Chapter 45: Wild Dodder (3)

When Zhu Zhan found Bai Ling, he saw the young lady using Fu Jingyan’s jacket as a cushion beneath her. She sat gracefully on the grass, her long, disheveled black hair draped loosely behind her, and her white dress accentuating her slender figure. The setting sun pierced through gaps in the leaves, casting an orange-red glow onto her, which subtly tinted her porcelain-like cheeks with a blush.

She was undeniably beautiful, strikingly so at first glance. Zhu Zhan had approached brimming with frustration and anger, but upon seeing Bai Ling like this, his negative emotions seemed to deflate instantly, akin to a pricked balloon.

In her hands, she held a small bottle of water, sipping it gently. Her serene and composed expression almost made one forget they were stranded on a deserted island amidst dire circumstances.

The scene before him was remarkably idyllic, offering Zhu Zhan some much-needed respite from his weariness.

As he took a few steps forward, the leaves crunched underfoot. Before he could get close, the girl seated among the trees abruptly stood up, clutching the water bottle tightly like a small animal sensing danger. She swiftly turned and hid behind a tree, her quiet eyes fixed intently on him. It was as if any sudden movement from him would send her fleeing. This intense wariness and alertness caused Zhu Zhan’s momentarily eased mood to plummet back to its lowest point.

“What are you doing!” Zhu Zhan gritted his teeth, seething internally. “Am I some criminal or villain that you need to guard against me like this?”

The girl behind the tree remained silent and even took a step back as he grew angry.

Feeling utterly frustrated, Zhu Zhan knew that if he continued being menacing, she would undoubtedly run away. If others witnessed her reaction, they might assume he had done something untoward.

Zhu Zhan could only surrender, reluctantly softening his tone. Mimicking Fu Jingyan’s nauseatingly gentle manner, he cautiously began coaxing the young lady, “Bai Ling, Miss Bai, when have I ever harmed you? I, Zhu Zhan, never touch women, let alone mistreat them. Please don’t treat me like a criminal…”

Perhaps sensing his sincerity, the girl finally emerged from behind the tree, but suspicion still lingered in her eyes, as if she didn’t fully trust his words.

“You were looking for me…for what reason?” Bai Ling finally spoke, providing Zhu Zhan with at least a small sense of relief.

As long as they could communicate, it was progress. He still had numerous questions to ask her.

“Xuan Yiqing said you dreamed about our plane crashing; is that true?” Zhu Zhan preferred direct questioning over endless speculation.

“And you dreamed that we would do something bad to you,” Zhu Zhan continued, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. “What kind of ‘bad’ things did you dream about? What could I possibly do?”

[The protagonist…] m577 sighed, [She truly didn’t reveal your ability to foresee events…]

“Isn’t it obvious?” Tong Ling scoffed at the system’s naivety.

Quickly regaining its composure, m577 responded, [The protagonist likely didn’t anticipate Zhu Zhan asking directly, exposing her instantly.]

“For Bai Ling, hearing Xuan Yiqing’s ‘excuse’ is acceptable,” Tong Ling analyzed from the original character’s perspective. “After all, Xuan Yiqing stated that one cannot be blamed for future events. This approach might even seem like a way to ‘change the storyline.’ Bai Ling would never fault Xuan Yiqing.”

[That’s just additional plot you’ve conjured up…] m577’s internal thoughts were filled with skepticism.

Tong Ling shifted her attention back to Zhu Zhan and hesitated before saying, “Did Qingqing… really say that?”

“Is she hiding something?” Zhu Zhan hurriedly asked.

”…No, she isn’t,” Tong Ling replied cautiously.

Perhaps fearing Zhu Zhan wouldn’t believe her, she emphasized, “That’s exactly what I told Qingqing.”

Zhu Zhan wasn’t foolish; he initially had his doubts about this explanation, and now, after her clarification, he was entirely unconvinced.

“You really… Tsk,” Zhu Zhan knew it would be difficult to get the truth from the young lady, so he decided to change his approach. “Fine, if you claim it was just a dream, then tell me, what did you dream about?”

Tong Ling pursed her lips and looked away. “There’s nothing worth mentioning. Just consider my earlier words as nonsense.”

“But you accurately predicted the plane crash. Your dreams might have some level of accuracy.” Zhu Zhan took a few steps closer to Tong Ling. “Humor my curiosity and share it with me, please. How long will we be stranded on this island? Will we be rescued…?”

[“So that’s what he wanted to know…”] m577 had assumed Zhu Zhan was simply wasting time with idle chatter.

