The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

”Grandma, are you alright?”

Xia Man, still worried about Anning, came back not long after.

At that moment, Xiao Zhang had already left, leaving Anning alone in the corner.

”I’m fine.” Anning smiled: ”Let’s go, the auction is about to start.”

Xia Man linked her arm with Anning’s, with a proper smile on her face, she followed Anning to find a seat far away from Li Wanping and Xiao Zhang.

Coincidentally, the seat Anning chose was not far from the middle-aged man who overheard her call.

The man turned his head and sized up Anning and Xia Man several times, a flash of curiosity in his eyes.

Xiao Zhang, having been struck by Anning, chose not to find Li Wanping, instead he went to the bathroom to wash his face. In the mirror, he checked to see that his face was not red or swollen before entering the venue.

”Where did you go?”

Li Wanping asked as Xiao Zhang approached.

Xiao Zhang smiled: ”Nothing much, just a bit stuffy, went out for some air.”

”Mrs. Xiao, is this your son?”

Seated next to Li Wanping was a plump, amicable-looking woman named Mrs. Du, who came along with her daughter.

Mrs. Du saw Xiao Zhang and her eyes lit up, she leaned in to ask Li Wanping.

Li Wanping nodded with a smile: ”Yes, this is my son Xiao Zhang.”

Xiao Zhang nodded slightly at Mrs. Du and greeted her: ”Hello.”

Mrs. Du quickly pulled her daughter Du Lin over: ”This is my daughter Lin Lin.”

Du Lin glanced at Xiao Zhang several times, her face blushing: ”Hello auntie, hello Mr. Xiao.”

”No need to use Mr. Xiao, just call him Azhang.” Li Wanping immediately sensed that Mrs. Du and Du Lin might be interested in Xiao Zhang, which made her quite pleased.

Although the Du family wasn’t considered a top-tier aristocracy in Su Hai, they were certainly respected within the circle of wealthy families.

Moreover, the Du family had only one daughter, Du Lin.

Mr. Du and Mrs. Du struggled through hard times together, working tirelessly to build their current estate. Their youth was spent on their careers, leaving no time or energy to have or raise children. It wasn’t until they were in their thirties that Du Lin was born. Mrs. Du had complications during Du Lin’s birth, and since then, her health declined, preventing her from having more children.

Mr. Du valued loyalty and was grateful that Mrs. Du didn’t abandon him when he was poor, standing by him all the way to where they were now. Even with only Du Lin, he wasn’t tempted to have an affair or keep mistresses.

Overall, the Du family had an upright family culture, and Du Lin, raised in such an environment, was a straightforward girl.

Such a girl was easy to win over, and marrying Du Lin meant potentially controlling the entire Du family.

This was what Li Wanping hoped for too.

Li Wanping leaned closer to Mrs. Du and whispered: ”Does Lin Lin have a boyfriend?”

”Not yet.” Mrs. Du replied softly: ”Her father and I haven’t dictated anything to her, nor have we insisted on particular choices. But she’s never had a boyfriend, says she hasn’t found anyone appealing, and I wonder what she’s looking for.”

”Same here, our child too. At this age, besides not having a girlfriend, doesn’t even have any female friends. I’ve mentioned it several times, but he doesn’t listen. He insists on being selective, says once he finds someone it’s for a lifetime, so he needs to be careful and prudent.”

Li Wanping smiled, subtly praising Xiao Zhang.

Mrs. Du was even more satisfied: ”That attitude is great, much better than those who fool around. Your Azhang seems very reliable, calm, and steady, giving a sense of reassurance.”

Li Wanping smiled even more broadly: ”I think Lin Lin is wonderful too...”

As the two conversed, the auction began.

Anning held a booklet, flipping through it, she quickly spotted a necklace.

It was a necklace with quite a history, nearly eighty to ninety years old. According to the introduction, the necklace was a token of love from a famous poet to his wife before the founding of the nation, bearing significant commemorative value.

After looking at it, Anning asked Xia Man: ”Do you like it?”

Xia Man glanced at it and quickly shook her head: ”Not really.”

Anning understood that Xia Man likely said she didn’t like it because she worried it would be too expensive.

Actually, this necklace was well-preserved and quite beautiful from Anning’s perspective. She really liked it.

”If you don’t like it, then I’ll bid on it and keep it.” Anning tapped her finger on the booklet and then flipped to another page.

Xia Man was also browsing the booklet.

She quickly flipped to the back, where she saw a pair of silver rings. This pair of silver rings was ordinary, made of pure silver without any embellishments, simple and inexpensive.

However, these rings belonged to a couple who had been married for over eighty years and remained as loving as ever into their centenarian years.

Now the elderly couple, knowing about the charity auction, decided to donate what they deemed their most precious rings. They aimed not only to do something philanthropic but also hoped to find new owners for these rings through the auction, wishing those who bid on them to have lifelong love and companionship.

Xia Man brightened up upon seeing the rings.

She glanced at Anning, her finger lingering fondly over the rings.

Then, Xia Man whispered to Anning: ”Grandma, I need to use the restroom.”

”Go ahead.” Anning softly said: ”Make it quick, don’t miss the time.”

Xia Man agreed and headed out.

As soon as she left, she called Xi Jingchen.

”Jingchen, how much money do you have left?”

Xi Jingchen had just been scolded by Xiao Yuan and was fixing mistakes in his documents. While working and speaking to Xia Man on the phone, he asked: ”What do you want to buy?”

”I’m with Grandma at the auction, and I’ve taken a liking to a pair of rings...”

Xia Man recounted the rings’ story: ”I noticed Grandpa and Grandma don’t have rings, and I want to bid on them as a gift.”

Xi Jingchen also felt the rings were wonderful, and that Anning and Xiao Yuan would probably like them.

”I’ll transfer all the money from my card to you. You must bid on them, don’t worry about spending money.”

”Okay.” Xia Man laughed: ”I still have some money here too, between the two of us, it should be enough.”

When Xia Man returned to the venue, the auction had already started.

The first item was a pair of vases, visually exquisite but not particularly valuable, which were quickly bid on and taken.

Next came a limited edition handbag donated by someone, claimed by a lady who loved collecting handbags.

One donation item after another was displayed and quickly bid on.

Soon, the jade carving Peony Plate donated by Xia Man was brought up.

The host smiled and said: ”The next auction item is donated by Lady Xia. According to rumors, there’s a story behind this Peony Plate...”

Xia Man listened intently to the host’s narration regarding the Peony Plate’s story, with a smile on her lips.

After hearing it, she quietly asked Anning: ”Grandma, is this true?”

Anning laughed and nodded: ”Should be.”

The bidding below had already begun; to Anning, the Peony Plate was insignificant, a trivial item, but others found it quite impressive.

The Peony Plate had fine jade quality and good water content, looking elegant and transparent. Additionally, it was an ancient piece crafted by a renowned artisan, naturally increasing its value.

The initial bid for the Peony Plate was 150,000, and quickly someone bid it at 180,000.

At this point, Xiao Zhang raised his paddle: ”200,000.”

A lady behind Xia Man raised her paddle: ”210,000.”

Xiao Zhang, slightly smug, said: ”220,000... ”

Xia Man was a bit unhappy: ”How could he do this.”

Anning patted Xia Man’s hand: ”It’s nothing, this item won’t end up in his hands.”

Xia Man was startled.

Anning smiled but didn’t explain to Xia Man.

Xiao Zhang’s cards had been frozen by Xiao Yuan; he was currently out of funds. Let’s see where he would source money when payment time comes.