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

Three Offerings and a Very Stressed System

Little Notes:
Finally giving credit where it’s due — a little nod to MunBirdy, for supporting me through their work, and DaNa020521, for keeping my writing process fun and engaging.

🐱🧶🐱

Yichen's Chamber

Xu Ming sat up like a man who’d swallowed a thunderbolt. The little system-window hovered between them, lines of punishment text shimmering in pale light.

“I… resisted protocol,” Xu Ming said, voice. “So this a—punishment for me.” He jabbed an accusing finger at the floating words. “Collect offerings. From the three mains: you, Zhao Yuanzhou, and Li Jie. Willingly given. No stealing. No forcing. By midnight tomorrow. Or I’m stuck. Permanently.”

Jerry blinked. “That’s the punishment? Sounds petty.” He tilted his head, lips twitching. "You make it sound like you’re asked to wrestle a tiger.”

“It’s not petty,” Xu Ming snapped, then immediately softened. “It’s terrifying. It’s humiliating. It’s—” He flopped forward and hid his face in his hands. “If I fail, I rot in this body forever. Host, you have to help me.”

Jerry rolled his shoulders. “Okay. Practical plan?”

Xu Ming’s eyes fluttered open like a man cliffed by hope. "Xiao Dianxia—Zhao Yuanzhou—he’s persuadable. A scroll, a report, the victim card… anything that triggers his sense of duty or protection. He’ll give. He’s the least awkward.” Xu Ming grimaced. “But Yan An—” He shuddered theatrically. “He’d sooner fling himself off the watchtower than willingly hand me anything. You know he and Xu Ming are—antagonistic. Mortal enemies. They hates eachother.”

“And me?” Jerry asked.

“You will give willingly,” Xu Ming said, with the faith of someone who’s just been saved from drowning. “You’re my host. You pity me. You will hand me something with no drama.”

Jerry stared at him for a long second. “Are we going to die trying to charm Yan An?” he asked, half-joking.

Xu Ming’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Am I going to die in this form if we fail?”

“No promises,” Jerry said, deadpan. Then he straightened, decision settling like armor. “We have a day. Let’s try.”

“Are you sure?” the system asked, all thin hope.

Jerry nodded once, brisk. He reached to the cluttered desk, plucked up the ink brush that had been leaning in the cup, and tossed it into Xu Ming’s lap with a careless little flourish.

“Consider this your first offering,” he said.

Xu Ming clutched the brush like it was a relic. His face crumpled in relief and something dangerously close to affection. The floating window flashed: Offering 1/3 — Accepted.

Jerry let out a quiet breath. “One down,” he murmured. “Two to go.”

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Task D-day Morning

The first rays of morning hadn’t fully touched the chamber when Jerry stirred awake. He blinked groggily, stretched—and nearly jumped out of his skin.

Xu Ming was perched on the chair by his bed.
Eyes wide.
Dark rings smudged beneath them like he’d rubbed soot across his face.

Jerry nearly yelped. “System—have you been sitting there all night?”