Reborn as an AI: Helping My Past Self Become a Writer

The forest's shadows shifted as if alive, with patches of faint light breaking through the thick canopy. Shen Yuchen supported Su Wanning as they moved cautiously, their steps muffled by the damp forest floor. His pulse quickened—not just from exertion, but from a gnawing suspicion he couldn't shake.

"Who… exactly are they?" Shen Yuchen asked, his brow furrowing as his voice dropped to a tense whisper.

Su Wanning's expression flickered for a split second—fear, maybe guilt—but she quickly masked it with calm indifference. "You're better off not knowing."

Her evasive answer only fueled his unease. He recalled the synchronized footsteps, the precise way the pursuers moved—unwavering, cold, and efficient, like machines programmed for a single purpose.

"Are they military? Mercenaries? Or…" He hesitated, lowering his voice further, "Something worse?"

Before she could answer, Su Wanning stiffened, raising her hand to silence him. Her sharp eyes scanned their surroundings, every muscle tense and ready.

His phone buzzed again. He snatched it from his pocket, his heart pounding.

"Focus on surviving. Questions can wait."

The cryptic message only deepened his suspicions. Who was sending these warnings? How did they know his every move — even his thoughts?

"You know who's after us," he pressed, locking eyes with her. "You've been running from them for a while… but why? And why involve me?"

Su Wanning's lips tightened, her breathing shallow. For a brief moment, vulnerability surfaced in her eyes before she pushed it down.

"Knowing the truth will only get you killed." Her voice was steady but tinged with fatigue. "If we make it out of here alive… I'll tell you everything."

Shen Yuchen studied her face, searching for cracks in her guarded demeanor, but her gaze remained resolute — closed off, like a door bolted from within.

"Fine," he relented through gritted teeth. "But you owe me an explanation."

She gave a faint nod, though her attention never left the darkened forest around them.

Suddenly, a distant metallic clatter echoed through the stillness, followed by the cold, mechanical rhythm of approaching footsteps.

"Run."

Without another word, they bolted deeper into the forest, the relentless hunters closing in—silent, unyielding, and far too precise to be human.