After Becoming a Cannon Fodder Side Character, I Became the Group’s Favorite (GL) - Chapter 23.1

In the car

“Auntie, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Auntie, I didn’t start dating early.”

“Don’t tell my Mommy and Daddy; they’ll make a fuss.”

“You have to give Auntie a chance to interject, right?” Wen Mubai’s eyes held a smile as she leaned down with her hand supporting her forehead to look at her. “You know about early dating?”

“Of course I do.” Xu Chacha patted her chest. “Our main task at this age is studying, not getting addicted to the internet or messing around with relationships between boys and girls.”

“Such a small thing, yet you talk as if you know everything.” Wen Mubai tapped her forehead with a finger. “But you shouldn’t completely avoid making friends. Get along well with your classmates, and if anyone bullies you, tell an adult. Don’t secretly endure it.”

“No one bullies me. And a friend wants to treat Chacha to cake after school!”

“A boy again?” Wen Mubai’s expression was intriguing.

“A girl! Her name is Qianqian!”

Wen Mubai raised an eyebrow. “Good. Then why didn’t you go eat cake with Qianqian?”

“Because I wanted to play with Auntie.” Xu Chacha hooked her arm around Wen Mubai’s. “Cake is not as important as Auntie.”

Whenever she was with Xu Chacha, the smile on Wen Mubai’s lips never stopped. “Then that is Auntie’s honor.”

Xu Chacha chatted incessantly with her all the way. Most of the time, Xu Chacha spoke, and Wen Mubai listened carefully, occasionally replying with a few sentences.

Unlike when she was in public, Wen Mubai would show a teasing expression only when facing Xu Chacha, and her replies sounded less perfunctory and official.

How to describe it? She finally seemed a bit more grounded and human.

“Then, Auntie, will you come to my house to play on Saturday? Your school is off on Saturday, right?” Xu Chacha suddenly remembered she didn’t know which school Wen Mubai was attending. “Oh, right, Auntie, which school are you going to? Is it far? Will Chacha not be able to see you for a long time?”

“Q University, Fashion Design.”

Fashion Design? Xu Chacha was confused. She remembered the meaning of the conversation between Mr. Xu and Mr. Wen a few days ago didn’t sound like that.

Everyone took it for granted that Wen Mubai would choose a finance-related major. After all, Wen Mubai studied science, and she was the Wen family’s eldest daughter who would inherit the family business later.

“Q University is also in A City.” She covered her inner confusion with a smile. “And Mommy told me that school is particularly great. Congratulations, Auntie!”

Wen Mubai hummed and rubbed her hair, not looking very enthusiastic.

“Auntie, your phone is vibrating.” Xu Chacha pointed to her pocket.

The phone had actually been vibrating for a long time, but Wen Mubai had ignored it, and Xu Chacha had pretended not to notice. But now that both of them were quiet, the phone’s movement was too obvious to ignore any longer.

Wen Mubai took out her phone. Xu Chacha saw the contact name was “Father.”

“Hello.”

Xu Chacha consciously moved to the other side of the seat, not wanting to eavesdrop on Wen Mubai’s conversation with her father.

Judging from Wen Mubai’s expression, their conversation would not be pleasant.

“Why should my application be determined according to your will?” Wen Mubai’s voice sounded emotionless, cold and hard, completely unlike the tone one should use when speaking to a father.

Wen Mubai’s jaw tightened at whatever was said on the other end, and her fingertips gripping the phone turned red from the pressure.

She was trying hard to suppress her emotions.

“I have things I want to do, and this decision will not change. I’ll report to the university myself the day after tomorrow; you don’t need to worry. If there’s nothing else to say, I’m hanging up.”

Xu Chacha could feel a great emotional fluctuation coming from Wen Mubai, but she wasn’t hysterical. Instead, she had the fearless sense of abandoning all caution that comes from extreme exhaustion.

The call ended. Wen Mubai leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, remaining silent for a long time. Suddenly, she felt a soft touch on the back of her hand. She opened her eyes to meet Xu Chacha’s concerned gaze.

Xu Chacha gently patted the back of her hand. “Auntie, don’t be angry. If Auntie is angry, Chacha won’t be happy either.”

“I’m sorry.” Wen Mubai held Xu Chacha’s hand in her palm. It was small and fragile, as if a slight squeeze could crush it. Her heart inexplicably softened. “Auntie didn’t scare you, did I?”

“Don’t say sorry.” Xu Chacha rested her head on Wen Mubai’s lap, curling up like a cat. “Chacha is not afraid. Chacha knows Auntie is just unhappy. Will Auntie try not to be unhappy? Chacha will tell you a joke.”

“Okay.” Wen Mubai lowered her eyes, gently tucking Xu Chacha’s hair behind her ear so it wouldn’t cover her eyes. “Go on, Auntie is listening.”

