I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 20

The sky was so blue there wasn’t a single cloud.

Although it was autumn, walking on the street still felt warm from the sun, just like a mild summer day. Mang Ke tightened her collar, slowly shifting her gaze from the black silhouette in front of her to their clasped hands. Xun Fangyun’s body temperature was very warm. When Mang Ke was held, she felt like she was melting, the warmth reaching deep into her heart.

The two walked hand in hand, neither rushing home nor hurrying to speak. They strolled leisurely down the ginkgo-lined avenue, greeted by the gentle autumn breeze. The surrounding pedestrians were all expressionless, but as they passed by the pair, they would subconsciously turn their heads to look at them.

“How much longer…” Mang Ke asked, blushing: “Will we walk?”

Xun Fangyun turned back to look at her and chuckled: “How long do you want to walk?”

Mang Ke pursed her lips: “I don’t know, but I feel like continuing to walk like this is quite nice.”

Xun Fangyun looked up at the azure sky and the golden falling ginkgo leaves, then turned back to Mang Ke and said: “You know, there are no particularly distinct four seasons here. Most of the time, it’s the gentle spring and autumn.”

“Oh? Isn’t that great.” Mang Ke chuckled: “I quite like this kind of weather.” Not too cold, not too hot, with a clear sky and bright moon. If there were such a place in real life where the seasons were like spring, it would be a very enviable place to live.

Xun Fangyun saw Mang Ke’s envious gaze, so she kept the sadness buried in her heart hidden. If the other person also knew this was a book, what would she think? Would she turn her head and forget, like those passersby, or would she slowly awaken an independent personality, like me?

Xun Fangyun didn’t want Mang Ke to experience either. She knew the pain of that despair, and so she didn’t want Mang Ke to try it.

Xun Fangyun stopped. Just as Mang Ke looked confused, she took Mang Ke’s other hand as well. The two stood hand-in-hand, facing each other, like children coming home from kindergarten, just looking at each other.

“Let’s get married.” Xun Fangyun’s calm voice reached Mang Ke’s ears: “There will be many more misunderstandings in the future, but at least getting married will give me a reason to keep you by my side forever.”

Mang Ke looked up at her blankly, her eyes slightly lost. Wha-wha-wha-what??? A proposal??

Mang Ke was flustered. Her palms began to sweat, and she stammered: “You… what did you say?”

Xun Fangyun tilted her head: “Didn’t you hear me? I’m proposing to you.”

Mang Ke: “…Wuwuwuwu”

Seeing the girl in front of her so panicked and at a loss, Xun Fangyun also asked nervously: “Why the expression? Is there something wrong with me?”

“No, I’m just a little incredulous since this is the first time I’ve been proposed to.” Mang Ke grabbed Xun Fangyun’s hand and said: “It feels so strange. You don’t like me, so why are you proposing to me?” Are you planning to turn this substitute-lover story into a romance story??

Xun Fangyun winked playfully and chuckled: “Who says I don’t like you?”

“I…”

“If I didn’t like you, would I be so persistent with you?” Xun Fangyun said with a hint of a cooing tone: “You’re truly foolish.”

Mang Ke’s face was red. Although she knew Xun Fangyun wasn’t a real person, she was still incredibly nervous about being proposed to like this. Moreover, Xun Fangyun’s contradictory expressions and actions, typical of a tsundere, were a fatal blow to Mang Ke, a shallow human who couldn’t resist pretty women.

“We’re already engaged and living together anyway, so marriage is only a matter of time,” Xun Fangyun pulled her closer, pressing her forehead against Mang Ke’s, and said: “So, agree quickly, and we can pick a good day for the wedding.”

Mang Ke was blushing and dared not speak, her nervous hands becoming sweaty. “I need to think about it…” Mang Ke said cautiously: “This is the first time someone has proposed to me. I don’t know what I should say.”

Xun Fangyun was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing: “This is my first time proposing to someone too.”

“So it’s fair,” Xun Fangyun said: “I’ll give you three seconds to think. It’s still not too late to agree now.”

“Hmph,” Mang Ke growled indignantly: “You’re rude and presumptuous. You’re proposing to me even though you don’t have feelings for me. I’m a first-timer too, can’t you be more serious…”

Xun Fangyun blinked: “I am very serious. I like you, and I want you to stay by my side. Through sickness and health, we will support each other until the end of this world.”

Mang Ke smiled and said: “That’s more like it.”

The autumn breeze swept by, raising the fallen leaves from the ground. Xun Fangyun curved her lips, smiling. Her long black hair was blown upwards, and a few strands brushed Mang Ke’s cheek, making her ticklish.

Mang Ke saw the woman, backlit by the light, slowly lower her head and gently kiss her on the forehead. Soft lips. Gentle breath. And the heartbeat they could both feel. In this tranquil afternoon, on the avenue covered with ginkgo leaves, the shallow kiss felt weighty and profound.

Mang Ke’s heart pounded non-stop. They had kissed before, but this time was different. Xun Fangyun’s careful kiss made Mang Ke feel as if she were made of glass, needing her lover’s cautious protection… Lover… is that it?

Mang Ke opened her eyes. She looked at the woman in front of her and slowly said: “I agree.”

“You agreed?” Xun Fangyun laughed happily, as if she hadn’t smiled like this in years.

But in an instant, the smile froze on her face.

Shua Shua Shua— Xun Fangyun heard the sound of an eraser rubbing against paper.

Sha Sha Sha— And the sound of a pencil drawing vertical and horizontal lines on paper.

When she looked down at Mang Ke, her heart sank suddenly. Mang Ke was still staring at her with those clear eyes, but she was motionless, as if the image was frozen.

“…Mang Ke?” Xun Fangyun called out in a trembling voice: “Xiao Ke, look… look at me.”

The only reply was Mang Ke’s paper-like touch and this world that would never continue.

“Xiao Ke, Xiao Ke.”

“Wake up.”

“You promised me you would stay with me forever.”

Xun Fangyun’s voice gradually trembled. She could not hear the wind, nor could she feel the warmth. As the sound of the paper rubbing grew louder and louder, Xun Fangyun was flustered for the first time.

This world had reached its end. But she was still here…

Drip Drip Drip Drip Drip—

When Mang Ke opened her eyes, she was awakened by an alarm clock. She covered her head and sat up in bed, surveying her surroundings. She realized she was in her rental apartment.

“Hmm?” Mang Ke murmured blankly: “Wasn’t I with Xun Fangyun? Why am I… !!!!!!!”

She was abruptly stunned, her heart sinking. A thought struck her: Mang Ke had left the world of the book!?