I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 36

If someone had told Zhu Yun she’d wake up as a “rich second generation,” she’d have checked their forehead and said, “Are you sick? You’re talking nonsense.”

But that’s exactly what happened to Zhu Yun. She had been in a daze since she woke up, her eyes fixed on the jewelry stand in front of her. It was filled with all sorts of luxurious and precious jewels and accessories. No one could resist the excitement they brought—unless they weren’t human!

Xiao Zhu, Xiao Zhu, you’ve been zoned out for half an hour. Say something.

At that moment, Zhu Yun seemed to have her “pause” button released. She spoke softly, “Number 857, this is my third mission, right? We’re good partners, so can you please free up a spot in the system space so I can store all these treasures?”

NO!!

That’s not allowed

Zhu Yun clutched her heart in agony and cried out, “Have pity on a country bumpkin like me! I can’t take any of these treasures with me, it’s so painful. I’m going to die, I’m suffocating…”

She was being dramatic, but Number 857 remained unmoved.

Zhu Yun’s heart shattered. She could almost hear it cracking. Waking up as a rich heiress was great, but she was bankrupt!

She quickly got out of bed, her bare feet on the carpet, and pointed at the outrageously opulent jewelry stand. She asked again, “If I can’t take all of them, can I at least secretly take this inconspicuous jade pendant?”

NONONO, you’ve already pawned all these jewels. Taking them is illegal.

“That wasn’t me!” Zhu Yun adamantly refused to accept that she was the one who had done such a thing. She was an honest task-taker who had just graduated from being a rookie. After all, she had completed two missions! Oh right, two missions. What were they again? She remembered surviving until the end—ay, hey! But someone had also survived with her. No, that person was different and didn’t have to avoid plot-related deaths. Who was it?

“Number 857, did my memory glitch again?” Wait, why did she say “again”?

Number 857 secretly glanced at Zhu Yun’s personal info on the system panel. Seeing that her “yuri novel supporting character” aura was no longer as dim as before, it wiggled the antennas on its head. This was its new look after the upgrade; it had a pair of antennas now, which must make it super cute.

You forgot, but you can still find her!

A ripple spread across Zhu Yun’s eyes. She wasn’t sure why, but after receiving Number 857’s affirmation, her anxiety slowly subsided. As long as she could meet that person again, that was all that mattered.

“Wait, wait, I’m getting sidetracked. The person who pawned the house and jewels wasn’t me, so why should I have to bear her mistakes?”

Xiao Zhu, stop making excuses. The Zhu Yun of this world is you. But now that you have me, your magical assistant, everything will be different~

It’s okay to be bankrupt. You’ll get rich again. Don’t ask how, just know that I believe in you!

Don’t worry, you’ll have money!

“Like how?”

The two antennas on Number 857’s head instantly twisted into a braid. It wilted, losing its excitement.

I… I don’t know either.

Zhu Yun couldn’t help but laugh. Her dejected expression was replaced by a cheerful smile. She looked nostalgically at the room’s decor. Zhu Yun had already been given the plot of this world by Number 857, which gave her a sense of attachment to this home.

This was a room her parents had designed for her, and every detail showed their love.

It was a shame they had died in a car accident a year ago. Zhu Yun, who had been doted on and spoiled, was unable to manage the company. Her uncle’s family, who had long coveted their assets, moved in under the guise of taking care of the orphaned Zhu Yun. Lacking the ability of her younger brother and sister-in-law, they squandered the family fortune in just one year. In the end, Zhu Yun had to sell her assets to fill the void, or she would be implicated.

Zhu Yun rubbed her temples, a headache brewing. That family was full of eccentric and awful people, no wonder her death in the original plot was so tragic.

After going bankrupt, Zhu Yun rented a small room. Luckily, she was a graduate of a top university and had work experience, so she quickly got a job as a regular office worker. However, because of her beautiful face and the occasional attention from the male lead, Chu Chengwen, rumors quickly spread throughout the company, slandering Zhu Yun and saying she got her job by sleeping her way to the top. They didn’t know that Zhu Yun used to be a socialite and had met Chu Chengwen a few times at parties.

Chu Chengwen’s attention came from a place of sympathy for a delicate woman. Even after Zhu Yun politely rejected him a few times, he didn’t give up on the idea of taking care of her. In his eyes, a fragile woman needed a man’s help. He had no idea how much his actions were hurting Zhu Yun.

His chauvinism felt condescending to Zhu Yun, so she quit her job. Before she left, she gave Chu Chengwen a good dressing-down, which angered the proud and arrogant male lead. This made it difficult for Zhu Yun to find a job later on.