“They all want answers to these questions. Zhu Zhan, being the least patient among them, asking is quite normal,” Tong Ling said to the system. “However, for the protagonist’s sake, I won’t reveal anything. Only the female lead should control the flow of information, ensuring the male leads remain dependent on her.”

M577 chuckled nervously, ”…I’ll thank you on behalf of the protagonist.”

Seeing the young lady’s continued silence, Zhu Zhan grew even more irked. “Hey! What is it that you can’t tell me? If you know something, wouldn’t it be better to work together and find a way to leave?”

As Zhu Zhan closed the distance between them, Tong Ling’s breathing instantly quickened. She stood frozen, her hands stiff at her sides. Her initially guarded eyes softened, filling with moisture, and her lashes fluttered. With a soft, breathy whisper while biting her lip, she uttered, “Don’t… Stay away from me…”

The delicate sound sent shivers throughout Zhu Zhan’s body, making him slightly numb. “Y-you…” he stammered.

Zhu Zhan noticed the young lady placing her hand over her heart; her body trembled slightly, tears welling up in her eyes, their corners tinged with a hint of red. The look she gave him… Damn! He couldn’t quite describe that gaze, but it made him feel strangely affected!

Tong Ling swayed, but before she could collapse, Zhu Zhan hastily steadied her.

Yes, he steadied her, not embraced her. Supporting her by the arms, he forcibly held her upright.

Tong Ling remained silent, unimpressed.

No wonder this guy claimed he’d never been with a woman; his awkwardness practically sealed his fate for lifelong bachelorhood.

Caught off guard by the sudden situation, Zhu Zhan felt utterly at a loss, beads of nervous sweat forming on his forehead. He could sense the soft texture and warmth of the girl’s skin against him, her entire body limp yet radiating an unusual heat where they touched.

“It hurts,” Tong Ling complained, glaring at Zhu Zhan. “This position is causing me pain…”

Zhu Zhan’s throat went dry. “Then I…what should I do?”

“My arms are so sore, let go of me,” Tong Ling said.

How could Zhu Zhan possibly let go? If he did, she would collapse again. Recalling how Fu Jingyan had cared for Bai Ling when she fainted, he wrapped one arm around Tong Ling’s waist, drawing her close to his chest.

As he did so, Tong Ling emitted another soft gasp, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Can you be…a little gentler with me?” Tong Ling sobbed. “I’ll listen obediently and do anything you ask. Let’s go inside that well-built straw hut instead of staying out here. I don’t want others—others to see…”

A hurricane seemed to rage through Zhu Zhan’s mind as a terrifying and absurd suspicion emerged.

The wrongdoing they had inflicted upon her…was it something like this? Could he have done such a thing to her?

“Don’t talk nonsense…” Zhu Zhan wanted to deny it, but as soon as he glanced at the woman in his arms, his heartbeat went haywire, pounding wildly against his chest. His body, meanwhile…

No! He couldn’t possibly be that kind of person! He should immediately discard this woman, ignoring her delirious ramblings. It was impossible…impossible…

“Sob…sob…” Suddenly, the girl’s arms wrapped around him, and amidst her tears, she leaned forward to gently kiss his lips.

“Not here, please.”

Her soft lips brushed lightly against his, again and again.

Zhu Zhan’s eyes widened, feeling immobilized like a cat caught by its scruff, too afraid to move.

“You…” As Zhu Zhan opened his mouth, the girl’s sweet breath mingled with his. For a moment, stunned, he then inexplicably tightened his embrace, mimicking her actions and savoring the sweetness.

It started tenderly, but gradually…

Only when the girl cried out in pain did he come back to reality.

Gazing at Bai Ling’s swollen lips, her tear-streaked face, and the reddened skin from being pressed against the tree trunk, Zhu Zhan felt his body burning hot while his heart turned icy with panic.

What had he done…? Was this truly his actions?

The fear and pleading in the girl’s eyes still ignited excitement within him, despite its disturbing nature.

How could he be so twisted…

Zhu Zhan raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

“Sorry!” Zhu Zhan dared not look at the girl any longer and stumbled away, turning to run.

His frantic retreat made him seem less like a cat caught by the scruff of its neck, but rather more akin to a mouse fleeing from a feline predator, scrambling blindly without even seeing the path ahead clearly.

After Tong Ling and the others left, she wiped her lips and smiled, “So innocent.”

[…]

M577 was utterly speechless, wanting nothing more than to refrain from commenting! Just observing Zhu Zhan’s bewildered state, it knew that the “truths” revealed by its host had deeply shaken the young man. Even though Zhu Zhan initially didn’t believe them, now…

“It’s just this body can’t handle much,” Tong Ling frowned, “I’m feeling short of breath.”

