A Scummy Alpha Supporting Character Accidentally Marks the Heroine After Transmigrating into a Book (GL) - Chapter 56

“How could you fall for your enemy, Bai Wan?”

Luo Shuqing laughed, a tear sliding from the corner of her eye. She wanted to laugh but couldn’t stop herself from crying. Everything before her was utterly absurd; events had spiraled far beyond her expectations.

How could Bai Wan fall for Yan Nanjue?

She had been tortured for so long; the scars on her body were visible to anyone, her mental world was teetering on the edge, and her dignity had been trampled into the mud.

Anyone could fall for Yan Nanjue, but it shouldn’t have been Bai Wan…

It was unbelievable, Luo Shuqing thought. But she wouldn’t misinterpret that look. From the moment of her realization to her shock, Bai Wan had simply stared at her in silence, her gaze cold and seemingly unchanged.

The hall was silent, save for the sound of two people breathing. Bai Wan pried away the hand clutching her. She used enough force that Luo Shuqing’s hand throbbed with pain, forcing her to let go.

Then she heard Bai Wan speak, each word measured and heavy.

“…Nonsensical drivel.”

Luo Shuqing, refuse to lose, replied with four words: “Self-deception.” She asked softly, “Do you hate her?”

Bai Wan did not answer.

Luo Shuqing knew the answer to that, so she smiled. “You don’t know the answer, Bai Wan.” Her expression turned grim, and she hissed through gritted teeth, “If you fall for her, your end is destined to be the same as mine.”

“She isn’t a constant person. Even if she likes you now, is willing to do anything for you, and even breaks off a lifelong friendship with me, that’s only for now. She won’t stay like this forever.”

—Because Su Changyin would return sooner or later.

How could a substitute ever compare to the real thing? Luo Shuqing thought. Moreover, what Yan Nanjue liked was just the novelty. How could such a cold-blooded Alpha maintain long-term affection for anyone?

Luo Huazhi was right: Yan Nanjue had no heart. Bai Wan, this high-fidelity replacement, was far more piteous than she was.

Luo Shuqing repeated, “Your end will be just like mine.”

Bai Wan’s lips pressed into a thin line, her face as cold as ice. she listened in silence to Luo Shuqing’s murmurs. She was like a statue carved of wood or clay—no emotion, no inner voice, sitting high upon a pedestal looking down at the world.

Her world was a vast expanse of blankness.

Luo Shuqing laughed and skipped back half a step. “Good luck, Senior Bai Wan.”

The honorific fell into Bai Wan’s ears, stirring a faint ripple. Her blank mind suddenly focused on that title, and her memory returned to that birthday party where Luo Shuqing had specifically mentioned “Senior” in front of everyone.

A line of text surfaced: a name. For some reason, she instinctively felt that Luo Shuqing knew Su Changyin.

“I have a question for you.”

Luo Shuqing: “I have no obligation to answer your questions, do I?”

Bai Wan looked up, her amber eyes as calm as still water. The beautiful, rich color was like honey or a priceless gem. The evening sun spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a small patch of light on her snow-white face, yet those brilliant eyes remained hidden in the shadows.

Her pale lips moved.

“—Su Changyin.”

Luo Shuqing’s pupils dilated instantly, and her breathing hitched.

Bai Wan knit her brows slightly. “Who is she?”

Seeing her confusion, Luo Shuqing fell into deep thought, her breathing becoming heavy. Just a name, yet her reaction was so violent?

After a long while, Luo Shuqing finally regained her composure. “You…” Her words caught in her throat. She scanned Bai Wan’s face, not seeing the expected expression. She sensed something and asked, “Where did you hear that name?”

“You mentioned it in the parking lot that day. You know Su Changyin.” Bai Wan had happened to see the lip movements of those three characters. Because of the note in her book, she had to care about this name. Who exactly was the person it represented? Why was there only a broken half-sentence? And why did it come from Luo Shuqing’s mouth?

Luo Shuqing stared at her for two seconds, and her smile widened. “I won’t tell you. If you want to know, go ask her.” Her smile held a trace of malice. “You might as well guess: will she tell you who Su Changyin is?”

Luo Shuqing looked away and saw a bodyguard walking over from the corner. He stood waiting—a signal that Luo Huazhi was losing patience. Her smile faded. “Go ask her, Bai Wan. You won’t get an answer from her mouth anyway.”

