Quick Transmigration: The Female Supporting Character's Counterattack, A Guide to Cunning Strat

We finally climbed the mountain.

It was two hours later when Gu Yanli, his legs trembling and panting, finally reached the mountaintop with Shi Zhu, supporting each other.

Although I have been exercising almost every day for the past three months (like lecturing, I rest one day a month), this mountain is just too high.

He was able to complete the climb today thanks to the training he's done over the past few months.

Lin Shuwan leaned back on the stone at the end of the steps. When she saw that everyone had arrived, she yawned lazily and said, "You've finally made it up. Come on, I've left you some vegetarian food."

(Luckily he came up first; if I had waited for him, I probably wouldn't have even gotten a sip of soup.)

(However, the vegetarian meals at Jingguan Temple are indeed quite good.)

(The Dongpo tofu is incredibly tender today, especially when it's fresh out of the pot and still steaming hot. One bite, and the tofu is soaked in the broth—wow, it's amazing!)

(The potatoes were stewed until they were incredibly soft, and the aroma made me eat an extra bowl; I'm still feeling quite full.)

Upon hearing this, Gu Yanli couldn't help but swallow.

After climbing the mountain for so long, he had long since run out of the food he had eaten for breakfast, and he was indeed extremely hungry.

The vegetarian meal was indeed as Lin Shuwan had praised it, and the taste was excellent.

It's a pity it's been sitting out for too long; if it could be eaten fresh out of the pot, it would definitely have even more flavor.

After eating three bowls of rice, Gu Yanli put down his bowl, elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, and sat back in his chair with half-closed eyes, completely satisfied.

"Are you full?" Lin Shuwan asked, resting her chin on her hand.

Gu Yanli nodded reservedly.

"Okay, let's go then." Lin Shuwan put down her hand, sat up straight, and was about to get up and leave.

Gu Yanli suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her wrist: "Wait, where are we going?!"

Lin Shuwan frowned as she looked at her wrist being held, but did not reply.

Gu Yanli followed the gaze and immediately withdrew his hand as if he had been burned.

He coughed lightly twice, clenching his fist: "Haven't we already reached the top of Yuntao Mountain? Where else do we need to go?"

"Look at Qiuju, do you really want to spend the whole afternoon in this kitchen?" Lin Shuwan looked at him with a puzzled expression.

(I knew he had ulterior motives towards me.)

(He deliberately stopped me to ask such a stupid question, probably just to spend more time with me.)

(Hmph, how rude.)

(Considering he's reasonably good-looking, I'll let it slide this time, but let's not do it again.)

Gu Yanli was speechless for a moment.

He just didn't want to climb mountains anymore!

Don't get the wrong idea!

To prove his innocence, he stood up and walked out, saying, "Fine, let's go then."

(She just grabbed my wrist, and she got shy. Why did she run away?)

Gu Yanli, who was walking in front, was still within the range of Xin Sheng's hearing. Upon hearing this, he didn't notice the steps and almost tripped.

(You were so tired after just climbing down the mountain?)

(That's too weak, I wouldn't be interested.)

Very well, this is the 817th time you've regretted it!

*

In a quiet spot behind the Jingguan Temple, there is a small pavilion where you can see the autumn chrysanthemums that bloom on the cliff, unique to the top of Yuntao Mountain.

Small clusters of flowers, taking root on the rock face, are full of vitality.

Gu Yanli liked this kind of vitality.

People who have experienced despair always hope to see a miracle.

How can a flower blooming in a rock crevice not be considered a miracle of life?

“Every family has its own famous chrysanthemums, such as the Ten-Foot Curtain Chrysanthemum or the Jade Pot Spring Chrysanthemum, but the autumn chrysanthemums blooming on the cliffs of Yuntao Mountain are unique in the capital. How about it? Wasn’t the trip worthwhile?” Lin Shuwan asked.

Gu Yanli nodded in agreement, but was interrupted by a clear voice just as he was about to speak again.

"What a coincidence, Sister Shuwan is here too?" Jiang Yiheng stepped into the pavilion with an elegant air, fanning himself.

Lin Shuwan hasn't been going out much lately, but when she does, she always brings her cousin with her.

Although his younger sister had tested him, he was still somewhat uneasy.

