5 Campus Male Supporting Character

The three-day, two-night trip arrived quickly. The school chartered buses to take several hundred students to the island. The guesthouses and various recreational activities on the island were exclusively reserved for them during these days.

The first- and second-year classes formed pairs for team competitions—real-life CS games, beach volleyball, rowing... Each team competed internally. Since both grades had an odd number of classes, one class from each grade teamed up across grades.

It was probably fate—by drawing lots, it just so happened to be the second-year third class and the first-year first class paired up.

In terms of academic performance, Yang Yunan was always absent from the rankings, but in play and sports, he shone brilliantly. On the first day’s beach volleyball match, not only did he win the hearts of all the girls on his team, but even girls from the neighboring team were drawn to him, abandoning their own teammates to cheer him on.

Chu Xiang watched this version of Yang Yunan—confident, radiant, almost arrogant—and from the bottom of his heart understood these girls. Even as a male, a competitor among girls, he had to admit Yang Yunan was truly outstanding.

Chu Xiang didn’t join the real-life CS game on the second day.

Though he wanted the original owner to experience challenges and the joys of life, in recent months, Chu Xiang had come to understand his own strengths and weaknesses. With his naturally introverted character and lazy habits, he was not skilled in the areas where Yang Yunan excelled. When they played together, Yang Yunan was dazzling, while he was either a spectator or just another presence under that radiance.

It was like the sprint final that day—most people cheered for Yang Yunan, while a few recognized Chu Xiang and thought he was remarkable as well.

That was probably the role of the supporting male character.

Having realized this, Chu Xiang no longer forced himself to participate in activities he was poor at. Even among friends, one need not always be inseparable. Compared to real-life CS, he preferred walking by the sea. Although the original owner had been here many times, this was actually his first time seeing the ocean.

Walking along the shore, Chu Xiang pondered today’s “scene.”

The real-life CS game was lively. Yang Yunan and Cheng Jin would be opponents. Yang Yunan led his team to easily overpower the first-year first class. Cheng Jin launched a feint, and Yang Yunan, merciless, cornered him on a hillside. Cheng Jin stumbled and fell, but his teammates hadn’t come to his rescue yet. Without hesitation, Yang Yunan risked exposing himself and rushed out to check on Cheng Jin’s twisted ankle.

The Blue Team seized the opportunity to shoot at Yang Yunan. Water pellets rained down like a storm, and Yang Yunan completely shielded Cheng Jin, his exposed arms reddened from the hits.

In the previous life, the original owner was a step too late to witness this—Yang Yunan, despite his antagonism with Cheng Jin, was the first to protect him.

Chu Xiang smiled at this thought. Truly a pair of love-hate rivals, and he need not be the third party moved by their bond.

The vast ocean sparkled under the sunlight, waves rhythmically lashing the sand. Chu Xiang’s heart felt as expansive as the sea.

Suddenly, a hysterical voice was carried by the sea breeze: “Are you my child or not? I raised you all these years, and yet you go help a homewrecker?!”

“I’m not helping them; I’m doing it for you,” came a calmer, younger female voice.

“For me? Then come home with me! Your father has abandoned this family; you still have the heart for a spring outing here? Have you thought about what will happen if your parents divorce?”

“I’ll be fine,” the girl replied calmly. “I will be free, and so will you. His heart has long left this family; he has no feelings for you. Why don’t you leave him and live your own life? The company is half yours—you can live well without him!”

“Shut up!” came a sharp slap.

Chu Xiang hurried over and saw behind the rocks Wu Qiyun holding her bruised face, standing silently.

The sea wind blew fiercely, tossing the hair of the two opposing figures—one wild-eyed and furious like a madman, the other silent and fragile as if about to be blown over.

“I told you to find your dad to persuade him to come home! What have you been saying these past few days?!” the middle-aged woman scolded harshly. “Without me, would you even exist? Now that you’re grown, you’re just like your heartless father! You want to ditch me, don’t you?!”