As they brushed past, Luo Shuqing dropped those words with absolute certainty. After walking a few steps, she put on her sunglasses and returned to the bodyguards. She cut off the guard who was about to speak: “Don’t rush me.”

She turned her head to take one last look at the hall. Bai Wan stood under that massive painting, her long hair draped like seaweed. Her profile was as perfect as a masterpiece from a sculpture student, her figure thin and frail, appearing even smaller against the backdrop of the artwork.

Traces, traces…

Luo Shuqing muttered the title to herself, her eyes glazing over for an instant. She wanted to leave a trace in that person’s heart, but she couldn’t. Yet that person had left traces in another’s heart—whether good or bad, those traces were indelible.

Luo Shuqing couldn’t help but sneer. She withdrew her gaze and left, never looking back.

Silence lasted for only a moment before it was broken by another set of footsteps. Bai Wan looked up and saw the person approaching slowly.

“I thought you were lost, Mrs. Yan. Disappearing suddenly, not replying to messages. What are you doing standing here in a daze?”

Bai Wan’s gaze swept over the other’s face, inch by inch. She blinked gently; that gorgeous face appeared and disappeared before her eyes like a dream.

“Looking at the painting,” Bai Wan said.

Yan Nanjue countered, “Haven’t you looked long enough? Do I have to personally come get you before you know it’s time to go home?”

“On non-working days, my phone is on silent.” Bai Wan took out her phone to show the silent icon as proof she wasn’t lying. She took two steps toward Yan Nanjue and walked toward the exit with her. “I didn’t notice the time.”

Suddenly, her palm was empty; her phone had been snatched away. Bai Wan paused mid-stride.

There was nothing important on her phone, and she hadn’t even set a password. Yan Nanjue opened it easily and tapped the screen a few times, the white light reflecting in her pupils. Yan Nanjue changed her own contact ringtone to a unique one and added herself to the whitelist.

“I don’t want you vanishing for no reason when I’m looking for you. If you use ‘silent mode’ as an excuse again, you know what the consequences will be.”

Having finished the settings, Yan Nanjue tossed the phone back. She thought satisfactorily: Perfect! Now she can’t use the ‘didn’t see’ or ‘silent’ excuse to fool me.

Yan Nanjue had been annoyed by Bai Wan’s phone habits for a long time. She said firmly, “How can you just silence it! Even on non-working days, the sound should be on, right?”

【System: That’s her habit. She doesn’t want people disturbing her.】

“A bad habit,” Yan Nanjue whispered. She suddenly sensed something and looked sideways; Bai Wan was leaning against the seat with her eyes closed, resting.

【What’s wrong?】

Yan Nanjue whispered, “It felt like someone was watching me just now.” The System had been looking at the mission panel and hadn’t noticed. Hearing this, Yan Nanjue became interested. “Let me see the Blackening Value.”

【Current Blackening Value for Bai Wan: 60/100】

Seeing the number, Yan Nanjue felt relieved it hadn’t gone up, but also discouraged. “It’s been stuck here for so long. It’s not moving at all… not even by one point. Have I not been working hard enough on the mission? But nothing has happened to the heroine lately, and the plot points for her blackening are still a long way off.”

“Is your system really not malfunctioning?” Yan Nanjue couldn’t help but ask.

【System: Are you questioning me?】

Yan Nanjue wanted to nod but didn’t dare, so she simply looked away. After debating with the System for a while, she remembered something. “How about we bring the two children over? I remember Bai Qingzhi falls ill next month?”

【System: Yes.】

“Before that, let Bai Wan see them more. If she’s happy, the value might drop. And once the surgery is a success, it’ll definitely drop a huge amount!”

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Back at the villa, she messaged Assistant Lin to arrange it and find a random excuse to tell Bai Wan. On the other end, Lin Furuo fell into a subtle silence. “…Understood, Boss. I will explain it to the Madam.”

“I’ll arrange for extra doctors at the villa just in case,” Yan Nanjue said, trusting her assistant’s efficiency.

Lin Furuo was fast. The next morning, the two children who had lived in the nursing home for two years were brought to the villa. The butler had received the news early and had servants clean two south-facing guest rooms.

Yan Nanjue was still a bit dazed when the butler woke her. “Assistant Lin is this fast??”

Without even changing out of her pajamas, she padded down to the second floor in slippers. The two children were in a study being used as a temporary playroom. Bai Qingzhi was on the rug looking at an alphabet book, while Bai Xinzhi sat on the other side drawing.

