The Vicious Supporting Character Must Flirt or Die [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 25

Eighteenth floor.

Jing Ying had just finished discussing her contract and stepped out of the room to use the restroom.

As soon as she entered the ladies’ room, several women followed her in with oddly tense expressions. After she entered a stall, someone quickly reached back and locked the main door behind them.

The women exchanged glances and silently approached, standing just outside Jing Ying’s stall.

Sitting on the toilet, Jing Ying glanced down and noticed several pairs of shoes outside her stall. The feet shifted back and forth but didn’t leave or head to other stalls. Her brows drew together. Something didn’t feel right.

She distinctly remembered that the group of women had entered together. Normally, when girls come to the restroom in groups, they chat, laugh, and spread out to different stalls. These women didn’t do any of that. They weren’t talking, they weren’t using the toilet, and they were only lingering around her.

It was too deliberate.

They came for me.

Jing Ying pressed her lips together and quietly pulled a compact mirror from her bag. Bending forward, she angled the mirror under the door.

Sure enough, four or five women were standing directly outside her stall. They were staring at her door, and one of them had a hand slipped deep into her purse. That bag definitely held something dangerous.

And these faces… they looked familiar. She had seen them with Su Cheng’s girlfriend, Xiao Xiao.

Jing Ying raised an eyebrow.

This was clearly Xiao Xiao’s doing. She must have sent these women to cause trouble.

Jing Ying tucked away the mirror. She calmly finished her business, flushed the toilet, and silently reached for the toilet brush with one hand and the faucet sprayer with the other.

The women outside heard the flush and glanced at each other. They pulled out spray bottles filled with unknown liquid, preparing to attack as soon as she came out.

But a few seconds passed. Then a few minutes. Still, nothing happened.

The stall door remained closed.

They exchanged confused looks.

One woman hesitantly stepped forward and knocked. “Hello? Are you done? I really need to use the toilet.”

Jing Ying: …

You need to use the toilet? Then why aren’t you using one of the empty stalls? Why mine?

“Oh, my outfit is hard to fasten. Just a moment. I’ll be out in a few seconds.”

The woman stepped back and shot a glance at the others. They exchanged signals and prepared to strike.

But several more seconds passed. Still no movement.

Their patience was wearing thin.

The woman in red, who appeared to be the leader, stepped up again and knocked.

Just as her knuckles hit the door, it burst open with a violent kick.

The door, which opened outward, slammed into her forehead with a loud crack. She didn’t have time to react. Knocked back by the force, she fell flat on the floor, clutching her head and crying out in pain.

The other women recoiled in shock. They fumbled in their bags, trying to grab their spray bottles.

But before they could pull them out, Jing Ying had already twisted the faucet sprayer to its maximum.

A powerful stream of water blasted straight into their faces.

Screaming, the women shielded their eyes and scrambled to dodge. They backed away, flailing wildly.

With her other hand, Jing Ying wielded the toilet brush like a baton, striking at their knees and calves, forcing them to collapse.

Chaos erupted in the restroom.

The women shrieked in waves. It sounded terrifying.

Outside the door, Xiao Xiao had been nervously listening. When she heard the screams, her expression brightened.

Did it work? That wretched girl must be getting what she deserves.

Her phone rang.

She glanced down and saw Su Cheng’s name on the screen. Smiling, she skipped out into the hallway to answer.

“Hello? Cheng, hurry up. If you don’t get here soon, Director Zhang is going to give the role to someone else.”

“Where are you? I’m already on the eighteenth floor.” Su Cheng sounded annoyed.

“I’m in the hallway outside C1890.”

“Stay there. I’m coming to find you.”

“Okay.”

Xiao Xiao ended the call with a smug smile.

…

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuan had missed Su Cheng’s elevator and was waiting for the next one. She told Xiao Qi to call Director Zhang. When the elevator came, she stepped in.

She and Su Cheng arrived almost at the same time.

The moment Xiao Xiao spotted Su Cheng, she beamed and ran into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she clung to him and pouted, “Cheng, you finally came.”

Su Cheng’s face immediately darkened.

