I Was Just a Scumbag Extra, But She Loved Me Anyway [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 17

While Jiang Youning was busy dealing with things at the university, Su Chenli arranged to meet Ruan Shengsheng at a café near Zhong Li’s home.

Casually sipping on an Americano, Su Chenli let her thoughts drift as she idly chatted with the system.
“You know… based on the storyline, Ruan Shengsheng shouldn’t be able to contact the beautiful professor anymore. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for me to come warn her now?”

The system retorted mercilessly:

“Let’s just hope you’re doing this for the plot and not out of jealousy.”

Su Chenli: “…Cough. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Jealous? Her? Not at all. She couldn’t care less about someone answering another woman’s call while lying in her bed.

Traffic buzzed along the long street outside. Soon enough, Ruan Shengsheng appeared across from the café. Su Chenli spotted her at a glance and said casually,
“Well, she doesn’t look too bad. That scumbag Alpha isn’t limiting her freedom. She doesn’t look too miserable either—at most… hmm, at most, maybe just in a bad mood.”

“Exactly.”

The system’s cool tone pierced straight into Su Chenli’s heart.

“By clingy-lover standards, Ruan Shengsheng’s probably living a happier life than you, Host. After all, she gets to stick to her girlfriend every single day.”

Su Chenli: “…Shut up.”

Ruan Shengsheng seemed familiar with the area and easily located the café Su Chenli had chosen. She walked in and sat down across from her. There was a trace of nervousness in her expression as she softly greeted,
“Miss Su.”

Su Chenli had always hung around with Zhong Li, so naturally, she and Ruan Shengsheng were somewhat acquainted.

Su Chenli smiled and nodded. “Morning. Want something to drink?”

“I… I’ll have a cappuccino, please,” Ruan Shengsheng replied in a small voice.

“Alright.” With a faint smile on her lips, Su Chenli lowered her long lashes. Her alluring fox-like eyes scanned Ruan Shengsheng from top to bottom.
“So, how have things been with Zhong Li lately?”

Ruan Shengsheng stiffened, glancing up at Su Chenli with a hint of panic in her gaze. Su Chenli caught the reaction and gave a relaxed chuckle.
“Don’t be nervous. I’m not here on Zhong Li’s behalf.”

Ruan Shengsheng hesitated, then seemed to relax a little. She pressed her lips together and murmured,
“We… we’re pretty much the same as before, I guess. She won’t let go, and no matter what I do, I can’t leave.”

Su Chenli nodded, distractedly taking a sip of her coffee.
“So you still love her, then?”

Ruan Shengsheng froze. Her eyes lifted, cheeks flushing deep red, the color creeping all the way to the tips of her ears. It was as if someone had just exposed her most shameful secret. Her eyes fluttered in panic.

Su Chenli gave a nonchalant smile, brushing off her embarrassment.
“If that question’s hard to answer, I’ll try another one. You don’t love… your professor, Jiang Youning, right?”

Ruan Shengsheng paused, then quickly stammered out a reply,
“I—I’ve never thought of my professor like that. I really respect her.”

Su Chenli raised an eyebrow.

Alright then. That’s what she said. Su Chenli would take it at face value—for now.

“In that case, would you mind doing me a favor?” Su Chenli smiled gently.

“What kind of favor…?” Ruan Shengsheng asked hesitantly, sneaking glances at Su Chenli.

It was only now that she seemed to realize—this Alpha who had always been lumped in with Zhong Li as another frivolous playgirl… was actually very good-looking.

“Could you please stop contacting Professor Jiang privately?” Su Chenli asked with a soft smile.
“I’m pursuing her right now, and if you keep reaching out to her, I’ll get very jealous.”

She spoke lightly, almost sweetly, but her words landed like a punch.

“After all, you truly love Zhong Li, don’t you? You’ve chosen to be with her. You’ve even decided to drop out of school, turning your back on the care and expectations your professor has shown you. So there’s really no need to stay in touch anymore, is there?”

Ruan Shengsheng was stunned. She hadn’t expected Su Chenli to say that—she sat frozen, her face filled with hurt, unable to utter a single word in response.

“Host! Host! Don’t be so busy picking on the pitiful flower—my readout says worldline correction is at 80%!”

Su Chenli paused. The icy sharpness in her “villainess” act softened a little.
“What does that mean?”

