Striving for Harmony After Transmigrating as an Alpha Female Supporting Character - Chapter 6

In the original novel, there was not much description of Ai Guohua. He was known only as a somewhat stern, humorless, and ordinary Alpha man. After making a fortune in business a few years prior, he traveled frequently for work and was rarely home.

It was precisely because of this, and her mother’s indulgence, that Ai Xiaoyu was able to persecute Jing Nianxun so brazenly. Since Jing Nianxun came from his wife’s side of the family, Ai Guohua naturally turned a blind eye, rarely intervening whether he witnessed the bullying or not.

When Ai Xiaoyu arrived home, she handed her dripping umbrella to Aunt Xu, the nanny who came to greet her, and saw her father walking over from the living room.

The System whispered a reminder, “Ai Xiaoyu is very attached to her father. At this moment, she would usually run over and cheer.”

Wait, what?

Ai Xiaoyu moved her body stiffly. Although she now occupied the role of his daughter, the man before her felt like a total stranger.

Fortunately, Ai Guohua spoke first. With a broad wave of his hand, he said to Aunt Xu, “Bring over the things I brought back.”

Soon, various gift bags and packaging boxes were laid out in front of Ai Xiaoyu. Ai Guohua looked at her expectantly.

Ai Xiaoyu smoothed her hair and adjusted her expression, trying her best to look excited and joyful. She rushed forward and began tearing into the boxes.

“Wow! So many imported snacks!”

“Whoa! I’ve wanted this game console for so long!”

“And this.”

Why did he give her another pile of pink little dresses?

Seeing her freeze, Ai Guohua asked, “Didn’t you say you wanted this dress for a long time? What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Ai Xiaoyu shook her head vigorously. “No, it’s just so beautiful I could not take my eyes off it. It’s really lovely!”

“As long as you like it. Wear it for your mother and me next time.”

Ai Xiaoyu brushed the topic aside perfunctorily, saying, “Dad, I’m hungry. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

Ai Guohua had Aunt Xu bring out the meal. The table was soon piled high with various dishes, the aroma filling the air. Looking at the food, Ai Xiaoyu felt for the first time that being a female supporting character was not so bad after all.

Then, she suddenly remembered Jing Nianxun.

Jing Nianxun had already gone upstairs to her room without eating dinner. She likely did not want to disturb them after seeing Father Ai return.

Ai Xiaoyu said tentatively, “Dad, Jing Nianxun is still upstairs.”

Ai Guohua had already started eating. He seemed used to it being just the three of them, completely forgetting the other person’s existence.

Hearing such an uncharacteristic remark from Ai Xiaoyu, he paused, then asked, “Did Xu Juan not bring the food up to her?”

In the original novel, Jing Nianxun initially ate with the Ai family. Later, she was either treated as invisible at the dinner table or subjected to constant sarcasm, so she eventually grew used to eating alone in her room.

Thus, Father Ai did not feel like anyone was missing now that he was back.

But Ai Xiaoyu felt uneasy thinking about that lonely light upstairs, especially with the torrential rain pouring outside. She wondered if the window was closed; if the wind swept in, the food would go cold in an instant.

Ai Xiaoyu bit her lip and squeezed out her best “spoiled daughter” act, “Dad, you finally came home after so much trouble, yet you haven’t even seen Jing Nianxun. It would not look good if word got out. People might think we’re bullying her.”

“Look at these bright red crawfish. Aunt Xu probably did not send any of these up. If people heard that Jing Nianxun hasn’t had crawfish once since coming to our house, they would think we were mistreating her.”

Ai Guohua was still very soft-hearted toward his daughter. With a grunt, he called Jing Nianxun down.

Jing Nianxun gripped the hem of her shirt, slowly walking down the stairs. She stood by the table, unsure where to sit.

Ai Xiaoyu patted the chair next to her, choosing a spot directly across from Father Ai.

To be honest, Ai Xiaoyu wanted to improve the relationship between Jing Nianxun and her father. “Clinging to the protagonist’s thigh” herself was not enough; if the Ai parents’ attitudes did not change, Jing Nianxun would still hold a grudge, and the tragic ending of the original novel might still happen.

In the original story, the Ai parents met a truly ruinous end.

Since Ai Xiaoyu had asked her to sit, Jing Nianxun had no choice but to sit opposite Ai Guohua. She kept her head down, picking up her chopsticks and chewing in small, cautious bites, not daring to look up.

The closest dish to her was a plain vegetable plate, so she stuck strictly to that, making Ai Xiaoyu anxious just watching her.

Ai Xiaoyu said, “The crawfish Dad specifically had someone bring back.”

Ai Guohua interrupted her bluntly, asking Jing Nianxun, “How are you doing in your new class?”

Jing Nianxun lifted her head slightly but still avoided his eyes. She answered softly, “It is, it is quite good.”

Looking at her, Ai Xiaoyu recalled the novel stating that Jing Nianxun was initially terrified of Father Ai. He always wore a stern expression, showing kindness only to Ai Xiaoyu.

Having had a bit to drink, Ai Guohua continued, “Do not go causing trouble like you did in the tenth grade. Be sociable in class. Do not keep your head down all day. Who knows what you’re thinking about?”

Jing Nianxun’s hands dropped to her lap; she did not dare move her chopsticks anymore. She thought to herself that in tenth grade, it was clearly others bullying her. She did not cause any trouble, but explaining was useless. They would not believe her.

Now, Ai Xiaoyu did not dare speak. She remembered that she was the culprit behind the tenth-grade incident; she had found Jing Nianxun an eyesore and found people to harass her. How could she possibly explain that?

