Strategy to Conquer the Vicious Female Supporting Character [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Dong Zheng: “……”

Dong Zheng thought something must be wrong with Qi Lin’s brain.

Then she suspected there might be something wrong with her own brain too — not only did she actually join Qi Lin in gossiping, but she even brewed another pot of tea to enjoy while they chatted.

…Because Qi Lin had said before that the tea she made was really good.

She didn’t know why, but being around this junior just felt natural and comfortable from the start. For Dong Zheng, who was usually weak in social interactions, it was an entirely new experience.

They were clearly strangers, yet she inexplicably wanted to maintain this connection…

Dong Zheng lowered her head and took a sip of tea to hide the discomfort on her face.

Off to the side was Xiao Zheng, the assistant girl who had silently watched everything unfold ever since Dong Zheng brought Qi Lin onto the nanny van. At this moment, she felt like she was glowing.

The kind of glowing that a light bulb (third wheel) gives off.

Although Xiao Zheng had known since day one of becoming the great Film Queen’s assistant that her job was to stay silent and keep a low profile, she still wanted to shout right now — her heart was tired!

But Xiao Zheng quickly realized… she had gotten tired too soon.

Qi Lin didn’t just stick close to Dong Zheng under the excuse of “rehearsing scenes together.” Even during filming, her character Nan Zhi kept making subtle moves toward He Weimian — her eyes filled with deep, restrained emotion.

Even though Xiao Zheng hadn’t thought much of it at first since both Dong Zheng and Qi Lin were women, after seeing it so many times, she finally caught on — Qi Lin was openly flirting with Film Queen Dong!

And the Film Queen even seemed to be enjoying it?

Xiao Zheng felt like she had stumbled upon something explosive.

But she still had to stick to the principles of staying silent and invisible.

Dong Zheng had always had a cool, otherworldly aura since she was young. She had strong self-discipline, was mature and rational early on, and her family had complete trust in her. They rarely interfered with her work or life. At the company, no one dared to mess with the Dong family’s heiress — not even President Gu Fei, who treated her with extra courtesy. Dong Zheng had absolute authority when it came to appointing her agent and assistant.

So Xiao Zheng didn’t dare step out of line, and sometimes even had to quietly cover for the utterly shameless Qi Lin and the completely oblivious Dong Zheng.

Of course, Xiao Zheng wasn’t the only one who noticed something had changed between them — Director Song did too.

Director Song chalked it up to them being deeply immersed in their roles — after all, in the original work, Nan Zhi and He Weimian had a close relationship that was part friendship, part affection!

No need to mention Film Queen Dong — her acting was always top-notch — but even Xiao An (Qi Lin) was performing better and better! So Director Song decisively pushed back the scenes between the male and female leads, which had shown no sparks so far, and moved up the scenes between Nan Zhi and He Weimian!

Li Kai, the actor playing Feng Tianyang: “……”

As the “official love interest,” he was completely hopeless over the lack of chemistry with the female lead!

This definitely wasn’t an acting issue. Although “The Bl00d-Stained Hairpin” was a commercial film, the fact that Dong Zheng accepted the role showed that the production quality was solid. Li Kai had been hailed as the most skilled actor among the current crop of popular male stars since his debut. He was also very dedicated and hardworking. However, the kind of spark that happens between actors… just couldn’t be forced.

With an awkward but polite smile, Li Kai continued to hold onto his role as the male lead — reduced to acting the part of a third wheel, dutifully playing support in scenes with the female lead and second female lead.

Nan Zhi’s role in “The Bl00d-Stained Hairpin” is essentially equivalent to the female lead’s golden finger (cheat code). As the master of the Su Yi Sect, known for her overwhelming martial strength, she always appeared just in time whenever the heroine was at her lowest point. Dressed in gray robes, wielding a long sword, with her flowing sleeves dancing like petals, she would turn the tide of fate and rescue the heroine from dire situations.

Until the very end, when petty enemies invaded and chaos engulfed the land, He Weimian and Feng Tianyang were trapped in a key city. The city’s officials either fled or surrendered, and it was on the verge of falling. Moved by the ordinary citizens who continued to resist bravely, He Weimian made a resolute decision to lead them in a fight against the enemy. She managed to rally even more citizens, and after an arduous and bitter struggle, they finally held the city.

But just as victory was within reach and the enemy forces were retreating, He Weimian, exhausted after days of relentless fighting, let her guard down for a moment — and was struck by a hidden arrow fired by an enemy general.

