Chapter 1: Four Years of Devotion, Only to Realize I Was the Lovelorn Supporting Character

Luo Xing had a dream in which she was a minor character in a novel, and the male lead was her current boyfriend, Gu Shiyan.

His character in the book was that of a notorious playboy whose story was one of redemption, but certainly not for her sake.

Her phone screen lit up. Her good friend Yun Cai sent a message: Did Gu Shiyan agree?

Luo Xing snapped out of her thoughts. Tomorrow was Saturday, and she wanted to ask Gu Shiyan out. Although they were dating, it was always Luo Xing who initiated their outings. Perhaps this was meant to highlight just how differently Gu Shiyan would treat the female lead later.

With slender, pale fingers, Luo Xing typed a reply.

[Didn’t ask, not going to. Let’s go to Starlight Desserts to do homework on Saturday, okay?]

Starlight Desserts was her brother’s dessert shop. Before dating Gu Shiyan, she often invited friends there to do homework. After they began dating, she never asked anyone else out.

Yun Cai replied quickly.

[Weren’t you going to ask Gu Shiyan out?]

[Not anymore. I’m always the one asking, he must be tired of it.]

After replying, Luo Xing opened her chat with Gu Shiyan, intending to send a breakup message.

After all, she was still wearing the title of Gu Shiyan’s girlfriend. She picked up her phone, ready to send the message.

But then she hesitated. In the original plot, her character—a mere side figure—would never break up with Gu Shiyan first.

What if her initiative drew unwanted attention? Like in those domineering CEO stories where the guy, otherwise indifferent, suddenly develops a possessive streak the moment she tries to leave: “How dare this woman break up with me?”

Better to let Gu Shiyan initiate the breakup himself.

It wouldn’t be long now anyway; after all, Gu Shiyan was about to meet his destined female lead today.

...

Under the darkened sky, three elongated shadows stretched out beneath the yellow glow of the streetlights.

“Yan, want to play billiards tomorrow?” Li Zhao, walking beside Gu Shiyan after leaving the internet café, was quickly interrupted by Yi Chuan on Gu Shiyan’s other side.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday, Yan has to spend time with his girlfriend.”

“True. That Luo Xing always asks him out as soon as there’s a holiday, clinging to him every day. Doesn't she know that’ll only make a guy more annoyed?” Li Zhao shook his head and turned to Gu Shiyan. “Yan, did Luo Xing ask you out again? I bet it’s either a movie or the arcade.”

In the middle, the young man strolled lazily, long legs in slow motion. His lowered eyes lifted coolly to meet Li Zhao’s gaze. His tone was indifferent. “No.”

“Oh? She found a new place? Not a movie, not the arcade—what, then?” Li Zhao looked at Yi Chuan. “Chuan, any guesses?”

Yi Chuan ignored Li Zhao and turned to Gu Shiyan, whose mood was clearly foul. “Got plans Saturday?”

A deep “Mm” silenced Li Zhao.

He muttered under his breath, “She… didn’t ask you out…”

...

Yi Chuan and Li Zhao exchanged glances. Yi Chuan spoke up first, “Maybe she’s busy. Works out for us. Let’s check out that new internet café tomorrow. There’s a dessert shop right across the street.”

Gu Shiyan said nothing, which meant he agreed.

They reached the end of the alley and parted ways.

A car pulled up in front of Gu Shiyan. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a woman with striking red lips and a meticulously made-up face. She forced a smile. “Shiyan, get in.”

“It’s my car,” he said.

The driver looked uneasy. “Young master, sir asked me to pick up madam on the way to get you.”

Gu Shiyan shot a cold glance at Su Wan. “Trying to win us both over?”

Su Wan stepped out, swinging her handbag. “Shiyan, you go on. It’s your aunt who’s taken your car. I’ll head home myself.”

Gu Shiyan glanced down and checked his phone. Still no messages.

As the screen dimmed, his expression grew colder.

The woman’s anxious voice grated on his nerves. He stepped back and addressed Uncle Li, the driver. “Uncle Li, get the car washed tomorrow, inside and out.”

Su Wan clutched her new designer handbag. “Shiyan, there’s no need for this. I’m at least half a mother to you…”

“Are you really?” His brows arched in annoyance. Impatience etched over his face as he turned to leave.

