After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Gong, I Ended Up with the Cannon Fodder - Chapter 15

Yin Man never imagined that Yin Nanbai would have the time to come after her, even after his feud with Yin Youxia.

His usual gentleness was all an act. In this world teeming with Scum Gongs, Yin Nanbai was no exception. The original novel hinted at hidden circumstances surrounding Yin Man’s mother’s death, though the specifics remained unclear. However, Yin Nanbai’s image as a “good father” began to crumble in the original story as Yin Youxia and Mei Xuying’s feelings for each other deepened.

He wasn’t just their father; if Yin Man remembered correctly, Yin Nanbai had at least seven or eight mistresses living outside the family home, and even more illegitimate children.

He married Wen Si simply because she was quiet and docile, willing to play the role of a presentable, mute wife.

Yin Youxia had always seen Wen Si as overly weak, but it was precisely this weakness that had led Yin Nanbai to bring her home. Had Wen Si possessed even a hint of temper, she wouldn’t be the current Mrs. Yin, and Yin Youxia would have been relegated to the status of an illegitimate daughter.

The Original Host’s relationship with Yin Nanbai was lukewarm at best, lacking any genuine father-daughter affection.

Yin Nanbai harbored deep resentment over being forced to relinquish his position to Yin Zhe at the height of his career. He held both Yin Zhe and Yin Youxia in contempt. The marriage between Jiang Yan and Yin Youxia was merely a pawn in his scheme—a public alliance concealing darker machinations beneath the surface.

A sardonic smile curled his lips as his gaze bypassed Yin Man, settling instead on Liu Siyin. His eyes dripped with scorn and disdain. “Why did she come back with you? Manman, she’s unworthy of you.”

Yin Nanbai had never liked Liu Siyin. In the original novel, he resented her presence, believing she restricted his precious daughter’s freedom. Now that he was personally crushing Yin Youxia’s freedom, his animosity toward Liu Siyin stemmed purely from contempt.

Yin Man had no reason to respect Yin Nanbai’s disdain for Liu Siyin. If the Original Host hadn’t respected her father, why should she? She recalled a scene from the original plot: after Yin Youxia publicly aligned with Mei Xuying, Yin Nanbai had cast a sidelong glance at his once-favored daughter and sneered, “You think cozying up to the Mei Family will give you the upper hand over me?!”

The Mei Family might be the mountain Yin Nanbai could never overcome, the knot in his heart he could never untangle.

Yin Man pondered for a moment. She still needed to find time to visit the Mei Family, to see the grandmother and uncle who had doted on the Original Host. Later, due to Mei Xuying’s constant sowing of discord, the uncle and nephew had grown estranged. Yet even then, the uncle had worried about the Original Host being mistreated and sent people to look after her—a far greater display of genuine affection than her own biological father had ever shown.

The man before her was clearly ruthless, yet he insisted on occasionally adopting the guise of a benevolent father, a performance that sent chills down her spine.

“If my wife won’t come home with me, where should she go?”

“You’re actually planning to marry her?” Yin Nanbai’s mockery was etched across his face. “Isn’t she the illegitimate daughter you despise most?”

Liu Siyin’s already pale face grew even whiter, and her body swayed slightly. Though she couldn’t see, she could clearly hear the sarcasm dripping from his tone.

Yin Nanbai had struck at Liu Siyin through her parents. Yin Man grabbed Liu Siyin’s hand. “I’ve changed my mind,” she declared. “I want to marry the illegitimate daughter right now.”

Yin Nanbai’s gaze fell brazenly upon Liu Siyin, raking her up and down. “Is it just because of this decent appearance?” His eyes seemed to want to tear through Liu Siyin’s clothes to see what lay beneath. This gaze made Yin Man deeply uncomfortable. The next moment, Yin Nanbai’s lips curled into a smirk. “Indeed, not bad. Just blind.”

“If you’re done talking, the door’s over there.” Yin Man snapped. Did Yin Nanbai come here specifically to provoke her?

Yin Nanbai showed no intention of leaving, nor did he avert his gaze. “Liu Mei used to say Liu Siyin was a specially cultivated beauty.” He emphasized the word “beauty” with deliberate malice.

“Get out!” Yin Man roared.

