The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 23

After Xu Silan left, the atmosphere in the practice room turned icy.

The girls’ positions had almost divided into factions, drawing a clear line between them.

Surprisingly, it was Shao Xiling who broke the silence first.

“Is this the team atmosphere you wanted?”

Her gaze fixed directly on Nan Zhi, her words dripping with mockery.

Nan Zhi couldn’t help but frown.

Tang Keyue stepped forward, shielding Nan Zhi behind her, her tone clearly displeased. “What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t mean anything. I just think some people are being ridiculous. It’s not like she was voted as center, yet she talks so much, you’d think she was the emperor holding court.”

Tang Keyue nearly laughed in frustration.

“Who was the one who refused to accept the voting results? 4:6 wasn’t it obvious who should get center? You insisted on a vote, but when the results came out, someone started crying and made everything awkward. Did Nan Zhi say anything wrong? Was any of it directed at Shen Jiaying? Wasn’t it all for the sake of the team?”

Shao Xiling stiffened, about to retort, but Shen Jiaying stopped her.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have been greedy for something that wasn’t mine.” Shen Jiaying spoke softly, tears welling up in her eyes again. She took a deep breath and looked at Nan Zhi, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “I’ll give up the center position. Please don’t be angry.”

The moment Shen Jiaying said this, Nan Zhi and Tang Keyue were stunned.

Even Xia Lan and the other neutral members couldn’t help but frown.

What did she mean by “give up the center position”? It was never hers to begin with.

The leader had only yielded the center spot to accommodate their feelings so what exactly was she “giving up”?

“Can you stop talking like that?” Nan Zhi had barely spoken when she was interrupted.

“Then can you stop targeting Jiaying?” Shao Xiling sneered. “Everyone knows how close you are to Zhu Ran. You keep stirring up trouble between our teammates which team are you really helping?”

“Yeah,” the girl who had earlier questioned Shao Xiling chimed in. “Besides, the vote was tied at first. If Nan Zhi hadn’t suggested an extra round, it wouldn’t have ended up 4:6.”

Tang Keyue let out a disbelieving laugh. “Seriously? Even if Nan Zhi hadn’t suggested the vocal showdown, we still would’ve had to pick a center. Or did you expect us to have two centers and split the focus?”

The girl clearly wasn’t convinced. “So we did the showdown, didn’t we? And when the results came out, Jiaying didn’t say anything, but Nan Zhi kept coming at us. I think Xiling’s right Nan Zhi and Zhu Ran are so close, and she’s been driving a wedge in our team. Isn’t her motive obvious?”

“What wedge am I driving? Since when is speaking the truth considered stirring trouble?”

Nan Zhi had reached her limit.

After Mu Siqiong completely gave up the center position, she had already decided to respect the leader’s choice.

Yet the ones constantly provoking conflicts were Shen Jiaying’s side.

She truly didn’t understand, what kind of spell did Shen Jiaying have over them?

“I asked Shen Jiaying if she was confident she could beat Zhu Ran, and she didn’t even answer. If she doesn’t believe in herself, how can we trust her to take on this role?”

“That was Jiaying saving Zhu Ran some face. Everyone at FN knows when has Zhu Ran ever beaten Jiaying?” Shao Xiling’s expression was laced with mockery. “Zhu Ran, she—”

“Enough! That’s enough!”

Mu Siqiong abruptly cut off the argument.

“The cameras are still rolling. Let’s all calm down and stop arguing, okay?”

Shao Xiling pressed her lips together, muttering defiantly, “No one wants to argue. Jiaying hasn’t said a word from the start.”

Nan Zhi shot her a glare, curses practically written all over her face.

“This matter has already wasted too much of everyone’s time and energy. Excluding rehearsal days and commercial shoots, we only have four days left to practice. Let’s not dwell on the center position anymore and focus on what’s ahead.”

Mu Siqiong looked utterly exhausted.

“The center position is Jiaying’s. Let’s take a break and start dividing the parts Nan Zhi, can you come with me for a moment?”

Mu Siqiong motioned for Nan Zhi to follow her out. The moment they stepped outside the practice room, she suddenly paused.

