The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26.2

Early the next morning, as soon as Nan Zhi entered the practice room, Tang Keyue mysteriously pulled her aside.

“Look at this.”

Following Tang Keyue’s finger, Nan Zhi saw a small table piled high with ice cream, snacks, and energy drinks.

Upon closer inspection, it was even the infamous “ice cream assassin” luxury-priced treats.

“Did Shen Jiaying buy all this?” Nan Zhi asked, slightly surprised. “Did she clear out the entire convenience store?”

“You say she’s acting weird, but it kinda makes sense, right? Yesterday, everyone had a fight, so she bought snacks to apologize. That’s understandable.”

Tang Keyue let out a soft hiss, her expression complicated. “But I can’t shake the feeling that coming from her, it’s just off. It makes me uncomfortable for some reason.”

Nan Zhi smiled faintly but said nothing.

After talking with Zhu Ran last night, she already had a rough understanding of Shen Jiaying.

The novel world had a certain self-correcting ability. Only when a character completely broke free from control would the Fast Travel Bureau send agents like her to intervene.

Before Nan Zhi arrived in this world, even though Shen Jiaying had obtained the plot, she still followed the original storyline. The world would automatically fix any inconsistencies around her.

Even if people around her grew suspicious, after a night’s sleep, all of Shen Jiaying’s illogical actions would become logical again.

But this function would be forcibly disabled once the Fast Travel Bureau intervened, making it easier for agents to carry out missions and alter the original plot.

In other words, ever since Nan Zhi arrived, the world would no longer correct the bugs caused by the characters.

People around them would naturally start noticing discrepancies through small details.

Because Shen Jiaying had spent her whole life playing the role of “the female lead, Shen Jiaying.”

Once a mask has been worn for too long, taking it off becomes agony.

Nan Zhi narrowed her eyes, scanned the room, and picked up the most expensive one, while also nudging the system:

[When will that report be done, you peeping Tom who spies on people’s love lives!]

System: ?

So much resentment, but no way to refute it.

Wuwu, it was just an accidental click on the interface.

[Stop whining and hurry up with your report, or it’ll really be too late.]

[I’m working on it!]

Only then did Nan Zhi relent and let the system off the hook.

The report they were talking about was actually an application for the Quick Transmigration Bureau to intervene and protect this small world.

Shen Jiaying’s blackening value had skyrocketed to 98% yesterday.

In theory, when Shen Jiaying’s blackening value hit 100%, Nan Zhi should have been the one to resolve it.

But no matter what, Nan Zhi didn’t want to save Shen Jiaying.

She remembered α once telling her that the Quick Transmigration Bureau had a covert department responsible for judging the awakened individuals in small worlds.

When they deemed an awakened individual in a world to be irredeemably sinful, they would deliver the harshest punishment.

And the assigned agents wouldn’t have to worry about the collapse of the small world the covert department had methods to ensure the world could continue functioning normally even without the awakened individual.

Simply put, she wanted Shen Jiaying to lose everything.

To be tormented by her own guilt, to suffer ten, a hundred times more than Zhu Ran.

“You’re giving up the center position? What do you mean?” Tang Keyue exclaimed, her face practically screaming profanity. “Other groups have already started shaping up, and what about us? To accommodate your feelings, we wasted half the day yesterday. Our group already has a lot of people, and syncing the dance isn’t easy. Now we only have three days left to rehearse, and you’re saying you don’t want the center spot anymore?”

Xia Lan also frowned, her expression grim. “Shen Jiaying, I really don’t understand what’s going on in your head. Do you think it’s fun to mess with everyone like this?”

Shen Jiaying’s face was deathly pale, her eyes filled with confusion.

As if she couldn’t understand why everyone’s reactions weren’t what she had expected.

Nan Zhi couldn’t help but curl her lips in mockery.

She could probably guess Shen Jiaying’s thought process.

No doubt she’d been rattled by Nan Zhi’s intimidation yesterday and was now panicking, trying to win back some favor. But her way of thinking no longer fit this world that had returned to its proper course.

She thought giving up the center position would make her popular again.

In reality, she was just arrogantly judging everyone, never considering the time and effort it would take for them to rearrange everything.

Coupled with yesterday’s unpleasant parting, her sudden mention of changing the center today would only breed resentment.

Someone who had spent her whole life arbitrarily altering others’ emotions and trying to manipulate their thoughts, how could she possibly understand what others truly felt?