Hearing the door, Bai Qingzhi swung her legs and looked up. “Sister Yan!” She dropped her book and ran to Yan Nanjue, hugging her leg. Yan Nanjue was knocked back half a step by the force.

Bai Xinzhi stood up, clutching his crayon, looking a bit shy. “Sister Yan…” he whispered.

Yan Nanjue nodded and patted the head of the little girl clinging to her. “Do you like it here?”

“I love it, I love it! I’m happy anywhere as long as it’s not a hospital ward! The butler grandma told me you and Sister come back every week. This is so much better than the hospital!” Bai Qingzhi looked toward the door, not seeing the person she hoped for, and looked expectantly at Yan Nanjue. “Is Sister not here? Brother and I missed her.”

Yan Nanjue walked to the table, the child still attached to her leg. “She’s sleeping right now.” She patted Bai Xinzhi’s head, signaling him to sit and continue drawing.

“We were supposed to be sleeping too, but when we heard we could come out and play, I didn’t want to sleep!”

Yan Nanjue had no choice but to pick her up. Bai Qingzhi familiarly wrapped her arms around her neck and whispered a secret plan: “Take us to find Sister! I’ll wake her up!”

“She’s been very tired lately. Let her rest. Play here with Xiao Xin; when she wakes up, I’ll send someone for you.”

Bai Qingzhi nodded obediently. “Okay. But can you stay with us first, Sister Yan? I don’t want anyone else.”

Yan Nanjue hesitated.

【System: Just stay and draw with them. It’s not that hard; they’re quite well-behaved.】

“I haven’t even changed my clothes…”

【System: You’re in your own home, what are you afraid of?】

Yan Nanjue was silent for a moment before finally admitting, “Actually, I don’t really like children.”

【System: You don’t look like it.】

Yan Nanjue simply said, “They’re piteous. I don’t like kids, but I can’t say I hate children who are this well-behaved with such a tragic background.”

“Sister Yan, Sister Yan, Sister Yan… play with me!” Bai Qingzhi dragged out the words in a milky tone unique to her age.

Yan Nanjue didn’t say yes or no, but asked, “Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet!”

Bai Xinzhi added softly, “The assistant sister took us to eat before we left, but Sister didn’t want to.”

Yan Nanjue stood up. “Then let’s go down and eat first. Xiao Xin, you too. I’ll have the cook make some desserts for you. Bring your crayons; you can draw in the dining room too.”

She brought the children to the dining room and, after settling them, stood at the door with her arms crossed for a while before turning to go back to her room.

After just a few steps, she ran into Bai Wan. Both paused. Bai Wan’s ears were sharp; she heard the faint voices from the dining room.

“You have guests?” she asked.

“Your guests,” Yan Nanjue replied. Her silk pajama sleeve fell down her arm, barely covering her wrist. She didn’t linger and entered the elevator.

Bai Wan didn’t understand at first, but when she entered the dining room and saw the two familiar little faces, she froze. She turned her head, her gaze falling on the closed elevator doors, her mouth opening slightly.

…What does this mean? Bai Wan wanted to ask her.

The person who could give her an answer was currently changing, taking a shower, and sitting before a vanity slowly drying her hair.

Bai Wan should have seen her siblings by now. It’s about time she heard the excuses from the butler. Why hasn’t the value changed?

Yan Nanjue couldn’t figure it out. Her hand holding the hair dryer grew heavy, so she set it on the table.

【System: Don’t be lazy. Dry the roots.】

“I’m tired,” Yan Nanjue sighed.

She checked the Blackening Value again and again, but saw no trace of change. Yan Nanjue didn’t give up. She flipped through the calendar and found there were no holidays coming up that would let Bai Wan stay at the villa longer.

“How can there be no holidays for two months?!” she fumed.

【System: You could give her a private leave, but she wouldn’t agree.】

Yan Nanjue had no rebuttal.

When she finally left her room with her hair semi-dry, the children were no longer in the dining room. The butler said Bai Wan had gone to tend the plants, and they followed her to the garden. Yan Nanjue went to the balcony, leaning on the railing to look down.

She had tested it: of all the balconies, this one was closest to the garden and had the best view.

Bai Wan was repotting flowers, and the two children had brought small chairs to sit beside her, watching without blinking. The distance wasn’t far; Yan Nanjue could hear them talking. Bai Qingzhi was pestering Bai Wan with endless questions. Bai Wan’s voice, mixed with the child’s milky tones, was particularly prominent—like a flowing spring, much more gentle than usual, the cold hostility completely vanished.

