The Female Lead Is A Supporting Female Character - Chapter 12

Where could Fu Shuang be if she wasn’t in her room?

Ming Yuemian pondered this as she set down her porcelain bowl and stood up. Having just rolled around on her bed, her skirt was a messy web of wrinkles and her hairstyle was loose and lopsided, hardly a dignified appearance. Not one for formalities, Ming Yuemian simply brushed off her clothes, yanked out the swaying hairpin from her temple, haphazardly tied her hair back with a ribbon, and headed straight out.

Xiao Ju watched her, stunned, unable to make sense of this sudden movement.

Ming Yuemian’s mind was occupied, and she left without a word until Xiao Ju’s voice pulled her back.

“Miss, Miss… where are you going? You’ve only had one bowl of the sweet soup…”

“…Oh.” Ming Yuemian paused. “Save it for me, I’ll drink it when I get back…”

She stopped mid-sentence as a thought struck her. “Go tell the kitchen to make me a cup of pearl milk tea. Extra sugar.”

The sweet soup earlier was fine, but a bit too bland. She missed the milk tea she used to drink every day before her soul transmigration.

“…Huh?” Xiao Ju froze. “Pearl milk tea?”

She had never heard of such a thing. Milk tea? Mixing milk and tea… could that even taste good? And pearls? She’d heard of pearl glutinous rice balls, but adding those to tea?

Ming Yuemian nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

What was the problem? She only asked for pearls, she hadn’t demanded taro paste, coconut jelly, or grass jelly yet. She was being quite reasonable!

“Miss, where are you going? Let me go with you,” Xiao Ju said, watching her mistress walk away.

“No need.” Ming Yuemian didn’t look back. “Go to the kitchen and watch them make my pearl milk tea.”

Where was she going? Ming Yuemian quickened her pace. I’m going to “catch them in the act,” of course!

The ship was large, but space was ultimately limited. Floating on the river every day, no matter where someone ran, they couldn’t escape this small perimeter. If Fu Shuang wasn’t in her room, where else could she be? While there was a chance she was out enjoying the scenery, Ming Yuemian’s gut told her she was with Feng Cheng.

Ming Yuemian went straight to Feng Cheng’s room and knocked. No answer.

Not there either? At Fu Shuang’s door, Ming Yuemian would have turned away if there was no reply, as it was impolite to enter uninvited. Here, however, she threw courtesy to the wind and kicked the door open. The room was empty.

Feng Cheng wasn’t in his room either.

Aha.

The feeling in her gut intensified.

She stood by the railing for a moment. The river water was dark and murky, the green depths eerie. Ming Yuemian stared at it briefly before feeling uneasy and turning to leave.

She didn’t notice that as she turned, a segment of a massive black spine covered in sharp spikes breached the emerald water.

When the scales emerged, they carried droplets of water that glinted coldly in the sunlight, but only for a second. It quickly submerged back into the river, lurking beneath the surface.

The ship had three levels. Ming Yuemian dashed up and down the stairs several times, feeling like a princess on the run but what kind of princess has to find people herself? How tragic.

She checked everywhere, even peering into the rooms of the sailors and maids. Finally, on the top deck, she spotted two figures.

A black and a white figure stood tall by the railing. The river wind blew past, causing their robes to flutter and snap loudly. Feng Cheng’s head was turned toward the person beside him, his lips moving as he spoke. Ming Yuemian couldn’t see Fu Shuang’s expression, only her upright back as she held her sword. Her ink black hair was like silk, its ends swaying gently in the wind.

Just as I thought.

Great, just great. While I’m in my room studying sword manuals like a good student, these two are up here talking about life and dreams?

Tsk, what a picture-perfect couple.

Hmph, I’m not jealous at all. Not even a little bit sour!

Ming Yuemian frowned and prepared to walk up and interrupt them, but then she froze.

She wanted to hear what they were saying!

She carefully and stealthily moved, using her petite frame to her advantage. She crept behind them and quickly ducked down, hiding behind a pile of cargo crates on the deck.

This was as close as she could get. From here, she could just barely make out the voices of Fu Shuang and Feng Cheng.

“…Shuang’er, are you still angry?”

That was Feng Cheng’s voice.

Hmm, so they aren’t flirting; they’re arguing? Ming Yuemian perked up her ears, her furrowed brow instantly relaxing.

Fu Shuang’s voice was as cool as ever, betraying neither joy nor anger. She asked flatly, “What would I be angry about?”

“…I don’t know,” Feng Cheng said. “I just feel like you’ve been in a bad mood these past few days. You barely acknowledge me. Did I do something wrong to upset you?”

His voice was low and gentle. Just from the sound of it, Ming Yuemian could imagine the helpless, wry smile on his face.

Heh, men. You don’t know what you did? Asking like that is so fake, it’s like a tactical retreat.

By acting innocent and accommodating, he washed his hands of the blame. That way, whatever the other person said would seem like unreasonable nagging.

It was the classic “If that’s what you want to think, there’s nothing I can do” type of speech.

Fu Shuang remained silent for a moment before saying exactly what Ming Yuemian expected: “Don’t you know what you did?”

Ming Yuemian almost cheered for her in her head.

That’s the way! You can’t let a scumbag lead you by the nose.

Feng Cheng looked bewildered. “What did I do?”

He really didn’t seem to think… he’d done anything? He searched his mind but found nothing.

Fu Shuang had no choice but to be blunt. She said coldly, “That junior sister of yours, what’s the deal with her?”

