The Vicious Supporting Character Must Flirt or Die [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 9

At exactly six o’clock in the evening, Jing Ying arrived at the restaurant on time. It was one of the city’s most famous internet-famous spots, well-known for its fully enclosed glass dome. From the 134th floor, one could see the entire nightscape of Nancheng.

Though it was labeled a trending hotspot, few could actually afford to dine here. Most of the time, reservations were required.

Jing Ying had no idea why Jiang Yuan had asked her to come here, but she stepped inside anyway. After giving her name, a server promptly led her straight to the 134th floor.

When the elevator doors opened, all she saw was a plush red carpet with gold trim stretching ahead. At the far end stood a tall woman in a sparkling sequin evening gown.

The woman’s makeup was exquisitely done. Her features were striking and beautiful. Long golden hair fell partly down her back and partly across her cheek, highlighting her delicate and alluring face.

Her red lips parted into a dazzling smile the moment she saw Jing Ying.

She waved and walked toward her with effortless grace.

“Xiao Ying’er~”

Jiang Yuan stepped forward and took hold of Jing Ying’s wrist.

Jing Ying instinctively stiffened.

When Jiang Yuan leaned in close, her pale face turned a light shade of pink.

“We’re having dinner here tonight? Why are you dressed so formally?”

“Because tonight is for something very special!” Jiang Yuan blinked and smiled, her tone playful with a touch of mystery.

She hooked her arm through Jing Ying’s and led her to the restaurant’s grand, closed double doors.

The moment they stopped in front of them, Jiang Yuan snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, the golden doors slowly opened.

Two rows of uniformed servers stood waiting behind them. As soon as they spotted the pair, they bowed and called out in unison, “Happy birthday, Miss Jing.”

With a loud pop, a balloon suspended from the ceiling burst open. Golden streamers rained down like a shimmering shower of gold.

A graceful piano and violin duet began to play in the background.

Jing Ying stood frozen, unsure how to react to any of it.

The entire restaurant had been decorated with care. Balloons and ribbons were everywhere, giving the place a warm and cheerful air.

Her name had even been arranged in the very center of the room.

“You…”

Jing Ying started to speak, only to see the girl beside her gazing at her with bright, intense eyes. In Jiang Yuan’s hands was a gift wrapped in red satin and ribbon. She beamed. “Xiao Ying’er, happy birthday.”

Jing Ying paused and did not dare to take it, but Jiang Yuan firmly placed the box in her hands. As she looked down at it, she seemed momentarily dazed.

They were about the same height, but Jiang Yuan wore ten-centimeter stilettos that night. From her vantage point, she could only see the top of Jing Ying’s head, not the faint blush on her lowered face.

Jiang Yuan was confident that tonight’s plan would make Jing Ying happy.

She was certain her affection value would finally increase.

However, even as the little “10” number trembled, threatening to tick upward, it eventually quieted again.

Jiang Yuan: ?????

What’s going on?

Just then, Jing Ying lifted her face. She gave a soft smile and gently said, “Thank you, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Yuan felt like she could cry right then and there.

After all that effort, not even a single point of affection gained?

That was brutal~ QAQ~

Still, as Jiang Yuan looked at Jing Ying’s face, so carefully composed yet quietly moved, she recalled the difficult life the girl had lived in the original story. Jing Ying had grown up in a single-parent household, constantly relocating with her ailing mother, who could only take on occasional, unstable work. They had always struggled with poverty.

Maybe no one had ever properly celebrated her birthday before.

Jiang Yuan pressed her lips together and decided the affection value did not matter. She gently took hold of Jing Ying’s slender wrist and led her to the seat by the window.

With a snap of her fingers, a server rolled over a cart and began serving the dishes.

While serving, he kept stealing glances at the two stunning women across from him. His heart was racing.

Once all the food had been served, he hurried off. As soon as he stepped into the back kitchen, he let out a high-pitched squeal.

“Oh my gosh, those two are unbelievably gorgeous! I just saw them up close, and seriously, they’re unforgettable! Miss Jiang is unbelievably stunning. Her features are so sharp and perfect. I used to think she was a useless rich girl based on gossip, but without all that heavy makeup, she’s absolutely breathtaking. Her figure is incredible, too. Even I, as a woman, feel tempted! I really don’t get why Li Tingshen would ignore someone like her and instead fall for someone as bland as Shen Mingzhu!”

She tugged on her coworker’s sleeve, peeking through the kitchen door.

Her colleague kept nodding enthusiastically.

“Same! When I saw Miss Jiang earlier today, I wondered if she had gotten plastic surgery. But that seemed impossible; no one could create a face like hers. And she was nothing like the rumors. She was incredibly kind when she gave us instructions this afternoon and kept smiling the whole time. By the way, who is that girl sitting across from her? Who gets such an extravagant birthday celebration from Miss Jiang?”

“I don’t know, but she’s a goddess too. Seriously, she’s stunning. Her features are kind of similar to Shen Mingzhu’s, but not too much. And honestly, she’s way prettier.”

