I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 108

An ancient yet prosperous city is steeped in history. A certain tree, a piece of tile, might be from a past dynasty, which is why this city attracts many people who are interested in history. They miraculously gather together, becoming colleagues and friends.

“Ning’an, heading to work?”

The neighbor’s greeting made Tang Ning’an lift her head. With her slender fingers, she turned the key, locking her front door. She smiled and nodded, saying, “Auntie Wang, same breakfast as usual?”

Auntie Wang smiled helplessly, shaking the bag of breakfast she held. “My old man loves soy milk and a few soup dumplings. Sigh, I really admire him; he can eat the exact same breakfast for decades. I think you people all have a common trait perseverance. Alright, alright, I won’t hold you up. Ning’an, take this cup of soy milk. I specially asked the boss to add extra sugar for you.”

Auntie Wang’s kindness always made Tang Ning’an feel the care of an elder. She accepted the soy milk and said with a smile, “Thank you, Auntie Wang.”

“No problem.”

Tang Ning’an put her keys in her backpack, planning to finish the soy milk first, otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to ride her bike.

She had been in this city for three years. Her ancestors were master potters, and growing up immersed in the craft, Tang Ning’an had an exceptional talent. The moment she became a cultural relics restorer, she found that she would always dream of a woman. Tang Ning’an couldn’t write down the story of the dream, because as soon as she woke up, she would forget everything, remembering only that she had dreamed of that woman again.

Tang Ning’an drank her soy milk as she walked down the stairs. By the time she reached the ground floor, the cup was empty. She casually tossed it into a trash can and pushed her electric bike toward work.

She stood in the morning sunlight, dazzling. Her black hair and gentle demeanor embodied all things beautiful.

“Good morning, Ning’an.”

A colleague’s voice made Tang Ning’an wave to her. “Good morning, Sister Fangfang.”

Fang Fang yawned, her eyes showing fatigue. In a familiar tone, she asked, “Give me a ride? I’m too lazy to bike.”

“Sure, hop on.”

Fang Fang suppressed a laugh and joked, “It’s a good thing we don’t live far from work, just a few minutes away. What can I say about our leader’s foresight? Building the staff dorms right here, you just need to ride a bike to get there.”

She stroked her chin and said humorously, “Last time, a delivery guy called and asked me what kind of conditions my family lived in to be in a palace. Hahahaha.”

Tang Ning’an’s eyes curved into a beautiful, gentle smile, which made Fang Fang size her up. In a sour tone, she said, “I wonder whose luck will be so good as to take you home.”

Tang Ning’an blinked awkwardly. “Sister Fangfang, don’t think like Brother Chang. I really have no interest in dating. Don’t learn from him.”

Fang Fang scoffed dismissively. “That guy Chang Huan introduces terrible people. Let alone you, even I don’t fancy them. It’s one thing that they’re not handsome, but they act like they’re some big-shot lord. Haven’t you noticed Chang Huan hasn’t dared to talk to you lately? He’s feeling guilty!”

She plopped down on the electric bike seat. They would be taking the staff entrance, so the electric bike was the most convenient mode of transportation. The job here had good benefits, but one downside was the constant companionship of monotony. They had to communicate with the speechless cultural relics, slowly restoring the broken and ‘sick’ artifacts. So this job required patience.

Tang Ning’an listened to Fang Fang complain about Chang Huan. Her way of talking was so amusing; she could always make people burst into laughter. Even if she was giving a scolding, no one would feel upset, all thanks to Fang Fang’s genius for words.

“Take that bald old guy, for example. Gosh, his hair is so sparse it looks like it’s been hurt by a lawnmower. And with that look, he dares to ask you to quit and be a full-time housewife? What an audacity! It’s not that being a full-time housewife is bad, but why does he have so much confidence that we would quit our jobs for him?”

“Your precious babies are waiting for you to bless them with your presence! What will they do if you leave?”

Tang Ning’an couldn’t help but laugh. “What ‘precious babies’? By age, they’re my ancestors.”

“Let’s not talk about those frustrating things. Anyway, that dead man Chang Huan only introduces garbage. Tomorrow, I’ll set up an exciting gathering for you. What young hunks and beauties, all of them are handsome men and gorgeous women, it’ll be beautiful.”

Fang Fang was from the calligraphy and painting restoration team. Colleagues often said it was a pity her mouth wasn’t on the New Year’s Gala. With her, the comedy skits would definitely be one better than the next. But some also said that with her mouth, she’d probably be shot down by the program reviewers as soon as she opened it because she wasn’t elegant at all, more like a street bum. Regardless of whether Fang Fang could get on the gala, she had already secured her persona as a joyful comedian.

