The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 25.2

Shen Jiaying slept for a very, very long time after falling into the water.

So long that Zhu Ran had already recovered enough to get out of bed, yet she still hadn’t woken up.

Jiang Zhiyun and Shen Yan grew increasingly anxious, their gazes at Zhu Ran turning frightening.

It wasn’t until a week later that Shen Jiaying finally opened her eyes.

And then Zhu Ran realized Shen Jiaying had changed.

When she looked at Zhu Ran, there was no more dislike in her eyes, no more anger.

Instead, she became like Jiang Zhiyun, gently holding Zhu Ran’s little hand and apologizing, saying she shouldn’t have argued with Ah Ran.

She even thanked Zhu Ran for coming to find her and asked if she was feeling unwell.

Little Zhu Ran’s eyes were red at the corners as she stared at Shen Jiaying in disbelief.

“It was my fault. You’re my little sister, and no matter what you say to me, I shouldn’t have gotten angry with you.”

Shen Jiaying smiled sweetly, her dimples flashing on both cheeks, utterly adorable.

All the adults in the hospital room praised the child for being so cute and well-mannered.

Even the grumpiest old man peeled an orange for Shen Jiaying.

“Thank you, Grandpa.” Shen Jiaying took the orange, popped a segment into Zhu Ran’s mouth, then took a bite herself. “Wow, Grandpa’s orange is so sweet and delicious!”

“Of course! I grew it myself at home.”

The old man’s stern face softened into a smile, his wrinkles crinkling as his gaze warmed.

A middle-aged woman who was accompanying a patient immediately chimed in, “Oh, you grew it yourself, Grandpa? Do you sell them?”

“I do, I do.” The old man held up three fingers. “Three yuan for ten pounds, guaranteed sweet.”

“Great! My old lady loves local oranges. The weather’s been bad this year, and the ones we bought were all sour. I’ll trust the little girl’s word and buy fifty pounds from you, Grandpa!”

Shen Jiaying cheerfully offered half the orange. “Auntie, try it. It’s really sweet.”

“No need, Auntie. Just seeing you smile makes my heart feel sweet enough.”

As the middle-aged woman spoke, laughter rippled through the hospital room.

Zhu Ran stared blankly at Shen Jiaying, then, after a moment, tentatively curved her lips into a small smile.

Shen Jiaying suddenly turned to look at her.

Zhu Ran’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly wiped the smile away.

She still remembered both times she had smiled in the Shen family villa, it had made Shen Jiaying very upset.

But the next second, Shen Jiaying beamed at her generously. “Little sister, you should smile more. You look pretty when you smile.”

It was the first time Shen Jiaying had ever smiled at Zhu Ran.

Just as the adults in the room had said, Shen Jiaying’s smile was sweet and adorable.

Anyone who saw it would feel their heart lighten with joy.

But Zhu Ran could never have imagined what would come later.

Shen Jiaying, with that sweet smile of hers, was still at heart the spoiled little princess she had always been.

After falling into the water, Shen Jiaying’s health had never fully recovered.

She couldn’t run or jump. Whenever P.E. class came around, Zhu Ran would sit silently with her in the classroom.

At home, Shen Yan and Jiang Zhiyun treated her like she was invisible.

The three of them, in their own ways, repeatedly reminded Zhu Ran:

Shen Jiaying ended up like this because of you.

So from then on, no matter what Shen Jiaying said, Zhu Ran would obey without question.

They told Zhu Ran this was called atonement.

She had ruined Shen Jiaying’s life, so she would spend the rest of hers making up for it.

Her father had ruined the Shen family, so she would atone for his sins as well.

From that moment on, Shen Jiaying became a kind, beautiful, and gentle person.

Anyone who entered their world would inevitably fall for this sweet and lovely true heiress.

And Zhu Ran? She was nothing more than Shen Jiaying’s attendant.

Always at her beck and call, never daring to refuse.

“So what?”

“What?”

Nan Zhi let out a cold laugh. “Shen Jiaying, you’ve played the female lead for so long that you really think everyone around you is a fool, don’t you?”

The haughty tilt of Shen Jiaying’s head faltered for a moment, cracks slowly spreading across her sweet mask.

Nan Zhi stepped firmly onto the stairs, looking down at her.

“You think I don’t know that for over a decade, you’ve been brainwashing Zhu Ran, manipulating her?”

“You think I don’t know what your parents did to her?”

