The Female Supporting Character in a Melo-dramatic Novel Switched Roles from Omega to Seme - Chapter 7

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Lu Chizao wasn’t a particularly light sleeper; she’d traveled extensively since childhood and could usually sleep in unfamiliar environments.

Her current insomnia stemmed from the unnatural and bewildering phenomenon of reincarnation.

Though she’d resolved to accept her role as a supporting character, it was primarily to avoid futilely resisting the original plot.

However, Lin Raoyin was her first love. They’d been together since their first year of high school, a full decade. Expecting Lu Chizao to instantly accept this predetermined fate without any grief was impossible.

Her rational mind understood the logic, but her heart felt suffocated.

She needed time to adjust, even though time was running short.

Since her mind was racing and sleep eluded her, Lu Chizao decided to pull up the original novel after tossing and turning in bed for what felt like hours.

She summoned the System’s avatar to serve as a projector, casting the virtual interface into mid-air—far more convenient than holding a physical book or her phone.

Before her death, she’d grasped the broad strokes of the events involving the Lin and Lu families. But fearing she might have missed crucial details, Lu Chizao began reading from the beginning.

And then she realized—

This idiot author hadn’t let a single character under their pen catch a break!

The female supporting character, Lu Chizao, had long been dumped by the female lead, Lin Raoyin. Still clinging to lingering feelings, she entered into a business marriage with Lu Wanqing. Even after the marriage, she suffered greatly because the two female leads’ pheromones were highly compatible, leading to the loss of her first child.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, Lin Tingci suddenly emerged and seized Lin Raoyin’s family business. Though she appeared successful on the surface, she had no genuine interest in business. This infuriated both sets of parents, driving some to illness and others to death. Years later, Lin Tingci sold off the assets and retreated into seclusion abroad.

The final twist came when Lu Wanqing, against all odds, turned the tide. She skillfully managed the Lu family’s affairs and eventually repurchased the Lin family’s assets from others. By earning Lin Raoyin’s trust, Lu Wanqing forced a “happily ever after” ending.

Ah, what the hell?

This was such a classic piece of trashy, melodramatic fiction that it was no wonder readers were tearing it apart!

Being bullied into social withdrawal was a light punishment, all things considered. If Lu Chizao and the author were in the same world, she would have smashed his keyboard to pieces and scattered the fragments!

If you can’t write, go get a real job! Tightening screws is more dignified than this crap!

Fortunately, 33 had mentioned that the online publishing platform had taken over the book. With Lu Chizao’s intervention, the plot would undergo a butterfly effect, diverging from its original course.

After reading the novel, Lu Chizao grew even angrier, finally falling asleep around four or five in the morning.

******

Around ten o’clock, Lu Chizao was awakened by the doorbell.

Lin Tingci had given her a pair of pajamas one size too small, but they still hung loosely on Lu Chizao. Rubbing her sleep-blurred eyes, she stumbled to answer the door.

Through the peephole, she saw a young woman. The girl hadn’t been incessantly ringing the bell, pressing it only twice in three minutes before waiting patiently outside.

When the door opened, the girl’s eyes widened slightly as she took in Lu Chizao, as if she were gazing upon some extraordinary figure. She couldn’t hide the surprise that lit up her eyes.

“H-hello! I’m here to bring you breakfast and some clothes,” the girl said in a sweet, soft voice, gesturing to the items she held in both hands.

Lu Chizao blinked, still groggy. “Huh?”

Seeing her confusion, the girl introduced herself. “Oh, I’m Director Lin’s assistant, Jiang Yiling! You can call me Xiao Jiang. She asked me to pick out some clothes and skincare products from the PR packages for you, and I grabbed breakfast too!”

Lu Chizao understood, but she couldn’t help her surprise. Director Lin?

Director Lin Tingci?

“Lin Tingci already has such a capable assistant…”

Xiao Jiang was about half a head shorter than Lu Chizao and identified as a Beta. Her hair was styled in braided pigtails, and she wore a casual outfit of a T-shirt, denim jacket, and jeans, radiating youthful energy.

“Oh, you think that’s impressive? I’m just a minor assistant, handling trivial tasks. She has a very capable senior assistant who’s practically a co-director, helping her solve all sorts of problems.”

This wasn’t in the original script at all.

Lu Chizao’s preconceived notions about her “neighbor sister” were shattered once again.

Jiang entered familiarly, changing her shoes as she placed breakfast on the table. “Director Lin said you prefer sweet flavors, so I got pumpkin porridge and sweet-filled buns. But I also got some savory options in case you get tired of the sweetness.”

After setting down the food, she scurried over to the sofa and spread out the clothes from the bag. “She only gave me your approximate size. Try them on after you eat, and if they don’t fit, I’ll exchange them.”

Lu Chizao glanced at the breakfast before picking up the dress and holding it up against herself.

It looks like it’ll fit…

But a question arose: It made sense that the Lin and Lu families, who were close, would know her preferences. But Lin Tingci had been away from home for years, and when they did eat together, she always wore a cold expression, as if she weren’t even listening.

How could she possibly remember what flavors Lu Chizao liked?

