Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 21

To avoid interfering with Monday’s classes, the absurd little investigation in the principal’s office was temporarily wrapped up by the end of the lunch break. Final decisions would wait on the official police statement.

As for the weekly test results from Liberal Arts Week, they were released Monday afternoon—always a little slower than the Science Week ones.

As usual, a crowd gathered in front of the red honor board. Fang Huai had to shield Fang Jinyu as they pushed their way to the front. Jinyu stared at the top of the overall rankings, where Hua You’s name stood out in bold, unmistakable characters. When she saw the near-perfect history score, she couldn’t help but sigh.

“Looks like she’s finally figured things out.”

Fang Huai offered a comforting smile.
“You tied with her in history. It was just a tiny difference.”

Just a tiny bit?

Only those who’ve taken the test know how vast and difficult that “tiny bit” really is.

Fang Jinyu wasn’t someone who always held the top rank, but during liberal arts-focused weeks, she usually beat out Fang Huai. She’d gotten used to seeing her own name at the top of the red board. Even though she had mentally prepared herself to see Hua You’s name instead… when it actually happened, it still hit differently.

The tension between her and Hua You should have disappeared after that night Hua You saved her.
In fact, during last night’s study session, Hua You had even told her not to dwell on it or feel grateful—it was just a coincidence, not some heroic choice. She didn’t want Jinyu carrying a burden over it.

So technically, the two of them should now be somewhere between “friendly classmates” and “cordial acquaintances.”

But when she actually saw Hua You surpass her—when the title Sleeping Beauty Demon Queen began echoing through the grade, stealing the spotlight once reserved for her and Fang Huai—Fang Jinyu found that she couldn’t smile and offer a sincere “congratulations” quite so easily.

Meanwhile, Hua You had just returned to the classroom with Bian Chengyi and was immediately surrounded by a group of girls.

Some praised her stellar performance. Others begged her to explain a few controversial history and politics multiple-choice questions. Hua You looked at Bian Chengyi helplessly, shrugged, and put the lollipop back in her pocket. Then, with practiced patience, she began answering one question after another.

Bian Chengyi stood quietly at her side, watching as Hua You sat atop her desk, gesturing confidently like she was giving a mini-lecture.
“In politics, always pay attention to subtle phrasing—especially with this contradiction here…”

Fang Jinyu entered the classroom to see this exact scene.

Sunlight from the afternoon window cast a soft golden glow across half of Hua You’s face. The shadow that fell across her came from Bian Chengyi, standing right beside her.

Bian Chengyi leaned in close, her head almost brushing Hua You’s hair as she listened to her explanation. Despite being different second genders, there wasn’t the slightest sense of awkwardness or distance between them. They were completely at ease in each other’s presence.

Hua You, getting excited in her explanation, would occasionally glance back at Bian Chengyi, lifting her eyes with a radiant smile.

Noticing Fang Jinyu’s arrival, Hua You finished her explanation with a flourish, hopped down from the desk, and walked up to her.

“You’re here. Sit.”

That radiant, lively face—glowing with the energy of spring’s first blooming peach blossom—left Fang Jinyu momentarily stunned.

Then, for the next ten minutes, she was briefed on everything that had happened in the principal’s office. Afterward, she turned to Fang Huai and said with a teasing, almost resigned smile:

“So, this mess really was your fault, huh?”

Fang Huai looked deeply apologetic.
“I never expected Li Feiyi to go that far… to do something so cruel. Don’t worry, Xiaoyu. I’ll figure something out.”

His voice was low and tight, and his expression had a strange mix of relief and lingering fear—like someone who had narrowly survived a disaster and only now realized how close it had come.

Bian Chengyi, aware that she might have had a role in it all too, added,
“If it turns out Class Four’s involved, I’ll handle it, Xiaoyu.”

Fang Jinyu gave her a polite, distant smile—something she had never done before.

It caught Bian Chengyi off guard. They had never been this formal with one another.

But her words left no room for reproach.

“Thanks, Chengyi.”

The final verdict came just after school that day.
With full cooperation from the police, it was confirmed: Li Feiyi was the mastermind, and it was Zhu Yushi whom she had contacted for help. Qin Jing had been involved as well, but only peripherally—she didn’t know the whole plan.

In the end, the first two were expelled and received criminal records.
Qin Jing, however, was issued a severe warning.

All three had their names publicly listed for one week on the Disciplinary White Board.

After receiving the news that she wouldn’t be expelled, Qin Jing walked back to class in a daze.
It felt like everyone around her was watching, whispering, judging.
She grew silent. Shaky. Even visibly thinner over the following days.

That week, she kept entirely to herself.

One day at lunch, Fang Jinyu looked up from her tray and asked Fang Huai, “Should we go say something to her?”

Typical of the original heroine—always just a little too kind, too softhearted.

“She looks like she’s been really shaken by this.”