At that moment, Nan Zhi, having rushed to the city upon hearing her junior sister was trapped, finally arrived. Enraged, she wiped out the already crumbling enemy forces in a single breath. She then slapped the despondent Feng Tianyang — who had sunk into despair, believing his beloved was dead — back to his senses. Afterward, she poured all of her inner energy into He Weimian, forcefully dragging her back from the brink of death.

Feng Tianyang held the bl00d-covered, unconscious He Weimian in his arms, watching Nan Zhi press both hands against He Weimian’s chest, transferring wave after wave of energy into her.

Nan Zhi’s face was expressionless, her lips tightly pressed together. Her eyes saw nothing but her own hands as she carefully gauged He Weimian’s condition, trying to transfer energy as quickly as her body would allow.

The color in Nan Zhi’s face faded rapidly, taking on a translucent pallor. Her long black hair, once dark as spilled ink, had already begun turning stark white from the roots, inch by inch.

Seeing the color slowly return to He Weimian’s face, Feng Tianyang finally let out a breath of relief. The weariness on his face no longer seemed as lifeless. He looked at Nan Zhi, brow furrowed. “You—”

“Shut up,” Nan Zhi cut him off immediately.

To this man, who had deceived her junior sister, made her suffer every kind of hardship, and forced a once innocent and lively girl to grow into the composed and dependable “Heroine He,” Nan Zhi never showed a kind face.

But her voice no longer held the familiar cold sarcasm Feng Tianyang was used to, nor the gentle affection she only reserved for He Weimian. Instead, her voice was now hoarse and aged, like that of someone riddled with chronic illness, old and on the verge of death.

Feng Tianyang realized with stunning clarity — Nan Zhi was sacrificing her life to save He Weimian.

His first instinct was to stop her. Despite her consistently hostile attitude toward him, this formidable senior had saved his life more than once. He did feel genuine gratitude.

But then he thought — if he stopped Nan Zhi now, He Weimian’s life might be at risk… Even the slightest, smallest risk was something he could never accept.

When he first approached He Weimian, it had only been to obtain the Su Yi Heart Sutra. But after years of living, fighting, and surviving together, he had truly fallen in love with this girl…

Feng Tianyang tightened his hold on He Weimian, lowered his head, and fell silent.

He accepted Nan Zhi’s death.

Nan Zhi saw everything clearly, yet there wasn’t the slightest ripple in her eyes.

As long as this boy remained wholeheartedly devoted to Weimian… she could die without regret.

Sending the last trace of her inner energy into He Weimian’s body, Nan Zhi relaxed, and a mouthful of fresh bl00d surged up her throat.

But she forcibly swallowed it back down.

That girl Weimian had a sharp nose since childhood. The traces of her presence here could just barely be masked by the heavy scent of bl00d in the area. But if her bl00d were to be spilled here too, it would be hard to fool Weimian.

“Don’t tell her I was here,” Nan Zhi stood up. Her body, drained of all inner energy, was unbearably weak. She nearly stumbled to her knees but managed to steady herself in the end. “Just say… I came across an interesting treasure map by chance and went wandering to verify it. That girl will believe it.”

Nan Zhi pulled out a book from her sleeve and tossed it to Feng Tianyang. “The Su Yi Heart Sutra you’ve always wanted.”

Feng Tianyang’s pupils widened sharply.

This secret manual, one that people across the land would fight tooth and nail to obtain — Nan Zhi was handing it over so easily?

“Either way, I won’t live for much longer. Am I supposed to take it to the grave with me?” Nan Zhi said lightly, as if it were nothing. “From now on, Weimian and the Su Yi Heart Sutra are both entrusted to you.”

As her words fell, Nan Zhi turned to leave — resolute and decisive, just as she always was.

Even if this time, she was walking toward death.

At that moment, He Weimian, who had kept her eyes tightly shut all along, suddenly fluttered her eyelashes slightly — as though struggling to wake. But in the end, she didn’t succeed. Only… a hand reached out and grabbed the hem of Nan Zhi’s dress.

Clutching it tightly.

Nan Zhi looked at her hand — covered in wounds, stained with bl00d — and froze. Her aged, withered face was a mix of heartbreak and amusement.

Then, trembling, Nan Zhi half-knelt down. With one hand gripping her dress hem and the other holding Weimian’s wrist, it took her two or three tries before she could finally separate them.

He Weimian’s hand and eyelashes both trembled once more as they were parted, but in the end, she fell silent again.

And Nan Zhi’s swaying figure had already vanished into the wind beyond the city gates.