“Xiao Xiao, I’ve told you many times. We broke up. Why are you still following me around?”

Xiao Xiao’s expression changed. Her face, already overfilled with cosmetic filler, twisted.

“Su Cheng, what do you mean? Are you trying to use me and then toss me aside? Let me tell you, that’s not going to happen. Don’t forget, I’m carrying your baby. If you dare abandon me, I’ll go straight to Huaxia and make a scene. Let’s see if your precious reputation survives.”

Su Cheng’s face turned cold. “We broke up. Before we even started, I made it clear I would never be exclusive. You said you understood. I didn’t want to be cruel, but if you want this role, I’ll give it to you. This is your last chance. Once the contract is signed, you’re going to the hospital to get rid of that baby.”

Xiao Xiao: …

She had never heard him speak so coldly before. He had never been this harsh.

Deep down, she knew the truth. She was nothing more than a side model, someone for entertainment.

Su Cheng would never marry her.

This was her only shot to threaten him.

Still, she refused to give up. After everything she had done for him, she was convinced he must feel something for her.

Was he trying to cut ties now because of Jing Ying?

“Is it that b*tch Jing Ying? Are you dumping me because of her? Did you fall for her and now you want to get rid of me? I can accept her if you want to keep her. Just don’t push me aside.”

She was nearly hysterical.

Letting go of Su Cheng now meant losing all her future luxury. She couldn’t bear it.

For money, she would sacrifice her pride.

But what she didn’t realize was that in Su Cheng’s eyes, her behavior only made her more pathetic.

“Stop it. This has nothing to do with Jing Ying. And don’t compare yourself to her. You’re just a toy I’ve been playing with. That’s all. Now take me to Director Zhang. I’ll speak to him. Once you get the role, disappear. Never mention this again.”

He shoved her aside, face full of disdain.

His every word pierced Xiao Xiao like needles.

To Su Cheng, she was just a toy.

He had played with her all this time and still thought she wasn’t worth even half of what Jing Ying was.

Why?

Her sanity snapped. She screamed, “A toy? I’m just a toy to you? Su Cheng, is that really how you see me?!”

Before he could respond, a mocking voice came from behind.

“Of course, that’s how he sees you. What, you didn’t know? With how cheap you act, what else did you expect him to think?”

Xiao Xiao turned sharply and saw a familiar, stunning face.

It was the woman from the café. She was holding up her phone, recording everything.

“What are you doing?!”

Xiao Xiao lunged at her, shrieking.

Jiang Yuan stepped back while Xiao Qi stepped forward to block her.

Her bodyguard had also arrived and stood beside her. Xiao Xiao couldn’t get close.

Su Cheng also froze when he saw Jiang Yuan.

He frowned. “Ms. Jiang, what are you doing?”

“Filming. What else?”

Jiang Yuan clicked her tongue with feigned innocence as she kept recording.

“If I don’t record this little backdoor deal between a scumbag and his mistress, how else can I protect my company’s artists? As Huaxia’s young heir, you’re abusing your power to steal a role for your side chick. If this footage goes public, Huaxia’s reputation will be trashed. Your father has always valued corporate ethics. What do you think he’ll do when he sees this?”

Su Cheng’s face went pale.

“Jiang Yuan, what are you trying to pull? Don’t forget, Yuan Ying Media is still partnering with Huaxia.”

Jiang Yuan turned the camera directly toward him.

“You’re right. We are partners. That’s why Yuan Ying Media refuses to work with unethical companies. Especially not ones that try to sabotage our artists. Mr. Su, do you really think this is appropriate?”

Su Cheng narrowed his eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, you’ll find out soon.”

She looked up just in time to see Director Zhang approaching from the other side of the hallway.

Zhang Quanze was an older director with graying hair and a slightly rounded figure. His expression was stern.

He was highly respected in the industry and well-known for his strict principles. He loathed the hidden rules that plagued showbiz.

This was exactly why Jiang Yuan had avoided pulling strings for Jing Ying ahead of time.

She believed in Jing Ying’s strength. With her ability, she could earn her role through the audition.

If she had tried to interfere, it would only damage Jing Ying’s reputation in the eyes of someone like Zhang Quanze.

