Chapter 28: Really Out of Options

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Really Out of Options

The AI customer service explained that its scanning function consumed quite a bit of energy, so after accompanying Deng Yuyuan today, it would disappear for a while.

To prevent customer service agents from getting too familiar with players and opening backdoors, the scanning function automatically blocked plot-related items or characters.

As it spoke, the customer service agent even spilled some gossip. Previously, in a Long Aotian world, a senior agent got too chummy with a player. They used plot spoilers to preemptively locate rare heavenly treasures, then used the scanning function to directly steal the protagonist’s fortuitous encounters, allowing the player to completely crush the protagonist. They could help players change their fate, but they couldn’t deliberately antagonize the darlings of the Heavenly Dao and dance on its nerves.

Deng Yuyuan recalled the details from the original novel and finally found a sliver of a possibility hidden in an obscure corner of the plot. The reason the male lead came down to the countryside here was that he had an uncle who died early. This uncle had accidentally died while sketching in the wilderness, and his body was later discovered by the villagers.

Although this was his uncle’s resting place, the male lead’s family wasn’t superstitious. They actually developed a good impression of the honest and simple folk customs here, so they chose this place for him to visit and temper himself.

Deng Yuyuan stepped forward for a closer look. The man before her was drenched and covered in mud. There was a patch of blood on his forehead, and his lips were purple. She tentatively reached out a finger and placed it under his nose.

He was still breathing!

She then touched various parts of his body. He was unnaturally cold, and his pupils were dilated. He was already suffering from hypothermia. She patted the man’s sturdy shoulders and neck, loudly calling out repeatedly near his ears. "Hello! Are you still awake?"

The moment Shen Zhao was roused, he felt incredibly fortunate that he was actually able to wake up.

He was a painter and an extreme sports enthusiast. While sketching here, the thrill of the hunt had gotten the better of him, and he couldn’t resist doing some rock climbing and parkour in the mountains. Because he hadn’t properly scouted the route beforehand, he accidentally stepped on some moss. The moment he slipped, he only had time to adjust his landing spot and plunge into the water.

Even with the water breaking his fall, he still suffered serious injuries. His first sensation upon waking up was that everything hurt.

"I’m out of ideas. Let’s just wait." An unfamiliar female voice muttered helplessly by his ear.

He thought, "No, wait, I can still be saved! Don’t give up on me!"

A strong desire to live forced him to open his eyes, but that was all he could manage. His lips trembled violently, but he couldn’t make a sound.

The first thing he saw was a very beautiful hand. The transparent nails carried a hint of pink, like peach blossom buds in spring. The jade-white, slender fingers waved twice before his eyes, revealing their owner’s breathtakingly gorgeous face. Free of makeup and with a hint of sorrow between her brows, she looked like a lively mountain sprite.

For a moment, Shen Zhao wasn’t sure if he was awake or if he had already ascended to paradise.

"If your mind is still clear, move your eyes," Deng Yuyuan said. She was truly out of ideas. She couldn’t carry such a large man back by herself and could only call for help. If he had some consciousness, he might be able to hold on until she returned with backup.

The man’s clear black and white eyes actually moved.

"Alright, I’ll get someone to help. I can’t save you alone." Deng Yuyuan took off her coat. "You have hypothermia right now. I’ll help you take off your wet clothes and put my coat on you."

She couldn’t help but add, "I see you’re dressed quite well, and the watch you’re wearing is expensive. Once you’re healed, pay me for my coat."

Shen Zhao nodded in his mind. He thought, "It’s only right." Just by looking at her, he could tell the girl wasn’t well-off. She had already come up the mountain to forage when it was barely light out. Being willing to use her own coat to save someone was simply an act of great kindness!

While he lavishly praised Deng Yuyuan’s noble character in his heart, his cheeks flushed completely red as she swiftly and neatly changed his clothes. First of all, he wasn’t a conservative man, but this girl had already seen his body. Secondly, even if he didn’t demand she take responsibility, a life-saving grace ought to be repaid by offering oneself in marriage...

"Make sure you don’t fall asleep." Deng Yuyuan squeezed open a wild fruit and let him drink some of the juice. She then stuffed a piece of candy—which she had asked the customer service to exchange from the farm system—into his mouth. Without any delay, she turned and bolted, not forgetting to grab her bamboo basket.

After all, even running through the mountains, she couldn’t go too fast, so she still had the spare energy to carry her catch back home.

The people at the Knowledge Youth Institute had just woken up and discovered Deng Yuyuan was missing. They shouted toward the outhouse, but no one answered. Just as they were starting to panic, Deng Yuyuan returned. Not only did she return, but she also brought back a whole basket of game!

"Wh-what is this? Did your ex-husband give it to you?"

The male educated youth who asked the question was immediately slapped by his companion. "How can you speak like that? Watch your filthy mouth."

Another educated youth, clearly possessing higher emotional intelligence, chimed in, "It doesn’t look like it was stolen."

"I went up the mountain and got it myself." Deng Yuyuan took out the bloodstained machete. "Could you please wash this for me?"

"You went alone?!"

Deng Yuyuan nodded. "Yes. There’s an injured man on the mountain. He looks like a wealthy painter who was out sketching, and he’s about to die. I can’t move him on my own, so I need your help.

"Do we have a wooden board we can bring up? I’m afraid his bones might be broken."

The male youths didn’t ask any more questions. They dismantled a board from a handcart and ran up the mountain with Deng Yuyuan. One female youth stayed behind to clean the wild game Deng Yuyuan had brought back, while another went out to find the barefoot doctor and village officials to wait at the foot of the mountain.

By the time they hurried back to the scene, Shen Zhao had fallen unconscious again. Fortunately, he was still breathing, and the young men worked together to carry him down.

On the way down the mountain, Deng Yuyuan casually reached into a hole and pulled out a handful of pine cones. This completely won over the educated youths, who were now thoroughly convinced of her skills.

Given the urgency of the situation, they hadn’t had time to see exactly what Deng Yuyuan had brought back. But it was a full basket, and Comrade Deng Yuyuan had even mentioned there was meat buried underneath. With firewood, meat, fruit, and vegetables, she wouldn’t starve like she did when she was with Zhang Jiahua, even if she lived alone.

Oh, and even with Tuantuan, she could afford to raise the child. She would just need to ask friends—like them, for example—to help babysit for half a day every now and then.

Along the way, the four of them coordinated their stories. Deng Yuyuan was still the one who found the man, but they would say that the three of them had taken her up the mountain to scout the area. While picking wild fruit, Deng Yuyuan discovered the man and called them over to help. The two of them had absolutely no physical contact from start to finish.

As for the coat, it had already been swapped out for one belonging to a male educated youth.

The male youths had made a preliminary judgment that the man’s ribs were injured and he shouldn’t be moved carelessly. However, the life of a random wild man was nothing compared to the reputation of a familiar female friend. They would do their best to save his life, but Deng Yuyuan’s reputation absolutely could not suffer any more damage.

Upon reaching the bottom of the mountain, the barefoot doctor, the village chief, and the production brigade captain were already waiting. They hurriedly loaded the severely injured man onto an ox cart and transported him toward the clinic.

Deng Yuyuan, however, turned and walked in the opposite direction. It was getting light out, a perfect time to stroll through the black market in town and gather a few more ration coupons for her already comfortable savings.