She slumped against a nearby tree, resigned: “007, what’s the mission?” 

007’s voice was rapid: 【Reporting to the host, the mission is to save the male lead, Pei Zhiheng, and prevent him from meeting his original book ending. At the same time, please maintain the original character setting, don’t OOC, okay?】 

Suddenly remembering something, Lin Suisui asked expectantly, “007, what about my cheat? What is it?” 

A bad start was one thing, but they should at least give her a cheat, right? 

【The system has a built-in medical kit and attack and defense functions. They unlock once every three days. The host can use them as needed.】 

The original owner was a concubine daughter of the Xiangfu (Minister’s Mansion), with a soft and unloved personality. She also had an older sister who constantly clashed with her. Fortunately, the Lin family’s pharmacy was large and prosperous, so she had lived a comfortable life for over ten years. 

If things had continued like that, it would have been peaceful enough. But then, the original owner inexplicably and irrevocably fell in love with Yin Manlin, who was dressed as a man. When the female lead revealed her true gender, the original owner embarked on a path of self-destruction, trying to frame her, and ultimately killing herself in the process. 

Lin Suisui pushed herself up from the ground, feeling rather disheartened. 

Other people who transmigrated into books usually went in to (conquer/romance) the characters in the book, completing missions while having a romance. She, however, had become a background female supporting character with minimal screen time, and she had to save the hopelessly lovesick male lead. She didn’t know this place at all, where was she supposed to find… Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes nearby, causing her thoughts to pause. 

Lin Suisui swallowed, slowly lifting her foot to avoid making too much noise. She crouched down, her knuckles turning white from the tension as she gripped the bushes. 

Whatever, might as well die. Coming to this hellhole wasn’t any better than being dead. Closing her eyes and steeling herself, she forcefully pushed aside the bushes obscuring her view. 

A young man lay on the ground, covered in blood, his eyes closed. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a more poignant light on his face. 

Lin Suisui got up, brushed off her clothes and prepared to leave. No matter how miserable he looked, based on her years of reading novels, she knew never to pick up a man you find outside. Then she heard 007’s cheerful prompt: 

“Congratulations, host, you’ve found the key character, Pei Zhiheng.” 

She turned around and went back to the bushes. 

Lin Suisui knelt beside the young man, carefully lifting him onto her back. She whispered, “007, activate the pathfinding function.” 

007 emitted a golden light: “Beginning scan… Detecting an uninhabited wooden house two kilometers to the southeast. Safety level is relatively high.” 

Seriously? Whose male lead starts out this miserable, without even a bit of protagonist halo? Lin Suisui thought as she walked, carrying him, the moon diligently following them as if afraid she wouldn’t be able to see. 

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the outline of a house gradually appeared. Lin Suisui pushed open the door and turned on the system’s built-in light function. She carefully placed Pei Zhiheng on a haystack, avoiding his wounds, only then realizing the aching pain in her legs. 

Lin Suisui examined the interior of the hut, finding the doors and windows intact, although the floor was covered in a thick layer of dust from long disuse. Lin Suisui found some broken tree trunks to prop against the doors and windows, ensuring that even wild animals couldn’t easily break in, before finally feeling relieved. 

“How did you get so injured?” she leaned down, looking at the numerous wounds on his body, frowning. 

Luckily, the system’s medical kit contained relatively complete modern medicines. She took out the kit and treated his wounds. Seeing that he still had a pulse, she finally felt relieved. 

After treating Pei Zhiheng’s wounds, Lin Suisui didn’t dare to sleep, afraid that he would die if she wasn’t careful. She didn’t want to be stuck in this world forever. 

—— 

The sound of horses’ hooves was deafening, shaking the earth. The sharp clash of swords echoed, mixed with cries and screams, and a strong smell of blood filled the air. 

“Your Highness, go! We’ll hold them off!” 

The young man wiped the blood from his face, hesitating as he looked at the soldiers around him, disarmed but still fighting desperately. 

Behind him, the bright banner slowly fell, covered in muddy earth. 

In a daze, someone pushed him. He heard the person shout in a hoarse voice: “Your Highness, you are the nation’s only hope. Even if the city falls, as long as you live, there will be a day of revival.” 

He only remembered that before he could move, a projectile exploded above his head. 

“No… don’t…” Pei Zhiheng suddenly opened his eyes. He didn’t see the expected scene of blood everywhere. He hesitantly looked around, wondering if he was already dead, then his gaze stopped on the girl not far away. 

Lin Suisui didn’t know how she fell asleep. She vaguely heard some noises, and slightly opened her eyelids, only to see a cold dagger pointed at her nose. 

“What are you doing?!” Lin Suisui rolled back, startled. “I saved you, you know? Last night, carrying you here almost killed me! Not knowing gratitude is one thing, but pointing a knife at me? What’s the meaning of this?” 

Seeing a hint of confusion in the young man’s eyes, Lin Suisui quickly pressed down on his hand: “Let’s talk, don’t resort to violence.” 

Pei Zhiheng frowned: “You saved me? You’re not from Beiping?” 

Lin Suisui carefully pulled the knife from his hand: “If I were, you’d be missing a kidney right now. Do you think you could be questioning me like this now?” 

Looking at his bandaged wounds, Pei Zhiheng tentatively believed she wouldn’t do anything to threaten him, but he still grabbed her wrist and asked, “Why did you save me?” 

His grip was strong, turning her wrist red and painful. Lin Suisui was a little annoyed: “Because you’re handsome, okay? I’m a face-chaser, I like picking up handsome guys on the street. Let go of me, I’m going to find something to eat, I’m hungry, even if you aren’t.” 

Lin Suisui broke free from his grasp and stumbled out. Not far away, she heard the sound of footsteps, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. Turning her head, she saw Pei Zhiheng following her, his injured leg making his steps unsteady. 

“Injured people should rest. Don’t worry, I’m generous, I’ll share whatever food I find with you,” Lin Suisui shouted back at him.