I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 48

At 8:30 PM, Wei Wei, the long-unseen fair-weather friend, arrived at the shop. Her eyes, filled with disdain, searched for Zhuyun’s whereabouts. It was as if her presence in this low-class place was a kind of shame, yet she had no choice but to come. This only deepened her resentment toward Zhuyun. If she didn’t need something from Zhuyun, she wouldn’t have come to this unfashionable, broken-down place. But then she thought, Zhuyun had become a down-and-out chef, so her appearance must be terrible now. After all, spending all day in a kitchen, it would be strange if she didn’t become ugly!

Driven by vanity and a desire to see a spectacle, she wanted to see Zhuyun. Wei Wei was very curious about what kind of charm Zhuyun had to steal her man. She wasn’t a rich heiress anymore, so did she have three heads and six arms? Was she some kind of freak? Was that why Chu Chengwen, that man with no taste, had fallen for Zhuyun?

Wei Wei’s mind was filled with silent criticism. She put on airs and found a random seat. She deliberately turned her body to her most flattering angle, as arrogant as a graceful swan. She was sure she would make the greasy and sloppy Zhuyun green with envy!

She was a woman from a wealthy family; what right did a bankrupt chef have to steal her man? Not even her old fair-weather friends were allowed!

Her condescending posture made her stand out from the other customers. That’s why the moment Zhuyun pulled back the curtain, she spotted Wei Wei, the attention-seeker.

Zhuyun saw her with her back straight and her head held high, looking just like a rooster—no, a hen.

Zhuyun walked over to her, put one hand on her hip, and stood in the most relaxed pose possible. “Oh, isn’t this little Wei Wei?” she said.

“Zhuyun?!” Wei Wei shot up as if she’d been jabbed in the rear with a needle. She stared at Zhuyun in horror as if she had seen a ghost. She clutched her heart and said in a low voice, “Are you really a chef and not a vixen?”

Oh, heavens! This woman named Zhu was completely different from what she had imagined. What happened to becoming ugly and fat? Why did she secretly get more beautiful behind her back? Her fair skin was rosy and her complexion was as fresh as a peach. She was more vivacious than before, like a tender young vegetable just picked from the garden—so delicate you could squeeze water out of her!

“Young vegetable, no, I mean, Zhuyun, did you get plastic surgery?!”

Wei Wei stared at Zhuyun jealously, wishing she could scratch her face on the spot.

Zhuyun gave her a frank eye-roll. She didn’t stand anymore but sat directly opposite Wei Wei. With a fake smile, she said, “I’m so busy all day, where would I have the time to get plastic surgery? Besides, have you ever seen a vixen as cute as me? If I were a vixen, I’d eat you first so your mouth couldn’t say such things.”

Her tender, fair face wore a fierce expression, and with her little white teeth bared, she truly looked a bit menacing. Wei Wei shrank back, her heart timid but her mouth defiant. She protested, “You truly are a boss. Your face is thicker than a city wall. Calling yourself cute—how shameless.”

Zhuyun raised an eyebrow and slapped the table, startling Wei Wei again. She said impatiently, “Are you here to cause trouble or to eat? I haven’t seen you in so many days, I thought our friendship was over. It’s not?”

“Who ended our friendship? I was out of the country!” Wei Wei was stubborn, refusing to admit she had avoided Zhuyun for fear she would ask for money. That’s why she took a spontaneous trip abroad.

Zhuyun saw that she couldn’t speak a single truth and scoffed, “I’d rather go back and peel my potatoes.” Why waste time on her?

She got up to leave, but Wei Wei wouldn’t let her.

Wei Wei had done a lot of mental preparation to even set foot in this shop. She had hesitated at home for a long time but decided to approach Zhuyun first. So she grabbed Zhuyun’s wrist, hoping to rekindle their friendship.

Zhuyun, wary of being too close, shook her hand off. She had a girlfriend now, and no one else could get a step closer! Hmph.

Seeing the look of resistance on Zhuyun’s face, Wei Wei didn’t have to pretend to cry; she was really crying. She was going crazy with jealousy. Why was Zhuyun still so beautiful? So fair, tender, and lovely. She didn’t look like a chef who stayed in a smoky kitchen; she looked like a pampered young lady!

Wiping her tears and sobbing, she said, “Don’t go yet, I have something to tell you. My dad wants me to marry Brother Chengwen, a business marriage. You know his conditions, he’s never lacked girlfriends. When we get married, I’ll just be a prop. Zhuyun, do you think he’s jealous? I haven’t even had a lover, and he’s already worried about one. Does that mean he cares about me?”

Zhuyun’s face scrunched up like a bitter melon. What had she done wrong today to deserve this kind of torture?