[Take your medication quickly!] m577 was exasperated with its host, [If you can’t endure, take a break! Don’t push your own limits!]

“Who should I blame for being like this?” Tong Ling furiously tugged at m577’s fluffy mass. “Give me back my healthy body!”

M577 wailed miserably: [I was wrong, I was wrong… Bell Sister, quickly take your medicine, please take care of yourself…]

“How could I have any medicine?” Tong Ling said angrily. “I don’t have any on me!”

“No, no, I can’t get upset,” Tong Ling hastily composed herself to lessen the strain on her heart.

M577 swiftly responded: [Fu Jingyan has your medication; he’s responsible for taking care of you, so he carries it with him.]

“Oh?” The corners of Tong Ling’s mouth curved up. “Well then, that’s truly… wonderful.”

The moment Zhu Zhan disappeared from view, Fu Jingyan guessed he might be going to find someone.

However, he didn’t expect Zhu Zhan to return in such a state.

Zhu Zhan looked panicked, his complexion alternating between flushed red and pale white as he gasped heavily—where was the shadow of that defiant youth?

“Did you encounter wild beasts in the forest, Zhu Zhan?” Duan Jiaze asked cheerfully.

“He seems really spooked.” Duan Jiayou circled around Zhu Zhan.

Without warning, the twins stepped forward, one on each side, and firmly grasped Zhu Zhan’s shoulders. “Quickly, spill the truth—what did you go off to do?”

Zhu Zhan’s mind was terribly chaotic; confronted by the twins’ questions, he felt both guilty and irritable.

“Why so nosy? Get lost!” Zhu Zhan shook off the twins’ arms and sat down before a dead branch, staring blankly ahead.

“How strange.”

“Very strange.”

The twins didn’t let Zhu Zhan off that easily. Instead, they approached him, chattering loudly into his ears.

“It’s not good to keep things bottled up inside.”

“We’re friends—how can you not talk to us?”

“We’re the best listeners; whatever secrets you have, we’ll keep them confidential for you.”

“Our lips are sealed!”

Duan Jiaze and Duan Jiayou simultaneously mimed zipping their mouths shut. “So spill it already!”

Zhu Zhan’s temper flared under the twins’ incessant pestering, clenching his fists as if ready to throw punches.

Fu Jingyan timely intervened, shooing away the rowdy twins before the situation worsened further.

“All right, aren’t you tired after being busy all this time? Go take a break over there.”

The twins shrugged; indeed, they were exhausted and promptly lay still on the grass.

Once the noisy pair had left, Fu Jingyan took a seat next to Zhu Zhan, concern evident on his face. Patiently, he asked, “What happened? We’re a team, and I can’t just ignore any issues you might be facing.”

Fu Jingyan had always been the most mature and steady among them, possessing a natural leader’s demeanor. From the moment of the plane crash, he systematically organized their escape efforts. It could be said that amidst their stranding on this deserted island, his role was crucial in maintaining everyone’s positive and composed mindset.

On the surface, Zhu Zhan seemed to disdain Fu Jingyan’s overly accommodating personality, but deep down, he trusted him quite a lot. Upon hearing Fu Jingyan’s question, Zhu Zhan couldn’t help but cover his head with his hands. He wanted to confide, yet didn’t know how to begin, weighed down by feelings of guilt and shame.

Even recalling what happened in those woods made his heart race erratically, filling his mind with a jumble of confused thoughts…

“You went to see Little Ling?” Seeing Zhu Zhan remain silent, Fu Jingyan remained patient and gently prompted him with another question.

Zhu Zhan nodded.

“Little Ling likely wouldn’t say much; she is very guarded around us.” Fu Jingyan doubted Zhu Zhan could glean any useful information. Bai Ling clearly only trusted Xuan Yiqing, so even if Xuan Yiqing hid something from them, Fu Jingyan never considered exposing her. They were all living together on this island, and eventually, they would learn what needed to be known.

Zhu Zhan nodded again.

“So what’s bothering you then? Surely not like Little Zuo and Little You said, encountering some wild beast?” Fu Jingyan joked.

Zhu Zhan continued clutching his head, taking deep breaths before mumbling, “I… I think Bai Ling’s words might be true.”

He could indeed be a creep, and thus… it would be entirely normal for Bai Ling to be guarded around him.

“Her words?” Fu Jingyan prompted, but Zhu Zhan remained silent, saying nothing more.

