Run the Plot Ch.26

Chapter 26: The Sixth Plotline

Qi He was still immersed in running his tests, completely unaware that something was off.

It wasn’t until he realized the entire table had gone quiet that he looked up.

He turned his head, meeting several pairs of eyes fixed on him. “Why did you all stop eating?”

Meng Yan held her breath, watching him cautiously. “…Can we still keep eating?”

Qi He: “?”

The system spoke in grave despair: [What nonsense are you spouting again?!]

Qi He paused for two seconds before realization dawned on him — …they were all thinking something dirty.

He explained to everyone, “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Mo Jiayan was quick to speak. “Don’t worry, we didn’t think that far.”

Ye Yi gave her a discreet kick under the table.

Across from them came the sound of someone drawing in a sharp breath — Yan Chuanbai seemed unable to listen any longer. He gave Qi He a deep look. “Qi He.”

Qi He turned toward him. “You’re overthinking too.”

Yan Chuanbai stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled faintly, his expression unreadable. “Maybe.”

Qi He: “?”

That ended the topic. The group went back to eating.

The atmosphere remained lively afterward, but their conversation had become oddly disjointed:

“These potatoes are pretty good.”

“Yeah, Meng Yan’s increased the yield by one and a half times.”

“A lot of new people have arrived at the base recently…”

“Right, everyone’s been working hard.”

Qi He: “…”

He sighed lightly and shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the tests for now, and picked up his chopsticks again.

…

After the meal, the whole table of people still hadn’t left.

Qi He was clearing the table while Meng Yan brought out a few pieces of candy, saying she’d make sugar water for everyone. She went around adding sugar into each cup.

Yan Chuanbai, for some reason, glanced at Qi He, then suddenly moved his cup aside. “I don’t need any.”

Meng Yan asked, “You don’t like sweets?”

Yan Chuanbai replied casually, “Mm.”

The system sensed a key element shifting:

[…Do you think Yan Chuanbai might have figured something out?]

“He’s not stupid.” Qi He gathered up the bowls and stood. “There are too many things about me that can’t be explained. I just don’t know how much he’s already guessed.”

If he wanted to dismantle the plotline, the more Yan Chuanbai knew, the better it would be for him.

He walked toward the counter, fell silent for a moment, and then said, “If I told him directly about the plot… what would happen?”

There was no response in his mind.

Then the interface suddenly turned red, an alert flashing across it—

[Collapse.]

[At best, you’ll disappear and someone else will take your place. At worst, it could destabilize the entire ‘world.’]

Qi He wasn’t surprised. “I figured as much.”

The alert sequence ended, and the system returned.

Still thinking about the warning, it felt vaguely displeased—

Why was Qi He’s disappearance considered the “small” outcome?

It reminded him sternly: [Don’t do anything reckless.]

“Relax. I know my limits.”

Qi He had reached the sink and set the bowls down.

A shadow appeared beside him.

Yan Chuanbai had come over with the remaining dishes. The two of them stood diagonally across from each other at the counter. Since Yan Chuanbai had washed dishes before, Qi He didn’t find it strange and let him help.

The clinking of porcelain mixed with the sound of running water and rising foam.

Qi He reached over to grab a plate from the adjacent sink. Their fingertips brushed as he did, and across from him came an unexpected question—

“What do you want to do to me?”

He looked up. Yan Chuanbai had just lifted his gaze toward him, eyes focused, a faint, easy smile tugging at his lips.

It felt like a deliberate test, one they both understood, yet there was something else beneath it—something indistinct, almost suggestive.

Qi He paused, then said regretfully, “Haven’t decided yet.”

Yan Chuanbai withdrew his gaze and said in an almost casual tone, “Whatever it is you want to do to me, you can…” He trailed off for a couple of seconds—perhaps an old memory surfacing—before adding, “…as long as we discuss it first.”

Qi He: “…”

He muttered to the system, “Doesn’t that sound like something a player would say?”

The system offered an objective critique: [Compared to your usual ‘not interested’ and ‘too lazy,’ that already sounds quite responsible.]

