Maintaining the Dignity of the Female Supporting Character

Lu Jing finished wiping the blackboard and came down, noticing that the Chinese homework being passed along the neighboring row had stalled at the third desk. He casually helped pass it along.

Wen Shuangmu glimpsed a practice sheet falling on the corner of her desk. Her gaze followed the slender, well-proportioned finger bones upward, but before their eyes could meet, the owner of those fingers had already placed the sheet on her desk and naturally walked away.

Lu Jing returned to his seat, pulled out a tissue from his drawer to wipe the chalk dust off his nails, and after a moment, pressed his wrist on Wang Chengshuo's shoulder, shaking it: "Do you have any wet wipes? Give me one."

"I don't. Ask someone else," Wang Chengshuo replied.

Wu Xiaoqi said: "Host, quick, it's your time to shine."

Wen Shuangmu's wet wipe box was right next to her pencil case, but when Lu Jing turned his head to look at her, she nonchalantly lowered her head, pretending to do her homework.

Wu Xiaoqi was exasperated: "What are you doing?"

Wen Shuangmu said: "He said I'm not as pretty as Xia Zhili."

Wu Xiaoqi had a headache: "You two are one entity now. If you don't quickly build a good relationship with him, how are you going to work together on big things later?"

Wen Shuangmu looked indifferent: "I'm not in a hurry. After all, his villain value is already at 40%."

Lu Jing silently stared at Wen Shuangmu's unrecognizable profile for two seconds, just about to stand up and go to the washroom when Wen Shuangmu's hand extended from across the aisle.

She held up the wet wipe box and asked him: "Want one?"

Her expression was still a bit cocky.

Lu Jing's expression was subtle. He stood there for a moment before pulling out a sheet: "Thanks."

Wang Chengshuo walked to Wen Shuangmu's seat with an advanced mathematics textbook and a draft notebook: "Um, Wen Shuangmu, I've also self-studied the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem part, but I don't quite understand the answer to this example problem. Could you help me take a look?"

Wen Shuangmu wasn't the type of top student who freely shared knowledge with classmates, but seeing Lu Jing's gaze directed at them from the side, she somehow changed the refusal on the tip of her tongue and said generously: "Sure."

Wen Shuangmu took the book and scanned the question up and down, quickly organizing her thoughts: "For this kind of double intermediate value problem, you need to use the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem twice. First, separate the ??? xx in the original equation..."

Lu Jing listened to them talking about mathematical symbols he had never heard of, and couldn't help but lean over to observe for a while.

Glimpsing the completely advanced steps, he froze entirely. Seeing that Wang Chengshuo didn't understand and Wen Shuangmu was about to explain again, Lu Jing patted Wang Chengshuo's shoulder and said: "Stop 'pulling', if you keep 'pulling' like this, the whole class is going to get caught up in it."

Wen Shuangmu paused, looking up at Lu Jing: "Caught up?"

Lu Jing: "It refers to some meaningless pursuit of perfection."

Wang Chengshuo elbowed Lu Jing, who then reluctantly added: "I don't mean that your current studying is meaningless, just that it's good enough to solve high school problems with high school knowledge. After all... consider the mentality of the majority of ordinary students."

Wang Chengshuo, afraid that Wen Shuangmu would get angry, tried to help smooth things over: "He's a poor student, don't mind him."

Wen Shuangmu smiled: "It's fine. I just think Lu's existence itself is quite intense."

It's worth noting that the term "involution" was still confined to academic literature at this time, and would only become popular on the internet in a few years. The fact that Lu Jing could casually mention it showed that he did quite a bit of reading in private.

If Xia Zhili were here, she would surely feel a kindred spirit with him.

However, Lu Jing interpreted Wen Shuangmu's words as having a deeper meaning.

He tilted his head towards Wang Chengshuo and whispered: "What does she mean? Is she trying to say my existence is meaningless?"

Wang Chengshuo comforted him: "She's probably complimenting you for always striving for perfection."

Lu Jing was puzzled: "Is that so?"

He looked back at Wen Shuangmu, his attitude softening a bit for the sake of "striving for perfection": "We're classmates, no need to be so formal. Just call me Lu Jing."