But now, someone else had chosen to break the rules.

Seeing him, Jiang Yuan smiled.

“Director Zhang, have you already cast the role? Because Mr. Su here said he wanted to talk to you about it on behalf of his little girlfriend.”

Su Cheng: …

He wanted to tear that woman’s mouth apart.

As if drawn by some invisible force, the restroom door beside them opened at the same time.

Jing Ying stepped out, drenched from head to toe. Her hair was wet, her clothes stained with splashes of color, and her entire appearance looked like she had just come out of a paint war.

Behind her, several women stormed out with spray bottles in hand.

“You shameless tramp, don’t think you can run!” they shouted.

But the moment they stepped out and saw the people watching them, they froze.

As soon as Jiang Yuan saw Jing Ying emerge from the restroom, the fire in her chest roared to life like a bomb ready to explode.

Her goddess, her beautiful Jing Ying, had paint stains all over her body. Even her face had a red scratch, probably from someone’s nails. Her hair was dripping, and colorful paint covered her from head to toe.

Jiang Yuan sneered. “So this is what open casting looks like now? When our company signed up our artist for auditions, nobody said they’d be walking into a paint ambush in the restroom. Is this how Youth’s Journey operates? Is this what the fourth female lead, the little fairy, is supposed to represent?”

Director Zhang instantly understood what had happened. His face turned a deep shade of gray.

The few young actresses panicked. They had never expected to fail at stopping Jing Ying and to walk straight into the director’s view. Terrified, they burst into tears and pointed straight at Xiao Xiao.

“Sister Xiao, we couldn’t stop her. We’re sorry!”

Xiao Xiao: …

Su Cheng’s face darkened when he realized the victim Xiao Xiao had targeted was Jing Ying.

Now it all made sense. Jiang Yuan’s artist was Jing Ying, and the role Xiao Xiao had secured was the same one Jing Ying had just auditioned for. It was obvious now that this had nothing to do with landing a role. It was purely an act of revenge.

He spun around and slapped Xiao Xiao hard across the face.

Xiao Xiao stumbled sideways, completely stunned.

“Su Cheng, it wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!”

“Go to the hospital. Right now!” Su Cheng was furious. He grabbed her wrist and stormed off.

Director Zhang’s face remained dark. He let out a cold snort. “Dirty tricks.”

The group of girls nearly tripped over themselves trying to flee.

Once the crowd dispersed, Jiang Yuan finally let out a breath and rushed over to check on Jing Ying. “What happened? Are you hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital?”

She was clearly worried, her delicate face full of concern as she looked Jing Ying over.

Jing Ying smiled as she saw Jiang Yuan’s completely unfiltered anxiety. If it weren’t for the fact that they were still at Dihao Hotel and Director Zhang was right there, she would have pinned her against the wall and kissed her hard.

“I’m fine. No injuries.”

“You call this fine? Your face is scratched! We should go to the hospital right now. Please, just listen to me, alright?”

When Jiang Yuan saw the two red streaks bleeding slightly on Jing Ying’s goddess-like face, her heart ached.

Jing Ying felt warm inside but stayed composed. She gently pointed at Director Zhang, reminding Jiang Yuan of his presence.

Realizing it, Jiang Yuan looked over in embarrassment.

Director Zhang didn’t say anything, but he continued to observe the two of them with a thoughtful expression.

After a moment, he gave them a look, signaling them to follow him into the private room.

The contract had nearly been finalized before this chaos. Fortunately, the situation hadn’t affected Director Zhang’s mood, especially since none of this was Jing Ying’s fault.

After both sides signed the contract, Director Zhang turned to Jiang Yuan and chuckled. “I used to think you were just an airhead like the rumors said. Turns out, you’re actually a rare gem hidden in plain sight. Nicely done. Your father must be proud. Have you visited him lately? How’s his health?”

Jiang Yuan: …

Stunned.

She hadn’t expected Zhang Quanze to know her father, Jiang Heyan. And from the way he spoke, they seemed pretty familiar.

