The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 27.1

“Are we really going to knock?”

Tang Keyue stood at the door of Yao Wenwen’s dorm, her face etched with reluctance.

Two steps behind her, Xia Lan took a deep breath, wearing an expression of someone prepared for a martyr’s death. “Just keep chanting: ‘Endure for a moment, and the waves will calm!'”

Tang Keyue sighed, her face falling.

“Think about Nan Zhi and the Captain. They’re the ones having to face Shen Jiaying. Thinking about it that way, doesn’t it make you feel a bit better?”

It was a bit mean-spirited, but it did make her feel significantly better.

Compared to the likes of Shao Xiling and Shen Jiaying, little lackeys like Yao Wenwen really weren’t much to worry about.

Tang Keyue reached her hand back. “Let’s go!”

Smack!

Xia Lan grabbed Tang Keyue’s palm and gave it a firm shake.

“We can do this!”

At the same time, Shen Jiaying carefully inspected the two cameras in her dorm. After confirming they were both off, she turned back to look at Nan Zhi, who was leaning against the doorframe.

She reached out a hand and tapped the microphone on her lower back.

Nan Zhi shrugged. “I turned mine off ages ago, don’t worry. Just like you, there are some things I don’t want others to know.”

Anyone who realized they were living in The Truman Show would likely find it a hard reality to swallow.

Human hearts are unpredictable; Nan Zhi had no desire to invite unnecessary complications. Dealing with one Shen Jiaying was already enough of a headache.

Shen Jiaying pursed her lips tightly, her expression sour.

“Did you come here just to laugh at me?”

“Is there a point to that?” Nan Zhi tilted her head and grinned.

In her eyes, Shen Jiaying had been a joke from start to finish, so there was no need to make a special trip just to watch. However, she didn’t need to say that to her face—after all, her role right now was that of a mediator.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to extend an invitation on behalf of the others in the group. We hope that you and your friends will return to the practice room.”

Shen Jiaying froze, a look of confusion crossing her face.

“Of course, it wasn’t my idea,” Nan Zhi said with a smile, as if reading her mind. “The others don’t want to give up on this opportunity. To them, every chance to perform on stage is precious. So Mu Siqiong and the rest are currently trying to persuade the others to return to the practice room, so everyone can let bygones be bygones and finish this performance together.”

Shen Jiaying’s brow furrowed. “So you guys only need me because of the stage.”

“Yes. What else did you think it was?”

Shen Jiaying suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “Aren’t we all the same? Is what I did really any different from what they’re doing?”

Nan Zhi tilted her chin up slightly, waiting for her to continue her tirade.

“What apologies? What ‘bowing our heads’? It all sounds so righteous and noble, doesn’t it? Actually, by putting yourselves in that position and putting on this little show, aren’t you just trying to slap a ‘villain’ label on me?”

A sudden flash of malice appeared in Shen Jiaying’s eyes, like the cold glint on a viper’s fang, sending a chill down one’s spine.

“As if I’m the only evil person here, as if I’ve wronged everyone, ruined the team atmosphere, and prevented you all from practicing! By what right? What right do you have to make these decisions on your own? What right do you have to perform in front of the cameras?!”

Nan Zhi watched her steadily for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

“Shen Jiaying, in the past decade or so, have you really never reflected on yourself even once?”

Shen Jiaying straightened her back and said, enunciating every word: “I am the protagonist. I don’t make mistakes, and I don’t need to reflect. The people who are wrong are those who stand in the way of the protagonist’s happiness. Do you know what they’re called? They’re called villains. They’re called supporting characters.”

“Have you ever sincerely apologized to anyone?”

Nan Zhi suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, leaving Shen Jiaying stunned and confused about what she was getting at.

Nan Zhi’s tone was flat. “Never, right? You would never lower your head to someone to achieve your goals—unless you knew you had to do it to win someone’s favor or get what you wanted. So, every time you ‘bow’ to someone, you’re actually treating them like a fool in your heart.”

She stood up straight, looking down at the pitiable girl with an almost scrutinizing gaze.

“You’ve never viewed the people around you as equals. To you, everyone is just a toy to be manipulated and labeled at will.”

Shen Jiaying glared at Nan Zhi, her eyes so red they looked as if they were bleeding.

“That’s why you only see things from your own perspective. You think others only act to achieve their own ends. You’re right—Mu Siqiong and the others do have a goal, but it’s not like yours.”

Nan Zhi crossed her arms over her chest and said coldly, “They don’t think you’re fools. They weren’t secretly mocking you when they apologized. They are simply a group of people working hard for their dreams.”

“And am I not?!”

Shen Jiaying suddenly screamed. “I am also working hard for my dreams! You’re an outsider—what right do you have to judge my past or lecture me? Do you think everything you do is right?”

“Dreams?” Nan Zhi smiled contemptuously. As if you’re worthy.

Nan Zhi didn’t want to keep arguing in circles. She cut her off before she could speak again.

“I’ve delivered the message. I have no interest in wasting my time here, and I’m sure you don’t want to see me lingering around either. Anyway, the olive branch has been extended. After all, you need the first public stage to fulfill your ‘dream,’ don’t you? Also, I’ll leave the brainwashing of Shao Xiling to you. That shouldn’t be too hard for you.”

She guessed that things wouldn’t go smoothly on Mu Siqiong’s end. Shao Xiling had become a completely mindless follower and was currently Shen Jiaying’s most useful card. To convince her, Shen Jiaying would likely have to step in herself.

Nan Zhi turned to leave, but unexpectedly, Shen Jiaying let out a soft chuckle behind her.

“Are you so sure I can convince Shao Xiling?”

