After the Cannon Fodder A Accidentally Marked the Paranoid Female Lead - Chapter 41

Ming Sian pushed He Yining back to the room, and both of them relaxed physically and mentally. A tiring social encounter, for some, requires a long time to recover from.

The wheelchair belonged to Grandma He—not the one currently under Grandma’s seat, of course, but a new one; the He family wasn’t so destitute that two people had to share one wheelchair.

Ming Sian bent down in front of He Yining. “Wrap your arms around my neck.”

He Yining remained silent. She felt her back seeping blood and stopped forcing herself, reaching out to clasp Ming Sian’s neck.

As Ming Sian leaned down, He Yining felt a light breeze brush past her ear; it was her breath.

He Yining’s body shivered, and she involuntarily stiffened.

Ming Sian, worried about touching her wounds, supported her hip with one hand while the other only dared to wrap around and steady her arm.

In this way, He Yining didn’t need to exert force, and the wounds wouldn’t be disturbed.

Outside of pheromone outbreaks, the two rarely had such close physical contact without distance. Ming Sian’s mind was clear, devoid of stray thoughts, filled only with worry.

He Yining was different; she was already obsessed with the scent of cherry rum. The moment they drew close, her heart beat like a drum, filled with a desire to take.

Feeling He Yining gradually soften in her arms, Ming Sian’s heart softened along with her.

“I’ll be gentle.” She slowly crouched, carefully placing He Yining on the sofa. “Shall we take the jacket off?”

No matter the injury, it shouldn’t be stifled, or it would get worse.

“Mm.”

With He Yining’s permission, Ming Sian helped her off with the jacket. Her eyes suddenly burned, clouded by a layer of mist; He Yining’s injuries were far heavier than she had imagined.

The spots of blood on the white shirt meant the wounds had split, first soaking the gauze and then bleeding through to the fabric.

From the moment Ming Sian found out, there was no longer any need for He Yining to hide it; she candidly allowed Ming Sian to look at her back.

Seemingly sensing the change in Ming Sian’s emotions, she asked with a light chuckle, “What? Did I scare you?”

“No.” Ming Sian took a deep breath, her vision clearing. “The wounds on your back are seeping blood. I’ll have Ali call the doctor.”

“No need.”

He Yining stopped her. “You re-apply the medicine and bandage it for me.”

Ming Sian was slightly stunned. “Me?”

She looked at He Yining’s profile. She certainly knew how to disinfect and bandage, but she was worried that an improper move would hurt He Yining.

He Yining didn’t speak; her meaning was clear—she wanted her to do it.

Fine then.

“Then… your shirt.” She wanted to ask if she should unbutton it or if He Yining would do it herself.

He Yining lowered her gaze and raised her hand to undo the buttons. Ming Sian helped with trembling hands, finally revealing the wounds on her back.

Ming Sian’s pupils contracted sharply. she simply couldn’t imagine that such a fair, slender back could be beaten like this; ruler marks stood in rows—twenty strokes were quite a lot.

It was as if something exploded in her mind; speculation was far less impactful than seeing it with her own eyes.

Likely due to her bra, the upper back was swollen but the skin wasn’t broken; however, several marks below had broken the skin, though the bleeding wasn’t overly obvious.

Ming Sian took another deep breath. She couldn’t describe it, but she felt that no one should have the heart to ruin the beauty of He Yining’s back; such a beautiful back should be held high in a custom backless gown.

Yet, He Yining had suffered such heavy injuries. The dense scars weren’t exactly ugly; under the tint of blood, they held a trace of eerie fragility, yet they also showed the heartless cruelty of the person who struck her.

She stared at He Yining’s back for a while. “It hurts, doesn’t it?”

“It’s okay.” It was her heart that hurt more.

He Yining knew her mothers’ love was conditional—perhaps it couldn’t even be called love—but the moment of total clarity still stung.

Indeed, she was a “cold machine” in the eyes of outsiders, and sometimes she even felt like one herself. But she was truly a human, with a human heart, not entirely devoid of emotion.

