Transmigrating into the Female Supporting Character with a Good Life in a Laid-Back Novel

Terms used in Chapter 4

Su Yu informed her Young Lady who was inside the room with due haste.

Now aware that her oldest brother was visiting, Ruan Xi stopped practicing her ceremonial poses and propriety, and quickly adjusted her clothes to welcome her oldest brother.

Her oldest brother Ruan Yu Wen was born to her legitimate mother, and he was currently studying in Qingshan Academy of classical learning.

Most of the students in Qingshan Academy were either children of government officials, noble sons of prominent old families, or the members of the imperial family.

Needless to say, the remuneration for the private tutors there were exceedingly expensive.

The relationship between the original owner and her oldest brother was neither good nor bad; it could be said that they were not really on close terms, and this was the first time her oldest brother had paid her a visit because of an ailment.

Ruan Xi smiled faintly, all of these had occurred simply because she had landed herself in a good marriage agreement.

Her fresh out of the furnace fiancé Wen Ting Zhou was currently studying in Qingshan Academy, which also meant that he was in the same academy as her oldest brother.

Hence, Ruan Xi was not surprised by her oldest brother’s visit to Limpid Heart Garden.

Not long after, a handsome and spirited looking, nineteen-year-old man garbed in a blue brocade robe stepped into the room.

Ruan Xi had been familiarising herself with the original owner’s etiquette and social manners in the afternoon, and with the small exercises she had done, her exceeding beautiful face was stained with a tinge of redness which inundated her countenance, and it was capable of seizing away a person’s heart and soul at a glance.

This was the first time Ruan Yu Wen truly felt his fourth younger sister’s stunning beauty. Startled admiration flashed past his eyes for an instant, but those emotions became dark pity soon after.

If his fourth younger sister’s talents were as breath-taking as her matchless beauty, that would be great.

Unfortunately, there were no ‘if’.

As the smallest regret streaked past his mind, Ruan Yu Wen spoke with deep concern apparent on his visage.

“Si mei, seeing as to how your complexion is decent, you should be unimpeded for the most part. Now da ge can set his mind at ease as well.” Saying that, he sat on the short and low couch as if he was well at home, and placed the mahogany case he was holding on the short table.

大哥 (pinyin: da ge) – it means oldest or older brother.

“Many thanks for da ge’s concern!” Ruan Xi said hurriedly, having roughly guessed the purpose of her oldest brother’s visit in her mind. She wore a smile on her face as she poured the tea for her oldest brother.

“Da ge, I do not have any good tea leaves to serve you with here, and I hope that da ge will not disdain it.” As she said that, she offered the tea to Ruan Yu Wen.

Ruan Yu Wen accepted the tea and took a sip. Certainly, it was normal tea, but he chose to tease her smilingly, “Why would I disdain it? Even Zi Run xiong has yet to have the fortune of drinking the tea that si mei personally poured.”

兄 (pinyin: xiong) – it means elder brother.

His amicable manner and words were brimming with the intent to close the distance between him and Ruan Xi.

Ruan Xi: “……”

She remembered that the male protagonist in the book would always address Wen Ting Zhou as Zi Run… Zi Run was Wen Ting Zhou’s name, but the original owner was unaware of this. Hence, Ruan Xi could only feign uncertainty as she asked:

“Da ge, who is this Zi Run xiong you’re referring to?”

Upon seeing his fourth younger sister’s puzzled expression, Ruan Yu Wen chuckled softly and said: “Zi Run is Wen Ting Zhou’s courtesy name. Si mei, who do you think Zi Run is?’

Although it is common knowledge that Wen Ting Zhou’s father was the Minister of Rites, the Wen Family behind him was a famous family with good breeding and the family’s social standing was illustrious. Wen Ting Zhou’s paternal uncle was the highly venerated and weighted Duke An, and Wen Lao Taiye, who had occupied the seat of the Emperor’s tutor for three imperial reigns, could not be underestimated with the influence he wielded in the imperial court.

安 (pinyin: an) – peace. 
老太爷 (pinyin: lao tai ye) – Wen Ting Zhou’s paternal grandfather, but ‘lao tai ye’  can also mean Venerable Sir.

In comparison, the Earl Chengyi Residence was just a meritorious noble clan.

Ruan Yu Wen did not expect that Wen Ting Zhou, the man who had rejected countless noble daughters from illustrious families, would be interested in his concubine-born si mei.

It seems like his fourth younger sister was blessed with great fortune.

Based on his relation to his fourth sister alone, he had smoothly established contact with Wen Ting Zhou in the past two days. And when Wen Ting Zhou became aware of the fact that his fourth sister had fallen into the water and came down with a cold, he had expressed his concern.

“Right, si mei¸ this exquisitely-carved suet jade hairpin is a gift that Zi Run xiong entrusted me with so I might send it to you. Have a look and see if you like it?”

