The Female Supporting Character in a Melo-dramatic Novel Switched Roles from Omega to Seme - Chapter 10

Lu Chizao slept until evening. The setting sun had dipped behind the western mountains, and the last sliver of twilight was about to fade.

Shortly after she woke up, Lin Tingci returned from Linchuan Art University and took her out for dinner.

Linchuan, a golden region within the province, boasted an economy and culinary scene rivaling the capital, Yuanshou. Since they were already here, Lu Chizao treated it like a vacation, insisting on trying the local specialties.

Lu Chizao’s phone had been on since she turned it on earlier, though she had logged out of some apps. Modern people couldn’t bear being without their phones. Settling into a booth by the window, she ordered and, with a few minutes to spare, idly tapped through the mini-games in Close Hearts.

Across from her, Lin Tingci quietly studied a document, flipping a page when her phone buzzed on the table.

【Zaozao sent you 3 roses! Tap to return the gift!】

“Zaozao” was Lu Chizao’s usual online handle.

Lin Tingci didn’t understand the notification; it was her first time using the app. She unlocked her phone and read the explanation: these were small tasks users could send each other in Close Hearts to level up and accumulate affinity points.

Lu Chizao looked up from her phone, the spotlight above the booth illuminating her glossy eyes. “Why haven’t you returned the gift?”

Lin Tingci looked slightly puzzled. “Why are you playing this now?”

“It’s just a quick task,” Lu Chizao replied, tapping the table with her sparkling manicured index finger. “Hurry and send it. I’m waiting to complete the mission.”

“Hmm.”

Lin Tingci raised a thick eyebrow and complied, tapping into the bubblegum-pink interface to reciprocate the rose gift. After completing the small mission, she glanced at the task list for any others, finishing them all in one go.

Many couples who played Close Hearts would raise a virtual pet together with their bonded partner.

“Do you want to get a pet?” Lin Tingci asked. “There are quite a few breeds to choose from.”

“Yes!” Lu Chizao had already seen this feature and was torn between getting a kitten or a puppy both were too adorable, and the breeds were equally hard to pick.

After scrolling through all the options while they ate, she finally decided, “Let’s get a Pomeranian. They’re so small and fluffy, it’ll be adorable!”

Her voice was almost cloying. Lin Tingci shifted her gaze, studying Lu Chizao’s gently curved, crescent-shaped eyes.

“Okay.”

Lin Tingci didn’t mind. Since Lu Chizao had made her choice, all she had to do was tap “agree” on her end.

Thanks to the app, the two had more to talk about during their meal.

They tacitly avoided mentioning Shi Yuer’s warning from earlier that day, nor did they discuss family matters, keeping the conversation light and superficial, deliberately avoiding any deeper topics.

In the afternoon, Lu Chizao had caught up on sleep and, after a satisfying meal, felt much more refreshed. Upon returning home, Lin Tingci showered and immediately resumed working.

Lu Chizao closed her bedroom door and dialed Wei Xin, one of her few close friends.

Wei Xin answered excitedly, “Lu Chizao, you finally called back! You scared me half to death!”

Wei Xin was also an Omega, and the two had been friends since elementary school. In Lu Chizao’s life, family and loved ones came first, with Wei Xin holding the third-place spot.

Knowing Wei Xin’s concern, Lu Chizao reassured her, “I’m fine. Don’t ask about that rumor for now. I’m calling mainly to ask for a favor.”

Given their close friendship, Wei Xin naturally understood that “that rumor” referred to the gossip surrounding Lu Chizao.

Wei Xin’s questions nearly burst from her lips, but she swallowed them down. For a full half-minute, she could only stammer, unable to form any other words.

“What do you need me to do? Just tell me.”

Wei Xin’s family wasn’t as wealthy as the Lu family, but they still enjoyed comfortable middle-class circumstances. Combined with her exceptional social skills, she knew many people and had extensive connections.

Lu Chizao cut straight to the point. “Can you help me check the records at He’an Hospital for all newborns hospitalized with jaundice between April 12th and 18th, 26 years ago?”

Before her rebirth, Lu Chizao had learned specific details from the Lu family’s longtime housekeeper, confirming that she was born at He’an Hospital. Due to neonatal jaundice, a common condition in infants, she was admitted to the Maternity and Child Health Hospital within the same complex. During her stay, she was mistakenly switched with another baby.

Given the passage of time, the hospital’s record-keeping methods had long been updated, and the facility had expanded. Locating the old records proved extremely difficult.

In her previous life, Lu Chizao had investigated this matter, but she died in an accidental fall before receiving any results.

At the time, she was heartbroken and had drunk herself into a stupor. She couldn’t even remember how she fell down the stairs. Yesterday, she was struggling to accept the reality of her rebirth, but today, with a clearer mind, she began to recall the details.

She harbored suspicions about that accident. Before her death, a waitress had noticed her squatting in the corridor outside the restroom, clearly unwell, and brought her a cup of honey water.

