After the Cannon Fodder A Accidentally Marked the Paranoid Female Lead - Chapter 42

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, one cannot visit relatives, and no guests had arrived at the He residence yet. Breakfast and lunch were delivered to the door, so they didn’t run into people often. As for dinner, since Grandma He didn’t come down, everyone wasn’t as diligent about eating together.

Awkwardly, Grandma He frequently called He Yining to accompany her for meals and insisted she bring Ming Sian along.

Ming Sian fell into silence facing the nine-grid meal tray in front of her. The rice and soup were served separately, while the tray held nine different dishes.

Grandma He had said, “I’m old now; I want to taste everything, but I can’t eat much of anything, so just a small amount of each.”

In truth, it wasn’t a small amount. Each grid of the tray was about the size of a palm. With this many dishes, Ming Sian was fine, but it was truly difficult for He Yining.

The He family chefs were very skilled, all “big shots” in Cantonese cuisine; even if they occasionally wanted another cuisine, the kitchen could produce it.

Ming Sian felt that the taste of these dishes was excellent, and her appetite was good, unlike He Yining, who ate like a kitten and couldn’t finish even one-tenth of these dishes.

But while she could finish her own, what about when added to He Yining’s?

Thus, such a scene appeared at the dining table: from time to time, He Yining would move food into Ming Sian’s tray. The food in He Yining’s tray grew less and less, while the food in Ming Sian’s tray never seemed to decrease no matter how much she ate.

Just as Ming Sian wanted to secretly remind the Eldest Miss to stop giving her food, He Jin placed her chopsticks on the table with a clack. “That’s enough, you two.”

Since the day she returned, He Jin had accompanied Grandma He for every lunch and dinner. Except for the mornings—not because she didn’t want to, but because having finally secured a holiday, she saw no need to wake up early. She didn’t want to get out of bed before noon. Her biological clock was already chaotic; after a holiday, it would only be more so.

And the result? Having to watch a display of affection while eating was truly the last straw.

“Eat your food if you’re going to eat! Why are you flaunting your affection!”

He Yining: “…” She just didn’t want to eat.

Ming Sian: “…” She had hardships she couldn’t voice.

What display of affection? She was clearly being used as a trash can by the Eldest Miss.

The Eldest Miss, really… with injuries on her back and eating so little, when would she recover? In just two short days, she had lost all her “meat.”

“A-Jin, you are an elder. Don’t talk nonsense to the two children.” Grandma He gave a helpless smile, though her mood was very good. After a serious illness, knowing her time was limited, she went from initial denial to later acceptance. She began to let go of group affairs and enjoy family happiness; it felt quite good.

She knew her youngest daughter was very busy with a packed schedule. She had learned from the assistant about the daughter’s arrangements for the next six months to a year. Despite having no time, the daughter didn’t hesitate to pay contract penalties just to carve out time to come back and accompany her.

Being able to stay with her daughter and granddaughter naturally improved her mood.

A-Jin was the only child who didn’t want to extract profit from her hands. As for A-Ning, while she claimed to be close to her to inherit the He family, she had actually never proactively asked for anything.

Living to this age, she knew exactly who was good to her and who was bad.

And then there was this young girl, Ming Sian. In their occasional chats, some of her insights were not what a peer should have—especially considering her background, she shouldn’t have been able to encounter such things. An excellent child.

Ming Sian was indeed excellent, but she lived in an information-restricted environment; many things she only learned after starting work, and some things only after working for several years.

Yet a classmate of hers knew as a child what she only knew in university; they knew the rules of the workplace long ago and had started working toward certain certifications early on.

Having lived a second life, she had to have some advantages—not just the rules, but work experience.

Some experiences cannot be taught; one must do them to know. This was what her mentor often said: Man-to-man teaching doesn’t work; matter-to-man teaching works every time.

Like a Chinese textbook, it pours knowledge into a student’s head in a general way. Only after graduation, when seeing the vast beauty of the scenery with one’s own eyes, do the poems spill out—knowing the stories behind every article and breaking the illusions of beauty.

