I Don’t Want to Be the Heroine Anymore - Chapter 14

The neon-lit streets and the clamorous nightclub were as lively as broad daylight.

In the city that never sleeps, the streets were always bustling with people.

Mang Ke finally managed to park the car in a spot in front of the nightclub. She wasn’t a skilled driver, so she usually took public transport or hailed a cab. But today was a special case—she had no choice but to drive Xun Fangyun’s car out.

Luckily, there were plenty of cars in the garage, and Mang Ke picked one that felt familiar.

Inside the nightclub, the atmosphere was electric. A dazzling disco ball spun overhead, casting colorful dots of orange, yellow, red, and green onto the dance floor, blurring the faces of the men and women swaying to the music.

“Excuse me.”

Mang Ke stopped a waiter and asked, “I got a call to pick someone up. Is there a drunk woman here?”

“Oh, you must be the guest’s family,” the waiter said, pointing in a direction. “She’s over there.”

After thanking him, Mang Ke made her way through the crowd, which surged like a river, before finally reaching the innermost part of the club.

Here, away from the deafening shouts on the dance floor and the dizzying neon lights, people lounged on benches, chatting over drinks.

With a quick glance, Mang Ke spotted Xun Fangyun sitting in a corner. She was awake now, curled up with her head in her hands.

“What are you doing here?” Mang Ke hurried over, trying to check on her.

Perhaps the noise in the club was too loud—Xun Fangyun remained in the same position, her head buried, seemingly oblivious to Mang Ke’s call.

“Hey!”

Mang Ke raised her voice. “Let’s go home!”

“Home?”

Xun Fangyun lifted her head and looked at the girl before her. Mang Ke’s face was etched with worry, clearly concerned about her.

How laughable. She was being pitied by a fictional character.

Xun Fangyun curled her lips into a bitter smile and picked up the glass on the table, tilting her head back for a sip. But there was no alcohol left—only melted ice.

The cold water stung her throat and stomach, a stark contrast to the burning sensation of liquor, yet it still left her feeling unsettled.

“What’s the point of going back?” Xun Fangyun murmured. “There’s no escaping this fake world anywhere.”

Mang Ke strained her ears but couldn’t make out what Xun Fangyun was saying. Glancing around, she noticed how secluded this area was—some couples were even getting intimate, making her ears burn with embarrassment.

“Let’s go.” Regardless of Xun Fangyun’s state, Mang Ke just wanted to get her out of there.

After settling the tab at the bar, Mang Ke tightly gripped Xun Fangyun’s hand and led her out of the club.

The chilly night air brought a sliver of clarity to Xun Fangyun.

She watched as Mang Ke pulled her along but didn’t resist, letting herself be dragged around.

Once they reached a bench in the nearby park, Mang Ke sat her down, worried she might feel sick from the alcohol. Last time at the banquet, Xun Fangyun had thrown up all over herself—if she did the same in the car this time, they’d both be stranded on the streets.

Mang Ke pressed her onto the bench and cupped her face, examining her closely.

Only to see that although Xun Fangyun’s cheeks were flushed and she reeked of alcohol, her eyes were startlingly bright and black, proving that at least her consciousness was clear now.

“What are you doing here drinking for no good reason?”

Mang Ke was a little annoyed. If it weren’t for Xun Fangyun, she could have been eating the omelet rice Aunt Liu made for her by now!

Xun Fangyun’s burning cheeks felt the warmth of Mang Ke’s palm and couldn’t help but nuzzle against it like a cat.

“Because…”

Xun Fangyun hesitated for a moment before saying, “Because I feel helpless.”

Yue Yin’s words today made her realize that no matter how much she awakened here, no matter how much she complained in her heart, she was ultimately just a paper character, unable to escape this fake world.

She couldn’t go beyond the unscripted places in this book; her life would always be confined to this city.

What was the meaning of living?

Xun Fangyun closed her eyes. If she died now, maybe she could leave this world that had troubled her for over twenty years.

Anywhere would be fine, as long as it proved she was still alive, not just sitting here waiting for the plot to unfold.

For some reason, Mang Ke was moved by Xun Fangyun’s lost and helpless expression. Where was that spirited girl who had always bickered with her before?

How had she become so pitiful, like a little kitten who couldn’t find its way home?

“Did something happen to you?”

Mang Ke touched her forehead and comforted her, “If there’s something upsetting you, you can tell me. Although I might not be able to change anything, at least I can make you feel a little better.”

Xun Fangyun stared at her, realizing that Mang Ke seemed genuinely serious about helping her solve her problem.

But how could this problem even be solved?

Tell her this world is fake?

Tell her that we’re both just paper characters?

Absurd.

Ridiculous.

Xun Fangyun laughed. She reached out, grabbed Mang Ke’s wrist, and pulled her close.

Mang Ke was startled, stumbling forward and crashing right into Xun Fangyun’s arms!

“Mmm…”

Mang Ke felt her nose collide intimately with the other’s collarbone, followed by a sharp pain in her nasal bridge. Before she could react, she felt Xun Fangyun wrap her arms around her.

“You—!” Mang Ke covered her nose. What was wrong with this woman?

One moment she was fine, and the next, her mood just changed like that???

“Mang Ke.”

Xun Fangyun inhaled the scent of lime from the person in her arms and sighed softly, “Will you stay with me forever?”

Mang Ke blinked in confusion, a flurry of question marks popping up in her mind.

Xun Fangyun hugged Mang Ke’s waist and murmured, “This world is so lonely. I don’t belong here…”

I want to leave so badly.

Anywhere would be fine.

Anywhere is better than here.

Mang Ke thought Xun Fangyun must really be drunk. She felt her shoulder growing damp and could only open her arms to embrace Xun Fangyun’s shoulders, patting her back gently like comforting a child.

“Does holding me make you feel a little better?”

Mang Ke nuzzled her soft cheek against Xun Fangyun and whispered, “I heard physical contact can make people feel secure.”

Xun Fangyun remained silent.

Mang Ke added, “You need to get better soon. We still have a long time to spend together.”

Xun Fangyun: “…”

Damn this woman. How could her words be so charming?

Xun Fangyun closed her eyes, holding Mang Ke tightly. Who on earth taught her such alluring words?

Mang Ke held Xun Fangyun like that for over half an hour until she couldn’t hold back a big sneeze, and only then did the two get in the car to go home.

That night after returning home, Mang Ke developed a high fever. By the next morning when it was discovered, her whole body was flushed red.

Aunt Liu called a doctor, who administered an IV drip and prescribed several boxes of medicine before leaving with his equipment.

“How did she get sick just from going out last night?” Aunt Liu wondered aloud to Xun Fangyun as she cooked porridge downstairs. “What exactly were you two doing outside last night?”

Xun Fangyun pretended to read a magazine, her gaze drifting as she replied, “Nothing much, we just had some drinks and came back together.”

“Really?”

“…Of course it’s true.”

Aunt Liu looked skeptical but said nothing more. She ladled the finished porridge into a bowl, placed it on a tray, and prepared to take it upstairs.

“Wait.”

Xun Fangyun stood up from the sofa, somewhat awkwardly saying to Aunt Liu, “Let me take the porridge up.”

After all, she was the one who’d caused the fever—she had to take responsibility.