After Becoming a Cannon Fodder Side Character, I Became the Group’s Favorite (GL) - Chapter 12

“What did you call me?” Xu Yanshu suspected there was something wrong with her ears.

As far as she knew, Wen Shiyu had never called Wen Mubai “Sister,” and neither did Wen Mubai. The two of them always called each other by name, and in private, they even used “Hey.”

Xu Yanshu had never imagined there would be a day when someone would call her “Sister.”

“Can’t I?” Xu Chacha gently held her hand. Her small palm was soft and warm, and her beautiful, glass-like eyes looked at her pleadingly. “Then what can Chacha call you…?”

The child’s tentative tone made Xu Yanshu feel guilty.

“You can call me anything,” Xu Yanshu bent down, pulled out a lollipop she had prepared in advance from her pocket, and offered it to her. “Want some candy?”

“Thank you, Sister Yanshu!” Xu Chacha took the candy with both hands, her eyes narrowing into a slit as she smiled. “You’re so nice to me.”

This is “so nice”?

Xu Yanshu felt that this child might be a bit simple-minded, the kind who could be easily lured away on the street with just a piece of candy.

Xu Chacha pulled Xu Yanshu’s hand and hopped toward Mrs. Xu, boasting as she ran, “Mommy, Sister gave me candy! Look!”

“Mommy sees it.” Mrs. Xu helped her unwrap the candy and handed it back, then reached out to take Xu Yanshu’s schoolbag, weighing it. “It’s so heavy?”

“Mhm, I borrowed some books from the library to take home and read.”

“It’s good to love learning, but you need to balance work and rest,” Mrs. Xu patted her back. “Don’t be like that workaholic. Money and books are the same; one can’t be earned completely, and the other can’t be read completely.”

The “workaholic” she was referring to was Mr. Xu, a man who could work overtime for a week without coming home.

Xu Yanshu nodded. “I’ll listen to you.”

“Sister.” Someone tugged at Xu Yanshu from behind. Xu Chacha’s round eyes were open wide, and her little finger pointed at Mrs. Xu. “This is ‘Mommy,’ not ‘You’ (nín – formal form).”

She emphasized the words, serious like a kindergarten teacher teaching children to recognize characters.

“Yes, it’s been so long, and you still haven’t changed the way you address me,” Mrs. Xu laughed.

Xu Yanshu hesitated, then called out, “Mom… Mommy.”

These two words had been so distant from her in her past life. Saying them now made her feel so mushy that her fingers wanted to curl up.

“Sister is too shy.” Xu Chacha giggled, feeling the kind of completeness one feels when seeing the protagonist of a TV drama have a happy ending.

“One for Sister, one for me.” She grabbed Xu Yanshu’s hand and clasped it with Mrs. Xu’s, then grabbed Mrs. Xu’s other hand with her own. “Let’s go, let’s go, time to go home together!”

“I—” Xu Yanshu’s hand trembled slightly. She wanted to pull it back, but Mrs. Xu silently held on tight.

She and Mrs. Xu rarely hugged before, let alone held hands. She had always kept her status very low, not daring to overstep or wish for more.

Yet, Xu Chacha just grabbed everything Xu Yanshu had longed for but dared not touch and stuffed it all into her arms, all with a naive and happy expression.

Xu Yanshu lowered her eyes, looking at her hand clasped with Mrs. Xu’s, and then at the hopping little girl.

She couldn’t help but inwardly criticize Xu Chacha again: That’s why I say you’re simple-minded. Are you seriously not afraid of your mommy and daddy being stolen away?

…

Xu Yanshu realized the house seemed a little strange.

She stood on the steps, re-examining the spectacular and luxurious European-style villa. Her undisguised look of confusion finally settled on the enormous pink cat head at the entrance.

The silver metal cat head wore a pink bow tie. Its two bright yellow eyes looked as if they were genuinely made of gold. Below the cat head was a small square plaque with the words “Welcome Home” written in large characters.

“This is Hello Kitty! Isn’t it cute?” Xu Chacha looked like she was smiling, but her heart was already crying rivers of tears.

Who could imagine her feelings coming home one day to a house full of Hello Kitty? She was miserable! She was confused! It was just like the “joy” of facing three plates of chicken legs that night.

She had only casually established that persona for herself. Who knew Mr. and Mrs. Xu’s love would be so overwhelming and fierce? She remembered Housekeeper Zhang unpacking express deliveries from morning until afternoon for days, her fingers practically turning pink.

This incident taught Xu Chacha a lesson: Lying as a child really does bring retribution!

“Hahahaha, this was your dad’s idea. He said that if Chacha ever can’t find her way home, seeing this Hello Kitty from far away will let her know where home is.”

Xu Yanshu nodded in agreement. “It’s cute.”

Xu Chacha really wanted to pat Xu Yanshu’s back and tell her: Sis, don’t force yourself. I actually think this cat head is a little scary, too.

Because they knew Xu Yanshu was coming home today, the kitchen staff specially prepared several extra dishes. Mr. Xu also attached great importance to this first family gathering and came home early to wait for the three women.

