When The Scheming Female Supporting Character Is Forced To Seduce The Female Lead - Chapter 25

Du Jingmo didn’t dwell on the question further.

Zhao Qingdai was clearly smitten, having built up so many mental bonuses and filters for this person. She was no longer objective, and arguing with her would be pointless.

“When did you meet?” Du Jingmo asked, getting to the key information.

Zhao Qingdai didn’t dare tell the whole truth, but she also didn’t want to lie. After a moment’s hesitation, she mumbled vaguely, “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

“If you’ve liked her for so long, why haven’t you confessed?” Du Jingmo pressed.

“I’m too afraid,” Zhao Qingdai replied, her eyes flickering. “No one would think I’m worthy of her—not even myself.”

“Nonsense,” Du Jingmo said, glaring at her. “If you like him, that’s all that matters. What does ‘compatibility’ have to do with it? Did he actually say that to you?”

Zhao Qingdai shook her head. “But it’s true. My family background doesn’t measure up, and my intentions aren’t pure.”

This is getting more absurd by the minute.

Du Jingmo felt increasingly annoyed, realizing she’d only managed to dredge up Zhao Qingdai’s heartbreak. She shook her head and stopped pressing the issue. “Forget it. This is your personal life, and I won’t interfere. But I still have to tell you: you’re wrong.”

“Your feelings for him are pure and genuine. There’s no question of ‘compatibility’.”

She patted Zhao Qingdai on the shoulder and ended the conversation with a line even she found a bit ridiculous: “Go wash up and get some sleep.”

For the first time, Zhao Qingdai didn’t know how to respond to Du Jingmo. She could only stare blankly at her retreating back.

The System, which had been suppressed for so long, finally floated out and let out a long sigh of relief. “Phew, that was close.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Zhao Qingdai demanded.

“I just placed a bet with another System,” it replied. “I wagered that my Host was a coward; a melon-sized coward, who wouldn’t dare confess even when the opportunity was right in front of her. I’m glad you didn’t disappoint me.”

“You had such a perfect opportunity, the atmosphere was so suggestive, yet you couldn’t manage to say a single coherent word. Truly fitting of you.”

Zhao Qingdai: “……”

This ridiculous thing is getting more annoying by the minute!

“How much did you win by betting on me?”

[System: Not much, not much, heh heh heh~]

That sleazy grin made it clear it was anything but “not much.”

Zhao Qingdai held out her hand. “Give me half, or I’ll report you for abandoning your post and engaging in gambling. Your system has automatic recording, right?”

Wow, what kind of sins have I committed to end up with such a petty host? The system thought. All I did was get roasted a little, and she’s already flipping her lid!

The system reluctantly handed over half of its ill-gotten gains, nearly whimpering. Zhao Qingdai’s mood improved slightly as she tiptoed upstairs and knocked on Du Jingmo’s door.

“Sister needs my help? Your wound hasn’t fully healed yet—you shouldn’t get it wet.”

Du Jingmo snapped out of her daze. Her first instinct was to open the door, but after standing up, she sat back down. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Go back to sleep.”

Zhao Qingdai couldn’t shake her concern. “But your wound…”

“It’s really fine,” Du Jingmo said. “It’s almost healed.”

She wasn’t lying. The wound’s healing progress was remarkable. She hadn’t felt any discomfort all day, and her excuse at the party had merely been a pretext to avoid drinking. If Zhao Qingdai hadn’t reminded her, she would have almost forgotten she was still recovering.

“Alright then,” Zhao Qingdai said, sounding disappointed but respecting Du Jingmo’s decision. “Sister, get some rest. Goodnight.”

Du Jingmo softly replied with a “Goodnight.” Listening to Zhao Qingdai’s footsteps fade away and the door to the neighboring room close, she finally exhaled deeply and collapsed onto the bed.

She couldn’t even muster the energy to care about her usual cleanliness. Her mind was consumed by Zhao Qingdai’s words from earlier that evening.

She actually has someone she likes? Someone she’s known since childhood, someone who’s been with her through first love to deep devotion—even the best person in the world to her? Du Jingmo pressed her lips together, paused, and finally concluded, “This is absurd. Absolutely absurd.”

Love had clearly blinded her.

She was certain: no one in this world could possibly treat Zhao Qingdai better than she did.

The more Du Jingmo dwelled on it, the more frustrated she became. She tossed and turned in bed, her hair tangling into a knotted mess.

If Zhao Qingdai had developed feelings for someone in the past two years, it made sense she wouldn’t know. But if it was a teenage crush from her youth, how could she possibly be unaware? It defied logic.

They’ve known each other since childhood, he took care of her, and there was a significant status gap between them—one so vast that Zhao Qingdai felt inferior.

Du Jingmo pieced together these clues, carefully sifted through them, and a figure materialized in her mind.

She bolted upright. “I think I know who it is.”

The name she had deduced kept her restless the rest of the night. The next morning, her internal clock roused her early. She glanced down and saw her wound had nearly healed, leaving only a thin scab.

This unnaturally rapid healing only deepened her unease. She tore off the bandages, slipped on her slippers, and padded downstairs. The moment she pushed open the door, the aroma of cooking filled the air.

Auntie hadn’t arrived yet, but the downstairs mess had been tidied up. Zhao Qingdai stood with her back to her, apron tied around her waist, bustling about like a diligent little maid as she prepared breakfast.

Du Jingmo had witnessed this scene countless times before, but this time her heart felt tangled with conflicting emotions, unable to summon any sense of warmth or satisfaction.

Hearing footsteps, Zhao Qingdai turned around, her hands never pausing as she stirred the fried rice. “Sister, you’re awake! The honey water is already prepared on the table. Have some to wake up properly. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Zhao Qingdai,” Du Jingmo said, her tone serious, “stop what you’re doing. I need to ask you something.”

Zhao Qingdai immediately turned off the heat, wiped her hands on her apron, and turned around. “What is it, Sister?”

“That person you mentioned yesterday, the one you like… is it…” Du Jingmo struggled to say the next word, “my brother?”

Zhao Qingdai: “?”

The greatest ups and downs in life often occur in the span of a moment.

When Du Jingmo started speaking, Zhao Qingdai’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Hearing the word “my,” she nearly fainted on the spot.

But then Sister changed the subject, saying “my brother.”

Zhao Qingdai didn’t understand where she had gone wrong. After learning the plot, she had deliberately kept her distance from Du Zhong. So why was Du Jingmo still connecting them?

While she stood frozen in thought, Du Jingmo took her silence as a confirmation. Her expression gradually turned cold.

Last night, Du Jingmo had spent half the night pondering. The only man who had appeared in Zhao Qingdai’s life since her youth, who had taken care of her, and whose social status was vastly different from hers, was Du Zhong.

Recalling Zhao Qingdai’s peculiar behavior toward Du Zhong, especially how she had tried to stop her brother from carrying her home last time, it all seemed like jealousy. The more she thought about it, the more plausible it became. Unable to contain her curiosity early that morning, she sought answers.

The more she considered it, the colder her heart grew. “So, you suddenly changed your attitude, grew closer to me, went to such great lengths to live with me, took care of my daily needs, gave me little gifts, drew me pictures, and even went out of your way to deliver my shoes…”

She couldn’t bring herself to list any more. Taking a deep breath, she forced out each word through gritted teeth: “Was it all just to get closer to my brother?”

At that moment, Zhao Qingdai felt as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

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