The weather in December was already bitterly cold. The sky darkened earlier and earlier, yet the school had only just started requiring evening self-study.
"As everyone knows, evening study sessions are just another place to sleep. For restless ninth-grade boys, they're also the perfect chance to play ball and fall in love. Teachers only need to step outside and grab a handful of couples. And at times like this, delivering love letters becomes an excellent side business."
When Gu Qianran looked down at the huge stack of letters on her desk with a dark expression, Ji Tang spoke with an innocent face.
Gu Qianran said, "You work pretty fast." She had only gone out with Bai Ziyuan to get a cup of water, and Ji Tang had already piled up so many letters???
Ji Tang: Don't ask. I'm just used to copying homework quickly.
Bai Ziyuan opened one of the letters addressed to her and immediately noticed the familiar arrangement of English phrases. Glancing at the signature, she clicked her tongue. As expected, it was the same boy who had written to Gu Qianran last time. It had only been a month, and this boy was already moving on? Gu Qianran leaned over to look. "Oh? This has a certain flavor to it. Seems like you're quite popular with the boys."
Bai Ziyuan looked uncomfortable. "N-no, not really. It's just recently… Besides, I don't like them."
Gu Qianran felt a faint displeasure. If this little one was so well-liked, what if that scumbag managed to trick her away? That would be unacceptable. She had to guard her carefully. The cabbage she had worked so hard to raise could not be given to the pigs!
Seeing Gu Qianran glowing with maternal protectiveness, Bai Ziyuan instinctively leaned into her embrace. Gu Qianran naturally wrapped her arms around her, eyes half-closed, enjoying the moment. Unlike Gu Qianran's flat figure, Bai Ziyuan's development was quite good, everything where it should be. Soft and fragrant, hugging her was wonderfully comfortable.
Bai Ziyuan stuffed the letter into the small trash bin hanging at the side of the desk, then looked at Ji Tang with disdain. "You already have tens of millions invested, and you're still trying to make money off delivering letters for a bottle of water? For just a few coins you're indirectly producing trash? As class monitor, I'm unilaterally cutting ties with you for three seconds!"
Ji Tang ruffled Bai Ziyuan's hair with a grin. "Xiao Bai, you need to understand. Money is something the more, the better. Today you look down on one bottle of water, tomorrow you'll look down on a million. Round it off, and that's unpatriotic!"
Bai Ziyuan: This sudden leap in logic?
She jumped up, angrily brushing off Ji Tang's hand and pouted. "Why do you both like to hug me and pat my head all the time? At this rate, I'll go bald." Too much! Didn't they know studying politics already made her lose hair? But still… being held by Gu Qianran felt safe and warm. She smelled so good too, some kind of shampoo maybe… No! How could she have such perverted thoughts? Bai Ziyuan, you're a creep!
Ji Tang: Don't think I didn't see you crawl into her arms on your own. And Gu Qianran, the two of you are skilled like an old married couple.
Pushing her glasses up, Ji Tang said honestly, "Because you're short. I can't reach Gu Qianran." And she didn't dare touch her. If she offended this big boss, her little fortune would be gone!
Seeing Bai Ziyuan about to explode again, Gu Qianran quickly comforted her. "Alright, alright. Actually, whether anyone pats your head or not, it won't change your height. Maybe you'll get another growth spurt in high school."
Bai Ziyuan punched Gu Qianran weakly, her face full of grievance. "What kind of comfort is that!"
Gu Qianran hurried to make it up to her. "But you're pretty. Our Bai Ziyuan is the prettiest."
Delighted by the compliment, Bai Ziyuan wriggled back into Gu Qianran's arms, squirming around as if looking for the most comfortable position she'd had earlier.
Gu Qianran found it funny. This little one was so tough with everyone else, yet whenever she came to Gu Qianran, she turned into a soft, bullied kitten. Every movement was so childish. Holding the soft, sweet-smelling heroine in her arms, Gu Qianran felt a mischievous urge to tease her.
She rested her chin on Bai Ziyuan's shoulder. Feeling the sudden stiffness in Bai Ziyuan's body, Gu Qianran curved her lips, her voice lazy. "Bai Ziyuan, if you keep squirming, aren't you afraid you'll drool on my face again?"
Their faces were so close. Gu Qianran's warm breath brushed against Bai Ziyuan's neck, sending tingles all over her skin. Bai Ziyuan's cheeks flared bright red, her words stuttering. "R-Ran Ran, what are you doing… Ah stop it, it tickles! I won't move anymore, just let me go!"
Gu Qianran mischievously blew softly against her ear, and Bai Ziyuan's earlobes instantly turned crimson. She scrambled away in a panic, flopping onto the desk and refusing to respond no matter how Gu Qianran called her.
"You're awful! Why blow into my ear! It tickled so much!" And it was so shameful! Why did Gu Qianran always make everything so ambiguous? Did she even know what she was doing?
Knowing she had truly upset Bai Ziyuan this time, Gu Qianran coaxed and pleaded until she finally bribed her back with a week's worth of milk tea.
Ji Tang: Flirting like that, I can't even watch. In this story of three, I'm the single dog who doesn't deserve a name.
After all the fuss, the annoyance Gu Qianran had felt from those letters vanished completely. That was true too. The little one only let herself be soft and clingy in front of Gu Qianran. Out in the world, she would never allow herself to suffer losses. Since this little one trusted her so much, Gu Qianran should return her equal trust.
[Ding!] A familiar metallic tone. The system had returned.
[Host, remember that your role is the vicious supporting character! Perfect your persona!] The system's voice sounded flustered.
"I know. But my persona is already perfect. I am the vicious supporting character." Gu Qianran realized the system probably knew nothing. And with such a rigid machine, all she had to do was play the rogue.
"System, let me tell you, there's nothing wrong with my persona. In fact, it's flawless, the perfect embodiment of the vicious supporting character." Her voice turned serious.
"And this viciousness is aimed only at those who are more vicious than the original villainess."
She looked up at the ceiling. Nothing was there, yet her gaze seemed to pierce through the void, seeing everything clearly. Her words weren't entirely true, but after living two lives, she had already seen through human nature.
"Personas are defined by people. Only in someone else's story am I a supporting role."
But she, Gu Qianran, was the one who would defy fate and write her own story.