Ending Up with the Female Lead’s Mom - Chapter 13

The next day, Su Ming underwent a full-body checkup. Once the doctors ensured her health was perfectly fine, she successfully completed her discharge papers. Who would have thought that simply being afraid of the heat would land her in a hospital bed for four days? This would serve as a lifelong lesson for her.

Her discharge had been pre-arranged with Su Yao. When Mother Su found out, she complained: “Your sister has been lively and healthy since she was a child. It’s rare for her to end up in the hospital; she should take this chance to properly recuperate. How can she leave so soon?”

Su Ming: “…” She really couldn’t understand the logic of the elderly.

“Mom, she’s been lying down so much she’s practically turned into a pancake. She’s listless,” Su Yao interjected.

Su Ming immediately put on a listless expression.

Mother Su countered: “That’s your fault! Your sister is hospitalized, and you don’t even know how to keep her company. Is your work really that busy?”

Su Yao: “…”

Father Su, who rarely spoke, added: “Be careful from now on. Don’t get sick again. When your mother heard you had a high fever, she didn’t even finish her card game; she rushed straight here.”

Su Ming nodded like a woodpecker. “Yes, yes, of course.”

Finally having appeased the two elders, Su Ming felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. Su Yao also looked relieved. Su Ming secretly marveled at how miraculous it was that these two sisters had such a great relationship, considering the original host was clearly a late-arriving second child.

Su Ming felt a wave of pity for Su Yao.

Back at home, Su Yao prepared a massive feast. While Su Ming was hospitalized, she had been restricted to a light diet; she felt like she had almost become a monk in a temple.

However, looking at the table full of meat today, she didn’t know where to start.

Su Yao was confused. “What? Don’t you like it?”

Su Ming said: “I haven’t felt like eating meat lately.”

That dream was truly lingering. Every time she saw chunks of meat, she thought of her nightmare, which led to memories of her past life—growing up watching all sorts of surgical videos. Her parents were both doctors; she knew doctors were great, but being forced into that “greatness” was truly uncomfortable.

Su Yao frowned. “You aren’t trying to lose weight, are you?”

Su Ming shook her head. “No, I just have no appetite. Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating so light these past few days, I’m not used to it yet.”

Su Yao relaxed. “That’s good. You aren’t fat, so don’t you dare diet. Besides, when you lose weight, the chest is the first to go. You used to complain to me all the time about being small.”

Su Ming: “…” She spent the rest of the meal eating only vegetables and fish.

Before bed, Su Yao nagged her: “Why don’t you sleep with me tonight? Otherwise, you’ll probably mess with the AC again, and I’ll have to worry all over again.”

Su Ming was speechless. “I’m not a child.” Once was an accident; twice would be a mental deficiency.

Su Yao really didn’t view her as an adult: “That’s hard to say. 18 degrees… I can’t imagine how you lasted a whole night. No wonder Gu Zhanci said you treated her house like a morgue. I was so angry at the time I didn’t process it; I thought she was insulting me.”

Su Ming: “…”

“Sis, go to sleep. Stop being such a nag.”

Su Yao looked hurt. “You really won’t sleep with me?”

Su Ming said considerately: “I won’t disturb your nightlife.”

They were both adults; who knew if Su Yao did “strange things” at night? Besides, she wasn’t used to sleeping with others, and Su Yao’s body temperature was too high.

“What nightlife could I possibly have?” Su Yao inexplicably thought of Gu Zhanci’s stepmother, then immediately felt like a pervert.

Su Ming spread her hands. Who knows?

Su Yao thought of something, her face flushing slightly. “Fine, then don’t turn on the AC. Even if you do, remember to set a timer. I’m going to get up and check on you during the night.”

Su Ming said: “Don’t worry.”

Back in her room, Su Ming hung the small fan Gu Zhanci gave her around her neck and started organizing the plot in her head.

The original book was a pure romance focus, only detailing the relationship between the Female Lead and the Second Female Lead. Her role as a supporting character was basically to cause trouble everywhere: confessing to Gu Shiyue, making Lin Yi jealous, and constantly mocking Lin Yi. She looked like a villainous female supporting lead, but she was really just a “tool” to catalyze the leads’ relationship. Now that she wasn’t stirring up trouble, she wondered how their romance was progressing.

What Su Ming wanted to know most was the original host’s storyline. Unfortunately, “tools” don’t get complete backstories. So far, she only remembered that the original host died in a car accident at the end. Before that, something seemed to happen to Su Yao as well. Even the character setting for Gu Zhanci was incomplete; Su Ming had no idea why Gu Zhanci was the way she was.

As Su Ming was brooding over the plot, her phone vibrated.

Gu Zhanci had actually messaged her first? Yesterday, Gu Zhanci had been mysteriously cold and silent; Su Ming thought she had offended her.

Su Ming opened the message.

Gu Zhanci: “You aren’t using that fan, are you?”

Su Ming was confused. Su Ming: “I am using it.”

Gu Zhanci: “A friend just called me and said quite a few people have suffered facial paralysis after using this model.”

Gu Zhanci: “Your face isn’t paralyzed, is it?”

“…” Su Ming immediately rubbed her face. Her facial muscles were moving fine. Su Ming: “No, my face is fine.”

Gu Zhanci: “Good. Don’t use it anymore.”

Su Ming: “Okay.”

Since she was busy thinking about the plot, she didn’t feel like joking. She said goodnight early and sent a sticker.