“Yes, you used to be the protagonist of this world. Everyone would inexplicably adore you, believe you.” Nan Zhi took step after step toward Shen Jiaying, backing her into a corner before smirking viciously.

“But haven’t you noticed? People have already started disliking you.”

Shen Jiaying, furious and flustered, hastily denied it. “That’s impossible!”

“How is it impossible?”

Nan Zhi’s grin widened. “Starting with me, starting with Zhu Ran more and more people will come to despise you. Just look at the voting results for the center position this time. Shen Jiaying, you’re already losing.”

Losing in the hearts of people losing to Mu Siqiong.

And soon, she would lose everything to Zhu Ran.

“You think you know so much more than I do?” Nan Zhi’s gaze bore into Shen Jiaying like a threat. “Shen Jiaying, your understanding of Zhu Ran is nowhere near mine. The moment you revealed to me that you knew everything, I realized it.”

“W-what did you realize?”

Shen Jiaying’s voice trembled.

The tables had turned, all her pretense had crumbled.

The closer Nan Zhi got, the more uneasy and terrified she became.

“You’re starting to get scared.”

Nan Zhi smiled with certainty.

“I’m guessing you stumbled upon some so-called prophetic dreams by chance. When those dreams overlapped with reality, you realized they were true. So, you used them to live your life smoothly, perfectly.”

“Everyone would love you. Everything you wanted would fall into your hands as long as you followed the script of those dreams, it would all come true.”

Shen Jiaying couldn’t stop shaking.

“Too bad you didn’t dream about me the wild card.” ** Nan Zhi took a small step back, savoring Shen Jiaying’s expression. ** “That’s why you panicked. Just one performance in, and the world you thought you knew shifted ever so slightly and you were terrified. That’s why you couldn’t help but slip up, threatening me to stay away from Zhu Ran.”

“Because you’re afraid. If you don’t stop me now, your dream will shatter.”

A single tear suddenly fell from Shen Jiaying’s eyes.

But Nanzhi had no intention of letting her off.

Compared to everything Shen Jiaying had done to Zhu Ran, Nanzhi had merely spoken a few words to her.

“Wearing a mask for too long makes it hard to tell which version of yourself is real. Shen Jiaying, you’ve always felt superior, dominating everyone in this world. You’ve cast yourself as the creator goddess of this story, refusing to let anyone escape your control especially Zhu Ran. Why? Because she was the first person you ever completely dominated, wasn’t she?”

“But in reality, you’re just a child playing house, far too immersed in your own game.”

Nan Zhi let out a cold, mocking laugh.

“No!” Shen Jiaying suddenly roared.

That wasn’t it at all. It was because Zhu Ran was just a side character.

A side character, how dare she be prettier? How dare she be more talented?

She was the protagonist.

She had practiced piano for years, yet Zhu Ran could replicate her playing flawlessly after hearing it just a few times even performing it better.

How was that fair?

Shen Jiaying’s eyes widened with fury, her mask shattering instantly to reveal the twisted face beneath.

“I am the protagonist,” Shen Jiaying hissed, her lips twitching, her gaze bordering on madness. “Zhu Ran is mine. Everything about her belongs to me.”

“Ever since you interfered, she changed. Nan Zhi, do you really think you’re saving her? No. In this world, I am the only protagonist. Don’t you understand?” Shen Jiaying’s eyes bulged. “What you’re doing will only make her suffer more because she’s a side character. Side characters exist to be beneath the protagonist.”

“You’re the one who should stay away from Zhu Ran.”

Nan Zhi shook her head, certain now that Shen Jiaying was beyond saving.

She had a rough guess Shen Jiaying must have known the story’s trajectory since childhood.

That was why Zhu Ran’s childhood had been so warped.

Because from the very beginning, Shen Jiaying had tried to dominate this world.

Only long-term psychological control over a child could have left Zhu Ran unable to escape the shadows of her past, even as an adult.

But Shen Jiaying didn’t realize it.

She, too, was trapped enslaved by her so-called “foresight,” suffering her own form of torment.

Looking back, even back then, Shen Jiaying had already been morally warped, unable to distinguish right from wrong.

That was why, when granted immense power, she had spiraled step by step into what she was now.

“Have you ever considered that even if you didn’t suppress Zhu Ran, you might still have been the protagonist?”

Nan Zhi suddenly laughed, her tone icy with scorn.

“What?”

Nan Zhi gave her a sidelong glance before turning to descend the stairs.

A suspicion nagged at her.

