I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 6

The cooking showdown wasn’t as intense as System 857 had imagined. Zhu Yun and Zhou Shihao were both engrossed in preparing their own dishes. Despite being a handsome man and a beautiful woman, the atmosphere between them was strangely awkward.

Tang Yueqi was washing cherry tomatoes. Zhu Yun looked at her slender fingers cleaning the glistening little tomatoes and couldn’t help but say, “They look delicious.”

Zhu Yun smiled and looked up, as if making an excuse for herself, “What kind of chef doesn’t sneak a taste?”

Seeing that Zhu Yun’s hands were occupied, Tang Yueqi naturally picked up a cherry tomato and fed it to her lips. Tang Yueqi’s soft, water-colored fingers brushed against Zhu Yun’s lips, and the slightly cool fingertips were unexpectedly met with warmth. Tang Yueqi watched as Zhu Yun bit into the cherry tomato, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes, as if she was questioning why she was so focused on her lips.

“So good, sweet and sour! A-Yue, you should try one too.”

As if manipulated by Zhu Yun’s words, Tang Yueqi unconsciously reached for a cherry tomato from the transparent bowl and put it in her mouth. The moment her lips closed around her fingertip, Tang Yueqi was suddenly reminded of what her fingers had just experienced.

“Well? Well?” Zhu Yun pressed Tang Yueqi for an answer.

Tang Yueqi chewed the cherry tomato, and the juice burst forth. She hid the deep emotion in her eyes with her long eyelashes and said faintly, “It’s delicious, just like you said, Xiao Zhu.”

“There’s only this kind of tomato in the fridge. I wonder if I can make a satisfying beef brisket with it later.”

Tang Yueqi asked, “Do you usually enjoy cooking?”

Zhu Yun nodded and started chopping vegetables. “I live alone. After a long day at work, I’m so tired all I want to do is lie down. I don’t have the energy to cook. I only get to make my favorite meals on weekends or holidays.”

“That’s impressive. I’m not very good at cooking.”

Zhu Yun smiled brightly and said, “If you want to eat something in the future, you can always call me.”

Tang Yueqi arranged the washed vegetables, turned her head slightly, and when she saw Zhu Yun’s bright and radiant smile, she seemed to be infected by her happiness. She whispered, “You have so much energy.”

She liked making friends with people like this. Tang Yueqi knew she was a boring person in private. Her usual stern expression was a way for her to avoid unnecessary conversations, which was why people labeled her as cold.

Zhu Yun became shy and explained, “I just try to keep myself entertained. Otherwise, living on my own in the city would be exhausting.”

“Did you move to this city by yourself?” Tang Yueqi wanted to get more information about Zhu Yun.

Zhu Yun didn’t hide anything. “My parents divorced when I was very young. Now they both have happy families, and I’m happy on my own too.”

This similar family background surprised Tang Yueqi and also softened her heart. She could imagine how difficult it must have been for Zhu Yun all these years.

With that thought, Tang Yueqi put an arm around Zhu Yun’s shoulder, and her expression became as gentle as water. Tang Yueqi said, “You’re a wonderful girl.”

Zhu Yun was so overwhelmed by the compliments that she was getting dizzy. She almost added another spoon of salt, but Tang Yueqi noticed and stopped her, laughing helplessly. “Xiao Zhu, didn’t you already add salt?”

“Luckily I didn’t this time. It’s all your fault, A-Yue, for complimenting me so much.”

Zhu Yun pouted and retorted proudly, causing Tang Yueqi to pat her forehead. “You, you’re so hard to please.”

Their conversation successfully turned Zhou Shihao and Lü Tinglan into background characters. Even though they were all in the same shot, the viewers’ comments seemed to only focus on Zhu Yun and Tang Yueqi.

[OMG OMG, is this what married life is like?]

[Their conversation is so normal, but for some reason, I feel like I’m getting a sugar rush! Sisters, it’s not just me, right?!]

[Sister, you’re not the problem! They are! The way they look at each other is so intense, it’s like their gazes are literally pulling!]

[Is this my luck for watching this show? Getting fed sugar right from the start? I’d be doing myself a disservice not to ship them!]

[The main characters have already fed each other, so it’s a crime not to ship them!]

[Doesn’t anyone else think Zhou Shihao is the most handsome of the four male guests?]

Comments about the other guests were few and far between. As a new variety show, the director had anticipated this phenomenon, since all the guests were ordinary people, and he couldn’t expect them to bring in much traffic.

However, the director never expected the show’s live broadcast to have such an effect. He had put on that background music simply to annoy Zhou Shihao, who had passed the blame for the script onto the director. Coincidentally, the look between Tang Yueqi and Zhu Yun had a great atmosphere, so the director slyly played the background music, officially launching this new couple.

The director looked at the soaring viewership data and smiled secretly. As long as the popularity held up, he could attract new investors. By then, he wouldn’t even care about Zhou Shihao!

Right now, the director looked at Tang Yueqi and Zhu Yun as if they were his own daughters. What an unexpected surprise.

The director was beaming with joy, but Zhou Shihao, as the background character, was filled with frustration.

He looked at Lü Tinglan bustling around in front of him and listened to Zhu Yun and Tang Yueqi’s laughter. He finally couldn’t maintain his gentlemanly demeanor and said, “Miss Lü, it seems you’re not used to being in the kitchen and aren’t much of a cook, so I think you’re just getting in my way by being here.”