The company’s rumors somehow reached Zhu Yun’s uncle, Zhu Kaikuo. He came up with a plan, drugged Zhu Yun, and sent her to Chu Chengwen’s hotel room. But the person in the hotel that night wasn’t Chu Chengwen; it was the female lead, Tang Xinhai, who was sick. She found a doctor to save Zhu Yun, keeping her from a desperate situation.

However, the male lead Chu Chengwen thought Zhu Yun was trying to get with him and that it would make Tang Xinhai misunderstand. In a fit of rage, he humiliated Zhu Yun, telling her to stop dreaming.

The restaurant was crowded that day, and the strange looks made Zhu Yun snap. She grabbed a knife and stabbed Chu Chengwen before escaping in the chaos. She didn’t go anywhere else. She took a cab to see her uncle, Zhu Kaikuo, stabbed him to death, and then took her own life.

The plot of this world replayed in Zhu Yun’s mind, and she sighed. “What kind of mess is this? How could I be so unlucky! When will that old coot Zhu Kaikuo be taken by the King of Hell? When he is, I’ll burn him extra paper money on his grave! And that Chu Chengwen—I suspect he doesn’t understand human language because he’s a pig.”

Number 857 listened to Zhu Yun’s about the world’s plot, its black eyes guiltily curved into a line. The plot was a bit ridiculous, but what could it do? The world’s difficulty was meant to gradually increase. Luckily, Xiao Zhu hadn’t realized that yet, or she’d definitely throw a tantrum.

Don’t be angry. This time, we won’t go work at his company.

Zhu Yun let out a cold laugh, putting her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to be a wage-earner anymore, I’m going to be a boss!”

She definitely couldn’t work at the male lead’s company. Who knew what crazy things he would do? She had gotten her original job based on her own abilities, what did it have to do with him? She didn’t know what was in the hearts of those people gossiping behind her back, but it certainly wasn’t good.

That’s right! Go, Xiao Zhu, go! You’re the best

But Zhu Yun couldn’t help but feel a little teary. By tomorrow, all the jewelry on that stand would no longer be hers.

“Wuwu, what a tragedy!”

“To see but not to eat, isn’t this torture?!”

“Farewell, my little treasures.”

The jewelry on the stand were all Zhu Yun’s beloved possessions. They had been expensive to buy, and she wasn’t going to sell them cheaply. Thankfully, the pawnshop owner was an expert and didn’t haggle too much, which made Zhu Yun feel a little better. At least her little treasures would find someone who loved them.

She stepped onto the bed, motivating herself. “I’m going to get rich! I’m going to redeem all my little treasures!”

The system was right. What if she really did get rich in the future?

A person has to have dreams, right?

The autumn air was crisp and refreshing.

A beautiful, fair-skinned woman with bright eyes followed a real estate agent to a small, unassuming shop. The shop wasn’t very big, but the second floor could be lived in, and there was a grape trellis on the roof. It was autumn now, but in the summer, you could see clusters of black and purple grapes.

Zhu Yun shielded her eyes from the sun. After a discussion with Number 857, she decided to rent this place. But she still complained about it a bit, and the agent, with a heavy heart, lowered the price by a few hundred yuan. In the end, Zhu Yun got the shop.

“Miss Zhu, do you need me to find a cleaner for you? The price is the most affordable, I absolutely won’t cheat you.” The agent said with a smile, hoping to make a little more money from Zhu Yun. But Zhu Yun, who didn’t have much money left, didn’t even consider hiring someone. She could handle the cleaning herself.

She saw the agent off, grabbed a shared bicycle, and went to move her luggage. She even made a joke about her misfortune, “It’s a good thing all the good stuff was pawned, or I’d be tired from moving it all.”

Hahahaha, when you say that, please don’t have such a forced smile, Xiao Zhu.

“Hmph.”

Opening this small shop wasn’t a rash decision by Zhu Yun. It was a choice she made after getting a copy of a royal chef’s handwritten cookbook. Zhu Yun had found the book in the system store. An idea suddenly sparked in her mind, and seeing the 10,000 points she had saved up, Zhu Yun didn’t hesitate to buy it. After flipping through the contents, she was even more grateful for her decisive action. With this cookbook, she felt much more confident about opening a restaurant.

Besides the cookbook, she also spent a few hundred points on several bottles of spiritual spring water. This was also a coincidence because every time Zhu Yun browsed the system space, she would see those two items she had bought before: a medicine bottle and a wine bottle. Both had detailed labels saying they were items crafted by the fairy Yun Yao. So when she saw the name Yun Yao again while refreshing the system space, she subconsciously bought a few bottles of the spiritual spring water.

