After Dumping the Female Lead, It's My Turn to Cry - Chapter 2

Qing Ling came from a noble background, with a cold personality and a tall figure, possessing a stunningly beautiful appearance that could captivate anyone at a glance.

Upon reading this description for the twenty-first time, Ruan Yubai let out a disdainful snort, arbitrarily concluding that the author of this cheesy novel must have run out of ideas and resorted to padding the word count to scam readers.

“Ruan Yubai, why are you smirking? Are you even listening to me?” Ruan’s mother snapped angrily from beside her.

Seeing her mother’s eyebrows shoot up in irritation, Ruan Yubai closed the novel right in front of her and nodded. “Mm, so it’s just an engagement? I thought it was something serious.”

Recently, after repeated experimentation, Ruan Yubai had discovered something peculiar: the novel The Proud Girlfriend of the Interstellar Admiral A was visible only to her. Even if she held it right under someone else’s nose, they would act as if it weren’t there, perhaps even pulling out a spicy strip snack from under the book and thanking her.

This emboldened the slacker Ruan more and more, to the point where she dared to openly read the novel during meals, even under the watchful eyes of her mother, a renowned figure in the scientific community who struck fear into the hearts of researchers.

Ruan Yubai was an only child. Her mother was a science-obsessed Alpha, while her father was a delicate and beautiful Omega. Their grand wedding had once caused a sensation across the entire interstellar community, with everyone speculating what kind of prodigious genius such parents would produce.

And then, Slacker Ruan was born.

She inherited the worst traits of her parents while discarding their finest qualities. She was good at nothing, had an insatiable appetite, and her ambition had long been fed to the dogs. If not for her sweet, adorable face, which still bore some resemblance to her parents, onlookers might truly have believed she had been picked up from a trash can.

Growing up amid the pointing fingers and gossip of others, Ruan Yubai managed to mature healthily, largely thanks to the comfort and companionship of her childhood friend, Lin Yi. Like Ruan Yubai, Lin Yi was also a Beta, gentle-natured and exceptionally easygoing. Whenever Ruan Yubai cried while reading novels, it was Lin Yi who would bring her gummy worms to cheer her up.

Ever since she was a little kid, Ruan Yubai had been determined to marry her “sister” Lin Yi one day and become an ordinary, happy Beta-Beta couple. That way, she’d have an endless supply of gummy worms while reading her novels.

So, during the meal with her mother, Ruan Yubai had only half-listened, picking up keywords like “engagement,” “older than you, so address them as senior,” and “don’t mess around.” She immediately locked in her future fiancée, never once considering anyone other than Lin Yi.

To show her resolve, Ruan Yubai solemnly vowed, “Ms. Ruan, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

She swore she would take good care of all of Lin Yi’s gummy worms by devouring every last one of them!

At this, a flicker of surprise crossed her mother’s face, as if she no longer recognized her own child. She scrutinized Ruan Yubai several times, her previously relaxed brow slightly furrowing. Finally, with a trace of lingering doubt, she asked, “Are you sure?”

Ruan Yubai was a classic cautionary tale, a tragic outcome of not paying attention and letting one’s mind wander.

In reality, the marriage partner Mrs. Ruan mentioned was not Lin Yi at all, but rather the eldest daughter of the Qing family, Qing Ling. Although Mrs. Ruan usually appeared strict and rarely had a kind word for Ruan Yubai, she was actually quite doting on her daughter at least when it came to matters of marriage, she never intended to let her suffer.

Logically speaking, the Qing family’s affairs had nothing to do with Mrs. Ruan, but the Qing family’s matriarch and Mr. Ruan’s ancestors were close friends. Even if the Qing family said nothing, Mrs. Ruan would step in to help, despite the risks.