“Aren’t you the protagonist?” Nan Zhi replied impatiently. “Besides, you know better than any of us how to persuade her.”

“That’s right. I am the protagonist. Of course I know Lingling better than all of you.”

Nan Zhi didn’t see the strange flash of excitement in Shen Jiaying’s eyes behind the closed dorm door.

[It hasn’t dropped even a bit.]

Leaving Shen Jiaying’s dorm, Nan Zhi couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Looking at the bright red 98% in the bottom right corner, Nan Zhi felt a massive headache coming on.

[Why hasn’t the boss approved it yet? They’re moving too slowly! If this keeps up, either Shen Jiaying is going to explode, or I am!]

Furthermore, what she said had absolutely no effect on Shen Jiaying!

To convince someone, they first have to be willing to listen, right? Just look at Shen Jiaying’s attitude!

System: [Calm down, calm down!]

Nan Zhi gave an angry huff and turned her head away.

To think she had voluntarily taken on the task of talking to Shen Jiaying—it was completely useless!

So frustrating!

She needed some “cuddle time” with her “wife” to feel better!

System: […I think you just want to find Zhu Ran!]

[Well, our group isn’t rehearsing anyway, and I don’t have any tasks right now. What’s wrong with going to see my wife! Is there a rule against seeing your wife?!]

The System was practically heartbroken.

This was an A-class agent who had once partnered with the strongest operative, α! How long had she been here, and she’d already turned into a total flirt!

The little fluffball reflected on this bitterness and typed a line into the execution report (diary):

Never partner with a “love-brain” ever again!

In the The Fool practice room, seven heads were huddled together in the center. From the perspective of the ceiling camera, they looked like a blooming sunflower.

Yan Yutong drew a line across a section of the sheet music, her expression hesitant. “Then… how about I take this part to rewrite?”

She had previously participated in a rap elimination show but was cut early. This was the first time she was being put in charge of writing an entire rap section independently, and she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Since she had been placed in Class C both times and wasn’t a creative-type rapper, she had almost zero confidence in herself.

“Don’t be nervous, we all believe you can do it!”

Kong Annie grabbed Yan Yutong’s hand. “Go for it!”

Yan Yutong was on the verge of tears. “But I… I really have no confidence.”

For a moment, everyone’s expressions turned solemn.

The initial surge of adrenaline had turned to dust the moment they actually started the song modification. It was replaced by immense pressure and self-doubt.

Can we really do this?

If we can’t, would it be better to just give up now?

If we just practiced the original version, we might not necessarily lose.

There are only three days left. Is it really right to spend so much time and energy on something with no guaranteed outcome?

Although no one said these words out loud, everyone was asking themselves the same questions internally.

It wasn’t just Yan Yutong who lacked confidence. Every single person, including Zhu Ran, felt their heart pounding with uncertainty.

This was a song that even the original composer couldn’t perfect. Moreover, the chorus was widely known. It was no exaggeration to say that while the audience might not recognize all the trainees, they would certainly be able to hum the chorus of The Fool.

Thinking this way, the mountain of pressure grew even heavier, making everyone feel suffocated.

“Maybe we should…”

“Don’t say it!” Jian Zhiyao bit her lower lip hard, her eyes filled with determination.

“We aren’t allowed to say discouraging things!”

Jian Zhiyao took a deep breath and looked at Yan Yutong.

“Tong, let me ask you—putting aside whether we can do it or not—do you want to do this?”

Yan Yutong pursed her lips tightly. Three seconds later, she gave a heavy nod.

“Me too. No, we all probably do, otherwise we wouldn’t have raised our hands earlier, right?”

Yu Yulin looked up at every member, a fire seemingly burning in her eyes as well.

“Zhiyao is right. If I hadn’t heard Zhu Ran’s suggestion, maybe I would have just practiced the original version.” Yu Yulin sighed softly. “But now that I’ve heard it, thought about it, and even made the decision, I can’t convince myself to keep things as they were.”

“By modifying the song, maybe we won’t be better than before. But if we don’t do it—”

She paused and looked at everyone.

Miraculously, the same thought popped into everyone’s head.

Zhu Ran said softly, “There will definitely be regrets.”

Yes! There would definitely be regrets!

Kong Annie suddenly let out a roar: “Tong! Just go for it! Who here isn’t doing this for the first time!”

“Exactly! Even if we lose, I’m willing to take all the responsibility!”

“Me too! I’m part of this, I’ll take the responsibility with you!”

Yu Yulin chuckled. “What nonsense are you talking about? We are a team. No matter the result, we are one.”

Everyone looked at each other and saw absolute resolve in one another’s eyes.

Even though they knew that over the next few days, every single one of them might be haunted by this pressure again, feel extreme self-doubt, and go through breakdowns and pain…

As long as they were by each other’s side…

There would always be someone to encourage them and trust them. Anyone can fall, but there will always be someone to pull you back up.

“Alright! Enough with the pep talk, let’s get to work.”

Yan Yutong wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and picked up her pen to draw another line where she had just marked. This time, she drew it with focus, and her hand didn’t shake at all.

“I will do my absolute best on this part!”

Jian Zhiyao laughed loudly. “Applause!”

“Tong, don’t be nervous.” Kong Annie squeezed the hand of the person next to her, her smile radiant. “You have me. I’ll work on this section with you.”

“Mhm!”

The young girl nodded, her tears turning into a smile.

“Come on, who’s next!”

Next were Yu Yulin, Jian Zhiyao, and Zhu Ran. They were responsible for modifying the overall melody. Ji Qiu and Zhu Ran were in charge of the new choreography.

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