Zhu Yun was busy for several days. She didn’t need to do a major renovation. The small shop used to be a restaurant, but she needed to buy new bowls and chopsticks. She also didn’t forget to buy a few pots of flowers, placing them on a flower stand, which added a lot of life to the small restaurant.

“Hello?”

Zhu Yun, who was cleaning, looked up. She turned and saw a slim woman standing against the light. Her long black hair fell to her waist, and she had an elegant, beautiful appearance. For a moment, Zhu Yun thought one of the flowers she bought had turned into a fairy; the woman was just too beautiful.

She took off the mask she was wearing to protect against dust and said kindly, “Hello, can I help you?”

As soon as Zhu Yun spoke, the beautiful woman shyly lowered her head, her fingertips twisting together. She seemed to be a reserved person.

Zhu Yun was good-natured and didn’t rush her. Such a beautiful person, it was worth looking at her a little longer. Why rush her to answer?

“Excuse me, where did you get these pots of orchids and begonias?” Her voice was soft, like a gentle breeze rustling flower petals. It was so soothing and captivating.

Zhu Yun hadn’t expected the flowers to be what attracted this woman. She smiled and said, “A new flower shop opened nearby a while ago. I bought them from her.”

The woman nodded happily. Since she had walked in, her eyes had been downcast, like a lazy flower branch that was beautiful even without blooming fully.

Zhu Yun thought she was very shy, like a sensitive plant.

She bit her lip, leaving a faint mark. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, it’s a small thing.”

She timidly looked up at Zhu Yun. She had intended to get a better look at her, curious how she managed to make the flowers look so vibrant and alive that she had walked past the shop and then turned back. It was all for the stunning flowers bathed in the autumn twilight.

But Tang Xinhai never expected that this one casual glance would fill her with such joy, as if she had seen the most enchanting scenery in the world.

She could remember this person’s face. Not just a simple set of features, but a face she could clearly see and remember in her heart.

“Huh?” Zhu Yun was about to put her mask back on to continue working, when she saw the woman at the door quickly walk toward her. Zhu Yun, startled, pressed herself against the wall, holding her broom.

“What are you doing?”

It was then that Zhu Yun noticed the woman’s amber-colored eyes. They shimmered, exuding a captivating charm that made Zhu Yun think of her own jewelry stand. It seemed no piece of jewelry could compare to the lively charm of these eyes.

Although Zhu Yun was captivated by her beauty, she didn’t let her guard down. She looked her up and down and said helplessly, “What exactly do you want to do?”

Tang Xinhai was so delighted she almost cried. Even though Zhu Yun had put her mask on, she still remembered the face she had just seen—delicate and lovely, something Tang Xinhai couldn’t believe was real.

“Did… did I scare you?”

Zhu Yun saw the woman’s nervous retreating steps, as if she thought Zhu Yun was some kind of fragile glass that would break if she spoke too loudly.

“I’m fine.” Zhu Yun thought she was a good person for having the presence of mind to think about such things.

Tang Xinhai shyly mustered her courage and introduced herself, “I… I live in the residential area just ahead. I was on my way home from work and was attracted by the orchids in your shop. I love flowers, but I’m too busy with work to take care of them. Seeing your orchids made me so happy, and I really want to buy a pot to keep at home. My name is Tang Xinhai. When will your shop open? I’ll definitely come to support you.”

Listening to her praise the orchids, Zhu Yun couldn’t help but feel proud. However, she knew it was all thanks to the spiritual spring water she had bought. After getting used to them, Zhu Yun had started treating them as normal flowers, so she didn’t expect them to attract customers.

But when she heard the name Tang Xinhai, the relaxed smile on Zhu Yun’s face changed. On this ordinary evening, she had met the female lead who, in the original plot, was the only one to show her kindness.

Zhu Yun was filled with a mix of emotions, and she found it hard to believe.

Was this the fabled “fate”?

Number 857, who was watching everything from the system space, wiggled its head. It hid its merit and reputation, determined not to let Zhu Yun find out that it had deliberately led her to this house. Otherwise, with so many agents, why would she have chosen that one in particular? There was a reason for everything.

Tang Xinhai watched Zhu Yun’s expression without blinking. This feeling of being able to see someone’s face clearly was wonderful. Tang Xinhai could even see Zhu Yun’s eyes light up, as if she had encountered something amazing.