Upon entering, Xu Chacha was forced to experience Mr. Xu’s lifting-up-high move again, but she could now cooperate naturally, waving her arms and acting delighted.

“Come, Daddy bought you new slippers. Try them on.” Mr. Xu held two pairs: a small one for Xu Chacha and a large one for Xu Yanshu. The pattern on them was the familiar yellow-eyed cat head.

“Thank you, Daddy.” Xu Chacha held his hand and slipped her feet into the slippers. The size was just right, the underfoot feel was soft and comfortable, and the bow tie on the upper was three-dimensional, bouncing delightfully with every step.

“Squeak, squeak—” Xu Chacha took two steps, and the smile on her lips froze.

Ah, ah, ah, ah! Just what kind of terrifying obsession does this man have with this style of slipper?!

“Why don’t Sister’s slippers squeak!”

“Only children’s slippers have this style,” Mr. Xu said, but then he asked for Xu Yanshu’s opinion. “Or do you like Chacha’s style too? I can customize a pair for you.”

Xu Yanshu politely refused. “No need. The current ones are fine.”

Xu Chacha: That’s not fair!

…

Washing their hands to prepare for dinner, Xu Chacha remembered a detail mentioned in the book: before the original owner returned, Xu Yanshu used to sit next to Mr. Xu. However, because their relationship wasn’t harmonious afterward, Xu Yanshu initially moved to a corner seat, and later rarely came home for dinner.

“Sister, you sit here.” Xu Chacha pulled Xu Yanshu’s hand, pressing her into the seat she had used yesterday. She pulled up the chair next to her and climbed onto it. “Chacha will sit next to Sister.”

Xu Yanshu watched her struggle to climb onto the chair, her butt sticking out, and couldn’t help but reach out to help her. Xu Chacha kicked her short legs a few times and finally settled down steadily.

Once everyone was seated, the housekeepers served the hot dishes.

Xu Yanshu stared at the huge platters of meat and vegetables piled high like small mountains, and the pitiful, neglected small green vegetables shoved into a corner, experiencing the same bewilderment Xu Chacha had.

She remembered that the Xu family’s menu always emphasized nutritional balance, even hiring a nutritionist to plan it, and it had never been so one-sided before today.

“Come, Chacha, here are the chicken legs you love again today. Eat more.” Mrs. Xu started urging her.

“I have enough, I have enough.” Xu Chacha was afraid that if she didn’t stop her parents soon, she would be perpetually stuffed.

Xu Chacha subtly signaled toward Xu Yanshu. Mrs. Xu understood, turned her chopsticks around, and placed the chicken leg into Xu Yanshu’s bowl.

“Thank you.” Xu Yanshu lowered her head and ate the meat.

“Sister must be very tired from studying; you’re so skinny.” Xu Chacha laboriously used her small pink chopsticks to transfer food into Xu Yanshu’s bowl. “You need to eat more to get plump.”

With the thought of diverting attention as much as possible, Xu Chacha kept stuffing food into Xu Yanshu’s bowl.

The book said Xu Yanshu was never a picky eater, so she mixed a little of everything. As long as Xu Yanshu ate fast enough, she could eat a little less!

Xu Chacha: I’m so smart.

Just as she was feeling pleased with her little scheme, three pairs of chopsticks simultaneously reached out toward her.

“You too, eat more and grow taller.”

Xu Chacha, who was seven years old and still under one meter ten in height, was accurately hit on a pain point. Her mouth drooped, and she looked like she was about to cry.

“I’m still small, I’ll still grow!”

If these people hadn’t reminded her, Xu Chacha wouldn’t have thought about it yet. Before transmigrating into the book, she was always the tallest in the class lineup, which was why she was scouted to be a model.

Same name, different fate. Xu Chacha, why are you so disappointing!

…

After dinner, at Xu Chacha’s insistence, the family sat on the sofa watching TV for a while before dispersing.

Xu Chacha was put to bed early by Mrs. Xu and only fell asleep after hearing Housekeeper Zhang tell her the story of Snow White one more time.

Xu Yanshu was at her desk working on her stacks of test papers. Her pen ran out of ink, and she stood up to look for a refill. Her eyes inadvertently glanced out the window, and she realized it was raining outside.

It was a summer night rain—loud thunder and heavy drops, clattering against the window. It was only because she had been wearing headphones that she hadn’t noticed.

She adjusted the angle of the desk lamp and was about to put her headphones back on when she suddenly heard a knock at the door.

The sound was very soft, just a polite three taps. She guessed the person outside thought she was already asleep because she heard footsteps walking back.

“Squeak… squeak, squeak…”

Guessing who was at the door, Xu Yanshu put down her pen to open it.

The little girl, who only reached her waist, was hugging a pillow with both hands, her back to Xu Yanshu, her figure small and pitiful as she walked away.

“Chacha.” Xu Yanshu called out to her. “Why are you still awake so late?”

“I’m scared.”

“Are you scared of the thunder?”

“Mhm.” Xu Chacha tightened her arms around the pillow, stood on her toes, and tugged at Xu Yanshu’s sleeve. “Can Chacha sleep with Sister?”