Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 24

Even as Hua You stepped through the door at home, she was still floating in a daze, replaying what Bian Chengyi had said earlier.

Cat?

Was that how Bian Chengyi saw her? Like some delicate, pampered little thing?

Hmph.

But the moment she walked inside and saw a woman sitting on the living room sofa, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

It took her a full two seconds to realize—oh right, her mother was back.

Her ALPHA mother jumped up from the sofa like she’d been spring-loaded.

“Oh my little darling! Why are you back so late?” she exclaimed, rushing over.

Hua You blinked, still processing, then blurted out, “Mom? I thought you weren’t coming back for a few more weeks?”

Her mom took her backpack and waved at her husband to pour some drinks.

“What do you mean?” she said, beaming. “It’s my baby girl’s birthday—of course I had to come back!”

Then she winked. “I heard you’ve been doing fantastically lately. Two straight first-place rankings! I know my daughter doesn’t cheat, so this must mean you’ve finally had your academic breakthrough! I’m so proud!”

“Yes, yes,” Hua You nodded like a bobblehead as she sipped her water. “You wouldn’t believe it, but the whole class has a nickname for me now—‘Sleeping Beauty Demon Queen.’ Just imagine how cool your daughter is.”

Her dad chimed in from the other end of the couch, “And she’s even in a relationship now. That’s cool, right? You should introduce your mom to your ‘Class Rep Xishi’—I’ve been holding it in and didn’t say a word. Respect me!”

“Huh? In a relationship?” Her mother looked surprised. “Have you marked her yet?”

Hua You nearly choked.
“You sound just like Dad! I remember I was drinking soup when he asked me the same thing and I nearly died. No, I haven’t! How many times do I have to say it—normal relationship, okay?! Just a regular one!”

While Hua You was getting lovingly “interrogated” at home, things on Bian Chengyi’s end were far quieter.

Her mother didn’t smile once when she got back. She simply flipped through her test papers—one by one.

The family bodyguard had already reported her birthday outing, so her mother didn’t question where she’d been. She simply said, “Now that you’re home, focus on your studies.”

After reviewing the papers, her mother finally sighed and said, “Your math score this time wasn’t bad.”

But before Bian Chengyi could offer a polite deflection, her mother’s brows furrowed again.

“But your physics… We need to work on that.”

Bian Chengyi was long used to this. She lowered her eyes and said softly, “Yes, Mother.”

She put on her glasses and opened up a fresh stack of exam papers, ready to dive in—but her mother spoke again.

“Are you in a relationship with Hua You?”

Bian Chengyi had expected this.

“No, Mother,” she replied calmly.

Her mother sighed, this time with a strange hint of regret.
“I actually like that girl. If you ended up with an Omega like her—smart, emotionally intelligent—it wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Bian Chengyi’s expression didn’t change.
“I don’t plan on dating anyone. Not now.”

Not ever, she silently added.

Her mother tapped her chin. “Hmm… What if I arranged for you two to spend more time together? That might help. She seems to like you too.”

Before Bian Chengyi could object, her mother continued, fully caught up in her own brilliant idea:

“You know what, I’ll fund it. Why not let the two of you get fake registered and live together in a dual dorm? It’s genius! I mean, look at Fang Huai and Fang Jinyu—power couple, mutual support. You and little Hua? Perfect fit.”

Bian Chengyi: …

She thought it was a joke—until she got the message:
Dinner with Hua You’s family. Saturday. Don’t be late.

So, the day after Hua You’s birthday, the two found themselves seated side-by-side at a smaller table off to the side, sipping drinks as their parents had a very enthusiastic conversation across from them.

“I’m sorry,” Bian Chengyi said quietly, her expression tinged with guilt. “I didn’t think she’d actually go through with this…”

Hua You had to cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Bian Chengyi watched her struggle, then sighed. “If you really can’t hold it in, go ahead and laugh.”

Hua You took a long gulp of juice to keep herself together.

“Well… it’s not all your fault. My parents only agreed to this because I told them that you and I…”

She trailed off, suddenly looking away, clearly caught in her own lie.

Bian Chengyi, naturally, noticed.

“Told them we what?”

“Um—” Hua You didn’t get a chance to answer.

Because just then, all three parents waved them over.

They stood up like they were being called to a wedding altar.

And Hua You, as she sat down between her mother and father—facing Bian Chengyi’s calm, unreadable gaze—felt a sudden, creeping dread settle in.