If, in Zhu Ran’s world, Shen Jiaying’s words had once been divine decree.

Then was standing on stage, becoming an idol, truly the future Zhu Ran wanted for herself?

Or had she been forced to comply, internalizing Shen Jiaying’s dreams as her own?

Nan Zhi felt a sudden heaviness in her chest.

At first, it had just been about the mission changing Zhu Ran, helping her reach the grand stage, become a dazzling star.

But what if this had never been what Zhu Ran truly wanted?

Guided by the system and her task, had she ended up doing the same thing as Shen Jiaying?

She had never once asked Zhu Ran did any of this actually make her happy?

[System, don’t you have any skill that could send me back to Zhu Ran’s childhood?]

[Yes. Cost: 1000 points.]

The fluffy ball bounced slightly, clearly puzzled: [If you want to know about Zhu Ran’s past, why don’t you just ask her directly?]

Nan Zhi replied gloomily: [You wouldn’t understand.]

Alright then.

How could a noble system possibly comprehend you foolish humans!

Nan Zhi drooped her head, sighing left and right.

For the rest of the afternoon, she lay on her dorm bed like a neglected puppy, dejected and staring longingly, waiting for Zhu Ran to return.

Even after Lin Fei and the others had all come back one after another, Zhu Ran was still in the practice building.

Nan Zhi rolled over and sighed again.

I wonder if Zhu Ran had a proper dinner.

Why isn’t Zhu Ran back yet? Wuwu QAQ.

The fluffy ball couldn’t take it anymore and reminded her: [Didn’t you arrange to leave together with someone? Maybe Zhu Ran is waiting for you there!]

Holy crap!

How could she have forgotten something so important?!

Nan Zhi suddenly sprang up from the bed, her head slamming into the bed frame with a loud “clang,” startling Lin Fei so much that her toothbrush fell to the floor.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

By the time Lin Fei looked up again, only the violently opened door frame remained, trembling in the wind.

Under the dim streetlights, Zhu Ranstood in the same spot as the night before, quietly waiting for Nan Zhi.

People passed by in waves, greeting her before hurrying back to the dorms.

After a full day of dance practice, everyone was exhausted and barely had the energy to stand around feeding mosquitoes with Zhu Ran.

From the distant space, the iconic bell of H City chimed.

Twelve strikes in total, signaling the arrival of a new day.

Some were heading from the dorms to the practice rooms, while others crawled back to the dorms like dogs.

Eventually, even the occasional passerby disappeared.

Zhu Ran silently lowered her gaze. Nan Zhi must have forgotten.

She was so popular within just a few days, she was already walking arm in arm with Tang Keyue after work, hugging Mu Siqiong to apologize.

Xue Zhi, Jian Zhiyao, Xia Lan.

In this long list, where did Zhu Ran’s name rank?

“Zhu Ran!”

A familiar voice called out, accompanied by hurried panting and unmistakable excitement.

Zhu Ran stiffened slightly before turning around to see a fluffy head charging straight at her.

A big hug.

“Ah, I’m such an idiot! I totally forgot, making you wait so long. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Nan Zhi’s arms were tightly wrapped around her neck and Zhu Ran instinctively raised her hands to encircle Nan Zhi’s waist.

The sticky heat of summer enveloped them, and suddenly, the sound of cicadas shattered the frozen moment between them.

Flustered, Nan Zhi scrambled off Zhu Ran, her cheeks flushed whether from the exertion or something else was unclear.

Both lost in their own thoughts, they fell into an awkward silence.

Unfortunately, the training camp only had two buildings and a small convenience store, leaving few places to go.

In the end, they decided to take a walk on the rooftop.

“I had a rough day today.”

They sat in their usual spot, just like during the rainy day before, though the distance between them was no longer as wide.

Nan Zhi deliberately or perhaps not sat close to Zhu Ran, their thighs brushing occasionally, shoulders grazing now and then.

Zhu Ran seemed dazed, taking a long moment before responding softly: “Hmm?”

“Shen Jiaying,” Nan Zhi pretended to swing her legs, lightly nudging Zhu Ran’s ankle now and then, “she came to brag to me.”

Zhu Ran was slightly taken aback, unable to fathom what Shen Jiaying could possibly boast about to Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi puffed up her cheeks and said, “She came to flaunt that she grew up with you since childhood, saying I don’t understand you and telling me to stay away from you.”

“So I was a little hurt. She knows you so well, yet she said such things to me, making me think she was speaking on your behalf delivering words you couldn’t say yourself.”

