The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 25.1

Shen Jiaying first met Zhu Ran in the late autumn, on the cusp of winter.

It wasn’t particularly cold, there was always a warm, drowsy sun.

The ginkgo and plane trees of the small town carpeted the sidewalks, rustling under the footsteps of passersby like whispers.

Disgusting.

To be precise, everything Zhu Ran loved made Shen Jiaying uncomfortable.

The barrenness of autumn and winter, the skeletal trees lining the streets, the half-yellowed, half-withered grass, the biting wind that stung the face, what was there to like?

So when seven-year-old Zhu Ran stood in the courtyard, spent an hour picking out the most beautiful maple leaf, and pressed it into a specimen to gift to Shen Jiaying, she coldly tossed it into the fireplace.

The plastic wrapping melted in the heat, releasing a pungent, acrid smell.

The wounded expression on Zhu Ran’s delicate, almost too-pretty face wasn’t ugly at all, it even made Shen Jiaying’s heart soften a little.

She decided then that she would never like Zhu Ran.

Not from the very first moment.

“Little sister?”

Seven-year-old Shen Jiaying widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at the little girl before her.

Dressed in a beige button-up coat over a pure white high-neck sweater, the hem of the coat resting atop a pleated skirt, revealing white stockings and shiny round-toe shoes, she clutched a brown stuffed puppy in her arms.

The girl had a perfectly oval face, slightly upturned brows and eyes, a small, straight nose, and lips as pink as cherry blossoms.

Shen Jiaying gaped at her.

The girl looked pale, nervous and uneasy.

After Jiang Zhiyun nudged her forward, she timidly took a small step and extended a soft, pale hand toward Shen Jiaying.

“Hello, big sister. My name is Zhu Ran.”

On the TV behind them, a popular idol drama was playing.

A maid, in a strange, saccharine tone, introduced the girl who would soon be living with the young mistress: “This is your little sister. From now on, you two must get along well and never fight. Otherwise, Daddy and Mommy will be very upset.”

The young mistress suddenly flew into a rage, yanking over a nearby cabinet. The decorative vase on top crashed to the floor with a sharp, piercing sound.

“I don’t want her! She’s not my sister! I don’t have a sister!”

Slap!

A crisp sound rang out, the young mistress’s father had struck her hard across the face.

“If you throw another tantrum like this, I’ll punish you with no dinner!”

Then, the TV showed only the father’s warm, friendly conversation with the “little sister,” while the young mistress’s cries faded into the background, ignored by everyone.

This episode had aired last night. In the end, the young mistress was locked in her room by her father, crying on an empty stomach.

Shen Jiaying shuddered suddenly.

“Jiaying? What’s wrong? Your sister is saying hello to you.” Jiang Zhiyun’s voice pulled her back to reality. “Didn’t Mom and Dad teach you yesterday? What are you supposed to say when your sister arrives?”

Shen Jiaying jerked her head up, looking at the adults across from her.

All eyes were fixed on her, each pair gleaming with an odd light that made her skin crawl.

“W-welcome.”

When she took Zhu Ran’s cold little hand, Shen Jiaying felt every hair on her body stand on end.

Just like when Xiao Wang told scary stories.

Little Brother Wang said this was called “aversion”, a sign that she really disliked what was happening right now.

Shen Jiaying frowned, staring straight at Zhu Ran.

The other girl was looking back at her. When their eyes met, Zhu Ran suddenly tugged at the corner of her lips, revealing an expression that was somewhere between crying and smiling.

This time, Shen Jiaying felt a chill crawl up her spine.

She abruptly shook off Zhu Ran’s hand.

“See, my daughter really likes Ranran too. She used to fuss all the time, saying Mom and Dad were too busy to play with her, that she wanted a little sister to keep her company. Now that Ranran is here, she must be so happy.”

No, she wasn’t!

Shen Jiaying turned to Shen Yan in shock.

Her father simply smiled at the journalist from the weekly magazine, gently extending his hand to pat little Zhu Ran on the head.

She was stunned.

That was her dad!

“If it weren’t for Brother Zhu,” Shen Yan suddenly sighed, his voice thick with emotion. “He was my good brother, helped me build the company from the ground up Ranran is his only daughter, which makes her my own. No, even dearer than my own!”

Jiang Zhiyun lightly wrapped an arm around Shen Yan’s waist, patting his back. “Alright, alright, let’s not say such things in front of the children. I’m sure Brother Zhu would be at ease knowing Ranran is with us.”