“I don’t quite understand you. Do you want to marry Chu Chengwen or not?”

Wei Wei wiped her tears again and said tearfully, “I don’t want to have a business marriage with him.”

Zhuyun suddenly understood. Ah, so she disliked Chu Chengwen. That was easy to handle!

Just as she was about to give Wei Wei some advice, she saw her beautiful girlfriend appear. Tang Xinhai stood at the entrance, mature and stunning. Her delicate features were adorned with a gentle, shallow smile. Zhuyun couldn’t help but cup her cheeks, feeling a surge of delight.

Wow, she really was her girlfriend!

She excitedly hugged Tang Xinhai’s arm and went to show off to her fair-weather friend. Zhuyun knew she was petty and held grudges. Even though Wei Wei was crying so miserably, Zhuyun didn’t feel sorry for her at all. That friendship had ended long ago. Zhuyun was too busy enjoying the spectacle to feel pity. If Zhuyun pitied Wei Wei, who would pity Zhuyun?

So she happily introduced Tang Xinhai to Wei Wei. But after Wei Wei finished her tearful confession, Zhuyun’s clever little brain seemed to have short-circuited.

She didn’t miss the gossiping eyes of the other customers. Good heavens, she wasn’t just a carrier of gossip; she was the one creating it!

Zhuyun quickly stopped Wei Wei’s tearful monologue. “Didn’t you just tell me you didn’t want to marry Chu Chengwen? Now you’re saying you want to. And I have nothing to do with him. Don’t drag me into your business.”

What a mess. Chu Chengwen had feelings for her? She would rather believe he was a eunuch.

Wei Wei stomped her foot and, with red eyes, explained, “I said I don’t want to have a business marriage with Brother Chengwen, not that I don’t want to marry him!”

Zhuyun understood. “You mean you want a marriage of love with Chu Chengwen, not just a marriage of convenience.”

Tang Xinhai’s beautiful eyes lightly swept over Zhuyun. There wasn’t a hint of blame, but Zhuyun somehow felt like she had upset her.

Zhuyun instinctively gave her a sweet smile. Tang Xinhai subtly curved her red lips, letting her off the hook for now.

Zhuyun puffed her cheeks, strongly denouncing her own fawning behavior. Next time, she absolutely wouldn’t do this. She had to stand up for herself and be a sharp-tongued debater, not a wife-fearing pushover!

Wei Wei’s face turned beet red at Zhuyun’s words. She gave Zhuyun a resentful look, finding her shameless, but Zhuyun’s words had also hit upon her truest feelings.

Tang Xinhai said unhurriedly, “Miss Wei, Xiao Zhu is my girlfriend. Do you think it’s appropriate to say to my girlfriend’s face that you hope she’ll let go of Chu Chengwen? The relationship between Xiao Zhu and Chu Chengwen is nothing more than that of ordinary friends. His heart and his words are his own; Xiao Zhu has no right to control them. Is it because Xiao Zhu is so cute that she is coveted by your fiancé? Then you should confront Chu Chengwen, not come to an innocent victim.”

She spoke slowly and methodically, clarifying Wei Wei’s ambiguous words. She also subtly belittled Chu Chengwen and rebuked Wei Wei. Seeing the sparkle in Zhu Jun’s eyes, it was clear how happy she was now.

In the past, Zhuyun could have torn Wei Wei apart with her words alone, but now she had someone to protect her, so why bother with a verbal spar?

Zhuyun winked at Tang Xinhai, hooked her little finger with hers, and then tickled Tang Xinhai’s palm. Finally, Tang Xinhai grabbed her mischievous hand, which made her settle down.

Wei Wei’s expression went blank, and then tears gushed out. She pointed at Tang Xinhai and said, “What’s cute about Zhuyun? It’s her good fortune to be on Brother Chengwen’s mind!”

Zhuyun said indifferently, “From now on, that good fortune is yours. No need to thank me, I’m a good person.”

What a joke. Chu Chengwen was her enemy! She was already restraining herself from slapping him every time she saw him. Now she was supposed to accept this “good fortune”? She’d rather be killed with a knife.

Zhuyun looked at Wei Wei’s reddened eyes and sighed. She felt a sense of unspoken regret. Although she had ended her friendship with Wei Wei, she was still a person and a woman. Zhuyun didn’t want her to get caught in an emotional entanglement with Chu Chengwen in the future. But seeing how she was so love-struck, Zhuyun knew she wouldn’t be able to talk any sense into her and decided not to say anything more.