“Uh… I haven’t been back recently. I think he’s still angry with me. If there’s nothing else, Uncle Zhang, we’ll head out now.”

Director Zhang nodded. “Fathers and daughters never stay angry for long. Family ties are strong. If your father sees how capable you are now, I’m sure he’ll let go of his anger.”

Was that a compliment?

Jiang Yuan scratched her head shyly, though her heart was uncertain.

After all, the original version of her had made too many mistakes. Making peace with the whole family wouldn’t be easy.

“I hope so. Still, I’d like to achieve something on my own before going home to apologize.”

“Good. That’s the spirit. Young people should have goals and drive. Just don’t be reckless,” he added, then looked toward Jing Ying. “The artist you signed is a real talent. I’m looking forward to seeing her performance. Once filming begins, if you have time, come visit the set and learn the ropes.”

Director Zhang usually hated outsiders hanging around the set. Without his connection to Jiang Yuan’s father, she probably wouldn’t have had this chance. But the thought of being on set with Jing Ying made her eager.

She quickly agreed. “Of course, Uncle Zhang. We’ll be off now.”

Jing Ying bowed respectfully. “Goodbye, Director Zhang.”

…

Jiang Yuan drove them home herself. Their bodyguard followed behind in another car and later dropped off Xiao Qi before leaving.

Once home, Jiang Yuan couldn’t take her eyes off Jing Ying. She circled her like a worried mother hen, eyes red and glistening with unshed tears.

“That awful woman went too far. She sent so many people after you. Why didn’t you call me? If I had known they had you cornered in a restroom, I would’ve sent Jiang Yi to kick down the door!”

Jiang Yi was their assigned bodyguard.

Jing Ying smiled gently and pinched Jiang Yuan’s cheek. “I wasn’t badly hurt. Just got sprayed with paint. They came out of it worse than I did.”

Even so, Jiang Yuan still looked distressed.

“How about this? I’ll have Jiang Yi follow you to the set from now on. Conditions will be tough, and who knows what else might happen. At least he’ll be there to protect you.”

She rambled nonstop, all her thoughts focused on protecting her goddess.

Jing Ying quickly held up her hand. “Alright, I get it. But Jiang Yuan, this is something I need to face myself. You can’t always be there to shield me. You’ve already helped me so much. But from now on, I want to become strong enough to protect you instead.”

She said it seriously, her gaze unwavering.

Jiang Yuan felt like something had struck her heart. It pounded wildly in her chest.

“But I still worry about you.”

She knew Jing Ying was strong and destined to become a brilliant star. She also knew she had the advantage of foresight from the novel and had latched onto a future legend early. But none of that changed how she felt.

She couldn’t bear the thought of anything hurting this woman.

She wanted to wrap her up in everything she had, to build a fortress around her and keep her safe forever.

Seeing Jiang Yuan’s downcast expression, Jing Ying couldn’t help but ruffle her hair.

“Alright, I’m filthy. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Yuan sighed and watched her go upstairs.

She lay down on the sofa, replaying everything that had happened.

She opened her phone and found the video she had recorded earlier.

Right then, her phone rang.

As expected, it was Su Cheng.

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and hung up immediately.

Su Cheng stared at the screen, stunned. He tried again.

Hung up.

He called once more.

This time, her phone was off.

Su Cheng nearly exploded with rage. He kicked the hospital corridor wall hard.

Jiang Yuan knew exactly why he was calling.

He just wanted her to delete the video. He was afraid of the consequences.

To be honest, she had never intended to release the footage and ruin relations with Huaxia.

But that didn’t mean she would give in to him either.

Otherwise, he’d think Jiang Yuan was easy to push around.

He would think the scratches on her goddess’s face could be dismissed just like that.

She tossed her phone aside and hummed a tune as she went to shower.

By the time she finished drying her hair, someone knocked on the door.

It was Jing Ying.

She stood in the doorway with a white towel wrapped loosely around her, just enough to cover her collarbones and thighs. Her smooth, fair skin glowed beneath the light, and the air was still filled with the soft fragrance of her body wash.

Jiang Yuan: …

“My back is a little hurt. I can’t reach to put on the medicine. Will you help me?”