Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 14

When Bian Chengyi regained consciousness, she glanced at the luminous watch on her bedside and saw that it was 4:51 a.m.

Someone under her bunk was already up doing homework. Bian Chengyi got out of bed, took a few sips of water, and turned on her desk lamp. In the soft halo of light, she quietly asked her roommate, who was writing intensely, “Axin, who brought me back last night?”

He Xinglai paused her pen and looked at Bian Chengyi with concern in her eyes. “It was Teacher Xu. Class monitor, you seemed to be in pretty bad shape last night. Teacher Xu even borrowed my phone to call your mother…”

She didn’t finish the rest of the sentence.

Bian Chengyi pressed her lips together. She could more or less guess what her mother had said—nothing more than “just push through,” “your studies come first,” “it’s just the same old illness,” and so on.

She had no one to confide in—not really. Among her roommates, their relationship had only ever stayed on polite terms—just cohabiting the same dormitory. Even dividing up cleaning duties together was already considered social. For the most part, everyone minded their own business, especially when it came to private matters like this.

Still, He Xinglai seemed to think that dropping the topic right there would be too cold. She made sure not to disturb the two other roommates who were still fast asleep, then added in a hushed tone, “Teacher Xu said it was Hua You who ran to her office and told her you had fainted. Class monitor, I know you and Hua You seem to get along recently, but she’s an Omega after all. It’s not convenient for her to handle these things, so in the end, Teacher Xu brought you back.”

“Seem to get along.”

That was an understatement.

Bian Chengyi felt her heart racing chaotically. She tried to recall if she had done anything too outrageous before she passed out, but all that came to her was a headache-inducing blank.

Monday morning self-study required students to arrive ten minutes early to rearrange seating according to the latest ranking results. Everyone had already confirmed their ranks by signing the score sheets during last night’s evening study session, so they more or less knew where they stood.

Considering Bian Chengyi’s health yesterday, Teacher Xu asked Fang Huai to handle the seating arrangement instead. Although Bian Chengyi had put her hair up in a high ponytail today and softly styled her bangs, the faint dark circles under her eyes were still noticeable. Those who didn’t like her secretly thought to themselves that maybe she had cried herself to sleep under the covers after dropping to fourth place.

But no one dared say that to her face. Everyone stood in two lines outside the classroom, tacitly waiting for… the top-ranked student, Hua You.

As expected, Hua You, who always arrived just in time, once again made it with only ten minutes to spare.

She showed up under the gaze of the entire class. The sleeves of her uniform were left unbuttoned, and she was holding two meat buns. She jogged a couple of steps toward them, then slowed to a brisk walk, repeatedly apologizing, “Sorry, sorry! The cafeteria was packed! You guys can pick your seats first next time—don’t wait for me.”

Today, Hua You wore her hair in a side ponytail, and her thick bangs lay neatly across her forehead. Her soft-spoken smile made it impossible for anyone to be annoyed at her. Teacher Xu waved her over, and Bian Chengyi, standing just behind the teacher, subtly let her gaze fall on Hua You.

Panting slightly, Hua You reached Teacher Xu, only to be teased, “Sleeping Beauty villain, choose your castle base.”

The girls around them stifled their laughter. Hua You gave a wry smile. “Teacher, you too?” she sighed dramatically, shaking her head as if lamenting the decline of social standards, and stepped into the classroom.

She chose her usual spot—by the window in the last row.

In plain terms, the corner seat, typically left for students with poorer academic performance.

Hua You set down her backpack, and her gaze met Bian Chengyi’s across the room. With her confidence boosted from achieving a “progress bar” of fifty percent, she gave Bian Chengyi a slight smile, then was the first to look away and begin tidying up her desk.

Fang Jinyu and Fang Huai still held the central premium seats. Since Hua You hadn’t grabbed a good seat, the two of them were no different from the former top two picking their spots by default.

Then it was Bian Chengyi’s turn.

She walked in and brushed past Fang Jinyu’s desk.

Then she kept walking.

The moment Fang Jinyu realized that Bian Chengyi wasn’t going to sit next to her, she forgot entirely about the eyes of the entire class watching them. She reached out to grab Bian Chengyi’s wrist. “Chengyi, you don’t want to sit with me?”

Hearing Fang Jinyu’s words, Hua You looked up and reassessed this original female lead of the novel.

Fang Jinyu didn’t have the striking looks that she or Bian Chengyi had, but she had a delicate charm—a gentle beauty, just like her name, resembling a piece of smooth, verdant jade. Even her pleading expression, with her brows slightly furrowed, looked sincere and humble, making it hard to turn her down.

Jinyu—virtuous talent.

It was as if the author’s original intent had been perfectly encapsulated in her. Hua You couldn’t help but curl her lips faintly.

She had no need to see the original heroine as an enemy.

Fang Jinyu could be a friend, a role model, a worthy rival in Class Three’s academic battleground.

