It's Actually Not Easy Wanting to be a Supporting Male Lead

Translated by Eve

Edited by Wuxian

After all, Zhao Xihe and the Origin had a special way of keeping in contact. Very soon, the Origin had sent back feedback. Since Xin Xin had already been incited by Mo Ziyou to destroy her assigned system, the Origin directly determined her to be a Destroyer. Even if the other regretted it, there was no opportunity to be absolved.

The Origin was apathetic like this. It had no emotions. All of its actions abided by preset clauses. So long as a clause was broken, there was no leeway for repentance or second chances.

Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe had long since foreseen this kind of situation. The two of them returned to the place where Xin Xin was being imprisoned and cruelly announced her death sentence while meeting with the other’s expectant gaze.

"No! No—you guys can’t do this! I haven’t hurt anyone! I was just tricked by Yue Minghe! It’s that guy’s fault!" Xin Xin tried her best to struggle, trying to put some distance between herself and the other two. However, everything was in vain. She could only fall into hysterics while she watched Sui Yuan approach her one step at a time. He placed his right hand that contained the soul-ripping power on her forehead as she collapsed into tears.

"She didn’t hurt anyone? Then what about the system she destroyed?!" 5237 complained with indignation.

"...You systems are not human," Sui Yuan replied calmly, "At least, what she said wasn’t wrong."

5237: "...Whose side are you on?! Can’t we be on proper good terms with each other? QAQ"

The majority of Actors would not regard their systems as their partners. In their eyes, a system was nothing but the chain used to confine them. They were a surveillance monitor, a cage. Meanwhile, to destroy their system was like freeing themselves from their restraints and obtaining proof of their freedom. Not only would they not regret it or feel guilt-ridden, they would actually feel happy and free on the contrary.

As a system, 5237 understood this point but could not accept it. They also had self-awareness and could feel angry or wronged. Unfortunately, very few people understood the thoughts of them—of these ’tools’.

"Although you have just become a Destroyer, and have yet to do anything, you have already crossed the line. I’m very sorry but the Origin will make no allowances for you," Sui Yuan looked at Xin Xin indifferently, the corner of his lips raising, "So, farewell."

"Wait! Wait—! Why do you have to do this?! Why do you have to listen to the systems prompts?! You are also a supporting lead Actor. Shouldn’t you understand how I feel?! It couldn’t be that you are willing?! Willing to always be manipulated, to do things that you don’t want to do, to encounter all sorts of hardships, grievance, and torment?! No one is willing to suffer such things. You are the same, aren’t you?!" Xin Xin shrieked incoherently, trying to persuade Sui Yuan. However, she could only fall into despair when she discovered that there was not a single ripple in the other’s tranquil eyes. They were apathetic and merciless.

"You are an Actor that was reclaimed by the Origin. That is to say, your original body has already died. It is the Origin that allows your soul and awareness to continue living. Therefore, you have the obligation to complete all assignments given to you. I don’t understand what about this you’re not reconciled to," Sui Yuan said slowly.

Xin Xin shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks, pitter-patter, "I just don’t want...I just don’t want to suffer so much...this deal is not fair at all...."

"If you’re not willing, then you should have refused in the beginning. The Origin would not have forced you to continue living. Even after becoming an Actor, it is easy to kill yourself. To give up your life is an easy thing to do," Sui Yuan frowned. He didn’t have any tender, protective feelings towards the fairer sex. He only thought that he was quite fed up with Xin Xin’s conduct. As one of the Origin’s creations, Sui Yuan naturally stood at the Origin’s side in everything. He could not understand why these people who were clearly in the wrong would still take on this innocent, righteous appearance.

"You use the benefits given by the Origin and depend on the Origin to survive, yet you still betray and stand against the Origin, turning into a Destroyer. Human kind is truly greedy and ugly," Zhao Xihe sneered, crossing his arms as he looked with disdain out of the corners of his eyes at the sorry state Xin Xin was .

"I...I just don’t want to die...I want to live...live happily...is that so wrong?!" Xin Xin retorted in fright. She could keenly perceive that the two people before her were impatient and full of killing intent.

"Yes, you’re not wrong. If you want strength then what you did was all correct. It’s just a pity that the path you chose is one destined to have sacrifice and death, and that you have lost it all before you have even attained what you wish for," Zhao Xihe casually said in a perfunctory manner. He turned his head to urge Sui Yuan, "Hurry up a bit, ba. Get it done quickly. There’s nothing we need from her."

Sui Yuan nodded and flashed a smile to Xin Xin once more— in Xin Xin’s eyes, it was simply the closest to a demonic smile she has ever seen—and released the saved up energy.

