The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

”I know.”

Xia Man patted Xi Jingchen’s back: ”I didn’t take it to heart, besides, Grandma just told me, as long as she’s here, I don’t have to be afraid of anything.”

Xi Jingchen smiled, his smile warm: ”Yeah, with Grandma around, we have nothing to fear.”

The two of them didn’t go back to school; instead, they brought things home.

As soon as Xi Jingchen got back, he started packing.

Xia Man found it a bit strange: ”What are you doing?”

Xi Jingchen laughed: ”Packing up, then quickly booking plane tickets. I want to visit your family immediately and settle our relationship. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Xia Man seemed a bit helpless: ”Okay then, I’ll call my mom.”

”What?”

Xi Jingchen didn’t bother packing, and instead cornered Xia Man against the wall, a hint of worry in his eyes: ”You mean you haven’t told your parents?”

Xia Man swallowed nervously. Xi Jingchen had her backed up like this, which made her a bit scared, yet also a bit shy, her heart racing: ”I, I just didn’t find the right opportunity. We originally said we would go in a few days, so I thought I’d tell my parents in these two days.”

Xi Jingchen propped one hand against the wall and smoothed Xia Man’s messy hair behind her ear with the other, his fingers sliding over her cheek: ”You don’t want to take me home, do you?”

”No, no.” Xia Man quickly shook her head, frightened: ”I do want to, really want to, super want to. You’re my God, I dream of tying the knot with you, being together forever...”

”Good girl.” Xi Jingchen smiled, leaned down and kissed Xia Man’s face: ”Hurry and make the call, I’ll pack and book the tickets.”

Xia Man leaned against the wall, gently putting a hand on her chest, taking a moment to calm down.

She thought to herself, this is really nerve-racking. Xi Jingchen’s looks are just too amazing. Just now, that swift blow of beauty almost made her heart jump out; if it happens again, she might even get a nosebleed.

Xia Man walked to the balcony with her phone, contemplating as she walked. Honestly, Xi Jingchen’s appearance really followed Anning’s. The two of them, both grandparent and grandchild, naturally exude an ethereal aura when still, appearing cold and aloof, ethereal and otherworldly. But when they move, they’re captivatingly enchanting. If they were in ancient times, they’d be the reason for a kingdom’s downfall.

Standing on the balcony, Xia Man looked down at the city’s scenery and dialed Mrs. Xia’s number.

She told Mrs. Xia that she was coming home today and that she was bringing her boyfriend along.

Before Mrs. Xia could ask any questions, Xia Man quickly hung up and then went to pack with Xi Jingchen.

Xi Jingchen had already booked the earliest flight, and in just over three hours, the plane would take off. They needed to quickly pack and leave immediately.

Anning sat on the living room sofa, and when Li Wanping came down from upstairs, Anning smiled at her: ”You thought you could use your status as a mother to pressure my grandson? Li Wanping, you’re dreaming. Let me tell you, if you keep putting on airs and plotting, don’t blame me for being rude. You’re a mother, but aren’t I one too? Let me remind you, a mother-in-law is also a mother. I’m your mother-in-law, also Xi Zhenhua’s mother. Just try it, see who he listens to, you or me.”

Li Wanping was startled, turning back to look at Anning: ”What are you saying? I don’t understand.”

Anning raised an eyebrow: ”As long as you understand in your heart.”

She stood up, walked over, and patted Li Wanping on the shoulder: ”Mind your own business.”

Today Xiao Yuan went to the company. Originally, Xi Jingchen and Xia Man came over, and Anning wanted to keep them for a meal, but they left, and Anning didn’t want to eat with Li Wanping, so she went to the kitchen, got some food, packed it in a thermos, and had Xiao Wang drive her to the company.

Anning had been to the Xiao Family before, and the receptionist also recognized her. Seeing her come in, they quickly greeted her.

Anning smiled back and then took the dedicated CEO elevator to the top floor.

Xiao Yuan had just finished a meeting and, seeing Anning come in, asked the vice presidents who were reporting to take a break.

”Why are you here?” Xiao Yuan stood up to take the thermos.