“It means the tragic supporting character arc is now complete. She exited the story right where she was supposed to. All major plot points have now been fulfilled. Host privileges have increased by 30%. Your OOC threshold has expanded…”

Su Chenli didn’t care about permissions or thresholds.

She stood up abruptly.
“Wasn’t the end of the beautiful professor’s story arc supposed to be her resignation and departure abroad? Has she already resigned?!”

“Ehhh… yes, I think so? I can only confirm that the tragic supporting character’s arc has ended.”

Tsk, this system is really useless sometimes.

Su Chenli couldn’t be bothered to explain anything more to Ruan Shengsheng. She paid the bill in a hurry and rushed to her parked Panamera, driving straight toward H University.

Ever since the first deviation from the original plot, Su Chenli had realized one thing—once the worldline began to shift, anything could happen.

And she wasn’t about to take that risk.

The car drove smoothly into the university campus. Su Chenli first called Ren Yu—the student who had been interning at the research center under Jiang Youning.

Ren Yu was surprised to receive her call.
“P-Professor? I’m not entirely sure, but I heard she’s handling something really important. She’s either in the dean’s office or with the university president, I think.”

Then it had to be the president’s office.

Su Chenli made a quick decision. Given the beautiful professor’s academic standing, starting with the president made sense.

At that moment, Jiang Youning was indeed in the president’s office.

And she wasn’t alone. The dean, Chen Yue, and a few high-level administrative staff were all present, engaged in a discussion with her.

“Professor Jiang,” the president said in a warm, seemingly thoughtful tone, “I really think you should reconsider this resignation matter.”

Though the president held shares in a subsidiary of the Zhong Group, his demeanor was gentle, showing no sign of the pressure he was quietly placing on Jiang Youning.
“H University has always provided you with the best resources—your lab is equipped with top-of-the-line facilities, and the biggest, most promising projects have all been placed under your supervision. I’d say there are very few institutions in this country that could offer you better conditions.”

Jiang Youning smiled faintly.
“Of course the projects are in my hands—only I can lead them. And as for the lab, naturally it should be run by whoever can produce the best results.”

A vein pulsed on Chen Yue’s temple.
“So what you’re saying is that no one else in the chemical engineering department of H University is better than you?”

“Isn’t that the case?” Jiang Youning replied blandly, glancing at him.

The room fell quiet.

Arrogant as her words might have sounded, no one could refute them. Everyone here still remembered the grand reception when she returned to China, and her achievements in the years since had been undeniable.

Some talents simply inspired envy.

Chen Yue’s expression turned complicated.
“But now the entire university is abuzz with your scandal, and the administration is preparing to launch a formal investigation. Resigning at this time—isn’t it just a way to run from the issue?”

“Professor Chen!” the president interrupted before Jiang Youning could respond.

He hadn’t intended for things to escalate to this point. His goal was only to rein Jiang Youning in—to keep her from overstepping and blocking other people’s paths. He certainly didn’t want her to resign and end up strengthening a rival university’s chemical engineering program.

Turning to the dean, the president said,
“Dean Chen, maybe you could try to persuade her? After all, Professor Jiang is your student—and still a member of your faculty.”

Dean Chen frowned, deeply displeased. He didn’t want to say anything.

They had forced his student to the point of resignation, and now they wanted him to talk her out of it? What kind of logic was that?

Jiang Youning’s expression darkened as well. She could see clearly that the president was now trying to guilt her using the weight of mentorship. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the conference room door suddenly swung open, cutting off the tense moment.

One of the administrative staff from the building stood awkwardly at the entrance, his face complicated, as he watched a striking, carefree Alpha step past him without hesitation and stride confidently into the room.

Su Chenli entered like a classic rich-kid troublemaker—casual and unrushed. She gave the room a lazy glance, then offered a half-hearted apology:
“Sorry for the interruption, everyone. Took me a while to find this meeting room—it’s a bit of a maze.”

Before the president could respond, Chen Yue snapped,
“Who are you? Who let you in? Do you even know what this place is?”

Jiang Youning frowned slightly, just about to tell Chen Yue to shut up, when she saw Su Chenli calmly pull something from her pocket—a medal.

“There was someone who tried to stop me,” Su Chenli said mildly. “But once they saw this, they let me through.”

