Chapter 1: The Vicious Female Supporting Character in the 1980s (1)

Su Qin woke up and found herself lying on a narrow bed. Her whole body felt weak and her stomach was aching continuously.

She stared blankly at the yellowed ceiling above her. Before she could gather her thoughts, a voice came angrily from outside. “I’d like to see how long she plans to mess up this family. If she has the guts, she can keep starving herself!”

“Xiao Qin was just acting on impulse. You know what her temper is like and she’s still young.” A woman’s soothing voice followed, then she said softly, “Xiao Yue, try to persuade your father more. Don’t let him get angry and affect his health.”

Xiao Yue? Su Yue?

The voices of the people in the living room continued. Su Qin heard a somewhat familiar name. After glancing around the room, she was completely stunned.

The furnishings in the room were old and had a dated feel. On the simply designed wooden table sat an enamel cup. A nylon bag hung at the head of the bed. The walls were covered with People’s Daily newspapers.

Every detail was telling Su Qin that this was not the era she had lived in.

Because she had some free time during the holidays, Su Qin had stayed up late reading a novel. The story was set in the 1980s. After the female lead Su Yue’s mother passed away, she went to the city to look for her father, only to be tormented in every way by the second daughter born from her father’s later marriage. But Su Yue was kind and generous, never holding grudges, and even treated the other girl like her own sister. Because of this, she gained the favor of the male lead Zhou Zhiyuan.

In Zhou Zhiyuan’s words, he had always treated Su Qin like a younger sister. It was only after Su Yue appeared that he realized what love truly was.

But Zhou Zhiyuan and the female supporting character were childhood sweethearts who had been engaged since they were young. In order to be with Su Yue, Zhou Zhiyuan was even willing to give up half his life, just to break off the engagement so he could be with Su Yue.

Of course, the female supporting character did not agree. She became jealous and repeatedly framed Su Yue, trying to steal Zhou Zhiyuan. But Zhou Zhiyuan’s feelings for Su Yue were strong and unwavering. The two overcame many difficulties and finally ended up together, living a harmonious and loving life.

Readers in the comment section were moved to tears after reading the ending. While giving their blessings to the male and female leads, they cursed the vicious supporting character countless times and cheered for her miserable ending.

Coincidentally, the name of the vicious supporting character was also Su Qin. Her final outcome was being abandoned by everyone, driven insane, and dying of cold in the street during winter without enough clothes to cover herself.

Because they had the same name, Su Qin felt a strong sense of identification. While reading the novel, she gritted her teeth in hatred and screamed inwardly. Wasn’t there anyone who felt the supporting character had been wronged? A childhood sweetheart fiance was suddenly taken away by a female lead who dropped from the sky. Everyone blamed and despised her. Everything she originally had was taken away one by one. What exactly did she do wrong?

Su Qin pricked up her ears and listened to the commotion outside. The one angrily yelling was Father Su, clearly furious.

Listening to the scolding, Su Qin quickly recalled the plot of the novel.

Su Yue was the child born to Father Su and a local woman during his time as a sent-down youth in the countryside. After Father Su “retired due to illness” and returned to the city, he concealed the fact that he had a wife and child in the countryside and married Li Wen, with whom he later had Su Qin.

At the time, Li Wen did some small business and could make money. She was favored by the two elders of the Su family. Because of this, Su Qin was loved and pampered from a young age. Later, when Li Wen died of illness, everyone in the Su family, including Father Su, felt even more guilty and doted on Su Qin more.

Father Su was a machinery repair technician at the canning factory. When housing was assigned, he got a dormitory room, next to the Zhou family. The couple from the Zhou family were both workers at the canning factory. Zhou Zhiyuan and Su Qin grew up together. Because of their long-standing ties, the previous generation had arranged a childhood engagement for them.

Su Qin had always followed behind Zhou Zhiyuan like a little tail and harbored deep admiration for him. Originally, once they both graduated and started working, they were supposed to get married.

All of this was shattered the moment Su Yue appeared.

Su Yue came without any warning. She had been accepted into college and brought her admission letter to find Father Su. In a timid voice, she called out “Dad.”

Su Qin reacted strongly to this sudden older sister. Su Yue stood at the door looking flustered and quickly explained, “I’ve never met my father. I just wanted to come and see him.”

Before she could finish, her eyes were brimming with tears and her shoulders trembled slightly.

No matter how much Su Qin caused a scene, Father Su did not drive her away. Liu Mei warmly welcomed Su Yue and told her to stay without worry.

Just one month before Su Yue arrived, Father Su had met Liu Mei through an introduction. Su Qin suddenly had a stepmother and now also had a sister.