Ming Sian’s biggest trump card was her ten extra years of work experience and her knowledge of the future. Although this was a different world, it wasn’t entirely without common ground; it was still useful for reference.

Therefore, during her chats with Grandma He, Ming Sian didn’t deliberately hide herself. Grandma He had seen countless geniuses; it should be said that being a genius was merely the threshold to meet her. Regarding Ming Sian’s excellence, Grandma He only felt that if this child had a better background, she might be even more formidable.

The “information gap” can determine a lifetime.

In the face of such a powerful information gap, Ming Sian was still this excellent; if that gap were broken, she would certainly not be much inferior to He Yining.

Grandma He suddenly thought that her own situation back then was even harder. When fighting lawsuits against foreigners—foreigners who weren’t the gentlemen seen in movies—if their interests were touched, they would skin you alive. The He family factories almost went bankrupt.

Every era has its hardships, but Ming Sian’s excellence was beyond doubt.

An unexceptional person wouldn’t be able to become a student of dual-prestigious universities or earn their graduation certificates.

However, she felt that between her granddaughter and Ming Sian, though they seemed close, something was missing.

Their interaction was natural enough—He Yining naturally giving food to Ming Sian didn’t look like an act—but if you said they were truly intimate, they weren’t.

Forget it; the children are adults. They have their own ways of handling things. She, an old woman, should just enjoy her remaining days.

Regardless, she still hoped A-Ning would soon realize: if she couldn’t completely become a machine, then she shouldn’t force herself to pose as one. Otherwise, the one who gets hurt in the end is always herself.

Grandma He raised her eyes, first glancing at He Jin, then at He Yining and Ming Sian. “Go once you’ve finished eating; the noise is giving me a headache.”

He Yining: “…Only Youngest Aunt is talking.”

She pointed out Grandma He’s lack of precision without hesitation.

He Jin raised an eyebrow and let out a light laugh. “Don’t you know I’m your grandmother’s little ‘padded jacket’ (comforter)? Of course she’s biased toward me.”

“Don’t use such terms.” He Yining’s tone was calm, masking her usual coldness.

She looked at He Jin with a faint smile in her eyes. The age gap between aunt and niece wasn’t large; when she was bullied and isolated by her cousins, only her aunt would take her to play.

“?” He Jin gave her a side-eye. “Can’t be bothered with you.”

Sitting beside He Yining, Ming Sian silently put down her chopsticks. Despite her unremitting efforts, she still hadn’t finished the food in the tray. There was simply too much; even if her appetite was decent, she couldn’t eat for two.

Fortunately, Grandma He spoke up, “Alright, alright. Leave quickly once you’re done; I don’t need your company tonight.”

He Yining timely added, “Ming Sian and I will be leaving tomorrow.”

Grandma He frowned. Before she could speak, she heard He Yining explain, “Ming Sian has classes in two days, and I have things to do as well.”

Ming Sian had originally planned to stay with He Yining at the He manor for two or three days. Afterward, she needed to write and film videos—both of which would take up a lot of her time.

This year, her schedule would be much fuller than last year, not just in her career but in her academics as well. This was her final year at Hong Kong University, after all. She had to complete her thesis in stages, meaning she had a thesis to write this year.

Things at Anning Law Firm were even busier. He Yining had successfully settled two property division cases in a row. Both were difficult in the industry—especially the Liang family case, where victory was achieved without bloodshed.

No matter how much Amy struggled with the Liang Group afterward, she was the one who schemed first. Since she wanted to incite conflict between siblings, there was nothing wrong with them using a few tactics.

So, whether it was Ming Sian or He Yining, both would be busy this year. Plus, with so much drama in the He family, neither of them wanted to stay.

He Yining only wanted to inherit the He family’s money and resources; she didn’t want to inherit all the He family members along with them. Otherwise, wouldn’t she be looking for trouble? But her grandmother didn’t think so. To Grandma, the He family and its members were equally important; neither could be abandoned.

Grandma He looked at her granddaughter. Although she had decided to hand the He family to her, whenever she thought of her granddaughter being like an iceberg that was hard to melt, she feared the He family would truly fall apart in the future.

