The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

When Anning and the others arrived at the city hospital, Mrs. Zhang, Zhang Linfeng, and Zhang Lu were already waiting there.

Once everyone was there, the doctor took samples on the spot, sealed them up in front of everyone, and sent them off for testing.

In the crowd, Zhang Lu secretly observed Xiao Yuan and Anning.

She knew that if nothing unexpected happened, those two would be her biological father and stepmother.

When she saw that Xiao Yilin was getting along very well with those two, and was also very close to the stepmom, she froze for a moment.

In her impression, when Xiao Yilin first returned to the Zhang Family, she was like a hedgehog, bristling with spikes all day long. Everything she said made people feel stabbed in the heart. It was really rare to see her so well‑behaved and obedient like this.

Zhang Lu couldn’t help wondering what on earth Xiao Yilin had gone through.

Anning and the others watched the collected samples being taken away, then she smiled and said to Zhang Hao and Mrs. Zhang, ”We still have three kids at home, we definitely can’t stay here too long. Now that the test results aren’t out yet, we can’t say for sure what exactly happened back then. It’s impossible for Yilin to go back with you now. We’re going to take Yilin with us first, and when the results come out, we’ll have to discuss things with the child. What do you think?”

Zhang Hao was a bit unwilling, but Mrs. Zhang held tightly onto Zhang Lu’s hand. ”You’re right, matters concerning the children need to be discussed. Actually, we’ve thought about it. If they really were swapped, LuLu has been raised in our home for so many years. This child has been pampered since she was little and never suffered. She definitely wouldn’t be able to stand it if she left home. We were thinking, maybe both children could be raised by us. Of course, don’t worry, we’d definitely treat them both the same...”

Mrs. Zhang’s words undoubtedly made Xiao Yuan very angry.

He asked with a dark face, ”What’s this supposed to mean? You’re trying to snatch our child?”

Anning looked at Mrs. Zhang with a half‑smile. ”What you said does make some sense. The ones you raise are the ones you’re close to, and of course you’d dote on your own biological child too. Our Yilin is used to staying at home and gets along especially well with her younger brother and sister. If she suddenly left home, how could she get used to it? She’d definitely miss home terribly. As for LuLu, she looks like a good kid too. Like you said, why don’t we just have both children live with us? Rest assured, we may not be as rich as the Zhang Family, but we’re not so poor that we can’t afford to raise kids. Whatever other people’s kids have, ours won’t lack. When it comes to raising children, we actually have an advantage over you—we have more time to spend with them. Right now, all the meals our kids eat are cooked by their dad, and I’m the one who tutors them with their homework. Once the child comes to our home, whether or not the clothes and food are anything special, their mood will definitely be good. People only live one lifetime, isn’t it all just about being happy? Don’t you think so?”

The couple tag‑teamed their responses, one line after another, leaving Mrs. Zhang completely unable to get a word in.

Zhang Lu was dumbfounded listening from the side.

In her previous life, she had never met her biological father or this stepmother, and had no idea what kind of personalities they had. She’d only heard they were quite useless—in any case, not much to look at.

But now that she saw them, this was anything but useless. These two were actually quite formidable.

All of a sudden, Zhang Lu began to look forward to returning to her biological father. She felt that once she went back, her days would definitely be colorful, and in any case would be better than staying in the Zhang Family.

Mrs. Zhang was practically dying of anger.

Zhang Hao was also feeling very displeased.

Anning couldn’t care less whether they were pleased or not.

Hmph. If someone dared bully her man and kids right in front of her and she didn’t roast them until they questioned their whole life, she wouldn’t be Anning.

Anning took Xiao Yuan by one hand and Xiao Yilin by the other. ”It’s getting late. We left early and haven’t eaten yet. I need to hurry up and get some food into the kid so she doesn’t go hungry.”

She smiled and nodded at Zhang Hao. ”Mr. Zhang, see you.”

The Zhang Family watched as Mrs. Xiao dragged her man and child off in a whirlwind, and their hearts were filled with all sorts of feelings.

Once they left the hospital, Xiao Yilin started laughing.

She leaned against Anning. ”Mom, you’re amazing.”

”Of course I am. I can’t just stand by and watch that Mrs. Zhang bully people like that, can I? The Zhang Family is a bit too nasty and too full of themselves. Do they really think we’re so useless that they can push us around? Just who exactly do they think they’re looking down on?”

Anning spoke angrily.

She turned her head and said to Xiao Yuan, ”Hurry up and look it up on your phone. See if there’s any decent restaurant nearby. I’m starving to death.”