Xin Xin’s spirit was torn to shreds and dissipated into the air. Sui Yuan stood up and looked at Xin Xin’s corpse on the ground, "What about the body? How should we destroy it?"

"First, leave it be. There’s a use for it," Zhao Xihe smiled. He conveniently inserted the manipulation prop into Xin Xin’s corpse, "Yun Shan’s body has already died. The prop’s time limit has not expired yet. We can use it to control Xin Xin."

Sui Yuan watched as Xin Xin silently crawled up from the ground and stood before them obediently. He shrugged his shoulders in indifference, "What should we do next, ne? How should we explain Yue Minghe’s disappearance and Yun Shan’s death?"

"Yue Minghe killed Yun Shan. That’s the truth. It has nothing to do with us, no?" Zhao Xihe raised an eyebrow lazily, smile especially cheerful.

Sui Yuan：".............................."

The next day, a murder case exploded, catching everyone unprepared.

The always gentle-like-jade, steady and courteous Yue Minghe of the Yue Family had unexpectedly killed the Yun Family’s Yun Shan without mercy. This was simply jaw-droppingly shocking to everybody.

No matter who it was, the first reaction upon hearing this piece of news was of disbelief. However, Yue Minghe’s actions were not at all concealed. When the police got involved, without spending any effort, they ended up collecting quite a bit of strong evidence, hammering down the criminal charge against Yue Minghe. Furthermore, the suspect, Yue Minghe’s whereabouts were currently unknown after having committing the crime. Regardless if it was the police, the Yun Family or the Yue Family, not a trace could be found.

The Yue Family did not believe that Yun Shan could do such a thing. After all, he had always been clever and had never caused trouble since he was young—he was the Yue Family’s pride. The Yue Family searched for a way to wash clean Yue Minghe’s name while also trying to suppress the information. Unfortunately, the victim, Yun Shan’s family circumstances were not ordinary. Although she was only a part of a branch family, it leaned against the colossus Yun Family. When the Yun Family expressed that this matter absolutely could not be settled outside of court, even though the Yue Family had many means and also had wide connections, they also could not get what they desired.

His guilt was irrefutable, but what puzzled people the most was his motive. What deep grievances were there between Yue Minghe and Yun Shan, to unexpectedly cause that noble young master to personally kill her with such recklessness and not even bother to cover it up? It was like he had suddenly gone crazy.

While everyone was analyzing things, Yun Shan’s best friend Xin Xin came forward. She expressed that she very likely understood why Yue Minghe had killed Yun Shan. It was because she had once heard Yun Shan complain to her that Yue Minghe held improper thoughts towards Yun Shan’s boyfriend, Hao Ning.

When this got out, it immediately caused a great uproar. Now that they had a direction to investigate in, all factions mobilized their people and quickly found clues. They confirmed that what Xin Xin had said was true.

Yue Minghe loved Hao Ning. This love was so strong that he practically went insane. He confessed to Hao Ning, but Hao Ning could not accept the affections of his good friend. When he had no way to escape, he accepted Yun Shan’s pursuit of him and became her boyfriend. They were even in the midst of discussing marriage.

Yue Minghe could not watch on unfeelingly while his beloved got married to another. Therefore, he went mad. No one knew what he was thinking at the time. Clearly, he had better ways of dealing with this—he could have had Yun Shan killed while keeping his own hands clean. However, sometimes, madmen cannot be reasoned with.

The son they were immensely proud of became known as someone who was attracted to the same-sex, who had gone crazy and killed someone because his love was unsuccessful. The Yue Family could not accept this fact, but they did not have evidence or a way to wash clean the dirty water that had been splashed unto Yue Minghe.

After all, Yun Shan’s death seemed to have been caused by their son’s hand. The Yue Family did not have the power to contest against the Yun Family, so they vented their rage towards Hao Ning and the Hao Family. In the eyes of the Yue Family, Hao Ning was the main offender that had harmed their son. He had seduced Yue Minghe and then forced Yue Minghe into madness. Naturally, they wanted to force Hao Ning to fall from grace, and let the Hao Family have a taste of the Yue Family’s suffering.

At the same time, Xin Xin suddenly had an ’accident’ and could not be rescued in time. She died an untimely death. The accident this time also pointed towards the Yue Family. It was said that it was because Xin Xin had exposed Yue Minghe’s scandal, that the Yue Family had harboured a grudge and therefore paid for her assassination.

