Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 30

“I’m eighteen this year—I do know how to use a phone!” Hua You puffed up her cheeks in mock annoyance, though she was secretly afraid that this black-hearted lotus might actually follow through. “Anyway… if you lose sight of me, can you at least not go to the broadcasting station and call out my name, please, Sister Bian?”

Bian Chengyi shook her head and replied with feigned seriousness, “Nope. I’ve never tried using the broadcasting station to find someone—I want to experience it at least once.”

“Childish!” Hua You made a face. “Let’s just go in already! Don’t worry—I’ll hold your hand tight and won’t let go! No matter how crowded it is on the weekend, I don’t believe it’ll be that bad.”

Turns out… it was that bad.

A sea of people swarmed the aquarium entrance. Hua You clung tightly to Bian Chengyi’s hand. Rather than seeing the fish, her first impression was that they had come to watch people. Even Bian Chengyi felt the crowd was overwhelming. She changed from holding hands to wrapping an arm around Hua You protectively, guiding her deeper into the building.

Feeling the hand on her shoulder, Hua You turned to look at Bian Chengyi and said with a trace of guilt, “I didn’t think it would be this crowded…”

“Look!” Bian Chengyi smiled and pointed ahead at a large glass tank. “Clownfish.”

Hua You’s attention was instantly diverted. “They’re so beautiful!” Her eyes sparkled as her reflection shimmered alongside the dancing water and clownfish under red-tinted lighting. “The way they wag their tails—it’s adorable!”

They really are adorable.

But in my eyes, you’re the most beautiful sight of all.

The line of a poem about scenery came to Bian Chengyi’s mind, and she couldn’t help taking out her phone. “Don’t move—let me take a picture of you.”

Hua You cupped her face with her hands, eyes wide open as she stared into the lens.

“No need to open your eyes that wide,” Bian Chengyi chuckled. “Your eyes are already bright and beautiful—just relax.”

After snapping the photo, Hua You eagerly rushed over to check. She let out a relieved breath. “Not bad! Don’t forget to send me the original, okay, Sister Bian?”

“I will,” Bian Chengyi replied with a gentle smile.

Hua You hesitated a little. “Do you think I look good? I can try another pose if not…”

Bian Chengyi opened the photo again, carefully examining Hua You’s face. “You look beautiful.”

Still not entirely convinced, Hua You watched as Bian Chengyi tapped on the image—and set it as her phone wallpaper.

Hua You’s eyes widened even more than before. “No need for that! People might get the wrong idea if they see it…”

But Bian Chengyi was grinning from ear to ear. “Don’t worry. We’re already legally recognized anyway—those teasing us will just think it’s… well, reasonable.”

Hua You pouted slightly and muttered amidst the surrounding noise, “You’re just messing with me, Sister Bian…”

“Alright, let’s not talk about that,” Bian Chengyi said, slipping her phone away. She pointed further into the aquarium. “There’s still so much to see. I know you’ve been looking forward to the penguins for a while now.”

“Penguins!” Hua You’s energy spiked instantly. “Penguins! Let’s go, let’s go, Sister Bian! Hurry and find the penguins!”

She even waddled a few steps like a penguin, making Bian Chengyi smile involuntarily. “Careful! Don’t bump into anyone, little Hua You.” She shook her head and jogged to catch up.

They wandered through the exhibits, glancing at all sorts of marine life. Hua You took dozens—maybe even a hundred—photos. In the underwater tunnel, she insisted on taking several selfies with Bian Chengyi.

“Just one more,” she begged, gazing up at the rippling water above as though truly submerged in the ocean. “It’s so beautiful here.”

Bian Chengyi could only oblige her.

By the time they reached the gift shop near the exit, Hua You spotted a giant stuffed penguin and couldn’t take another step.

“It looks so soft…” she said, eyes blinking rapidly.

Just as Bian Chengyi was about to head to the cashier, Hua You stopped her in a fluster. “You can’t just buy stuff at gift shops—it’s always overpriced! I can order the same one online!”

Bian Chengyi countered, “If no one buys anything, how do gift shops even stay in business?”

While Hua You was still trying to come up with a rebuttal, Bian Chengyi had already returned with the receipt and the penguin plushie. She tucked the receipt into her pocket and dangled the penguin in front of Hua You.

“Say ‘big sister.’ Say it and I’ll give it to you.”

Hua You’s cheeks flushed pink. “I’m eighteen! Not eight—not three! Come on!”

A flash of disappointment crossed Bian Chengyi’s face. “Alright… if you won’t, then forget it…”

Hua You couldn’t bear to see her mission target look so dejected! She quickly caved. “Big sister, big sister! I give in—please give it to me!”

For a moment, Hua You genuinely didn’t know who had the younger mental age. She was starting to wonder if this novel had been hijacked by someone else’s plot—or if Bian Chengyi had a hidden menu of character traits. The original book never showed her being this soft or playful!