Qi He asked, “No matter what it is?”

A low hum of acknowledgment came from in front of him. “As long as you give me a heads-up first.” Yan Chuanbai met his eyes steadily. “Don’t make me improvise again.”

Qi He met that gaze head-on. “I’ll try.”

When the group dinner ended, everyone started to disperse.

Ye Yi, Mo Jiayan, and the others said their goodbyes one after another.

Qi He noticed Meng Yan lingering behind and suddenly called out, “I have something to talk to you about. Can you stay a bit longer?”

Meng Yan turned, a little surprised. “Hm? Sure.”

—

He left the matter in Meng Yan’s hands.

Qi He then returned to his usual routine: attending training classes, sparring to improve his skills, taking on missions.

That morning was his turn to teach. Yan Chuanbai was at military headquarters, while Guan Shangchun and Yu Tianxing were at the research institute.

Bang! The last trainee hit the ground.

Qi He adjusted his gloves and announced, “Class dismissed.”

He walked out of the training field, debating whether to take on a mission that afternoon or head to the S-rank training room, when a sharp alarm suddenly blared across the sky above the base—

“WEE-OOO—WEE-OOO—WEE-OOO—”

Each interval was two seconds apart — a Level II combat alert.

At the same time, a short message came through his communicator from Yan Chuanbai:

[Rendezvous.]

Qi He closed the comm and immediately headed toward the central area.

The base had already entered a state of full alert.

Large numbers of military personnel were rushing toward the outer wall. Qi He joined them at the intersection along the main avenue — Yan Chuanbai, Yu Tianxing, and Guan Shangchun were already there.

“What’s going on?”

“An incursion’s been detected.”

Yu Tianxing finished speaking, then turned to Guan Shangchun. Guan Shangchun gave Qi He a brief nod, eyes narrowing as he focused his spiritual energy outward. A sharp light flickered in his pupils.

“Something’s coming… about ten kilometers out.”

“Zombie horde?” Qi He asked.

Guan Shangchun frowned slightly. “Doesn’t seem like it.”

Yu Tianxing took a deep breath. “Our detection range doesn’t extend that far. Since Guan Shangchun sensed it, we’ll trust his judgment.”

Qi He nodded. “Alright.”

Yan Chuanbai had already mobilized the military to fortify the outer wall and ordered all ability users within ten kilometers to return to base immediately. As per their last arrangement, all A-rank ability users were required to be on the front line.

The group was moving toward the base gates when a low, tense voice suddenly said—

“…Wait. No.”

Qi He turned his head and saw Guan Shangchun stop dead in his tracks.

He stood still, eyes closed, spiritual power surging to its peak. A moment later, his eyes flew open as he exhaled sharply—

“It’s coming from underground.”

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat at once.

Qi He pressed his lips together — if that were true, then the high wall couldn’t serve as the first line of defense at all.

Once it was breached, the base would fall from within.

He had barely finished that thought when Yan Chuanbai picked up his communicator and issued new orders:

“Pull back half of the frontline forces. Evacuate civilians to secure zones.

B- and C-rank ability users will defend the inner base.

The army will hold the outer wall.

A-rank ability users — move out beyond the base to intercept.”

In moments, the defense lines were reorganized — split from one into three.

Two of them concentrated most of the firepower on the front, accounting for both surface and subterranean threats.

“Let’s head to the outer wall first.”

…

Fortunately, there was still some distance left — enough time to prepare.

But Guan Shangchun had turned into something like a live announcer, reporting every few minutes:

“Eight kilometers.”

“Seven.”

“Five kilometers remaining…”

The deputy stationed at the gate was practically trembling from the tension.

Qi He, noting that the creature’s pace seemed fairly steady, finally interrupted, “Only tell us if they start sprinting.”

Guan Shangchun: “…Got it.”

Yan Chuanbai glanced over, then told his subordinates to bring the vehicles around.

Qi He looked at him. “What are you planning?”

“Setting up another line of defense.”

Yan Chuanbai lowered his gaze toward the ground.

