After the Cannon Fodder A Accidentally Marked the Paranoid Female Lead - Chapter 8

Company dinners can be quite dull, filled with compliments and awkward small talk.

Ming Si’an sat in the corner, focused on her food. She could only afford a 10-dollar egg and beef bun or a pineapple bun. A 12-dollar pork chop bun was a luxury she had to think about.

A thousand-dollar buffet meant she could eat well now and not at all later.

She ate elegantly. If you looked at her empty plates, you would think she hadn’t eaten much, but that was because the waiters were quick to clear them. If you watched her mouth, you would see that it never stopped moving, even though she was taking small bites.

Ming Si’an had a rule for eating: small bites and lots of chewing. This method was usually slow, but since she wasn’t talking, it was actually quite fast.

She was just an intern and hadn’t been there long. Everyone’s impression of her was that she was a talented student and diligent, often taking the initiative to do things in the secretarial office.

There were only a few people in the room who weren’t talented students. As for diligence, those who weren’t diligent had already been eliminated.

The biggest impression she had left on everyone was probably her audacity to quit and then come back to work just fine.

Could she have some kind of background?

Anling Law Firm wasn’t a place where you could come and go as you pleased, but Ming Si’an could. They also remembered that Jerry was fired right after he made things difficult for her.

Could it be that…

Everyone was subtly glancing at Ming Si’an from the corner of their eyes. It must be true!

Ming Si’an, who was focused on eating, didn’t notice what her colleagues were thinking. Even if she did, she wouldn’t have explained. Being associated with He Yiling meant that her life at the firm would be much easier. Besides, she wanted to mess with He Yiling, not ruin her professional reputation.

If she wanted to survive in this industry, her academic performance, internship performance, and reputation were all very important. Ruining her reputation just to leave Anling Law Firm would be a waste.

She hoped He Yiling would get tired of her and let her go soon. What female lead? What cannon fodder? She wanted nothing to do with this female lead.

Just as Ming Si’an was thinking about whether to get another piece of tiramisu, her phone vibrated.

She gave Huo Qi an apologetic smile, grabbed her phone, and walked out. The contact name was “Chen Pan.”

Ming Si’an frowned. “Ms. Chen” was the original character’s mother. The contact name showed that their relationship wasn’t close, and might even be bad. To the original character, her mother was like a wet cotton jacket—it was a difficult choice whether to wear it or not.

The 800,000 scholarship money was also taken by Ms. Chen. Afraid that the original character wouldn’t come back once she left, she gave her a condition: she would only give her the 800,000 back if she went back home and took the civil service exam after graduation.

As a result, the original character had to rely on part-time jobs for money, aside from the 2,000 her family gave her.

She had told Ms. Chen that it wasn’t enough and wasn’t even enough for her housing fee. Ms. Chen didn’t believe her. “What school charges for dorms? Other kids can get by with a thousand a month. Why isn’t two thousand enough for you? You just want that 800,000 back.”

Over time, the original character didn’t want to talk to Ms. Chen anymore and rarely even answered her calls.

Ming Si’an hesitated for a moment, walked out of the restaurant, and answered the phone.

Before she could speak, Ms. Chen’s accusatory voice came through the phone. “Ming Si’an, you’ve really grown wings, haven’t you? You don’t answer my calls or reply to my messages. What are you trying to do? Don’t you want me as your mother anymore? I knew you were ungrateful. Once you flew away, you wouldn’t come back.”

“Also, what’s with the invoices you sent me? Are you still thinking about that 800,000? Let me tell you, I already used it to buy a house, and it’s gone. Don’t think about it anymore. I’ll only consider transferring the house to your name if you come back and take the civil service exam.”

No wonder the original character didn’t want to answer her calls. If every call was like this, it would be better to just block her.

The original character’s mood would get terrible whenever she heard this. It was easy to imagine how powerful Ms. Chen’s words were, considering that a law student would get so emotional she would start cursing.

But Ming Si’an wasn’t the original character. Her feelings towards Ms. Chen were no different than a stranger’s. If Ms. Chen hadn’t been sending her messages, she wouldn’t have even bothered to get the invoices together and send them.

“Why aren’t you talking? Did I hit the nail on the head? You really want that 800,000!”

That was the conclusion Ms. Chen came to.

Ming Si’an waited for Ms. Chen to stop her rant before speaking. “These invoices are all real. Dorms in Hong Kong University cost money, and everything costs money. When you made me go to Hong Kong University for the scholarship, didn’t you think about the cost of living here?”

“Hong Kong is a high-cost city. Dorms cost money. The internet is so advanced now, what can’t you find out? Ma’am, you’re right, I really need that 800,000. If you still see me as your daughter, then give me the money. Don’t send me short videos hinting that I should get a part-time job, go back home to take the civil service exam, and be a filial daughter. And what is this about getting a rich woman in Hong Kong? What kind of family do you think we are? Stop dreaming.”

“Also, I won’t be getting a part-time job. The student loan is 1 million. If you’re kind, help me pay it off.”

Ming Si’an hung up the phone. She felt that the original character’s crying and tantrums were useless. She had to let Ms. Chen know that she was in desperate need of money. Because she had no money, all her school fees were loans. Hong Kong University only waived her tuition, not her dorm fees, book fees, and other expenses.

After hanging up, she set Ms. Chen’s number to do not disturb. She didn’t want to know what kind of crazy things she would do if she blocked her.

Ming Si’an was about to head back to the restaurant when she saw He Yiling, who was also on the phone.

Did she hear everything I just said?

He Yiling quickly said two things to her phone. Her voice was cold and sounded like she was in a bad mood. “Can you get to the point? Never mind, I’m hanging up!”

She was impatient with the person on the other end for beating around the bush. Or maybe she didn’t want to talk too much since Ming Si’an was there. She said something and hung up.

Ming Si’an had only taken two steps when she ran into Huo Qi and the others who were walking out.

Huo Qi’s eyes darted between the two of them. She waved everyone away. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. See you next week.”

“See you next week, Lawyer He, Team Leader Huo.”

Everyone said goodbye and left. Ming Si’an was also about to follow them.

“Ming Si’an.”

Huo Qi suddenly called out to her.

Ming Si’an turned back helplessly. “Team Leader.”

The colleagues who hadn’t left yet looked at each other, their suspicions confirmed.

Huo Qi pointed to He Yiling. “My place is nearby. Lawyer He has been drinking, so you can take her home.”

Ming Si’an: “?”

He Yiling: “?”

“I only had noodles.”

Huo Qi, like a magician, pulled an ice cream cone out of her hand. “Sweet wine ice cream. You just ate it.”

He Yiling’s face was cold. She had, indeed, taken one bite.

However, thinking about what Ming Si’an had said on the phone, she nodded in agreement.

Huo Qi: “Thanks, Ming.”

Ming Si’an: Did you guys not even ask if I have a driver’s license?

She actually did. The original character got it so she could be a designated driver and maybe meet a rich woman to take advantage of. He Yiling was the original character’s first choice, but she had backups.

The original character never hid the fact that she could drive and would even talk about it to try to create an opportunity like this.

Now, the opportunity was here, but the soul was different.

Taking He Yiling home, trying to get away from her, yet always unknowingly getting closer. Ming Si’an sighed to herself. “Is this the predestined entanglement of a cannon fodder and the female lead? I can’t escape it.”

Author’s Note

Ming Si’an: The original character was so carefree when she signed the contract. Now that it’s my turn to pay off the debt, I’m the one who has to suffer.

“Can you get to the point? Never mind, I’m hanging up!”