The kid’s only redeeming quality was that he kept his word.
He stared at Song Fu’s expression, trying to spot any sign of backing down. He failed and reluctantly made a concession. “Then I won’t take half. Give me a third, okay? Or a quarter? At least give me something. If Mom and Dad find out, they really won’t leave any for you. I can just ask them for it then.”
Song Fu hugged her arms and looked away from the kid’s detestable face. “Don’t make me say it twice. Get out.”
As the family’s only son and precious treasure, the little boy had never suffered much since childhood. He flinched at being scolded, but then he heard his mom calling him to eat fruit. He toughened up again and spat out a harsh warning. “Just you wait!”
Song Fu expressionlessly packed the computer back into her bag with quick movements.
Fortunately, she hadn’t unpacked the things she brought back from school.
Could she still take them? Probably not, but there were only two pieces of clothing inside. The computer needed replacing anyway. Nothing important was there.
Oh, that thing was probably still in the shoebox under the supporting character’s bed.
Song Fu pulled out the shoebox, took the thing out, and put it in the pocket inside her coat. Finally, she removed the ID card from behind the phone case, let out a long breath, sat back down at the table, and fiddled with her phone while waiting for the barrage to begin.
…
“Your brother said a man sent you money and you have hundreds of thousands there?” The family of three stood together at the doorway. The two adults were full of suspicion, while the little one had a smug look of triumph. “Of course it’s true. If you don’t believe me, just check her phone.”
So they reached out toward Song Fu, calling it an “inspection.” “What’s the use of you holding so much money? All these years, everything you ate and wore—didn’t that cost money?” “If we hadn’t raised you so well, would any guy be willing to give you money?” “Hand the money over to us. We’ll keep it safe for you. You’ve always been a big spender since you were little.”
Song Fu’s head throbbed like she’d been yelled at by several unreasonable megaphones.
She maintained her attitude. “I’m not giving it to you.”
The money had to be paid back eventually.
The family of three changed their expressions upon hearing this and nearly bared their fangs. The man slammed the table. The woman reached out to grab her ear and yelled about how she’d given birth to such an ungrateful wretch. The kid took advantage of Song Fu’s distraction to snatch the phone, gloating triumphantly. “Got it from you, huh?”
The woman praised her son for a job well done, but then discovered the phone was password-protected. She grew even more furious. “What’s the password?”
Song Fu almost felt like a criminal. “I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know, who does?”
The family of three used both soft and hard tactics on Song Fu. In the end, they coldly started dragging her. “Get out! Get out of our house. You can come back whenever you remember the password!”
“Don’t touch me.” Song Fu dodged. “Give me back my phone and I’ll go.”
“I bought that phone for you!” the man bellowed.
Song Fu corrected him. “You used your leftover money for it.”
No one argued the point with her. A few minutes later, with a “bang,” the heavy iron gate slammed shut in front of Song Fu. Inside, the noisy voices continued, cursing how they’d given birth to such a daughter and discussing trying passwords. The kid asked the adults what if his sister just left like that? The adults replied in tones full of confidence, saying that on a big night like this in the village without a phone, even with money, where could she go?
No cars were passing by anyway.
She wouldn’t stay tough for long in the cold.
This was the family of three’s usual tactic from the supporting character’s memories.
Being shut out like this happened from time to time.
Song Fu exhaled a puff of misty breath. Snowflakes began to fall unnoticed. She tilted her face up and gazed at the pitch-black, lightless sky. “…Our home.”
She’d heard those words again.
Wasn’t the supporting character their family too?
Snowflakes landed on her fair face without melting immediately. The supporting character’s room was very cold, like an ice cellar, so Song Fu, who had sat there, was cold too.
She rubbed her face.
A thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the road. Fortunately, because of the low temperature, the mud was frozen solid too, so it wasn’t as difficult to walk as in the afternoon. She trudged out step by step. She didn’t encounter anyone on the road. Only a fool would be out in the village on such a cold night.
She stood all the way to the village entrance. Song Fu took the thing out of her coat pocket and inserted the SIM card into it.
She was pretty lucky. The old phone still had thirty percent battery, enough to call a ride to town and stay in a hotel. The old phone was one the supporting character had saved up for during high school, scrimping and saving from her mouth. All her classmates had phones and chat apps, but she didn’t until college when the family gave her one.
Now it had been… taken back.
Song Fu had deleted everything she needed to, so it didn’t matter even if they guessed the password.
The car arrived. The driver was a kind-faced auntie who kindly turned up the AC after Song Fu got in. She cautiously asked if she’d had a fight with her family and why she was out on such a cold night. She said parents had it the hardest and seemed quite empathetic.
