The Vicious Supporting Character Must Flirt or Die [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 13

Clatter—

Hiss—

The sound of a cup crashing to the floor and a sharp gasp of pain pierced the air at the same time. Jing Ying and Su Cheng both froze mid-step. Even the woman who had thrown the cup stood dumbfounded, not expecting someone to suddenly throw themselves into the line of fire.

When Jing Ying saw who had stepped in front of her, her pupils contracted sharply.

She rushed forward, but when her hand touched the girl’s arm, her movements softened instinctively. She held her gently, almost reverently.

The girl’s rolled-up sleeve revealed a fair, slender arm. Just below the elbow, her smooth skin was blotched with a bruise that spread outward, a harsh violet staining her porcelain complexion.

“Does it hurt?”

Jing Ying’s voice quivered just slightly.

Jiang Yuan shook her head. “It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt that much.”

She looked up at the woman beside her. Even with all her usual bravado, Jiang Yuan was startled by the icy expression on that delicate, flawless face. Jing Ying radiated an ethereal, ice queen aura when she was angry.

Still, she felt a flicker of relief. Good thing I got here in time. That cup would’ve hit her face full on.

Lifting her eyes, she turned to glare at the culprit.

At first, the woman who had thrown the cup looked panicked. When she saw that Jiang Yuan had only a bruise and Jing Ying was completely unharmed, her anger returned even stronger. She opened her mouth, ready to curse, but Su Cheng, who had been hiding behind her, quickly stepped in to stop her.

“Xiao Xiao… What are you doing here? Don’t make a scene. You already hit someone.”

He reached for her arm, tension visible in his face as he glanced at Jing Ying. Yet the fear in his eyes was not for the injured girl. It was for Xiao Xiao, the woman standing behind him. He could not even manage to ask for an apology.

Xiao Xiao’s fury only deepened.

“Seriously, Su? I’m the one making a scene? If you hadn’t come here to hook up with this vixen, would I even be here?”

Her glare darted toward Jing Ying, seething with resentment, then swept over Jiang Yuan in a hostile, predatory scan.

When she saw Jiang Yuan’s exquisite face, which was just as striking as Jing Ying’s, and noticed her figure that could easily outshine a model’s, a wave of jealousy rose sharply within her.

“It was just a cup. Why make such a scene? You’re both manipulative and shameless. I don’t care which one of you got hit. Either way, the world is better off for it.”

“Xiao Xiao, you—”

Crash—

Su Cheng never finished.

Jing Ying had been crouched beside Jiang Yuan, quietly inspecting her arm. But now she stood, expression unreadable. Without hesitation, she reached for the cup of scalding hot coffee on the table, lifted it, and poured the entire thing over Xiao Xiao’s head.

The dark liquid soaked her hair, her makeup melting into muddy streaks that dripped down her face. Her pristine white dress was instantly ruined, coffee stains blooming across the fabric like a stain of shame.

Su Cheng: …

Jiang Yuan: …

Xiao Xiao: …

Jing Ying set the empty cup back down with an air of finality. Then, with that same elegant composure, she took Jiang Yuan’s uninjured hand and walked away without a word.

Each movement was smooth, deliberate, and confident.

Behind them, Xiao Xiao’s shriek rose in a jagged scream.

“Ahhh! Jing Ying! You slut!”

She stood there trembling, wide-eyed, screaming like a woman unhinged.

The entire café fell silent, stunned.

Every pair of eyes followed the two women as they left.

Jiang Yuan glanced at the ice queen walking beside her. Her expression remained unchanged, still cold and unreadable.

When she turned back, she saw Xiao Xiao glaring at them from the café like a woman scorned, eyes filled with venom.

…

Jing Ying never let go of Jiang Yuan’s hand.

She walked fast, her grip firm. Jiang Yuan followed behind, trying to keep up.

Pouting slightly, she mumbled, “Can you slow down a bit? I can barely keep up.”

At her voice, Jing Ying finally eased her pace.

