Chapter 1013: Stinky Writer
"Writer boy!"
Ever since leaving the "Preparation Area," Qiao Jiayin had stuck with Han Yimo. They had entered the rightmost room from the Preparation Area's perspective, and he wrapped an arm around Han Yimo's shoulder like they were the best of buddies.
"What's wrong...?" Han Yimo responded.
"Nothing." Qiao Jiayin grinned. "You just looked pretty scared to me."
"I-I'm not scared..." Han Yimo forced a bitter smile onto his pale face. "What makes you think I'm scared..."
Qiao Jiayin looked Han Yimo up and down, face full of unconcern. "Writer boy, you really do look nervous... How about we sing a song together to cheer each other up?"
Han Yimo took a few deep breaths and said, "How can you be in the mood to sing at a time like this? In a novel, a side character like you wouldn't last three episodes."
"Oh, really?" Qiao Jiayin chuckled. "I've always been a bit player. I don't mind when I die."
"You..."
Qiao Jiayin's words left Han Yimo speechless for a moment, but they also eased some of his tension.
"Look, let's be cautious and check our surroundings," Han Yimo said, steadying himself. "Didn't they say the people on the other side are about to attack?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Qiao Jiayin said. "No matter who comes, with me here, I'll just give 'em a few punches."
"You'd better keep your word." Han Yimo took a few steps forward and reached out to open the door in front of him.
It was fine until he opened it—but the moment their eyes met, both Han Yimo and Qiao Jiayin froze on the spot.
Standing in the room opposite was Wen Qiaoyun, curiously examining the "door" erected in the center.
None of them spoke. They just silently stared at each other.
"Hey..." Han Yimo turned his head and whispered, "Are you gonna punch her too?"
"Uh..." Qiao Jiayin swallowed hard, feeling a bit awkward.
He recalled the list of "invaders" that Qi Xia had mentioned earlier. Aside from Dr. Zhao, he didn't feel comfortable hitting anyone else.
A few seconds later, Qiao Jiayin slowly stepped forward, trying to greet her: "Pretty lady, where are you headed?"
Wen Qiaoyun let out a light laugh: "The 'pawn' has crossed the river. I'm here to kill you."
"Kill us..." Qiao Jiayin shook his head after hearing that. "That's pretty dangerous, you know."
"In close combat, sure—it's dangerous," Wen Qiaoyun said. "But we can settle this inside the 'door'."
"A 'pawn' that's crossed the river." Qiao Jiayin nodded. "Well... come to think of it, in chess, if you want to capture an opponent's piece, you have to make the move yourself and step onto our square. How about you come over?"
Wen Qiaoyun looked at Qiao Jiayin's tattoos, then at the short, scrawny Han Yimo beside him. She knew she didn't understand these two well—she'd only heard a few descriptions from others. Now she could only judge their abilities by appearances.
A gangster and a short writer.
At the most reasonable guess, one represented "brawn" and the other "brains."
If it was a battle of wits, then her target would naturally be...
"Writer." Wen Qiaoyun called out toward the door.
"Huh...? Who, me?" Han Yimo was startled. "Me?"
"What?" Wen Qiaoyun seemed puzzled. "Aren't you a writer?"
"Well..." Han Yimo gave a bitter smile. "Stinky writers like me are at best 'authors.' I'm hardly a 'writer.'"
"To us laymen, it's all the same," Wen Qiaoyun said. "How about you come over here? We'll settle this inside the 'door'."
She pointed to the door standing next to her, which bore the character "Hai."
"Go inside the door..." Han Yimo frowned, then turned his head and whispered, "Qiao Jiayin, this is a perfect opportunity! Let's both go knock that woman out and take the 'word' she has!"
"Uh..." Qiao Jiayin scratched his head. "Writer boy, while that is our plan, there's one small problem..."
"What problem?"
"I've sworn allegiance to Lord Guan Yu."
"Lord Guan..." Han Yimo was speechless. "Are you... are you seriously acting all noble?! Don't gangsters hit women? That's not how it goes in Hong Kong movies! There are plenty of ruthless guys!"
"I can't speak for everyone, but at least that's how I am," Qiao Jiayin said a bit sheepishly. "But after I came here, I did fight a big, strong woman once. That wasn't about whether to hit a woman or not—she was too strong and wanted my life. For self-preservation, I had to take it seriously. But this is clearly not that kind of situation."
"Wait... so you're just gonna abandon me?" Han Yimo said. "That woman looks way too confident. She wants to settle things with me inside the door... Seriously, aren't we gonna rush her and knock her out?! Won't you just do what I say?"
"In my whole life, I've never taken advantage of someone when they're down," Qiao Jiayin said. "I always strike second. Even if the other guy throws the first punch, I can still win fair and square. But suddenly charging in to snatch a defenseless pretty lady? That would disgrace Lord Guan. Don't worry, though—if that lady really tries to kill you, I'll save you."
"You... you..." Han Yimo looked like he was losing control, gritting his teeth. "A side character like you deserves to be a bit player...! A side character... how can a side character have his own principles and thoughts?! You're supposed to follow the protagonist's orders!! If a side character gets too much screen time, the readers will complain!! Who the hell cares what a side character is thinking?!"
Qiao Jiayin sighed helplessly: "Fine, fine... She's already called you out fair and square for a battle of wits. Not only do you refuse, but you want me to help you beat her up. And you call yourself the protagonist?"
"I..." Han Yimo was stunned. After a few seconds of thought, he said slowly, "A sinister protagonist is still a protagonist, okay..."
"Whether your belly is sinister or not, you need to make a decision now," Qiao Jiayin said. "If she had called me out for a fight, I'd accept it too. You think you're the protagonist—would the protagonist be stumped by something this small?"
"I..." Han Yimo was stumped again by Qiao Jiayin's words. Now he seemed trapped.
If he stepped forward, he'd have to go one-on-one with Wen Qiaoyun through the door. If he stepped back, he was no longer the protagonist.
"Damn it... fine..." Han Yimo said. "I'll go for it... The protagonist can't lose anyway... No matter how the story develops, it'll still turn out in my favor..."
Han Yimo took a few deep breaths, then walked into the other woman's room.
Before Qiao Jiayin could say anything, the doors on all four sides of that room closed simultaneously, blocking both sight and sound completely.