And the clothes—estimating height and weight wasn’t difficult, but the colors and styles Jiang had brought were exactly the combinations Lu Chizao favored.

Even the skincare products were the ones she had mentioned the previous night.

Lu Chizao couldn’t help but marvel. So Lin Tingci does pay attention to people after all.

She had always thought the whole world was beneath her notice.

Lu Chi had long been shrouded in suspicion, and Xiao Jiang also had a question she was too embarrassed to ask directly. “Um… are you an Omega?”

“Yes, I’m Lu Chizao.”

Lu?

At Linchuan Art University, anyone who knew about Lin Tingci’s family background would also have heard of the Lu family, who had been close allies of the Lin family for generations. They were equally powerful and wealthy in their respective industries.

Their major business deals frequently made headlines and trended online. Since Linchuan and Yuanshou were neighboring cities, news traveled quickly between them.

Xiao Jiang had heard plenty of gossip about how Lin Tingci’s sister’s fiancée was the Lu family’s heiress.

She figured that large families often had many branches, and since Lu Chizao looked to be about the same age as her boss, she must be some other friend of the family.

But this “friend” deserved quotation marks.

In the two years Xiao Jiang had worked for Lin Tingci, she had never once seen her get close to another Omega—not even once!

And now, this beautiful Omega sister was sleeping in her apartment early in the morning, wearing her clothes…

Wah! Were all the Omegas and Betas at the drama academy about to lose their chances?

Director Lin’s standards were too high! She liked someone so beautiful, with a figure that’s so perfect!

She was even more striking than the actors auditioning for their drama.

Take Linchuan Art, for example. The acting department was never short of handsome men and beautiful women with exceptional figures and outstanding looks.

Having worked with Lin Tingci, Xiao Jiang had seen her fair share of stunning individuals. But the moment she saw Lu Chizao, she was blown away. Even without makeup, Lu Chizao’s natural beauty outshone most others. If she were to get a full makeover, few could rival her.

If Xiao Jiang weren’t a Beta, she would have shouted, “I’m ready!”

Lu Chizao, unaware of Xiao Jiang’s thoughts, glanced casually at a few outfits before heading to breakfast.

“Have you eaten? Want to join me?” Lu Chizao asked.

Xiao Jiang shook her head. “I’ve already eaten. You go ahead.”

Then why aren’t you leaving?

“Is there anything else?” Lu Chizao asked.

Lost in Lu Chizao’s beauty, Xiao Jiang suddenly remembered Lin Tingci’s instructions. “Oh, right! I don’t have anything else. Director Lin said if you want to go out and explore, I should take you.”

She quickly added, “She’s been really busy lately. Our crew is moving to the film set in a few days, and the meetings have been running late every night. She probably won’t have time to keep you company.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lu Chizao had a question too. “You mentioned the gifts were sent by PR. Are they sponsors for her current project?”

It was simple: those brands were mid-to-high-end. For PR to proactively send items, one needed a certain level of buzz and recognition. Lu Chizao was genuinely curious about Lin Tingci’s current standing in the industry.

Xiao Jiang clarified online: “It’s different. The sponsors are other brands, and the items they provide are only for filming purposes, some of which need to be returned. The PR packages we receive are from brands that contacted us online, hoping we’ll promote their products. They pay us for the promotion.”

Lu Chizao, somewhat ignorant of industry affairs, realized she had underestimated Lin Tingci’s reputation.

Holding her spoon in one hand, she pulled out her phone with the other and searched online. Sure enough, Lin Tingci even had her own Wikipedia page…

Two years ago, she had already been nominated for Best New Director, with two of her short films winning awards at festivals and a nomination for Best Film Director.

Though these were just nominations, considering her age—she was only 23 and still a student—it was incredibly impressive! If she had actually won a Golden Award, what would the established veterans do?

But according to Xiao Jiang, the film she was currently working on was aiming for the Golden Award…

The former Young Lady Lu, who had lived a comfortable life with no material wants, content with making small investments and earning modest sums while spending the rest on leisure, was stunned into wide-eyed shock.

Does she really have to work this hard?

Lin Tingci was three years younger than her.

As Lu Chizao prepared to sever ties with the Lu family, anxiety suddenly gripped her. On a whim, she asked Xiao Jiang, “Can you take me to Linchuan Art sometime?”

******

At the Lin family, after Lu Chizao left and Lin Raoyin was reprimanded, a servant nervously delivered the anonymous letter from the previous night to Lin Hexu’s study.

Lin Hexu was furious, and Lu Xingyan couldn’t understand what Lu Chizao was up to. He had called her all night without success. The letter was finally opened that morning.

Upon reading its contents, Lin Hexu immediately contacted Lu Xingyan again.

The letter contained only two sentences, which Lin Hexu read aloud: “Heard your wedding is near. Here’s a gift—no need to thank me. Investigate the Lu family’s daughter’s true parentage. Beware of imitations.”

“Who sent this to you?” Lu Xingyan asked.

“No signature,” Lin Hexu replied. “The servant said the postman delivered it normally to the mailbox.”

“The postmark shows it was sent from out of town,” Lu Xingyan noted. “It must have passed through several hands.”

