The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Fu Family

Mr. Fu and Mrs. Fu caught Fu Xinhong.

”Eldest, what’s going on with all those rumors online?”

Mrs. Fu grabbed Fu Xinhong and asked anxiously, ”Did you really keep a mistress? Does Tongtong know about this?”

Fu Xinhong was a little impatient. ”Mom, what mistress, don’t make it sound so ugly. Mengmeng and I are truly in love. I was just about to tell you I want to break off the engagement. Anyway, I don’t like Xiao Tong. I want to break it off with her and marry Bai Meng.”

”You bastard.”

Mr. Fu slammed the table and stood up. ”What kind of nonsense is that? You don’t like Xiao Tong, then why didn’t you oppose it when the engagement was arranged in the first place? We asked you, you said you were willing, that’s why the engagement was set. And now, just like that, you say break it off and that’s that? You think marriage is a joke? You think the cooperation between Fu and Xiao is a joke?”

”All you ever talk about is cooperation, cooperation. Back when you told me about this engagement, you said it was a marriage alliance. If I didn’t marry Xiao Tong, I’d have to marry some woman of god-knows-what character into the house anyway. I figured I might as well marry Xiao Tong—at least she’s decent to look at.”

Mr. Fu was so furious he almost wanted to slap Fu Xinhong a few times. ”You’re a grown man—once you’ve made up your mind and given your word, you have to see it through. You...”

”Dad, what’s going on?”

Fu Xinjiang pushed the door open and came in, and the moment he entered he saw Mr. Fu scolding Fu Xinhong.

He hurried over to support Mr. Fu, then asked Fu Xinhong, ”Bro, what’s happening online? My buddies even called me today. I’d guess everyone among our friends and relatives knows about you and that Bai Meng, and Xiao Tong definitely knows too. You need to think of a way to coax her properly, at least give her an explanation, right?”

”They really all know?”

Mrs. Fu quickly asked Fu Xinjiang, ”If that’s the case, then Tongtong definitely knows too.”

She urged Fu Xinhong, ”Eldest, hurry and call Tongtong to explain, don’t let her overthink it. And also, cut things off with that Bai Meng immediately.”

Mr. Fu shouted, ”Cut it off right now. I’m telling you, in this lifetime, other than Tongtong, don’t even think about marrying another woman. As long as you’re my son, the engagement with the Xiao Family cannot be ruined. Hurry and call Tongtong and coax her.”

”Dad, Mom, this is my life. Why do you get to decide for me? What kind of woman I like, who I want to marry, that’s my business. I...”

Fu Xinhong loudly questioned Mr. Fu.

This time, Mr. Fu really swung a big slap across his face.

Fu Xinjiang put on a concerned look, but inside he was secretly pleased.

”Bro, how can you talk like that? Hurry and apologize to Dad.”

Fu Xinhong stiffened his neck. ”Dad, I’ve already made up my mind. This engagement has to be called off. If you two won’t help me talk to the Xiao Family about breaking it, I’ll go myself. When the time comes...”

Mrs. Fu was so frightened she quickly grabbed onto Fu Xinhong.

But at this moment, it was as if Fu Xinhong had entered a delayed rebellious phase. He shook off Mrs. Fu’s hand. ”Up till now my life has been at your mercy. Every move I make has to follow your lead. I don’t want to be a puppet on strings anymore. I want to live my own life.”

Just as the words left his mouth, his phone rang.

Standing beside him, Fu Xinjiang saw him take out his phone, and with his sharp eyes he caught the caller ID. ”It’s Xiao Tong calling. Bro, pick up quickly and explain to her properly.”

Mr. Fu glared at Fu Xinhong too. ”Pick up. Put it on speaker.”

Fu Xinhong answered immediately.

As soon as the call connected, Xiao Tong’s voice came through.

Her voice sounded very gentle, but there was a faint heaviness underneath. Her throat was a bit dry and hoarse; it felt like she’d just been crying.

”Brother Xinhong.”