To He Yining, the He family falling apart wasn’t necessarily bad. She only needed to inherit the absolute resources; with her as the center, that was the He family. She believed in “survival of the fittest”—what was wrong with the weak being marginalized?

It’s not like they could be like her Eldest Uncle and the others, who weren’t as good as the third generation yet held high positions. It’s one thing to be old-fashioned and stubborn, but they also loved to have “sudden inspirations” that added trouble for the subordinates, micromanaging tasks. When a job could be refined in a short time, they insisted on grinding until the end only to use the first draft.

People like them in high positions were simply a drag on the He family, making the family pay for their ignorance.

From start to finish, He Yining believed that even if the He family wasn’t handed to her, it should go to professional managers. Her uncles could only take dividends every month; they must never hold the power to speak.

Grandma was still holding them down now, but what about later?

There were words He Yining hadn’t said yet. She wasn’t someone who over-considered others’ feelings, but if it was Grandma, she still had to consider them.

Seeing Grandma fall into silence after she mentioned leaving…

He Yining raised a smile—the more “official” kind. “However, we aren’t leaving Hong Kong. We can come back the same day.”

The round-trip journey was about three hours; it was acceptable.

Grandma He shook her head. “Go be busy if you have things to do, but you must return for the ancestral hall worship on the fifth day.”

Ancestral worship was a major event; no one in the He family could be absent. As for Ming Sian, she didn’t force it.

He Yining didn’t think that way, though. she wanted a definitive word. “What about Ming Sian? Should she return with me?”

She wanted a clear answer. Grandma letting Ming Sian join the ancestral worship meant acknowledging their relationship and defaulting to the idea that they would take things further. Otherwise, bringing Ming Sian back for worship would be questioned by many; only with Grandma’s consent would there be no questioning voices.

She hated trouble, so she had to let Grandma give a clear answer. Otherwise, she could actually skip the ancestral worship—that was also a choice to reduce trouble.

Grandma He stared at her for a while, her eyes filled with an old age that couldn’t be hidden. Beside her, He Jin said nothing; she also wanted to know her mother’s decision.

In a union with absolutely no marriage-alliance value, how would her mother choose?

Grandma He narrowed her eyes, the aged look vanishing instantly, replaced by indifference and a commanding air. She was dissatisfied that He Yining was bargaining with her—and with a threat.

“Do you think the He family must be handed to you?”

He Yining raised an eyebrow. She didn’t think that. There were many in the He family; whom to hand it to was Grandma He’s decision. But for the future development of the He family, she could confidently say it would be better in her hands.

“Until Grandma decides to reclaim the power of my uncles and aunts, perhaps I don’t want to be the successor that much either.”

Since things had reached this point… Grandma was just Grandma. She could have left these words unsaid, but Grandma’s change in demeanor just now meant she was speaking as the Head of the He family, so He Yining could speak as well.

She didn’t believe a He family occupied by relatives in high positions could continue. Without change, even a colossus like the He Group would fall.

The law firms under the He family indeed only wanted the excellent. But when the promotion channels are occupied by He family members, those lawyers who have put in their time in the He family will choose to jump ship. Slowly, the senior lawyers of the He family will all be those with backgrounds, and the truly excellent lawyers will have no choice but to leave.

This was why her mother, Shen Buyou, would rather break away from the He family to establish her own firm—using He family resources to set up a completely independent firm. The resources were used, yet the lawyers under her had nothing to do with the He family, making it very famous in the industry.

He Yining could do the same—use He family resources to start her own firm—it was just that she was out of time. Grandma’s health was poor. Once a new head took over, if there had been a competitive relationship in the past, the other would certainly not let her use the He family connections anymore.

Even if Grandma could last another three years, she could do it, but Grandma couldn’t.

Therefore, either Grandma must immediately split the family and let everyone live separately, or Grandma must handle the uncles and aunts when making her the head. Otherwise, she wouldn’t show mercy when the time came.

But given their power, dealing with them might be even harder than breaking away from the He family.

“If Grandma cannot make a decision, the He family…”

“A-Ning!” Grandma He’s voice was somewhat stern.

Once some things are said, they cannot be taken back.