“A long, long time ago…” Xu Chacha was about to make up a joke, but she had only started and hadn’t continued yet when Wen Mubai already began to smile.

“I haven’t said it yet, Auntie.” Xu Chacha looked up, her brows furrowed. “Why are you laughing so quickly?”

Wen Mubai rubbed her cheek. “Because I think you’re cute.”

Xu Chacha’s temper instantly vanished. She buried her face back in Wen Mubai’s lap. “Then… then fine.”

…

On Saturday, Xu Chacha woke up half an hour earlier than usual, preening in front of the mirror as she chose an outfit.

When Wen Mubai picked her up from school last time, they had agreed to go to the amusement park today, and she had been looking forward to it since the night before.

Xu Chacha checked the time. It was only a little past six. They had agreed on nine, so there was still a lot of time to wait. She rolled around on the bed out of boredom, wrapping her feet into the quilt, curling into a ball.

After playing by herself for a while, she tilted her head and pulled out a fashion magazine from under the bed.

She had secretly bought these with her allowance. It was a habit she formed as a model—she had to keep up with seasonal trends and industry gossip.

By the time Xu Chacha finished flipping through all the new issues for the month, barely half an hour had passed. She flipped over and lay down flat on the bed.

Can time please move faster? Can’t it just jump straight to nine o’clock?

“Ding-dong!”

Xu Chacha bounced up like she had springs in her bottom, holding her phone to check the message.

It really was from Wen Mubai.

Dearest Auntie: Chacha, Auntie has an interview that was suddenly rescheduled for today, so I won’t be able to go to the amusement park with you. We’ll postpone it this time, and Auntie promises to take you next week.

Xu Chacha’s shoulders instantly slumped. The dress she had spent so long choosing no longer seemed so pretty.

She pouted and sent a soft-spoken voice message.

“What kind of interview is it? Can Chacha go and watch?”

Wen Mubai didn’t text back; instead, she immediately called. “Chacha? Are you awake so early?”

Her voice sounded less energetic than usual, and a little hoarse.

“Auntie, you stayed up late again, didn’t you?” Xu Chacha scolded her over the phone. “You tell me to go to bed early and wake up early all the time, but you never do it yourself.”

Wen Mubai knew she was in the wrong on this issue. “I know, I’ll listen to you.”

“So, what interview is Auntie going to do?”

“A magazine interview, and I’ll be shooting the cover as well.” It was originally scheduled for next month, but the male celebrity who was supposed to be on this issue’s cover suddenly had a domestic violence scandal hit the trending list the day before yesterday, so the editor-in-chief urgently contacted Wen Mubai to fill in.

“Taking photos, huh? Then Auntie must be dressed very beautifully today.” Xu Chacha rested her chin on her knees, dragging out the end of her sentence. “Chacha really wants to see.”

Wen Mubai was actually barely going to make it to the set on time and couldn’t possibly detour to pick up Xu Chacha, but hearing her soft tone, the refusal instantly got stuck in her throat and couldn’t come out.

“How about this?” Wen Mubai thought of a compromise. “Auntie will send the address to Granny Zhang. You can come with Granny Zhang.”

“Really!” Xu Chacha’s voice instantly became energetic.

“But once you get here, you can’t run around. You have to listen to Granny Zhang, and Auntie will come to spend time with you after I finish work.”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm! I’ll listen to Auntie!”

…

Wen Mubai must have given the staff a heads-up, plus they were a highly recognizable pair—one tall, one small. Housekeeper Zhang led Xu Chacha in without any obstacles.

The sound coming from the photo studio was the click-clack of the camera, a sound Xu Chacha had heard every day in her past life until her ears were calloused.

Wen Mubai was facing the camera and hadn’t noticed that Xu Chacha had arrived. In her professional shooting state, she looked more distant than usual but also very professional.

Her physique was superior to many professional models: small head, long, straight legs, straight shoulders, and a waist cinched lightly by a belt, looking as thin as a willow branch. She was wearing a plain black velvet gown, which Xu Chacha immediately recognized as a recent season’s haute couture from a major brand.

—A gown that ordinary wealthy people couldn’t even borrow.

The length of this gown was quite exaggerated. Even on a 1.78-meter model, high heels would be needed to keep it from dragging on the floor, but on Wen Mubai, it seemed to fit her perfectly, as if it were one with her.

Her fair skin created a sharp contrast with the dark fabric of the dress. Wen Mubai tilted her chin toward the camera, her lowered gaze conveying an inherent noble arrogance. Her makeup was clean, with almost no extra color except for basic contouring. Only a striking red lip became the focus of attention.

“Where did she come from? She’s on the cover immediately.”

EV’s covers were usually reserved for international supermodels or A-list or S-list celebrities. They needed to meet the criteria for either popularity or prestige.