Anning sat on the sofa: ”Bringing you lunch.”

As she spoke, she opened the thermos: ”It’s still hot, eat up.”

”Did you eat?” Xiao Yuan picked up chopsticks and asked Anning.

Anning shook her head: ”I’ll eat with you.”

The two nestled on the sofa, eating and chatting: ”What did Li Wanping do?”

Anning took a bite of vegetables: ”What could she do? Just trying to break up Jingchen and Xia Man.”

”Why didn’t you stop her?” Xiao Yuan offered Anning some food.

”Stop her for what?” Anning finished her food, got up, and poured a glass of water for Xiao Yuan, noticed some sauce at the corner of his mouth, and gently wiped it with a napkin: ”Not letting her act foolishly, not letting her ruin things, how would Jingchen lose any affection he might have left for her? I’m just waiting, waiting to see when she’ll use up the last bit of mother-son bond.”

”That’s fine too.” Xiao Yuan chuckled: ”Once Jingchen is completely disappointed with Li Wanping, I can properly cultivate his relationship with Xia Man.”

Anning understood. Xiao Yuan still held high hopes for Jingchen and Xia Man, already considering them as successors.

She shrugged: ”It won’t take long.”

Li Wanping felt wronged by Anning, having no outlet for her grievances, so she called Xiao Zhe.

Xiao Zhe was playing basketball with some friends and, receiving Li Wanping’s call, sounded a bit impatient: ”Alright, we’ll talk when I get home.”

Li Wanping was crying pitifully: ”Ah Zhe, I really can’t stand it anymore. Do you know what that woman said to me? She said a mother-in-law is also a mother. Who does she think she is? Just an old fox spirit, taking advantage of the fact that the old man still fancies her, daring to boss around. This is our home, not hers. If this continues, Ah Zhe, we might have to drive that old fox spirit out.”

Xiao Zhe was quite angry too.

Did he ever want Anning to enter the Xiao Family?

He had no choice, unable to go against the old man, so he had to agree, but inside, he was also frustrated.

”What’s wrong?”

A friend came over and patted Xiao Zhe on the shoulder.

Xiao Zhe forced a laugh twice: ”Nothing.”

His friend laughed: ”Was it a call from your sister-in-law? By the way, I heard your family’s old man recently married someone new. How is she? What’s she like?”

”She’s alright.” Xiao Zhe, adhering to the idea that family scandals should not be publicized, covered up: ”She’s about the same age as our old man, comes from a good family background, and treats the old man well. With her taking care of him, we’re relieved.”

Even though a few of Xiao Zhe’s other friends just smiled at his words, he had no idea what they actually thought.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, Mrs. Xia received Xia Man’s call, and when she heard Xia Man say she was coming home for summer vacation, she was quite happy.

But then Xia Man said she was bringing her boyfriend along, and Mrs. Xia was dumbfounded.

”When did you start dating? This is a bit sudden, isn’t it?”

Xia Man giggled a few times and then hung up, leaving Mrs. Xia stunned for a moment.

A fellow teacher in the office who had worked with Xia Man for many years asked her: ”What’s wrong? Why aren’t you happy after getting a call from your daughter?”

Mrs. Xia helplessly rubbed her forehead: ”You see, Manman said she’s bringing her boyfriend over. And she’s not even graduated yet... I’m a bit concerned.”

Mrs. Xia’s colleague laughed: ”She’s already a junior in college, the child isn’t young anymore. Having a boyfriend is quite normal, I think it’s a good thing. At least after graduation, you won’t have to worry about it anymore. But look at my son, he’s almost thirty and hasn’t found the right one yet. I’m worried sick, look at all the gray hairs I have now.”

What she said was quite true.

Xia Man was already a junior, and after the summer, she’d be a senior, soon to graduate. Getting a boyfriend was indeed reasonable.

Mrs. Xia thought it through: ”I wonder what her boyfriend is like? What about his family background? Who are they? Our Manman is naïve, what if she meets someone with ill intentions, or if his family has all sorts of complicated relationships, what should we do then...”