The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Xiao Lu washed up early and came downstairs, smelling the aroma of food wafting up from below.

She thought it was Anning who had gotten up early to make breakfast, and as she walked she said, ”Mom, what delicious food are you making today?”

But when she got downstairs, she saw Yin Peiran arranging plates in the dining room.

”Morning.”

Yin Peiran looked up and smiled at Xiao Lu.

”Morning.”

Xiao Lu smiled back: ”How come you’re up so early? And you’re a guest, you shouldn’t be troubled with this.”

”It’s no trouble, I usually wake up early.”

Yin Peiran had finished setting the bowls and plates: ”I made soup dumplings and cooked meat porridge, mixed a few small dishes, I remember you liked shrimp-filled buns when you were little, do you still like them?”

”I do.” Xiao Lu entered the kitchen to help Yin Peiran serve the food: ”Is your health better now?”

”Much better.”

Gradually, everyone in the house got up. Anning and Xiao Yuan saw that Yin Peiran had already prepared breakfast, they weren’t very happy about it, but still spoke to Yin Peiran with a smile.

Xiao Yilin sat down and glanced at Yin Peiran several times, then looked at Xiao Lu, seeming to understand something.

After eating, those who needed to go to school went to school, and those who needed to go to work went to work.

Yin Peiran drove off with Xiao Lu, and on the way he asked Xiao Lu, ”What do you want for lunch?”

”I don’t know, let’s see what the cafeteria has.” Xiao Lu took out her phone to message Du Heng.

”Tell me what you want to eat, I’ll make it for you. I only have one class this morning, so I’ll have time once it’s over,” Yin Peiran said with a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Xiao Lu was busy replying to Du Heng’s message, ”No need to trouble yourself, I’ll just go to the cafeteria.”

Yin Peiran knew he couldn’t push Xiao Lu too hard, so he didn’t say anything more.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan was sending Anning to work.

”That boy wants to get into the family,” he complained while driving.

Anning, who slept late last night, was yawning: ”Don’t meddle in this, the more you do, the more chaotic it gets.”

Xiao Yuan glanced at Anning and parked the car by the roadside: ”You look so tired, why not skip the office today and rest at my shop? It’s quiet there, with a Spirit Gathering Array, you’ll sleep better.”

Anning rolled her eyes at Xiao Yuan: ”Whose fault do you think this is?”

”My fault, my fault.” Xiao Yuan smiled, chuckling: ”Come on, first catch up on sleep at my place, I’ll make something tasty for lunch, then you can go to the office in the afternoon.”

Anning thought it over, realizing there wasn’t much urgent to deal with, and nodded in agreement.

In the afternoon, Anning went to see Hao Zhicheng, and the two discussed a TV series getting aired.

Also, the short video projects Anning’s company worked on were doing quite well, with surprising online viewership, earning New Art quite a bit, making Anning even more ambitious. Hao Zhicheng also had ambitions, so they discussed creating a variety show.

Because the first talent show produced by Xingchen and New Art was a huge hit, both companies signed several outstanding participants for debut, who became members of girl groups, shot commercials, held concerts, released albums, and took on commercial performances, with constant activities, essentially becoming the money tree.

This boosted the confidence of both companies.

Anning presented a proposal and Hao Zhicheng presented another, and the two found a place to sit down and discuss.

Anning’s proposal was a variety show focusing on agriculture issues, whereas Hao Zhicheng’s was a game obstacle course variety show.

Their types were quite different, but Hao Zhicheng showed interest in Anning’s proposal.

Anning felt that as long as the obstacle course show was done well, it could also be good.

The result of the discussion was that they could each do their own, but artist resources and other connections could be shared, and Hao Zhicheng’s contacts could be shared with New Art, while scripts from New Art’s library could be shared with Xingchen.

Anning and Hao Zhicheng discussed the whole afternoon, and later had dinner together before settling the matter.

After dinner, Anning returned home, and upon entering saw Xiao Yuan applying medicine on Qin Xiaocong.

”What happened?”

She quickly put down her bag and went over to ask.

Qin Xiaocong looked up, grinning: ”Nothing, just fell on the road.”

”How can you be so careless, walking and still falling at your age,” Anning quickly sat down to check, seeing that it was just a scrape, not too concerned.