A moment later, a sheet of ice began to form beneath his feet, spreading outward like a massive web. Frost swept rapidly across the terrain, cold air seeping upward — freezing everything for miles, stretching all the way beyond the base perimeter.

Guan Shangchun sensed it immediately and turned to him. “You just froze five meters of soil beneath the surface.”

Yan Chuanbai replied evenly, almost offhand, “Mm.”

Qi He: “…System, is it just me, or is he showing off?”

The system was unconvinced: [With power like his, does he even need to show off?]

There wasn’t time to dwell on the strange deja vu before a vehicle pulled up close. “Colonel.”

“Call up ten A-rank ability squads. You and I will take the battlefield outside the base; the rest hold the interior.” Yan Chuanbai opened the car door, then said to Qi He, “It’s best to split the two S-rank combat types — you stay inside to guard the second line.”

Outside would obviously be more dangerous, but the interior was just as important.

Qi He was about to nod. “Okay—”

Beep! A familiar chime rang out.

At the same time a panel floated up in front of him: [Detected imminent change at the incident site. Key plotline activating.]

“?” Qi He.

He quickly shifted tack, creating some wiggle room: “Fine — I’ll stay inside.”

“…” Yan Chuanbai: “?”

Yan Chuanbai lowered his head and glanced at him. “Is there a problem?”

The plotline had begun without warning.

Lines of script rolled like live comments across Qi He’s view. With no prediction and no preparation his heart rate spiked:

『The base is invaded by mutated creatures; internal chaos erupts. You are powerless and panic, running to Yan Chuanbai for help. As the strongest combatant he must be on the front line.

So you force your way into the most dangerous place…』

Qi He was about to speak, but remembered his promise to Yan Chuanbai.

He said, “I’ll give you a heads-up first.”

Yan Chuanbai: “What?”

Qi He met his gaze. “I’m going to the most dangerous place.”

Yan Chuanbai: “…”

Everyone present: “…”

The script kept going:

『Annoyed by your clinginess, Yan Chuanbai tells you to leave at once. Seeing there are other S-ranks nearby, you threaten him: “If you don’t agree, I’ll go ask someone else!” 』

Yan Chuanbai seemed to think for two seconds.

Just as Yan Chuanbai was about to say something, Qi He cut him off.

“If you don’t agree, I’ll go ask someone else.”

The air seemed to freeze for a beat.

Guan Shangchun turned his head slightly; Yu Tianxing looked stunned. The deputy’s gaze flicked back and forth between them. Yan Chuanbai held himself back, his voice low and strained. “…What did you just say?”

At that moment, Guan Shangchun suddenly reported, “Two kilometers left.”

Qi He’s eyes flicked to the scrolling script, his expression darkening with a dangerous spark.

『Yan Chuanbai naturally ignores you. But your persistence is remarkable — as clingy as glue. You turn to the other two S-rank ability users present and force yourself onto one of them…』

No time to explain. Qi He strode quickly toward the driver’s seat, pressed a hand over the back of Yan Chuanbai’s hand, and said with absolute seriousness, “Hold the base.”

Then he climbed into the car, sizing up the two nearby.

With a single motion of gravitational pull, he yanked the still-stunned Guan Shangchun into the passenger seat — “snap!” — sticking him there.

“You’re in command.”

Guan Shangchun: “…”

Yan Chuanbai stared silently at him for a second, then turned and issued an order:

“Outside the base — follow Qi He’s command!”

Yu Tianxing, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled in relief.

Qi He suddenly turned to him. “And you—”

His heart jumped back up.

The script rolled into its final line:

『…and have the other S-rank ability user protect ▇▇▇▇』

Qi He yanked down the handbrake with a sharp click, no time to think further, and said offhandedly, “…then protect us, I guess.”

He slammed the accelerator, the vehicle roaring out of the base.

As exhaust drifted in their wake, Yu Tianxing stood there in a daze.

…Wait, am I really that useless?

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Author’s note:

Yu Tianxing: So I was the mascot all along?! 😭😭😭

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