However, having emotions meant being susceptible to pain.

He Yining curled her lips in a self-mocking smile. However, it didn’t hurt that much; she never had much expectation for her mothers to begin with, so how much pain could a sliver of expectation cause?

Ming Sian clenched her fists, her fingertips pressing into her palms. Since her nails were short, the pain wasn’t obvious, meaning she didn’t feel even one ten-thousandth of He Yining’s pain.

She was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll help you with the medicine.”

On the cabinet nearby were the supplies Ali had prepared: saline, disinfectant, ointment, and gauze.

As the saline trickled over He Yining’s back, Ming Sian inexplicably felt a dense, stinging pain in her own heart.

Ming Sian’s movements were clumsy yet earnest. She curled her fingers, terrified of brushing against He Yining’s back.

He Yining frowned in endurance. The pain grew more intense, making her eyes redden. Actually, it had hurt more at the start without her emotions fluctuating, but now that Ming Sian was meticulously and gently applying the medicine, a strange sense of grievance welled up.

But she suppressed it quickly—so quickly she almost thought the grievance was just an illusion.

Her hand gripping the sofa suddenly tightened, and Ming Sian stopped immediately. “Did I hurt you?”

Ming Sian’s gaze landed on He Yining’s hand, where the knuckles were white from the force; she thought she had caused the pain.

“No.” He Yining forced a slight smile, finding it laughable that she would feel “aggrieved.” Since her youth, she had stopped feeling that way.

Because she knew very well that no one would notice her grievance; it would only be seen as weakness and result in even harsher punishment.

Acting spoiled? That was even more useless.

He Yining’s spine tensed into a straight line, looking as though she were enduring extreme agony.

Ming Sian, already extremely cautious, softened her movements even further. Involuntarily, her face drew closer. She poured the disinfectant on bit by bit; she knew iodine on an open wound would sting, but she had to disinfect it.

He Yining’s wounds had clearly been disinfected once before, yet she had to endure this pain several more times.

So, when He Moyu struck her, did she even consider that He Yining would be in continuous pain?

Ming Sian’s personality was generally indifferent; she had no hated celebrities or people. She saw things in black and white but rarely hated anyone—yet she felt a surge of loathing for He Moyu.

She slowly wiped away the excess liquid on He Yining’s back, keeping the disinfectant localized.

Finally, it was time for the ointment.

Using a sterilized cotton swab, she applied the medicine bit by bit, truly afraid of hurting He Yining. “Does it hurt?”

“Does it hurt like this?”

“If it hurts, tell me.”

She asked several times. He Yining was amused into a smile. “The iodine hurt more. The ointment is cool; it eases the pain.”

He Yining’s words soothed Ming Sian’s heart, and her movements became steadier.

While Dr. Guan Du had taken only a few minutes, Ming Sian spent over half an hour, touching the skin as meticulously as if she were embroidering.

Meanwhile, on the third-floor balcony of Block A, He Jin met with He Moyu.

The rooms in Block A of the He manor were built in a straight row. In front was a five-meter-wide corridor, and in front of that was an even wider, long terrace furnished with tables and chairs. It was a comfortable place to drink tea or water flowers.

He Jin held a string of agarwood beads, fiddling with them in her hand. Two cups of water sat on the table. Opposite her sat the taciturn He Moyu.

She stated her purpose directly: “You shouldn’t have hit A-Ning.”

Hearing He Yining’s name, He Moyu sat up straight, a flash of dissatisfaction in her eyes. “Are you here to speak for her, or did she complain to you?”

With the matter having been exposed today, she was already worried about whether her mother would scold her, even though the old lady hadn’t said anything yet.

He Jin’s arrival made her feel that her mother had sent her.

Everyone knew that in many matters, He Jin was her mother’s spokesperson. Because she had no interest in the He family business and was devoted to her acting career, her mother trusted her to handle many things.

He Moyu didn’t want to speak words of blame toward her mother, so she pushed the matter onto He Yining.