But that was simply how He Yining saw it. If Grandma thought she could still let her uncles hold high positions in the He Group—once she took over, would they not make things difficult for her? Or would they not tear the He family apart?

The current harmony of the He family was only because Grandma was still here. Once she was gone, everyone would naturally put their own interests first while holding absolute power. One could imagine the consequences.

The He family was a law firm and an enterprise; once an enterprise reached this point, collapse was not far off.

Hearing the scolding, He Yining lowered her eyes. She understood that to Grandma, they were all her own flesh and blood; making such a choice was hard. Even the once invincible Barrister He Zhongxiu was hesitating at this moment.

“Then we won’t speak of it.” He Yining said nothing more. At least she had more than one choice. She could… give up the inheritance, or she could rapidly “purify” the He family after becoming the head—sell what should be sold, keep what should be kept, and separate from the He family members.

She had planned this from the start. Grandma saw through her thoughts, which was why she moved again and again.

He Yining was very interested in becoming the head of the He family; it just depended on whether Grandma would back down.

In fact, bringing Ming Sian back and wanting her to join the ancestral worship was also a way to force Grandma to back down. After a long time, it would become a habit.

As Ming Sian pushed He Yining out of Block A, she could only see the top of He Yining’s head, unable to see her dazed eyes.

In just two days at the He family, Ming Sian knew how oppressive this home was. Just like the He villa—glamorous on the outside, but dead and stagnant on the inside, filled with rules and “disciplining.”

If one day He Yining became the master of this home and lived in this place, having to deal with these people every day… an image of a twelve-person round table appeared in her mind. He Yining sat at the head, radiating coldness, staring with deep, icy eyes at the other eleven people, speaking solemn legal articles and negotiating treaties filled with profit.

“A-Ning.”

Suddenly a voice rang out behind them. Ming Sian instinctively stopped her steps.

It was He Jin. Why was she here?

She looked down at He Yining and asked in a low voice, “Should we wait?”

If He Yining didn’t want to wait, she would do a hundred-meter sprint directly back to the room.

“Mm.”

He Yining didn’t know her thoughts; if she did, she’d likely immediately tell her to stay away from the wheelchair.

Before long, He Jin walked over. “Let’s go. We’ll talk in your room.”

He Yining nodded, and Ming Sian pushed the wheelchair again. The three of them soon returned to the room.

In the room, Ming Sian looked at the blanket on the sofa. She hurriedly went to collect it, along with the long bench she had moved to the balcony to dry; it had gotten wet yesterday. The room looked relatively tidy, yet it somehow felt a bit more “human.”

Previously when He Yining lived here, if an item was placed somewhere ten years ago, it would still be there ten years later. Of course, items had been replaced with new ones, but the new ones were identical to the old, making it hard to see any change; there wasn’t a trace of deviation in their positions.

Today, He Yining’s room was completely different. The long bench for changing shoes was gone, and there was a messy blanket on the sofa. Primarily, there were traces of someone having lived there.

Sometimes He Jin felt her niece was like air—she had no need for anything in the room. She also had OCD; things taken from somewhere had to be put back in the original spot. Her head seemed to calculate with a formula exactly where something should be placed for the space to be reasonable and the light to look good.

However, the blanket on the sofa indicated that Ming Sian had slept on the sofa last night!

Interesting.

He Jin curled her lips and smiled. “Is the injury on A-Ning’s back serious?”

Ming Sian didn’t understand the intent, but she still didn’t speak. Unless it was her own business, she wouldn’t answer; if it concerned He Yining, she wouldn’t speak.

Unless He Yining told her to.

He Yining nodded and sat on the sofa. The wounds on her back had several broken marks. Ming Sian had helped her apply medicine this morning, saying they had started to form initial defenses. Once the blood clots stopped the bleeding, as long as they weren’t touched, granulation tissue would begin to form in at most three days, and she would start recovering.

However, Dr. Guan said the wounds couldn’t touch water for two weeks, which showed how serious they were.

Superficial wounds are mostly fine after three to five days; only deep wounds require such a long healing time. So her nod was not wrong.

