Chapter 20: Transmigrated as the Abusive Story’s Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character
While Xin Yao’s life and mission progressed smoothly, the rift between Xin Wanyin and Xu Qing widened.
After her sister refused to let her come home, Xin Wanyin tossed and turned all night, her heart heavy with disappointment.
To make matters worse, she woke up to a hefty electricity bill, making her head spin.
It was a clear sign that Xu Qing hadn’t even considered paying the utilities while she was away.
The disappointment was almost routine now.
What truly stung was the financial blow. She stared at the bill, her heart aching, before finally clicking “pay.”
Her already dwindling savings were almost depleted. If this continued, she would be broke.
Her sister wouldn’t let her come home, so Xin Wanyin had to find a way to earn money.
Xin Wanyin wasn’t a completely idle heiress. She had a job, or rather, a career she had put on hold.
Since childhood, she had dreamt of becoming an actress.
She wanted to grace the television screen, portraying different characters, bringing stories to life, becoming a household name.
Fortunately, she had been born into a loving and supportive family with the financial means to help her pursue her dreams.
She could chase her passion without any worries or reservations.
Her father and sister had been thrilled when she discovered her calling.
So, when Xin Wanyin expressed her desire to act during her second year of university, her father had happily enrolled her in acting classes, invested in her training, and even pulled some strings to get her a role in a small production.
It was her first acting gig, a supporting role as the best friend of the female lead in a campus drama.
Surprisingly, her bubbly and likable character had garnered positive reviews.
Xin Wanyin had entered the public eye.
Riding on this wave of popularity, she landed her second role, the female lead in a small idol drama, during her third year.
While the production wasn’t big, the script was good, the director dedicated, and Xin Wanyin, young, beautiful, and energetic, managed to deliver a decent performance, her lack of experience not too apparent.
The drama was well-received, establishing Xin Wanyin’s name in the industry and earning her a small but dedicated fanbase.
So, how had she ended up giving it all up?
Perhaps because it had all come too easily, her dreams within such easy reach, she hadn’t put in enough effort?
Reality had eventually caught up with her.
Even now, Xin Wanyin believed that everything that had happened was her fault, a result of her own complacency.
During her senior year, she had landed a role in a big-budget production, thanks to her sister’s connections. It was a supporting role, with a decent amount of screen time.
Xin Wanyin’s acting wasn’t exceptional, and the drama was filled with popular actors and actresses, their fanbases clashing fiercely. Her small following paled in comparison.
She hadn’t been the target of any controversy, until someone unearthed an old post from her private social media account where she had criticized the male lead’s acting.
The male lead’s fans erupted, their fury directed at Xin Wanyin.
They attacked her acting, calling her performance exaggerated and insincere.
Then, they targeted her appearance, calling her fat and accusing her of plastic surgery.
Photos of her in luxury cars and dining with her father surfaced, fueling the rumors that she was a mistress, a gold-digger, and a product of nepotism.
The online attacks culminated in a single, unified demand:
Xin Wanyin, get out of the entertainment industry!
While Xin Wanyin had gotten the audition through her sister, she had earned the role through a proper audition process.
She had simply had dinner with her father.
And she hadn’t had any plastic surgery.
Why were they saying these things about her?
That period had been a nightmare for Xin Wanyin.
She felt trapped in a quagmire of online hate, struggling to escape, only to sink deeper.
But she hadn’t told her father, or anyone else, about the online attacks.
Her father didn’t use social media and wouldn’t understand the extent of the hate. He was also in poor health, and she didn’t want to worry him.
As for clarifying the rumors?
The netizens were too enraged. Even if she clarified, they would just accuse her of using her father’s influence.
And there were other accusations, other “crimes.” She didn’t want her elderly father to suffer the abuse alongside her.
She hadn’t told her sister either.
She couldn’t run back to her sister for every little problem, could she?
So, when her sister had asked, she had brushed it off, saying it was nothing, telling her not to worry.
But her heart had been breaking.
It was during this difficult time that she had met Xu Qing.
He had been like a ray of light, seeing through her facade, pulling her out of the darkness, holding her hand as they walked towards the light.
That’s why she had fallen so deeply in love with him, forgiving his every flaw.
After that incident, Xin Wanyin had taken a break from acting, focusing on her relationship with Xu Qing. It had helped her heal.
Her popularity had faded, and few people recognized her on the street.
But now, this unhealthy relationship was starting to hurt her.
Xin Wanyin, however, was quick to forget past hurts. And she needed money. So, she decided to return to acting.
She contacted her former agent.