A thoughtful expression flickered across Fu Jingyan’s eyes. The content Bai Ling revealed boiled down to two points: one was their current predicament caused by the accident, and the other was the harm they had inflicted upon her…

If Zhu Zhan believed Bai Ling didn’t lie, could it mean he truly did something…

Fu Jingyan dared not dwell on those thoughts. In such an environment, even he couldn’t guarantee maintaining perpetual clarity and composure. His only focus should be facing the upcoming challenges with positivity and calmness.

After a busy day, these pampered young masters gathered hurriedly as dusk approached. They managed to collect large leaves from the dense forest, laying them on the ground for makeshift bedding. Venturing deeper into the jungle was still too risky, so tonight they would have to make do sleeping outdoors while planning a simple course of action for the days ahead.

With Zhu Zhan’s lighter, they managed to ignite some dry branches. Thankfully, his waterproof lighter remained functional even after being submerged and briefly dried out by the sea.

The presence of fire brought a sense of reassurance to everyone.

The youths gathered their salvaged items from the plane wreckage, huddling around the bonfire to warm their chilled bodies. However, their minds were far from calm, as they frequently glanced around. One of the twins asked, “Why haven’t Elder Sister Bai and Xuan yet returned?”

Zhu Zhan couldn’t sit still any longer; he feared that his earlier actions might have frightened away Bai Ling. With nightfall approaching, who knew what dangers lurked on this deserted island? If she was alone outside, anything could happen!

“I’ll go find them!” Zhu Zhan started to rise, but Fu Jingyan stopped him.

“Don’t wander off recklessly. We’ve lit this bonfire, so they should be able to see it,” Fu Jingyan said. “Xuan Yiqing will bring Little Ling back.”

Just as Fu Jingyan finished speaking, footsteps approached from the distance.

Xuan Yiqing, supporting Bai Ling by her arm, emerged from the woods. Panting heavily from exhaustion, she dared not let go of Bai Ling, as the latter held significant value for now. Until she extracted the desired information, Xuan Yiqing needed to ensure the young lady’s well-being.

Tong Ling leaned heavily on Xuan Yiqing, observing the protagonist’s strained appearance and internally sighing, “What a remarkable girl—enduring hardships with unwavering strength and determination. Even I can’t help but admire her.”

[M577: … ]

It was becoming clear to m577 that its host deliberately sought to torment others. Strangely enough, this behavior aligned perfectly with the parasitic vine-like female supporting character’s persona; her actions did not disrupt the plot at all.

“What happened to Elder Sister Bai?” Upon seeing Bai Ling’s condition, the twins immediately asked.

“When I found Lingling, she was lying in the woods, unable to move from exhaustion.” Xuan Yiqing guided Bai Ling gently to an empty spot where they sat down.

Zhu Zhan fell silent, instantly recalling how Bai Ling had collapsed weakly before he left. Could it be that after he departed…she simply didn’t have the strength to move? How could he have rushed off without even checking on her condition?

This time, Zhu Zhan felt more than just guilt and shame; he experienced deep regret and self-reproach. If not for the presence of others, he would have eagerly rushed to Bai Ling’s side to personally see how she fared.

Fu Jingyan observed Zhu Zhan’s conflicted expression, reluctant to think ill of him but unable to ignore Zhu Zhan’s behavior. He discreetly assessed Bai Ling’s condition through the firelight. The girl quietly leaned against Xuan Yiqing, her dress crumpled and showing signs of damage. Perhaps it was his imagination, but her lips seemed significantly redder and swollen compared to before, while her face appeared even paler…

“Is Elder Sister Bai feeling unwell?” Duan Jiaze asked with concern.

“If you’re not feeling good, please tell us,” echoed Duan Jiayou, equally anxious.

“We may not be able to do much, but at least we can try to cheer you up!” Even amidst this situation, the twins aimed to lighten the atmosphere.

Tong Ling glanced at them, then under Xuan Yiqing’s encouraging gaze, softly replied, “I’m alright.”

This marked the first time since the plane crash that Tong Ling had interacted with others like any ordinary person. The twins immediately patted their chests, visibly relieved:

“That’s great! Elder Sister Bai isn’t ignoring us!”

“We thought maybe we did something wrong and upset you!”

Tong Ling shook her head. Her demeanor seemed fine, but there was still a hint of evasion in her eyes. ”…No.”

Regardless of what had occurred before, now that everyone was sitting together, they could finally properly discuss their predicament.

As the de facto leader, Fu Jingyan spoke first. “This accident means we need to find ways to survive on this deserted island. We can’t contact the outside world, and we don’t know when people out there might discover us. Therefore, from now on, everyone must work together and support each other. I assume no one has any issues with this?”