Wei Wei wanted to argue, but Zhuyun’s calm, indifferent gaze made her feel as if her throat was clogged. Zhuyun said slowly, “There’s a head on every debt. Please don’t involve me in your and Chu Chengwen’s matters. My life is very good now, and I have someone I love. You can do whatever you want with your lives, but please don’t disturb mine again.”

Zhuyun pushed the door open for her. Her serene smile was polite yet distant, making Wei Wei feel that she was a complete stranger. Zhuyun said, “After I went bankrupt, we stopped contacting each other. Let’s keep it that way. I don’t want to see you again.”

Wei Wei stood frozen in place and didn’t even remember how she walked out of the shop.

Had she done anything wrong?

Probably not.

She was just afraid that Zhuyun would use their past friendship to ask for money. Small amounts were fine, but large amounts were definitely not. So, afraid that she wouldn’t be able to refuse Zhuyun on the spot, she had thought of running away and using a trip abroad to avoid her. But she had never wanted to become a stranger to Zhuyun.

When she was traveling abroad, she saw on her social media that Zhuyun had opened a small restaurant and become a chef. She had even thoughtfully bought Zhuyun some brand-name cosmetics. If she hadn’t cared for her as a friend and bought those things, Zhuyun probably couldn’t afford them now to take care of herself.

She considered Zhuyun a friend. And because she saw her as a friend, she got angry after hearing Brother Chengwen’s story and came to confront her.

But why was Zhuyun’s attitude like that?

Maybe she really was wrong?

She couldn’t figure it out and didn’t dare go back to ask Zhuyun. In Wei Wei’s mind, she clearly remembered the look in Zhuyun’s eyes a moment ago—it was a calm stillness, as if she were looking at a passerby who didn’t matter.

She found her car and drove away in a state of disarray.

The chill of the night grew stronger, and the wind made the wind chimes ring, clear and pleasant.

Zhuyun locked the shop door from the inside. After a full day of work, she could finally enjoy some alone time with Tang Xinhai.

She went ahead, and Tang Xinhai followed, and they went up to the second floor together.

No one knew when it started, but they had been living in the same room. No one had brought it up; it had just become a comfortable habit.

In the bathroom, the air was misty. They held each other tightly, their lips washed by the water, unable to tell which was warmer: their lips or the water.

Slender arms wrapped around the other’s waist, as if to merge and become one.

After a tender moment, a trace of charm lingered in their eyes. Tang Xinhai reached for a cup of water and handed it to Zhuyun to moisten her throat. She leaned her head on her hand lazily, watching Zhu Jun with a smile. “Are you tired?”

“I’m not tired! Who are you underestimating?” Zhuyun glanced at Tang Xinhai in disdain. After drinking the water, she planned to feed some to her.

Tang Xinhai shook her head, placed the cup aside, and reached out to pull Zhuyun into the bed. They started to talk about some of the day’s trivial matters. Tang Xinhai didn’t hide what she had said to Ye Yiran in the car. Zhuyun wasn’t disappointed by Ye Yiran’s refusal. She found a comfortable position and buried herself in Tang Xinhai’s arms. “First, plant a seed in her mind. I don’t believe Ye Yiran will be unmoved.”

Sigh, she had gone offline too early in the story. She didn’t even know what happened between Tang Xinhai and Chu Chengwen later, let alone other people’s stories. If only she had lived longer, maybe she could have found Ye Yiran’s secret and used it as leverage. Unfortunately, she could only fantasize about it.

She rubbed against Tang Xinhai’s chest and giggled. “So soft.”

Tang Xinhai patted her back and laughed exasperatedly. “Go to sleep. If you don’t behave, you won’t get any sleep.”

Zhuyun knew exactly what kind of “not sleeping” she was referring to.

She gave a sassy little huff and decided to abandon Tang Xinhai’s embrace, turning her back to her in a stubborn display.

The light was turned off, and the room was dark.

Tang Xinhai skillfully wrapped her arms around Zhuyun’s waist, holding her from behind, a tight, inseparable embrace.

“This is uncomfortable!”

“Be a good girl, go to sleep.”

Tang Xinhai’s voice was slightly husky, and Zhuyun’s heart skipped a beat.

Never mind, let her do what she wants. It was warm like this anyway.

“Good night~”

Tang Xinhai rested her head contentedly on Zhuyun’s shoulder and whispered, “Good night, baby.”

The sweet warmth in the room belonged to them. At the same time, on the balcony of a villa, Ye Yiran and Chu Chengwen were smoking and talking.

Ye Yiran had something on her mind tonight, and she wanted a cigarette. She hadn’t smoked in a long time, so she borrowed one from Chu Chengwen and went to the balcony to get some fresh air.

