Chapter 1: The Supporting Character Is Actually Me
The carriage moved slowly along the street towards the Mu family’s mansion, accompanied by the clop-clop sound of hooves.
Mu Zhi’an leaned against the inside of the carriage, turning his head to look at the street outside the window. Raindrops lightly drifted down from the sky, and the drenched ground rippled with countless undulations, like innumerable lotuses blooming.
The entire street was rendered extraordinarily hazy by this light rain. Coupled with the carriage driving through the misty rain and the surrounding vendors, it virtually formed a painting scroll with an ancient, beautiful charm.
Bai Ruoxi sat upright in the carriage, slightly turning her head to look at Mu Zhi’an, and spoke softly, “Young Master Mu, have you considered it?”
Her voice was as cold and clear as a chilly spring, but her peach blossom eyes were enchanting and charming, possessing an allure that blended purity and coquettishness.
However, at this time, this number one beauty of Tianxuan City was showing sufficient humility in front of Mu Zhi’an—although she had always looked down on this debaucherous young master in the past, she at least put in enough effort in her attitude.
Sitting beside Bai Ruoxi was a young man who looked slightly thin. He had soft black hair and pale skin due to rarely going out over the years.
His attire was very luxurious, giving the feeling of a noble young master living in seclusion.
Oh… to be precise, this young master of the Mu family was indeed a noble son.
Because in Tianxuan City, the Mu family was one of the top powers.
It was also because of this that Bai Ruoxi was currently in this carriage, facing Mu Zhi’an with such a humble attitude—even though she despised him from the bottom of her heart.
“Young Master Mu?”
Seeing Mu Zhi’an not responding, Bai Ruoxi’s crisp and pleasant voice softly called out again.
Only then did Mu Zhi’an wake up from his earlier daze.
He turned his head slightly to glance at Bai Ruoxi and smiled, “The consideration you mentioned, is it referring to me, or rather, the Mu family helping you out of your predicament?”
About half a month ago, the Bai family had offended the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce due to some business dealings.
Soon after that, the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce secretly played many tricks. At first, the Bai family, relying on their years of foundation in Tianxuan City, was not afraid. But later, the Bai family discovered that the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce had actually secretly colluded with the Bai family’s rival power, the Gongsun family. One overtly, one covertly, the two forces actually pressured the Bai family together.
In just less than half a month, the shops operated by the Bai family had shrunk considerably. If this continued, the Bai family’s assets would likely be devoured within a month.
But if the Mu family could lend a hand, everything could be easily resolved… Because with the Mu family’s power in Tianxuan City, as long as they spoke, both the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce and the Gongsun family would obey.
Bai Ruoxi reservedly nodded her head and said “Mm”, her watery eyes gazing at Mu Zhi’an’s eyes as she softly spoke, “If Young Master Mu is willing to help, the Bai family will definitely give a satisfactory reward to you later.”
Saying this, she gently grasped the corner of her skirt with both hands, seemingly feeling a bit humiliated to make this kind of request.
If a great beauty implored with such a helpless gaze and an enchantingly sweet voice, a naive youth would probably immediately agree in the heat of the moment.
Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help looking at Bai Ruoxi a few more times.
She wore a white palace dress, her proud bosom propping up the fabric. Her hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, with a strand of hair sliding down from the side of her ear, gently resting on her cheek.
Coolness mixed with a trace of languid worldliness was most able to attract the favor of men.
It had to be admitted, this was indeed a great beauty. Even Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help glancing a few more times.
But very quickly, a faint smile appeared on his face. Looking at Bai Ruoxi’s countenance, he said, “What does the reward refer to? Can you be more specific?”
Bai Ruoxi was startled, obviously not expecting Mu Zhi’an’s reply to be like this.
She looked at Mu Zhi’an, her small mouth slightly opening but slowly closing again.
What a satisfactory reward meant… she wasn’t clear about it now either.
In the end, these words were just akin to a blank check. Bai Ruoxi, or more accurately the Bai family, hadn’t considered at all what the reward would be.
After all, Mu Zhi’an liked her.