Song Fu closed her eyes in the back seat. “Auntie, I’m a bit sleepy. Can you call me when we get there?”
The driver agreed and fell silent.
Song Fu thought for a moment and added, “I’m going to meet my boyfriend. We planned it.”
Better safe than sorry.
Hotel setups were always very standardized and rigid, without anything extra but also without anything missing. Perfect for a temporary stopover.
The AC hummed, and the room temperature rose gradually. Song Fu hung up her coat, then sat on the sofa by the window, staring outside—or more precisely, at her own reflection in the glass, lost in thought.
The small town had no street views worth seeing. It was pitch black outside with few pedestrians, which was why the hotel front desk had been surprised to see a lone guest at this hour.
The person curled up on the sofa was a small bundle. Her fair face showed little expression.
[Host, are you upset by the supporting character’s trash-tier relatives?] The System’s mechanical voice carried a hint of hesitation.
That family was indeed awful, but in its impression, Song Fu shouldn’t have much emotional fluctuation. If any, it would just be mockery at the petty fools.
Song Fu propped her cheek. “A little.”
Maybe because this small world lacked info panels, the immersion was too strong. Or maybe because she’d accidentally recalled some unpleasant past events. “Is this character’s setup the result after your improvements?”
The System didn’t quite understand. [What?]
“In the last world, you said it was based on someone similar to me. I said it wasn’t like me, so this supporting character is the improved version, right?” Song Fu’s voice was soft, laced with coldness.
[How could it be?] The System denied it vehemently. [Where’s the similarity?]
‘Really?’ Song Fu lowered her thick eyelashes. “Then why is even the weather when getting driven out the same.”
Same darkness, same cold, same snowfall.
Even “our home” overlapped.
The System blustered. [Host, have you ever been driven out before?]
Yeah, a clichéd story ending with her being driven out.
A girl who lived with her grandmother got swept back to her wealthy family after her only relative died. But good times didn’t last; due to various issues, she fell out of favor and was kicked out, scolded by long-lost family. “Why do you always fight and grab? What more could you possibly want?”
Too much.
Back then, Song Fu thought maybe she was just greedy by nature.
But did that mean every vicious word in the world could be flung at her? Of course not.
Severing a relationship that dragged her into the muck was like cutting out rotten flesh from her body. It would hurt no matter what; the difference was only in duration.
Song Fu chose the short pain.
The System didn’t get a reply and didn’t want its host stewing in gloomy emotions. [Host, want me to play you a variety show?]
[Don’t be upset. Next world, I’ll definitely find you a small world with a perfect family in every way. I guarantee it!]
Song Fu chuckled. “Thanks then?”
She got up to grab her phone that was charging. “But no variety show.”
She logged into her social account and saw that after the voice call went unanswered, the male lead had sent a bunch of messages asking about the situation, even testing with a red packet.
Song Fu: “…”
First priority: claim the money.
The cheap old phone was laggy as hell. Even pulling up the keyboard took seconds. Before she could send her routine thanks, a message came from the other side.
Yan: Phone got snatched just now?
It was an obvious joke, but the male lead had nailed it.
Song Fu: How did you know, big brother?
Song Fu: Wuwu, I fought with my family and got kicked out.
Song Fu: I don’t even know where to go now.
Another voice call came, but this time it connected. Neither spoke at first; only their uneven breathing was audible.
After three seconds, the male lead spoke. “Where are you right now?”
Song Fu answered. “Hotel.”
“Safe?”
“Should be okay.”
“…What was the fight about?”
Song Fu sighed. “They found out big brother sent me a ton of money and wanted it. I refused, and that’s that. Big brother, you have to take responsibility for this!”
She recounted her cleverness in a light tone. “You wouldn’t believe it. They’re probably still trying passwords on that phone without the SIM card, waiting for me to cave. Whole family’s idiots.”
The male lead listened quietly without interrupting. Only after she finished did he ask, “Did you cry?”
Song Fu paused for a moment. Her still-cold feet sent pain signals to her brain. “No, not worth it.”
Another silence.
“Mm, you’re awesome.”
The male lead asked, “Don’t know where to go? Want to come find me?”
“Big brother, are you trying to meet up IRL while you have the chance?”
“Something like that.”
His tone didn’t sound too eager. Song Fu figured it was just a worried suggestion, so she laughed. “But big brother, what you’ve given me so far isn’t enough.”
“How much more?”
Song Fu was at a loss for words.
From that, it didn’t seem like an illusion that he wanted to make up the difference in one go.
She bit her plump lip, weighing whether to ask for the moon or play it less mercenary. The former had a chance of being accepted; the latter went against the character.
Finally, she said hesitantly, “It’s not money that’s missing, big brother. It’s feelings.”