Xu Shiyue's words came suddenly, swiftly and decisively, as did her actions.
Before Lu Shizhen could react, her body, which had lost the ability to react, was pulled into a strong embrace.
The whistling wind rushed in and kept brushing past Lu Shizhen's ears. In the midst of the chaos, she heard Xu Shiyue whisper calmly in her ear, "I won't let anything happen to you, don't be afraid."
Lu Shizhen had always believed in Xu Shiyue's promises without question.
The open car door connected the enclosed space to the outside, and she was thus embraced by this slender yet reassuring embrace, rolling out of the car that was about to collide with the truck.
The world churned in Lu Shizhen's vision, and the scene inside the car was completely covered by the influx of green, with blue and green blending together.
The loss of bodily sensation meant she couldn't feel any pain; the inertia of rolling off the car simply caused her body to tumble and roll for a while.
Perhaps her bad luck far exceeded Xu Shiyue's protagonist aura at this moment, because her originally smooth tumble suddenly accelerated and plummeted downwards.
The shimmering waves added to Lu Shizhen's chaotic and disordered vision, and the inertia that had not yet subsided pushed them down the slope connecting to the moat.
In spring, tender green grass covers the hillside, and the lush greenery is like a soft carpet.
But if people don't actually walk up there, they won't know that this seemingly harmless grassy slope hides many hidden weapons.
The stone didn't move, and was simply run over by a person's body, causing Lu Shizhen to clearly feel her body tremble.
She knew this would hurt her, but the loss of control over her body prevented her from feeling pain.
Pain is a form of self-defense response, but being unable to perceive it is a terrifying and dangerous thing.
However, unlike the last time she fell into the water, Lu Shizhen was not frightened by the terror this time.
It wasn't because of numbness that prevented her from feeling pain, but because she was constantly enveloped in that thin embrace.
Xu Shiyue was protecting her.
Legs crossed and stacked together, skirts fluttering, every bone in her body crushing the grass, squeezing out a fresh, youthful scent.
Like a glimmer of light that brings clarity amidst confusion, combined with Xu Shiyue's scent, it was all swept up by the chaotic wind and filled Lu Shizhen's nostrils.
Despite her blurred vision, Lu Shizhen knew that Xu Shiyue was there.
He completely protected himself when he was at his most helpless and helpless.
A hand with well-defined bones pressed down on slightly long hair, cool yet strong, and caressed the most vulnerable part of the neck.
Lu Shizhen still remembered the last time they tumbled down the stairs, she also protected Xu Shiyue's head...
But now...
Lu Shizhen could sense Xu Shiyue's bracelet behind her, tightly embracing her.
But because she had lost control of her body, she could only hang her arms, like a doll.
The doll is much better than her.
At least it can be used by Xu Shiyue without any scruples to block the impact.
A sense of powerlessness welled up in Lu Shizhen's heart.
The pebbles didn't just rub against her body unilaterally; Xu Shiyue suffered no less than herself, and perhaps even more because of her.
Lu Shizhen struggled, feeling powerless like a ferocious beast bound by chains, wildly ramming into her body.
In a daze, a sturdy willow tree came into her view.
The slender willow branches swayed in the wind, reflecting the ripples on the water, creating a serene and beautiful scene that concealed the rough, dark brown trunk that few would notice.
How could Xu Shiyue possibly bear the weight of such a robust and rugged tree?
No, you can't.
Even if she is the protagonist protected by the main system, it is still not allowed.
Lu Shizhen was held tightly in Xu Shiyue's arms. As the world spun around her, Xu Shiyue's slender body seemed to be embedded in her, and she drew its clear outline in her mind, stroke by stroke.
Even if he doesn't die from that, he'll be in so much pain that he won't be able to get out of bed for ten days or half a month.
Even in the original story filled with dramatic motorcycle chases, Xu Shiyue had never experienced anything like this.
This desire to rebel accumulated more and more within Lu Shizhen.
She desperately tried to move her body, even if it was just to raise her hand to protect Xu Shiyue.