Lü Tinglan’s beautiful face froze. She continued washing vegetables without a change in expression and laughed heartily. “I guess I’m just clumsy. I’m always getting in people’s way at home too. Yueqi, Xiao Zhu, do you need more cherry tomatoes? I just washed them.”

She looked at Zhu Yun, thinking this simple and kind girl would give her an out. Zhu Yun gave her a thumbs-up and said, “Speak of the devil! I really needed some cherry tomatoes!”

Lü Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled genuinely, said a few words to Zhu Yun and Tang Yueqi, and left the kitchen. This time, she was smart enough not to bother Zhou Shihao again.

Zhu Yun looked at the plump, washed cherry tomatoes, feeding herself with one hand and Tang Yueqi with the other. She glanced at the busy Zhou Shihao and couldn’t help but smile mischievously.

“That guy with the surname Zhou just cut off his first romantic interest!”

[What’s that? Let’s see what people say after his identity is revealed.]

Zhu Yun didn’t like how System 857 described the situation and said, “Wanna bet? I bet that even after Zhou Shihao’s identity is revealed, Lü Tinglan won’t choose him as her heartthrob.”

[What’s the wager?]

“We’ll bet on…the first new user draw after the mission is over. You have to give me an unfair advantage.”

[Deal. If you win, I’ll cheat for you. If you lose, you have to agree to one of my conditions, but I can’t tell you what it is right now.]

Zhu Yun confidently agreed, without a hint of doubt in her choice.

No one at the table was deaf. Zhou Shihao’s words caused a small stir, and the comments section was in a heated debate. Some people thought Zhou Shihao was right, while others thought his attitude was unfriendly. In any case, the conflict in the comments didn’t affect Zhu Yun and her friends.

Dinner seating also became an issue. Zhu Yun looked at everyone, and Tang Yueqi found a seat closest to the tomato beef brisket. As she moved, Zhu Yun naturally followed, and the two sat across from each other, smiling again.

Lü Tinglan and Duan Fei also sat opposite them, with a tacit understanding. The remaining four men awkwardly chose their seats.

The atmosphere was pleasant, and no one wanted the dinner to be awkward.

The bespectacled Sun Qiuyang was very talkative. From his speech, he sounded like an intellectual. Whenever he spoke, Duan Fei would respond. Lü Tinglan was also good at enlivening the atmosphere, and after a few rounds of conversation, everyone had integrated into the dinner party, except for Zhou Shihao, who was still trying to be profound.

“Luo Yi, you’re eating so fast! Is that your second bowl of rice?” Luo Yi, who had a darker complexion, smiled shyly at Lü Tinglan’s teasing. His smile exuded a youthful vibe. He was the youngest male guest, and the dimples on his cheeks added to his handsomeness. He said, “It’s just that Zhu Yun’s dish is so delicious. It makes me want to eat more rice. I even want to learn how to make it from her.”

Hearing this not-so-subtle hint, Tang Yueqi chewed on her chopsticks and looked at the girl with the high ponytail, who had tied her hair up for cooking. She was a little curious about Zhu Yun’s answer.

Zhu Yun didn’t think too much of it and nodded. “No problem, but the main reason this dish is so good is because I had the bonus of a beautiful woman by my side. I just don’t know if A-Yue is willing to keep me company.”

Luo Yi almost bit his tongue. The cool and beautiful Tang Yueqi was indeed stunning, but Luo Yi was more interested in Zhu Yun, who was closer to his age. So he didn’t want Tang Yueqi to get in the way.

He didn’t want to, but Tang Yueqi didn’t share his opinion.

Tang Yueqi smiled gently. “Sure.”

Luo Yi was heartbroken and channeled his frustration into eating the tomato beef brisket. Another person at the table who was equally upset was Zhou Shihao. He frowned, his appetite gone, and stood up, saying, “You guys eat first. I’m not feeling well.”

How did that woman named Zhu Yun steal his thunder again?! Were his dishes not delicious enough? That guy Luo Yi, who couldn’t appreciate good food, praised Zhu Yun so much that no one even paid attention to his dishes. No, he had to teach Zhu Yun a lesson, or how would he get close to Tang Yueqi if she kept sticking by her side?

[This guy is so moody, it’s weird.]

[You know, this Zhou Shihao has a CEO vibe.]

[Get a reality check… A CEO? A CEO who disregards other people’s feelings is unnecessary.]

[I’ve been watching this while at work, from the start of my shift until it’s time to go home… Ahhh, my data plan!]

[It’s almost seven. Looks like the live broadcast is about to end. I remember the show said it would air from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.]

[Director, if you’re smart, bring us the final heartthrob segment now!]

The director certainly wouldn’t forget this important part. After tidying up the kitchen, everyone received a card. There was a heart-shaped mailbox in each person’s room, and they could put the card in the mailbox of the person they felt a connection with.

As it approached seven o’clock, everyone’s doors were closed. The hands of the clock turned frantically, and then two doors were pushed open, one after the other.

“Xiao Zhu?” Tang Yueqi always smiled when she saw Zhu Yun, and this time was no exception.

Zhu Yun turned around in surprise, looking at her and shaking the card in her hand. “What a coincidence.”

What choice would this woman named Tang Yueqi make this time?

Zhu Yun was a little excited to find out.

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