The following year, Su Qin failed her college entrance exam due to her inability to concentrate on her studies. In contrast, Su Yue was accepted into college. A gap between them began to emerge.

Su Qin could not accept this difference, especially as she saw Su Yue and Zhou Zhiyuan getting closer. She desperately sought a sense of presence and became increasingly displeased with Su Yue.

Meanwhile, Liu Mei showed Su Yue much care and affection. Gradually, Su Qin became the outsider in her own home. She grew confused and anxious, losing her sense of direction, eventually turning into the most disliked vicious supporting character in the novel.

At this point in the story, two years had passed. Su Qin, who had failed to get into college, had been working as a temporary worker at the canning factory for a year.

Su Yue and Zhou Zhiyuan had already developed feelings for each other. When Su Qin accidentally discovered this, she caused a big scene, insisting that Zhou Zhiyuan marry her immediately.

Naturally, Zhou Zhiyuan was unwilling but also did not want to “hurt” Su Qin. During one of their quarrels and scuffles, Su Yue stepped forward to intervene. Su Qin pushed her aside in frustration. Su Yue stumbled and fell, injuring her head.

Father Su happened to witness the scene. He stopped them loudly and slapped Su Qin on the spot. He immediately declared that the engagement between Zhou Zhiyuan and Su Qin was void and told others to start introducing potential matches for Su Qin. He told her to stop fixating on Zhou Zhiyuan and disturbing the peace of the entire family.

Liu Mei actively arranged for Su Qin to go on blind dates. After all, she wasn’t studying and wasn’t a formal worker either. It would be better to find a good family for her while she was still young.

Yesterday morning, Su Qin was tricked into meeting her first blind date. Before she could even see the person’s face clearly, she insulted him. The meeting ended on a sour note.

That same day, bad news about her spread like wildfire. The entire neighborhood soon knew.

When Father Su returned from work at the factory with a dark face and learned that Su Qin was still unrepentant, even skipping work and going on a hunger strike, he flew into a rage and shouted that if she had the guts, she could starve herself to death.

From that point on, Su Qin’s relationship with her family completely broke down. Her reputation was ruined and her blind date prospects kept getting worse.

After causing trouble for a while longer, Father Su was even willing to accept a divorced man with a child as long as it meant getting her married off quickly.

After sorting through her situation, Su Qin sat up.

She had already gone without food for a day and a half. She was dizzy from hunger, her body weak, and all she wanted was to find something to eat quickly.

When Su Qin struggled to open the door and came out, Father Su had already returned to the factory. Liu Mei and Su Yue were sitting on the sofa.

Seeing Su Qin come out, Liu Mei was the first to stand up and walk over with concern. “Xiao Qin, you must be starving. There are some noodles in the kitchen. I’ll go get you a bowl.”

She brought out a bowl of noodles from the kitchen, with a fried egg on top. She called Su Qin over to eat first and said softly, “It’s bad for your health to go this long without eating. Whatever the problem is, we can talk it over later.”

“Thank you, Aunt Mei.” Su Qin felt her hunger intensify and took the bowl, starting to eat.

She did not dare to eat too quickly, afraid her body could not handle it. She tried to chew slowly and carefully.

When Liu Mei heard Su Qin say thank you, she thought she had misheard.

Before Su Yue came, Su Qin did not reject her too much. But after Su Yue’s arrival, and Liu Mei’s kindness toward her, Su Qin always held some resentment.

After learning that Liu Mei had arranged this blind date, Su Qin had thrown a tantrum at her yesterday. Now, to suddenly hear a polite thank you made her feel awkward.

After all, during this period, Su Qin had stirred up a storm at home, as if everyone owed her something. She disrupted the peace for everyone and refused to show respect to anyone.

Liu Mei sat next to Su Qin and gently comforted her, “If you don’t want to go on the blind date, I’ll talk to your dad and tell him not to make you go. You’re still young. It’s not that urgent.”

Su Qin took a bite of her egg, lifted her head to look at her, and nodded with understanding, “It’s okay, Aunt Mei. I know you’re doing this for my own good. I don’t blame you.”

Wasn’t Liu Mei just shifting all the responsibility onto Su Qin’s father?

She liked Zhou Zhiyuan and didn’t want to go on blind dates. Liu Mei had known that for a long time. Why pretend to be the good guy now?

Right now, a large number of educated youths had returned to the city. Jobs and housing were in short supply. Liu Mei also had a son who needed a house to get married. She couldn’t wait for Su Qin to marry out soon.

