The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

”Sure, sure.”

Anning wrapped her fists in a playful gesture towards Feng Na, then smiled and asked her, ”If I told you that this handsome guy and I have been exchanging flirtatious glances, secretly meeting, and have developed feelings for each other, would you believe it?”

Feng Na scoffed, ”You must be joking. You should know, I was brought up entirely by Mr. Yun. After you took over Mrs. Yun’s position, I’ve been loyally attending to you. I know your daily routine—what time you wake up and go to bed, how much you eat at a meal, how many sips of water you take, and even how many times you fart. If you’d secretly taken up with such a handsome guy, I wouldn’t be unaware.”

Anning quickly waved her hand, ”Watch your language, no need for the fart talk in front of the handsome guy.”

”Alright, won’t talk about it. So where are we headed now?”

Feng Na took out a schedule, ”This afternoon, your original plan was...”

Anning waved her hand, ”Stop, stop. I’m not going anywhere this afternoon. You take me and the handsome guy home. I’m setting all work aside today; I want to be reckless just this once.”

Feng Na looked a bit hesitant, ”Uh...”

Anning glared at her, ”What’s the matter? I’m a young woman too, I have my needs. I can’t find a man?”

”No, no.” Feng Na glanced at Xiao Yuan, ”The handsome guy is indeed good-looking, but we shouldn’t let male beauty cloud our judgment. We must stay calm, right? We need to know where the handsome guy comes from, what kind of person he is, and whether he has a girlfriend. Young Master Yun, we shouldn’t be the third party, right?”

”What if I don’t want to be calm today?”

Anning glowered at Feng Na, then turned to Xiao Yuan, ”Do you have a girlfriend?”

Xiao Yuan pointed at her, ”Isn’t this one?”

Anning wrapped her arm around Xiao Yuan’s and said to Feng Na, ”Alright, don’t worry. I’ll properly inquire about him later.”

Feng Na, seeing that no advice would be heeded, simply fell silent.

She instructed the driver to take Anning and Xiao Yuan to Anning’s residence near the company.

After seeing Anning off, Feng Na quickly called Ms. Xu to report about Xiao Yuan.

Ms. Xu, however, was quite understanding, ”It’s alright. Ningning has worked hard for over a year; it’s time she relaxed. Besides, she’s just dating, not saying she’ll marry him. Don’t worry too much.”

Well, this mother and daughter sure are easygoing. Feng Na felt like she was meddling too much.

Anning and Xiao Yuan took the elevator to the top floor, and as soon as Anning opened the door, Xiao Yuan lifted her up, entering and kicking the door shut.

The two entered the bedroom, where Xiao Yuan pinned Anning on the bed and kissed her.

Anning pushed him away, ”Hold on a second, clarify your situation first.”

Xiao Yuan ignored her, finished kissing, then said, ”What’s your situation?”

Anning reclined on the bed, relaxed, and recounted her experiences from another lifetime to Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan was both heartbroken and furious, his brow deeply furrowed until Anning reached to smooth it out, ”It’s alright, it’s all in the past. Back then, it felt like the world was collapsing, but now, thinking about it, it’s really nothing.”

Xiao Yuan enclosed Anning in his arms, raised himself up to look at her, ”How did you persevere?”

Huh?

Anning was somewhat puzzled.

”So many lifetimes, and each one ending in tragic death... How did you manage?”

Xiao Yuan was deeply pained thinking about Anning’s experiences, the kind of torment that could drive a normal person insane from just one lifetime—but Anning had endured perhaps hundreds or thousands. Each time tragically dying, humiliated, and thwarted...

Anning laughed, ”Really, it’s nothing. I’m close to forgetting it. Honestly, reflecting on it now, those experiences helped me grow. They at least made my determination stronger. Now, truly, nothing feels difficult, as if everything has become easier, and even my Divine Soul has grown stronger.”

She makes it sound easy, but Xiao Yuan knows it’s not.

Xiao Yuan bowed his head for another kiss, then told Anning about the original self’s story.

After listening, Anning was indignant, ”How can they be like this? They’re all so despicable.”

The original self was also named Xiao Yuan, with a twin brother named Xiao Nian, with only a ten-minute gap between them. However, the original was born strong while Xiao Nian was weaker, so Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao devoted most of their attention to Xiao Nian, and over time, Xiao Yuan was overlooked.

As time passed, they placed Xiao Nian’s needs first in everything, and Xiao Yuan had to yield in everything.

This was even the case with their education.

Xiao Yuan was a top student from a young age, while Xiao Nian was a poor one.

During the high school entrance exams, Xiao Yuan got into a key high school, but Xiao Nian only secured admission to a vocational high school that was attended by students with particularly poor grades. The school had many who were just passing time, and Xiao Nian was unwilling to go. Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao forced Xiao Yuan to give up his spot in the key high school for Xiao Nian.

Then, Xiao Nian took on Xiao Yuan’s identity, and Xiao Yuan became Xiao Nian, to attend the vocational high school.

He thought that as long as he worked hard, he could perform well regardless of which school he attended.

But little did he know, despite putting in three years of effort at the vocational high, achieving top scores in the city, when it came to the college entrance exams, Xiao Nian again cried and protested to snatch the opportunity.

Xiao Yuan got into the city’s best university; Xiao Nian only got into a third-rate college.

Then Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao threatened him so that Xiao Nian could attend the prestigious university, and Xiao Yuan ended up at the vocational college.

The original self was furious, he had compromised step by step, but was pushed to the point of no return. If he yielded this time for the university, would his entire future be handed to Xiao Nian? Whenever he succeeded at something, his parents would surely press him to give way.

He no longer wanted to back down, but he didn’t know how to expose the situation.

They looked the same, with their parents backing the lie, and no one would believe him speaking alone. Moreover, Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao had some influence, they could prevent Xiao Yuan from ever speaking the truth.

Out of desperation, the original thought that his good looks would be an asset in show business, and could bring fame. Once he was famous enough, Mr. Xiao and Mother Xiao couldn’t control him anymore; he’d then reveal the truth.

If he became a celebrity, his words would certainly get media exposure, and fans would fight for his justice. Then Xiao Nian would no longer take what was rightfully his.

With this in mind, the original didn’t attend college but signed a contract with an entertainment company.

But he couldn’t imagine, his manager was a scoundrel, forcing him to cozy up to a wealthy woman interested in him; otherwise, he’d be blacklisted.

The original refused, broke with the manager, and was shelved.

Feeling hopeless, with his future bleak, he impulsively ended his life.

Xiao Yuan arrived just at this moment.

When Xiao Yuan came, the original was already dead, and much of his memory had faded. Still, the drive for revenge against Mr. Xiao, Mother Xiao, and Xiao Nian was intensely strong; beyond this wish, he wanted to be the most famous star, attracting the eyes of all, making it impossible for anyone to impersonate his life.

The original had signed a ten-year contract, barely a year into which he was shelved. When Xiao Yuan arrived, the original was destitute, with only a few coins left, barely able to afford food.

Xiao Yuan had no choice but to sing on the streets to earn a meal, simultaneously hoping to run into Anning.