He Jin looked deeply at her. “Fourth Sister, the two of us have been close since we were children. I am only advising you.”

“Can I not even discipline my own child anymore?” He Moyu reacted defensively, her tone sharp and filled with discontent.

She already regretted hitting her so hard, only for it to become public knowledge. After all, in this matter, He Yining wasn’t actually wrong; the child had even passed the grandmother’s test. Grandma letting Ming Sian stay represented her consent—if not to their marriage, then at least to them seeing each other for now.

The grounds for using the family law were non-existent, yet He Yining had taken it obediently. No matter how you looked at it, He Moyu was in the wrong.

He Jin’s eyes were calm, her tone even calmer. “Then are you not afraid A-Ning will hate you?”

Her calmness only made He Moyu more irritable. “What right does she have to hate me!”

“Do you not hate Mother?” He Jin countered.

He Moyu: “…”

Looking at her silent fourth sister, He Jin’s voice was low. “Clearly, you are the most excellent among the siblings; it is most suitable for you to inherit the He family. But Mother bypassed all of you and chose from the third generation. No—it’s because you are already certain she will choose A-Ning. You are jealous of A-Ning.”

If anyone among the siblings understood the fourth sister best, it was her.

He Moyu denied it flatly. “How could that be possible.”

Jealous of her own daughter? Absolutely impossible.

“Whether it is so or not, you know it in your heart.”

He Jin didn’t say more; some things are best left as hints. Then she changed the subject. “And Sister-in-law? What does she think, letting you use the family law on A-Ning?”

Thinking of her wife, He Moyu felt more confident. She was about to speak, but He Jin interrupted her. “Forget it, you two are the same. She doesn’t allow herself to be defied.”

“Anything that runs contrary to your ideas is viewed by you as defiance.”

He Moyu: “…”

She was speechless for a moment, yet she didn’t want it to be said that this was her fault. “Where was I wrong? I want A-Ning to find a better person—is there a fault in that?”

“Is it a ‘better person,’ or a person who can bring you profit?” Hearing her sister say this, He Jin became even more direct, no longer sparing her feelings.

“What do you know? What is so good about that Ming Sian? Her background is poor, she studies at HKU but doesn’t even have the money for her Master’s or the PCLL. And that mother of hers—she doesn’t even know who her daughter’s girlfriend is, only that she’s a wealthy lady, and is already thinking of coming to Hong Kong to sponge off her. Her father has a flawed character; it’s likely hereditary. With a family like that, who would dare to become their in-laws?”

It must be said that He Moyu had a point. Marriage is the union of two families. To unite with a family like that was an invitation to be angered to death.

He Jin admitted her sister was right, but she didn’t believe that was the reason—at least, it was only a small part. “But you haven’t said a single bad thing about Ming Sian herself throughout this. Do you also think she is excellent?”

He Moyu regained her “everything is under control” demeanor. With her background and having fought her way to where she was today, she was confident in her views. “She is excellent, but so what? So many get into the HKU Faculty of Law every year—are they all excellent? Even those in the dual-degree program appear every year. In comparison, others have far better family conditions than her.”

He Jin had no intention of speaking for Ming Sian. she just felt Ming Sian wasn’t as contemptible as her sister suggested. “But A-Ning chose her. You should respect A-Ning.”

Ming Sian’s appearance and personal attributes were a match for many. A poor background was simply something that couldn’t be helped.

Regardless of Ming Sian, take He Moyu herself—she considered herself excellent, yet there would always be someone more excellent in this world. But it was A-Ning’s choice. In the vast sea of people, A-Ning had selected Ming Sian; that made her different.

Even if A-Ning’s initial motive for choosing Ming Sian wasn’t pure, so what?

Since the choice was made, the outcome can only be known in the future.

At the mention of respecting He Yining, He Moyu fell silent. Clearly, she knew she had never respected her daughter.