However, this did not include sacrificing her own daughter’s lifelong happiness. Although Mr. Ruan hesitated over the pendant symbolizing the children’s engagement, Mrs. Ruan had no intention of going against her daughter’s wishes. That’s why she added, “If you don’t like her, I understand. Don’t force yourself, I believe your father will understand too. This is a matter of a lifetime, after all. I’ll find another way to help her later.”

Beside them, Ruan Yubai was utterly confused. From the sound of it, had something happened to the Lin family? She’d never heard Sister Lin Yi mention anything.

She quickly shook her head. “No, I like her the most. How could that be considered forcing myself?”

The butler nearby noticed that Mrs. Ruan still seemed somewhat doubtful and stepped closer to whisper, “Have you forgotten? Our young lady has a shallow flaw since childhood, she’s loved looking at beautiful faces, and that one…”

This left Ruan Yubai a bit puzzled. Lin Yi was an exceptionally gentle older sister with a very good temper. But to be fair, even with ten layers of “earthworm jelly” filter applied, the other party might still fall slightly short of the general definition of a beauty.

Mrs. Ruan, however, was instantly convinced. She was never one to hesitate, so she immediately tossed down her napkin and declared decisively, “I have a project these next few days, I need to survey Grey Mang Star. The optical brain connection will be unstable, so don’t panic if you can’t reach me.”

Before leaving, she added, “Take good care of her,” and then hurried out the door.

Although Ruan Yubai wanted to ask about Lin Yi’s family situation, it didn’t seem like the right time. On second thought, since Mrs. Ruan had said the other party would be visiting in a few days, she could ask then.

For now, Ruan Yubai hummed a tune and went upstairs, completely engrossed in reading her cheesy romance novel. Unfortunately, someone had torn the book, leaving only the first half. When she reached the final chapter of the incomplete copy, she still felt a bit unsatisfied. Just as she was about to finish the last two pages, a beep sounded her optical brain’s messaging function had activated.

It was her friend Bi Bi Ba.

Bi Bi Ba: “Xiao Bai, I heard a top-secret piece of news.”

As a reclusive slacker, Ruan Yubai might have grown up in a prominent family, but all her sources of information came from her friend Bi Bi Ba, who treated gossip as her lifelong career.

Without Bi Bi Ba, she would basically be cut off from the outside world.

Bi Bi Ba: “It’s about you, and it’s a juicy secret. Do you want to hear it?”

By this point, Ruan Yubai already guessed it was probably news about her engagement to Lin Yi spreading. But she had an easygoing personality and was willing to indulge her friend’s deliberate teasing.

Ruan Yubai: “What news?”

Bi Bi Ba: “But if you regret hearing it, don’t blame me. Are you sure you want to know?”

Normally, Ruan Yubai might have replied with a few words, but at this moment, the story had reached a critical point. Her heart was burning with impatience, and she truly had no patience to indulge Bi Bi Ba.

Therefore,

Ruan Yubai: “Alright then, let’s not think about it.”

Bi Bi Ba: “…”

Just then, the butler knocked on the door, tap, tap, tap and as soon as he entered, he saw the girl in her fluffy penguin pajamas rolling around on the bed, clutching snacks and giggling foolishly at nothing. A wave of profound disappointment washed over him. How could someone so frivolous and pleasure-seeking possibly be worthy of that noble and distinguished young lady?

The butler shot Ruan Yubai a subtle, disdainful glance before lowering his voice to say, “Miss, your arranged marriage partner has arrived.”

At that moment, Ruan Yubai had just reached the final chapter of the novel she was reading. In it, a character with the same name, a devoted but foolish female side character stepped forward to protect the female lead, Qing Ling, and met a tragic end, achieving the perfect “gg” conclusion of a deeply infatuated cannon fodder.

Though they shared the same name, the character’s foolish actions no longer angered Ruan Yubai; instead, they made her laugh like a goose.

Honk, honk, honk! What kind of brain-dead cannon fodder is this? Her mind must be soaked in pesticide! Even melamine couldn’t have such a brainwashing effect!