But she didn’t release her hand.

Jiang Yuan didn’t mind. She let herself be led along, studying the woman in front of her.

From behind, Jing Ying looked lean and graceful. Her long hair was tied up, revealing the pale nape of her neck. Her proportions were flawless, her posture straight as a tree. The hand that held hers was slim, with clean, elegant fingers and nails shaped just right.

How is she this perfect?

Suddenly, Jing Ying stopped walking.

Jiang Yuan looked up and saw her turning back.

The coldness was gone. Her bright eyes held a question.

“What were you thinking about just now?”

Jiang Yuan replied without thinking. “Trying to figure out what your flaws are.”

“And?”

“Nothing. You’re flawless.”

Jiang Yuan shrugged with a smile.

That was when she noticed they were standing in front of a pharmacy.

“You brought me to buy medicine?”

Jing Ying didn’t answer. She simply walked inside.

A few moments later, she came out holding a plastic bag. She led Jiang Yuan to a bench by the roadside.

Jing Ying set the bag down, gently took Jiang Yuan’s injured arm, and placed it on her own thigh. Then she unscrewed the bottle of medicinal wine, poured a little onto the bruise, and began rubbing it in.

The medicine stung. Jiang Yuan winced a little, but she didn’t make a sound.

“If it hurts, you can say so,” Jing Ying said softly.

Jiang Yuan smiled. “It’s fine. I can handle it.”

Jing Ying chuckled. “I thought someone like you, a pampered little heiress, would be afraid of pain.”

Jiang Yuan paused for a beat, then broke into a grin. “That act’s for my parents. When they’re not around, there’s no one to baby me, so what’s the point in whining?”

Jing Ying’s voice came quieter, warmer. “You can act spoiled around me.”

“…What?”

Jiang Yuan blinked. She looked up.

Jing Ying remained focused on her task. Her head was lowered, and her fingers moved with greater care.

“You said I had no flaws. But I do. You just haven’t found them yet.”

“Then tell me.”

Jiang Yuan tilted her head, curious.

But Jing Ying just smiled and shook her head.

Once the bruise had been treated, Jiang Yuan flexed her arm and decided it wasn’t anything serious.

Right on cue, Uncle Jiang called.

She answered, nodded along to his urging, and hung up.

Jing Ying frowned. “If you had a meeting, why did you show up at the café?”

Jiang Yuan froze for a second.

Is she suspicious? She swallowed hard.

“I… I had an errand nearby. Saw you through the window and just walked in. Didn’t think much of it.”

She lifted her eyes, only to meet Jing Ying’s unblinking gaze.

Shit. I’m transparent.

She fumbled for an excuse to leave. “Uncle Jiang’s waiting. I’ll go. You should head to the hospital, too.”

She flagged down a cab and gave the hotel address.

Before leaving, she added, “If that woman comes back to cause trouble, call me. I’ll handle it.”

Jing Ying shook her head. “No need.”

Only after Jiang Yuan left did Jing Ying’s shoulders relax.

She stood there watching the car disappear, then let out a soft laugh.

“Jiang Yuan, don’t you think you’re being a little too nice to me?”

…

Jiang Yuan urged the driver to go faster. When she finally arrived at the hotel Uncle Jiang had mentioned, he was already downstairs, pacing anxiously.

“Miss Jiang, where have you been? They’ve been waiting two hours!”

“Sorry, Uncle Jiang. I really had something urgent come up. I’m going in now. Where’s the stuff I asked for?”

He handed her a sleek briefcase. Two gift bags followed.

Though the presentation was perfect, Uncle Jiang’s face was still clouded with doubt.

Just a couple of days ago, she had been brimming with ambition and talking confidently about launching a company. Now, she was showing up late to her own investor meeting?

Please let this not be another company gifted away to the Li family.

Jiang Yuan hurried upstairs to the private room.