As the phone rang, she felt a flicker of nervousness.
“Hello?” the agent answered. “Who is this?”
Xin Wanyin’s voice was small. “It’s me, Sister Xu. Xin Wanyin.”
“Xin Wanyin who…?”
“Wait! It’s you! You finally decided to call! You haven’t answered my calls or messages for months! Where have you been?!”
“Do you think you’re some big-shot celebrity? If you don’t want to work, just quit!”
The agent’s voice boomed through the phone, making Xin Wanyin flinch. She didn’t dare to interrupt, meekly explaining her desire to return to acting.
Agent Xu scoffed. “Do you think the entertainment industry is your playground? You can come and go as you please?”
But Xin Wanyin was persistent, her sweet-talking and pleading eventually wearing down the agent.
“Fine, fine. I owe you one. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
Two weeks passed.
Xin Wanyin, putting her relationship aside, eagerly awaited news, her phone glued to her hand.
Finally, one afternoon, her agent called with good news.
She had managed to secure an audition for a supporting role in a small production.
However, at the meeting, the director’s attitude was lukewarm, almost dismissive.
Xin Wanyin, too excited at the time, hadn’t noticed. Later, she realized that the director had only agreed to the meeting out of respect for her agent.
She was a nobody in the industry, her brief moment of fame overshadowed by scandal. The director had plenty of other options. Why choose her?
In the past, with her father’s investments and her sister’s connections, she had never worried about these things.
Now, separated from her family, she understood how difficult it was to make it on her own.
She understood the value of hard work, and how wrong she had been to get Xu Qing a job at her father’s company.
Determined, Xin Wanyin put in her best effort, sending out resumes and attending auditions.
After much hard work, she finally landed a role, thanks to her decent acting skills.
It was a small supporting role, the sixth female lead, but it was a role she had earned on her own merit.
Xin Wanyin was ecstatic!
Not just because she could finally earn money, but because, for the first time, she felt the satisfaction of achieving something through her own efforts.
And she loved the character.
The sixth female lead was a courtesan in a historical drama.
Her family had been framed by a corrupt official, her parents killed, and she had been forced into prostitution.
But despite her circumstances, she remained kind and compassionate, her spirit unbroken.
She would offer food to the poor, shelter abused girls, and help those in need.
Later, she encountered the corrupt official who had ruined her life and the lives of many others, the main antagonist of the story.
To bring him down, to save others from suffering the same fate, she volunteered to infiltrate his inner circle and gather evidence.
In the end, she succeeded in delivering the crucial evidence to the protagonists, but she was exposed and killed.
But as she was consumed by flames, she smiled.
Her revenge was complete, the corrupt official would be brought to justice, and the long night would finally give way to dawn. It was worth it.
The more Xin Wanyin read the script, the more she loved the character.
She was a strong woman, unbroken by hardship, willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She was brave, righteous, and captivating.
Like a small candle flame, fragile yet unwavering, a beacon of light in a world of darkness.
Xin Wanyin was in such a good mood that she even forgot her troubles with Xu Qing, striking up a conversation with him.
She sat on the sofa, her eyes shining with excitement as she looked at the script.
“Ah Qing, I got a role! I love it!”
After weeks of Xin Wanyin’s absence, Xu Qing, initially maintaining his aloof demeanor, had started to worry.
He wanted to reconcile, but his pride prevented him from reaching out.
Xin Wanyin’s initiative gave him the perfect opportunity.
His heart leaped, but he maintained a casual facade. “Oh? Why are you suddenly taking on a role? What character are you so excited about?”
Xin Wanyin, bubbling with excitement, pulled him down to sit beside her and proceeded to recount the plot and describe the character in detail.
But to her surprise, Xu Qing didn’t share her enthusiasm.
He frowned slightly, remaining silent.
Xin Wanyin’s excitement waned. She frowned.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy for me?”
“It’s not that,” Xu Qing shook his head. “I just… don’t like this character.”
“Huh? Why?” Xin Wanyin looked down at the script. “I think she’s great.”
Xu Qing didn’t want to dampen her spirits, but he couldn’t help but express his reservations.
He felt that the nature of the character, a courtesan, was inherently problematic.
Why would a wealthy young lady like Xin Wanyin take on such a role?
Moreover, after the drama aired, Xin Wanyin’s portrayal of a courtesan, every gesture and every scene, would be displayed on the big screen for everyone to see.
This was unacceptable to Xu Qing, with his traditional views and subtle male chauvinism.
In the end, he even sounded slightly accusatory.
“Why didn’t you discuss this with me before accepting the role?”