Huh??? Ming Yuemian felt like a student suddenly called on in class. She jolted and focused even harder on eavesdropping.

Why am I being mentioned?

“She…” Feng Cheng hesitated. “I don’t know why she insisted on following us down the mountain. She wasn’t like this before…”

Fu Shuang interrupted him. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“…Then what is it?”

“Are you and that junior sister of yours really just ‘siblings’?”

Feng Cheng paused. “Of course.”

Fu Shuang said nothing.

Perhaps seeing that he couldn’t hide it anymore, Feng Cheng slowly admitted, “When we were children… my Master did mention an engagement. He said that when my parents were alive, they intended for the two families to be joined by marriage, a betrothal made before birth. But that was just idle talk, nothing was ever set in stone.”

He looked at Fu Shuang. “I will not marry my junior sister.”

Ming Yuemian: “…”

Wait, I don’t want to marry you either!

Go away!

Fu Shuang sneered. “I doubt that.”

In truth, Feng Cheng knew it too. It was just that since Ming Ye hadn’t explicitly brought up the marriage, he hadn’t explicitly rejected it. Currently, he was a disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Even as the Senior Brother, he was still living under someone else’s roof. Having this marriage prospect and Ming Ye’s favoritism was actually very beneficial for his position.

But he couldn’t say that. Instead, he put on a hurt expression. “You don’t believe me?”

Fu Shuang remained unmoved. In her past life, she had been too soft-hearted and naive, believing everything he said, which led to her tragic end. Now, her heart was like stone, impenetrable to both soft words and hard pressure.

Fu Shuang: “Talk is cheap. How can I believe you based on a few words?”

“I…” Feng Cheng was losing his touch at coaxing. “Then what must I do for you to believe me?”

Fu Shuang didn’t answer.

After a moment of silence, Feng Cheng spoke again. “Back at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, I intended to give you the Feng family’s ancestral Luminous Sword. Don’t you understand my feelings by now?” He let out a short sigh. “Shuang’er, what more do you want?”

“What more do you want”, it sounded just like a scumbag’s typical “What is your problem?” It made it sound like he was blameless and had done his best, while the other person was acting like a nagging, greedy shrew.

Ming Yuemian felt pure disdain.

Fu Shuang didn’t fall for his logic. Instead, she said, “But you haven’t actually given me the Luminous Sword. Isn’t that the definition of ‘talk is cheap’?”

She lowered her eyes, thinking to herself: Finally, we’ve reached the point.

The only reason she had accepted Feng Cheng’s invitation that day was for the Luminous Sword. Although it wasn’t a legendary divine weapon on the famous sword scrolls, it was far superior to the sword she currently used. If not for that, she wouldn’t bother wasting words with this man.

But then Ming Yuemian had arrived and caused a chaotic scene, and later Ming Ye had called him to the study. After that interruption, Feng Cheng never brought it up again. Naturally, the Luminous Sword never reached Fu Shuang’s hands, it was still lying in the cenotaph of the Feng couple.

Fu Shuang was, of course, displeased.

Hiding behind the crates, Ming Yuemian understood immediately. So the scumbag was all talk and no action, giving out “empty checks.” No wonder Fu Shuang was mad.

She should be mad!

However, Ming Yuemian was secretly delighted that Feng Cheng hadn’t given it to her. If he had managed to win her over with a sword, her chances of “digging out the wall” (stealing her away) would be even slimmer.

Now, Fu Shuang had realized he was a scumbag who only spoke pretty words. This was a great start! Keep it up, and one day she’ll see his true colors completely!

Feng Cheng was taken aback. “It was because of that? My apologies, I was careless. Once we finish the business in the Kingdom of Li and return to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, I will definitely give the Luminous Sword to you.”

He spoke with deep affection. “Even though I haven’t given it to you yet, in my heart, you are already the only master of the Luminous Sword. I would never give this sword to anyone else in my life. Please, don’t be angry with me anymore.”

Ming Yuemian: “…”

Big brother, can you stop with the flowery words? You didn’t give it, period. Your excuses are surprisingly “fresh and refined.”

She thought to herself: Fu Shuang, you absolutely cannot be deceived by him again!

To her relief, Fu Shuang said indifferently, “Very well. Once we return to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, I will stop being angry.”

Feng Cheng: “…”

Hahahahaha! Ming Yuemian was internally ecstatic, nearly laughing out loud. My “daughter” is so clear-headed! Well done!

She couldn’t help but wonder: So, Fu Shuang only wants the sword and doesn’t actually care who this scumbag’s heart belongs to?

Can I interpret it that way?

The more she thought about it, the happier she became.

With the conversation reaching a dead end, Fu Shuang turned her sword and prepared to leave.

At that exact moment, the ship gave a sudden, violent lurch. Ming Yuemian, lost in her internal celebration, had let her guard down. Caught off guard, before her brain could react, she had already tumbled out from behind the crates.

…And rolled right to the edge of a pair of pristine, stainless white robes.

What a coincidence!

As the old saying goes, “Blessings never come in pairs, and misfortunes never come alone.” It was true. One really shouldn’t get ahead of oneself!

Ming Yuemian slowly raised her head, meeting the cold, temperature-less gaze falling from above.

Caught red handed while eavesdropping, how embarrassing. Ming Yuemian mentally chanted “you can’t see me, you can’t see me” in an attempt to escape reality, then quickly lowered her head, looking for a crack in the deck to crawl into.

“Miss Ming.” Fu Shuang, as cold as frost and snow, spoke from above her. “What are you doing here?”