As she spoke, Nan Zhi lowered her head slightly, looking utterly dejected.

System: […]

Too painful to watch.

[Stop voyeuristically watching other people’s love lives! Log off!]

“You already know, don’t you? My relationship with her isn’t good,” Zhu Ran quickly turned to face Nan Zhi, explaining. “I don’t know why she’d say such things, but you don’t have to take it to heart. That’s not how I feel.”

Nan Zhi suddenly lifted her head, blinking. “I don’t know.”

Zhu Ran let out a puzzled hum.

Nan Zhi abruptly leaned closer, her gaze fixed intently on Zhu Ran.

The distance between them was so close now that they could hear each other’s breaths clearly.

Zhu Ran felt her heart tighten abruptly, overwhelmed by a mix of familiar and unfamiliar emotions.

“I don’t know your thoughts, so you’ll have to tell me more.”

“Tell you what?”

“Everything about Zhu Ran.”

Nan Zhi smiled faintly, her almond-shaped eyes curving slightly.

“I don’t want Shen Jiaying to tell me. I want to hear it from Zhu Ran herself, what kind of person Zhu Ran is.”

After a pause, she added, “Of course, it doesn’t have to be now. I’ll wait for you anytime.”

Wait for you to tell me everything about you, in your own words.

In that moment, Nan Zhi suddenly realized she might truly be a hopeless romantic.

Under the dim light, Zhu Ran’s beauty was simply too striking.

It made her unconsciously entertain all sorts of tender, indulgent thoughts.

That dream had been an omen all along.

Now, being this close to Zhu Ran, she wanted to kiss the upturned corners of her eyes, her fluttering lashes, her delicate nose, her soft, moist lips.

Nan Zhi abruptly jerked back, turning her head away as she swallowed hard.

Hold back, hold back. It’s not the right time yet.

The wind carried the cicadas’ song from below up to the rooftop. In the distance, neon lights flickered, and street lamps glowed brightly.

Nan Zhi heard Zhu Ran ask softly, “Why?”

“Hmm?”

That breathtakingly beautiful face tilted slightly, her eyes veiled in misty confusion.

“Why, do you want to understand me?”

The last few words trembled slightly, freezing Nan Zhi in place.

“There are so many people around you. Why me?”

Why someone as imperfect as me?

Nan Zhi didn’t know where she found the courage, but with trembling hands, she cupped Zhu Ran’s face.

No rejection.

Only bewilderment.

Nan Zhi suddenly realized at some point, every time she drew closer, Zhu Ran had never refused her.

Back when they first met on the rooftop, merely attempting to strike up a conversation had earned her rejection.

But now, she brushed against Zhu Ran’s arm, her thigh, her ankle.

Held her face.

Zhu Ran had never once refused.

Nan Zhi thought herself utterly hopeless.

In her dreams, she had explored Zhu Ran with fiery passion.

But now, all she dared to do was tremble as she gently pressed her lips to Zhu Ran’s.

Then squeezed her eyes shut.

It was hard to say who was trembling more.

The touch of their lips was softer, cooler than in her dreams.

The scent of perfume lingering between them was even more intoxicating.

A second felt as long as a decade.

Nan Zhi felt as if she had waited for decades.

Zhu Ran didn’t refuse.

Didn’t push her away.

Her lips trembled as they parted from Zhu Ran’s, and as she slightly opened her eyes, she saw no shock, no disgust, no aversion on Zhu Ran’s face.

Nan Zhi’s lips hovered an inch above Zhu Ran’s as she whispered, “Do you understand now?”

“Wh-what?”

“I like you.”

Not “why you,” but “only you.”

The haze in Zhu Ran’s eyes suddenly cleared.

Nan Zhi tilted her head slightly and asked softly, “Zhu Ran, may I kiss you?”

The summer night breeze was as gentle as it had been in that dream.

The air was hotter and more humid than any illusion.

Desire was magnified infinitely, she only wanted to lose herself in this person, or to press her into her own body.

Nan Zhi’s tears came from nowhere, falling with a soft plop into the hollow of Zhu Ran’s eye, like tiny pearls.

She heard Zhu Ran say, “Yes.”

Cut to black, hehe.

May you endure all hardships, and from now on, know only sweetness.

One last chapter of repression after this, it’s all sweet romance and sweet puppy love!

(To keep the streets emptier, I made Zhu Ran wait so late, it’s not Nan Zhi’s fault, it’s mine TOT)