Backfiring that was Shen Jiaying in a nutshell.

Trapped for so long in the vanity brought by the original plot, with the world constantly fixing bugs for her, creating an illusion that kept her sinking deeper.

From the moment Nan Zhi exposed her, calling her a child playing house, her heart had already begun to waver.

The future was changing, diverging from what she’d seen in her dreams.

She could feel it not just Zhu Ran and Nan Zhi, but many others no longer treated her with the same adoration and kindness as before.

Yet none of these people had ever appeared on the list of antagonists in her dreams.

Just as NNan Zhi had said.

The world no longer revolved around her.

“Jiaying, what are you talking about?” Even Shao Xiling was getting angry. She pulled Shen Jiaying outside and lowered her voice, saying, “That’s Zhu Ran on the other side! If you just let her make a few mistakes, we’ll win for sure!”

Shen Jiaying opened her mouth, but the words that came out were both unfamiliar and familiar.

It was just like her usual style, yet the response she received was entirely different.

“I don’t think that’s right. Zhu Ran’s group has other members too. If I make Zhu Ran mess up, wouldn’t I be dragging everyone else down?”

Shao Xiling froze for a moment before her anger flared. “What do you mean, ‘everyone’? You and us are ‘everyone’! Get this straight this is a competition! If Zhu Ran wins, I’ll be the one eliminated!”

There were twelve people in their group. If they lost the live audience vote during the performance, Shao Xiling was certain she’d be the one cut.

“Shen Jiaying, you can give up the center position if you want, but you have to make sure our group wins! Otherwise, I’ll expose everything between you and Zhu Ran! You figure it out!”

Shao Xiling glared at her fiercely before turning and storming back into the practice room.

Shen Jiaying stood rooted to the spot, as if nailed there, unable to shake off the impact of Shao Xiling’s words.

After a long silence, a chill slowly crept up from the soles of her feet.

It felt like that fish had once again splashed filthy water all over her.

“Hey, you enemies, can’t you just go back to your own den? What are you doing here scouting our practice?” Jian Zhiyao grumbled, eyeing the row of girls squatting in the corner of their practice room.

Xia Lan pouted pitifully. “Roomie, you don’t understand. We’re homeless now.”

As soon as she said it, Tang Keyue and Mu Siqiong sighed heavily in unison. Only Nan Zhi, sitting at the front, kept her eyes fixed on Zhu Ran, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around them.

Kong Anni unwrapped a chocolate bar and took a bite, mumbling, “What’s wrong, my enemies? Did your home base explode or something?”

Mu Siqiong sighed dramatically. “Pretty much.”

The girls from the “Fool” group immediately crowded around, eager to hear the story.

Kong Anni had intended to sit next to Nan Zhi, but she’d barely taken two steps in that direction when Nan Zhi excitedly waved and called out, “Zhu Ran! Come sit here!”

So she had no choice but to squeeze in next to Tang Keyue instead.

“Let’s just say our group is doomed. You guys could win even if you half-assed it. Actually, you wouldn’t even need to practice to win.”

“What happened? Is it still about fighting for the center position? Didn’t they already give it up? Are they still making a fuss?” Jian Zhiyao clearly knew a bit about the situation from what Xia Lan had mentioned earlier.

Xia Lan shook her head. “It’s even crazier than that. Roomie, what kind of person do you think would go from ‘I don’t care, I want the center position’ on the first day to ‘I don’t want the center position anymore’ on the second day?”

“Huh?” Jian Zhiyao was stunned. “Shen Jiaying? What’s she doing? Didn’t you already divide the parts and start practicing? Isn’t redoing everything just a hassle?”

Yu Yulin asked curiously, “Then why not just swap parts between Shen Jiaying and Qiong-mei? Wouldn’t that solve it?”

Tang Keyue shook her head with a heavy sigh. “It’s no use. The section the captain took has two transition notes leading into high pitches it’s really hard to sing. Shen Jiaying can’t reach those notes. She didn’t even practice and just said she couldn’t do it, asking to switch to an easier part.”

“Whose part does she want to switch to then?”

“Nan Zhi’s section.”

“And Nan Zhi, can’t you handle Qiong Meimei’s part either?”

While snuggling with her wife, Nan Zhi was suddenly poked by Zhu Ran on her ticklish spot, snapping her out of her daze. She turned her head and said, “Huh? I can’t hit those high notes either.”

