Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 28

This week marked the midterm exams for the second half of the semester—also the most important full-ranking assessment before the college entrance exam. It was a joint exam held in collaboration with other high schools, and the entire third-year floor was filled with an atmosphere of tension and urgency.

Amidst this high-stakes environment, where everyone treated every second like gold, Bian Chengyi received an unexpected message: Zhu Yushi wanted to see her one last time before dropping out.

It took her three whole minutes to remember who that was. Eventually, it clicked—he was one of the behind-the-scenes instigators involved in the sulfuric acid incident with Fang Jinyu, and had nearly harmed Hua You.

Her first instinct was to flatly refuse. But when Director Lu brought it up, mentioning that Zhu Yushi’s parents had practically begged on their knees, and that Zhu himself was reluctant to ask but still came to her out of guilt… Bian Chengyi finally agreed—out of respect for Director Lu.

Then she turned to Hua You, who was pretending to focus on her homework.

“Come with me.”

Hua You wore the most exaggerated What a waste of time expression, even though she had clearly glanced over at them at least eight hundred times while Director Lu was talking. Bian Chengyi softened her voice and coaxed gently, “We’ll go see him during lunch, and after that, I’ll treat you to snacks at the campus shop.”

Only then did Hua You reluctantly nod, as if she were giving in purely for the snacks. “Fine. But I’m sitting inside—I’m not standing out in the hallway.”

Director Lu was delighted that Bian Chengyi agreed. Hua You, being a model student, also gave him face. Naturally, her small request was immediately accepted. “Of course, of course. I know you two are… legally… together now. So it makes sense you’d show up together. Ahem, I’ll stop there.”

But when Hua You actually entered the director’s office and saw Zhu Yushi in person, she was still a little shocked by how gaunt he looked.

How does someone get this thin? If Bian Chengyi’s slenderness had a kind of grace to it, Zhu Yushi looked like he was made of bones and shadows. There was no light in his eyes—he seemed utterly defeated. Only when Bian Chengyi stepped into the room did his eyes spark with life for a brief moment.

She and Hua You sat across from him. A security guard sat to his left, Director Lu to his right.

“You know this is midterms week. Time’s precious,” Bian Chengyi said crisply. “Say what you came to say.”

“…Who is she?” Zhu Yushi asked, looking at Hua You.

“She’s not important,” Hua You waved a hand. “Just treat me like a bystander. Or the security guard, if you want.”

Zhu Yushi repeated the question, this time with more force. “Who is she?”

“Oh, perhaps you’ve never heard of the famous Sleeping Beauty Queen,” Bian Chengyi said with a faint smile. “Let me introduce you. Triple crown holder of the top ranking in our year, class beauty, my wife—Hua You.”

Hua You: Since when was I the class beauty? Wait… I have that many titles now? Why does this feel like the grand entrance of a villainess in a drama?

Well, she was originally written as a villainess anyway. So she flashed a perfectly courteous, almost theatrical smile—exactly the kind of vibe Zhu Yushi probably imagined a main antagonist would have.

“Hello there, Zhu classmate,” she said sweetly.

Zhu Yushi stared at her for a long while, as if trying to analyze every detail of her face, before finally lowering his head and muttering in defeat, “So this is your type… You two do look… fitting together.”

Hua You: …Excuse me??

Aren’t you supposed to say, “How could you fall for a woman like her?”
That’s what the script said! How am I supposed to respond to this?!

While Hua You scrambled mentally, Bian Chengyi calmly responded.

“So you came here today just to ask about my type?” She smiled lightly. “Well, now you’ve seen it. Anything else you want to say?”

“I first saw you in the library,” Zhu Yushi said, slipping into his own little world. “You looked elegant, noble, reading a book like a goddess from another realm…”

“That was probably just me zoning out because I couldn’t solve a chemistry problem,” Bian Chengyi replied with a smile.

But Zhu Yushi pressed on, ignoring her comment. “Everyone said no matter who confessed to you, you turned them all down… I thought, ‘That’s what it means to be a flower on a high peak.’ It didn’t matter if no one could have you. But then I saw your friend. Already in a relationship, yet still dangling you along.”

Hua You went quiet.

Having read the original novel, she knew very well—Fang Jinyu had never intentionally strung Bian Chengyi along.

But when an OMEGA in a stable relationship gets too close to another ALPHA, it becomes an unforgivable sin.

In the eyes of many, Fang Jinyu was exactly that kind of person. It was the biggest criticism the original heroine faced—and also the most heartbreaking part for readers who empathized with her.

Bian Chengyi’s expression darkened. “Don’t speak about my friend like that.”

Zhu Yushi, pale as paper, suddenly turned to Hua You, who had drifted into a slight daze. “As an OMEGA, let me ask you something sincerely—do you really believe you matter more to her than that friend of hers does?”

Bian Chengyi stood up, her presence towering as she looked down at him. “If that’s how you see it, then there’s nothing more for us to discuss.”