This feels… dangerously like a matchmaking setup.

Her parents started speaking, and her smile froze ever so slightly.

“My daughter’s crazy about your Chengyi—used to talk about her all the time.”

“You have no idea. I had to pry it out of her before she’d admit she’s dating Chengyi!”

“Well, Chengyi is wonderful. If the two of them are serious, getting their certificate early wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

“Why talk money at all? Come on, in-laws—”
(Hua You internally screaming: In-laws already?!)

“This is a matter of mutual love and support. No need to make it transactional!”

“Exactly, exactly. With college entrance exams coming up, the earlier the better!”

And so, on a dazed Sunday morning, Hua You found herself standing outside the Civil Affairs Bureau—still half asleep—next to Bian Chengyi.

Bian Chengyi wore a crisp white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, the very image of poise and elegance.

Hua You, meanwhile, had been forced into a soft brown wavy hairstyle the day before, making her look like a porcelain doll. She wore a pink floral dress—worth ¥2,000—insisted upon by Bian Chengyi’s mother. With her fair skin, she looked every bit the picture of a little princess.

As she fiddled with the gold bracelet on her wrist, Hua You thought dizzily,
So this is what they meant by “three gold items”?

Bian Chengyi was probably the only one who still saw this whole situation as a rational person might. She had quietly resisted the madness—right up until Hua You, during last night’s dinner, nodded and said:

“Sister Bian, being roommates might make it easier for you to learn physics! It’s totally fine! I’m okay with it!”

How was she supposed to argue after that?

Still, one minute before they were called to stamp the marriage certificate, Bian Chengyi turned to her and murmured,

“Kitten.”

“Hmm?” Hua You looked up, confused.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Bian Chengyi’s voice was soft, serious. “Once we sign… even if we divorce later, the record remains. We’ll always have been… married.”

One minute from now, my name will be tied to yours for life.

But Hua You just beamed.
“No problem.” She lifted her wrist—the little heart charm on the gold bracelet swayed gently, like it was claiming its place.
“I took your gift. Of course I’ll take full responsibility. Twenty-four-hour tutoring comes with the package!”

She sounded more like the ALPHA than the OMEGA.

Bian Chengyi was momentarily speechless. She remembered Hua You’s mom saying:

“She didn’t even want to tell me they were dating. I had to drag it out of her.”

Wait… does she actually like me?

She told her parents we were in a relationship?

Before Bian Chengyi could think further, the camera flashed. Their wedding photo was being taken.

“Smile!” the photographer called. “You, the tall pretty one—smile a little, yes, like that!”

Hua You turned and grinned at her.
“Sister Bian, are you nervous or just not happy to marry me?”

Bian Chengyi discreetly hid her sweaty palms and forced a calm smile.
“Kitten, look at the camera.”

When the photo was printed and the stamp went down with a resounding thud, both of them just… stood there.

“…Sister Bian, did we just… get married?” Hua You blinked.

“Mhm.” Bian Chengyi finally stepped forward, picked up both bright red certificates, and handed one to her.
“I’m sorry if this was too much.”

Hua You made a little grumble and took it.
“Hey, part of this is on me. If I hadn’t told my parents we were dating, no way they’d have agreed.”

“Why… did you lie to them like that?” Bian Chengyi finally asked the question that had been sitting in her heart all weekend.

Hua You froze.

“Ah—well, um… it’s ‘cause… my dad smelled something when he was doing laundry. I panicked, and… used you as a shield.”

She twiddled her fingers, swearing, “I promise, I’ll never do it again. If I ever do, I’ll…”

But Bian Chengyi reached out and gently covered her mouth.

“It’s not worth making that kind of promise over something so small.”

“Just let me finish!” Hua You clutched her hand. “If I do it again, I’ll never find strawberry-flavored lollipops again, and every bag of chips I buy will be less than half full, and my cat ‘Foggy’ will always run away from me…”

“Alright, alright—stop.” Bian Chengyi held her hand and sighed.
“We still have to go back to school tonight to pack and file the housing change paperwork. My mother’s probably already talked to the grade head and our homeroom teacher, but… we’ll be exhausted by the end.”

“Go home and rest for a bit,” she added gently. “I’ll see you tonight, Kitten.”

She glanced down again at the vivid red marriage certificate in her hand, then back up at Hua You—who was walking away, turning back every few steps.

Bian Chengyi’s eyes darkened slightly, but they shimmered with something deeper now.

Kitten.

…

My kitten.