This reason alone was already enough… at least that’s what her mother thought.
Sure enough…
Seeing Bai Ruoxi fall silent, Mu Zhi’an inwardly chuckled and spoke with heartfelt words, “Miss Bai, you should know, although the Mu family is powerful, offending two families at once without reaping any benefits is not a wise move.”
“After all, if I speak up, it would represent not just me personally, but the Mu family.”
Bai Ruoxi subconsciously gripped the corner of her palace dress skirt tightly and sneaked a glance at Mu Zhi’an, her eyes filled with complexity.
Was what he just said trying to force her to comply…
Long ago, Mu Zhi’an had been pursuing Bai Ruoxi, but the girl had never agreed.
But she hadn’t refused either…
Because Mu Zhi’an was the young master of the Mu family, she felt that Mu Zhi’an would be of great use to her in the future.
Now was indeed the time for Mu Zhi’an to be of great use… but at this moment, he refused her.
Bai Ruoxi gave a desolate smile and softly said, “I know my lukewarm attitude towards Young Master Mu in the past displeased you. If you want to refuse Ruoxi, Young Master Mu can just say it directly. Why beat around the bush?”
Mu Zhi’an sighed, “I’m not refusing you, but if I speak up, I need to consider the Mu family. If I help you for no reason, even if I’m willing, the Mu family won’t be willing.”
“Miss Bai, you should know that the Mu family isn’t managed by just me alone.”
“Young Master Mu clearly knows the Bai family is in dire straits now. What else can we offer?” Bai Ruoxi raised her moist, beautiful eyes, her delicate face looking pitiful.
Mu Zhi’an was taken aback, “Then I’ll leave?”
Bai Ruoxi was silent, staring into Mu Zhi’an’s eyes.
This woman really wants to get a free ride from me… Mu Zhi’an saw through it. He could only spread his hands and say, “Looks like there’s no need to discuss further.”
Mu Zhi’an turned around, lifted the curtain, and said over his shoulder, “I’ll have the coachman send you back to your residence. Miss Bai, please take care of yourself.”
Seeing that Mu Zhi’an was about to leave, a flash of anxiousness passed through Bai Ruoxi’s eyes. In a fluster, she reached out to hug Mu Zhi’an’s arm, her soft body closely following to press against him.
Mu Zhi’an turned his head back and saw Bai Ruoxi looking at him with a pitiful gaze, using that gentle voice that could intoxicate people, “What does Young Master Mu want Ruoxi to do in order to be willing to help? No matter what Young Master Mu asks Ruoxi to do, Ruoxi can agree.”
Why is this making me seem like an evil tyrant coercing an innocent girl? Also, did she have some misunderstanding about me, thinking that I want to force her to do something… Mu Zhi’an looked at the girl’s pitiful eyes and inwardly lamented.
But soon after, he felt relieved.
It makes sense. With his past identity, being misunderstood wasn’t strange.
A few days ago, Mu Zhi’an had transmigrated.
To be precise, Mu Zhi’an had transmigrated a long time ago, but in his childhood, his brain capacity couldn’t bear too many memories. Only recently did he awaken the memories of his past life.
As the memories surged in like a tide, strongly inserting themselves and stirring, merging with the memories of his past life, Mu Zhi’an understood how many foolish things he had done.
This Mu family’s eldest young master of Tianxuan City, who committed all kinds of evil, was quite notorious.
He frequented brothels and such places quite often.
In the past few days, he had even taken a fancy to a beautiful widow whose husband had passed away…
Fortunately, his memories awakened relatively in time. Any later and this character would have been ruined…
Mu Zhi’an looked at the system interface that only he could see and silently thought to himself.
[Name: Mu Zhi’an]
[Character Positioning: Supporting Role]
[Achievements: Heavenly Talent, Natural Furnace, Friend of the Villain.]
Yes, Mu Zhi’an’s positioning was a ‘supporting role’.
In other words, he was a supporting character destined to someday become a stepping stone for the ‘protagonist’.
To describe it in gaming terms, he was an elite monster, an elite monster used to let the protagonist “level up”.
