Healing the Black Lotus Female Supporting Character (Transmigration into a Book - ABO) - Chapter 5

Bian Chengyi instinctively wanted to turn down Hua You’s offer.

But then she thought of Qin Jing’s reaction — the expression she might be wearing right now — and suddenly found the whole situation… amusing.

So she snapped her book shut, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“If you’re buying, then let’s go.”

Even Hua You hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.

Her joy was immediate and obvious — she let out a little gasp, spun around lightly on her heel, and whispered,
“Yes! Amazing!”
Then, before Bian Chengyi could change her mind, she stuffed the history book back into the desk:
“No book is more important than food. Let’s move!”

Hua You was already halfway turned when she instinctively reached out to grab Bian Chengyi’s hand — only to look up and see the other girl watching her with slight surprise.

Bian Chengyi’s hand hesitated in mid-air — to pull away would be suspicious, especially with Qin Jing watching from behind.

So, instead, she subtly extended her hand in a way that invited the gesture. Hua You’s gaze lingered on it for a beat, then she reached out — not to grab her hand, but to gently tug at the corner of her school jacket.

“Come on!” Hua You said brightly.
“Second-years get out ten minutes after us — if we hurry, we’ll beat the line!”

At that moment, Qin Jing’s expression turned absolutely sour. But she wasn’t a child anymore. She wouldn’t throw a tantrum and yell, “Why are you ditching me for her?!” Nor would she go full melodrama and chuck Hua You’s schoolbag out the window.

No — she just took a deep breath, face dark, and left the classroom before either of them.

Even Hua You, halfway through “playacting couple mode” with Bian Chengyi, was a little surprised.
“She really just… went to the cafeteria alone?”

“She didn’t.”
Bian Chengyi’s tone was soft, but certain.
“She went to the campus shop.”

“Why?”
Hua You blinked, still holding onto the edge of her sleeve.

Bian Chengyi didn’t pull away. Her tone remained light:
“For a girl like her, eating in the cafeteria alone is a terrifying thing. Once or twice is fine. But long-term? Absolutely not.”

Then she added, lifting her eyes to meet Hua You’s gaze:
“Your next question — you’re about to ask how I know, right?”

She paused for a moment, lashes fluttering before she looked down again.
“I used to eat in the cafeteria… with Fang Jinyu.”

For a while, it had been a peaceful, simple routine — going to morning exercises together, eating side by side, squeezing into the crowd at the teacher’s office to see the honor roll. Fang Jinyu had never made her feel strange about their second-gender difference. She treated her like any other close friend, openly and naturally.

But of course, that only worked when both sides were on the same page. And for a long time, Bian Chengyi had no other feelings toward her.

Just: good friend.

Then what happened?

Fang Jinyu fell in love.

She’d lowered her head shyly, wrapped a hand around Bian Chengyi’s wrist, and asked nervously:

“Chengyi… I might start eating lunch with Fang Huai. Would that be okay? If it bothers you, I won’t.”

How could it not bother her?

How could she possibly be okay with that?

Even though there were no romantic feelings, Bian Chengyi still felt something sour and bitter. But that emotion had no name — no place to exist — so all she could do was show a smile and say:

“He confessed? That’s amazing. You two should definitely last forever.”

From then on, the cafeteria bell wasn’t a symbol of freedom anymore — it was a sentence.

When the bell rang and the class emptied like a receding tide, Bian Chengyi stayed in her seat, frozen, as if gravity had increased tenfold.

Fang Jinyu had asked her once:
“Chengyi, aren’t you eating? Want to come with us?”

She smiled back.
“Senior years so packed. Instead of standing in line, I’d rather review.”

Fang Jinyu had flushed, apologetic.
“I must’ve held you back before… Alright, I’ll go, then.”

After Bian Chengyi nodded, Fang Jinyu finally turned around and nudged Fang Huai on the shoulder. Only when they were walking side by side toward the door did Bian Chengyi look up.

From her seat, she saw their backs — Fang Huai’s tall, straight figure next to Fang Jinyu, who was slightly shorter, her high ponytail swaying with its signature panda hair tie. Even just their silhouettes radiated a kind of harmony that made people want to describe them with words like a perfect match.

Bian Chengyi didn’t allow herself much time to feel jealous or melancholy — those weren’t emotions she believed belonged to her. She didn’t have the energy or interest to blend in with new classmates either. At this point in the year, most students had already formed their social groups.

And honestly, if she poured the energy spent on emotions into studying science, maybe she could finally break the curse of being “bad at STEM.”

So day after day, she got used to eating dry bread for lunch and dinner, until… today.

She glanced subtly at Hua You, still clinging to her sleeve, and said with a slightly bemused expression:
“She’s gone now. How much longer are you planning to hang on to me?”

“You don’t understand,” Hua You grinned, not letting go.
“I ate lunch with her today, and all she did was trash-talk half the girls in class. This one’s fake, that one’s manipulative — she had so much gossip, I lost my appetite.”
She tilted her head and added with a sly smile,
“But I’m not just using you as an escape, Sister Bian.”

“I sincerely want to treat you to dinner!”

“Give me a reason.”
Bian Chengyi was halfway through pulling her history book back out when Hua You blurted:
“The cafeteria’s packed — it feels like mealtime. Eating alone is boring.”

“The office is packed too,” Bian Chengyi muttered, pushing the book back in.
“Will you keep your promise to treat me?”

Seeing that she was actually getting somewhere, Hua You lit up.
“Of course, of course! You can get whatever you want!”

