The Plan to Save the Villainess Supporting Actress [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 8

When Nan Zhi returned with porridge, Zhu Ran was already awake.

The doctor frowned at the bag in Nan Zhi’s hand and shooed them away.

“Why bring food in here? The smell is overwhelming. Since she’s awake, go back to your dorm to eat.”

Nan Zhi pressed Zhu Ran back down as she tried to get up and pleaded, “Dr. Hao, the infirmary is so far from our dorm. She just woke up, what if she faints again on the way? Let us eat dinner here first, and we’ll leave right after.”

As she spoke, she opened the plastic bag to show him.

“It’s just two servings of porridge and some side dishes. Nothing smelly.”

The doctor gave it a disdainful glance but, seeing there were no strong odors, grudgingly opened a few windows in silent permission.

Nan Zhi grinned and thanked him before quickly setting up the bedside table.

One bowl was red date sweet porridge, the other century egg and lean meat porridge. Nan Zhi had even thoughtfully packed a small box of side dishes to go with the savory porridge.

“Eat this first,” Nan Zhi placed the red date porridge in front of Zhu Ran. “I didn’t know if you liked sweet or savory, so I got both. The doctor said your blood sugar was low, and red dates help replenish qi and blood, so sweet is probably better.”

Whether it was due to her illness or not, Zhu Ran’s face was pale, her entire demeanor changed, radiating an overwhelming fragility.

If the Zhu Ran who sang on the rooftop was the bright moon hanging high in the sky, the Zhu Ran now was like its reflection in water, rippling away with the slightest breeze.

She glanced at the food on the table, her expression clearly reluctant.

“Sorry, I—”

“No apologizing!”

Nan Zhi leaned forward and sternly shoved a spoon into Zhu Ran’s hand.

Zhu Ran’s hand was freezing so cold that when their fingers brushed, Nan Zhi wondered if she had stepped into winter alone.

Her body was way too weak!

She definitely needed to eat more!

Before Zhu Ran could respond, Nan Zhi raised a finger, circled it over the table, and then glared at her.

“Do you know how far the cafeteria is? These two porridges were from different counters, I had to queue twice to get them! You’re not allowed to say you won’t eat!”

Zhu Ran lowered her head slightly, her long, curled lashes hiding her emotions. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

The warm yellow light overhead spilled over her, intensifying that fragile aura.

Hmm…

Why did it feel like she was mimicking that dejected, head-down cat meme?

Nan Zhi startled herself with the thought and shook her head to dismiss it.

What was she thinking? Zhu Ran was the aloof type!

Still, she realized she might have been a little too harsh earlier.

So, inexplicably softening her tone, she coaxed, “I haven’t eaten dinner either. Just think of it as keeping me company, okay?”

Zhu Ran remained unresponsive.

Nan Zhi: “I get it! You don’t have the strength to hold the spoon? Should I feed you?”

Zhu Ran lifted her hand and took a spoonful of the red date porridge.

Only then did Nan Zhi smile in satisfaction.

Dr. Hao glanced sideways at the two of them, shook his head, and walked out of the infirmary.

Kids these days.

Did they not realize he hadn’t eaten either?

All this dawdling, when was he ever going to get off work?

Outside the window, the nightscape glittered, the city’s night had only just begun.

Though Nan Zhi had complained about being hungry, she didn’t eat much.

While Zhu Ran silently drank her porridge, Nan Zhi sat beside her, meticulously picking out the scallions from the century egg and lean meat porridge.

It was Zhu Ran who broke the silence first.

“Aren’t you going to ask me anything?”

Nan Zhi’s eyes were practically glued to the bowl of lean meat porridge as she replied without looking up, “Ask what?”

Zhu Ran closed her mouth and didn’t respond.

She couldn’t quite put a name to the strange emotion swirling in her chest.

Disappointment? Regret? Guilt?

Maybe none of those.

Nan Zhi was the only one who had ever encouraged her.

For someone as vibrant as Nan Zhi, those words of encouragement might have just been casually spoken, forgotten the moment they left her lips, carrying no real significance.

So, when Zhu Ran made such a glaring mistake during the evaluation, Nan Zhi probably wouldn’t have any reaction at all.

No expectations meant no curiosity.

Zhu Ran blinked, trying to dispel the dampness in her eyes brought on by the fragrant steam rising from the porridge.

In the end, this outcome was her own doing.

Then, Nan Zhi’s voice reached her ears, soft and gentle.

“Zhu Ran, I think maybe you have a lot you want to say but can’t bring yourself to. When you’re ready to talk, I hope I’ll be the first person you share those words with. For now, though, your only job is to eat well and take care of yourself.”