Chen Yue: “…”

That was clearly one of H University’s honorary medals, awarded only to alumni whose donations had reached the top-tier threshold.

When did this brat graduate? When did she donate? Why didn’t he know about this?

The president’s expression shifted when he saw the medal. He finally spoke.
“And you are…?”

Su Chenli gave a nonchalant smile, shot the president a quick glance, and then placed one hand protectively on Jiang Youning’s shoulder—a clear gesture of possession and support.
“My name is Su. From the Su Group’s Senyi Research Center in the West District. I’m here on behalf of the Su family chairman to retrieve our Director of Technology.”

The conference room fell into momentary silence.

They might not all recognize the name “Su Chenli,” but Senyi Research Center was unmistakable. It was the top-tier cosmetics and skincare R&D arm under the Su Group, known for its extremely high recruitment standards and groundbreaking achievements. The Su family’s investments in H University were significant as well. Just earlier this year, the brand-new experimental lab in the new campus was donated by the Su Group. It was not a name to take lightly.

“We’re still in the middle of discussing Professor Jiang’s future career plans,” one of the vice presidents finally said. “It might not be appropriate for her to leave just yet.”

“You mean her resignation?” Su Chenli glanced at him coolly. “Why not? Is she not allowed to leave?”

A beat of tense quiet followed. The president frowned. “It’s just… something we believe still deserves careful consideration—”

“President Liu,” Su Chenli interrupted with a pleasant smile, “it’s not just the Zhong family contributing to this university’s development. The Su family has also been committed—quite generously so, in fact. We care deeply about the school’s long-term resource foundation… wouldn’t you say?”

What else could President Liu say?

With Su Chenli making her stance so clear, he could only acquiesce.

Jiang Youning and Su Chenli exited the conference room one after the other. The moment they stepped out of the administration building, Jiang Youning felt as if a weight she’d carried for years had finally lifted from her shoulders. She could breathe again—light, unburdened.

“Where to now?” Su Chenli asked, glancing over at her.

“…Home,” Jiang Youning thought aloud, then added, “If you’ve got time, come help me move.”

She had been living in the university’s faculty housing—not far from the research center, convenient for teaching and lab work. But now that she’d resigned, she naturally couldn’t continue staying there.

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

“You’re really not going to move into my place?” Su Chenli grumbled dramatically as she helped carry boxes of years’ worth of experimental data. “I could even charge you rent, just to make it fair. We’d sign a contract.”

“I already have my own place. Why would I pay for another?” Jiang Youning responded, arranging furniture layouts as she spoke.

“But you won’t move in unless I charge you!” Su Chenli pouted. “My place has a better location, and it’s way more spacious…”

Jiang Youning’s lips curled in amusement, but she said nothing.

“Oh, right—” Su Chenli suddenly remembered something. She walked over, a bit hesitant. “The evidence from the hotel’s been processed… Whoever was behind it was very thorough. We barely found any traces. What about your side—any leads?”

Jiang Youning’s expression cooled. After a moment of silence, she replied,
“Everything evaporated cleanly. The residue didn’t yield any detectable active compounds. But based on its properties, I tracked down a European lab that’s currently testing a similar project. If their trials succeed, the resulting substance would likely resemble the reagent used on me.”

…So Zhong Li had gone so far as to source something like that internationally just to sabotage her.

What kind of obsession was this?

Su Chenli frowned slightly.

If no clear evidence could be found, the beautiful professor would be left without justice.

Taking a quiet breath, Su Chenli forced a more casual expression and teased lightly,
“Well, we didn’t walk away empty-handed. Last week—remember when you refused to let Zhong Group use your research results? They’re going to bleed for that one. There’s no way they can compete with the Su Group in market share now. You did that. If you ever feel like it, you have plenty of ways to hit back.”

Jiang Youning paused mid-motion, then slowly pushed the last folder into its place.

“But I’m not letting Zhong Li off the hook,” she said softly.

“…Mm.” Su Chenli nodded quietly.

Anyone who had been drugged, forcibly differentiated from a Beta into an Omega, and then left to suffer through an unstable and humiliating heat period would never just let it go.

But still…

Su Chenli cleared her throat a little, awkwardly mumbling,
“So, um… I’ve been, uh, biting—you a lot lately. My dad’s starting to notice something’s off.”