Tang Ning’an quickly said, “Sister, Sister Fangfang, please don’t do that to me. I’m a little scared.”

“Tsk, you’re really not going?”

“Probably not.”

Fang Fang shook her head regretfully. “Ning’an, I’m not nagging, but you really have no taste.”

Tang Ning’an had been fooled once before, and this time she was determined not to fall for it again.

She said firmly, “I have astigmatism and near-sightedness. It’s fated that I have no taste. Sister Fangfang, please don’t be so emotional for me; we’ve already arrived.”

“Ning’an, the life of a worker is about to begin.” Fang Fang leaned back against her back, whining pitifully, which made Tang Ning’an stop the bike helplessly and respectfully support her arm, leading her into the office of the calligraphy and painting group.

“Oh, is it Little Tang’s turn to serve today? Fangfang, where’s your big eunuch, Little Chang?” A handsome man in his early thirties spoke up. Fang Fang rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t mention him to me. Be careful, or I’ll turn you into a little pebble tomorrow.”

Shi Lang had no interest in becoming a eunuch. He feigned busily searching for tools and newly printed materials on his desk. He didn’t dare to linger, and hugging what he had just found, he went back to his work.

Fang Fang pushed Tang Ning’an toward the outside, whispering, “Shi Lang’s eyes were all over you. When else is there to leave but now? That guy is divorced. You two are not a match.”

Tang Ning’an was both amused and speechless. Where did that come from?

She rode through the wide road, looking up at the dancing shadows of the leaves. Tang Ning’an had seen the scenery on this road for many years, but each time she appreciated it, she gained a new perspective, and her heart became peaceful.

The workplace was far from the tourist areas and not open to the public. So while tourists were admiring the ancient buildings, Tang Ning’an had already arrived at the ceramic restoration room.

Right now, in front of Tang Ning’an were hundreds of ceramic shards. She needed to patiently restore this broken porcelain vase. This was a task Tang Ning’an had just received not long ago.

She put on her gloves, carefully picked up one of the pieces, and observed it intently under the light. She then used a special tool to remove the dirt from the shard. Tang Ning’an was serious and focused, her gentle eyes looking at the shard through her glasses. She couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, “Although I haven’t started piecing it together yet, I think I can already imagine its original beauty.”

Tang Ning’an drew its outline on paper, then wrote down a number. The work ahead would be complex, but Tang Ning’an didn’t show the slightest impatience, remaining calm and dedicated to her task.

Her black hair was tied up, and this time no unruly strands would bother her sight. Tang Ning’an wore a taro-colored sweater that hugged her slender neck, highlighting her maturity and gentleness.

After a long time, she took off her glasses and leaned back against the chair. Her eyes were tired, and Tang Ning’an wanted to rest.

But the light, which was usually soft, became somewhat glaring. Tang Ning’an closed her eyes in discomfort, but the residual halo of light lingered.

“Strange,” she said.

This wasn’t the first time Tang Ning’an had rested in this position. Why did it feel different this time? Or had she been staring for too long?

Tang Ning’an pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, intending to put her glasses back on.

“Eh, where are my glasses?”

Tang Ning’an felt the table and found it empty. She was surprised. When she looked down at the floor and then back at the table, the glasses had reappeared.

Tang Ning’an was silent. She had a little astigmatism and near-sightedness, but she wasn’t blind. The glasses were indeed not there just now, which was why she bent down to look on the floor.

She furrowed her brow, picked up the glasses that had disappeared and reappeared, and looked at them again and again. She muttered to herself, “These are my glasses. Even the scuff marks on the temple are there. I accidentally stepped on them last time and was about to get a new pair.”

So, there should be nothing wrong with her glasses, right?

Maybe she really had been blind just now?

Tang Ning’an’s heart was filled with doubt. After a moment of hesitation, she put on her glasses.

However, the new change this time made Tang Ning’an’s eyes widen. She stared blankly at the figure that had appeared out of thin air on her desk, her heart seemingly stopping for a few seconds.

“Hi, I know you can see me.”

With a long, flowing skirt of azure, she smiled charmingly, looking no different from a normal person. But Tang Ning’an knew very well that she was not human.

Tang Ning’an held her breath, silently watching her. It wasn’t until the figure left the desk and flew to Tang Ning’an’s side that she blinked, recovering from her shock.

“I know you can see me, so stop pretending.”

“I’ll be honest, I’m not human, but don’t be scared. I don’t know why I could see you as soon as I opened my eyes.”

“What’s your name?”