Two people were already seated at the round table. One was a man in a perfectly tailored black suit with slicked-back hair. The other was a woman in her thirties, dressed in a crisp, elegant blazer. Her bright red lipstick and sharp, intelligent eyes gave her a commanding presence.

Zhang Hao and Xue Zi.

They remained seated and quietly sipped their tea, composed and self-assured.

Jiang Yuan, however, showed no sign of hesitation.

She smiled and stepped forward. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Something came up at the last minute.”

Then she added, “My brother told me yesterday you’re both pillars of his team. I’m his younger sister, and as the heiress of Jiang Corporation, I technically didn’t need to receive you myself. But I thought, since I’ll be relying on you in the future, and to show my family values talent, I wanted to greet you in person. Unfortunately, something urgent came up, so I had to ask the butler to meet you instead.”

Zhang and Xue exchanged looks, caught off guard.

They had been sent to a small media company in the south by Jiang Yangui. Now, they were surprised to learn they would be reporting to his sister, the notoriously scatterbrained heiress known for being clueless and pampered.

They were ready to throw their weight around and make her sweat for being late.

But her words were poised and strategic. She apologized first, then clarified that she didn’t owe them this gesture. She was the boss. Meeting them was a courtesy, not an obligation.

It was subtle, respectful, and firm. Not at all like the brat they’d expected.

They both stood up with polite smiles.

“Not at all, Miss Jiang. You’re far too kind.”

“You’ve got your own business to handle. We understand completely.”

Jiang Yuan’s smile widened. “I’m glad you’re not upset. Still, since I did keep you waiting, I brought some gifts.”

She snapped her fingers. A bodyguard entered with the gift bags. Jiang Yuan took them herself and opened each one.

A luxury watch for Zhang Hao, worth two hundred thousand yuan.

A designer necklace for Xue Zi, equally extravagant.

Their eyes widened. Surprised. Pleased.

The tension vanished instantly.

“Oh my, Miss Jiang, this is far too generous.”

Xue Zi admired the necklace with a soft smile.

Zhang Hao was already slipping the watch onto his wrist.

Jiang Yuan had expected this.

No woman could say no to jewelry. No man would reject a designer watch.

“But that was just a token of goodwill,” she said lightly. “Now let’s talk about the real gift.”

She placed two contracts in front of them.

They picked them up and nearly gasped.

“Miss Jiang, this…”

Jiang Yuan leaned against the table, poured herself a drink, and said with an easy smile,

“I’m still young. I may hold the title of president, but I’ll need your expertise. A regular salary wouldn’t be enough to motivate talent like yours. So instead, I’m offering each of you ten percent equity in Yuan Ying Media. That’s my show of sincerity. The rest is up to you.”

They were speechless.

Ten percent didn’t sound like much, but if Yuan Ying Media grew, that stake could turn into millions.

And they wouldn’t need to invest a cent.

It was a golden opportunity.

Only a fool would say no.

Without hesitation, they signed their names, raised their glasses, and toasted her.

“Miss Jiang, we look forward to working with you.”

…

After dinner, Zhang Hao and Xue Zi were both tipsy. Jiang Yuan called for her butler to have them escorted to their hotel.

Two bodyguards, one driver, and a butler. Just enough for each guest.

Uncle Jiang looked concerned and insisted on staying, but Jiang Yuan waved him off.

“I’ll find someone to take me back. Don’t worry.”

He hesitated, then left reluctantly.

The moment they were gone, Jiang Yuan slumped in her chair. Her cheeks were flushed. The wine was catching up to her.

She had barely held it together during the meeting.

Now she felt like a puddle.

She fumbled for her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and tapped a name.

When the call connected, her voice came out soft, sticky, and full of spoiled sweetness.

“Sister Jing~ Where are you? Come pick me up, please…”

Jing Ying paused as warmth rushed to her chest and melted the tension away.

Her voice turned gentle. “Where are you?”

“Jingyang Hotel.”

“Alright. Wait for me.”

She hung up, and for the first time all day, a small smile played on her lips.