Huiqing into the driver's seat with a kick.

Her voice seemed to whoosh past like a wave and was quickly shut out. Xie Huiqing, dizzy and disoriented, closed her eyes once more.

Xie Huiying glanced over, saw that Xie Huiqing was fine, and called out a question to the back before focusing on the road again.

Xie Yi's grip on Song Weishi loosened, and she suddenly scooped Song Weishi up entirely, squeezing her so tightly that she could barely breathe.

Song Weishi's vision went dark as she asked the System in her mind, "Is this in the plot? What's wrong with her?"

Xie Yi's character was completely different from what she'd seen before. She was always calm, composed, and in control. Song Weishi had no idea what had gotten into her.

The System's anxious voice came through. "I don't detect anything unusual with the female lead. Don't panic, Host. Let me check the plot."

Then it fell silent. Xie Yi was facing her, her eyes barely inches away, staring at her intently as if afraid she'd run away.

The gap between people was just that vast. When she had mutated, she'd been stuck in bed, unable to move, open to attack. But the female lead? She was not only fine, she could crush her with her bare hands.

Song Weishi shoved hard at Xie Yi's shoulders, trying to break free from her embrace, but her efforts were futile.

Actually, there was still a way to escape, but it would inevitably hurt Xie Yi.

Song Weishi had no choice. She simply sat down on Xie Yi's lap, trying to adjust into a more comfortable position.

Seeing that Song Weishi wasn't resisting, Xie Yi relaxed a little, resting her head against Song Weishi's shoulder. Her mind was foggy, with only one thought: she couldn't let Song Weishi leave again. It was like some deep-seated obsession from before, magnified infinitely at this moment. She couldn't suppress her instincts at all, and only by giving in could she feel even slightly at ease.

Song Weishi found this a bit strange. She'd never been this close to anyone in her entire life. Well, that time in the snow didn't count—it wasn't exactly a fond memory.

But this time, they were friends, right? This feeling of being needed was odd, different from anything before.

There was nothing transactional about it. She simply needed her. Or maybe, she just needed someone to be there?

But Xie Yi could say her name without hesitation, so she clearly knew what she wanted. Song Weishi was genuinely perplexed, unable to fathom what the female lead was up to.

The two sat there for a while before the System finally showed up, late as ever. "Host, I really couldn't find this scene anywhere. The plot for later hasn't been unlocked yet, and there's no mention of the female lead. It's possible you haven't unlocked it yet."

She was never precognitive; most of the story's events she only understood after the fact. Instead of being a cheat, the revealed plot simply helped Song Weishi better understand the workings of this world.

Song Weishi said, "Alright, let's set that aside for now. I've got a question, and I need you to answer me. It's important."

The System said, "Go ahead."

Song Weishi asked, "Can you see the romantic orientation of the story now? Did you notice it before when you were browsing the synopsis?"

The System paused for a moment, as if retrieving data. "Yes, Host. This is a female-led no-romance novel."

She knew it. But now things were even more difficult. There was no other protagonist to be found, which meant the female lead had no one in this world to keep her in check. Song Weishi had already tried other possibilities, so now she could only wait it out until the mutation ended.

Song Weishi used a damp towel to wipe Xie Yi's face, then pulled her tank top back down. Xie Yi was burning up so much that Song Weishi was starting to sweat herself, but Xie Yi still refused to let go of her.

Looking at her wrist, red and sore from being squeezed, Song Weishi gritted her teeth and tried to cool her down. "Are you taking revenge on me, Xie Yi? I haven't done anything to wrong you, have I? Why do you keep clinging to me like this?"

She pinched Xie Yi's cheek, feeling the scorching, smooth skin under her fingertips. Seeing Xie Yi's dazed gaze, Song Weishi felt a bit embarrassed and pulled her hand back.

She must be losing it too, trying to reason with someone who wasn't even conscious.

The System said in a low voice, "Host, you can't provoke her right now. If you do and the plot changes completely, turning the female lead into a monster, you'd be in serious trouble."

Song Weishi laughed in exasperation. The System still had the nerve to joke around at a time like this.

"I know. I'm doing my best. But can the plot actually change?"

"Hard to say. You've already gone off the rails, Host. Changing the story probably isn't that hard, given how many people who should have died are still alive."