Xin Xin’s death once again pushed the Yue Family into the heart of the conflict. The Hao Family was also drawn in and they retaliated against the Yue Family as if they had gone mad. The Yun Family stood on the Hao Family’s side and even sheltered Hao Ning who was being targeted against by the Yue Family. Even Old Master Yun had resolutely stated that Hao Ning was the person Yun Shan loved, the son-in-law recognized by the Yun Family. Even if Yun Shan had passed away, he was still ’one of them’ and would be protected. As for Yue Minghe, he had caused harm to others and himself. He had gotten what he deserved and was not worthy of any sympathy.

The Hao Family, Yue Family, and Yun Family—who were all once on friendly, family-like terms, had all fallen hostile. Yue Family was suppressed and completely collapsed under the joint effort of the Hao and Yun Families and fell from their status as a family belonging to the bourgeois. Furthermore, this was a sensational case covered nationwide and the curtains on it only fell after the police listed Yue Minghe as a wanted criminal.

Although everything seemed to have settled on the surface, it still left a stigma in those that had been genuinely involved.

"Did Minghe really do that? Did he kill Yun Shan and Xin Xin?" Yun Yi downed his glass in one shot. His whole person was utterly depressed. He was no longer willful and confident as he was in the past, "I don’t believe it...."

"I also don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it..." Hao Ning shut his eyes and leaned against the sofa. His complexion was weary and haggard. He seemed like he hasn’t slept well in a long time. Between his fingers was a lit cigarette from which smoke was slowly billowing up, but he did not take a drag. He only allowed the smoke to rise into the corner of his eyes.

"...Minghe, he...did he really like you and confess to you?" Yun Yi glanced at Sui Yuan. Although he knew that he shouldn’t mention this, he still wished to know the truth.

"...Yes. He did. And I had chosen to blindly escape," Hao Ning raised a hand to cover his face, letting out a soft sob, "At that time, I clearly knew that there was something not quite right about Minghe but...I was too afraid. I didn’t think—I should have had a proper chat with Minghe and shouldn’t have directly rejected him so roughly. I even used Yun Shan as a shield...it’s me who hurt Yun Shan. It’s me who hurt Minghe. Everything is my fault!"

"Enough! Ah Ning! No one knew that things would come to this!" Yun Yi wrapped his arms around Hao Ning’s head, pressing him against his chest. He could feel the sorrow and self-blame emitting from his brother at this moment, along with the tears of remorse that were staining his shirt.

Yun Yi was in pain, but he knew that Hao Ning was in greater pain than he was. He gently stroked Hao Ning’s originally sleek and glossy black hair, whose lustre had gradually faded and tried his best to slow his rate of speech, "It’s not your fault, Ah Ning. You don’t have to carry all of this on your own. Minghe was too stubborn and he hid it too well. None of us were aware of his true nature...and I...I also didn’t do a thing. As your and Minghe’s good friend, I should have noticed this...."

Hao Ning did not respond. He only clenched his fists tightly and powerlessly leaned against Yun Yi’s body.

A long time later, his muffled voice could be heard by Yun Yi, "After a while, I want to leave the country...."

"Leave the country?!" Yun Yi was startled but quickly reacted, "Leave the country...that’s also good. Go drive away your cares, it’ll be good for you."

Although he was quite reluctant, Yun Yi knew that staying in the country was unsuitable for Hao Ning, if he were to go back to normal. For one, everything would remind him of the past. Secondly, gossip came in from all directions. Even if Hao Ning was innocent, he had still gotten all sorts of strange glances upon being drawn into the rumours regarding homosexuality and the murder case.

"En, Me and...Minghe have left. I’m just a bit worried about you. You’ve always been impulsive and headstrong. In the future, you won’t have us to help you clean up your messes or give you advice. What will you do then, hm?" Hao Ning pushed Yun Yi away and forced himself to adopt the tone of voice he usually had, laughing teasingly at the other. However, his pained smiled saddened Yun Yi even more than if he were to see the other cry.

"...I will be more mature. I won’t be like how I was in the past," Yun Yi lowered his gaze and replied softly.

"Then, that’s good. This way...Minghe and I can be at ease," Hao Ning picked up the wine bottle and topped off Yun Yi’s glass. Soon after, he took up his own glass, "Cheers...to our previous friendship."

"No. It’s cheers to our lifelong friendship," Yun Yi corrected, knocking his glass gently against Hao Ning’s.

——Even if one of them had done something wrong, even if they had to go their separate ways, they would always be friends, right until death.

Days later, Hao Ning took a flight to the United Kingdom. Yun Yi and He Nuannuan had gone to send him off at the airport. But unexpectedly, this would be the last time they saw him.