Not just her, but her wife as well. They treated He Yining like a machine; presumably, whatever they knew, He Yining had to know, and whatever they didn’t know but wanted to learn, He Yining had to master.

They hoped He Yining would be a clay figure they could mold into whatever shape they desired, yet they were not master sculptors and couldn’t mold her well.

He Jin added another sentence: “Neither A-Ning nor A-Tang is close to you. Fourth Sister, do you still feel you are not wrong?”

He Moyu fell silent, lowering her eyes to light a cigarette. The lights on the terrace weren’t on; the flame illuminated her cheek.

“Wrong? Then I’ll just keep being wrong.” If a matter is already mostly done, one might as well stay the course.

Was she right or wrong to raise her daughter as a machine? Rationally, she believed she was right. He Yining’s current excellence was proof of her successful educational methods. But emotionally…

She didn’t need emotions, much less did she need her daughter to have any sense of filial affection for her. She and her wife had children for the sole purpose of creating perfect versions of themselves, did they not?

He Jin hadn’t expected her sister to be so candid and unbothered by exposing this layer.

The fourth sister didn’t care at all that her daughter didn’t love her; of course, she didn’t love her daughter either.

He Jin leaned back. she had intended to let her sister know that A-Ning was excellent and didn’t need such strictness. Now she knew—it wasn’t that the fourth sister had high standards or didn’t know A-Ning was excellent; it was that the fourth sister was using herself as the blueprint to make A-Ning a more perfect—no, an absolutely perfect—version of herself.

The fourth sister was already excellent, yet she wanted A-Ning to be her perfect edition. In reality, A-Ning was indeed perfect, but A-Ning was an independent person. An independent person would never become someone else, not even a perfect version of them.

Therefore, the reason for the fourth sister’s rage and use of the family law was actually that she had discovered this fact. Bringing Ming Sian back was just a fuse.

Since it was so, He Jin had nothing more to say. “I’m going to keep Mother company.” She left the terrace directly without telling He Moyu of the decision her mother had made regarding this matter.

He Moyu sat on the terrace for a long time—perhaps reflecting, perhaps firming her resolve. Who knows.

In the room in Block B, He Yining had just put on a loose silk nightgown. She couldn’t wear anything tight right now; ideally, she’d wear a backless nightdress, but she didn’t want Ming Sian to keep seeing the wounds on her back.

Ming Sian frowned, thinking about the issue of He Yining bathing. “You could skip it today.”

He Yining shook her head—she couldn’t stand that. But seeing the worry in Ming Sian’s eyes, she suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked up at her with a cat-like allure. “However, you can help me.”

Help… with what?

Ming Sian’s brain stalled for a moment before she took a step back, her face turning red instantly. “That… might not be a good idea.”

But she didn’t use a question mark; she used a period. One could clearly feel her eagerness to try.

The desire to help overrode her shyness.

He Yining leaned sideways on the sofa to keep her back from touching it, blinking as she watched the “overheating” Ming Sian. The smile in her eyes grew clearer; though it didn’t reach the depths, it held a bit of gentleness.

She signaled Ming Sian to come and support her. Even though she could stand on her own—it was just a back injury, after all—she wouldn’t pass up the chance to command Ming Sian so openly.

Ming Sian walked to her side and bent down, her movements incredibly smooth. From the moment she learned the Eldest Miss was injured, she thought that no matter what the Eldest Miss wanted, as long as it wasn’t excessive, she would cooperate.

It was highly likely she wanted to cooperate all along, and now she finally had an excuse.

He Yining didn’t let her support her; instead, she tugged on her collar. “Are you not afraid of my wounds touching the water?”

Ming Sian was forced to stay leaned over, closer to He Yining. “Fine.”

She agreed, having already mentally prepared herself. Besides, He Yining’s wounds truly couldn’t touch water.

With a logical reason, she could no longer refuse.

In the bathroom, Ming Sian stood there at a loss. On closer inspection, He Yining was also a bit nervous; the bathroom lights were far too bright.