Cat Blowing a Kiss.gif

Gu Zhanci glanced at the sticker. Gu Zhanci: “Goodnight.”

Gu Zhanci was still in her study when a knock came at the door. She put down her phone. “Come in.”

Gu Shiyue walked in. “Mother… Ning Ming came to tell me today that Grandfather wants me to study abroad after graduation. Also, he seems to be planning to take me to the shareholders’ meeting.”

Gu Zhanci looked at her. “What do you think about that?”

“I want to take the Gaokao and go to university domestically. I know he doesn’t trust you, but I will always see you as my mother. I won’t fight you for the company. After he passes away, you can change the successor.”

Gu Zhanci watched her silently for a long time. Finally, she said: “Don’t worry. You aren’t even qualified to fight me for it yet.”

Gu Shiyue lowered her head. “Yes. I just want to live my own life. I don’t want you all to arrange everything for me, and I don’t want to be a corporate successor.”

Gu Zhanci stood up. “Gu Shiyue, I hope you understand one thing: you don’t have a so-called ‘life of your own.’ He treats you like a tool, and so do I. There is no difference between the two.”

Gu Shiyue turned pale and bit her lip. “I know.”

Gu Zhanci waved her off. “Good that you know. Go to sleep. Your current task is to study hard.”

“Yes. Rest early, Mother. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

After Gu Shiyue left, Gu Zhanci rubbed her temples. She glanced at the phone screen, which was still on the chat interface, and saved Su Ming’s cat sticker into her library.

Both Su Ming and Guoguo were attending university locally. On the eve of enrollment, Guoguo came to find Su Ming, asking if she wanted to visit their alma mater, Hongyan No. 7 High School. Guoguo had been depressed ever since Luo Su scolded her.

A simp who loses their target for simping definitely loses their spirit.

Su Ming decided to take her out to broaden her horizons; she shouldn’t keep staring at that childhood friend, Luo Su. According to novel tropes, “childhood friends” almost always lose to the “heaven-sent” newcomer.

School had already started at Hongyan No. 7, especially for the seniors; summer break practically didn’t exist for them.

Su Ming wandered around the campus. As the best high school in the city, the atmosphere was great and the scenery was lovely. She took a few photos and sent them to Gu Zhanci.

Gu Zhanci was likely busy and didn’t reply. Su Ming put away her phone and continued wandering. Eventually, she realized there wasn’t much to see. She didn’t want to experience social death, given she was once the school’s most famous simp.

However, as luck would have it, she ran into the Female Lead.

“Don’t tell me you’re here to look for my mom again?” Gu Shiyue crossed her arms, her expression bearing a slight resemblance to Gu Zhanci’s.

Su Ming said: “No. This time, I’m here for your girlfriend.”

Once again, Su Ming effortlessly took control of the situation.

Gu Shiyue: “…”

Su Ming laughed. “Relax. I said I only like ‘Big Sisters.’ I won’t steal your girlfriend. I just have something to talk to her about.”

(Even though Lin Yi wasn’t actually Gu Shiyue’s girlfriend yet.)

Gu Shiyue, with a dark face, called Lin Yi over.

“Student Lin Yi, I start university tomorrow. I’m here to apologize for the things I did to you in the past,” Su Ming said with total sincerity.

The Female Lead’s aura was too strong; she wanted to settle any lingering grudges before she left. Simping is just simping—it’s not a crime—but she really wanted to get on good terms with the Second Female Lead. As for the Female Lead… given Gu Shiyue’s current prejudice against her, they wouldn’t be able to get along any time soon.

By now, a crowd of students had gathered. Su Ming’s past harassment of Lin Yi or her simping had always been very direct; she had even once announced that Gu Shiyue was “hers.” Everyone thought a good drama was about to unfold and crowded around.

However, they were disappointed.

Su Ming didn’t act like a simp, didn’t add any new “simp quotes,” but instead gave a very proper apology to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi looked at her with a complicated expression. “It’s okay.”

Su Ming smiled. “Then we’re all friends now.”

Gu Shiyue barked: “Who’s friends with you?”

“Certainly not with you. There will be a generational gap between us sooner or later, Student Gu Shiyue,” Su Ming said solemnly.

Gu Shiyue: “…” The more Su Ming claimed to like Gu Zhanci, the more Gu Shiyue was convinced that Su Ming’s ultimate goal in pleasing her mother was actually herself.

Gu Shiyue disdained dealing with Su Ming. It was time for class, so she took Lin Yi and left.

Su Ming looked at the vibrant young boys and girls and sighed softly.

“That’s it? You just came to apologize to Lin Yi?” Guoguo felt it was strange. According to the normal script, it shouldn’t be like this.

“What else?” Su Ming felt a weight lift. Lin Yi was the person the original host owed the most; she had finally apologized.

She took out her phone. Gu Zhanci still hadn’t replied. She sent another sticker.

Cat Peeking.gif

“The photos were quite nice.” Gu Zhanci finally replied.

Su Ming had sent her a selfie with a large lawn in the background; it was obviously Hongyan No. 7.

Su Ming was quite confident in her photography skills. She lowered her head and typed: “Sister, school starts for me tomorrow.”

The subtext was: Quick, comfort me.

Gu Zhanci: “Congratulations on the start of school.”

Su Ming: “…”

Su Ming: “Students don’t like it when school starts.”

After a while.

Gu Zhanci: “Then… my condolences.”

Su Ming: “…”

She finally knew why Gu Zhanci managed to stay single even in a novel where everyone else was being paired up.