Wiping away the tears of laughter from her face, she casually asked, “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Who’s here?”

Right on cue, an insistent message from her friend arrived.

Bi Bi Ba: “Heh heh heh heh heh, whether you want to or not, you’re going to hear this. Silly Bai, Qing Ling is going to be engaged to you! You’ve hit the jackpot of eight lifetimes! Are you happy? Surprised? Excited? That’s Qing Ling, the one and only Miss Qing Ling!”

The butler sighed helplessly. “Miss Qing Ling of the Qing family.”

Ruan Yubai’s laughter abruptly ceased: Who?

Why did that name sound so familiar?

Oh, right it was exactly the same as the female lead in the novel she had just finished reading!

Ruan Yubai’s originally rosy complexion instantly turned pale.

Well, damn. Could it be that the cannon fodder side character is actually me?

The chandelier hanging in the living room was one Ruan Yubai had picked out herself back in elementary school. At the time, she was obsessed with Disney princesses and had fallen in love with this extravagant yet impractical crystal lamp at first sight.

The light source was embedded in the center of frosted candles, refracting through pieces of colored glass to cast a faint, fragile glow. From the top of the staircase, everything below appeared as a hazy blur. Even the fawning uncle from the Qing family and the unopened gifts he had brought seemed swallowed by the dim, dusty shadows.

Yet, despite the distance, the delicate threads of light clearly outlined the slender figure of the young woman seated below. As the chandelier swayed slightly, it enveloped her in a soft, misty aura. Beneath a waterfall of black hair was an exquisitely elegant face. She nodded politely at Ruan Yubai’s beaming father before calmly lifting her gaze to follow his line of sight.

Her eyes were like lakes tranquil, with a drop of ink seemingly fallen into their depths. Delicate streams traced the corners of her eyes, so intense they bordered on breathtaking, inexplicably stirring one’s heart. Yet, aside from that single point of depth, the rest of her gaze was veiled by a layer of undisturbed, thin snow. Even as it melted, it carried a cool, detached chill.

Stumbling, Ruan Yubai nearly fell down the stairs. The butler, unable to bear the sight of her dazed expression, turned his head away in secondhand embarrassment: Though Qing Ling is indeed noble and captivating, does our young lady have to look quite so much like a stunned goose? It’s a bit too embarrassing!

Is this embarrassing or not?

Of course, Ruan Yubai had no idea about the butler’s disdainful thoughts. Even if she did, she wouldn’t have the mind to care right now.

The girl in her penguin-print fleece nightgown was silently screaming inside, feeling her last self-deceptive illusions shatter into pieces.

The female lead has arrived, she’s really here!

This meant that cheesy, third-rate novel wasn’t fake. As an insignificant, lovestruck side character, Ruan Yubai was destined to silently protect the female lead after their unnoticed engagement ceremony ended. She would bear all the suffering for the female lead in secret, watch as the female lead and the Alpha male lead fought and loved, quietly piling one green hat after another onto her own head. Finally, when the female lead faced a crisis, she would step forward and declare with deep, unwavering affection, “Senior Ling, as long as you’re happy, I’ll step aside for you.”

Ugh!

Ugh, ugh, ugh!

What kind of cringeworthy, morally bankrupt line is that? Ruan Yubai broke out in goosebumps all over, the friction with her fleece nightgown generating a wave of static electricity.

Besides, Ruan Yubai only had eyes for her kind and gentle Beta childhood friend. She had zero interest in this cold, elegant young lady, why should she die for her?

But as the saying goes, if the novel wants you dead by chapter three, it won’t let you survive until the end.

Remembering the tragic scene at the end of the first half of the novel, where she coughed up blood and breathed her last, Ruan Yubai shuddered with dread. All she wanted now was to shake her head wildly and fling these thoughts out of her mind.

Alas, as a carefree and happy slacker, Ruan Yubai might be coasting through life, but she had no intention of taking the final pill!

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