Not long after, the news of Hao Ning’s disappearance was relayed back to their country. It was just like what had occurred to Yue Minghe—like they had disappeared into thin air, not a trace to be found. The Yun Family and the Hao Family expended a great deal of manpower and financial power to look for Hao Ning’s whereabouts. Some people said that he had been discovered by Yue Minghe who had disappeared earlier on. Whether he had been killed, imprisoned, or had voluntarily eloped with the other man, that was unknown. Except that, rumours were only rumours. No one could find any proof as to what happened.

At this time, Old Master Yun, who had always been hale and hearty, had suddenly collapsed, fallen ill and had to be brought to the hospital for treatment.

Old Master Yun had suffered too much in his youth. His body was full of hidden dangers. Although he seemed healthy, as soon as these hidden dangers were revealed, sickness would come down as hard as a mountain collapsing.

Although they exerted a tremendous effort to save him, the news that Old Master Yun was terminally ill still arrived. After knowing that he would soon die, this elderly man who had always been calm and rational, remained so. He quickly detoured around his son and directly passed his power down to his grandson, Yun Yi.

First, there was the consecutive disappearances of Yun Yi’s friends. Soon after, his grandfather, who was the pillar of his family, had fallen terminally ill. Yun Yi was in shock. Except that, no matter how much pain he was in, Yun Yi had no choice but to grit his teeth and persist on, because the situation within the Yun Family did not permit him to show the slightest weakness or desire to escape.

Although Old Master Yun had dealt with those ambitious people in the past—they had been injured, killed, or demoted as necessary—no matter who it was, so long as the conditions permitted it, they would not lack ambition to ’take things a step further’. Old Master Yun had let go. The young and inexperienced Yun Yi immediately fostered the rapacious designs of others. He needed to reveal his own strategies and worth. Only then would he be able to prove his value.

Fortunately, Yun Yi had He Nuannuan always by his side, supporting him.

Following the events that occurred to Yun Shan, Yue Minghe, Xin Xin, and Hao Ning, He Nuannuan’s conflicting emotions over Yun Yi’s ’fiance’ very quickly disappeared. She loved and sympathized with this man who had suffered attack and attack again, and who had no choice but to quickly grow up. Not only did she stand by him because of her own feelings, but also, because Hao Ning had entrusted him to her at the airport.

He Nuannuan clenched her teeth as she stood by Yun Yi’s side. No matter how difficult and miserable the situations she encountered, she did not retreat. Furthermore, after Yun Yi suffered quite a few losses as he floundered in the beginning, in the end, he was successfully promoted as the true head of the Yun Family. While walking the same path as Yun Yi, He Nuannuan had also matured. Even if she came from a commoner background, she still had her intellect and willpower to rely on for her to be acknowledged as the new madam of the Yun Family, and for her to be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Yun Yi.

If one were to describe the original story as nothing but the story of the love and struggles of Cinderella and her Prince, then the current world that had been tampered with had become a tale about the arduous power struggle to climb the social ladder. The difficulty of this instance was raised to the max, making He Nuannuan and Yun Yi become even more mature, tenacious, and loving to each other.

Yun Yi and He Nuannuan married, had children, and stayed together until their hair turned grey. The Yun Family became more and more prosperous with each day under their hands. Furthermore, they never abandoned their search for Yue Minghe and Hao Ning’s whereabouts.

The two of them firmly believed that their friends still lived on this Earth and were healthy and peaceful...and that one day, they would be able to meet again and reminisce together about the past.

The author has something to say:

Silly Author: "This time, everyone thought that the one who had an affair with Sui Yuan was Yue Minghe. Old Master Yun was completely turned into a passerby. Zhao Xihe Dada, what do you think? ^_^"

Zhao Xihe: "...Hehe, let’s go have a little chat! (strokes knife)"

We will soon approach chapter 186, which I had said would be the end of the story...however, this silly author still hasn’t thought about how to end it. QAQ

Before, there was a girl who said that for it to end in the next world would feel too unfinished. This silly author also feels very conflicted...if Mo Ziyou is dealt with in the next world, then it would really be too rushed. The progress would also be a bit strange, ah...perhaps I should let him jump around for a while? QAQ

Eve: Three things. One, the next world is a sentinel and guide type world with interstellar pirates arc! Two, when I think of missing people cases in real life, I feel sad thinking about how the people who love them will never know what happened to them. Three, I have been binge watching Buzzfeed Unsolved and I kept hearing Ryan’s voice in my head during the talk about the disappearances.

Wuxian: I like to believe that SY eloped with YMH, sidling up to him and making him more careless for ZXH to deal with in the next world. *helps YMH polish his knaifu*