”What can I do.” Qin Xiaocong yelped: ”Dad, can’t you be gentler.”

Xiao Yuan’s hand lightened a bit, so Qin Xiaocong explained to Anning: ”After school, I was crossing the street and saw a classmate ignoring the traffic light, dashing through the red light across the road. Wasn’t that courting death? I saw a car coming and couldn’t just watch a schoolmate get hurt, so I pulled her. But she pushed me down instead. This is what I get for good intentions.”

”Don’t deal with such people.”

Anning was immediately angered. After all, everyone cares for their own children; her son kindly saved someone, but not only was he unappreciated, he got pushed down. Even if pushed, after seeing a classmate hurt, especially when you’re responsible, you should at least do something, like help buy some medicine. But there was no gesture, not even an apology, which is just immature.

”Mom, don’t worry, I’ll avoid her in the future. Seriously... never met someone so inconsiderate before.”

Qin Xiaocong gave a cold snort: ”Today was a lesson in meddling.”

Xiao Yuan finished applying medicine on Qin Xiaocong: ”For now, just be careful when eating, avoid anything irritating, and when showering, wrap the wound, keep it dry, and it should heal in a couple of days.”

”So unlucky.” Qin Xiaocong lamented: ”So troublesome, I wanted to eat hot and spicy soup, now that’s all messed up.”

Just as he said he longed for hot and spicy soup, Xiao Yilin brought exactly that, making Qin Xiaocong even more frustrated.

”Why are you home today?” he asked, watching Xiao Yilin enjoy her hot and spicy soup, while he could only sulk.

Xiao Yilin replied mid-bite: ”Had a business meeting today. Oh, I met Professor Yin at big sister’s school today, I talked with him, and gave him the herbs I found. He said he’ll analyze the ingredients. If it can be synthesized, I’ll make a fortune.”

”Little moneymaker.” Qin Xiaocong laughed and knocked on Xiao Yilin’s head: ”If it can’t be synthesized, don’t be sad. When I start making money, it’s all for you.”

Xiao Yilin didn’t look up: ”A man’s mouth, a deceitful ghost. You say you’ll give me the money now, but after you date and marry, won’t it all go to my sister-in-law? I won’t get a penny. I’m better off making my own money for peace of mind.”

”I mean it, I’ll definitely share with you.” Qin Xiaocong said with a grin: ”Can I have a bite of your spicy soup? Eating in front of me is driving me crazy.”

Anning looked at Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan looked at Anning, and the two of them stood up to return to their room.

Inside, Anning hugged Xiao Yuan: ”Don’t be mad, deep breath, let’s not get upset, it’s still uncertain.”

”Brat.” Xiao Yuan cursed: ”Learns nothing good, just the bad stuff. I’ve taught him so much, and this is what sticks.”

Anning chuckled: ”Anything learned is something gained.”

”We must keep an eye on the other two daughters, can’t let them be easily taken.” Xiao Yuan got more worked up.

Anning reassured him: ”Actually, if Xiaocong got his wish, it’s quite good. We wouldn’t worry about Yilin anymore. Look, if she married elsewhere, we’d worry about in-law issues, that her mother-in-law wouldn’t be easy to deal with, she’d be wronged. But if she stays home, would I treat her poorly? Could she possibly treat me badly? Plus, I wouldn’t worry about the daughter-in-law being difficult. I used to worry if Xiaocong found a tough wife, she’d give me grief...”

”She wouldn’t dare.”

Xiao Yuan’s eyebrows nearly rose: ”Who dares to piss you off? I’d beat her to death.”

”But you’re her father-in-law, you can’t hit a daughter-in-law?” Anning pulled Xiao Yuan to sit: ”If it’s Yilin, there won’t be such issues. Our mother-daughter relationship will be good, and if our daughter marries, visits us, no fear of a daughter-in-law’s displeasure, isn’t that nice.”

Xiao Yuan couldn’t help but consider this angle: ”Anyway, they must find filial partners. Anyone who treats you poorly gets kicked out.”

Xiao Yuan was right, since they were a blended family, Anning being Yilin, Xiao Lu, and Yishan’s stepmother—not their birth mother—there’s always a layer. And after marriage, there’d surely be issues, like fair distribution, whether their partners might disrespect Anning because she’s a stepmother. All quite real concerns.