As she spoke, she turned to Zhu Ran, pulling her into an embrace with her other arm.

“Ranran is so clever and adorable, I’ve always liked her. Now that she’s part of our family, we’ll have two daughters to take care of. It’ll be quite the handful.”

Shen Jiaying felt as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss.

Her parents were holding someone else’s child, looking for all the world like a perfect family of three.

The journalist immediately signaled the cameraman to capture the touching moment, scribbling a few notes before finally looking up at the Shen family.

“I think we’ve got enough material for now. I’ll draft the article back at the office and check with you for any revisions.”

Shen Yan wiped his tears, murmuring a few grateful words.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Shen Yan stood to escort the journalist out.

“Shen Jiaying, how many times have I told you? When we have important guests, turn off that TV of yours! Just look at the nonsense you’re watching!”

With a click, the idol drama was abruptly cut off, the screen going black and silencing the young girl’s sobs.

“I’m tired, Shen Jiaying. Show Ranran around the house, and don’t disturb my rest.”

With that, Jiang Zhiyun turned and headed upstairs, leaving the two girls alone in the living room.

It wasn’t until that cold, uncomfortable sensation returned to her hand that Shen Jiaying fully snapped out of her daze.

Zhu Ran had obediently taken her hand again, offering a timid smile when their eyes met.

Disgusting.

Shen Jiaying violently shook her off, glaring in silence.

Only when shock and fear flickered across Zhu Ran’s delicate, pretty face did Shen Jiaying feel slightly better.

She snatched the stuffed puppy from Zhu Ran’s arms and hurled it at the coffee table.

She hated Zhu Ran!

What sister? She didn’t have a sister!

She had never once said she wanted a sister that was a lie! She hated sharing anything that was hers!

Shen Jiaying glared at Zhu Ran with venom, screaming, “You’re not my sister! Get out of my house! Get out!”

Zhu Ran stumbled back two steps, her small face deathly pale.

From the second floor came Jiang Zhiyun’s furious roar, “Shen! Jia! Ying!”

Shen Jiaying whipped her head around, flung open the door, and bolted outside.

The howling wind drowned out the childish cries behind her.

Everyone was just horrible!

Only one thought remained in Shen Jiaying’s mind escape.

As she ran, at the first corner, she spotted the retreating figures of Shen Yan and the reporter Yang.

Can’t let Dad see me, or I’ll get scolded.

Shen Jiaying bit her lip and turned her gaze toward the central garden of the residential complex.

There was a small path there, part of which resembled pillars standing in water, a walkway made of large square blocks spanning the enormous koi pond.

Jiang Zhiyun had always forbidden her from walking there, saying the suspended pillars were unstable, with wide gaps that could easily cause a child to fall.

But Shen Jiaying couldn’t care less now.

She dashed toward the garden, weaving through a cluster of ginkgo trees, and leaped onto the first pillar with steady footing.

Good, she hadn’t fallen.

Shen Jiaying looked at the second pillar and hesitated.

What might be a manageable gap for an adult seemed like an insurmountable chasm to seven-year-old Shen Jiaying.

Below her, plump koi fish swarmed beneath the surface, as if drawn by food.

Their slimy, slippery bodies crowded together, rolling and thrashing, even splashing filthy pond water onto her pant legs.

So disgusting.

Shen Jiaying was on the verge of tears.

She took a small step back, about to turn around, when a clear voice called from behind:

“Jie, Shen, Shen Jiaying, don’t go any further. It’s dangerous.”

Shen Jiaying spun around.

Beneath the ginkgo tree, sunlight gently kissed Zhu Ran’s face, the pristine collar of her white sweater, and the neatly tailored coat she wore.

Zhu Ran seemed to glow radiant, dazzling.

For a moment, Shen Jiaying was stunned, her mind suddenly registering that there really were people in this world who could be as beautiful as angels.

Not like the exaggeratedly made-up women on TV with their blue and purple eyeshadow.

Zhu Ran stood there, clean and pure beneath the golden leaves.

The sunlight illuminated her so brightly that even her eyebrows appeared gilded.

A sudden wet sensation on her foot made Shen Jiaying look down, a koi had splashed water onto her shoe.

“Disgusting!”

She suddenly raised her head and screamed at Zhu Ran before whirling around and leaping toward the next pillar.

“Don’t!” Zhu Ran’s face twisted in panic as she reached out and jumped onto the pillar after her. “Come back, it’s really dangerous!”

But Shen Jiaying ignored her, continuing forward.