Because Jiang Youning had been forcibly differentiated, her physical symptoms were erratic. Her heat cycles weren’t stable, and her pheromones often spiked without warning. Su Chenli was frequently needed to calm her down.

Su Chenli knew full well her feelings weren’t pure. But for the beautiful professor, maybe it was all just… pheromonal influence. Either way, their “calming sessions” had gotten out of hand more than once, and it wasn’t exactly rare for either of them to be caught reeking of the other’s scent.

Jiang Youning paused and looked at Su Chenli. Their eyes met briefly. Then, with only a moment of hesitation, she replied in her usual composed, cool tone:
“I’ll speak to Chairman Su. I promised I would take responsibility. After all, you were only helping me.”

“…Sure.” Su Chenli let out a silent sigh.

That’s not the kind of “responsibility” I meant…

Jiang Youning seemed a little uneasy after saying it, too. She quickly gathered the documents and offered an excuse:
“It’s almost noon. Looks like we’re out of cooking wine at home—I’ll go buy some.”

“Okay,” Su Chenli agreed without thinking much of it. “If you’re grabbing condiments, I’ll cook.”

“…Mm.” Jiang Youning murmured a vague reply and turned to leave.

Su Chenli watched her go, a faint longing in her eyes. She didn’t look away until Jiang Youning’s figure disappeared down the hall. With a touch of melancholy, she wandered into the kitchen, wondering how much longer she’d be able to stay by the beautiful professor’s side like this.

The kitchen was surprisingly spacious—semi-open and well-designed.

Su Chenli took a slow walk around, familiarizing herself with the layout and drawers. Just as she opened the fridge to check what ingredients were available, the system’s voice suddenly chimed in:

“Host, I know this probably isn’t the best time… but there’s something you need to face.”

Su Chenli froze.

A bad feeling welled up in her chest.

It had been a while since the system last spoke—and that was never a good sign.

By now, most of the storyline had played out, and there was little left for Su Chenli to do. With her tasks essentially complete, she had nearly forgotten that she was a mission-bound outsider in this world. So when the system suddenly spoke up again, a thought struck her—had the task concluded? Had the scumbag Alpha and the fragile Omega reached their happily-ever-after? Was it time for her to leave the small world?

“Sigh. Catching feelings for a character in a small world is never rational, Host. And there’s always a price to pay. It’s time to go—prepare to shut down your consciousness and proceed to the next world.”

“No—wait,” Su Chenli quickly shut the refrigerator door, panic flickering in her voice. “Do I have to leave? Does it have to be today? Can’t I delay it?”

“No, Host. Mission agents are not allowed to linger in small worlds. It risks disrupting subsequent worldlines.”

Su Chenli froze.

A dull ache rose in her chest, delayed but sharp:
“…But I haven’t even said goodbye. I just… I need to see her. One more time.”

“Sorry, Host. She’s just a character on a page—I don’t have the authority to grant that.”

The system’s voice was flat and emotionless.

The moment of departure arrived without warning. Before Su Chenli could even finish her sentence, she was overcome by the same disorienting dizziness she’d felt upon entering this world.

Everything around her began to blur rapidly, fading away before her eyes.

The last thing she saw was the quiet, empty entryway.

The beautiful professor hadn’t come home yet.

Why couldn’t she have come back just a little earlier? Just a moment sooner?
Just long enough to see her one last time…

The foreign consciousness was withdrawn, and the suppressed original awareness slowly reawakened, groggy and confused as if waking from a long dream. The small world’s storyline shifted back to its rightful path.

Right then, Jiang Youning opened the front door, groceries in hand.

Truthfully, she hadn’t needed to go out and buy cooking wine. The pantry was fully stocked.

She’d just… felt awkward, being around Su Chenli.

Their relationship had no clear definition, and every time she wanted to get closer, there was a creeping sense of guilt—like she was stealing something forbidden.

Maybe it was time to talk.

To stop this uncertain, undefined arrangement. To try—officially—being in a relationship.

If it were Su Chenli… she’d probably say yes, right?

She pushed open the door and saw that familiar figure standing in the middle of the living room. Her expression instinctively softened, a small smile just beginning to bloom across her face.

But before the warmth could spread, the figure turned around—and everything shattered.