Wen Shuangmu explained the problem to Wang Chengshuo again, then saw them off. She felt a bit regretful that Lu Jing's future CP's seat was too far away, otherwise, the two might have had a memorable interactive exchange on the topic of "involution".

However, looking around, Wen Shuangmu realized that Xia Zhili had disappeared after cleaning the blackboard.

She asked Wu Xiaoqi: "Where's Xia Zhili?"

Wu Xiaoqi: "This system does not have human tracking and scanning positioning capabilities."

Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue lightly, then thought of something: "What about the reward for the math class guessing game? Haven't you given it to me yet? I want to unlock all those censored parts in the original novel!"

It's no wonder Wen Shuangmu was so suspicious. After careful observation for several days, she noticed that apart from Su Qiyan's comment about caring for Xia Zhili in the cafeteria, the two had no extra interactions. The less there was between them, the more it suggested that something was happening where she couldn't see. Now, whenever Wen Shuangmu saw Xia Zhili leaving her field of vision, she worried that she might be secretly meeting with Su Qiyan.

Wu Xiaoqi's program ran: "System rewards are distributed exclusively by the headquarters mall. Currently, the only feature available for the host is the ability to peek at the novel's comment section."

Wen Shuangmu: "Huh?"

Wu Xiaoqi repeated: "System rewards are distributed exclusively by the headquarters mall. Currently, the only feature available for the host is the ability to peek at the novel's comment section."

Wen Shuangmu: "I'm not deaf, but what use is it to me to see those comments?"

Wu Xiaoqi was nonchalant: "It has many uses. The host can learn about the male and female leads' attractive points and emotional progress through reader comments, and then make targeted plans for the next step."

Wen Shuangmu's opinion of this reward being useless didn't decrease much due to Wu Xiaoqi's words, but thinking it was better than nothing, she urged: "Fine, let me see it then."

Wu Xiaoqi: "Friendly reminder, this feature only unlocks the comment section content for the current plot chapter. Currently, the host has permission to view the comments for the first and second chapters. Please look at the big screen."

[Finally found a novel where the female lead isn't a soft girl.]

[555 I want to cuddle with a beautiful girl too, congratulations to the author for starting the novel, throwing flowers throwing flowers throwing flowers.]

[Su Qiyan forever, friends, I'm here for a second read.]

[May I ask if it's a mutual first love and both are virgins? I saw a warning in the synopsis, the male lead has a clingy childhood friend, he didn't like her, right?]

[Don't worry, the childhood friend is clinging one-sidedly, Su God only has Zhizhi in his heart.]

[To be honest, if you remove Wen's scenes, Zhizhi and Lüyan would be my ideal school story OP1.]

Wu Xiaoqi regretted not filtering the comment section beforehand: "Ahem, actually, from another perspective, the sincere little readers are quite cute. They're also praising how deeply ingrained the host's image is."

Wen Shuangmu laughed: "Did I say anything? Why, are you worried I'll reach through the internet and hit someone?"

Wu Xiaoqi was surprised: "Oh? The host isn't angry?"

"Can anger be eaten as food? Even if I'm angry, Su Qiyan is about to be stolen away," Wen Shuangmu said, "Continue scrolling down for me."

Wu Xiaoqi was pleased with the host's growth and immediately complied.

[Ahhhhh why is the second male lead also a bit shippable?]

[Report to Su God, someone's stealing home, one hundred-meter sprint and they'll snatch our Zhizhi away, run!]

Wen Shuangmu frowned: "Why didn't you tell me earlier that there was a second male lead character? To complete the villain mission, I could have just gone to find the second male lead, why bind me to Lu Jing?"

Wu Xiaoqi calmly said: "Host, please continue reading."

[I really like boys like Yu-ge who have a bit of a bad boy vibe, wuwuwu (Su God, I'm just climbing over the wall for a moment).]

[Third read during the holiday! I'm okay with both the genius male lead and the school bully second male lead!!!]

[They're both supporting characters, but how is the second female lead Wen Shuangmu so different from the second male lead Yu-ge?]

[Agreed with the above, I hope Jinjiang can come up with a novel character blocking function someday. Wouldn't it be nice to just read the sweet love triangle between Zhizhi, Su God, and Yu-ge?]

[Wuwuwu really, Yu-ge has always been silently devoted, giving all his favoritism and affection to Zhizhi without asking for anything in return. This kind of character setting really touches me.]