Smiling, Ruan Yu Wen opened the mahogany case and took out the pure white and unblemished suet jade hairpin.

It was a common affair for engaged men and women to mutually send gifts.

However, Ruan Xi’s fiancé was Wen Ting Zhou, a person who had remained single until his death. Now that he was sending his fiancée a gift without any prior warning…

Struggling to conceal her shock, Ruan Xi accepted the jade hairpin in a stupefied manner. What was the problem here exactly?

Ruan Yu Wen took another sip of his tea, admiring his fourth sister’s incredulous expression. A smirk emerged at the corner of his lips as he continued to speak.

“Zi Run xiong also said that he would be visiting you tomorrow.”

Truth to be told, the shock that his fourth sister felt was quite normal. He had been shocked in the beginning too; Zi Run xiong was the same age as him, but the company he kept was absurdly clean, and he did not even have a tongfang or servant girl by his side.

In spite of that, he was now engaged with his fourth younger sister, and he was even inquiring about his fourth younger sister’s well-being. If he hadn’t remembered incorrectly, his si mei had only attended a few banquets with his mother, and she had never left his mother’s side during those occasions, which meant that she did not have a chance to meet other unmarried men.

Was it possible that Zi Run xiong had seen his fourth sister at a certain banquet, and fell in love with her at first sight?

Ruan Yu Wen’s gaze stayed on Ruan Xi’s eminently beautiful face as he sank into deep contemplation.

Most of the noble daughters from wealthy and/or influential families had decent appearances, and the twin beauties of the capital were endowed with both talent and appearance. On the other hand, his fourth sister merely had her beauty while her talents were average at best. Was Zi Run xiong such a superficial person?

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Ruan Xi: “……”

As Ruan Xi held onto the suet jade hairpin in her hands, her eyes widened. In her mind, she had a dark suspicion— Was this Wen Ting Zhou a transmigrator as well?

When Ruan Yu Wen noticed that his fourth sister had yet to come to her senses, he raised an eyebrow as he teased smilingly, “Si mei, have you gone silly in your happiness?”

Ruan Xi’s lips twitched unconsciously, What is there to be happy about?

Despite having that thought, she still pretended to reveal a shy smile. “Da ge, please don’t speak nonsense, I’m not… not…”

Before she could finish her words, Su Yu’s anxious voice travelled over from the door: “Young Lady, the Third Young Lady has arrived.”

Just as her voice landed, a wondrous and graceful figure burst into the room like wind and fire. Impressively, it was Ruan san niang, who had just visited Ruan Xi this morning.

Ruan Xi did not manage to keep her shy smile in time before Ruan Ning entered.

Hence, Ruan Ning could see the full scene at a glance, but her eyes were more fixated on the suet jade hairpin in her hands. She became incomparably scorching hot right then and there.

Compared to gold and silver hair ornaments, Ruan san niang had a greater appreciation for jades like suet and jadeite.

“Ge, you came to si mei’s courtyard the moment you returned to the Residence, and you even gave si mei such a precious jade hairpin. If you didn’t bring any gifts for me, I’m going to be unhappy.”

After being the old Emperor’s imperial concubine, her taste and appreciation standards had steadily increased.

And the suet jade in Ruan si niang’s hands were sparkling and crystal-clear, spotlessly white, exquisite, temperate and without the slightest blemish.

It was obvious at a glance that it was a product of the highest grade that was rarely seen.

She was genuinely unaware of where her older brother had gotten it from. Ruan Ning stared at that suet jade hairpin vehemently, fervently wishing that she make it hers.

When Ruan Yu Wen realised that his biological third younger sister had set her eyes on the jade hairpin that Zi Run xiong had given to their si mei, he smiled helplessly.

“Ning’er, that suet jade hairpin was entrusted to me by Wen gongzi so that I could hand it to si mei.”

“What? That’s not possible!”

Ruan Ning widened her big and pretty eyes as her expression morphed into one of disbelief. Although she was fully unconscious of it, her offhanded words had exposed her intense jealousy.

Ruan Xi lowered her eyes, speechless.

Ruan san niang’s moral cultivation and expression management required more work.

Ruan Yu Wen shot Ruan Xi an apologetic look before he stood up and pulled his intemperate younger sister over.

“Ning’er!”

Coming to her senses abruptly, Ruan Ning squeezed out an apologetic smile. She told Ruan Xi: “Apologies, si mei. I heard that Wen gongzi has always stayed a respectful distance away from women, which is why I was so surprised when I heard that Wen gongzi had sent si mei a gift.

“I didn’t expect that si mei would be regarded differently.

“This is the first time I’ve seen such an exquisite and smooth suet jade, is it possible for si mei to lend me the suet jade hairpin to admire for a few days?”

Evidently, Ruan san niang had not given up on wanting that suet jade hairpin.

With each day where it was not in her possession, she would continue thinking about it in her heart.

Ruan Yu Wen’s handsome face darkened slightly.