Yan Nanjue watched for as long as Bai Wan stayed in the garden. After the last pot was finished, Bai Wan had a servant take the two curious children back inside. She stood by the wooden rack, slowly peeling off her gloves to reveal slender, jade-like fingers. She draped the soil-stained gloves on the rack.

Bai Wan looked up. The figure on the balcony fell into her eyes. The person above looked down and met her gaze, her expression neutral.

Yan Nanjue, caught in the act, was panicking internally. She gripped the railing and tried to appear calm. When did Bai Wan notice me? Just now? Or did she see me from the start and just didn’t care? Why is she looking up now… is it a provocation?

Time passed in silence. Bai Wan simply stared at her. A gust of wind blew, and hair briefly obscured Yan Nanjue’s vision. She blinked frequently, her long lashes fluttering like a startled butterfly shaking dewdrops from its wings.

Suddenly, the System’s voice startled her. “What happened?!”

【System: Wake up. The value dropped.】

【Current Blackening Value for Bai Wan: 45/100】

The moment she heard the number, Yan Nanjue froze. She opened the panel and confirmed it twice, then looked down at the Omega below. Why is the change delayed?! She thought it would change when she saw the kids. Then she thought it would take a while. But it just dropped suddenly without warning! And it was the biggest drop yet!

Yan Nanjue was overjoyed. It took a while to regain her composure and look back at Bai Wan. The latter had already looked away, packed up her tools, and entered the villa.

“Forty-five…” she whispered. “Forty-five! Did you see that, System? It’s only forty-five!”

【System: I saw it. Don’t be so excited; the servants are still downstairs.】

Yan Nanjue couldn’t help it. She pursed her lips, but the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably. “A 15% drop all at once!” She asked, “Is it possible the rest will just hit zero instantly?”

【System: … You’re quite particular about when you daydream.】

Yan Nanjue was too happy to care about the sarcasm. She inhaled deeply, smelling the fragrance of the various flowers, her mood elevated.

Over the following week, Yan Nanjue looked forward to the weekend. As long as the value dropped, she was happy to play with the kids at the villa. To be safe, she even called the vacationing Yan Zhi over. Yan Zhi had experience with children and was more capable in that area.

When Yan Nanjue finished her work and came downstairs, the one adult and two children had taken over the entire sofa, playing happily. She watched for a while, realizing Yan Zhi was indeed good with kids.

“Sis,” Yan Zhi called out. “My friend wants to come over and play. I told her I wasn’t home, can she come over later?”

“Sure.” Yan Nanjue nodded. “The friend you went out with last time?”

“That’s her.”

It seemed Yan Zhi and Ming Yan were quite close. Yan Nanjue didn’t think much of it and left the living room. She wandered around and didn’t see Bai Wan. The butler informed her that Bai Wan had gone out to buy things.

She knit her brows slightly. “Tell me next time she goes out.”

The butler smiled. “It’s just the nearby supermarket; she’ll be back soon. Don’t worry so much, Miss.”

“I’m not worried about her,” Yan Nanjue frowned.

The butler laughed. “Whatever you say, Miss.”

At noon, Ming Yan arrived. Seeing Yan Nanjue, her expression stiffened. She forced a greeting and scurried to Yan Zhi’s side like a dog with its tail between its legs. “You didn’t say your sister was home.”

Yan Zhi raised an eyebrow. “I forgot. Don’t be scared; my sister is actually quite nice. Have you eaten? The desserts the cook makes here are great.”

Ming Yan shook her head hesitantly. “No thanks, it feels weird to have them make something just for me…”

Footsteps approached from behind the sofa. Ming Yan’s voice cut off, and she held her breath, becoming as tense as a mouse seeing a cat. Yan Zhi called out naturally, “Sis, I’m a bit hungry.”

Yan Nanjue called the butler over. “Tell Butler Li what you want to eat.” Yan Zhi lowered her voice to ask Ming Yan, who murmured “Anything is fine.”

Yan Nanjue glanced at Ming Yan, noticing the girl was exceptionally stiff. She felt a sense of oddness. “She really seems terrified of me.”

【System: Yes, maybe you should leave the living room.】

Yan Nanjue was deflated. She wanted some of those desserts too! Her tastes were similar to Yan Zhi’s.

【System: Look how you’ve scared the poor kid. She looks like she’s seen a ghost.】

Yan Nanjue peeked; Ming Yan was pale, clutching the hem of her skirt with panic in her eyes. She had to give up on the desserts and went up to her study.