Unfortunately, he was tied up with something for the first two months, and when he finally had free time, she stopped going out.

Upon learning that she had left the manor today, he put aside what he was doing, changed his clothes, and rushed over as fast as he could.

The climb took some time, and the search for the person took even more time.

But at least we met.

Jiang Yiheng glanced at Gu Yanli discreetly. He was indeed handsome, even more so than Jiang Yiheng. No wonder Lin Shuwan brought him along.

But that face looked somewhat familiar to him.

Where have you seen this before?

"Brother Yiheng, you know about this place too?" Lin Shuwan looked at the newcomer with a surprised expression.

"It was quite a coincidence. I was looking for a quiet place and ended up here without realizing it. It seems that I am destined to meet Sister Shuwan."

Jiang Yiheng sat down next to Lin Shuwan and looked at her with a smile.

(It's been a while, but Brother Yiheng is still as handsome and extraordinary as ever.)

Gu Yanli watched the two, brother and sister, exchange words with a cold smile in his heart.

She never smiled at him so gently on ordinary days.

This must be the Fifth Prince whom Lin Shuwan had mentioned treating her so well.

He doesn't look like a good person.

Jiang Yiheng, holding the fan handle, asked knowingly, "Sister Shuwan, may I ask who this person beside you is?"

"Oh, he is my grandmother's great-nephew, Gu An."

Lin Shuwan patted Gu An and said, "Gu An, cousin, this is Brother Yiheng, the Fifth Prince. I've known him since I was a child, and he's taken good care of me."

Jiang Yiheng nodded: "So it's Brother Gu."

Gu Yanli stood up and returned the greeting: "Greetings, Fifth Prince."

Jiang Yiheng offered a gesture of support from afar, saying, "No need for formalities. Brother Gu and I hit it off immediately. Just call me Brother Jiang."

“Alright, Brother Jiang,” Gu Yanli said, feigning straightforwardness.

Jiang Yiheng's friendly smile froze for a moment before disappearing again.

His words were just an excuse; he didn't even have that much tact, and he actually took advantage of the situation.

He really comes from a family of brutes; he's just as single-minded as Lin Shuwan.

"Hey, I think Cousin Gu An and Brother Yi Heng look a bit alike."

Lin Shuwan looked around and came to this conclusion after putting her hands together.

Both of them were dressed in white today, and they did indeed look somewhat alike.

Gu Yanli silently curled his lip, thinking, "Who wants to look like him?"

Jiang Yiheng finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from, but this conclusion made his expression stiffen even more.

His status was so high that he could not possibly be compared to a lowly commoner who appeared out of nowhere.

Jiang Yiheng wore a fake smile and skipped the topic: "I don't think I've ever met Brother Gu before. May I ask where Brother Gu is from?"

Gu Yanli was about to answer when Lin Shuwan interrupted him: "Oh, his home is very far from Shengjing. It was quite a journey for him to come to the capital, right, Cousin Gu An?"

Gu Yanli nodded after Lin Shuwan winked at him, "Exactly."

It wasn't exactly a lie; his home was indeed very far from Shengjing, and he would have to die once to get there.

"I see. Then, I wonder what your plans are for the future, Brother Gu? Do you also intend to join the military?" Jiang Yiheng asked.

"No, he's going to take the imperial examination. I'm still waiting for him to pass with top honors and become the top scholar for me," Lin Shuwan said.

Gu Yanli, who was listening silently from the side, simply couldn't bear to watch.

He did have this plan, but Lin Shuwan seemed to trust him too much.

Jiang Yiheng became somewhat interested. Could someone who could make such a statement really have some ability?

"Oh, Brother Gu is so talented! I wonder where you are in the examinations now?"

Lin Shuwan answered confidently, "Not yet. I plan to take the exam next year and get a top score in the minor three-person exam first."

"I see. Then I wish Brother Gu a resounding victory." Jiang Yiheng appeared sincere on the surface, but inwardly he was disdainful. What a boastful statement.

Following Lin Shuwan's lead, Gu Yanli directly echoed Jiang Yiheng's words: "An Ding has lived up to expectations."

Jiang Yiheng was speechless.

These two are truly a case of one daring to speak and the other daring to believe.

He was indeed overthinking it; this guy is no good.