Xiao Yuan quickly took out his phone to check.

Then the three of them found a restaurant nearby. It was almost noon by then, and the place was gradually starting to fill up.

Xiao Yuan led his wife and child to a seat by the window. Anning had Xiao Yilin order, while she lowered her voice and chatted with Xiao Yuan.

After finishing the order, Xiao Yilin looked around and saw Zhang Lu standing outside the window, peering in their direction.

She patted Anning’s hand. ”Mom, isn’t that the girl from the Zhang Family?”

Anning and Xiao Yuan looked over, and sure enough, it was Zhang Lu.

Zhang Lu realized Xiao Yuan had seen her. She hesitated, but still mustered her courage and walked over.

”C‑can I sit down?”

She asked softly.

”Sit.”

Xiao Yuan’s expression had softened a lot. ”We just ordered. If there’s anything you want to eat, we can order you a portion too.”

Zhang Lu shook her hand. ”I’ll pass. I just wanted to say a few words.”

Xiao Yilin stood up. ”Do you want me to give you some space?”

Zhang Lu hurriedly grabbed her. ”No, no need. It’s actually nothing much. I just wanted to say, if it really turns out that the babies were switched back then, then I—I’m definitely going to go back to my own family.”

She looked Xiao Yuan up and down. ”It’s very likely that you’re my biological father. I wanted to ask what you think. Is your family willing to have me?”

”Do Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang know you came over?”

Anning asked.

Zhang Lu gave a bitter smile. ”No. I just wanted to figure things out first before I make a decision.”

Xiao Yuan also sized Zhang Lu up. ”If you really are my biological daughter, I’d definitely be willing to have you come home.”

Zhang Lu instantly let out a long breath of relief.

She gave a sincere smile. ”As long as I’m welcome, that’s enough.”

She glanced at Xiao Yilin again, then stood up. ”I won’t disturb you. Enjoy your meal.”

After Xiao Yuan and the other two saw Zhang Lu off, they quietly finished their meal and then took the bus back to Baisha County.

Once they got back, Xiao Yuan dropped Xiao Yilin off at school.

Anning also went back to school to teach.

On the other side, Bao Bufen called to say everything was ready.

Xiao Yuan had Bao Bufen come pick him up.

When he arrived again at the Bao Family ancestral graves, Xiao Yuan checked everything over once more. After confirming there were no problems, he began preparing to perform the ritual.

The best two hours for it had already passed today, so Xiao Yuan and Bao Bufen agreed that he would come pick him up early the next morning, and then take him back afterward.

When he got home, Anning was already there.

She had taken leave to get off school early today. When Xiao Yuan came in, Anning was making dinner, and the smell of meat and vegetables filled the air.

”You’re back.”

Anning’s smile was bright, and when Xiao Yuan saw her, he felt completely at ease, his heart full of joy.

”Yeah, I’m back.”

He washed his hands and went over to help Anning with the cooking.

”These next few days, try to really talk things through with Yilin.” As Anning set the ribs to boil, she spoke to Xiao Yuan.

”Okay.”

Xiao Yuan agreed. ”I was thinking about it the wrong way before. Let’s do what we can before she goes back to the Zhang Family.”

”She’s still just a kid.”

Anning smiled lightly. ”If we can help even a little, it’s worth it. Many times, it’s one thought to heaven, one thought to hell.”

Her warm smile also rubbed off on Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan’s heart was filled with that cozy, gentle warmth, a joy he couldn’t help but feel.

He couldn’t stop himself from pulling Anning into his arms.

This was how the Anning he loved was—no matter how many hardships she had gone through, she always kept a heart like gold.

Anning had endured so much torment and abuse. Across so many lifetimes of reincarnation, she had been helpless, and in every life she was brutally killed.

But she never gave up trying to save herself, nor did she hate those worlds. She had always done everything in her power to treat every person who deserved kindness with kindness.

A person who had gone through so much, been shattered countless times, and then painstakingly pieced herself back together again and again, yet still managed to hold on to her original heart—Xiao Yuan knew how incredibly, incredibly hard that was.

”A kind word in winter is warm as spring; a harsh word in summer can chill like frost.” Anning smiled and patted Xiao Yuan’s hand. ”Yilin has plenty of things she’s doing wrong, but whether from a parent’s compassion or from not wanting to hurt people, not wanting to make enemies, we can’t just do nothing and push the child away. Rather than letting a child who harbors resentment towards you leave home for the Zhang Family, and possibly do something to hurt us in the future, it’s better to at least try—let her leave home with gratitude in her heart, full of warmth and fondness.”