When The Scheming Female Supporting Character Is Forced To Seduce The Female Lead - Chapter 16

“Don’t hang up! I’m on my way!”

Du Jingmo stumbled out of the banquet hall in high heels, then kicked them off after tripping. She shouted for security as she ran, alarming most of the guests.

Du Zhong rushed to his sister. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t stop running, explaining hastily, “Qingdai’s downstairs! She’s in danger!”

After quickly understanding the situation, the security guard on the top floor immediately contacted his colleagues on the first floor. Du Jingmo jabbed repeatedly at the elevator buttons, her heart pounding as the floor numbers flashed by. She pounded on the elevator doors, shouting, “Hurry up! Faster!”

The phone line remained connected, but Zhao Qingdai’s voice came through intermittently. Du Jingmo only caught a cold, “Get lost!”

Once inside the elevator, the cell signal worsened. The short journey from the top floor to the first floor felt like an eternity, her heart racing wildly, her finely made-up face pale and tense.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Du Jingmo rushed out, holding her skirt. She stumbled as she reached the hotel entrance.

Du Zhong, who had been following her, quickly steadied her. “The security guards are already on their way. Be careful.”

A sharp pain shot through Du Jingmo’s bare feet. She glanced at the blood seeping from her wounds, frowned slightly, and pushed herself off her brother’s arm. “Go help them. I’m fine.”

“Sister, I’m fine.”

The two voices spoke almost simultaneously.

After the security guard’s stern shout, Zhao Qingdai’s voice finally came through, tinged with sobs. “I was just… scared.”

The guard’s flashlight illuminated the silent, darkened potted plants and revealed Zhao Qingdai’s figure.

Du Jingmo was just nearby.

Zhao Qingdai’s heart finally settled. The pain in her feet, which had been dulled by adrenaline, now seeped into her consciousness. She signaled Du Zhong to help her up and moved forward as quickly as she could.

“It’s alright. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Zhao Qingdai, who had been holding back tears for what felt like an eternity, ran toward the voice, her vision blurred by tears. Her eyes were red and swollen, her voice choked with sobs.

She opened her arms, about to throw herself into the stranger’s embrace, but stopped short when she recognized the figure. She veered away from Du Zhong, who stood in front, and sidled up to Du Jingmo like a vulnerable little bird. Clinging tightly to her shoulders, she buried her tear-streaked face in her sister’s shoulder.

Her tears had already drenched her face, her eyes swollen and puffy. Her voice came out in broken sobs, the word “Sister” twisting through her lips in a thousand contorted shapes.

Du Jingmo had never seen Zhao Qingdai cry so bitterly. Though gentle and delicate, Zhao Qingdai possessed an unyielding core of resilience. Even after her life-threatening car accident, she had only shed tears due to the pain and shock.

Du Jingmo gently patted Zhao Qingdai’s trembling shoulders and drew her closer. “Cry it out. I’m here.”

With Du Jingmo by her side, Zhao Qingdai could let loose, allowing tears to wash away her fear and terror without restraint.

But Du Zhong didn’t see it that way.

“Let’s deal with this first.”

The moment he spoke, he felt his sister’s reproachful gaze. The emotion in her eyes was clear: Don’t you see how frightened Qingdai is?

Du Zhong: “……”

He had a retort stuck in his throat, but he held back.

Watching Zhao Qingdai’s precise dodge moments earlier, he couldn’t help but think she didn’t seem particularly afraid.

In contrast, his sister was genuinely terrified, her face still pale with shock.

Zhao Qingdai stopped crying and wiped the tears from her eyes, remaining close to Du Jingmo. She lowered her lashes and said, “Brother is right. We should take care of this. I was just…”

She paused, her tone suddenly turning cold. “Sister, why aren’t you wearing shoes? And you’re injured?”

Du Jingmo had only felt a twinge of pain from her wound earlier, but under Zhao Qingdai’s gaze, he suddenly felt embarrassed.

She straightened her skirt, trying to cover her bare feet. “It’s just a minor scratch. Don’t worry about it. Let’s deal with those two first.”

The two men were impeccably dressed with handsome features, but their slicked-back hair and powdered faces made them seem suspicious. Even surrounded by security guards, they acted as if they weren’t in trouble.

“We were just passing by and saw her drunk. We wanted to help! Is doing a good deed a crime these days?”

Du Jingmo had acted swiftly. From the moment she called for help to when the security guards arrived and restrained the men, less than five minutes had passed. The two men had been subdued without any resistance.

Seeing no one was speaking, the man grew bolder. “Besides, what kind of decent young woman would be drunk and collapsed on the street at this hour? We’re just being kind. Who knows what others might have done?”

Zhao Qingdai instinctively tightened her grip. Her first impulse was to snap back, but remembering the innocent, pitiful image she’d been maintaining, she held her tongue.

Du Jingmo scoffed. “So, I should thank you for that?”

If they had apologized immediately, she might have let them off. But now, she wouldn’t.

She raised her hand, and the security guards immediately understood. They shifted from surrounding the men to restraining them, their arms twisted behind their backs, ignoring their shocked cries and curses, leaving them no room to resist.

