Chapter 2 — Glitch in the Supporting Character's Narrative

Huong Than Tung strode toward me with the swagger of a man who owned the world.

"So, you are the fake little sister of the Tieu family?"

I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. "Do you know me?" Huong Than Tung leaned in, his eyes narrowing with a predatory glint.

"Tieu Lam Nhi, you are quite famous." He sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "I heard from my sister that your brother has already discarded you. Wouldn't it be better to just follow me instead?"

I let out a short, sharp laugh, pivoted on my heel, and delivered a swift kick exactly where it mattered. He collapsed instantly, the air escaping his lungs in a pained wheeze. As he curled up on the ground, he began to curse wildly, "Damn you! What are you acting so high and mighty for? Isn't everyone in your Tieu family just like that? Oh, that is right—I almost forgot—you are not even a real Tieu to begin with!"

I did not bother to turn back, walking directly toward the lecture hall. From behind me, Huong Than Tung continued to moan and groan in the dirt, "Regardless of your status, that shameless, spineless brother of yours is the only one with the actual Tieu bloodline!"

I halted. I slowly turned around, my gaze cold as ice. "Care to say that one more time?"

When Tieu Trinh arrived at the school, he found me looking disheveled, covered in dust, standing inside the advisor's office like a bedraggled stray.

"Did you get into a fight?"

I kept my head bowed, saying nothing, effectively conceding the point. Tieu Trinh let out a long, weary sigh, then asked something entirely unexpected: "Did you win?"

I looked up, stunned for a moment, before a smug smile curled my lips. I glanced at Huong Than Tung, who was standing there with his shirt hanging off his waist and his face swollen like a pig's head. The advisor, clearly suffering from a headache, pounded his desk in frustration. "Tieu Lam’s brother, look at this! Tieu Lam has beaten her classmate until he is in this state!"

I was about to retort, but Tieu Trinh beat me to it. "I understand my sister. She would never deliberately harm anyone without provocation."

I raised an eyebrow. Tieu Trinh continued, his tone icy. "This classmate must have provoked her first for her to strike back. Furthermore, my sister is physically weak; she could not possibly have beaten someone until they looked like a swollen pig on her own." He turned his cold gaze toward the advisor. "And where are the parents of this 'pig-headed' student? Why was only I called here?"

The advisor, unfamiliar with Tieu Trinh but clearly rattled by his imposing presence, stammered, "Well... the girl is not injured, so I had to prioritize the more vulnerable party..."

I immediately clutched my hand, letting out a sharp, pathetic whimper. "My hand hurts so much, it hurts terribly!" Tieu Trinh’s brow furrowed instantly.

"How did you hurt it?"

Huong Than Tung, his tongue thick with swelling, slurred, "It is... it is probably because she slapped my face so har... urgh..."

Tieu Trinh spun around, his voice dropping to a glacial chill. "You dared to use your face to impact my sister's hand? Do you have a death wish?"

His expression turned dark and ominous as he stepped forward. Huong Than Tung scrambled back in terror, shielding his head. "Wait, wait! Tieu Trinh, look closely! It is me! I am the younger brother of Huong Van Tinh!"

Tieu Trinh paused, squinting at the swollen mess before him. At that precise moment, the frantic clicking of high heels echoed through the hallway.

"Whoever dared to touch my brother, I will tear them apart!"

It was Huong Van Tinh.

She stood at the doorway, her hair loosely draped over her shoulder, her face twisted with indignation. She stormed up to Tieu Trinh and delivered a sharp slap across his face. The comments on the digital display scrolled by like a tidal wave: "Wow, the female lead is here! She’s married to the male lead now and has that 'loyal wife' aura; she’s even more beautiful!" "She smells like a woman—the scent arrived before the hand even swung! The side-character is so lucky!" "The beauty is enraged, the side-character is completely bewitched!" "The nemesis of the fake sister has arrived! Quick, female lead, strike like you did seven years ago and drive that wicked girl away!"

"Brother!" I cried out, momentarily panicked, nearly breaking my "fire demon" persona.

Tieu Trinh’s head had been knocked to the side by the slap, his eyelashes trembling. According to the commentary, he was hopelessly in love with Huong Van Tinh. They were childhood sweethearts with a long-standing engagement. It was a pity that a childhood bond could not compete with the "destined encounter" between the female lead and the male lead. As a supporting character, his only role was to let go and offer his blessings. Huong Van Tinh’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"Tieu Trinh, how could you bully my brother just because of your sister!" She turned to glare at me, a tear tracing a path down her cheek, her voice choked with emotion. "Why did you even bring this little devil back? You are just doing this to spite me, aren't you..."

Tieu Trinh could never handle her tears. Huong Van Tinh stubbornly wiped her face, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "Your sister is truly... just as unruly as she ever was. Fine, whatever. She isn't even blood-related, so I suppose I shouldn't expect much. I understand, Tieu Trinh."

Ever since the secret of my non-existent blood ties to Tieu Trinh had been revealed, she had harbored an inexplicable hostility toward me. Tieu Trinh suddenly stiffened, his fingers twitching. In the next breath, he said, "Tieu Lam, apologize to Van Tinh."

I narrowed my eyes. Since seven years ago, I had realized that whenever Tieu Trinh was near Huong Van Tinh, it was as if he were possessed. One moment he was shielding me, and the next, he had morphed into a 24-karat soldier of love dedicated to protecting the female lead. Huong Van Tinh cradled the pig-headed boy in her arms and tilted her chin up at me. "Well? Apologize! Out of respect for Tieu Trinh, I might graciously decide not to press charges."

At fourteen, Tieu Lam had possessed pride. At twenty-one, Tieu Lam no longer cared for dignity. I dropped to my knees with a loud thud, slamming my head against the floor.

"I am sorry! I am so sorry! I was wrong! Tomorrow, I will go hang myself right outside this office to atone for my sins against Huong Than Tung, so please, I beg you, stop tormenting meeee!"