The person looked exactly like Su Chenli, but her gaze was arrogant and distant, her expression insufferably flippant—exactly the kind of attitude Jiang Youning despised most.

Jiang Youning froze in her tracks. Her expression instantly turned cold.

“Who are you?” she asked reflexively.

The “Su Chenli” before her glanced lazily in her direction and sneered,
“And who are you?”

Before Jiang Youning could answer, the other woman narrowed her eyes as if suddenly recalling something.

“Oh… you’re that Beta who tried to steal the little Omega from Zhong Li, right?” she mocked. “What, still playing the professor act?”

Jiang Youning stared at the woman, confused and stunned. She took two steps back, beginning to wonder if she was dreaming.

Where was Su Chenli?

Who was this stranger in her home—someone who looked just like her?

Something’s wrong.
This world is all wrong.
Where did my Su Chenli go?

As that thought struck, a clear chime rang through the air—like a silver spoon tapping the rim of a wine glass. The sound echoed gently, lingering unnaturally in her ears.

Time came to a halt.

The entire world around her froze.

Then a foreign voice began to speak, calm and mechanical:

“Congratulations. Character has successfully detected a world anomaly.”
“Loading character data…”
“Character awakening confirmed. Congratulations, former ‘Devoted Supporting Role’ Jiang Youning, for achieving the feat: ‘Change Fate Without Disrupting the Worldline.’ Reward unlocked: One second of free will. You may now state your wish and make your choice.”

Jiang Youning steadied herself against the entryway cabinet, her brows furrowed.
“Who are you?”

“Me? I’m a system. I monitor and reward characters like you—those who awaken to their own consciousness.”

“…A character?” Jiang Youning echoed, startled.

“Yes. A character. This world is actually a novel. Didn’t you ever wonder why your love for the main protagonist, Ruan Shengsheng, felt so inexplicable? That’s because you were designed to be the ‘Devoted Supporting Role’—loving her was simply your preset.”

“…That can’t be…” Jiang Youning whispered.

Everything she’d experienced up to this point seemed surreal. But this—this was the most absurd of all.

She wasn’t a real person. Her fate had already been written. Even her love and hatred had never been her own.

“Then… what about her?” Jiang Youning asked softly.

[Who?]

“Su Chenli,” Jiang Youning answered immediately, then added after a pause,
“I mean… the original one.”

[Ah. Well, technically, the one standing in front of you now is the real Su Chenli. The one you fell in love with—she was just a fleeting illusion. Nothing more than a bubble in the mist. No need to get too attached.]

How could she not care?

Jiang Youning grew anxious. “What do you mean, ‘a bubble in the mist’? Are you saying… I can never see her again?”

[Mmm… discussing this won’t get us anywhere. Let’s talk about your reward instead. Based on your contribution to worldline stability, you’re entitled to choose any kind of life you desire. We generally fulfill such requests. One-time offer—no extensions~]

“What if…” Jiang Youning’s voice steadied, but her eyes betrayed her stubbornness,
“What if what I want… is to be with her? My wish is to be with the Su Chenli who disappeared.”

[Ahhh… oof, that’s a tricky one. She’s under pretty high-level authority control. Let me check with the upper systems—hold on.]

[Okay, here’s the deal. If the character insists on being with that person, we can arrange a transfer to place you near your lover’s location. However—if, during your time together, you can get her to recognize you and admit she loves you, then the mission is a success. You’ll be granted a stable world where you can live together.]

[But if the mission fails… the system will erase you. Permanently.]

[Oh, and one more thing—the transfer isn’t free. We’ll wipe your memories before sending you over. Still willing to proceed?]

“…If I agree, will I be able to see her again?” Jiang Youning asked softly.

[Honestly, I don’t think you should. Erasure means death—complete disappearance. You’re free now. You could choose a peaceful life, fall in love with someone new, and enjoy a whole new—]

“I accept,” Jiang Youning said quietly but firmly.

If Su Chenli hadn’t barged into her world, reshaping her fate again and again… she wouldn’t be standing here now. She might’ve long since been ruined by Zhong Li’s schemes—lost and forgotten.

Now, it was her turn to walk toward Su Chenli.

To be the one reaching out her hand.

“I accept,” Jiang Youning repeated, her voice unwavering.
“Send me to her. Even if I lose my memories. Even if I’m erased… Just let me s