Zhu Yushi suddenly burst into a bitter, maniacal laugh. His voice cracked as he shouted, “You need to understand! You’ll never compare to Fang Jinyu! She’s unattainable! She’s already in a relationship—she doesn’t belong to—”

Before he could finish, the security guard covered his mouth and restrained him, though tears still streamed from his eyes.

Bian Chengyi snorted coldly. “You think this is enough to destroy what I have?”

As for Hua You—she wasn’t moved at all. Not because she wasn’t listening, but because none of this caught her off guard. She’d known from the moment she read the novel that Bian Chengyi had feelings for Fang Jinyu.

She simply stared, empty-minded, at Zhu Yushi.

So emotions, in the end… can really ruin someone to this extent?

As Hua You stood there, dazed, her reaction was completely misunderstood by Bian Chengyi.

From her naturally sharp gaze, a flicker of concern softened her expression.

My little kitten… she didn’t misunderstand that, did she?

“I never used to believe in making vows,” Bian Chengyi said softly, turning to look at Hua You.

Only then did Hua You snap out of her thoughts and meet Bian Chengyi’s gaze.

“But I swear this.”

“My relationship with Fang Jinyu has only ever been friendship.”

“The person I love… is Hua You.”

“If I, Yi, break this vow, may I be denied both life and death, forever unrecognized by the one I love.”

On the way to the campus convenience store, the two walked hand in hand as usual—but a strange, heavy silence hung between them.

Hua You didn’t like that feeling. She tried to lighten the mood, breaking the somber tone: “You really didn’t have to swear like that, Sister Bian. I mean, we’re just good friends, right? Even if you did like Fang Jinyu, I wouldn’t mind. She’s been your friend for almost three years now… No need to go making such a dramatic vow just to spite that guy.”

She paused, thinking of Bian Chengyi’s original ending in the novel, and shivered. “What if it actually comes true? That would make me a huge sinner!”

Bian Chengyi smiled. “I didn’t raise my hand when I swore it—so it doesn’t count.”

Hua You slapped her thigh with her free hand, suddenly enlightened. “Ah! So that’s a loophole! Got it. I’ll use that trick next time I lie!”

Bian Chengyi gave a small shake of her head. “Little kitten…”

“Hm? I’m here,” Hua You responded sweetly.

“Even if I had made a real vow,” Bian Chengyi paused in her steps, “I was still telling the truth.”

“Even though saying this might seem disrespectful to Xiaoyu… in my heart, she and you aren’t even close to the same.”

“Ah—” Hua You blurted out, feeling guilty as she remembered the mission progress bar had just hit over 90%. “Don’t say that, don’t say that! I mean… maybe someday you’ll realize that someone who’s been with you through thick and thin is more important than someone like me…”

“I won’t,” Bian Chengyi replied with a smile.

Hua You kept up the act, trying to play dumb. “Anyway, I know I’m a very important friend to you, but that doesn’t mean other friends don’t matter too!”

Bian Chengyi continued leading her toward the store, her tone light. “I can tell the difference. Don’t worry.”

“After all, everyone else is just human…”

“But you—you’re my kitten.”

That’s when Hua You instinctively tried to playfully smack her like she would with her old roommate Lin Lingwan—only to freeze halfway, remembering Bian Chengyi wasn’t that kind of close friend she could roughhouse with.

Bian Chengyi turned her head with a soft chuckle. “You were going to hit me, weren’t you?”

Almost without thinking, Hua You gently patted her cheek.

Calling it a slap was an overstatement—it felt more like a soft caress. Like a cat’s paw brushing against skin. Just a little ticklish.

Bian Chengyi laughed aloud. “Satisfied? Then let’s go.”

“Consider it my way of making it up to you for dragging you into that whole mess,” she added, her tone tinged with guilt. “I still feel a little bad about involving you.”

“It’s really fine, really,” Hua You muttered. “You’re too charming for your own good. Just getting a fake marriage certificate with you is enough to boost my social standing.”

When the two of them returned to the classroom, arms full of snacks and bread, the room was still mostly empty—except for one furry figure sprawled across the podium, belly-up and basking in the sun.

“Wu’an!” Hua You cried out joyfully, dropping everything to run over and scoop up the cat. “Snuggles! Snuggles!”

She reached out gently to pet it, and as her fingers sank into its warm fur, all her recent emotional stress seemed to melt away.

Bian Chengyi, by contrast, was a bit more composed. She quietly put away all the food before walking over. But before she could reach out, Hua You came over with the cat in her arms.

“Sister Bian, want to pet him too?”

She carried the cat back to her seat. Bian Chengyi leaned over, but didn’t immediately pet it. Instead, she just watched Wu’an for a moment.

For some reason… she felt a strange sense of being left out.

Wu’an meowed twice at Bian Chengyi, then yawned wide. Hua You burst into laughter, her smile uncontrollable.

Bian Chengyi had half a mind to warn her that cats scratch sometimes—but seeing how happy they were together, she didn’t have the heart to ruin the moment.

Eventually, she reached out and began to pet Wu’an.

The cat let out a series of contented meows—it was clearly loving it.

Then she changed hands.

And reached out to gently stroke… Hua You’s hair.