The smell of tobacco cleared her head. She leaned on the balcony and looked down. In a daze, she thought of the first time she came to this villa. Back then, she was naive and curious, looking up and not knowing what kind of view the balcony held, but she was sure it must be beautiful because she had never seen such a luxurious house.

Twenty years had passed in a flash. She was no longer the same Ye Yiran. She could now enjoy any part of this villa.

“Aunt.”

Ye Yiran flicked the ash off her cigarette and took a puff. “Why aren’t you downstairs with your parents?”

“I’m tired of listening to them. They’re rushing me to get married,” Chu Chengwen said. He was also craving a cigarette and lit one to keep Ye Yiran company.

His marriage had never been settled. Not long ago, his parents had brought it up again. Chu Chengwen didn’t know what got into him, but he had chosen Wei Wei from so many people.

Maybe… because she was Zhuyun’s friend?

Chu Chengwen laughed and shook his head. He really was going crazy.

“It’s time you got married.”

Chu Chengwen didn’t think too much of it and joked, “Aunt, you’re not married either? Why are you rushing me?”

Ye Yiran glanced at Chu Chengwen. The look in her eyes was profound, and it slowly wiped the smile off his face. He stiffly twitched the corner of his lips. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

She took the cigarette pack and used her lit cigarette to light a new one. Ye Yiran’s expression was cold and indifferent. With a sweeping glance, she looked at Chu Chengwen. He didn’t even dare to take the cigarette pack back.

Ye Yiran said, “I’m not getting married because I’m responsible to myself. I know what I want. Chengwen, whose responsibility is your marriage? It’s certainly not yours.”

“Aunt, what kind of riddle are you speaking?” Chu Chengwen shrugged nonchalantly. Getting married was no big deal. Marrying anyone was the same. He didn’t have the same perspective as Ye Yiran.

Ye Yiran directly brought up the matter. “You contacted Zhu Kaikuo, didn’t you?”

Chu Chengwen’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you asking that? Zhu Kaikuo and I did talk on the phone a few times, but he seems to have disappeared recently. I was wondering about that.”

Ye Yiran gave a cold laugh. “He had his Achilles tendons severed by Zhao Wei’an and became a cripple.”

“What?!”

Chu Chengwen was still wondering when Zhu Kaikuo had offended Zhao Wei’an. But after listening to Ye Yiran’s story, the first thing he thought of was denial.

“Aunt, I didn’t know about this from beginning to end. You saw it yourself; I left before the banquet ended. This was all Zhu Kaikuo’s own idea. It has nothing to do with me.”

Ye Yiran raised her voice and sneered, “If you hadn’t promised him benefits, would a useless person like Zhu Kaikuo have come up with such an idea?”

Although Tang Xinhai hadn’t explicitly said what Zhu Kaikuo had done to Zhuyun in the car, by connecting the details of that day with Tang Xinhai wanting to deal with Chu Chengwen, Ye Yiran was able to figure out the situation. Hearing Chu Chengwen admit that he had talked with Zhu Kaikuo privately only made her more certain of her deduction.

Chu Chengwen took a deep drag on his cigarette and retorted, “I did promise him benefits, but I didn’t ask him to do something like that!”

Ye Yiran calmly approached Chu Chengwen and stared into his eyes. “You’ve known Zhuyun for a long time. If you liked her, you wouldn’t have waited until now to make a move. So everything you did was to provoke Tang Xinhai. You still haven’t given up on her.”

Chu Chengwen’s eyebrow twitched. He wanted to refute her, but after seeing the look in his aunt Ye Yiran’s eyes, his scalp tingled. Chu Chengwen didn’t explain.

Silence was an admission.

Ye Yiran smiled, a look of profound mockery in her eyes. “Tang Xinhai is already with Zhuyun. Stay away from both of them.”

Chu Chengwen gritted his teeth, angrily shook his head, and walked away.

The balcony was now left with only her. The cold wind and the cigarette gave her a clarity she had never felt before.

There was a good place in a distant country that she never had a chance to visit.

Well, she would let her nephew, Chengwen, go there for her.

A black car was parked on the side of the road. A woman wearing sunglasses stealthily got into the car. She nervously stared at the man. “Did you bring the thing?” she asked in a low voice.

She was serious, proper, and fully armed, which made the man twitch his lips. “Zhuyun, you’re here to buy something, not to exchange intelligence,” he said speechlessly.

Did you have to be so dramatic?

Zhuyun pushed her sunglasses up, revealing her bright and beautiful eyes. “Do you understand what a surprise is? You really are a man with no romance.”

Stealthily buying and hiding a gift was what a surprise was all about. So how could she not dress up? What if her girlfriend recognized her?

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