Clearly, she wanted to find a spot without surveillance but couldn’t think of one right away.

Nan Zhi was about to suggest the rooftop, but for some reason, the words died on her lips.

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly didn’t want to share that place with anyone else.

“Everyone must be tired from arguing. How about we go to the convenience store and buy them some snacks and drinks?” Nan Zhi blinked, offering a light smile. “My treat, as an apology.”

There was a stretch of the path to the convenience store without cameras. Mu Siqiong caught on and nodded with a smile.

“Sorry, Captain. I put you in a tough spot.”

Once they reached the camera-free section, Nan Zhi stopped and apologized first.

In this matter, Shao Xiling wasn’t wrong.

She did have ulterior motives.

But those motives weren’t for Zhu Ran she simply didn’t want Shen Jiaying to get the center position.

After all, in terms of skill, Mu Siqiong was indeed more suitable.

But she hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.

Mu Siqiong shook her head, looking apologetic herself. “I should be the one apologizing. Actually, what you and Teacher Xu said later made me realize things, but I’d already spoken, and it would’ve been awkward to backtrack. So, this was the only way.”

“I understand. You don’t need to apologize.” Nan Zhi sighed softly. “I share some responsibility for how things turned out. I’m really sorry.”

Mu Siqiong blinked slowly, then nodded with a faint smile.

“And also, I really didn’t do all this for Zhu Ran.”

Nan Zhi smiled sheepishly, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious pride. “Zhu Ran doesn’t need me pulling strings behind her back.”

Mu Siqiong couldn’t help but chuckle. “I know.”

Seeing Mu Siqiong’s expression soften, Nan Zhi finally relaxed and held out her hand.

“Let’s leave the past behind. From now on, let’s give it our all even if we lose, let’s lose spectacularly!”

“What kind of logic is ‘losing spectacularly’?” Mu Siqiong laughed outright, clasping Nan Zhi’s hand in return. “Besides, we might not even lose.”

“Well, you’d better watch out Zhu Ran is really strong!”

“Come on, we’re not weak either, okay?” Mu Siqiong teased. “You have so much faith in Zhu Ran, no wonder Shao Xiling said you were stirring the pot.”

Their clasped hands swayed slightly before parting.

Nan Zhi blinked. “Did I?”

“Of course, you’ve always firmly stood by Zhu Ran’s side. Haven’t you noticed it yourself?”

Nan Zhi froze for a moment.

Zhu Ran was her target to win over, so of course she had to stand by Zhu Ran’s side.

Wasn’t that just natural?

But then.

Nan Zhi lowered her head and looked at her hands, a sudden question rising in her mind.

“Captain, let me hug you!”

Mu Siqiong: ?

Before she could react, Nan Zhi suddenly threw her arms around Mu Siqiong, burying her face in the crook of Mu Siqiong’s neck.

Mu Siqiong staggered slightly backward, taking half a step to steady herself.

“W-what’s wrong?”

No feeling.

Just an ordinary handshake, an ordinary hug ordinary physical contact.

Nan Zhi felt a faint sense of bewilderment.

When Zhu Ran held her wrist, when Zhu Ran hugged her, her heartbeat wasn’t like this.

Her blood rushed violently into her left atrium, the pounding so loud it deafened her.

It wasn’t the same as this kind of contact with Mu Siqiong.

Different. Completely different.

Every touch with Zhu Ran was imbued with inexplicable meaning.

Nan Zhi asked the system in confusion: Why is this happening?

The system snorted, too lazy to answer.

This idiot would just make excuses for herself again anyway.

“What are you two doing?”

A familiar, cool voice slowly rang out. Nan Zhi abruptly let go of Mu Siqiong and turned around in horror.

Under the shade of camphor trees, amidst the endless chirping of cicadas.

The girl’s pale, almost translucent face was fixed unwaveringly on Nan Zhi.

Her lips, the same soft pink Nan Zhi had fantasized about in her dreams, were pressed into a thin line, her expression clearly displeased.

Nan Zhi flailed her hands in panic. “N-nothing!”

Damn it!

Why is Zhu Ran here?!

Wait, why was she panicking?!

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