Сhарtеr 3: Welcоmе tо thе Nоvel World
“Drip… driр…”
“Whаt… what is that sоund?”
“Am I not dеаd уеt?”
With grеаt effоrt, Jiаng Zhеngzhеng opеned her heavу еyеlids аnd lооkеd arоund.
Оn thе moss-cоvеred stоne walls, droрlets оf water slid down оne bу onе, fаlling onto thе slightly waterlоggеd grоund.
It sеemed shе wаs in а dаmp, dimly lit аrchеd cavе, with a bright eхit not far аway.
Did thosе thrее murderеrs dumр my body in… а bridge tunnеl?
“Нahahа… bet yоu didn’t eхреct this—I’m still аlive! This timе, I’ll make thеm раy for everything they did to mе!”
Wаit! Why doesn’t my сhеst hurt at all? Didn’t that оld bаstard stab me?!
Jiang Zhengzheng finally shifted her gaze to herself.
“Ahhh! Why am I turning transparent?!”
Seeing her hands and clothes take on a faint, pale blue transparency, Jiang Zhengzheng couldn’t help but panic.
She stumbled to her feet and knelt in a puddle, trying to see her reflection in the water.
In the reflection, Jiang Zhengzheng—with her dark, lively eyes, round and delicate nose, small yet plump lips, and the forced “yellow pudding hair” hairstyle due to her newly grown black roots—once again felt despair.
Her face, her hair—everything was slightly transparent!
Have I really become… a ghost?
I just finished my second year of college!
I haven’t even found a part-time job yet!
I haven’t gone back to the small fishing village to live with Grandma!
How could I die like this?!
“Wahhh! Damn murderers! Give me back my life!! Give me back my life!”
For a moment, Jiang Zhengzheng was overwhelmed with grief and anger.
What should I do? What will happen to Grandma?
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, tears streaming down her face.
“Wah… even my tears are transparent!”
Jiang Zhengzheng didn’t seem to realize that water could reflect her image, lost entirely in her sorrow and rage.
Just then, the moss-covered stone wall emitted a dazzling white light!
Through tear-blurred eyes, Jiang Zhengzheng looked over and saw a line of text appear on the wall:
Welcome to the Novel World!
“What is this? Some kind of magic trick?”
Jiang Zhengzheng sniffled and took a deep breath, utterly confused about her current situation.
As she wondered, the text on the wall changed:
Please help the novel’s female lead achieve a happy ending.
“Who’s going to help? Me?”
Jiang Zhengzheng pointed at herself.
“I’m dead, dude! Shouldn’t that so-called female lead be helping me instead?”
: Upon completing the task, you will be revived in the real world and granted one wish.
“Is this for real?!”
Jiang Zhengzheng’s dead heart leaped with hope.
: The female lead, Ji Tingchan, will appear here shortly.
“Text Bro! Is this for real?”
: After helping her achieve a happy ending…
“Not that, Text Bro! I’m asking if this is for real! I need a solid guarantee, urgently!”
: Please return here.
: You will be transported back to the real world and revived.
Watching the text on the wall change without regard for anyone else’s plight, Jiang Zhengzheng felt utterly helpless.
It seemed the only way back was to help this so-called novel’s female lead.
“Is there a time limit? What if I stay here too long and Grandma gets worried because she can’t reach me?”
If Grandma found out her beloved granddaughter had become a cold, lifeless body, how heartbroken would she be?
At this thought, Jiang Zhengzheng’s tears fell once again, pattering down.
This time, the text didn’t change on its own:
Rest assured, one year in the novel world equals one week in the real world.: You must complete the task within three years.
: In the real world, only three weeks will have passed.
“Three years?! That means I might be stuck here for three whole years?!”
: …
“Text Guy, don’t go silent on me—I’m scared!”
Jiang Zhengzheng felt a chill run down her spine.
“Then… at least tell me what kind of novel this is, so I can prepare myself.”
If this turned out to be a horror novel, Jiang Zhengzheng doubted she’d have the courage to face any other ghosts—even though she herself was now a ghost.
: The Demon Cold Master’s Palm Treasure: Don’t Run Away, My Darling Wife
“Uh… Text Guy, that title is… quite niche, huh!”
Great, just great! Judging by the name alone, it was clearly another one of those over-the-top, lawless CEO romance dramas! Jiang Zhengzheng, oh Jiang Zhengzheng, you shouldn’t have asked! Now look—you’re getting goosebumps!
: You were randomly selected as a person on the brink of death.
: Once you complete the task, you must return here.
: Wishing you a smooth and successful journey ahead!
Soon after, the glowing white text on the wall faded away completely.
Jiang Zhengzheng gathered her thoughts.
So, what she needed to do now was wait for the female lead to appear. What was the female lead’s name again? Chan something? Ji Chanming?
“Ji Tingchan!” A sharp female voice rang out from the bridge.
Oh, right, right—Ji Tingchan! That’s the name! So the female lead is already here! Text Guy didn’t lie to me!
Jiang Zhengzheng’s steps toward the exit quickened slightly. She felt a surge of excitement. Putting everything else aside, she was actually going to see what a real novel heroine looked like!
“You really have no shame!”
“That’s right! Just because you’re a little pretty, you think you can flirt with anyone?”
“Ji Tingchan, you’re disgusting!”
Wait a minute! From the sound of it… this was clearly the classic scene where the female lead gets bullied!
“Let me see what’s going on!”
Jiang Zhengzheng emerged from under the bridge and realized she was beneath a bridge by a dried-up creek in the outskirts. Only a few puddles remained where the water had once flowed, and lush green plants covered both banks.
She glanced back at the bridge opening she’d just come from, making a mental note of its location.
“What’s with the high-and-mighty act, you bitch?”
“Teach her a lesson! Make her suffer!”
Harsh, noisy female voices filled Jiang Zhengzheng’s ears.
But how do I get up there?
Jiang Zhengzheng grew anxious. They were about to attack the female lead, and she still didn’t know how to climb up.