After a few steps, he stopped. Without looking back, he said, “I told you, don’t call me Shiyan, and don’t touch anything of mine. You belong to Gu Liang. You have nothing to do with me.”

...

Returning to the vast villa, Gu Shiyan didn’t need to look around to know that aside from the housekeeper and the cook, there was no one else at home.

He slipped silently to his room.

Sitting on the bed, elbows braced against his knees, he stared at his phone.

Usually by this time, there would be a long string of messages from her.

But tonight…

His fingers hovered, finally tapping open the chat where her profile picture was a star resting on a sheet of white paper beside a fountain pen.

The latest message was sent that afternoon—a little note saying she’d arrived home safely, ending with a kiss.

He glanced at the time. It was already eight in the evening.

He scrolled further.

Nothing.

No photos of her dinner, no messages asking what he was doing every hour.

Gu Shiyan paused, closed his phone, and sneered coldly.

What a fool he was being.

He tossed the phone aside, grabbed his pajamas, and headed to the bathroom.

Halfway through washing up, he walked back out and picked up the phone he’d just thrown on the bed.

Midway through his shower, the phone rang.

He dried his hands and unlocked the screen. Seeing Li Zhao’s name, his gaze darkened.

His husky voice echoed in the steamy bathroom, “Hello?”

“Yan… Yan…” The voice on the other end was anxious, almost panicked. “Yan, I… I hit someone.”

Li Zhao usually rode his motorbike home after their outings. He was a skilled rider; this was the first time he’d ever hit someone.

“Call an ambulance first, then the police. Send me the address,” Gu Shiyan said, then hung up, rinsed off the soap, changed quickly, grabbed his phone, and left.

Luo Xing had just left the cinema with Yun Cai.

She had bought the tickets yesterday, originally planning to invite Gu Shiyan. Before she could ask, she learned she was nothing more than an insignificant side character in this world.

Before meeting Gu Shiyan, the only hardship Luo Xing ever knew was her distaste for coffee.

She and Gu Shiyan attended the same high school. To follow him, she got into Xingtai University in Beicheng, joined his class, and after a year of persistent pursuit, became his girlfriend.

Only to learn that they would break up in less than two months.

Because his destined female lead had arrived.

“Starlight, you seem especially down today,” Yun Cai said, shaking her arm. “What’s wrong? Did you and Gu Shiyan fight?”

Luo Xing snorted, glancing at her. “Honestly, do you think Gu Shiyan would fight with me? At most, I sulk for a couple of days and then go running back to make up.”

“No!” Yun Cai declared, patting Luo Xing’s shoulder. “You’re overestimating yourself. Not two days—two hours, tops! You’re bound to make up first!”

Luo Xing sighed. “Thank you for knowing me so well.”

“Did you originally plan to watch this movie with Gu Shiyan?” Yun Cai asked.

Luo Xing nodded.

“I think you’re just too clingy. Guys are all the same; the more you cling, the less they care. Ignore him for a couple of days, and he’ll come crawling back.”

Luo Xing gazed at the streetlamp beneath the plane trees and shook her head. “That’s the female lead’s privilege.”

If it were Su Mo in the novel, Gu Shiyan would have sought her out in less than two hours.

“Look at yourself in the mirror. With that face and figure, if you’re not the heroine, who is?” Yun Cai tried to comfort her.

Luo Xing hugged her arm. “It’s not about being the prettiest or having the best figure. It’s about having that indomitable spirit, that never-give-up attitude. Me? I believe there’s no hard thing in the world as long as you’re willing to quit. How could I be the heroine?”

“You’re persistent enough. You chased Gu Shiyan for a year; you never stuck with piano, ballet, painting, zither, calligraphy, or chess for that long.”

Luo Xing groaned. “Sis, maybe you shouldn’t say any more. You’re making me sound hopeless…”

She never stuck with anything for long—always moving on to the next interest. She’d learned many things, but mastered none.

Aside from eating, sleeping, and loving Gu Shiyan, perhaps that last one really was the thing she’d persevered in the longest.

“Starlight, you’re not a failure. Ninety percent of people in the world feel like failures, but in my eyes, you’re a success—you’re beautiful, you get good grades, you got the guy you like, and you have family who loves you.”

Luo Xing closed her eyes and said quietly, “Gu Shiyan and I broke up.”

Their steps faltered. Yun Cai stared, stunned, her tongue tangled. She turned to Luo Xing. “You’ve got a new crush already?”