But she must never become the only light in Bian Chengyi’s life.

There was no particular reason… she just wouldn’t allow it.

A strange ache twisted in Hua You’s chest. It was a hard feeling to name—like knowing full well this was just part of the mission, yet still having to push someone who didn’t need to be your enemy into the opposing corner.

Yes, Hua You knew exactly what she was supposed to do.

She should have stood up, walked over to Bian Chengyi, and pulled her to sit by her side—just like Bian Chengyi had originally wanted to do. That way, Bian Chengyi would know she cared. It would also make a public statement that the two of them had become good friends, pushing their daily interactions forward.

But something held her back.

…Curiosity.

She wanted to see what Bian Chengyi would do without her interference. That curiosity—harmless as it seemed—might’ve just cost her a major step in completing her mission. Because of it, Bian Chengyi ended up becoming desk mates with Fang Jinyu again.

Yes, under normal circumstances, with Fang Jinyu saying what she said, Bian Chengyi should’ve turned back and sat beside her, for old times’ sake if nothing else.

But instead, Bian Chengyi only paused for a moment, then shook her head gently and offered a faint, apologetic smile.

“Xiaoyu, I’m sorry—I already made plans.”

Fang Jinyu was momentarily lost—unsure where she was or what she was doing.

It wasn’t just the sting of being ignored by a friend—it was something deeper. A sense of shame. She could hardly believe her eyes as she watched Bian Chengyi walk steadily toward Hua You—yes, toward her—and stop at Hua You’s right side, putting down her bag.

Yes, Hua You and Bian Chengyi—once sworn rivals—not only made up…

But Bian Chengyi had outright ditched Fang Jinyu to become Hua You’s desk mate!

“Do you want to rethink this?” Hua You didn’t sound particularly pleased. “You wear glasses—can you even see the board from here, Sister Chengyi?”

“Whether or not I can see the board doesn’t matter,” Bian Chengyi replied as she pulled out her textbook. Then she added with a calm, steady tone:

“As long as I can see you, it’s enough.”

Hua You thought, Sure, she probably meant studying together, helping each other improve—but why did that still sound so sweet? It made my heart skip a beat.

Bian Chengyi looked up and glanced at Fang Jinyu, still sitting upright at her desk.

There was a twinge of guilt in her heart—it would be a lie to say she felt nothing at all.

But she believed… she wouldn’t regret this decision.

Some things in life just didn’t need justification.

The fifth-ranked student, Pei Fei, stood at the door for several long seconds before walking in, making sure the top four had finalized their seats. After that, the rest of the class quickly filled in their spots, and the weekly seat reshuffle was done before the morning self-study ended.

Before lunch, they had a P.E. class.

For the college entrance exam, the physical test was scored 1+1: a fixed item—either 800 meters running or 200 meters swimming for girls—and a choice of elective sports. All senior-year students took P.E. together and then split into different groups based on their chosen activity.

Bian Chengyi had picked basketball. Hua You had picked volleyball.

The basketball and volleyball courts were pretty close, and if Hua You turned her head, she could even see the students in Bian Chengyi’s group.

The first ten minutes of class were always reserved for a 200-meter warm-up run. Standing on the volleyball court, Hua You raised her hand and said, “Sorry, teacher. I’m not feeling well today.”

The P.E. teacher nodded and told her to rest at the side.

In truth, her issue wasn’t her period. It was that nasty fall she took yesterday while walking with Teacher Xu after helping Bian Chengyi back to her dorm. Her knees had been scraped up badly, and even her bones ached. She had jogged a little this morning, and it flared up again. Explaining all that felt like too much trouble—claiming period pain was the universal excuse that required no follow-up.

After logging her absence, Hua You sat idly on the sidelines, watching the others get hit by volleyballs or chase after them. But because the school didn’t allow P.E. absentees to return to their dorms—mainly to prevent students from skipping to do homework—Hua You, whose phone was back in the dorm, ended up counting the leaves on the trees out of boredom.

Eventually, class ended. Hua You rubbed her knee and used a nearby tree to help herself stand up. She had just been about to head to the basketball court to drag Bian Chengyi to lunch when she saw her already walking toward her, lit by the sun.

She had taken off her jacket and was just in her short-sleeved shirt, looking noticeably more refreshed and energetic after the workout.

“Sister Chengyi,” Hua You greeted her with a smile, “what do you want for lunch?”

“Whatever you want,” Bian Chengyi replied casually.

Then she looked down—and noticed Hua You’s untied shoelaces.

Hua You noticed too, and instinctively tried to squat down—only to be reminded of her injured knees. She stiffened, trying instead to just bend forward, but Bian Chengyi quickly reached out and steadied her.

“If you want to keep your knees, then don’t move,” she said.

Her voice was calm, but for the first time, Hua You truly felt the Alpha presence radiating from this elegant class monitor.

Then, Bian Chengyi knelt down— And tied Hua You’s shoelaces for her.