They continued peeking and whispering.

Suddenly—

“She’s prettier than me? Then she must be truly something.”

A clear, elegant voice cut through their conversation.

Both servers froze. When they turned around, they saw a man and a woman standing behind them.

The woman had a graceful figure and wore a simple white dress. Her long black hair was tucked neatly behind her ears. Her almond-shaped eyes curved as she smiled.

There was not a single person in the country who wouldn’t recognize that face.

Anyone who turned on a TV would have seen her.

She had become one of the most well-known celebrities in recent years, and her name was Shen Mingzhu.

The young server gulped and turned bright red with panic, bowing deeply.

“Miss Shen, I’m sorry. We didn’t mean anything by it…”

“It’s alright. I’m not offended. We’re here to eat. Do you still have a table?” Shen Mingzhu smiled with practiced gentleness. Her expression was kind, but the man beside her looked far less approachable.

Li Tingshen narrowed his eyes at the servers. “Chitchatting during your shift? Looks like your manager has been too lenient.”

The two servers bowed even lower. “We’re sorry, Mr. Li. We won’t do it again.”

“Enough. Find us a table.”

“But…”

The servers hesitated, clearly troubled.

“What do you mean, but? Do it. Now.”

His cold voice left no room for objection.

The servers were too frightened to disobey.

But the restaurant was already occupied. Miss Jiang had clearly said no interruptions, no matter who it was.

The servers hesitated again, torn. But recalling the complicated relationship between Miss Jiang and Mr. Li, they gave in and opened the doors.

—

Inside the spacious restaurant.

By the vast floor-to-ceiling windows.

Jiang Yuan and Jing Ying clinked glasses.

Under the night sky, Jing Ying gazed at the girl across from her. With that stunning, vivid face framed in soft light, Jiang Yuan looked like a rare jewel.

“How did you know it was my birthday?”

Jiang Yuan touched her nose awkwardly. “I did some background research on you before. That’s how I knew it was today.”

“But this place is hard to reserve.”

Jing Ying called it out without hesitation.

Booking this venue required a month’s notice, even for someone like Miss Jiang in Nancheng.

She was not wrong. This restaurant had originally been reserved for Li Tingshen.

In the original story, Jiang Yuan had been infatuated with him. She had carefully arranged every detail of his celebration, from the gifts to the venue and everything else on the list, and had secured this very location for the party.

But that night, the celebration turned into an event for him to cozy up to his white moonlight, Shen Mingzhu.

Humiliated, the original Jiang Yuan had caused a scene, ruining everything and embarrassing herself.

Jing Ying, the true female lead, had suffered too.

According to the plot, Jing Ying had already registered her marriage with Li Tingshen by this time. On her birthday, her new husband was out wining and dining another woman. It was the first heartbreak of the story, a harsh beginning.

Luckily, Jiang Yuan had replaced the original now. She had no intention of letting that scumbag hurt this goddess.

She only wanted Jing Ying to find someone who would love her deeply and treat her well. Someone who would protect her, along with a loyal best friend like herself.

As for Jiang Yuan, she could live the rest of her days spending her inheritance, lounging in her giant bed, and living a life of carefree luxury.

Just the thought brought tears of joy.

Her smile grew even more sincere.

“It is hard to reserve. But if I really want it, I can make it happen. And for you, anything is worth it.”

For you (and your affection value), anything is worth it.

She silently added that part to herself.

Because saying “affection value” out loud still felt too weird.

But what she did not know was that those words—

For me?

Anything is worth it?

—stuck with Jing Ying and warmed her heart for a long time.

She pressed her lips together and downed the wine in her glass in one go.

Just then, the server’s sheepish voice broke in.

“Sorry, Miss Jiang. Mr. Li insisted on coming in.”

The young server looked terribly apologetic.

Jiang Yuan turned her head and saw Li Tingshen standing just three meters away, accompanied by Shen Mingzhu.

Jiang Yuan arched a brow.

So, even if she changed a few things, some parts of the story were bound to repeat.

“What a coincidence, Miss Jiang.” Li Tingshen narrowed his eyes, scanning her from head to toe.

Her fiery figure and exquisite makeup made her impossible to ignore.

Since their encounter at the harbor, he found her more stunning each time he saw her. It was like an addiction.

Jiang Yuan rose, crossed her arms, and leaned lazily against the table. She studied Li Tingshen and the woman behind him.

To be honest, even if the original plot had her as a stand-in for Li Tingshen’s white moonlight, in her eyes, Shen Mingzhu could not even compare to her family’s goddess.

With a soft scoff, she said, “Mr. Li, did your new company fail to reserve a venue? You brought your sweetheart here to mooch dinner? Too bad this place only has one table and two chairs. Should I be kind and ask them to bring you both a plate so you can stand and eat? Though I’m not sure whether our Xiao Ying would agree.”

Li Tingshen and Shen Mingzhu: …