The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Xiao Yuan looked at Qin Xiaocong with a faint smile, making Qin Xiaocong very nervous inside.

He tapped the table: ”No one knows? Then how do I know?”

Qin Xiaocong couldn’t say a word.

”People like Wang San and Liu Heizi, are they someone you can provoke at such a young age?”

Xiao Yuan stared at Qin Xiaocong, speaking word by word: ”People call you Young Master Qin, and you lose sight of what’s important. You don’t even know what kind of people they are, and you dare entrust them with such critical tasks?”

”I...” Qin Xiaocong hung his head: ”Wang San was, was introduced by Xie Zhao’s uncle.”

Xiao Yuan chuckled: ”Didn’t Xie Zhao only introduce you to him?”

”Yes.”

Qin Xiaocong lowered his head even more.

”Xie Zhao was afraid Wang San might not know you. When his work involves you sometimes, he introduces you to Wang San, meaning to tell him that you’re a part of the Xie Family, so in case something happens, Wang San won’t implicate you. But did he let you form a deep connection with Wang San?”

Xiao Yuan asked Qin Xiaocong word by word.

Sweat rolled down Qin Xiaocong’s forehead.

”You think you’re clever, so you disregard others. Do you think people like Wang San are someone you can command at will? What’s more, the company you keep determines the path you walk. You are my son, Xiao Yuan, and I hope you walk the Righteous Path, shining and honorable. The last thing I want is for you to go astray, keeping company with those who mean harm, which is disadvantageous for you. Wanting to retaliate against Feng Yino, involving yourself like this is unwise.”

Xiao Yuan didn’t let up on Qin Xiaocong, continuously chipping away at his confidence.

Qin Xiaocong stood there, head bowed, feeling ashamed and somewhat abashed: ”Father, it was my mistake.”

Xiao Yuan stood up and patted Qin Xiaocong’s shoulder: ”Knowing your mistake is good.”

”About this matter...”

Qin Xiaocong hesitated for a moment before asking.

Xiao Yuan gestured for Qin Xiaocong to sit down: ”Since I know, I’ll help you clean up after everything. The matter is now settled. From now on, keep your distance from people like Wang San and Liu Heizi. You’re still young and not as adept at calculating people’s intentions as they are. Be careful not to be schemed against. When you truly grow up, have your own influence, and become more agile in handling matters, then you can consider using them.”

Xiao Yuan smiled while sitting across from Qin Xiaocong: ”The way you handled this matter was quite inappropriate. Our family had the rightful reason, and you could have retaliated in a straightforward and honorable way, yet you chose these underhanded tactics. It might be fine once or twice, but over time, it will twist your mind.”

In the living room, Xiao Yilin sat beside Anning, nervously staring at the study.

After a long time, she didn’t see Xiao Yuan and Qin Xiaocong come out, making her a bit worried: ”Mom, Dad wouldn’t hit Xiaocong, would he?”

”If he does hit him, it’s deserved.”

Anning showed no sign of worry: ”He needs a good lesson with the way he is.”

”But...”

Xiao Yilin frowned: ”Xiaocong has never been hit before. If Dad hits him hard, can he bear it? Besides, he has a strong sense of pride; if he gets hit, would he take it too hard?”

Anning patted Xiao Yilin’s hand: ”Don’t worry, it’s a father’s duty to teach his son. If he can’t bear being hit a couple of times, then he might as well not go out for school or work and stay home relying on us all his life.”

After a while, just as Xiao Yilin was about to go look in the study, Xiao Yuan finally came out with Qin Xiaocong.

”Dad.”

Xiao Yilin quickly stood up.

Xiao Yuan raised his hand: ”Sit down.”

Only then did Xiao Yilin sit down.

Xiao Yuan glanced at Qin Xiaocong: ”Starting tomorrow, you’ll come home to clean daily. You’ll be punished to clean for a month. Also, during your free time, go to my shop and do some odd jobs, help register guests.”

”Yes.”

Qin Xiaocong stood with his arms lowered, looking respectful.