Zhu Yun extended her hand with a smile, “My name is Zhu Yun, and it’s nice to meet you. The shop will open in five days. All dishes will be 20% off. If you come, I’ll give you a complimentary plate of my special braised pork. It’s so delicious! It’s fatty but not greasy, and so fragrant. With a bowl of rice, it’s worth more than a thousand pieces of gold!”

Tang Xinhai’s heart was racing. Her eyes remained focused on Zhu Yun’s face. Not even the promise of a priceless meal could get Tang Xinhai’s attention. She smiled, and her slender fingers clasped Zhu Yun’s hand, “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

The negative energy she had accumulated from work dissipated at this very moment. Tang Xinhai was glad she hadn’t taken a different route and had chosen this quiet road. Otherwise, she never would have encountered that wind-swaying orchid and this one-of-a-kind Zhu Yun.

Yes, that’s right, one-of-a-kind.

Ever since Tang Xinhai was old enough to remember faces, she had realized she had a problem: she was face blind. She used people’s voices to remember them. She couldn’t distinguish any emotions or expressions from a person’s face. Her senses felt blocked, which was why people often said she was cold and distant, a hard-to-reach high-society woman.

Tang Xinhai felt helpless about this. She had explained it before, but because she was face blind and wanted to avoid mistaking people, she had to limit her interactions. She needed to concentrate on remembering people’s voices.

Being face blind wasn’t a big deal in school, but she found out it could be life-threatening once she entered the workforce.

Speaking of work, she was full of frustration. How did she, a programmer, end up as the vice president’s assistant? This was obviously not her specialty. But seeing the doubled salary, Tang Xinhai could only accept the job.

Tang Xinhai silently memorized Zhu Yun’s name. She didn’t want to keep Zhu Yun from her work, so she smiled and said goodbye. Before she left, she waved at Zhu Yun, “I’ll definitely be here for your grand opening.”

A beautiful woman’s smile was exceptionally radiant. Zhu Yun rested her chin on the top of her broom, frowning. She asked, “Was the female lead this warm in the plot? I remember she seemed to be aloof with everyone. I heard a lot of people at the company mocking Tang Xinhai.”

Heeheehee, who cares if she’s warm or not? The point is, she’s friendly to you.

Zhu Yun nodded. “That’s true. She even saved me in the plot.”

Right, right.

As night fell, the autumn wind grew fierce, and the temperature dropped.

After a tiring day, Zhu Yun dried her hair and fell asleep, unaware that someone was so happy about her appearance that they couldn’t sleep. In the end, Tang Xinhai had to read a difficult foreign novel for a while before she was able to peacefully fall asleep.

The wheel of fate was pushed once again. Whose heart would fall in love today?

The new shop’s opening, of course, was celebrated with noisy firecrackers. The popping and crackling sounded auspicious, signifying a prosperous start. It also let the surrounding residents know that a new small restaurant had opened. It didn’t have a name, just a small wooden board outside that read “20% off today.” The most eye-catching thing was the few pots of flowers inside, which everyone who saw them praised as “beautiful”!

But soon, what attracted customers wasn’t the flowers, but the fragrant braised meat that made people’s mouths water. Zhu Yun wasn’t stingy; she sliced a plate of braised meat for people to taste. Her appearance made everyone realize that the owner of this place was a young woman with a stunning appearance. Paired with the spicy and delicious braised beef that made people want to eat another piece, a few greedy customers insisted on coming in to try it.

“Boss, I’d like an order of preserved vegetable and fish, and a pork rib soup. What else do you have besides the braised beef?”

There weren’t many customers yet, so Zhu Yun could handle everything herself. Besides, Number 857 was keeping an eye on things; no one would dare to dine and dash.

As dusk quietly fell, Tang Xinhai arrived as promised.

She didn’t care about the astonished looks on other people’s faces and walked directly to Zhu Yun, who was busy with the accounts. Tang Xinhai’s face, which had been cold all day, blossomed into a smile. “I’d like a pot rice, please, and a lotus root and pork rib soup.”

She had been restraining herself from looking for Zhu Yun for the past few days, wanting to test if she could still remember Zhu Yun’s face. This test didn’t disappoint Tang Xinhai. She was able to find Zhu Yun accurately even before she spoke.

A delicate and cute ornament, a cheerful beckoning cat, appeared in front of Zhu Yun.

She blinked, seemingly not expecting Tang Xinhai to give her a gift.

“Number 857, do you think she has some kind of ulterior motive?”

The way she’s looking at me is making me a little nervous.

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