Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: The World of the Novel

Chapter 118

After much deliberation, everyone failed to come up with any effective solution, leaving them somewhat disheartened.

Yet Mei was in no hurry; after all, she still had time. The planet was only so big—if she searched slowly and methodically, she would surely find what she sought.

Moreover, after the incident at the Snow Mountain Laboratory, Mei believed it was more likely that the remaining fragments were in the hands of some research institution rather than scattered in the wilderness. She could use computers to gradually sift through the possibilities.

Although the civilian internet had long since collapsed, leaving only a few major nations’ proprietary networks operational, the chance of finding useful information was slim but not impossible.

Having finished their discussion, the group naturally moved on to celebrating Mei’s recovery with a hearty feast.

At the mention of food, Mei immediately cast aside all other thoughts. She hadn’t had a proper meal in ages, especially her beloved meats. During these past months of illness, she hadn’t dared touch them. Her weakened stomach simply couldn’t digest them. At first, she managed to drink some broth, but later not even that was possible—only plain rice porridge.

The deprivation had truly been agonizing.

To celebrate, An Ziyou took charge as head chef, with others assisting, preparing a table laden with delicacies: sizzling grilled meat, Kung Pao chicken, fried meatballs, sweet and sour fish, braised chicken chunks, eight-treasure duck—just looking at the spread made Mei’s eyes gleam with delight.

Mo Chen and Ye Jingxuan sat beside her, frequently offering her meat while only nibbling a little themselves, as if their satisfaction came merely from watching her eat.

“Yuan sister, why aren’t you eating? Not feeling well?” Though happily indulging in her meal, Mei did not forget to check on the others. She noticed Qu Wanyuan had only forced down a few bites before setting her chopsticks down, lost in thought, and asked with concern.

Others also glanced at Qu Wanyuan, sensing from the moment she had arrived that she seemed distracted, her mind elsewhere.

“I’m fine! Just a bit off my appetite. Mei, you’ve been ill so long; you should eat well and replenish yourself,” Qu Wanyuan replied, forcing a smile.

Mei thought back to a question Qu Wanyuan had asked earlier, and then to her reaction afterward, and a rough understanding took shape in her mind.

“Yuan sister, are you still thinking about crossing between dimensions? Do you have a particular world in mind?” Mei asked gently.

Qu Wanyuan hesitated but eventually nodded slightly.

“Then is there some connection between you and that dimension? Any kind of connection will do. Take me, for example—I want to find the thing that helped me grow up. Because it exists in this world, I came here. Without any connection, you would just get lost in the spatial storm, unsure where you might end up,” Mei continued.

Qu Wanyuan remained silent, but her eyes revealed that indeed, some bond tied her to the world she wished to reach.

Seeing this, Mei did not press her to speak but went on: “Besides such a connection, great strength is indispensable. To be frank, with your current power, even if Xiao Sa opened a gate to another world for you, you couldn’t pass through. The temporal chaos would tear you to shreds.”

“But before coming here, I was just an ordinary person!” Qu Wanyuan’s frustration broke free as she retorted, unable to suppress her irritability upon hearing Mei say she could not return.

Once spoken, she regretted it immediately, but it was too late—all had heard.

Mo Chen and the others exchanged glances, speechless.

What was going on?

How was it that one after another had come from other worlds?

At this rate, would they one day suddenly be crossed over by someone else?

“Yuan sister, how did you come to this world? Could you tell us?” Mei asked calmly, showing no surprise.

The only other calm figure was Shirel, who had not uttered a word the entire time, quietly eating as if all this were none of his concern, merely an indifferent observer.

Qu Wanyuan, seeing that the truth was out, stopped hiding and spoke plainly: “I don’t know how I arrived here. I was sleeping at home, and when I woke up, somehow I was inside this body.”

“There’s such a thing? Do you know where the original soul of this body went?” Mei’s eyes widened in astonishment. This mode of crossing was beyond her understanding, quite perplexing.

“I don’t know!” Qu Wanyuan shook her head.

“I see. Then is your prophetic ability something you originally had, or is it inherent to this body?” Mei asked, pondering further.

Qu Wanyuan’s body stiffened at the question. She lowered her head and after a long pause said, “I don’t have any prophetic abilities.”

“Eh?” Mei showed a look of surprise.