The binding chains rattled wildly in the churning world, and Lu Shizhen clearly felt a sharp, needle-like pain shooting through her heart.
This pain was even worse than when she confessed to Qiuqiu that she liked Xu Shiyue, forcing her to abandon her rebellious feelings against the main system's commands.
But it's no use.
Even with a thousand arrows piercing her heart, Lu Shizhen still wanted to protect Xu Shiyue.
None of them are puppets controlled by the main system.
What makes humans human is that they are fully capable of controlling their own destiny.
Lu Shizhen desperately tried to break free from the restraints that bound her.
Pebbles and clods of earth kept rubbing against her body, and her blood stained the grass.
Just a second before they were about to crash into the willow tree, Lu Shizhen raised her hand and hugged Xu Shiyue tightly.
"Bang!"
The human body, fragile as it was, crashed into the tree with a dull thud, and this time Lu Shizhen felt pain.
It wasn't a direct pain, but rather a back slamming straight into a tree, the violent vibrations from my bones seemed to shake my internal organs as well.
For a moment, Lu Shizhen's brows furrowed in pain.
She really wanted to complain about those comic book artists, including herself. How come other protagonists can roll down and hit something and immediately get up to fight, swinging their swords and continuing to clash with the boss, but when it's her turn, she's in so much pain that she can't even stand up?
Is this a case of the two-dimensional world not being under Newton's jurisdiction?
"Lu Shizhen! Are you crazy?!"
In an instant, Xu Shiyue's voice rang in Lu Shizhen's ears.
Her voice trembled violently, her usual calm completely suppressed by this exclamation, which even carried a hint of uncontrollable anger.
Lu Shizhen was genuinely startled by Xu Shiyue's voice.
She barely managed to look up at the person she was protecting, and half-jokingly pulled her closer to her, pleading, "You bumped into me and it hurt so much, don't be so mean."
"So you do feel pain after all?" Xu Shiyue asked in Lu Shizhen's arms, her voice trembling slightly for some reason.
Lu Shizhen lowered her head blankly, only to see that Xu Shiyue's eyes were completely red.
All composure, aloofness, and the haughty indifference of the Xu Group's owner vanished, replaced by lingering fear beneath his eyes, which had been forced to remain calm.
The rumors that Xu Shiyue was once so ruthless and decisive, bringing down her sword with a swift stroke, now reveal just how vulnerable and fragile she is.
Her messy curly hair lay across her face, the resilient strands cutting through her eyes, each strand a fragment of brokenness.
Because of her carelessness, she had already lost this person once.
She cannot allow a second time, nor can she afford a second time.
This was a side of Xu Shiyue that Lu Shizhen had never seen before, and it immediately made her panic.
In a flurry of activity, she patted Xu Shiyue's back haphazardly, apologizing repeatedly and explaining, "Xu Shiyue, I was wrong, I was just lying to you. I'm not in pain, really, not at all, I was just kidding."
"Don't be like this, I'm actually quite happy." Lu Shizhen endured the pain, her voice gentler than ever before, "You saw how you protected me just now, so I'm protecting you now, right?"
Xu Shiyue, however, retorted, "I won't get into any trouble, don't you know that?"
Lu Shizhen didn't understand the meaning behind Xu Shiyue's words, or perhaps she didn't even think about it that way. She just assumed that Xu Shiyue was heartbroken and said half-jokingly, "What are you talking about? Aren't you human?"
"I'm really fine, you can put it down..."
As Lu Shizhen spoke, a comforting and reassuring smile appeared on her face.
Then, quite suddenly, she smelled something in the wind that smelled like rusty iron.
It's blood...
Lu Shizhen immediately tensed up and looked at Xu Shiyue in front of her, and hurriedly asked, "Xu Shiyue, what happened? I smell blood. Do you have any wounds?"
Xu Shiyue suppressed the emotions surging in her eyes, raised her hand, and wiped Lu Shizhen's forehead: "It's you."
The bright red blood stained Xu Shiyue's fair fingers, the red and white contrasting together, dazzlingly bright in the sunlight.