When Wen Shuangmu read this part, she let out a cold laugh, "Ha," realizing he was the type who didn't ask for anything in return: "Trash."

Wu Xiaoqi: "..."

There were hardly any information points in the later comments. Wen Shuangmu carefully pondered: "A school bully, with 'Yu' in his name... Are you sure our school has such a person? The head teacher would probably eliminate him on the spot if they saw him."

Wu Xiaoqi prompted: "I can only say that the host's current line of thinking isn't wrong. You can continue to think in this direction."

Wen Shuangmu let out a light "Ah": "Could it be the school bully from the neighboring No. 11 High School?"

Wu Xiaoqi praised: "Not bad."

Wen Shuangmu got up and ran out of the classroom.

Wu Xiaoqi was confused: "Where is the host going?"

Wen Shuangmu said: "To catch them in the act, of course. I'll take photos as evidence to throw in Su Qiyan's face later. It'll be irrefutable proof."

Wu Xiaoqi admired: "...Does the host know where Xia Zhili and the male lead are right now?"

Wen Shuangmu replied without hesitation: "No idea."

Wu Xiaoqi: "..."

Wen Shuangmu said: "But we can look for them, can't we?"

Wen Shuangmu exited through Mingli's main gate and immediately spotted the "Ruihai No. 13 Middle School" sign carved in marble on the opposite side of the main street.

The electric sliding gate was half-open, with students coming and going. Some had dyed hair, others wore earrings. It was bustling with activity. Those wearing school uniforms were few and far between. Occasionally, an electric scooter carrying three to five people would zoom past, breaking regulations, while the security guard dozed off, resting his chin on his palm, not bothering to intervene.

Wu Xiaoqi noticed Wen Shuangmu standing still: "What is the host looking at?"

"Looking at a beautiful girl."

Wu Xiaoqi: "..."

Wen Shuangmu wasn't lying. She crossed the pedestrian crossing and walked towards the large banyan tree at the entrance of No. 13 Middle School.

Under the tree stood a girl with exquisite makeup. The clumsy sports uniform of No. 13 Middle School was tied around her waist, not looking out of place at all. From a distance, she looked like a painting.

Unfortunately, the girl seemed nervous, fidgeting with her hands. Her shoulders and neck were tense, and her eyes kept darting towards a nearby alley.

Wen Shuangmu approached her, casually trying her luck: "Excuse me, do you know Zhou Yu?"

The girl turned to look, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes: "What do you want with Zhou Yu?"

Wen Shuangmu didn't expect to hit the mark so easily and was immediately delighted.

This little one's quite famous.

"I'm Zhou Yu's neighbor. His mom asked me to pass him a message, but I can't reach him on his phone. I was wondering if you know where he is now?"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then pointed her index finger towards the nearby alley: "He's meeting someone there to talk. I suggest you go later."

Wen Shuangmu noticed the girl's expression suddenly turning gloomy: "Is he dating someone?"

The girl didn't catch the rising intonation in her question and lowered her eyes, saying: "So he told you... It's only been two days since school started, and he's already fallen for a new first-year student in the school..."

Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue, thinking that the male lead's relationship lines were quite messy.

When she looked towards the alley entrance again, Xia Zhili had appeared out of nowhere, holding up her phone with her chin slightly raised, speaking coldly to someone inside.

Wen Shuangmu had no time to think further. She hurriedly bid farewell to the girl and ran towards the alley.

She didn't know what Xia Zhili had said to the person inside, but by the time Wen Shuangmu arrived, a motorcycle was driving out of the alley.

The boy's black hair was wildly disheveled in the wind, his slightly narrow eyes looked lazy yet exuded a hint of rakish elegance, and his silver earring gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

As the motorcycle passed by Xia Zhili,

Wen Shuangmu heard Zhou Yu say to Xia Zhili over the roaring engine:

"Kid, being nosy isn't a good habit."

Damn.

Wen Shuangmu urgently pressed her philtrum.

She almost fainted on the spot.

Xia Zhili was stunned and surprised to see Wen Shuangmu there. She quickly went to support her: "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Wen Shuangmu waved her hand: "I'm fine."

She just nearly got swept off her feet by that smooth operator.