After drinking it, Lu Chizao felt no relief; instead, her dizziness and confusion worsened. She couldn’t determine if it was solely the alcohol’s effect or… something else that caused her to lose her footing on the stairs.

At the time, Lu Chizao was locked in a fierce struggle against the True Young Lady. Moreover, her naturally haughty temperament had earned her many enemies within the elite circles. She dared not consider whether her death had been an accident or a deliberate act.

Wei Xin had initially dismissed the rumors as a prank, or perhaps a deliberate smear campaign by someone Lu Chizao had offended. But now that Lu Chizao had asked her to investigate, Wei Xin knew the truth, no matter how shocking it was.

“I’ll look into it right away,” Wei Xin said, jotting down the crucial date. Still worried, she asked, “But… are you really okay?”

As Lu Chizao’s childhood friend, Wei Xin had witnessed her years-long relationship with Lin Raoyin firsthand. She couldn’t imagine how Lu Chizao was coping, not just with the breakup from her lover of over twenty years, but also with the simultaneous collapse of her family’s affairs.

“Where are you? I’m coming to find you right now,” Wei Xin insisted.

Lu Chizao had been managing fine on her own. Lin Tingci hadn’t asked, and Lu Chizao hadn’t offered any details. In this unfamiliar environment, there were no reminders of the past to trigger painful memories. She had been holding up well.

But the moment someone showed genuine concern, the high walls she had built around her heart crumbled.

Tears welled up in her eyes against her will.

Forcing down the bitter ache, Lu Chizao forced a light laugh. “Don’t worry. You don’t need to come until you find something. I’ll take care of myself.”

In her previous life, Wei Xin had comforted her countless times, helped her through so much, and even suffered for it, facing suppression and ostracism.

Lu Chizao had no desire to repeat that pattern. She had also cried enough and didn’t want her eyes to hurt anymore.

So, let it be.

They would meet again when she had sorted herself out and was ready to start anew.

After a few more minutes of conversation, Lu Chizao hung up the phone, curled up on the bed, hugging her knees, and stared blankly into space.

******

About an hour later, Lu Chizao took her pajamas to the master bedroom to wash up. Lin Tingci, having finished her work in the study, was leaning against the headboard in her pajamas, laptop in her lap. The warm yellow light made her look anything but sleepy.

It was more like she was waiting for someone.

As soon as Lu Chizao entered, Lin Tingci’s gaze immediately shifted to her. “I’m going out of town for a shoot. If all goes well, I’ll be gone for about two months. I might come back to school briefly in the middle, but it won’t be for more than a few days. You can stay here as long as you like. Leave whenever you’re ready.”

Earlier that morning, Lu Chizao had gone to Linchuan Art University with Xiao Jiang to observe the scale and preparations for their film project. But Shi Yuer’s sudden appearance had disrupted her focus, and she hadn’t gotten to see anything.

Lu Chizao, still holding her clothes, stopped in her tracks. “When are you leaving?”

“The morning after tomorrow,” Lin Tingci replied.

Lu Chizao glanced around the clean, tidy house. “Wouldn’t it be awkward for me to stay here alone?”

Lin Tingci countered, “It would be awkward even if I were here.”

Lu Chizao: ?

She didn’t understand what Lin Tingci meant. Lin Tingci added, “I really don’t mind.”

Lu Chizao, however, did mind. She was also worried that Lin Raoyin and her family might find out about this address and show up unannounced.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Chizao took small steps forward and, with surprising familiarity, sat at the foot of the bed, her words clinging to Lin Tingci like vines: “Can I come with you?”

Lin Tingci’s expression shifted slightly as she stared at the other woman across the wide bed.

“Do you even know where I’m going?”

“No.”

“Pinglan County. Once filming starts, I’ll be incredibly busy. Unless the location changes, I’ll barely leave Film City.”

The unspoken message was clear: I’ll be immersed in the production and won’t have time to babysit you, Miss Lu, let alone play around.

Lu Chizao quickly replied, “I know, I understand. You don’t have to worry about me. I just want to see what it’s like.”

“See what?” Lin Tingci asked, puzzled.

“How you guys film scenes.”

Lin Tingci fell silent.

It had to be said, Lu Chizao was genuinely considering making a living off her looks.

Since childhood, she had studied piano and dance. During her school years, her beauty had landed her the role of emcee for the school’s anniversary gala for three consecutive years in high school. In college, she had even acted in campus short films, commercial ads, and numerous print campaigns.

She was the type to either do nothing at all or strive for perfection. Back then, she had even hired professional acting coaches to hone her skills.

Lu Chizao possessed some experience in character analysis, performance, and understanding camera angles.

Since she didn’t want to stay here alone, she figured she might as well visit the film set, gain some experience, and plan for the future.