“I don’t know. I heard she’s the daughter of the editor-in-chief’s old friend.” The person who replied looked older, but only around twenty-five. She held a cup of iced Americano and raised her chin toward Wen Mubai. “At least she’s much better on camera than that male idol last time. All of his photos had lifeless eyes and timid body language. I spent a whole night editing, but the editor-in-chief mercilessly sent them back.”

“Then the fans went crazy when the photos were released. I thought a god had descended.”

“Exactly.”

The photographer called a halt. An assistant went up to give Wen Mubai water. The middle-aged woman who had been standing nearby, dressed noticeably better than everyone else, walked up to talk to her.

Wen Mubai said thank you softly, took the water, and listened to the woman, her face still expressionless.

“I suspect someone is messing with me. I finally got you to fill in for the cover, and now the child model handpicked by the designer next door is sick and hospitalized. Are we destined to have a blank issue of EV?” Hua Jing, the editor-in-chief of EV’s China region, felt her hair was falling out. “Mubai, do you know any child models around four or five years old, shoe size 26, and about one meter tall?”

“Your standards are precise down to the shoe size. Where am I supposed to find someone?”

Wen Mubai slowly took a sip of water. When her gaze swept to the side, she inadvertently noticed the small figure. “Chacha?”

“You know her?” Hua Jing followed her gaze, sizing up the little girl standing on her tiptoes and waving from head to toe. She made a quick decision. “She’ll do. I’m taking her.”

Wen Mubai was completely familiar with Hua Jing’s swift and decisive style, but this time, she couldn’t let her have her way so easily.

“Taking her?” She shook her head. “I don’t have the final say. You have to ask her herself.”

…

“Chacha, come here.” Wen Mubai waved to Xu Chacha.

The surrounding staff turned their heads, only then realizing that a little darling had slipped in sometime earlier.

Xu Chacha hesitated a few times, then scurried over in small steps.

“Auntie,” she held Wen Mubai’s hand, calling out sweetly. “You are so pretty today.”

“You too.” Wen Mubai pinched her cheek, introducing Hua Jing to her. “This Auntie is the editor-in-chief here. She wants to ask for your help.”

“Pretty Auntie, what do you want Chacha to help you with?” Xu Chacha looked up at Hua Jing.

Hua Jing was fifty-three this year, but due to her demeanor and frequent cosmetic treatments, she looked only about thirty. She wore black-rimmed glasses, but they were paired in a way that didn’t look old-fashioned at all.

Hua Jing crouched down, comparing her hand to Xu Chacha’s shoe size. After confirming it was correct, she said, “Auntie wants to invite you to take some photos, just like your Auntie was doing. It won’t take up too much of your time, and you’ll be paid. Can you do it?”

“Take photos?” My old profession.

Hua Jing had someone bring over a children’s fashion magazine and opened it for Xu Chacha to see. “The photos will be in magazines like these. And after our Chacha finishes taking photos in a pretty little dress, you can take the money and buy delicious food.”

Wen Mubai, listening on the side, felt something was off and spoke up. “Auntie Hua, don’t talk like you’re kidnapping a child.”

“I’m not entirely telling the truth,” Hua Jing said matter-of-factly.

“Auntie?” Xu Chacha looked up, questioning Wen Mubai with her eyes.

Wen Mubai placed her palm on top of Xu Chacha’s head, gently rubbing it. “Think for yourself. If you like it, go for it. If you don’t like it, refuse.”

“I like it!” Xu Chacha broke into a wide smile. “Chacha also wants to be like Auntie, wearing pretty clothes and taking beautiful pictures.”

And earn lots of small money.

Wen Mubai subtly winked at Housekeeper Zhang, who immediately called Mrs. Xu, informing her of the situation and asking for her opinion.

Mrs. Xu naturally had an open attitude about this. “Chacha can decide for herself. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t get hurt.”

Housekeeper Zhang repeatedly agreed, hung up the phone, and reported the result to Wen Mubai and Hua Jing.

Hua Jing put an arm around Xu Chacha’s shoulder. “So, this little girl belongs to me now.”

“No! No! I belong to Auntie,” Xu Chacha countered, clinging to Wen Mubai’s arm.

A smile spilled from Wen Mubai’s lips. She patted Xu Chacha’s back. “Auntie is right here. If this Auntie bullies you, come and complain to me immediately.”

Hua Jing and Wen Mubai’s deceased mother were old acquaintances. Hua Jing had practically watched Wen Mubai grow up. They were familiar enough to disregard generational differences and joke casually.

“Stop sowing discord here.” Hua Jing picked up Xu Chacha. She told her, “Don’t worry, Auntie is very nice. As long as you’re well-behaved, Auntie will be gentle with you. I only gobble up naughty children.”

Xu Chacha felt a chill down her spine, helplessly waving her short arms towards Wen Mubai.

Help, help, this Auntie is strange.