The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Xiao Yuan looked at Xiao Xiu, his gaze as cold as ice.

”Stand up first.”

Xiao Xiu, a bit scared, stood up with a shrunken neck, ”Second Brother.”

”You’re quite heartless.”

Xiao Yuan sneered, then turned to sit in the car, ”Get in.”

Xiao Xiu got in the car nervously.

Xiao Yuan gave the driver an address, which was precisely where Xiao Xiu lived.

Xiao Xiu felt even more frightened. All these years, she had kept her distance and never dared to appear before Xiao Yuan, nor had she ever dealt with him. But Xiao Yuan could casually mention her address, proving that he had always known where she was and what she was doing. Xiao Mei’s manipulation of Gao Jiaxuan to target Su Mingzhu was undoubtedly known to Xiao Yuan.

”You have to understand, sometimes living is more painful than dying.”

Xiao Yuan spoke, leaning against the seat, his voice indifferent and distant.

”A good death is better than a shameful life,” Xiao Xiu replied.

Xiao Yuan gave Xiao Xiu a half-smile, ”Xiu’er, after all these years, you’re still using those little clever tricks.”

Under that glance, Xiao Xiu felt as if her entire being was seen through by Xiao Yuan—her little schemes and many thoughts were all transparent before him. She swallowed with difficulty, ”Second Brother, I still remember when I was bullied as a child. The elder brother ignored me, and it was always you who stood up for me. When you were fifteen, you went to town to work for a whole day and came back with a pair of hairpins for me. I’ve kept those hairpins well all these years...”

Xiao Xiu’s voice choked with genuine emotion, ”Second Brother, we have been siblings for over twenty years; was that all fake? Is it just because there is no blood relation that you won’t acknowledge me?”

Xiao Yuan looked up to the car ceiling and after a while said, ”Cut off all your messy connections, live peacefully in the future, and stop causing trouble.”

Xiao Xiu perked up, ”Alright, I’ll listen to you, Second Brother.”

”You’ve accumulated quite a bit of money over the years. You have a car and a house, money saved up, and a lot of jewelry. It’s enough for a peaceful life.”

Xiao Yuan added.

Xiao Xiu bowed her head, ”I know, I’ll be more mindful from now on.”

”I have always provided for our mother’s retirement, so you don’t have to worry about her finances. Just take care of yourself from now on.”

Xiao Yuan reminded once again.

Tears immediately welled up in Xiao Xiu’s eyes, ”Second Brother, I...”

Xiao Yuan waved his hand, ”Say no more.”

The car stopped at the residential entrance, and Xiao Yuan motioned for Xiao Xiu to get out, ”Go on, take care in the future.”

Reluctantly, Xiao Xiu opened the car door, walked a few steps, and looked back with a smile at Xiao Yuan, ”Second Brother, I’ll definitely be fine in the future.”

Xiao Yuan also smiled, ”Go on.”

Watching Xiao Xiu enter the complex, Xiao Yuan, feeling somewhat exhausted, instructed the driver, ”Take me home.”

He leaned back on the seat, his face expressionless.

Xiao Yuan had seen through Xiao Xiu’s intentions from the start.

She appeared to be pleading for Xiao Mei, but in reality, it was all for herself.

Xiao Xiu knew well the methods of Xiao Yuan and Anning. She had dealt with significant business figures, some of whom had interacted with Xiao Yuan or collaborated with his company. Thus, Xiao Xiu knew more than Xiao Mei.

When she learned that Xiao Mei was targeting Su Mingzhu, she knew Xiao Mei was finished.

Therefore, she went to find Xiao Yuan at the first opportunity, apparently pleading for Xiao Mei’s life but actually complaining to Xiao Yuan.

She was telling Xiao Yuan that Xiao Mei was her only daughter, and if this daughter were ruined, she would be all alone, with nothing to rely on.

Moreover, Xiao Xiu intended to take this opportunity to maintain her contact with Xiao Yuan. She wasn’t after money, just a sense of support. If Xiao Yuan was willing to support her a little, no one would dare to target her in the future. If she showed sincerity, she might gradually interact with Xiao Yuan’s family and eventually not worry about being unattended when she was older.

Years had passed, but Xiao Xiu hadn’t changed, still full of those little schemes.