But He Jin’s intent was elsewhere. “No wonder you two don’t sleep together.”

He Yining: “…”

Ming Sian: “…”

“I’ll get some water.”

She walked quickly to the water bar, pretending she hadn’t heard anything.

While getting water, Ming Sian stared at the cup and spaced out. She indeed hadn’t slept with He Yining last night. For no reason, she found a blanket and slept on the sofa, and He Yining said nothing.

When she walked over with the water, she heard He Jin tease, “What? The family didn’t arrange separate rooms for you, but you’re splitting the bed anyway?”

He Yining frowned, staring coldly at her aunt.

This aunt of hers, a movie queen, was famous for being gentle in the entertainment industry. Her looks were the stunning type. Shortly after her debut, someone tried to prevent her from becoming popular by using her stunning looks to start rumors that she was a “kept woman,” leading to her being insulted by the whole internet.

At that time, Grandma was about to intervene, so angry she wanted to use the He family’s power to sue. If she had actually done so, multiple top lawyers from Hong Kong would have flown to the Mainland.

Before Grandma He could move, He Jin spoke with her work directly. One drama fought a beautiful turnaround battle, making everyone acknowledge her acting skills, and slowly she reached where she was today.

Without that initial wave of internet-wide hate, He Jin felt she might not have been able to reach this level.

He Jin herself was a resilient and absolutely excellent woman. The internet-wide hate brought insults, but it also brought opportunities. After all, “black-fame” is still fame. A piece of work turning things around completely—both traffic and work were there—which made the previously hated her an idol to many, thus gaining many opportunities.

Explosive fame also depends on luck. Some people just have an affinity with the audience; even if they are hated at first, they will still become famous later. Some people have endless resources yet simply cannot become famous.

He Jin used family resources, so it wasn’t a “start from zero” situation. The internet-wide hate brought her exposure; once she turned things around, the traffic was much larger than that of a “nugu” (nobody) turning things around.

Although the He family was powerful, it was after all in the entertainment industry. The Hong Kong entertainment industry has declined now, so the assistance the He family could give wasn’t much. He Jin’s success was at least 80% due to her own efforts.

Her aunt wasn’t this cheerful before. One can only say that after so many years of carving by time, she had long changed.

Perhaps no one stays unchanged, nor changes completely. What she had retained was the aloofness in her bones.

Seemingly gentle and polite, she was actually distant from everyone. Much like… Ming Sian?

Not exactly alike. The sincerity in Ming Sian’s bones was something her aunt didn’t have—nor would she, when encountering trouble, fail to avoid it and instead kindly step forward.

He Jin would never make the same choice as Ming Sian.

He Yining asked in a low voice, “Is something the matter?”

“Is the Royal Bar still yours?”

“What about it?”

He Yining didn’t think her aunt would ask this for no reason; there must be a cause. Could the recent events at the Royal Bar have reached her aunt’s ears?

He Jin’s gaze fixed on her. “If it’s still yours, you should manage it properly. If you can’t, throw it out. Don’t let it stain your hem.”

It seemed her aunt knew about the recent events at the Royal Bar.

Ming Sian raised an eyebrow. She had mentioned the Royal Bar to He Yining. When He Yining remained silent, she knew the other was playing a game of chess; current events were just a process.

She didn’t know what kind of outcome He Yining wanted, nor the final direction of the matter, but she trusted He Yining. She would absolutely not allow the Royal Bar to become a money-making tool for certain people.

“Aunt went there?” He Yining wanted to know if someone at the Royal Bar had offended her aunt.

He Jin nodded, her voice sinking slightly. “The other day I finally returned to Hong Kong and met up with a long-lost friend.”

He Yining raised an eyebrow, pushing the water in front of He Jin. “I will handle this matter.”

“By the way, give me a copy of the personnel files for the Royal Bar staff.”

“?”

Facing He Yining’s inquisitive gaze, He Jin picked up the water glass. As a movie queen, she could naturally use her acting skills to mask all her expressions, yet facing her niece’s gaze, she was inexplicably guilty.

Ming Sian lowered her eyes, keenly catching a trace of a thread, yet unable to untangle it.