Xiao Yilin felt relieved seeing everything was fine.

Anning waited for Xiao Yuan to sit down before smiling and getting up: ”I bet you didn’t eat enough outside. Wait, I’ll cook you two bowls of noodles.”

She smiled and turned into the kitchen, quickly bringing out two bowls of noodles.

”Eat quickly and then take a bath and sleep.”

Anning handed the noodles to Xiao Yilin and Qin Xiaocong.

The two accepted the noodles and expressed their thanks.

Truth be told, neither of them had eaten enough today. Now they felt hungry, and the aroma of the noodles made them even hungrier.

The two grabbed their bowls and gobbled down the noodles. Qin Xiaocong went to the kitchen to wash both bowls, then bid goodnight to Anning and Xiao Yuan before heading to bed.

Anning and Xiao Yuan went to their room, and Anning asked Xiao Yuan: ”How did the teaching go?”

Xiao Yuan laughed sitting on the bed: ”The kid’s understanding is good; he’s smart and has good character. He just thought wrong about this matter; adjusting him should be fine. I think he can be taught.”

This evaluation is quite high for Qin Xiaocong.

Knowing that Xiao Yuan values talent and character, he wouldn’t bother teaching someone he doesn’t think highly of. If he values someone’s character but finds their talent lacking, he still wouldn’t teach them.

What Xiao Yuan means by ”can be taught” is that Qin Xiaocong’s talent and character are both quite good.

Anning also smiled: ”If he can be taught, that’s good. Children need to be watched over by us.”

After Xiao Yuan and Anning rested, Qin Xiaocong was in his room tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

He turned over and thought about everything Xiao Yuan said to him today. The more he thought, the more he felt his actions against Feng Yino were lacking. His considerations weren’t thorough, and his methods were wrong.

Just like Xiao Yuan said, the righteous ultimately prevails over the crooked. He clearly could have used above-board methods for retaliation, yet he chose to collude with villains and use petty tactics for revenge. Although he felt satisfied with using their own methods against them at the time, if he continued to think this way, it would truly warp his mind.

The more Qin Xiaocong thought, the more fearful he became.

This fear kept him awake.

After lying down for a while longer, Qin Xiaocong really couldn’t sleep, so he got up to drink some Water in the living room, then thought to go out for a walk.

He had just grabbed a coat and was about to go out when he heard footsteps approaching.

”Can’t sleep?”

Qin Xiaocong heard Xiao Yilin’s voice.

”Yes, thinking of going out for a walk.”

Xiao Yilin walked over to him in a few steps: ”I also want to go for a walk, let’s go together.”

The two of them left the house, one following the other.

They didn’t go anywhere special, just walked around the neighborhood.

It was already late at night, many families’ lights had long been turned off; it was a peaceful silence, an entirely serene environment for them to walk slowly.

The cold wind blew, lifting Xiao Yilin’s long hair.

Qin Xiaocong hurriedly wrapped Xiao Yilin with his scarf: ”Didn’t even think to wear a scarf when you came out, don’t catch a cold.”

Xiao Yilin smiled: ”Isn’t it because I have you? I knew my brother wouldn’t let me catch a cold.”

Qin Xiaocong paused for a moment.

Xiao Yilin grabbed his hand and pulled him to sit on a bench by the roadside: ”Was Dad hard on you today?”

Qin Xiaocong nodded.

Xiao Yilin chuckled twice: ”It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Dad scold anyone. I remember the last time he did, it was when I came back from the Zhang Family...”

Xiao Yilin talked for a long time, finally saying softly: ”Dad’s doing it for your good, don’t hold anything against him.”

”I won’t.”

Qin Xiaocong looked at Xiao Yilin and seriously replied. He grabbed Xiao Yilin’s hand: ”Why are your hands so cold? Let’s quickly go home.”

Walking along, Qin Xiaocong kept Xiao Yilin’s hand in his coat pocket: ”You’re naturally afraid of cold; what made you come out with me in the middle of the night? If you catch a cold, you’ll have everyone worried tomorrow.”