Fu Xinhong gave a muffled grunt in response. He had just opened his mouth to talk about calling off the engagement when Mrs. Fu leaned over and raised her voice, ”Tongtong, it’s you. Tongtong, let Auntie say this to you: don’t you believe all that messy nonsense online. Who knows which paparazzi snapped a photo of Xinhong and some woman from the wrong angle and put it out there, and now it’s blown up into this... Don’t you overthink it.”

Xiao Tong let out a small laugh. ”Hello, Auntie. I called precisely to talk to Brother Xinhong about this. I’m fine, I haven’t overthought it. Tell Brother Xinhong not to let this bother him either. He’s busy with work, he doesn’t have the spare time to go chasing women—I don’t believe that for a second. Besides, Brother Xinhong and I have a very good relationship.”

Mr. Fu gave Fu Xinhong another smack. ”Tongtong, don’t worry. Other than you, our Fu Family won’t let any other woman in.”

”Uncle, I’m not worried. And don’t keep pressing Brother Xinhong either. He’s worked all day and must be exhausted. Let him rest early.”

At this point, Xiao Tong smiled and comforted Fu Xinhong, ”Brother Xinhong, I’m fine, don’t worry about me. These next few days you need to pay more attention to resting. The season’s about to change—remember to drink more Water and don’t catch a cold.”

Fu Xinhong muttered, ”Got it.”

”Then I’ll hang up now.” Xiao Tong quickly ended the call.

Fu Xinhong irritably ruffled his hair. ”What a mess.”

Mr. Fu gave him another smack. ”Look at that—where are you going to find a girl as good as Tongtong nowadays? Tongtong is so Da Fang, and she cares so much about you. Being engaged to her is your good fortune.”

Mrs. Fu chimed in, ”Exactly. Never mind anything else—just look at all our relatives’ households. Add up all their daughters-in-law and daughters; can you find a girl better than Tongtong among them? No, not a single one. Tongtong never goes to those messy parties. She’s gentle and considerate with you, very filial to me and your dad. And it’s not just that she’s pretty and dutiful—she’s capable too. If you marry Tongtong, you’ll save yourself so much trouble in the future.”

Mr. Fu continued, ”The Xiao Family is in the middle of transformation right now. Tongtong’s grandfather is already over sixty and still has that much drive. I heard he’s launched several projects recently, and the Xiao Family’s profits are climbing straight up. If the transformation really succeeds, the Xiao Family will probably become the richest in all of Su Hai. At the rate they’re going, becoming the richest in the country is only a matter of time. And there aren’t many members in the Xiao Family. When Tongtong marries over, she’ll definitely bring quite a bit of shares with her. Just think how much help Tongtong can give you. What can that Bai Meng give you?”

What Mr. Fu and Mrs. Fu said was all factual and very realistic, but they were sincerely thinking of Fu Xinhong.

Yet Fu Xinhong simply wouldn’t listen.

”No matter how good she is, it’s useless if I don’t like her. Liking someone doesn’t come with all those extra conditions. Besides, Xiao Tong is so good she definitely won’t have trouble finding a husband. If I break off the engagement with her, she can easily find someone even better. Why should she hang on to a man like me who doesn’t even like her?”

Mr. Fu almost had a heart attack from anger.

He tried every which way to talk sense into him, but this eldest son just wouldn’t take it in.

He’d originally thought his eldest was decent, fairly capable, calm and collected.

But now it seemed he’d misjudged him.

With this eldest son’s tendency to go all in, life-or-death, for a woman, how could he dare hand the Fu Family over to him?

”Dad, don’t be mad. My bro must have been taken in by that Bai Meng. Women only have so many tricks. My bro has kept himself proper since he was young, never really let women get close, so he doesn’t understand these things. Once he’s dealt with more women, he’ll naturally figure it out.”

Mr. Fu nodded tiredly. ”I know, I’m not mad.”

But Fu Xinhong just had to keep pushing. ”Second, don’t talk nonsense. Bai Meng isn’t that kind of woman you’re describing. She...”

Mr. Fu couldn’t listen anymore.

”Second, help me upstairs to rest.”