“Could this be a trick by a competitor?” Lin Hexu suggested, sharing Lu Xingyan’s skepticism about the letter’s claims.

They then began brainstorming about recent company projects and potential rivals, trying to recall any conflicts that might have triggered such a move.

Lu Xingyan’s expression darkened. “I’ll investigate this immediately.” He ended the video call and rushed home to inform Shen Wenyao.

Unfortunately, the sender of the letter was clearly targeting them, acting faster and with apparent certainty that Lu Chizao wasn’t their biological daughter. Before Lu Xingyan even reached home, the news had already spread among the Yuanshou elite families.

From one chat group to another, within half a day, it became the latest gossip among the upper echelons of society…

******

The Linchuan Art Drama Department’s conference room was filled with a tense silence. The script’s storyboard design had sparked a heated debate, leaving the department heads and their assistants, numbering over a dozen, in a subdued mood.

The director and producer exchanged uneasy glances, each trying to defer to the other.

Finally, Shi Yuzhe, a producer and close friend of Lin Tingci who held equal authority, broke the tension with a joke.

“Hey, Xiao Ci, you’ve never been in love, have you?”

Lin Tingci, accustomed to Shi Yuzhe’s teasing, didn’t take offense. Instead, she gave him a look that encouraged him to continue.

Shi Yuzhe: “You know, no matter how many films you watch or how much theory you study, understanding love intellectually is completely different from experiencing it firsthand.”

“In that scene, we want the second female lead to gaze at the first female lead from afar for a long time, then resolutely turn away. This would better emphasize the depth of her feelings.”

The art director chimed in with a conciliatory tone: “Love is complex. It doesn’t follow logic, and the way you portray open affection differs from how you depict secret longing.”

The art director’s comment referenced Lin Tingci’s award-winning short film, which had masterfully captured the nuances of unrequited love. However, the scene under discussion involved characters who were aware of each other’s feelings. While Lin Tingci’s artistic vision was compelling, it lacked the emotional impact needed for this particular moment.

Another silence fell. Ye Zi’ang, Lin Tingci’s senior assistant sitting beside her, observed the room carefully, quietly gauging his boss’s reaction.

Perhaps they had truly hit a snag. Lin Tingci didn’t dispute the group’s opinions, responding calmly, “I’ll think about it some more.”

When it came to important matters, Lin Tingci never acted unilaterally. She always consulted with her team, approaching discussions with a collaborative and open-minded attitude.

Shi Yuzhe, unfazed by her creative block, continued to lighten the mood with a teasing remark: “See? I told you to date, but you wouldn’t listen. Burying yourself in work can’t compare to romance—that wellspring of inspiration!”

Breaking the tense silence, others chimed in: “Seriously? So many people are smitten with Director Lin. How could she not be dating anyone?”

“She has high standards.”

“Exactly! Omegas and Betas who like her have been scheming to audition for her films. The line stretches all the way to the school gate! How is it possible she’s still single?”

“Director Lin, what kind of person do you like? You’ve never mentioned it before!”

The teasing continued, one remark after another. Lin Tingci simply smiled, choosing not to respond.

The person she liked was best kept hidden in her heart.

Moving past the awkward exchange, Lin Tingci’s long fingers flipped through the script to the next page.

She had intended to analyze the next scene, but Xiao Jiang suddenly returned, peering through the conference room door.

Realizing the meeting was still in progress, Xiao Jiang hesitated to bring an outsider in. She turned to tell Lu Chizao to go wander around elsewhere first.

Lin Tingci, with her keen senses, noticed the figure outside the door and immediately stood up to open it.

“What are you doing here?”

Before noticing Lu Chizao’s change of clothes, Lin Tingci first noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She knew Lu Chizao hadn’t slept well last night. Why hadn’t she stayed home?

“I just… came to see you.”

Inside the room, someone with sharp eyes and ears recognized the pleasant voice and immediately ignited their gossip instincts. They craned their necks to peek toward the door, astonished to see a strikingly beautiful Omega conversing with Lin Tingci.

Considering the conversation from two minutes ago, combined with this scene…

Lin Tingci knew without a doubt that the meeting would be impossible to focus on now.

She glanced at her wristwatch. It was almost lunchtime. “Wait for me,” she told Lu Chizao. “I’ll take you to lunch.”

Huh? Eating again? Lu Chizao had just finished breakfast before coming.

Lin Tingci didn’t give her time to respond. After instructing the others about the afternoon meeting time, she abruptly dismissed the meeting.

It was a rare sight to see the iron tree bloom. Lin Tingci had completely abandoned her usual sharp tone, even seeming eager to leave, which drew a chorus of teasing from the others.

This Omega… she’s no ordinary woman.

Shi Yuzhe joined the commotion, only to recognize Lu Chizao. He quickly pulled Lin Tingci aside. “Why is she here?”

Lin Tingci shrugged nonchalantly. “Is there a problem?”

“…No.”

After everyone left, Shi Yuzhe pulled out his phone and reopened his chat with his sister, Shi Yu’er, scrolling back to the news article about the Lin and Lu families she had sent an hour earlier.

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