The Best Friend of the Female Supporting Character in Period Novel

In 1972, at the stormy Yangcheng Port, Qin Yao transmigrates into the body of an eighteen-year-old girl with the same name. Originally a twenty-four-year-old editor from 2024, she now inhabits the body of a chubby, plus-sized beauty who is a minor supporting character in a novel about island life. The original Qin Yao was destined to be a comedic foil, a girl from a crowded Beijing alley who desperately tries to marry well to avoid being sent to the countryside. Her best friend, Chen Baozhen, marries an officer and moves to Qiongzhou Island, leaving the original Qin Yao to fail in her romantic pursuits and return to Beijing in disgrace. Determined to avoid this tragic fate, Qin Yao decides to travel to the island herself. She carries heavy luggage filled with snacks and hopes to find employment there, aiming to survive until the 1977 university entrance exams are reinstated.

Upon arriving at the port, Qin Yao encounters a young man named Gu Cheng, who appears to be a casual vendor but is actually a thirty-year-old military commander on a secret mission. Gu Cheng is tall, handsome, and reserved, possessing a sharp, observant nature due to his anti-espionage training. Qin Yao, intrigued by his appearance, playfully interacts with him and asks for his help carrying her luggage through the rain. Although Gu Cheng initially views her with suspicion and registers a negative favorability rating, he agrees to assist her. Their journey together is marked by tension and awkwardness; Qin Yao is unaware that Gu Cheng suspects she might be a spy due to her inquisitive questions about naval operations and foreign equipment. Despite his cold exterior, Gu Cheng protects her from a harassing child and his unreasonable mother, showcasing a hidden layer of chivalry beneath his stoic demeanor.

During the sea voyage, Qin Yao integrates herself into a group of educated youth, hosting a talent competition and befriending a young man named Xu Wei. Her confidence and warmth win her popularity, contrasting sharply with the malicious remarks of a girl named Tian Shuyun, who mocks Qin Yao’s weight. Gu Cheng intervenes to defend Qin Yao, retaliating against the bully with sharp wit. This act solidifies a tentative alliance between them, and Qin Yao offers him a handkerchief as a gesture of friendship. However, later that night, while stargazing on the deck, Qin Yao checks Gu Cheng’s favorability level and discovers it has dropped to negative thirty. Realizing he views her with deep suspicion, she becomes embarrassed and withdraws, deciding to treat him as a stranger upon arrival. She discards the address he gave her, convinced that their interaction was purely transactional and that he harbors no genuine affection for her.

After disembarking in Coconut City, Qin Yao reunites with her best friend Chen Baozhen. To her surprise, the favorability system reveals that Chen Baozhen’s affection for her is genuine and high, shattering Qin Yao’s cynical belief that all relationships are based on utility. This revelation prompts Qin Yao to commit to the friendship, actively helping Chen Baozhen clean her messy home and manage her disastrous gardening attempts. The narrative shifts to the domestic dynamics of the military compound, where Qin Yao’s culinary skills impress the neighbors, including the novel’s heroine, Bai Qiuling, who is reborn and determined to fix her past mistakes. Meanwhile, Gu Cheng, now in his military uniform, is recognized as a highly desirable bachelor by the local community, particularly by Head Nurse Ge Yunxia, who attempts to set him up with various women. The story establishes a complex web of relationships, with Qin Yao navigating her new life on the island while remaining wary of Gu Cheng’s hidden identity and suspicions.

The core conflict revolves around Qin Yao’s struggle to survive and thrive in a restrictive historical era while maintaining her independence. She faces social scrutiny regarding her weight and her unconventional approach to life, yet she leverages her modern knowledge and culinary talents to gain respect. Gu Cheng remains an enigmatic figure, balancing his secret military duties with his growing, albeit complicated, interest in Qin Yao. As Qin Yao settles into her job and friendship with Chen Baozhen, the narrative hints at a potential romantic development that must overcome Gu Cheng’s distrust and the rigid social expectations of the 1970s. The story moves toward a resolution where Qin Yao must prove her worth not just as a survivor, but as a capable and valuable member of the island community, while Gu Cheng learns to see past his suspicions to recognize her true character.