Only after that did Bian Chengyi, thoroughly satisfied, hand the plushie to Hua You. “Let’s go.”

Later that night, when Hua You brought the penguin plush home to show her dad, he teased her for being childish.

“You have no idea who the real child is here…” Hua You muttered under her breath, but as she looked at the penguin plushie again, a smile unknowingly crept onto her lips.

On Sunday night, when Hua You was packing to return to school, she made sure to toss the little penguin plushie into her suitcase. She arrived at the dorm slightly earlier than Bian Chengyi, so when Bian walked in, the first thing she saw was the large penguin sitting on Hua You’s desk.

Right beside it… was an identical plushie—except this one was wearing a pink skirt.

Bian Chengyi: …

Well, if the little kitten gives it out of the kindness of her heart… what else could she do but accept?

Hua You clearly thought her gift had a certain flair. “Sister Bian! I ordered it online! Don’t they make a perfect pair? Hehe.”

Bian Chengyi nodded, managing to look away with some effort. She then pulled a few printed photos from her pocket. “I printed these—you can buy whatever kind of frame you like.”

The photos were all of Hua You, except for a few selfies of the two of them together.

Flipping through them, Hua You was already mentally browsing photo frame styles. “Got it, Sister Bian.”

Bian Chengyi added, “Oh, and by the way—I got word that there’s a school-wide assembly on Tuesday. You might be giving a speech in front of the whole grade.”

Me? Hua You blinked in surprise, then quickly realized what it might be about. “The exam results are already out?”

Bian Chengyi nodded. “You’re ranked first. As for me, I placed ninth in the joint exam.”

She added with a little smile, “My mom was pretty happy. She praised you more than she praised me.”

Hua You let out a long, dramatic “ohhhh.” “Well, of course! But wow, Sister Bian—you always get news faster than anyone.” She grinned. “Ninth is amazing! That other school is full of hidden talents, and this test was tough. You’ve made real progress!”

Of course, some of that was thanks to her tutoring—but she smugly kept that part to herself, hoping Bian Chengyi would realize it on her own.

Bian Chengyi seemed to be in good spirits. “I messed up a few multiple-choice questions in Chinese—otherwise, I could’ve done even better. I heard Fang Huai really hit a wall this time… Apparently, he didn’t finish the math section, which tanked his ranking. Xiaoyu’s pretty worried about him.”

That rang a bell for Hua You.

She remembered this arc from the original novel.

Fang Huai’s performance tanked because a close family member had passed away. Not only was he grieving, but some teachers also questioned his abilities, which made him doubt himself even more. Fang Jinyu stayed by his side through his lowest point, comforting him and ultimately deepening their bond.

But the road wasn’t smooth. Fang Huai, feeling unworthy of Fang Jinyu—or maybe just crushed under pressure—once tried to break up with her. He claimed it was to avoid dragging her down with his negativity. But, as novels go, they didn’t actually split. Their relationship came out stronger than ever.

This was about the time in the story when the breakup attempt happened. It didn’t really affect Hua You’s mission—so long as the plot didn’t spiral too far off-course.

Except…

Come Monday, news broke: Fang Huai and Fang Jinyu had broken up for real.

Hua You felt like her brain was about to explode. She watched as Fang Jinyu cried silently in front of Bian Chengyi, tears slipping down one by one. Hua You had no idea how to comfort her.

Dealing with people… was not her strong suit.

Especially when they fell outside her designated “care zone.”

Thanks to being near Bian Chengyi, Hua You caught most of the story. Fang Huai had been cold and resolute—he deleted their contacts, didn’t sit next to her anymore, treated her like a stranger in class, and even walked alone to lunch that day.

After lunch, when Bian Chengyi and Hua You returned to the classroom, they saw Fang Jinyu still sitting at her desk, dazed, having skipped her meal.

“Fang Huai… really is still just a kid,” Hua You murmured to Bian Chengyi. “He’s going to regret this. The worst kind of hurt is the kind that’s disguised as ‘I’m doing this for your own good.’”

Bian Chengyi let out a soft sigh. “I still have his contact info. I’ll try reaching out today and see what’s going on. If not, we’ll have to ask Mr. Xu to mediate.”

They chatted a bit more about the situation, but Hua You kept one thought to herself:

She hoped she wouldn’t be asked.

But of course, things rarely go the way she hoped. That evening, just before dinner, Fang Jinyu hesitated before walking over to their table.

Just as Hua You had anticipated, Fang Jinyu looked straight at her and asked:

“I know this might be a little sudden…”

“But it feels kind of awkward eating in the cafeteria alone… Especially if I run into Fang Huai and his friends—it’s really uncomfortable.”

“So… would it be okay if I joined you two for lunch the next couple of days?”