Yu Yulin clapped her hands. “Then let’s find someone who can and have her take on Qiong Meimei’s part. Nan Zhi can switch with her, and then Shen Jiaying can take Nan Zhi’s part Ugh, this is so convoluted. Even I’m getting dizzy just talking about it.”

“Right, there are solutions, but with all twelve of us, adjusting would mean changing at least four positions. Not to mention all the practice we did yesterday, it’s practically wasted. With two days of drama in a row, everyone’s morale is low. Plus, Shao Xiling and a few others just gave up and went back to the dorm. The group’s falling apart.”

“There aren’t many practice days left, and with morale this low, no one has the patience to mediate anymore.”

Even Jian Zhiyao felt like rolling her eyes this time.

“What did they even come here for?”

“Sigh, I wish I knew.”

Tang Keyue silently looked up at the sky, tears welling in her eyes.

This was probably the most dramatic moment in the history of survival shows.

Who could’ve imagined? Arguing on camera was one thing, but now they’ve completely disbanded an entire team.

“Enough about us, how’s your group’s practice going?”

Yu Yulin smiled shyly. “Not bad.”

“Oh, look at that expression! You must be doing great, huh? Bet you’re thrilled inside!”

“Practice is going alright, but Teacher Xu doesn’t seem satisfied.”

Mu Siqiong frowned. “Teacher Xu isn’t happy? Why?”

“No idea,” Jian Zhiyao shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and turned to the two curled up in the corner. “Oh yeah! Zhu Ran, what did you say to Teacher Xu at the end yesterday? You never told us.”

“Oh right!” Kong Anni immediately turned, nearly forgetting about it.

Under the sudden scrutiny of everyone’s gazes, Zhu Ran instinctively shrank back slightly.

Then, a warm hand pressed against her back, giving her a gentle push.

She didn’t need to look to know whose hand it was.

Zhu Ran glanced sideways, meeting Nan Zhi’s encouraging gaze. Her heart swelled, and she secretly interlaced their fingers behind her back.

Taking a deep breath, she faced the group again.

This time, there were no illusions just the warmth of love in the palm of her hand.

“What I told Teacher Xu was that we should rearrange the music and choreography. If necessary, we might even have to rewrite the lyrics.”

Her words were like a bomb, instantly stunning the girls in front of her.

Tang Keyue suddenly burst into laughter.

“Well, we really are each other’s rivals! This level of drama even the heavens would say we’re fated.”

The girls from the Fool group exchanged uncertain glances before asking, “Are we really starting over?”

Jian Zhiyao couldn’t help but press, “Everything? Not a single thing stays?”

Zhu Ran tightened her grip on Nan Zhi’s hand and nodded firmly.

A collective gasp swept through the room.

“But why?” Even Mu Siqiong was baffled.

The Because I Like You group was already fractured. Continuing to practice would just be going through the motions.

Some might even see this as an opportunity to embrace a controversial path, the bigger the spectacle, the more screen time they’d likely get.

Therefore, even if they did nothing and simply performed the original song as it was, Zhu Ran and her team were guaranteed to win.

Why take such a huge risk?

Zhu Ran’s gaze swept over the group, her dark, ink-like pupils deep and unfathomable, carrying an inexplicable power that seemed to soothe the conflicting emotions around her.

“Do you all remember what Teacher Xu said?”

“Make the song suit us?” Kong Anni replied hesitantly.

“Exactly. My interpretation is since the current song doesn’t highlight each of our strengths, why not just change it? Adapt it to fit us.”

Zhu Ran’s idea was downright audacious.

In the history of talent shows, there had been plenty of performances where contestants added a rap or composed a small segment themselves.

But to completely overhaul the entire song? Zhu Ran would be the first.

And this was only the first performance.

Most song adaptations appeared in the second or third rounds. For someone to take on rewriting a song in the very first round? Absolutely unprecedented in the history of talent shows.

“Are you really sure about this?” Yu Yulin stared straight at Zhu Ran, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

Zhu Ran nodded firmly. “No destruction, no creation.”

A brief silence followed.

Just as Nan Zhi nearly couldn’t resist speaking up for Zhu Ran, Yu Yulin suddenly spoke.

“Let’s take a vote. I’ll count down from three. Raise your hand if you agree with Zhu Ran.”

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