Fang Huai shook his head gently. “I think… this is something Hua You should decide. She was the one most at risk. If there’s any forgiveness to be given, it should come from both of you, not just one.”

Fang Jinyu thought it over.
He wasn’t wrong.
She had put up with Qin Jing’s backstabbing more than once in the past—she didn’t exactly feel overflowing with sympathy herself.

“You’re right. I was overthinking it. Fine, let her reflect on it properly this time.”

Hua You, meanwhile, was either oblivious to Qin Jing’s state—or perhaps she noticed and chose to ignore it.

She had more pressing thoughts on her mind lately: how to spend her birthday.

Should she just keep it simple in the dorm? Or treat everyone to a meal? Or maybe… use it as an excuse to move things forward with Bian Chengyi?

Her birthday fell on Friday—just after the science track midterms ended. There was still enough time left for her roommates to go home for dinner, so… inviting Bian Chengyi seemed like the best plan.

Thursday afternoon, during gym class, she had volleyball.

Volleyball sessions usually ended earlier than basketball—if you hit 60 volleys within a minute, you were allowed to leave. Hua You endured her sore hands, managed her sixty, and darted straight to the basketball court.

And there she was.

Bian Chengyi had taken off her school jacket and was wearing only a black short-sleeved shirt.
Her arms were slender, pale as snow. Her side-swept bangs were pinned up, and her long hair was tied high into a ponytail—secured with a white cat-shaped hair tie.

Yes—the very same pair of cat hair ties Hua You had impulsively ordered online.

She had given them to Bian Chengyi as a small “thank you gift” after she’d saved her.
The formal gift, Hua You had said, would come later.

Bian Chengyi hadn’t waited. She’d opened the package right there, tied her hair up into a ponytail, and casually said,
“No need for another gift.”

Then she had spun around and asked, “Does it look good?”

And Hua You—who had chosen it herself—could only lavish her with praise.

Now, Bian Chengyi was doing three-step layups.
Her arms long, her legs elegant, her jumps fluid and powerful. When she leapt, she looked like she could fly. Her form was flawless—bank shot, right into the hoop.

The basketball danced through her fingers like a flicker of flame.
And when the flame settled, her ponytail followed her turn, swaying like a ribbon in the wind.

She turned and gave Hua You a small, wordless smile—then rejoined the line.

By the time class ended, Hua You was on her third lollipop (this one pineapple-flavored), practically bored to death.

Finally, Bian Chengyi walked over with her jacket in hand.

She caught Hua You’s eyes lighting up the moment she saw her and said with a little smirk,
“You came early. I saw you watching the whole time. They weren’t playing nearly as well as you said.”

After throwing that playful jab, Hua You—cool as ever—handed Bian Chengyi a cold soda.
“I bought this at the school shop earlier. I couldn’t resist taking a couple sips… I trust you don’t mind?” she said with a mischievous little grin.

Bian Chengyi took it without hesitation, twisted off the cap, and drank a few sips herself like it was no big deal. Then, she casually tucked the bottle into her backpack.
“What floor do you want to eat dinner on tonight?”

“Freedom starts tomorrow. I’m good with anything,” Hua You said as they headed toward the cafeteria. She tried to sound casual as she added, “Oh, by the way, tomorrow’s my birthday. Wanna grab dinner with me?”

“I know it’s your birthday tomorrow,” Bian Chengyi replied, her voice still a little breathless from all that basketball earlier.
“I actually thought you’d be spending it with your family. I was planning to give you your gift tomorrow.”

“That won’t do,” Hua You said, wrapping her arm around Bian Chengyi’s like it was the most natural thing in the world, playfully whining, “Of course I want you to spend it with me! Sister Bian, you don’t happen to have plans tomorrow night, do you?”

“I’m free,” Bian Chengyi shook her head. “Dinner tomorrow, right? I’ll just let my mom know—I doubt it’ll be an issue.”

“Yep! I booked a two-person hotpot set—such a steal,” Hua You said proudly, clearly a bargain-hunting pro.
“Plus it’s my birthday, so I get 20% off. It’s practically free. We have to go all out!”

Then, as if remembering something important, she added,
“Oh! Sister Bian, when did you prepare my gift? What is it? And how’d you even know when my birthday is?”

“Last weekend,” Bian Chengyi answered calmly. “But as for what it is—that’s a secret.”

Her tone left no room for negotiation.

“And how do I know your birthday?” she added with a faint smile. “Well, if I want to know something… I’ll find a way to know.”

A lightbulb practically lit up over Hua You’s head. She turned thoughtful for a moment, then beamed.

“I get it now!”

“Sister Bian must’ve figured out my birthday, home address, bl00d type, and phone number and everything else! That’s how much she cares about me!”

Bian Chengyi gave her a light tap on the forehead.
“You and that mouth of yours… Maybe spend that energy deciding what you actually want to eat.”