Chapter 230: Help the Main Character Restore His Storyline

Wang Gege remained quiet for a while, trying to digest everything they had discussed. Her head was already filled with enough confusing information and she decided that trying to understand every detail at once would only give her a headache.

What mattered now was that this world was real, the people living in it were real, and Jiang Zhaoyuan truly needed to regain his position as the main character if they wanted his original storyline to return.

"So..." Wang Gege finally looked at him. "If you’re supposed to be the main character, then what exactly happened to your position?"

Jiang Zhaoyuan’s expression became slightly more serious. "The storyline stopped revolving around me."

Wang Gege blinked. "Because of us?"

"Partly." He glanced at her and then at Xie Rong. "Your arrival changed several things that should never have happened at this point in the story. Xie Rong’s existence alone was already enough to create a variable, and when you arrived, even more events began moving in a different direction. Instead of leading toward my story, the world began following yours."

Wang Gege’s lips twitched. "So we accidentally stole your main-character position?"

"You could put it that way."

Bibi floated beside Jiang Zhaoyuan and displayed a faint red screen in the air.

[CURRENT MAIN CHARACTER PRESENCE: 22%.]

Wang Gege stared at the number before looking back at Jiang Zhaoyuan. "Only twenty-two percent?"

"Originally, it was much higher," Bibi explained. "But as more events unrelated to the original storyline occurred, his presence gradually decreased. If the storyline continues moving away from him, his presence will continue to fall."

Wang Gege’s expression slowly changed. "And if it reaches zero..."

Jiang Zhaoyuan did not answer immediately.

Bibi did it for him, "THE MAIN CHARACTER MAY CEASE TO EXIST."

The hallway became quiet.

Wang Gege looked at Jiang Zhaoyuan again, this time with a different expression. She had previously thought his concern about being forgotten was simply another strange consequence of having a Main Character System, but now she finally understood why he had taken it seriously.

This was no longer about whether he wanted the title of protagonist or whether he cared about having the most important role in the story. His existence itself was tied to it.

"So we need to restore your main-character position," she said.

Jiang Zhaoyuan nodded. "Exactly."

Xie Rong folded his arms. "And how do you intend to do that?"

"We need to bring the storyline back."

Wang Gege frowned. "How?"

Jiang Zhaoyuan looked toward the distant palace, his expression becoming thoughtful. "The original storyline should still exist. The events that were supposed to happen, the people I was supposed to meet, and the choices that would eventually lead me to become the centre of the story have not simply disappeared. They were interrupted."

Bibi nodded in agreement, "If the original storyline can be restored, the main character’s presence should also recover."

Wang Gege slowly understood. "So we don’t need to create a new story for you."

"No." Jiang Zhaoyuan looked back at her. "We need to bring back the story that was supposed to be mine."

That made Wang Gege fall silent.

For so long, she had been trying to survive the strange events surrounding her own life, never realizing that somewhere beside them, another storyline had been pushed aside entirely.

Perhaps the villains, assassins, and unexpected events they had encountered were not merely random problems. Perhaps they had all been signs that the world had lost its original direction.

She glanced at Xie Rong. Then she looked back at Jiang Zhaoyuan, "If we help you restore your storyline..."

Jiang Zhaoyuan already knew what she was going to ask. "I’ll help you find the way home."

Wang Gege slowly nodded. "Then let’s do it."

For the first time, Jiang Zhaoyuan smiled. "Deal."

Wang Gege looked at Xie Rong, her expression suddenly becoming a little uncertain. "We are going back, right, husband?"

Xie Rong looked at her for a moment before gently taking her hand. His fingers slipped between hers, holding her firmly as if the answer had never been in doubt.

"Yes." There was no hesitation in his voice. "If that is what you want, this husband will go back with you."

Wang Gege’s heart softened at his answer. She had spent so much time worrying about whether they could return together that she had almost forgotten to ask what Xie Rong himself wanted. After everything between them, she had been afraid that perhaps returning to their previous world would be something only she wanted.

She squeezed his hand. "Then we’ll go back together."

Xie Rong nodded. "Together."

Jiang Zhaoyuan watched the two of them for a moment before rolling his eyes. "Can you both perhaps care about this prince’s loneliness?"

Wang Gege blinked and finally looked at him. "Loneliness?"

"Yes." Jiang Zhaoyuan sighed dramatically. "You two have been talking about going back together right in front of someone who has no one waiting for him."

Bibi floated beside him and nodded solemnly, "The host is currently single."

Jiang Zhaoyuan’s expression stiffened. "You don’t have to announce it."

Wang Gege blinked a few times before turning toward Xie Rong. "But—but... isn’t the Eighth Prince supposed to have a few consorts?"

Xie Rong nodded. "He does."

Wang Gege immediately looked back at Jiang Zhaoyuan.

"Then how can you say you’re single?"

Jiang Zhaoyuan sighed. "Because this prince has never touched any of them."

Wang Gege’s eyes widened slightly.

Xie Rong calmly added, "Most of them were arranged by the Imperial Family for political reasons. They were given their titles and reside within the prince’s household, but the Eighth Prince has never taken them as actual wives."

"Oh..." Wang Gege nodded slowly, finally understanding. "So they’re basically consorts in name only?"

"Exactly," Jiang Zhaoyuan replied.

Bibi suddenly floated closer, "The Host has never shared a bed with any of his consorts."

Jiang Zhaoyuan’s face darkened. "Bibi."

"What?"

"Nobody asked for that information."

Wang Gege’s cheeks puffed as she tried to suppress her laughter. "I guess we need to find this female lead as soon as possible..."

"Host!"

Mini suddenly appeared in front of Wang Gege in a swirl of glittery golden light, looking unusually excited. "What did you just do?"

Wang Gege blinked. "What did I do?"

Mini smiled brightly. "You just completed a hidden mission!"

Everyone immediately turned toward Mini.

"A hidden mission?" Wang Gege repeated.

Mini nodded enthusiastically as a golden screen appeared in the air.

[HIDDEN MISSION COMPLETED!]

[MISSION: Help the Main Character Restore His Storyline]

[REWARD: 1000 Fortune Points]