The twins were the first to respond enthusiastically, “No problem!”

Immediately after them, Xuan Yiqing nodded solemnly, saying, “I’ll do my best to cooperate with everyone!”

Fu Jingyan’s gaze swept over Zhu Zhan, who appeared dazed, waiting for him to express his stance.

Zhu Zhan hastily replied, “I will also try my best to help.”

Lastly, Tong Ling leaned close to Xuan Yiqing and softly murmured, ”…I may not be able to assist much.”

“That’s alright.” Xuan Yiqing held Tong Ling’s hand, her smile warm and comforting. “For Little Ling’s part, I’ll take care of it.”

Tong Ling returned the grip, her eyes welling up with emotion as she said, “Qingqing…”

Watching Tong Ling retreat back into Xuan Yiqing’s embrace, Zhu Zhan unexpectedly felt a subtle twinge of jealousy. Realizing what he was thinking, he hastily suppressed this strange emotion.

“The food and items we salvaged are this pile right here.” Fu Jingyan gestured towards the objects before them and sighed softly, “There isn’t much, but at least it can sustain us for some time.”

Everyone lowered their heads, feeling deeply disheartened.

“If everyone trusts me, these resources will temporarily be under my custody. Each day, I’ll distribute the food reasonably, aiming to minimize unnecessary waste,” Fu Jingyan explained. “Otherwise, with people constantly taking food, our supplies would quickly run out.”

Fu Jingyan’s reasoning made sense, and no one voiced any objections.

“Today has been tough for all of us. Let me first distribute tonight’s food to everyone. After eating, you can have a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow morning, I’ll assign further tasks,” Fu Jingyan said as he handed out portions of food to each person. The boys who contributed more effort received slightly larger servings, which also met no objections.

Tong Ling received a small piece of bread, still soft and fluffy. She finished it within a few bites, followed by being given a portion of water.

Tong Ling’s situation differed from the others; she already had a small bottle of mineral water. Unlike the rest who drank directly from leaves, she stored the water Fu Jingyan poured into her bottle. This could be considered her exclusive privilege.

Fu Jingyan also handed her a tube of ointment, instructing her to apply it on her wrists. Tong Ling quietly murmured a “thank you” in response.

Xuan Yiqing distributed the Mosquito-repelling Grass obtained from Tong Ling among everyone and explained its purpose. This earned unanimous gratitude from the group, boosting her sense of accomplishment significantly, reflected by a brighter smile on her face.

In the wild forest, mosquito infestations were inevitable. Xuan Yiqing’s thoughtful gesture proved quite effective in winning favor.

“Sis Xuan knows about these plants too?” Duan Jiaze exclaimed, amazed. “I was only focused on gathering branches, I hadn’t even thought about finding such things!”

Duan Jiayou praised her, “Sis Xuan is truly impressive! Little Zuo and I don’t have much knowledge about wilderness survival, so we’ll definitely rely on Sis Xuan from now on!”

Xuan Yiqing sneakily glanced at Tong Ling, noticing that she remained silent. With a smile, she modestly accepted the compliment, saying, “It’s just some minor skills, no big deal.”

Zhu Zhan couldn’t help but furrow his brow slightly, but seeing that even Fu Jingyan commended Xuan Yiqing, he joined in with the general agreement.

After their conversation, they lay down amidst the open woodland and soon drifted off to sleep.

Only Fu Jingyan remained sitting by the fire, keeping watch while carefully pondering his future plans.

Naturally, Tong Ling didn’t fall asleep either. She released her arms from around the protagonist’s waist, slowly rose, and draped Fu Jingyan’s jacket over herself. Like a wraith, she approached Fu Jingyan.

Fu Jingyan had been aware of the girl’s movements since hearing the rustle as Bai Ling got up. Seeing her come before him, he felt somewhat surprised. He thought Bai Ling wouldn’t willingly interact with him anymore—did that tube of ointment make her lower her guard?

However, the girl’s subsequent action left him even more perplexed.

He watched as the girl lifted her hand and took hold of his palm. Her pinky finger lightly grazed his palm, creating a tingling sensation, and amid this, he heard her barely audible whisper:

“Come here.”

For some inexplicable reason, Fu Jingyan followed her lead. They avoided the area where everyone else was resting and ventured towards the sandy beach.

Before Fu Jingyan could inquire why Bai Ling sought him out, the girl suddenly embraced him, then tiptoed…

A spontaneous kiss landed on his lips.