“This kind of character…”
Xin Wanyin looked at Xu Qing, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
He was right there, yet he felt so distant, like a stranger.
“This kind of character? What kind of character?”
Xu Qing sighed, trying to soften his tone.
“It’s a… prostitute. You don’t need the money, and with your father’s connections, you could have chosen a better role. Why this one?”
“Why not?” Xin Wanyin blurted out.
She had always been spoiled by her father and had a quick temper.
And she was still annoyed with Xu Qing.
“So? What’s wrong with this character? Is it because she’s a courtesan? Do you think she’s… dirty?”
“Do you?!”
Xu Qing frowned. He hated arguments, so he remained silent.
But his expression betrayed his true feelings.
Xin Wanyin’s mind reeled. The role she had worked so hard for, the character she loved so much, was being dismissed like this!
“She’s trapped in a suffocating life, oppressed and exploited, with no power to resist. Isn’t that enough suffering? Why do you have to see her as dirty?”
“If anyone’s dirty, it’s the men who visit brothels, the ones who find entertainment in other people’s suffering. They’re the ones who are truly dirty!”
“Xu Qing,” Xin Wanyin’s eyes were filled with disappointment. “I never realized how shallow you are.”
In the original story, without Xin Yao’s intervention, Xu Qing and Xin Wanyin hadn’t had any major disagreements.
After moving in together, Xu Qing had kept Xin Wanyin happy and content, preventing any conflicts over their differing values.
He had become more adept at hiding his true nature.
Unlike now, young and impulsive, unable to control his temper.
He hadn’t expected Xin Wanyin’s outburst.
“What? Am I wrong? Don’t you think there’s something wrong with this character? Are you proud of playing a prostitute?”
Xin Wanyin laughed coldly. “There’s nothing wrong with the character. The problem is you.”
In that moment, the coldness in Xin Wanyin’s eyes mirrored the look Xin Yao had given Xu Qing when she fired him.
It stung. He stood up abruptly.
“I’m the problem? Fine, I’m the problem.”
“What’s wrong with you lately, Xin Wanyin? Are you looking for a fight? Arguing with me over something so trivial!”
“Or are you tired of me? Do you think I’m useless, just like your sister?”
Xin Wanyin had never thought that.
She didn’t care about his background or his social status. She had even admired his principles and frugality.
She had never judged him, never thought he was useless.
But now, his defensiveness, his irrational anger, his ugliness…
It made her think that perhaps he was, indeed, quite useless.
Xu Qing continued ranting.
“You’re just like your sister, selfish, cold, and heartless.”
“You look down on people like me.”
“You think I’m not good enough for you, don’t you?”
“But isn’t this for your own good? Look, your sister doesn’t even care about you anymore! I’m thinking about your future, and this is how you treat me? Xin Wanyin, don’t you think you’re being unreasonable? What do you take me for?”
He was belittling her.
Xin Wanyin finally saw him for who he truly was.
This wasn’t the first time he had said such things.
Disguising his criticism as concern, he would try to control her, accusing her of being unreasonable.
It had always made her feel guilty and apologetic.
But now, with the growing distance between them, his words felt like sharp barbs.
Especially when he brought up her sister.
He had no right to talk about her sister.
The more he spoke, the calmer Xin Wanyin became.
She stood there, under the cold light, looking at him, her voice calm.
“Xu Qing.”
Xu Qing, still lost in his anger, responded instinctively.
“Hmm?”
Xin Wanyin looked at him, then raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
The crisp sound echoed through the quiet room.
The force of the slap made Xu Qing’s head turn, his hair falling across his face, his appearance disheveled.
Xin Wanyin grabbed his shirt collar, pulling him closer, her eyes blazing.
“You dare talk about my sister?”
“What right do you have to talk about my sister?”
“Are you upset because you got fired, Xu Qing? You got that job because of me! My sister paid your salary! You’re living in my house, spending my money, and you dare criticize us?”
“Ridiculous!”
“You’re right, Xu Qing. Now I think you really are useless.”
The slap and Xin Wanyin’s words stung Xu Qing’s pride.
He pushed her hand away, taking a step forward, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Xin Wanyin, are you crazy?!”
“What, you want to hit me?” Xin Wanyin wasn’t intimidated.
She looked around for a weapon, ready to fight.
She had a childish temper.
When in love, she was easily manipulated, but once her affections cooled, she discarded people without a second thought.
And she was impulsive.
The type of person who wouldn’t hesitate to slap someone who crossed her.
