After the Cannon Fodder A Accidentally Marked the Paranoid Female Lead - Chapter 7

It wasn’t until nearly time to get off work that Ming Sian discovered that the hateful, cold-toned, arrogant calico cat profile picture had finally become a friend in her contact list. Humph—the cat was photographed to look like a tiger.

She casually sent over the legal document she had finished long ago, packed up, and prepared to leave.

No one is unenthusiastic about getting off work; if such a person existed, this company would surely belong to them.

As soon as the clock struck the hour, Ming Sian was ready to go. Her phone displayed: Bad Woman has received your file.

She’s not going to make me work overtime, is she?

At that moment, Huo Qi walked over and clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Dinner’s on me tonight, a department gathering. Lawyer He will be there too.”

Ming Sian was utterly speechless; she was waiting to go to her part-time bar job with her roommate tonight.

She was too short on money; the bar job paid about 10,000 a month, and with a bit of luck and tips, she could save enough for grad school. In the legal profession, a bachelor’s degree just isn’t enough anymore.

Since she had come to this world, there was no need to just drift along. She was only 19, and life was long; instead of rotting away, she might as well aim for a better life.

Besides, only by earning enough money could she stay away from He Yining—whether it was paying for the breach of contract or moving elsewhere to live.

Fortunately, her contract with Anning Law Firm was still centered around her studies. When she had classes, she could apply for remote work. Remote work was common in this world, and even within the firm, many things were arranged online.

Her school schedule wasn’t heavy, so two part-time jobs wouldn’t interfere with her classes, and she could quit the bar job at any time.

After Huo Qi finished the announcement, Ming Sian took out her phone to ask: 【Team Leader, I have something at school. Can I skip?】

Huo Qi was the newly appointed leader; Ming Sian wouldn’t bring this up to her face.

——【Student Ming Sian, I still hope to see you at the dinner.】

Ming Sian was typically someone who responded to gentleness rather than force. Huo Qi was a new official—it was logical for her to set a firm tone—but she hadn’t strictly demanded attendance, so Ming Sian hesitated.

Fine, I’ll go. Since she had decided to continue working at the firm, some social interaction was unavoidable.

However, He Yining, who had received the file, delayed her reply; it was unclear whether the work was okay or not.

While she didn’t receive a message from He Yining, Ming Sian was added to a group chat, which included the dinner address.

The location wasn’t far from the firm, about seven or eight minutes by bus.

At the same time, her roommate Cheng Cheng sent a message: 【Finished work yet? Don’t forget the interview at 8:00 PM tonight.】

——【Finished, but the department dinner won’t let me leave.】

——【How long is it going to take to eat?】

Ming Sian pondered for a moment: 【You go to the interview first. If I can’t make it, I’ll go another day.】

Bar interviews didn’t require submitting a resume; you just went directly according to their requirements, so there was no need to set a specific time.

——【Fair enough. Once I pass the interview, I’ll open a back door for you.】

Ming Sian smiled: 【Okay.】

She put on her laptop bag and packed the thermos she had just bought. Although she occupied the same body as the original host, the original host was still a stranger to her. If conditions allowed, she would replace all her belongings; for now, she could only replace the more personal items, keeping it under a thousand yuan.

Outside Exchange Square, Ming Sian found the corresponding bus and was waiting when a slightly high-profile black sports car drove past and stopped right in front of her.

In the driver’s seat was a cold-faced He Yining—wearing sunglasses and looking like she cared for no one. In the passenger seat was a smiling Huo Qi.

Just as Ming Sian was wondering if they would offer her a ride, Huo Qi waved. “Student Ming Sian, see you in a bit.”

Before she could answer, all that was left for her was exhaust fumes.

In the car, Huo Qi said dissatisfiedly, “Great Lawyer He, I hadn’t even finished speaking.”

“You can talk all you want later.”

He Yining ignored her friend’s look of wanting to ship them. What was there to ship between her and Ming Sian? They weren’t even on the same frequency.

Her first impression of Ming Sian was that she was kind to a fault. When an Omega suddenly goes into heat, the first option to avoid a lawsuit is to run—unless one has a guilty conscience. But Ming Sian’s choice was to stay, finish injecting the suppressant, and then run.

She didn’t like people who were too kind; they were a hassle to deal with. She just didn’t want Ming Sian to escape her control.

Her second impression was that Ming Sian was truly “cheeky,” looking like someone who was asking for a beating.

Huo Qi looked at He Yining curiously. “Great Lawyer He, you stopped in front of Student Ming Sian on purpose, didn’t you? You rejected my suggestion to give her a ride, yet you chose to stop in front of her. What kind of misunderstanding are you trying to create?”

He Yining adjusted her sunglasses. The car stopped for a red light, and her peripheral vision was caught by the bus next to her, where she saw Ming Sian sitting by the window.

It felt like “enemies are bound to meet”; they ran into each other everywhere.

Ming Sian saw He Yining’s sports car first. Before the bus and the car were side-by-side, she closed her eyes. Driving in the city was like that; you wouldn’t be much faster than a bus. Both had just started moving, and the distance between them wasn’t large.

At this time, Huo Qi also spotted her. “What a good-looking girl. Based purely on looks, you two are actually a good match.”

“Shut up!” Hearing this, He Yining finally couldn’t help but call a halt.

Her friend’s habit of “shipping” involved making up nonsense without any regard for the victims’ well-being.

Huo Qi had a resentful face. “Before coming to Anning, you said you’d never let me feel wronged. You’re the boss of the firm, and I’m the second-in-command. It’s only been a few days, and I’m already not your ‘little sweetie’ anymore?”

He Yining: “…” She had never said such words.

As it turned out, the bus was still significantly slower than the sports car. By the time Ming Sian reached the restaurant, most of the people had already arrived.

Except for her, everyone in the secretarial office was “Jerry’s person.” With Jerry’s departure, some had ideas of their own, and some were likely planning to cause trouble. But knowing He Yining would be present, everyone showed up.

In the Xu family property division case, Huo Qi had assisted throughout and was a major hero in its success. Her strength was proven. In the workplace, sometimes it’s not just about strength, but also social grace. She brought the boss along to clearly tell everyone: the boss is her background. Don’t cause trouble, or her actual power would be far greater than that of a secretarial team leader.

Using one’s background rationally to complete work can reduce a lot of trouble.

As an intern, Ming Sian chose the seat in the furthest corner.

Huo Qi had chosen a buffet restaurant that cost about 1,000 per person; it was expensive and very abundant. There were no lines for BBQ or steak, and there were all kinds of seafood, Chinese cuisine, Korean food, Japanese food, and delicacies from all over.

The environment was very nice—not a main hall style, but with individual partitioned cubicles. They were in a sliding-door private room where they could see the sea view; it was a great spot.

Ming Sian hadn’t expected the dinner spot Huo Qi booked to be a buffet. While it was a buffet, certain specific dishes or areas were served by waiters.

The buffet style meant customers selected their seafood, the kitchen cooked it, and the waiters served it.

Huo Qi was the host; she sat at the head of the table, across from He Yining. “Everyone, help yourselves to whatever you want.”

She then asked very eagerly, “What would the Great Lawyer He like to eat?”

He Yining knew her friend was using this attitude on purpose. She turned her gaze toward Ming Sian in the corner. “I’ll have a lobster noodle dish.”

Her gaze drew everyone’s attention to Ming Sian. Ming Sian: “…Understood, Lawyer He.”

Bad woman—using me out of all these people!

[Author’s Note]

Ming Sian: I hate He Yining!