“I don’t. If you divorce, I’m with you,” Wu Qiyun sobbed.

“I don’t want you! I will never divorce!” The word “divorce” seemed to trigger the woman into a frenzy. She grabbed her daughter’s hand and dragged her away. “Go back and find Wu Xianda. Tell him if he divorces, you’ll kill yourself… See if he dares to divorce when you’re his only daughter. If he divorces, you’ll die, and see if he dares!”

“Mom—” Wu Qiyun broke down in tears.

One hand grabbed, the other struggled, the well-maintained hand with long nails left red marks on the slender wrist.

A long, strong hand reached out and pressed down on theirs.

“Who are you? What do you want?” The young boy’s hands, though youthful, were strong. One hand gently circled the reddened wrist, the other slowly pried apart the strained fingers, shielding the nearly broken girl behind him.

“She is my daughter. Who are you? This is our family matter. Step aside,” the middle-aged woman pushed the clearly young boy away and reached again for her daughter.

Chu Xiang swayed his body, blocking her once more, spreading his arms to stop her: “This is a school trip; both parents know. How could they have come here? Whoever you are, our teachers are nearby. When I arrived, I already called them. They’re on their way.”

Sun Xiuxiang, most afraid of the truth of her marriage being exposed, froze in place, hand suspended mid-grab. “You called the teachers?”

Chu Xiang straightened his back and stood firmly between them, his tone resolute and undeniable: “Yes. Don’t leave; stay to face this. If you’re not a parent—”

“I am her mother! There’s a problem at home, and I’m sending her back! Wu Qiyun, will you go or not?” she shouted through Chu Xiang.

Wu Qiyun tugged at Chu Xiang’s shirt from behind, biting her lip to hold back her sobs.

Furious, Sun Xiuxiang hissed several “fine”s, fearing that with an outsider present and the daughter’s state, teachers would pry into their family affairs. She stopped pressing and turned back, secretly warning Wu Qiyun not to spread family secrets.

Chu Xiang frowned deeply.

The woman’s high heels sank unevenly in the sand as she walked away, her anger and embarrassment evident.

Wu Qiyun slowly stepped out from behind Chu Xiang, looking at her mother’s retreating figure, tears welling with a bitter ache. She crouched down, covering her face.

Drops of water fell on the beach, wetting the sand beneath.

Chu Xiang sat beside her.

In the original owner’s memories from the previous life, the Wu family’s divorce was a scandal. Though indifferent, Chu Xiang had heard much—how Mrs. Wu refused to divorce, crying, causing commotion, even threatening suicide, leading to ambulances arriving; how their daughter left home over the parents’ divorce, forsaking the vast Wu corporation but still achieving success; and how Wu Xianda ended his days lonely, childless, clutching billions but unable to win his daughter’s forgiveness.

He had thought the parents were merely using their daughter to stage a divorce drama, never imagining a mother could force her daughter to stake her life to keep her husband. The original owner had never noticed if Wu Qiyun left the trip midway, so Chu Xiang didn’t know.

He sighed, hoping that the ambulance mentioned in those stories was not for the poor Wu Qiyun.

Wu Qiyun’s silent tears turned into a heartbreaking sob, the sound of the waves drowning out her cries, allowing her rare release of inner pain.

Chu Xiang picked up a branch nearby, scooped sand and mud from the beach, slowly building a mound, then carefully carving it with the stick.

When Wu Qiyun’s tears finally dried and her mood calmed, she took off her glasses and wiped her tear-streaked face. Through blurred vision, she saw an exquisite sandcastle.

Tall roofs, carved walls, even window panes clearly visible—the doors, columns, garden…

She hurriedly put on her glasses for a closer look. The castle, delicate like a model, was made of sand.

“You—” she looked at Chu Xiang in surprise.

He smiled: “Pretty, isn’t it? It’s for you.”