It had always been a headache for her family. Now, it was Xu Qing’s turn to experience it.
Xu Qing, however, cared about his image. He didn’t retaliate, closing his eyes and scoffing as he turned to leave.
“Wait!” Xin Wanyin stopped him. “Where are you going? Back to bed?”
“This is my house! You’re not welcome here anymore! Get your things and leave. Now!”
“If you don’t leave,” she held up her phone, “I’ll call the police and report you for trespassing.”
“You!”
Xu Qing’s face turned red, then purple, his anger choking him.
But he still cared about his image. Having been thrown out like this, he couldn’t possibly stay.
He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together as he glared at Xin Wanyin.
Finally, without a word, his face still burning from the slap, he turned and left.
As he stepped out of the villa, the sky was completely dark.
The rain intensified, the cold wind whipping around him, making him shiver.
He was quickly soaked to the bone, his wet hair clinging to his face, his appearance pathetic.
Xin Wanyin watched him go from the second-floor window, scoffing before slamming the window shut.
That night, Xu Qing, like a stray dog, was kicked out.
While Xu Qing and Xin Wanyin were arguing, Xin Yao and the dog system were watching the live stream, their shoulders touching as they sat on the sofa, enjoying fried chicken and the drama unfolding before them.
When Xin Wanyin slapped Xu Qing, they cheered.
Wang Dui Dui stood up on his hind legs, howling with delight.
“Damn, that’s my girl! Get him!”
“Whoa!” Xin Yao was also impressed.
Hearing her sister defend her, she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “She’s all grown up, protecting her older sister.”
And when Xin Wanyin threw Xu Qing out into the pouring rain, they were ecstatic.
The dog system jumped up and down, doing a little victory dance.
The drama had been so captivating that they had lost track of time and eaten a lot.
Wang Dui Dui held a bottle of cola in his paw, sloshing the liquid as he danced.
Xin Yao, sitting beside him, frowned, about to warn him to be careful.
But before she could speak, the dog stumbled, and the cola went flying.
It landed squarely on Xin Yao’s chest.
The warm room had made her dress lightly, in a white wool dress that reached her calves.
The cola stain ruined the dress, and Xin Yao was furious.
“You damn dog! You’re dead!”
She frantically tried to wipe the stain away.
But as her fingers rubbed against her chest, she felt a burning sensation, growing hotter and hotter, making her thirsty and her heart race.
This familiar feeling…
Xin Yao’s heart sank.
So, even touching the mark through her clothes could activate it. It was incredibly sensitive.
What was she supposed to do now? She had accidentally summoned Pei Yu. How embarrassing!
Was she supposed to offer President Pei fried chicken in her messy living room?
But before she could devise a plan, or tell Wang Dui Dui to leave, a bright white light suddenly enveloped her.
The next moment, she vanished.
Wang Dui Dui, about to apologize, froze, his eyes wide with shock, his jaw dropping.
Meanwhile, Xin Yao reappeared in a different location, miles away.
More specifically, under a large, imposing desk in a brightly lit office.
Under.
Yes, under.
Xin Yao, in her white dress and bunny slippers, sat huddled on the cold floor beneath the desk.
The space was cramped, and she bumped her head when she tried to sit up straight.
Xin Yao: ?
Where was she?
What was going on?!
The bright lights illuminated the room, allowing her to see her surroundings.
Someone was sitting at the desk.
Due to her position, Xin Yao could only see their legs, elegantly crossed, their feet clad in black high heels, the dark color contrasting with their fair skin.
Even this brief glimpse was enough to spark Xin Yao’s imagination.
Just then, she heard the serious voices of a meeting in progress.
“Now, let me present the company’s investment performance for this quarter…”
Xin Yao listened intently. Just then, the person at the desk seemed to sense her presence.
Their elegantly crossed legs shifted, then uncrosed.
Slowly, they bent down, their head lowering towards the space beneath the desk.
In the shifting light and shadows, Xin Yao, looking up, saw their face.
White hair, blood-red eyes, a cold, aloof expression. It was Pei Yu.
Seeing Xin Yao huddled at her feet like a small animal, Pei Yu paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
“?”
Xin Yao, having been mysteriously transported and now awkwardly positioned beneath Pei Yu’s desk, was equally confused.
“?”
They stared at each other in silence, the bright lights adding to the absurdity of the situation.
But being at someone’s feet, Xin Yao felt more awkward.
Unsure of what had happened, she decided to greet her.
She poked her head out, waving at Pei Yu with an embarrassed smile.
“Oh, hi. What a coincidence! Is your company still in a meeting?”