Chapter 7: The Legitimate Leading Lady? No! My Mind Must Be Corrupted

What’s going on here? Aren’t top-tier villains supposed to be naturally at odds with the protagonist?

Tian Xiang was both anxious and furious.

Seeing this, Lu Feng cast her a deep glance, then, sensing the mood, quietly walked away.

Hu Honglian scolded her daughter, “Did you eat firecrackers today? Why are you so fierce?”

Look at poor Lu Feng—he was so scared he left immediately.

Tian Xiang was utterly speechless and about to have a heart-to-heart with her mother when she noticed that the label on Hu Honglian’s forehead had changed without her realizing.

It had shifted from “Top-tier Villain 1” to “Supporting Character 8 (Feisty).”

Huh???

What’s going on?

Tian Xiang was stunned.

A simple supporting character label with a number indicated that this person’s role in the story was positive, either neutral or aligned with the protagonist’s camp.

The number 8 suggested a significant role with considerable screen time.

Earlier, in the interrogation room behind the police station, Tian Xiang had witnessed the female lead, Tian Chuying, demoted to a supporting female role.

And now, her own mother had switched from villain to heroine?

What’s going on here?

She could understand Tian Chuying’s demotion, but after today’s chaos, marrying Lu Feng seemed almost impossible.

Her mother hadn’t done anything—just exchanged a few words with Lu Feng—and yet this happened?

Tian Xiang didn’t feel any relief from her mother shedding the “top-tier villain” label.

Instead, she felt uneasy, sensing something was off.

The label had changed too casually.

She quickly finished her meal and dragged Hu Honglian back home.

On the way, she said everything she needed to say: Lu Feng was a total scoundrel, secretly entangling himself with many women.

Though he smiled on the surface, he was utterly wicked underneath. She must never get involved with him—who knew when he’d deceive or manipulate her.

Hu Honglian thought her daughter was overly sensitive.

“He had no idea about yesterday’s events; it was all that wretched Tian Chuying’s doing. He even apologized to me before and said that if we have any requests, he’d try to make it up to us. I was thinking maybe you two could—”

“Mom, no! No!! Absolutely not!!!”

Tian Xiang was close to losing her mind.

With the label changed, even her mother had started to side with that man.

Thinking of Lu Feng’s character, Tian Xiang felt nauseated, utterly disgusted.

“Mom, stop thinking like that. Even if I became a nun, I wouldn’t go on a blind date with someone like him.”

Hu Honglian clicked her tongue.

This kid, why so stubborn?

“All right, all right, let’s not talk about this now.”

Her daughter was still angry; better to leave it for later.

The two returned to the courtyard.

At the gate of the compound, Pan Yuzhen was anxiously waiting. Upon seeing Hu Honglian, she pulled her aside.

“What’s the situation? Is Xiangxiang all right? Tian Chuying just came back, and her expression looked off. Did something happen with the Lu family? Have they rejected her because she took someone’s place?”

That matter!

Hu Honglian grinned proudly, about to say, “Exactly.”

Lu Feng had denied dating anyone right in front of the factory leaders and the police, clearly looking down on her.

Before Hu Honglian could say a word, Tian Xiang’s piercing scream came from the house.

“Ah!!!”

The scream was so loud it sounded like she’d seen a ghost.

Startled, Hu Honglian hurriedly returned Pan Yuzhen’s bicycle and rushed inside.

“Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang, what’s wrong? Did a rat get in the house?”

Her daughter feared nothing except those filthy, furry rats.

Hu Honglian grabbed a stick and dashed in, only to find Tian Xiang clutching the mirror on the wall, panicked and flustered, her eyes nearly popping out.

“My dear! What’s wrong?”

Why was she holding the mirror so tightly, looking like she was about to cry?

“Xiangxiang?”

Hu Honglian patted her daughter’s shoulder.

What’s going on? Could she be possessed?

If she had a choice, Tian Xiang wished she were only possessed.

But no...

She scratched the hair on her forehead, confirming she hadn’t misread.

Yes, the character label had changed—from a foolish, wasted role to the female lead in a harem novel.

The harem novel female lead:

Commonly the rightful wife or official partner. In harem novels with many female supporting characters, the female lead holds a special status—usually the wife—unmatched by other female rivals. This role requires intelligence and capability, to be the male lead’s virtuous partner, generous and tolerant in love, managing the male lead’s harem, assisting him in career success and life...

Thunderstruck! Isn’t this just like the Empress in olden times managing the emperor’s concubines?

And worse, the kind who leeches off an incompetent emperor.

Reading the description of a harem female lead, Tian Xiang felt like stabbing this disgusting notion with a fork and throwing it out.

It was so repulsive, she felt her mind was sullied.

“Xiangxiang, don’t scare your mother! What’s really going on?”

Seeing her daughter scratching her head and rubbing her face, Hu Honglian began to worry.

“Mom, it’s nothing, nothing.”

Tian Xiang took a deep breath, finally realizing what was wrong.

Why was her heart pounding? Why had her mother changed from villain to supporting character? It all stemmed from her own character label changing.

She had wanted to check earlier at the police station but didn’t have a mirror.

She had suspected her character might change—after all, today had been such a huge ordeal.

But she never imagined such a drastic shift.

She had only slapped Lu Feng once!

How did that make her the female lead?

Could it be that he actually liked a girl who slapped him?

Such a strange preference!

After a moment, Tian Xiang accepted the reality.

Nearby, Hu Honglian quietly stayed by her side.

When Tian Xiang finally let go of the mirror, her mother helped her sit on a small chair to rest.

“Are you okay?”

Tian Xiang replied, “I’m fine. Mom, you should go to work now.”

It was getting late; she’d be late if she didn’t leave soon.

Hu Honglian worked as a cleaner in the local street barbershop.

The barbershop was now state-owned, and she was a formal employee.

“You don’t look well. I’ll ask for leave and stay home with you this afternoon.”

Tian Xiang shook her head. “Mom, really no need. I just got scared when I saw the dark circles under my eyes.”

Dark circles?

Hu Honglian examined her daughter’s face carefully.

Her skin was smooth as jade, her features delicately painted.

Where were the dark circles? She was easily the most beautiful girl in their entire neighborhood.

“It’s nothing, you’re beautiful. Maybe just take a nap.”

Her daughter must be exhausted from all the stress.

Tian Xiang nodded. “Mom, please go to work now.”

“All right, remember to rest!”

Hu Honglian didn’t want to take leave anyway; otherwise, she’d lose her Outstanding Employee armband.

As she left, she spotted Pan Yuzhen lurking at the gate.

Pan Yuzhen had handed her job to her son a couple of years ago. With nothing to do, she wandered the alleys daily, gossiping.

Pan Yuzhen asked, “Is Xiangxiang all right?”

“She’s fine. A rat got in the house and scared her...”

Inside the room, Tian Xiang frowned, tapping her fingers on the table.

She needed to remove the label on her forehead—and quickly.

Every extra day made her feel more uncomfortable inside.

Moreover, from what she’d observed so far, the character label affected the role in some way.

Now, her hatred for Lu Feng deepened, unaffected by the label change.

But other aspects were uncertain.

“I have to change this character label as soon as possible!”

Tian Xiang stroked her chin, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.