That enthusiasm lasted right up until they got to the cafeteria — and Hua You saw the mountain of food laid out in front of Bian Chengyi: eight side dishes, two soups.

She stared.

Is it too late to take back my offer? Please??

“Don’t mind me,” Bian Chengyi said sweetly.
“I just found out they launched a bunch of new dishes today — figured I’d sample them all.”
Her smile was so fox-like that Hua You could practically see a tail wagging behind her.

Hua You stuffed her mouth with rice, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk, her voice muffled:
“It’s… not like this is the last time we’re eating here…”

“What was that?” Bian Chengyi asked.

Swallowing her mouthful and sipping some egg drop soup, Hua You switched to a dramatic, overly gentle tone like someone comforting an orphan:
“Don’t worry, Sister Bian. From now on, I’ll bring you to the cafeteria every day. My treat. Eat whatever you want. I know you’ve… tasted the bitter side of life before…”

“Stop. Just—stop with that nonsense,” Bian Chengyi sighed, finally unable to keep a straight face.
“I don’t need you to treat me. You seriously think I can’t afford a meal?”

Hua You let out an exaggerated sigh:
“It’s okay, Sister Bian. There will always be disadvantages in life… but with hard work and determination, we can fight for a better future…”

Bian Chengyi was genuinely grateful it was her sitting here. Anyone else would’ve lost their appetite already.

Still keeping a straight face, she took another bite of meat — and gently knocked Hua You’s chopsticks with her own.
“Eat. And shut up.”

This was the second time Bian Chengyi had told Hua You to shut up.

If it were anyone else annoying her, Bian Chengyi wouldn’t have bothered replying. She’d simply walk off, detached and unbothered, leaving the other person to stew in their own confusion.

But Hua You was different — oddly so. She was annoying, yes… but also not.
Ever since that accidental bite earlier, everything Hua You said felt like she was narrating a story just for her — and it made Bian Chengyi feel like she wasn’t talking to the same girl from before.
No — it wasn’t that Hua You had changed.
It was that she felt completely different now.

Well. Still annoying, though. Generally speaking.

Now that Hua You had finally gone quiet, Bian Chengyi resumed eating. Compared to Bian Chengyi’s variety platter, Hua You’s food was simpler — she finished quickly, and then sat with her cheek propped in her hand, just watching.

Just as Bian Chengyi picked up a piece of braised pork, she caught Hua You staring and asked,
“Do you want to leave first?”

Hua You shushed her, pressing a finger to her lips — only for Bian Chengyi to nudge her hand away with her chopsticks.
“You’re allowed to talk now.”

“What’s the point of going back?” Hua You shrugged.
“To bury myself in homework? Please. I’ll finish so fast I’ll have 20 minutes left over to play Go against myself.”

Bian Chengyi paused, then asked seriously:
“You don’t have to answer, but… when did you start studying so hard? This isn’t something you can fake in a day.”

She picked up a piece of cabbage calmly, never forgetting to eat.
“And feel free to dodge the question with a lie if you want.”

“Two months ago?”
Hua You pretended to do mental math, counting on her fingers.
“Let’s say it’s a mix of hidden genius and secret effort — boom, shocking everyone.”

She thought Bian Chengyi would latch onto the “hidden genius” part, but instead, she just murmured:
“Two months, huh.”
Then she speared a broccoli floret and added,
“So why did you invite me to dinner today? Just to annoy Qin Jing?”

“Of course not!” Hua You looked scandalized.
Then, her tone turned cheeky:
“It’s because I got temporarily marked and now I have… uh… severe dependency syndrome.”

If Bian Chengyi hadn’t already been through enough today, that might’ve made her pause mid-bite.
Instead, she simply said,
“Go on. Explain.”

“Well…” Hua You scrambled to word it carefully.
“Let’s just say that after you bit me, something in my brain flipped. It’s not that I have to be near you, but it’s like… I want to be. It’s this constant pull. You know?”

Bian Chengyi had to summon every ounce of her self-control not to let her expression crack.

She set down her chopsticks for a beat, then said flatly:
“It’s just pheromones messing with your brain. Give it a few days, and it’ll pass.”

And then you’ll go back to being annoying, and I’ll go back to eating bread alone.
She exhaled quietly.

The cafeteria was noisy as ever, but the soft clatter and chatter oddly filled her ears in a comforting way.

She used to wait for Fang Jinyu like this — just because Jinyu liked to chat during meals and always ate slowly. Now, someone was waiting for her, and the shift was… unexpectedly pleasant.

She didn’t waste much food. When she finally set down her chopsticks and looked up at Hua You, who was still quietly lying on the table watching her like a cat, she felt like she was being stared at by a particularly needy pet.

“Let’s go.”

Hua You didn’t say anything — just grabbed her tray and followed closely. They walked out of the cafeteria side by side.

Halfway there, even after just one day at this school, Hua You noticed the path they were taking wasn’t the one back to the classroom.

She tilted her head and asked,
“Are you going to the school shop?”

“Mm.” Bian Chengyi nodded with a small smile.
“Word would get around that I let you buy me dinner and gave nothing in return. Can’t have that.”

She stepped into the shop and asked the clerk for a basket.

Then she started tossing items into it.

Eight bags of chips — all different flavors.

Then: chocolates. Lollipops. Jelly cups.

Hua You mentally began tallying the cost at lightning speed.
Then, barely able to keep her voice steady, she asked:

“Sister Bian… can I… treat you to dinner every day?”