The other party didn’t agree, but Lu Chizao made up her mind: “It’s settled then! Which flight did you book? I’ll buy my ticket.”

“Tell me the hotel name too.”

Lin Tingci frowned.

She disapproved, but after a moment’s reflection, she understood why Lu Chizao was so eager to leave.

She could even see through the facade of stability, recognizing the turmoil beneath the surface.

Perhaps distancing herself from Yuanshou would be for the best.

In the end, Lin Tingci relented, saying only, “Then you’ll need to pack warm clothes and essentials. It’s quite cold there—you’ll need at least a down jacket.”

“I was planning to buy new clothes for the season anyway. I’ll go tomorrow!” Lu Chizao tossed aside the change of clothes she was carrying and began tapping on her phone with her bare foot, making plans. “Do you have any spare suitcases? If not, I’ll buy two new ones.”

Two… How much was she planning to bring?

That’s just her style, Lin Tingci thought.

Rubbing her forehead to ease her nerves, she reluctantly replied, “I’ll be free tomorrow afternoon. I can go shopping with you. Xiao Jiang can book your flight and hotel.”

The young lady, accustomed to having others handle her daily affairs and tedious tasks, responded with effortless grace: “Okay~”

And just like that, it was settled.

******

The next afternoon, around four o’clock, Lin Tingci dutifully played the role of a pack mule, carrying bags and dragging suitcases as she patiently waited for Lu Chizao to finish selecting clothes.

It wasn’t the price that troubled Lu Chizao, but the style. The outfits needed to be appropriate for the film set; not too flashy, yet not too conservative; a dilemma that kept her deliberating for an eternity.

Lin Tingci remained remarkably patient, silently enduring the picky woman’s meticulous selection with unwavering good humor.

They were at the most bustling mall in the area, a hub for entertainment, dining, and shopping. Located near Lin Tingci’s home and within the Linchuan Art University district, it was a popular spot for students to grab meals and catch movies.

Coincidentally, several Linchuan Art University girls spotted Lin Tingci and Lu Chizao. They ducked into a bubble tea shop to order drinks and take a seat, then logged onto the school forum to share the juicy gossip.

OP (Anonymous): Our Director Lin is officially taken! All her admirers can give up now.

Any post mentioning her name was guaranteed to go viral, and fellow alumni swarmed in to devour the juicy details.

[Comment 1: Who’s her partner?]

[Comment 2: It’s that dazzlingly beautiful girl she had lunch with in the cafeteria yesterday!]

[Comment 3: Wow, she’s so sweet! Even with filming about to start, she still makes time for her wife every day.]

[Comment 4: If it’s that ethereal Omega with the saintly aura, I won’t be jealous. I’m simply not worthy.]

[Comment 5: I’m not worthy either, but I can still ship them!!]

[Comment 6: I’m different. I just want to join them, hehe.]

[Comment 7: Upstairs, put some pants on!]

******

Lu Chizao’s sudden appearance reignited the buzz about Lin Tingci on the Linchuan Art University forum. Previously, only Lin Tingci’s new projects or controversies would stir up such a frenzy.

The thread quickly grew to dozens of posts until a low-level anonymous account chimed in with a different take:

[“For those who’ve been following this closely, she’s not her girlfriend. That Omega is Lu Chizao from the Lu family—the one who was originally supposed to be engaged to Lin Tingci’s sister. She’s Lin Tingci’s sister-in-law!”]

[“But the rumors have been flying lately that Lu Chizao isn’t actually the Lu family’s biological daughter—a fake heiress. That’s why she can’t marry Lin Raoyin anymore. Heh, who knows why she’s suddenly hooking up with Lin Tingci now.”]

This anonymous revelation instantly shifted the thread’s momentum.

[“Holy shit, that’s explosive!”]

[“High society gossip is way more dramatic than any soap opera. More, more!”]

[“Am I the only one who thinks the ‘happily ever after’ with her sister’s ex-fiancée is the ultimate ship?”]

[“Don’t believe everything you hear. So salty.”]

[“Believe it or not, the rumors are already spreading like wildfire.”]

*****

The person single-mindedly focused on spending money to buy happiness remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing online.

For Lin Tingci, accompanying an Omega on a shopping spree for the first time was truly eye-opening.

Lu Chizao had gone completely wild, actually filling two entire suitcases to the point that they had to be stowed in the car trunk before they could even go to dinner.

In stark contrast, Lin Tingci’s luggage was remarkably simple: two sets of pajamas, a few changes of dark-colored clothes, and a basic set of toiletries.

Beyond that, she had only packed her suppressants and pheromone-blocking patches.

Lin Tingci’s heat cycle typically occurred between spring and summer. Though it was still several months away, she was accustomed to taking precautions when traveling.

After all, she would be away for two months, and with Lu Chizao by her side… it was best to be prepared for any unexpected situations.

Support The Female Supporting Character in a Melo-dramatic Novel Switched Roles from Omega to Seme