Song Weishi said thoughtfully, "I remember there were rewards for saving people before. Did you secretly take my Points and energy? How come I didn't get any rewards this time?"

The System was instantly at a loss for words, and silence stretched between them.

"Talk!"

"Congratulations, Host. Your Points reward has been credited. Please check your balance."

Song Weishi laughed in anger again. When she tried to scold the System further, she found she couldn't reach it anymore.

She was too drained from Xie Yi's grip to argue. After accepting the Points, she started to wonder if the medicine she'd given Xie Yi had something to do with this. If only she hadn't fed it to her.

In a daze, Xie Yi felt terribly thirsty, her throat burning like fire.

"Water..."

Song Weishi pulled an ice-cold cola out of her space, propped up Xie Yi's chin, and poured it into her mouth.

Song Weishi hadn't gotten such good treatment back then. She'd been unable to move, her throat scorched dry, and those people outside hadn't done a thing for her.

"Hot..."

Song Weishi took out another wet towel and wiped Xie Yi down to cool her off.

Xie Yi's whole body was blazing. Song Weishi felt they'd reached the most critical moment. White patches appeared on Xie Yi's face, her eyes bloodshot, and her grip began to slacken.

Finally, Song Weishi was able to break free from her. Xie Yi slumped against the seat, her breathing growing weaker and weaker.

Song Weishi recalled what the System had said. Could she really turn into a monster?

Just as she was about to lose hope and go find Xie Huiying, the vehicle gave a sudden jolt. The whole car seemed to shudder, and a deafening blast rang out.

She saw dust explode against the windows, blanketing the car in a thick layer of grime. The light inside instantly dimmed.

Xie Huiying clearly sped up. Song Weishi stumbled inside the vehicle, nearly falling to the floor.

The piled-up debris scattered everywhere, crashing down onto the spot where Xie Huiqing had just been lying.

Good thing she'd shoved Xie Huiqing away earlier; otherwise, she'd be the one buried under all that now.

She didn't have a single spare second to worry about the two of them.

Song Weishi steadied herself and peered outside. Several armored vehicles had caught up behind them, smoke still curling from the cannons on their roofs, shells firing in their direction. They weren't far away, and with her enhanced vision, she could see perfectly clearly.

It was people from the city chasing them down. Stopping now was definitely out of the question. She forced down the unease in her heart and pulled Xie Yi upright.

The walkie-talkie crackled with Xie Huiying's voice: "Xiao Song, hold on to something. We've got tailers."

Before Song Weishi could react much, the vehicle lurched forward again. She clung desperately to the seatbelt, bracing Xie Yi in place.

She couldn't tell Xie Huiying about Xie Yi's condition right now. Xie Huiying absolutely couldn't be distracted while driving, or more than one person would die.

But Xie Yi's condition was worsening. The flush on her face faded, turning increasingly pale.

Her consciousness was slipping too. Her once-clear eyes went glassy and vacant, staring straight at Song Weishi without expression.

Song Weishi's skin crawled under that gaze, so she simply covered Xie Yi's eyes with her hand.

The moment she raised her hand, Xie Yi knocked it away. Xie Yi's breathing was rapid, sweat beading and dripping down her cheeks.

The explosions outside grew louder with each boom, some shells grazing the vehicle.

The car's rebound system jolted them around, rattling them painfully.

Song Weishi suddenly realized this was also a form of stimulation. She quickly clamped her hands over Xie Yi's ears, trying to muffle the noise.

But Xie Yi's condition was visibly deteriorating. Song Weishi's unease grew stronger and stronger.

"Xie Yi, hang in there. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. Just hold on—we're almost there."

Xie Yi's slender fingers again wrapped around Song Weishi's wrist. "I can't breathe..."

Song Weishi glanced at her pale lips and said quickly, "Wait, let me see if there's an oxygen tank."

She'd collected so much random stuff on the road that she had no idea if she even had something like that. She searched her space and found nothing, then unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the medical kit beside her.

Xie Yi's breathing grew even more ragged, as if she truly couldn't get enough air.

Song Weishi grabbed the medical kit, trying to pry Xie Yi's hand off her. "I'm almost done. Just give me a second."

A sudden force yanked her up without warning, and then soft, burning lips pressed against hers.

In that instant, Song Weishi's mind nearly exploded. She shoved Xie Yi hard and slapped her across the face.