Lu Shizhen was stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing that something had indeed flowed down her forehead, but she still didn't have control over her body, so she couldn't sense it.
No wonder Xu Shiyue reacted that way just now.
After a pause, Lu Shizhen's gaze became somewhat evasive.
She casually concealed the fact that she hadn't reacted in time, raising her hand to wipe the blood from her forehead. "Oh, it really is me."
The sunlight had no idea how much effort Lu Shizhen put into raising her hand; it only shone on the smile on her face.
As brilliant as ever, as pure as ever.
Pure is the most inescapable thing in the world.
Xu Shiyue looked at the smile on the person in front of her, suppressed her emotions, stood up from the ground, and said, "Come on, move your body first, let me check if you have any..."
Just as Xu Shiyue was about to help Lu Shizhen up to check on her condition, Lu Shizhen stopped her.
She looked into Lu Shizhen's earnest gaze, and heard his gentle yet solemn voice in her ear: "Xu Shiyue, don't be afraid of what I'm about to tell you."
Upon hearing this, Xu Shiyue immediately stopped what she was doing: "Go ahead and say it."
"I can't move for the time being, I can't stand up, and it's very difficult for me to sit like this." Lu Shizhen looked at Xu Shiyue with a helpless look in her eyes.
Lu Shizhen thought a long time had passed since she climbed down the hillside, but in reality, only two minutes had passed in the system countdown.
She couldn't just chat idly with Xu Shiyue for eight minutes; she'd eventually give herself away.
She had no choice but to confess.
Later, Lu Shizhen recalled the events of that day many times, but she didn't want to remember the feelings she had when she confessed.
This feeling of powerlessness, this feeling of not wanting to worry the other person but having to be honest with her and make her worry, is like tearing open a hole and exposing yourself to the other person.
It was described as a frank confession, but in reality, it was done in a great hurry.
Lu Shizhen avoided mentioning her temporary physical disability, and was also afraid that Xu Shiyue would tear up again like before. She then changed the subject to another store, and easily and earnestly repeated her explanation to Xu Shiyue: "But I don't hurt, really."
"I'm not lying, it doesn't hurt at all. This feeling is temporary, like being numb. It'll be fine in a bit, really. You don't need to..."
"Do you know that it's because of you that I'm even more scared?"
Lu Shizhen was interrupted by Xu Shiyue before she could finish speaking.
She stared at her intently, her deep eyes filled with emotions that Lu Shizhen couldn't decipher.
Just like the sound of her saying those words.
It was crystal clear, yet it sounded like a murmured soliloquy, as if facing an abyss.
Lu Shizhen suddenly didn't know what to say to ease the atmosphere she had created. Just as she looked down, a hand brushed past her ear.
Xu Shiyue reached out and carefully tucked the messy strands of hair from the side of her face behind her ear.
The cool hand brushed against her cheek, the fingertips gently touching her face: "Then don't move, I'll help you keep it a secret from them."
After saying that, Xu Shiyue looked at Li and the others who were rushing over from a distance, walked towards them, and waved to them.
Xu Shiyue's promises always put Lu Shizhen at ease.
But Lu Shizhen felt that Xu Shiyue's reaction was too calm.
However, this calmness was not due to a lack of concern for herself, but rather because she believed or knew that the physical condition she had vaguely confessed to her was not caused by rolling down the hillside, and that she would recover soon.
How could that be...
Lu Shizhen paused for a moment, staring at the thin figure standing amidst the vast greenery.
He watched her turn around and walk quickly toward him, and watched her squat down beside him again.
After giving instructions to Li and the others, Xu Shiyue returned to Lu Shizhen's side and placed her slightly cool hand on the back of Lu Shizhen's hand.
Just as she was about to say something, her hand, which had been resting on her, was immediately grabbed by the other person.
Those dark pupils swayed in her vision, reflecting the bright sunlight overhead, staring straight at her.
The girl's parched lips parted slightly as she softly asked, "Xu Shiyue, are you—"
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