She made it safely across the first three pillars just four more, and she’d be fine.

The moment her feet landed on the fourth pillar, she felt the slippery surface beneath her shoes.

The stone wobbled, and her body lurched uncontrollably to the side.

Then her head struck something hard, murky pond water flooding her nose and mouth. Darkness swallowed her vision, and she passed out completely.

When Zhu Ran woke up, Shen Jiaying still hadn’t regained consciousness.

The same foster parents who had been so kind during the day now refused to spare her even a glance, their hands tightly clasped as they hovered over Shen Jiaying’s hospital bed.

Zhu Ran turned her head slightly and saw the picture-perfect family before her.

“You’re awake? Are you feeling any discomfort?” The nurse gently stroked Zhu Ran’s cheek and asked with a smile, “Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?”

“Ranran’s awake?” Jiang Zhiyun turned her head upon hearing the movement behind her, glancing at her briefly.

Zhu Ran quickly forced a smile in response.

“What are you smiling about? Tell me, why did Jiaying fall into the water? Did you push her?” Shen Yan snapped angrily.

In an instant, everyone in the ward cast disapproving glances their way.

The nurse frowned and couldn’t help but interject, “Sir, please mind your words. The child just woke up and her condition is still unstable.”

“If she’s awake, then she’s fine!” Shen Yan roared, his face flushed with anger. “My daughter is still unconscious!”

“Sir, this is also your daughter!”

“What daughter?”

Jiang Zhiyun quickly tugged at Shen Yan’s sleeve, cutting him off.

“I’m sorry, my husband has a quick temper. She’s our only biological daughter, and as parents, we’re just overwhelmed by what happened. Please forgive his thoughtless words.”

The nurse paused, her gaze shifting to Zhu Ran with unmistakable pity.

Just moments ago, when the two girls were brought in, their family records had clearly listed them as sisters.

Jiang Zhiyun scanned the room and cleared her throat to explain, “Today was Ranran’s first day at our home. She had an argument with my daughter, which led to my daughter running outside and well, that’s why her father is so upset.”

Since it was a family matter, and the mother had implied that the adopted child had provoked their daughter first, the onlookers glanced briefly before averting their eyes.

Jiang Zhiyun exhaled in relief and smiled softly at Zhu Ran. “Ranran, how are you feeling? Any discomfort? You can tell the nurse.”

Zhu Ran slowly turned her gaze to Shen Yan and Jiang Zhiyun, suppressing her dizziness, and shook her head.

“Good, as long as you’re okay. We’ll talk about the rest when we get home. Get some more sleep now.”

With that, Jiang Zhiyun tucked the blanket around her and turned away, leaving only her back in view.

Zhu Ran’s nose, throat, and even ears burned as if on fire, the pain sharp and relentless. Her chest felt crushed under a heavy weight, each dull throb making it hard to breathe.

Staring blankly at the backs of her “parents,” Zhu Ran’s lips trembled, but no sound escaped.

The nurse sighed softly and bent down to adjust the IV drip. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimmer and froze.

A single tear slid down the girl’s translucent, porcelain-like cheek, pooling at the bridge of her nose like a trembling pearl.

“The finest things are fragile rainbow clouds shatter, glass cracks.”

Just like this fragile little girl before her.

“Dad!”

A whisper so faint it barely existed snapped the nurse back to attention. She leaned closer. “What did you say?”

Zhu Ran closed her eyes, and the scene before her transformed into the towering figure of another man in her mind.

She could almost see him turning around, laughing heartily as he lifted her high into the air.

The warmth of his broad, calloused palms was searing, his stubble tickling her cheeks.

“Does our little Ranran miss her dad again?”

“Next time Xiaoran misses Daddy, just shout in your heart, ‘Daddy! Xiaoran misses you so much!’ Then Daddy will hear Xiaoran’s voice and appear by your side!”

Little Zhu Ran, her hair a mess of tangled little tufts, pouted her lips. “Daddy’s lying.”

“Daddy would never lie. Grown-ups don’t lie to children.”

“But Daddy said he’d braid my hair pretty.” Little Zhu Ran looked aggrieved, her chubby little hand patting the top of her head. “It’s so ugly.”

“Well, Daddy just isn’t very good at it yet. If Daddy braids Xiaoran’s hair a few more times, it’ll turn into pretty little braids.”

“Really?”

“Really. Daddy promises.”

Zhu Ran buried her entire head under the blanket, trembling, not daring to make a sound.

Liar.

I hate liars the most.

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