What was Ning’er saying?

Upon hearing that, Ruan Xi looked at Ruan san niang strangely and noticed the desire present in her eyes, in addition to her determination to win which she could not conceal in time. Ruan Xi frowned internally, with Ruan san niang’s personality, she was afraid that like throwing a meat-stuffed bun at a dog, she would never get her jade hairpin back once she lent it out. Although she had surmised most of Ruan san niang’s intentions in her mind, Ruan Xi still gave her an embarrassed smile on the surface.

“I can understand san jie’s state of mind. I was very surprised too. Da ge even mentioned that Wen gongzi would be visiting me tomorrow, and I haven’t dared to believe it up until now.”

The perpetually calm Ruan Xi could not resist poking Ruan san niang in the cavity of her heart.

She might be a small illegitimate daughter now, who needed to remain inconspicuous and forbearing, but that did not mean that she was without a temper.

Casually lending her sister the gift that her fiancé sent to allow her to admire it? Did she take her for an idiot? If word were to get out, wouldn’t she be planting a thorn at the bottom of Wen Ting Zhou’s heart?

Regardless of whether Ruan san niang had been deliberate or unintending, Ruan Xi would not indulge her in the least.

To start with, Ruan san niang was the unreasonable one in this matter.

“With regards to lending the jade hairpin, it is not that I am being petty. Rather, this suet jade hairpin was given by Wen gongzi, and Wen gongzi is my fiancé. It is not suitable for me to lend out the gifts he sent me, and I hope that san jie will not make it difficult for me.”

Once she said those words, Ruan Ning’s smile almost dropped. The envy and jealousy she felt festered her heart like vines overgrowing, ensnaring and spreading endlessly.

In that instant, she hated the fact that she had not transmigrated into her fourth sister.

Was her fourth younger sister’s life that great?

In the previous iteration, she had Qi Yue An’s unreserved doting for her entire life, and in this lifetime it was changed to Wen Ting Zhou, since Wen Ting Zhou seemed to have his heart set on her fourth sister as well.

“Si mei speaks correctly, it is true that my considerations were not comprehensive just now. I must have made it difficult for si mei. I truly envy that you have such a good fiancé, whereas my fiancé only knows how to eat, drink, and play.” As Ruan Ning said the latter half with a forced smile, palpable dissatisfaction seeped into her tone as she recalled how her rich fiancé had never sent her a gift, and the fact that he had tongfang and servant girls in his back courtyard.

Ruan Xi did not answer this time around, only lowering her head to feign shyness.

It was better to refrain from exposing the depths of her legitimate older sister’s heart in front of their oldest brother right now.

It did not matter what kind of person Qi er gongzi (Qi Yue An) was, he was still the choice Ruan san niang made.

Since she had decided to marry him, she ought to make some mental preparations instead of hanging her dissatisfaction by her mouth to garner the sympathy and compassion of others on the surface, even though she was full of confidence in her heart.

Changing a silk clothes was not an easy feat, unless the other party was playing the pig to eat the tiger.

纨绔 (pinyin: wan ku) – refers to a child of a rich family, with all its corresponding negative connotations.

She wished Ruan san niang good luck!

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Ruan Yu Wen: “……”

The marriage agreement between Ning’er and Qi er gongzi had always been a thorn in his and his mother’s hearts.

It was not that they had never resented their Father for this; rather, they could not change the fact that the marriage was a foregone conclusion.

When his younger sister had clamoured about wanting to break off the engagement a few days ago, he and Mother had been happy inwardly.

But for reasons unknown to them, Ning’er stopped clamouring all of a sudden and she even started preparing for her marriage joyously. Back then, he and his mother almost suspected that Ning’er had been possessed by some dirty thing.

In the end, they confirmed that Ning’er was still Ning’er, she had merely straightened out her thinking abruptly.

“Ning’er, were you looking for da ge specifically?” Ruan Yu Wen did not want to become estranged with si mei because of this matter, so he quickly changed the subject.

When Ruan Ning heard her older brother’s question, she finally remembered the reason for her visit, and she no longer had the mind to envy her fourth sister. Besides, it was possible that Wen Ting Zhou was only putting up a pretence to boost his reputation.

Ruan Ning gave herself another round of consolations before she shook her head and replied: “No, I came here to find si mei. I want to host a tea party tomorrow to invite my fellow sisters for a gathering, and I wanted to ask si mei to come along and become acquainted with my fellow sisters.

“However, I didn’t expect that Wen gongzi would be visiting si mei tomorrow. What a pity.”

Ru Yu Wen: “……”

Ruan Xi’s lips twitched a little. She did not find it pitiful at all. Had Ruan san niang forgotten the fact that she was still a patient who was recovering from her cold?

Furthermore, even if she was not ill, Ruan Xi would not attend her tea party either. She was quite busy, where was she supposed to find the leisurely frame of mind to meet Ruan san niang’s fellow sisters?