Help! I'm the Plot Device: Just Here to Save the Heroes

Peach Blossom Moon: Chaos Edition

Jerry's mind jumped. Yao Daren?

But from behind a tree stepped a boy with sharp eyes and an even sharper smirk-Li Jie, younger but already carrying that irreverent air. He leaned lazily against the trunk, inspecting his nails.

"A thank you will do," he drawled.

Yuanzhou exhaled, still tense, but answered curtly, "Thank you."

Li Jie smirked wider, gave a little mock bow, and turned as if to walk away.

Jerry's thoughts buzzed. Attitude. Always attitude. Young or old, you never change, Li Jie.

The moment twisted again.

Mist curled low over the stream, drifting like silver threads in the morning light. Jerry blinked through Yichen's eyes, only to realize black strokes were being sketched onto his cheeks-crooked little whiskers, messy but deliberate.

Li Jie capped it off with a flourish, his grin sly. "Now," he announced, as if delivering a royal decree, "I adopt you into the Shadow Clan-as a baby cat."

Yichen scowled, eyes narrowing. "I'm not a baby."

Li Jie tilted his head, mock serious. "Fine, then. As the new princess."

Jerry felt Yichen's indignation bubble up. With a sharp snatch, he grabbed the brush and scribbled whiskers onto Li Jie's face in retaliation.

Just then, a voice floated from behind-dry, faintly amused. "Shadow clan's princess? So what about me?"

Yuanzhou stood at the edge of the stream, watching them with folded arms.

Li Jie turned, snickering. "Xiao Dianxia Zhao Yuanzhou-the one fated to rule the imperial court. Why would you want to join a mere demon clan?"

He leaned back lazily, adjusting his hair as though this were the most casual of conversations.

But Yuanzhou didn't flinch. He stepped forward, dropped to sit beside Li Jie, and held his gaze.
"I don't know. Maybe... I want to be with you."

The words fell heavy in the mist. Li Jie's smile faltered, his expression unreadable.

Yuanzhou added, quieter now, "With you two."

Something shifted. A flicker of warmth touched Li Jie's face, and for a heartbeat, he smiled-genuine, fleeting.

"All three of us can stay here together!" Yichen chirped suddenly, tugging at Li Jie's sleeve. "The imperial palace is boring. I'll better of with the shadow clan."

Li Jie ruffled Yichen's hair, laughter soft in his throat. "Of course, my little cat princess."

"Yeah good choice, he behaves better with you anyway." Yuanzhou said, his gaze fixed on the misty river.

Li Jie blinked. "Really?"

"Of course," Yuanzhou said, faint smile tugging his lips. "Whatever tricks he tries, he can't beat you in mischief-or in attitude."

Li Jie side-eyed him, silent.

Yichen crowed, "You said it, brother!"

"Mm." Li Jie dipped his fingers into the inkstone and suddenly smeared a black streak across Yuanzhou's face.

Yuanzhou startled, then huffed a laugh. Yichen burst into giggles.

For a fleeting moment, it was only laughter-their three voices spilling together into the mist curling over the river.

Then Yuanzhou's tone shifted. He reached into his robe and pulled free a jade pendant, offering it across his palm. "A token of our brotherhood," he said, eyes on Li Jie.