The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chen Wei is quite reliable in handling matters. The day after Xiao Yuan told him about this, he packed up and left.

Before he left, Xiao Yuan forcibly gave Chen Wei a bank card, but Chen Wei refused to take it no matter what.

Anning just smiled and said, ”They say it’s important to have money when traveling; it’s not okay to be without it when you’re out and about. Besides, you’re going to inquire about things, and that definitely requires money. How could you not bring money? Hurry and take it.”

Only then did Chen Wei accept the bank card.

Anning reminded him again, ”Spend as you see fit, don’t skimp. Your uncle and aunt don’t mind spending this bit of money now.”

Chen Wei felt grateful, a smile on his face: ”Aunt, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to get the information.”

After seeing off Chen Wei, Xiao Yuan took advantage of the few days before school started to take Xiao Lu to the countryside, the mountains, various malls, and residential areas in the city. This was to allow Xiao Lu to observe various complex terrains firsthand and accumulate experience.

Anning had also finished writing her urban rebirth novel, but it hadn’t been fully updated on the website yet. Anning was thinking that after the kids finished their college and high school entrance exams this year, she would quit her job to enter the entertainment industry. She pondered over what to do when she first entered the business and finally decided to produce an idol drama with a smaller investment.

Of course, to film an idol drama, you need a script first.

Anning decided to put her male-oriented writing on hold for a while and focus on writing a romance novel in the female niche. By summer, the novel should have gained popularity, and she’d be able to directly use it to make a TV series.

Since she made the decision, Anning quickly started a new novel.

She didn’t use her previous pen name but created a new one, and started a new book in the female section as a newcomer.

This time, Anning’s new novel was full of melodrama.

The truth is, in this world, there’s just no such melodramatic romance novel or even those Mary Sue stories from the old days. Anning could be considered a pioneer.

Her new novel is titled Cinderella’s Dance Shoes. The name is quite cliché, and the plot is also filled with melodrama, but Anning wrote it with great enthusiasm.

The general content of the new story is about a girl named Taotao, who has loved dancing since childhood, and her mother sent her to learn dance.

When she was younger, Taotao’s family was well-off. She had a neighbor’s little brother she played with; they were very close. Later, Taotao’s father went bankrupt in business and jumped to his death in desperation. Her mother got sick and sold their house to pay debts.

When Taotao’s family moved, the little brother gave her a new pair of dance shoes and promised that they’d be together when they grew up.

Later, because of financial difficulties, Taotao couldn’t continue with dance lessons. She slowly started shouldering the household burdens and was gradually worn down by life.

The subsequent plot includes things like the little brother losing memory in a car accident, the family moving away, and Taotao failing to find the little brother when she grows up.

Then there’s Taotao joining a new company and meeting the CEO.

It’s the classic ”I love you when you don’t love me, and when I stop loving you, you chase me” storyline. Taotao and the now CEO little brother start a tumultuous love-hate relationship, full of sugar and heartbreak. Of course, there’s also a gentle male second lead and a vicious supporting female character.

Ultimately, it naturally ends with the lovers becoming a couple.

Anning added lots of melodramatic elements and also some humor to make the story quite exciting.

Yilin, along with Xiaomeng and Yishan, had nothing to do at home, so they read Anning’s writing and fell into the pit, unable to climb out, urging updates daily.

This kind of romance novel is relatively easy to write, and Anning wrote quickly. By the time school was about to start, it was nearly finished.

Of course, her work got signed within a few days of being uploaded.

Her former editor even sent Anning a message, asking why Anning moved to the female section and whether she would still write male-oriented novels in the future. Anning chatted with him for a long time, dispelling his concerns.

Moreover, the male section editor revealed to the female section that Anning was a big name in the male section. Thus, Anning’s contract terms were quite favorable, and she received excellent promotional slots in the female section. This made Cinderella’s Dance Shoes keep getting recommended after signing, with its performance skyrocketing.

The new school term started, and everyone suddenly got busy.

The kids were only a few months away from middle school or college entrance exams, and Anning, who taught graduating classes, was naturally busy.

Xiao Yuan also took on several jobs to build connections for Anning and save more money.

Not long after the new term started, Chen Wei returned.

The child had looked plump when he left, but this time he returned, he was much thinner.

He went straight to Xiao Yuan’s place. Coincidentally, Xiao Yuan was home, so Chen Wei told him what he had found out.

Seeing his tired face, Xiao Yuan let him rest after he finished speaking.

Chen Wei wanted to return the remaining money to Xiao Yuan, but Xiao Yuan refused to take it, saying it was Chen Wei’s running fee. If Chen Wei insisted on returning it, Xiao Yuan threatened to cut ties with him.

This frightened Chen Wei so much that he didn’t dare mention returning the money again.

After school, Xiao Yuan waited for Anning, letting the kids eat first. He pulled Anning into the master bedroom.

”What’s up?”

Anning asked.

Xiao Yuan let Anning sit down: ”Chen Wei came back.”

Anning knew it meant there were results.

Xiao Yuan sat beside Anning: ”Chen Wei specifically inquired about He Xiaohong. He Xiaohong married into a local family with the surname Sun, later having one son and two daughters. Her son is called Sun Hong, a Heavenly Master, reputedly quite capable. About ten years ago, the Xie family from Shangjing came to Liushu Village seeking a daughter who was fostered by the He family. He Xiaohong claimed she was the one, and was taken back by the Xie family. It’s said He Xiaohong’s whole family is now in Shangjing, living quite well with the Xie family’s wealth.”

Anning listened as Xiao Yuan explained bit by bit, and after hearing it, she sneered: ”Isn’t it just living quite well, having stolen someone else’s life to have a good life.”

Xiao Yuan held Anning’s hand: ”I feel there’s more to this.”

Anning frowned.

Xiao Yuan said softly: ”When Mom left the He family, He Xiaohong wasn’t home. Not to mention her, even the He family wasn’t entirely sure where Mom got married. All these years, Mom hasn’t contacted the He family. In theory, He Xiaohong shouldn’t have been able to find Mom, but...”

Anning understood Xiao Yuan’s meaning.

”The Xie family is a large family. They wouldn’t acknowledge a daughter casually. They would have done a DNA test before acknowledging her. Since He Xiaohong is now living with the Xie family, it means the DNA result showed she’s the Xie family’s daughter. How could she do it? Sun Hong must have found a way to swap He Xiaohong’s sample for the test. Essentially, they must have found Mom and stolen her blood and hair for testing.”

Xiao Yuan nodded: ”That’s the only way to explain it.”

He thought for a moment and added: ”Chen Wei also found out about Sun Hong. Many years ago, when he was a teenager, he left for quite a long time. When he returned, he was knowledgeable in reading fortunes and Feng Shui.”

Anning relied on Xiao Yuan and tried to calculate, but it all remained a jumble.

She looked up at the darkening sky outside: ”Our cultivation is greatly diminished, and Heavenly Dao in this world is truly relentless in its suppression.”

Xiao Yuan smirked, half-closing his eyes: ”The Heavenly Dao in this world doesn’t have high self-awareness. It automatically suppresses us as it can’t tolerate otherworldly souls. If it were self-aware, it should have communicated with us since I believe people like He Xiaohong and Sun Hong can’t possibly be Heavenly Dao’s favorites or chosen protagonists.”

Anning whispered in Xiao Yuan’s ear: ”It’s LuLu, right?”

Xiao Yuan nodded: ”I guess so.”