Zhu Ran lifted her head, and that familiar smile met her gaze.

Nan Zhi really was beautiful when she smiled her eyes curved into lovely crescents, and a faint dimple appeared on her cheek.

“Compared to a Zhu Ran lying sick in bed, I much prefer the Zhu Ran who’s stunning and fierce on stage.”

She said… she liked her?

She wasn’t disappointed?

Before she realized it, Zhu Ran had spoken the thought aloud.

Nan Zhi’s eyes widened in confusion. “Disappointed? Why would I be disappointed? You have no idea, the first half of your performance was insane! Didn’t you hear me screaming from the audience? I nearly wrecked my voice.”

As she spoke, Nan Zhi seemed to slip back into the memory, murmuring with certainty, “I can’t believe someone this amazing is actually my friend.”

The tips of Zhu Ran’s ears turned visibly red, her face warming as she lowered her head slightly, letting her hair fall forward to hide the flush.

Her gaze flicked to the bowl of porridge, and she steadied herself, forcefully steering the conversation elsewhere.

“Y-you don’t like scallions either?”

To her surprise, Nan Zhi shook her head. “No, I love the taste of scallions.”

“Then why did you pick them out?”

“You don’t eat them, right? This way, it’s easier for you.”

While Zhu Ran had been unconscious, Nan Zhi bored out of her mind had gone through the novel and read every single passage related to Zhu Ran.

Turns out, the author had been ridiculously biased. Shen Jiaying’s preferences were described in exhaustive detail, but when it came to Zhu Ran, there was almost nothing.

Even the fact that she didn’t eat scallions was something Nan Zhi had to dig for.

“W-who asked you to pick them out…”

Zhu Ran’s voice trailed off, and Nan Zhi didn’t catch the last part, prompting her to ask, “What?”

“I said, I don’t like century eggs either,” Zhu Ran muttered, her eyes darting away.

Damn it! Still suffering from a lack of intel.

Nan Zhi blinked in realization. “You’re way too picky. What else don’t you eat?”

Zhu Ran looked at her, puzzled.

Nan Zhi squared her shoulders. “To make sure you don’t pass out again, I’ll be in charge of your meals from now on. I’ll bring them to you in the classroom.”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Zhu Ran had been skipping meals to practice, running herself ragged.

Having seen firsthand how hard the trainees here worked, Nan Zhi understood Zhu Ran’s desperation all too well.

Not only Zhu Ran, but all the other dream-chasing girls were burning their lives away just to shine on stage, weren’t they?

Anyway, Nan Zhi was just slacking around, she had plenty of time to spare. Besides, grabbing a meal was no trouble at all. She really didn’t want to see Zhu Ran collapse again.

God knew how terrifying that sudden spike in the blackening value had been!

For a moment, she’d thought the world was about to collapse.

Under the dim yellow light, the sweet aroma of red date porridge lingered faintly in the air, wrapping around the two of them like something sticky and saccharine.

Zhu Ran’s expression was uncharacteristically dazed.

Hmm. She looked even more like that silly, round-faced cat meme now.

Nan Zhi thought solemnly.

Before either of them could speak and break the atmosphere, the sound of the door being violently flung open cut through the silence.

“Roommate, didn’t I tell you to call me when she woke up?”

The sharp click of high heels struck the floor. Nan Zhi turned to look, in the dim light, that elegant yet domineering stride could only belong to Xu Silan.

How had she forgotten about this?!

“Hello, Teacher Xu.”

Xu Silan frowned, her slender hand slapping the light switch twice. The entire infirmary instantly lit up as bright as day.

Only then did Nan Zhi realize the lights hadn’t been fully turned on before.

No wonder it had been so dark, she’d thought the infirmary lights were broken.

Just as Nan Zhi was about to explain, Xu Silan raised her hand again, this time hovering right in front of Nan Zhi’s face, so she immediately shut her mouth.

“I don’t have much time, so I won’t waste words. According to the show’s rules, only three trainees from Class F can fill in for the theme song MV recording. Two spots are already gone, and I’m planning to give the last one to you.”

Her hand turned, her finger pointing sharply in Zhu Ran’s direction.

Zhu Ran froze.

Nan Zhi nearly screamed in her head. If Xu Silan weren’t so intimidating, she might’ve lunged forward in excitement.

The system, silent for so long, chimed in: You’re just thirsting over Teacher Xu.

Nan Zhi retorted guiltily, “Shut up!”

The next second, Xu Silan’s tone shifted, her expression turning even more serious.

“But I don’t need a student who lacks conviction for the stage. Zhu Ran, if you can’t show me the right attitude, I’ll take this opportunity back.”

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