Wu Qiyun was speechless, her eyes fixed on the castle. She liked it very much, so much she wished to keep it forever.

“Thank you…” Not just for the castle.

She didn’t know how else to express her gratitude.

Chu Xiang sat cross-legged, propping his chin on his hand, tilting his head at her: “Tonight we’re camping and having a barbecue, with lots of seafood.”

Wu Qiyun, still red-eyed and swollen from crying, looked puzzled: “Hmm?”

Chu Xiang said, “I don’t know how to barbecue, and neither does Yang Yunan. Tonight, you’re in charge of my dinner.”

Wu Qiyun bit her lip, feeling awkward. She wasn’t skilled either—her family always had a maid cooking, and she’d never participated much in barbecues.

But she still nodded seriously: “Okay.”

Chu Xiang chuckled at her earnestness, suddenly finding the usually calm scholar more adorable when in such a disheveled state.

As they walked back to the campsite, the real-life CS game had ended. Students were setting up canopies. Neither Yang Yunan nor Cheng Jin was around.

After a while, Yang Yunan appeared, carrying Cheng Jin from near the medical station.

Chu Xiang glanced at Cheng Jin’s right foot, which she dared not put down: “What happened?”

Yang Yunan helped her sit: “She fell. When you’re outmatched, you admit defeat, but she insisted on being stubborn.”

“I didn’t! It was our strategy!” Cheng Jin protested.

Yang Yunan rolled his eyes. Sitting and standing, they bantered back and forth.

Chu Xiang sighed and stepped away. Somehow, the noisy quarrel between them felt overwhelming.

He found a spot on the sand to lie down, watching the sunset over the sea, his mind drifting to other matters.

Recalling the Wu family’s troubles today, he suddenly thought of the Chu family business. After his parents and grandfather passed, his uncle managed the company, but Chu Xiang held 53% of the shares left by three elders, meaning the company truly belonged to him.

Looking at past and present, the uncle was a good man who genuinely cared for Chu Xiang. His cousin was a girl fond of art but uninterested in business, so no tangled interests there.

He was about to turn eighteen. With such a family background, exam rankings weren’t the only priority. With free time, he could learn to manage the company and plan for the future. As a young man, he wanted to grow strong, to protect his family, care for his cousin, and defend those he wished to defend.

Someone once said dogs value lust over friendship. Yet, with lust foremost, he had forgotten whether his friends had dinner.

Thankfully, the conscientious Wu Qiyun was diligent. When the first batch of barbecue was ready, she carried a plate searching for Chu Xiang, eventually finding him lying on the sand.

“Try some first. If it’s bad, I’ll get something else,” she whispered, placing the plate beside him.

Chu Xiang stood and looked at the slightly charred grilled shrimp, meat skewers, and crab on the plate: “You grilled these yourself?”

Wu Qiyun bit her lip, her discomfort hidden behind thick glasses: “I tried them. They’re okay. You try…”

Chu Xiang smiled and grabbed a skewer, taking a big bite.

The meat was a bit tough and slightly burnt, but cooked through and not terrible.

He didn’t exaggerate praise but quickly finished one skewer and grabbed another: “Not bad. Yang Yunan’s off chasing girls, and you brought me food so I can eat lying down. I’m pretty satisfied.”

Wu Qiyun had no gossip about Yang Yunan. Seeing him eat well, she stood: “I’ll get some more. Anything else you want?”

Chu Xiang smiled at her: “Anything is fine. Also, bring me a bottle of cola.” He winked at her, his tone half a request.

Wu Qiyun’s face flushed red. Fortunately, the dusk dimmed visibility so no one noticed. She hurried off.

That night, Wu Qiyun was like a busy little bee, ferrying barbecue to Chu Xiang again and again. Eventually, Liu Yanyan noticed something was off. She followed and found Chu Xiang.

“Hey, I was wondering why I didn’t get a single piece of meat after all that grilling. Turns out there’s someone more ‘important’ here!”