Her smile was soft and very innocent. She said, “My name is Zhu Yun, and you?”

[Well, well, playing the naive and innocent type, are we? The reason she can see you is because you’re messing with her.]

Zhu Yun said calmly, “You shut up. I’m full of fire right now. Whoever provokes me, I’ll burn them.”

Zhu Yun had every right to be angry. This time, she was a spiritual entity that had lived inside an ancient celadon vase. Ordinary people couldn’t see her, so Zhu Yun’s life should have been undisturbed. However, a dramatic scene unfolded. After she was restored by the female lead, Tang Ning’an, Zhu Yun followed the ancient celadon vase to a man’s home, who was the male lead, Li Qingzhi.

Li Qingzhi was a collector who owned a private museum. His father had spent many years finding a set of artifacts lost abroad and selflessly donated them to the country. As a result, Li Qingzhi also became fond of his father’s hobby and collected many exquisite ceramics.

But Zhu Yun knew better than anyone what methods the Li family used to become so wealthy. His ancestor had been an extraordinary individual who could absorb the spiritual entities from ancient artifacts to gain great wealth, but at the same time, there was a side effect: the lives of the Li family members were short. There is a balance of yin and yang in all things.

So Zhu Yun wanted to escape, not wanting to die at Li Qingzhi’s hands. Unfortunately, Li Qingzhi wouldn’t let Zhu Yun go. Even if it meant killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of his own, he wanted Zhu Yun’s life.

From that moment on, Zhu Yun disappeared. She thought that since she hadn’t been discovered while alive, her death wouldn’t attract anyone’s attention either.

But she was wrong about one thing: someone still remembered her.

The woman who had single-handedly restored her never forgot this noble and elegant ancient celadon vase. Its azure body made people marvel at how such a color could be born from a dream, so beautiful and unbelievable. How could Tang Ning’an bear to forget it?

Later, after much inquiry from Tang Ning’an, she learned that the vase belonged to the collector Li Qingzhi. The two of them met as a result.

The plot of this world ended here, and Zhu Yun no longer knew what happened afterward.

So, to change the plot and avoid returning to Li Qingzhi’s hands, Zhu Yun decided to let Tang Ning’an see her.

Zhu Yun looked at Tang Ning’an with anticipation, without any malice. Her pure and clear eyes made Tang Ning’an blink again. She said nervously, “H… Hello, my name is Tang Ning’an.”

Zhu Yun clapped her hands with joy and said affectionately, “You’re the first person to see me! I’m so happy! You have no idea how lonely I was, staying in that vase for so long. I was so bored I was almost growing mold!”

Tang Ning’an felt her soul being stimulated, making her feel dizzy.

She pointed to the shards on the table and slowly said, “You mean, you are this broken vase?”

“Yes, I was a vase placed in the emperor’s private quarters, fired by the most skilled artisan of the ancient kiln. That emperor loved me very much and placed me on the treasure shelf, coming to see me a few times every day. When he was bored, he would draw and write poems on me. Actually, you shouldn’t just see him as an emperor; in private, he was just a nagging old man.”

Zhu Yun floated down and sat on the armrest of Tang Ning’an’s office chair, turning her lively eyes. She asked with a smile, “Are you restoring me?”

She was lively and cheerful, and her talkative nature was just to calm Tang Ning’an’s panic.

Zhu Yun’s black hair hanging down to her waist swayed back and forth, causing Tang Ning’an to instinctively pull her hand back. This was because Zhu Yun was sitting with her back to her, and the black hair seemed to brush against Tang Ning’an’s hand. She was worried that her hand would disturb this spirit.

Tang Ning’an nodded. “Yes, I am restoring you.”

Zhu Yun giggled, sensing her unease, and comforted her. “Don’t be scared. I can’t hurt you. At most, I’m just a chatty parasitic spirit.”

“Parasitic?” Tang Ning’an asked, puzzled.

She nodded. “Yes, parasitic. Ceramics are inanimate objects. How can they generate a solidified soul? To be precise, my existence is related to the artisan who created me and the emperor who loved me. That’s why I appeared and became one with the ceramic. You see how broken and tattered I am. How could I still be a powerful entity?”

Tang Ning’an felt a sense of novelty. Gradually, she became engrossed. These unprecedented stories dispelled her fear of Zhu Yun. She pursed her lips and asked, “Then why can I see you?”

Zhu Yun played dumb and spread her hands. “I don’t know either~”

Tang Ning’an, however, grew suspicious of her glasses. All the strangeness had appeared after she put on the glasses. So what if she took them off?

She had an idea. Zhu Yun smiled awkwardly. “She’s so smart.”