Moreover, given the original character’s “low-IQ villain” traits, she usually announced her name whenever she did something bad. Jing Nianxun already knew it was her doing; she just had not said it aloud.

Ai Xiaoyu felt Jing Nianxun’s gaze shift toward her, carrying a trace of resentment that made her skin crawl.

Oh no, oh no! Does Jing Nianxun think I suggested she come down to eat just so my father could scold her?

The System’s voice confirmed her fears:

[OOC -5] [Entropy -10]

“I’m being framed by my own good intentions!”

Father Ai, seemingly unable to stop once the alcohol hit his system, continued to criticize Jing Nianxun while simultaneously praising his beloved daughter to the heavens.

If the heroine had a “Resentment Meter,” the bar would be skyrocketing right now.

The System warned, “Host, a further downward trend in Entropy has been detected.”

“Dad!” Ai Xiaoyu suddenly stood up, raising her juice box as if toasting his wine. “I just remembered I have homework today, and I have questions for Jing Nianxun. We’re going upstairs now!”

“Homework on the first day of school?”

“Of course!” Ai Xiaoyu lied through her teeth, grabbing Jing Nianxun’s hand and pulling her toward the stairs.

It was not until they reached the top floor that Ai Xiaoyu realized she was still gripping her hand tightly. Jing Nianxun’s face was stiff, looking at her with a complex expression of shock, disgust, and something else indefinable.

Ai Xiaoyu did not dare fan the flames while the heroine was angry. She did not want to lose the Entropy she had worked so hard to gain.

She immediately let go, only to see Jing Nianxun’s expression freeze even further.

Dammit. She must think I’m repulsed by her.

At that moment, Ai Xiaoyu desperately wanted to kneel and beg, “I’m not disgusted by you! Let me explain, I actually really like you! Truly!”

But Jing Nianxun simply bit her lip, walked into her room, and slammed the door.

Ai Xiaoyu stared gloomily at the door, sensing waves of resentment radiating from inside.

The System continued to warn, “Detecting increased emotional fluctuations from Jing Nianxun. She is likely ruminating on what just happened. Entropy is expected to drop within one minute.”

Ai Xiaoyu, “Shut up!”

Suddenly, she spotted a large bag sitting on her bedroom desk.

Aha! An item!

Ai Xiaoyu asked the System, “System, what does this item actually do? Can it win back the heroine’s heart?”

System, “Hmm, I’m not sure, but we can try. Host, are you sure you want to consume the item ‘An Ugly Bunny Plush’ to activate Special Mode?”

There’s a Special Mode? Ai Xiaoyu was overjoyed. “Use it! Use it now!”

With a ding, the System said, “Special Mode activated. Please take the item to the heroine to trigger the special plot.”

Ai Xiaoyu grabbed the bag from her room, walked to Jing Nianxun’s door, and knocked softly.

The door did not open at first. The person inside seemed to be debating, but eventually, it cracked open.

Jing Nianxun saw Ai Xiaoyu holding the large bag and hesitated, unsure what kind of trick she was playing now.

Ai Xiaoyu walked in and closed the door, scanning the room.

The desk lamp was on, illuminating an open reference book. The window was shut tight, but the wind still whistled through the gaps. A small potted plant by the desk was soaked, its wilted leaves dripping water.

How pitiful.

She opened the bag, revealing the grey rabbit ears inside.

The moment Jing Nianxun saw those grey ears, she recognized them. Her expression changed instantly, and she lunged forward to snatch it from Ai Xiaoyu’s hands.

Her grey bunny!

What else is Ai Xiaoyu trying to do to it? Give it back!

Ai Xiaoyu was waiting for Jing Nianxun’s mood to improve and for the Entropy to soar.

But when she opened the bag, she only saw Jing Nianxun pouncing on her like she was possessed.

Ai Xiaoyu’s hand was still caught in the bag. The two of them scuffled in the small room. Ai Xiaoyu’s leg soon slammed into the corner of the bed frame, the pain making her knees buckle.

She fell back onto the bed, and Jing Nianxun, relentless, tumbled right on top of her, pinning her down.

The bedframe let out a loud creak.

Aunt Xu, who was cleaning the floor outside, heard the noise and called out, “Is everything okay in there?”

Ai Xiaoyu answered feebly, “I am fine.”

System, get over here. Why is ‘Special Mode’ me getting pinned by the heroine? What kind of special mode is this? This is more like ‘Special Service’!

Ai Xiaoyu felt the faint, unique scent of the young girl drift into her nose. The soft contact sent a spark like an electric shock through her body.

Jing Nianxun was, after all, a thin and fragile girl; she was soft and easily knocked over. Being pinned by her did not hurt, but Ai Xiaoyu found she had nowhere to put her hands.

She wanted to sit up, but every time she moved, her hand would graze something inappropriate, making her “old soul” feel flustered and shy.

Ai Xiaoyu, stay calm! Why are you blushing at an underage girl?

Thinking this, she finally turned her head to meet Jing Nianxun’s eyes.

Jing Nianxun looked utterly lost, as if this situation was completely outside her experience. She had only wanted her plushie back; now, what was this?

Why was she suddenly so close? A strange sensation began to wash over her. Moreover, there was a faint scent coming from Ai Xiaoyu, a scent that became much more pronounced at this distance.

It was a sweet, fruity fragrance, sugary and pleasant, like the candy her mother used to feed her when she was little. She subconsciously licked her lips.

“Um,” Ai Xiaoyu finally broke the silence. “That bunny, I said before I was going to mend it. I’ve brought it back to you now.”

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