Even though Xiao Yuan saw through her manipulative tactics, his heart softened when Xiao Xiu talked about their sibling bond. Even though he didn’t promise to take care of her in the future, he did loosen his stance.

His words were essentially telling Xiao Xiu that if she ceased her improper dealings and behaved well in the future, he wouldn’t neglect her.

Xiao Yuan returned home, and Anning greeted him with a smile, ”So, you saw Xiu’er.”

Xiao Yuan nodded with a smile, ”Yes, I did.”

Just those three words were enough for Anning to understand Xiao Yuan’s intentions, ”I just called the Zhao family. The Zhao family patriarch has already assured me that Zhao Kang will soon break up with Xiao Mei. Moreover, the Xue Family will dismiss Xiao Mei and prosecute her for stealing company secrets.”

This was essentially sending Xiao Mei to jail for a few years to make her suffer and cool down a bit.

Xiao Yuan sat on the sofa, ”Let’s just leave it at that.”

Xiao Xiu entered the house only to find Xiao Mei sitting on the living room sofa, looking at her with resentment.

”I raised you for nothing.”

Xiao Xiu was agitated, ”You’re just like your father, no good at all.”

Xiao Mei chuckled, ”I don’t even know who my father is, do you want to tell me?”

Xiao Xiu got even angrier, ”You dig your own grave. Don’t drag me down with you.”

”You are timid—dare to think, not to act,” Xiao Mei retorted.

Xiao Xiu almost threw her bag at Xiao Mei’s head. Xiao Mei got up with a smile, ”Mom, you dare say you’re not jealous of Su Yuan? You’re not jealous of Anning? Well, I’m jealous of Su Mingzhu and Su Mingyu. Do you know, when I was little, I nearly froze to death collecting firewood in the cold wind, wearing tattered clothes, with worn shoes? And as I carried the firewood home, I saw Su Mingzhu and Su Mingyu stepping out of their car, beautifully dressed and pampered, exuding an aura like princesses. Yet I wasn’t even fit to be their maid. Back then, I was filled with envy, wishing I could be them someday...”

Xiao Mei’s voice grew louder with anger, ”Why them? They have everything they want at birth, achieving success effortlessly—while no matter how hard I try, I can’t compare. From the start, they ate well and lived well, surrounded by people who adored them, while I couldn’t even eat or dress warmly; I was beaten and scolded. At school, which their family owned, they dictated terms, and I was expelled for speaking out. As adults, they had elite suitors and influential admirers surrounding them. Countless outstanding men fawned over them, while I had to fight tooth and nail to climb to someone... Mom, why is life so unfair, why...”

Xiao Xiu trembled with rage from Xiao Mei’s words and slapped her, ”Just because others are better than you doesn’t mean you can scheme against and harm them. Many in this world live better than you. Can you plot against them all? And if those below you plot against and harm you, how would you feel? You think you’re wronged, but many are worse off than you. When you were very young, I brought you to my side; from then on, did I ever let you suffer? I did my best to give you good food, clothing, and education. You don’t know how much effort and how many favors it took to get you into Peiying School... Go see the children in remote countryside areas and see how they go to school...”

Xiao Xiu sat on the floor, wailing, ”I’ve really sinned, being a mistress, kept as a lover, and doing shameless acts all these years. Now karma has come, karma has come...”

”One wrong step leads to another. If I’d known, I should’ve endured the cold and reprimands and not destroyed someone else’s family out of a moment’s impulsiveness.”

Crying, Xiao Xiu pulled Xiao Mei close, hitting her, ”Xiao Xueqing sent you some clothes and said a few kind words, and you think that she means well? Do you think she genuinely cares about you? What ties do you have with her? She claims to be my elder sister, but we never lived together. Did she ever stay a day at the Xiao Family after acknowledging them? Why would she mean well? Back then, if not for her tempting and inciting me, I wouldn’t have made that misstep. You fool, we are both fools.”

Watching her mother cry like this brought an inexplicable bitterness to Xiao Mei’s heart, bringing tears to her own eyes.

”I made mistakes, but I don’t want you to repeat them. I hoped you could live upright, be well, and lead a normal life. Am I wrong? Am I wrong?”

Xiao Xiu continued to hit Xiao Mei, who fell to the floor from the blows.

She lay there, staring at the ceiling with confusion.