[I bet Little Zhu is regretting why she didn’t use her powers on her eyes.]

“Oh, just shut up!”

Just as Zhu Yun said, she was so tattered, what magical powers could she have? The reason Tang Ning’an could see her through the glasses this time was because Zhu Yun had bought a ‘Spirit-Seeing Talisman for All Things’ from the system store and cast a spell on the glasses with a few consecutive moves. This was how Tang Ning’an was able to see Zhu Yun today.

After Tang Ning’an took off her glasses, her vision returned to normal. She breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the problem was with the glasses, not with herself.

She ran her finger over the temple of the glasses, lowering her eyes in thought.

In the quiet restoration room, she was the only lively being.

After a moment, Tang Ning’an made a decision. She chose to put on her glasses.

Being passive and active was a very important thing. Tang Ning’an hoped she wouldn’t be too passive, so she was glad the problem was with the glasses.

When Tang Ning’an put on the glasses, her gentle, scholarly demeanor became even more serene. Her gaze met Zhu Yun’s, and she said softly, “I’ve thought about it carefully. I think I should keep in contact with you. In the past, when I was working, I always wished I had the ability to communicate with artifacts. Restoration would be much more efficient. But when I actually saw an artifact, I was a little scared. On second thought, I guess you would be scared of me too, after all, we’re strangers to each other.”

Zhu Yun jumped off the armrest of the chair and said joyfully, “I thought you would never want to see me again.”

Tang Ning’an smiled. “As a restorer, being able to see you is my good fortune.”

Zhu Yun’s eyes twinkled. She realized she had underestimated Tang Ning’an a little.

She tilted her head and said, “You are a very gentle person.”

No wonder she kept thinking about herself in the plot.

Tang Ning’an was instantly full of energy. After overcoming her fear, she thought about her work. She said, “Can you help me with the restoration?”

Zhu Yun bent her eyes and smiled faintly. “It would be my honor.”

[I thought Little Zhu was going to use her glib tongue for a bit.]

Zhu Yun had the same thought. She looked at the focused Tang Ning’an and curved her lips. “Her heart is simple and kind.”

[What a pity, she’s about to be ‘destroyed’ by Little Zhu.]

Zhu Yun swayed. She was going to be infuriated by Agent 857’s idioms. What did it mean by ‘destroying’? She hadn’t done anything yet.

Zhu Yun was unwilling to engage with Agent 857 and immediately blacklisted Agent 857 on her system panel. However, her eyes once again noticed the title that was being blocked.

She muttered to herself, wondering what the title after her name meant and when it would finally be revealed.

“H… Hello?”

Tang Ning’an politely called out to Zhu Yun, who instantly flew to Tang Ning’an’s side and said with a smile, “Just call me Little Zhu.”

Tang Ning’an smiled warmly, picked up a shard in her hand, and asked, “Is this a fragment from your side?”

“Let me see. Actually, I don’t really know. Oh well, let’s treat it as a last resort. It should be the place you mentioned.”

Zhu Yun looked at Tang Ning’an with an innocent expression, seemingly unaware of her own problem. She even blinked and asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Tang Ning’an hesitated for a moment and laughed dryly. “You don’t seem to care much about your own body.”

“It’s been broken for hundreds of years. The sadness is long gone.” Zhu Yun sat lazily on the table, dangling her feet.

Tang Ning’an frowned. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Zhu Yun didn’t mind at all and smiled. “Why are you apologizing to me? My vase is broken. Maybe I was a little sad at first because I was so beautiful. But now I have you, right? My second life is given by you. No, it should be my second rebirth.”

Tang Ning’an was stunned, then gave a dazed smile. Her eyes lit up with a moving brilliance because she had received a response from an artifact. A sense of mission poured into her heart. Tang Ning’an said, “You’re right. I’ll be here. I’ll make you as you were before.”

Zhu Yun’s eyes sparkled, which deeply moved Tang Ning’an.

“Then… can you buy me?”

Zhu Yun didn’t want to see Li Qingzhi, at least not now. Zhu Yun felt a seal inside her body, but she didn’t know where it came from. All in all, it was a cloud of mystery.

Tang Ning’an’s eyes widened as she looked at Zhu Yun. After safely putting down the shard in her hand, she breathed a sigh of relief because Zhu Yun’s words had genuinely scared her.

“It’s not that I don’t want to buy you.”

“But you are an azure porcelain vase from a famous kiln, a rarity in this world. I can’t afford you.”

Tang Ning’an smiled bitterly and held her forehead. She suddenly felt like she was a bad woman who had failed her. What should she do now?

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