Du Jingmo stepped forward, but Du Zhong raised his hand to block her path.

She tilted her head. “Brother, you wouldn’t stop me now, would you?”

“Not at all. I just think you shouldn’t handle this personally. It’s not worth it.” He lowered his voice. “There are reporters everywhere. We don’t want to be caught on camera.”

If this were a private affair, it wouldn’t matter. But today was a public charity gala, and appearances had to be maintained.

“Don’t worry, I don’t hit people,” Du Jingmo said with a smile, gently pinching Zhao Qingdai’s cheek. She asked playfully, “I’m usually the kindest and gentlest person, right?”

Her flirtatious expression and intimate gesture left Zhao Qingdai speechless. She could only nod dumbly and respond, “Sister is always right!”

Du Jingmo’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Good little sister.”

Du Zhong: “……”

He suddenly felt utterly superfluous.

Du Jingmo tapped her arm and turned to the Security Captain. “Could you help me with something? Get two cardboard signs and hang them around their necks. Just write… ‘Ruffian’ on them.”

“Make the boards big and the writing clear. Thank you.”

The gesture was classic: not physically harmful, but deeply humiliating.

Before long, the Security Captain returned with two cardboard signs, each nearly a meter long, the words “Ruffian” written in neat, upright calligraphy—surprisingly, even in Liu-style script.

What a dedicated Security Captain, Du Jingmo thought briefly. She picked up her phone and snapped several photos. After taking the pictures, she commented, “I never thought I’d end up storing something so ugly on my phone.”

Zhao Qingdai, ever perceptive, leaned in and suggested, “Why don’t I save it on my phone?”

Du Jingmo shook her head. “No need. I’ll keep it here.”

The fact that these two men could afford to stay at this hotel meant their families held some influence. It was best not to involve Zhao Qingdai in this.

Seeing the two women actually striking up a conversation, the men grew even more furious, struggling and shouting, “What right do you have to take our pictures? Do you know that’s illegal?”

“You two are hilarious,” Du Jingmo retorted sarcastically. “We’re just taking a few photos as souvenirs. How did it become a matter of legality?” Her mockery was palpable. “Stop spouting such nonsense. It’s only my kindness that’s stopping me. Anyone else might sue you for slander.”

She waved the photos in front of them, deliberately zooming in to show them their contorted, unflattering faces twisted from struggling.

“If you two dare provoke her again,” she warned, “this photo will end up on the phones of your parents, friends, girlfriends, and classmates.”

“And if I’m particularly displeased,” she added, “I might even post it on social media for everyone to comment. A respectable family’s man being mistaken for a criminal? How scandalous!”

Her tone was mocking, her gaze condescending as she looked down at them, each sweep of her eyes carrying disdain. “In ancient times, people like you would have been drowned in a pig cage.”

Zhao Qingdai pinched the palm of her hand hard to keep from laughing out loud.

Du Jingmo had always been cautious with her words, but today she showed no mercy.

The thought that Du Jingmo had abandoned her usual tact and was being so ruthless just for her own sake made Zhao Qingdai’s heart flutter like a bird trapped inside her chest, her pulse racing wildly.

Knowing this wasn’t the time to cause a scene, Zhao Qingdai decided to let it go. She gently tugged at Du Jingmo’s fingers, like a beautiful, understanding flower. “Forget it, Sister. Let’s go back first. Your wound needs to be treated.”

Gu Cheng, who had been following behind them, finally found an opportunity to step forward. He picked up the high heels Du Jingmo had kicked aside. “Put your shoes on first. We need to be careful about infection.”

Du Jingmo turned around, genuinely puzzled to see him. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her question coming from the heart. “When did you arrive?”

Gu Cheng: “…I’ve been here the whole time. I arrived long ago.”

She had cried out for help from the rooftop, and so many people had seen it. How could he possibly not be here?

This time, Du Zhong was the one who nearly burst into laughter.

He had actually found someone even more superfluous than himself. That was quite an achievement.

“Sister needs to change her shoes, but with her injuries, she can’t wear high heels,” Zhao Qingdai explained, running back to the potted plant where she had been hiding. She retrieved her bag from the corner and took out a pair of soft-soled cloth shoes. “I came to bring Sister a change of shoes. Perfect timing! You can wear these for now.”

Anyone would have to marvel at such meticulous consideration.

Even Du Jingmo hadn’t expected that Zhao Qingdai had gone to such trouble just for this. A strange feeling churned in her heart, a warm, tingling sensation that was both comforting and… irritating.

It was an itch right in the heart.

“Thank you,” she said, steadying Zhao Qingdai’s wrist with one hand as she slipped on the shoes.

Completely oblivious, she failed to notice that during the brief moment she lowered her head to put on the shoes, the pitiful Zhao Qingdai—her eyes red and swollen from crying—had, when no one else was looking, lifted her chin, arched an eyebrow, and shot Gu Cheng a meaningful glance.

Her eyes spoke clearly: Is that all you’ve got? Are you even capable?

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