After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Big Shot's Slacker Companion

Ning Xihua, a modern high school graduate, transmigrates into the body of the vicious supporting character in a romance novel titled The Crown Princess’s Sweet Diary. In the original story, this Ning Xihua obsessively pursues the male lead, Su Xu, and ultimately commits suicide after her family is destroyed by him. Determined to avoid this tragic fate, she flees to her ancestral home in Yizhou for three years, living a quiet life away from the capital’s political intrigues. Now seventeen and still unmarried, she is pressured by her father, Prince Ning, to return to the capital, where she hopes to navigate the dangerous social landscape without becoming entangled in the novel’s doomed romance.

During her journey back, Ning Xihua witnesses a murder on the passenger ship, where a mysterious white-robed man, later identified as the Crown Prince Su Bi, silently orders the disposal of a body. He spares her life after she shows him proper respect, though he views her with cold detachment. Upon arriving in the capital, Ning Xihua reunites with Prince Ning, who dotes on her deeply. She chooses to reveal her true nature to him, confessing that she is not the original daughter, and he accepts her, strengthening their bond. She learns from a dream that the original Ning Xihua was murdered by the novel’s heroine, Lin Mengli, and that the Ning family was later destroyed by Su Xu. This knowledge drives her to protect her father and alter the course of events.

Ning Xihua’s return disrupts the plans of Lin Mengli and Su Xu. At Lingshan Temple, she encounters Lin Mengli, who attempts to provoke her into a scandal. Unlike the original character, Ning Xihua responds with cold authority, having her servants strike Lin Mengli’s maid and assert her dominance. She then attends a flower banquet hosted by the Fourth Princess, where she is challenged to perform on the zither. Ning Xihua delivers a stunning performance that captivates the court, overshadowing Lin Mengli and humiliating Su Xu, who dismisses her music as hollow. She publicly rebukes Su Xu for his arrogance, further alienating him while gaining the admiration of the nobility.

Seeking solitude after the banquet, Ning Xihua wanders into the restricted back garden of Weiyuan, where she encounters Su Bi during a violent episode caused by a lingering poison. He attacks her but is calmed by her presence, eventually biting her neck in a strange display of dependency before falling asleep. When his guards discover them, they escort Ning Xihua home, covering for her absence. This encounter reveals Su Bi’s hidden fragility and the dangerous political undercurrents surrounding him. Ning Xihua realizes that Su Bi is not the frail, sickly figure described in rumors but a powerful and complex individual. She resolves to use her knowledge of the future to protect her family, outmaneuver Su Xu and Lin Mengli, and forge a new path for herself in the capital.

As Ning Xihua integrates back into aristocratic society, she faces increasing hostility from those who expect the old, foolish princess. She leverages her musical talent and sharp wit to gain influence, while carefully avoiding the romantic traps set by the novel’s plot. Her interactions with Su Bi become more frequent, revealing a complicated dynamic between them. Meanwhile, Su Xu’s ambition grows as he seeks to consolidate power, unaware that Ning Xihua is actively working to dismantle his plans. The story sets the stage for a battle of wits and political maneuvering, with Ning Xihua determined to rewrite her destiny and save those she cares about from the fate foretold in the original novel.