Seeing Ming Sian so flustered, He Yining suddenly relaxed, her mood lightening. “Do you want to close your eyes?”

“Huh?”

Ming Sian immediately closed her eyes.

He Yining was amused into a laugh. “Silly, if you close your eyes, I might as well wash myself.”

True. With eyes closed, how could she avoid the wounds?

Ming Sian felt a bit embarrassed and awkward. “I’ll help you now.”

He Yining closed her eyes, letting her apply waterproof patches over the gauze and using a layer of plastic wrap for additional isolation. It must be said, she was very diligent.

Perhaps because He Yining had her eyes closed, Ming Sian became much bolder, and her movements grew composed.

The current Eldest Miss radiated “approachability” in every way.

The Eldest Miss was usually icy; even when she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes. It was as if she had smiled but hadn’t at the same time; she maintained proper politeness with people but was essentially very distant.

Her relationship with the Eldest Miss was intimate enough, yet she didn’t think He Yining cared for her that much—perhaps she cared more for her pheromones.

Between them, they seemed close but were actually far apart. Sincerity? No one had given their sincerity. Their true selves were wrapped in layers of falsehood, invisible and intangible.

Sometimes a tiny bit might be revealed, but with sincerity wrapped in falsehood, one likely couldn’t distinguish if they’d even given it, so how would the other person know?

He Yining’s closeness to her was based on their status. Because of that status, they were supposed to be this inseparable. In reality, they were embracing through an air wall; everything was a facade.

Thinking of this, Ming Sian cleared her head and became even more focused on her movements.

She was right, yet not entirely.

He Yining’s superiority wasn’t just on the surface. She always preferred to preside with a posture of absolute control. Rather than binding someone with emotions, she was more accustomed to absolute control over that person.

A fish might not like the ocean, but it will die if it leaves.

However, He Yining wanted more now; she wanted the fish to have to fall in love with the ocean.

Ming Sian sighed inwardly and asked in a low voice, “Do you want to wash your hair?”

“Mm.”

Fine then. Ming Sian nodded. “Then you might have to lean back and rest your neck on the back of the chair.”

He Yining obediently leaned back, revealing the beautiful curve of her neck. Luckily she was covered by her bathrobe, or Ming Sian wouldn’t know where to look.

Washing someone else’s hair—especially a patient who couldn’t lie down—is a difficult task.

After hesitating for a while, she suggested, “How about lying face down?”

Ming Sian stealthily brought in a long bench from outside—the kind used for sitting while changing shoes.

He Yining pursed her lips, watching her clean the backless bench. A pair of innocent eyes looked up at her. “It’s ready.”

He Yining took a deep breath. The He family home had heating that was turned up high, keeping the rooms at a constant 26°C, so she wasn’t afraid of catching a cold.

Still, someone serving like Ming Sian would probably be fired on their first day.

How should she tell Ming Sian that the He family had specialized massage chairs with a hole for the face, and chairs specifically for washing hair?

When Ming Sian exertedly moved the bench in, only then did He Yining realize what she intended. Luckily the bathroom was large enough.

Ming Sian patted the bench. “Come on.”

Then… so be it.

The ambiguous, romantic atmosphere vanished, replaced by a touch of humor. He Yining lay face down on the bench, feeling the warm water pour over her hair, followed by the soft pads of fingers gently pressing against her scalp. A long-lost sense of relaxation spread from her head to her entire body.

She disliked being touched, so she rarely went for massages unless her neck pain was unbearable and she sought acupuncture or tui na. Yet, feeling Ming Sian’s touch, she surprisingly enjoyed it.

From Ming Sian’s touch, she felt no dislike or disgust, only a sense of drowsiness. For the first time without alcohol or medicine, she felt a sleepiness that would put her into a deep slumber the moment she closed her eyes.

Her sleep had been poor since age ten, but her family didn’t know. It was her aunt who took her to a psychologist and discovered her mental state had entered a high-load condition.

With this long-lost feeling of being able to fall asleep naturally, how could she ever let Ming Sian go? She would never.