After Seeing Through the Plot, the Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Lead Overturned Her Fate - Chapter 20

Lu Man’s words actually caused Ye An to pause instinctively for two seconds.

She hadn’t exactly ignored the issue herself. She was twenty-seven now, and although her hard work over the past few years had earned her significant achievement and fame, in all honesty, these things no longer brought her full satisfaction.

Perhaps they would have in the past, but for the current her, she wanted more.

As Lu Man said, she did want a suitable partner; even more, she wanted a true home that could give her a sense of belonging. It was just that the clear countdown of three years left to live reminded her that such a thought had become a luxury.

She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.

So, she simply shook her head slowly. “Miss Lu, I’m sorry.”

The expectation in Lu Man’s eyes vanished visibly.

After a long moment, she straightened her posture again. “I’m sorry, President Ye.”

Ye An smiled gently. “It’s okay.”

The atmosphere fell back into silence.

Ye An sighed silently in her heart.

“Today is your birthday, Miss Lu, let’s talk about something happy,” she broke the silence first a moment later. “You haven’t made a wish yet, have you?”

Lu Man shook her head. “Not yet.”

“I happened to bring a cake.” Ye An stood up and retrieved the cake she had set aside. She carefully opened the box, took out the candles, and fixed them one by one. “A new year of life—what are your new expectations?”

“I…” Lu Man opened her mouth, seemingly having not thought of anything yet.

“It’s okay, take your time,” Ye An said with a curve of her lips. “I’ll start by wishing you a happy birthday. May your career be smooth, may you be safe and joyful, and may you obtain exactly what you seek.”

“You are a very excellent person—humble and hardworking. Though you are young, you are full of spirit. As I said before, it is Shi Qian’s honor to work with you. I believe we will have many more opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

“Have you watched my work, President Ye?” Catching the mention of “spirit,” Lu Man looked over quickly.

Ye An said candidly, “I have. Before our collaboration began.”

She gave a light smile. “Information on the internet is always a mix of truth and lies. Rather than understanding someone through one-sided information, I prefer to include my own judgment. By watching your past films, I found that you are a person with strong convictions who works very hard.”

“I believe you will have a very bright future.”

As she finished, a glint of moisture appeared in Lu Man’s eyes.

But she didn’t say anything more; she simply nodded and said sincerely, “Thank you, President Ye.”

Then she closed her eyes, clasped her hands in a prayer position, and moved her lips slightly, whispering a few words.

—“I hope every one of the blessings President Ye gave me comes true.”

This dinner was destined not to last very long.

Lu Man was currently at the height of her fame; her schedule was packed, and her personal time was very limited. Furthermore, having just been rejected, her mood was low. She picked up her chopsticks and ate aimlessly, not even tasting what she was putting in her mouth.

Ye An spoke up at the appropriate time. “It’s getting late. Why don’t we end it here for tonight? Did you drive, Miss Lu? I can call a driver to take you back.”

“No need,” Lu Man shook her head. “My assistant is coming to pick me up.”

“Alright then,” Ye An replied, not insisting further.

The two quickly packed up and went downstairs. It was still peak dinner hour, and the lobby was crowded. Even the parking spaces outside were almost full. Ye An looked up and immediately spotted Xia Yihuan’s figure.

This person actually looks quite good today.

Ye An looked over and saw her in a pale cyan long dress. The neckline and hem featured very delicate designs, and the overall cut was dignified and noble, perfectly suiting her temperament.

It looked as if she, too, had attended an important engagement.

Ye An arched an eyebrow slightly. Sensing her gaze, Xia Yihuan looked up, and their eyes met. “President Ye.”

“Yihuan, you’re here,” Ye An said with a smile.

“President Xia?” This was the first time Lu Man had met Xia Yihuan. She couldn’t help but be surprised. “You two…”

“I’m here to take President Ye home,” Xia Yihuan spoke first before Ye An could explain. She smiled and extended a hand toward Lu Man. “Miss Lu, right? I’ve heard much about you.”

“Hello, President Xia,” Lu Man nodded and quickly shook her hand. When she looked back at Ye An, her eyes were clearly filled with confusion.

She seemed to be asking: How did these two end up together?

Ye An cleared her throat. Explaining this would take a lot of time, and she had no intention of explaining their relationship to Lu Man anyway. She said quickly, “Has your assistant arrived, Miss Lu?”

“Yes.” Lu Man nodded, pointing to a car not far away. Sure enough, a young girl in disguise was walking quickly toward her.

“President Ye,” Lu Man spoke tentatively before leaving. “Can we still have dinner together in the future… as friends?”

Ye An smiled and simply said, “Okay.”

Only then did Lu Man feel at ease. she bid them both farewell and left quickly.

Waiting until the car disappeared from sight, Ye An finally let out a slow sigh.

“What’s wrong, President Ye?” Xia Yihuan looked over and supported her hand. “Did something unpleasant happen tonight?”

Her perception was always very keen.

Ye An shook her head. “Never mind, it’s nothing.”

“What about you?” she asked, looking at Xia Yihuan’s face with a hint of curiosity. “What were you doing tonight?”

Xia Yihuan curved her lips. “Nothing worth mentioning. Never mind.”

Ye An: “…”

She’s quite good at learning and applying what she sees.

Ye An gave a light snort and withdrew her gaze.

Time flew by unnoticed. It had been a month since Xia Yihuan became Ye An’s assistant. Compared to her one-sided understanding before, this person’s image had gradually become more fleshed out in Ye An’s heart.

At the very least, she was no longer that “flower of the high peaks” who annoyed her at every turn. In fact, aside from her past flaws, Xia Yihuan had many strengths.

Beautiful, humble, patient, focused… Ye An thought she might have drunk a bit too much tonight, which was why she was inexplicably listing her virtues, even thinking that her former arch-rival was becoming easier on the eyes.

But it was undeniable that staying with Xia Yihuan was actually quite comfortable.

“Have you eaten?” Ye An yawned lightly. The alcohol was making her slightly sleepy.

“Not yet,” Xia Yihuan said. “It’s fine, I’ll just buy something on the way.”

“There are plenty of restaurants nearby,” Ye An said. Xia Yihuan had parked the car near the edge of the lot, and they happened to have just reached it. “You can take a look, and if there’s anything you want to eat—”

Before she could finish, a sudden screech of brakes pierced the air.

Ye An froze instinctively. Before she could react, she saw Xia Yihuan’s expression change drastically, and the hand holding hers suddenly tightened.

Ye An didn’t know what was happening. She only felt her body sway as she was rapidly pulled away from the spot. Then, she stumbled and fell into Xia Yihuan’s embrace, and they both tumbled onto the hard concrete ground.

In the next second, Xia Yihuan’s scent flooded her nose.

And it was at this exact moment that the violent sound of a car collision erupted behind them.