Liu Mei was truly a smooth operator. She was thoughtful and attentive to Su Qin’s father. Before Su Yue came, she cared for Su Qin like her own daughter. But after Su Yue arrived, she started treating Su Yue even better.

Just as Liu Mei had hoped, Su Qin, who had been pampered since childhood, started to feel unbalanced. She threw little tantrums to get attention, which instead made her father annoyed with her.

On top of that, Su Qin was spoiled and arrogant. She often clashed with Liu Mei. Yet Liu Mei would always smile and endure it, playing the role of a qualified stepmother, while showing even more affection to Su Yue. She didn’t need a knife to drive a wedge between Su Qin and her father.

You had to know, Su Qin’s father was a formal employee at the factory. Once he retired, someone would need to take over his position. Liu Mei, a rural woman, was only able to become a factory family worker because she married him. To say she didn’t covet that successor’s spot would be impossible.

In Liu Mei’s mind, Su Qin was simple-minded and foolish. But now, hearing her suddenly say something like that, it was as if she had seen through her completely. Her heart gave a jolt, and her face stiffened.

“Then I’ll trouble Aunt Mei to talk to my dad. I’m not planning to go on blind dates or get married for the time being,” Su Qin continued, “Sorry to trouble you, Aunt Mei.”

Liu Mei forced a smile, “I’ll talk to your dad when he gets home.”

Su Qin lowered her head again and continued eating her noodles in small bites, chewing slowly and calmly, not the least bit rushed.

Liu Mei was still stuck on what Su Qin had said earlier. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the girl was somehow different, as if she had changed her personality or was hinting at something.

Su Yue sat on the sofa, her hands clasped together, looking nervous. She glanced at Su Qin repeatedly but hesitated to speak.

Suddenly, Su Qin looked up at her. Her almond-shaped eyes were clear and pure. The full under-eye area made her oval face look even more delicate.

Su Yue was so nervous her palms were sweating, silently waiting for Su Qin to mock her.

But then Su Qin simply asked, “When are you and Zhou Zhiyuan getting married?”

Her tone was calm, without anger or sarcasm. It was like an ordinary, casual question.

Not only was Su Yue stunned, even Liu Mei couldn’t tell what Su Qin was up to.

“Xiao Qin, things aren’t how you think—”

Before Su Yue could finish, Su Qin interrupted, “Don’t you like him? Aren’t you two going to end up together?”

That question left Su Yue speechless. She lowered her eyes. After a long while, she raised her head again, her expression firm, and promised Su Qin, “I won’t be with him. I never intended to do anything to hurt you.”

See?

That’s the heroine for you.

So kind and generous. Even if she liked the male lead and the feelings were mutual, she wouldn’t hurt the supporting female lead. She’d even be willing to “sacrifice” her own happiness for her.

Liu Mei couldn’t stand it. She thought Su Qin had really been spoiled rotten. What was the point of making such a fuss?

Su Qin finished the last bite of her egg and looked like she found the situation laughable. She turned to Su Yue and said seriously, “You don’t think you’ve done anything wrong. You’re just doing filthy things under the guise of innocence. If you really thought this would hurt me, then from the beginning, you shouldn’t have gone near Zhou Zhiyuan.”

Su Yue’s eyes instantly turned red. She tried hard to hold back her sobs. That pitiful white-lotus look really tugged at men’s heartstrings.

“I was wrong?” Su Qin glanced at Liu Mei, then turned back to Su Yue, “From the day you stepped into this house, I told you Zhou Zhiyuan was my fiancé. We had a childhood engagement. I liked him. Then why did you go to the movies with him alone, eat with him, and go shopping with him?”

“I can explain—”

Su Qin said, “If you didn’t have any intentions, then why did you do those things? Weren’t you trying to build feelings?”

“I never meant to hurt you. I—”

“You knew exactly what you were doing. You saw an opportunity and took it. You stole someone else’s love,” Su Qin raised her voice, “You knew everything and still did it. Why can’t you admit it?”

Feelings might not come in order, but was Su Yue really blameless?

Su Qin’s sharp eyes bore into Su Yue. Her words were cutting, leaving Su Yue cold all over and at a loss, tears slipping quietly from the corners of her eyes as she whimpered softly.

“You don’t need to act all conflicted and hurt, trying to make Zhou Zhiyuan take care of me. As if that would make you completely blameless,” Su Qin stared at Su Yue and spoke word by word, “Su Yue, you’re the most shameless one in this whole situation.”

Su Qin’s final sentence echoed throughout the cramped living room.

Su Yue’s face had long gone pale. She stood up so quickly her body swayed. Liu Mei was completely stunned, as if a clap of thunder had exploded above her head. She just stood there in place.