The others exchanged bewildered glances. What was once surprising had now become confusion.

No prophetic ability?

Then what were those things she said before? Were they just guesses?

That was absurd.

Qu Wanyuan bit her lip and finally decided to reveal the truth. Only then might Mei be able to help her.

She wanted to go home; even if there was only the slightest chance, she had to try.

“The reason I knew those things is because, before coming to this world, I read a story about the apocalypse. Those were just plot details from that story.”

“You mean this world is merely a story? And we are just characters within it?” Ye Jingxuan asked quietly, his tone calm but suffused with a subtle weight.

“I don’t know! I only know that although you are mentioned in the story, your experiences there differ greatly from reality. If it weren’t for some unchanged plot points, I wouldn’t even be sure this is truly the world I saw,” Qu Wanyuan explained urgently.

Hearing her explanation, Ye Jingxuan fell silent, and so did the others.

“Could you tell us the general plot of that book?” After a long pause, Mo Chen asked.

“Oh, okay!” Qu Wanyuan blinked, then collected her thoughts and began slowly.

“Though the story is from the female lead’s perspective, it starts with the male lead. The apocalypse suddenly swept the world, turning most humans into zombies overnight. The male lead was from Q City and, due to certain circumstances, was stuck there before it began. When the apocalypse struck, he awakened his supernatural powers first and, with a few people he met on the road, planned to head to the Changyang Base not far from Q City.

“On the way, they faced a heavy rainstorm. Someone in their group touched the rainwater and turned into a zombie. Then, mutated plants blocked their path, affected by the rain. Most of the team died; only the male lead and another power user survived by chance. But the male lead was gravely injured in the fight, close to death.

“At that moment, the female lead appeared. Kind-hearted by nature, she used her healing abilities to save him. Since they both aimed for Changyang Base, they teamed up again.

“Along the way, the male lead grew attracted to her innocence and kindness. After arriving at the base, she saved an important relative of his. From then on, he cherished and protected her. Together, they built the country’s largest base, one even Dragonrise could not rival. They undertook missions everywhere, helping many, who later became their most loyal supporters.

“In one mission, they encountered the second male lead. He was instantly captivated by the female lead and vowed to make her love him. Though he didn’t stay by her side, he would always appear to tease her, his greatest pleasure.

“The second male lead was as strong as the male lead. Many times when the male and female leads were in danger, he helped them escape.

“In the end, the female lead contributed the sacred water from her realm to develop an antidote for the zombie virus, becoming humanity’s greatest savior. She and the male lead then lived happily ever after.

“That’s roughly how it goes.”

Though Qu Wanyuan spoke simply and never named anyone, from the experiences and personalities of those present, it was not hard to guess who the male lead, the second male lead, and the female lead were.

From her account, it was clear that since Ye Jingxuan and the others had changed course to the Yuehua Base, their experiences had diverged further and further from the story’s plot. After hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief—because all their actions were their own, not arranged by others.

“Was Mei not in that story at all?” Ye Jingxuan asked, feeling unsettled at the thought of himself loving someone else.

“No! The story never mentioned anyone like Mei. I always wondered why Mei, so strong and close to Brother Mo, never appeared. Later, when I learned she had died once, I guessed maybe in that world Mei never revived, so she never showed up,” Qu Wanyuan replied.

“In other words, she’s the biggest wildcard in this world, right?” Mo Chen asked.

Qu Wanyuan hesitated, then nodded slightly: “That should be the case.”

Mei was puzzled and troubled. “What does that have to do with me? Even without me, the world wouldn’t necessarily follow the original path. Ever since you changed course to Yuehua Base, everything’s been different. If everything changed because of me, then wouldn’t Aye and Achen’s spouses not exist because of me?”

Just a few words, and the group couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Looking at Mei’s troubled expression, Ye Jingxuan’s face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a trace of helplessness.

When would this little scatterbrain finally come to her senses?

Mo Chen, grinding his teeth, said, “Yeah, it’s all because of you. So how do you plan to make it up to me?”

“How do you want me to make it up to you?” Mei asked, utterly distressed.

How was she supposed to know how to compensate for this?

“Maybe you could—”

“Cough cough!”

Before Mo Chen could finish, a cough interrupted him.

He looked up, only to receive a warning glance from Shirel.

(To be continued.)