Once she left, Ming Yan sighed with relief and slumped onto the sofa. Yan Zhi was confused. “Are you really that afraid of her?”

“A little…” Ming Yan whispered. More than fear, it was dislike. But who she truly feared was the other person in the house who hadn’t appeared yet.

Ming Yan couldn’t hide her feelings. Yan Zhi asked, “What rumors did you hear that scared you this much? You’re more panicked than when your social anxiety flares up.”

Ming Yan said nothing.

“I said she was nice last time, and you disagreed. So, what kind of person do you think she is?” Yan Zhi pushed the child engrossed in the cartoon aside to another sofa. “Tell me. I won’t tell her. I’m really curious.”

Ming Yan’s voice was very soft. “President Yan…”

“Fickle, promiscuous.”

“Disrespectful, autocratic, overbearing, tyrannical. Using a substitute and abusing her wife.”

“She even…”

She even drove her wife insane.

In her previous life, Ming Yan often heard rumors about the Yan family. She lived a secluded life then; few knew she was the second Miss of the Ming family. Most of her information came from others. They said the little Mrs. Yan was an orphan from the slums and was mentally unstable. That orphan was Bai Wan. Ming Yan still remembered the first time she saw Bai Wan at the orphanage. Bai Wan was a bit “crazy” as a child; she grew up to be a beautiful madwoman.

Later, they had no contact. Ming Yan returned to the Ming family and left the orphanage behind. When she heard of Bai Wan again, she was married and suffering. Everyone knew she was a pet to be bullied. Then Bai Wan was recognized by her biological parents, and everything changed. If Ming Yan could be the lost daughter of the Ming family, Bai Wan could naturally be the true daughter of a top-tier family.

Eventually, the Yan family was destroyed, and the high society of A-City was reshuffled. The Ming family chose the right side and rose up. Years later, Ming Yan saw Bai Wan again; she had become the ruthless “Jade-Faced Asura.” She was completely insane. Everyone said she was terrifying; her name was almost a taboo. Ming Yan had seen her methods once and had nightmares for six months.

But unlike others, she had seen the old Bai Wan. She felt that without Yan Nanjue’s torture, Bai Wan wouldn’t be this crazy. Bai Wan was a psychopath, but Yan Nanjue was a large reason why she became what she was.

So Ming Yan feared both of them. They were both lunatics.

Ming Yan stayed at the villa for half a day in trepidation. During that time, she saw the source of her nightmares. She was so nervous she could barely breathe, but Bai Wan simply walked past them to take the two children to take their medicine, her profile carrying a hint of softness.

“Play after you finish,” she said.

Ming Yan stared, dazed.

Footsteps approached. Bai Qingzhi, bitter from the medicine, brightened up and hugged Yan Nanjue’s leg, climbing halfway into her arms. “Sister Yan, I finished all the homework the tutor gave me!” She pointed at Bai Xinzhi. “Brother is slower than me!”

Yan Nanjue gave a soft “mm,” her face habitually cold. She seemed to dislike kids, yet Ming Yan saw her arms tighten slightly to hold the child securely. Ming Yan grew even more dazed.

After supervising the medicine, Bai Wan stood up and knit her brows. “Xiao Qing, I told you not to climb on people.”

“Sister Yan isn’t ‘people’,” the child replied.

“Get down,” Bai Wan said flatly.

The child grumbled but didn’t dare disobey, making a face when her sister wasn’t looking before running to the TV.

Seeing Bai Wan about to turn around, Ming Yan snapped her head down, afraid of being noticed. She was in a daze. How are these two completely different from my memory? Shouldn’t they be at each other’s throats? They didn’t even speak, yet they felt inexplicably familiar and intimate.

Ming Yan peeked again. In her peripheral vision, Yan Nanjue suddenly grabbed Bai Wan’s wrist. Ming Yan’s heart tightened. Is she going to hit her in front of everyone?!

In the next instant, she heard Yan Nanjue ask: “Why is there another injury on your hand?” It was an interrogative tone.

“Caught it on a shovel,” Bai Wan replied.

“Is your coordination failing you, Mrs. Yan?”

“… An accident.”

“You’re certainly ‘accidental’ enough.”

“Don’t be unreasonable.”

It was just a few words, but Ming Yan was shocked in a different way. How is this completely different from my previous life? Shouldn’t they hate each other at this point?