Yin Nanbai acted nothing like a father, brazenly scrutinizing and discussing his future daughter-in-law. Yin Man, in turn, behaved nothing like a daughter, shouting at her father.

Suddenly, she wanted to flee, to take Liu Siyin and escape this crumbling world.

To be her true self, caring for that delicate person, never having to see these people again. Facing Yin Nanbai and his ilk made her lose control of her emotions even faster. With a father like this, it was no wonder the Original Host had mental health issues. Yin Nanbai bore no small part of the blame.

It was hard to say whether she would eventually become mentally ill. Only with Liu Siyin did she seem normal. Unfortunately, her legs were paralyzed, making her entirely dependent on care and unable to take Liu Siyin with her.

When Wen Si arrived, Yin Man was about to hurl a kettle at her biological father. Wen Si, with lightning reflexes, stepped in front of Yin Nanbai, preventing further escalation of the father-daughter conflict. The kettle struck her frail back instead. Wen Si gritted her teeth against the pain, still managing to ask Yin Nanbai, “Darling, are you alright?”

A mocking smile twisted Yin Nanbai’s lips. “Mind your own business.”

If Yin Man had actually hit him, he would have welcomed a trip to the hospital that very day, to plant the seed of filial impiety and patricidal intent in her.

Yin Man was more cunning than Yin Youxia. Though she acted recklessly, she never crossed fundamental boundaries. She avoided affairs with women within her social circle, never compromised her business interests, and showed utter indifference to the company’s antiques. Her seemingly useless group of friends were actually pampered children from influential families. She had always understood how to help Yin Zhe climb higher and more securely.

How absurd that she was now starting to care about an illegitimate daughter.

Yin Man’s daily humiliation of Yin Youxia centered on her being an illegitimate daughter. When Yin Nanbai heard she had injured Wang Gu for Liu Siyin’s sake, he decided to test her. He never expected she would actually care about an illegitimate daughter, even showing a hint of tenderness.

What could possibly be so captivating about an illegitimate daughter who only possesses looks?

Wen Si, filled with concern, felt Yin Nanbai drawing closer. His warm breath brushed her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. She shrank back in fear. Yin Nanbai’s eyes held a faint smile. “Wen Si, fall down.”

The command was barely a whisper, yet it felt like a thousand-pound stone crushing her body as she crashed to the floor.

The heavy thud echoed through the room. Trembling, she called out, “Husband…”

There was no warm embrace, no tender words of comfort, only her daughter helping her up. “Mom, are you okay?”

“Yin Man, if you have a problem, take it out on me! Why are you bullying my mother?”

“Even if you despise her, she’s still your stepmother. You should at least show her some respect.”

Seeing her daughter arguing with Yin Man, Wen Si snapped back to reality. Her gaze collided with the faint curve of the man’s lips in the distance. He seemed quite pleased by the deepening conflict between his two daughters.

She struggled, desperate to tell Yin Youxia that she wasn’t Yin Man, but the searing pain in her back forced her to gasp for air.

“We should get her to the hospital right away,” Yin Nanbai said, his eyes narrowing into dark, calculating slits.

Wen Si saw through his hypocrisy, saw through his mask, but she lacked the courage to tear it away.

He shouldn’t be using Yin Youxia as a pawn. How could such a fragile girl possibly stand against Yin Man? Wen Si felt her bl00d turn to ice, her mind growing hazy, unable to utter a single word.

“You… Youxia…” Wen Si’s voice trembled, large tears streaming down her face. After that, she knew nothing more; she had fainted.

“Mom!” What a farce. Yin Man watched Yin Youxia, already in a state of mourning, and rubbed her head. “Why aren’t you taking her to the hospital?”

“Yin Man, you’ll learn someday that I’m not a pushover!” She didn’t need someday; she knew it now. No, she had always known it—she was, after all, someone who had read the original novel.

If she told Yin Youxia now that Yin Nanbai was behind this, that Wen Si had rushed in on her own, would the girl believe her?

The girl’s eyes, burning with hatred, made Yin Man realize that nothing she could say would make a difference.

If the Original Host hadn’t been afraid, she would have fought to the bitter end. Even if she had been alone, she wouldn’t have hesitated to disappear from this world. But now, she had someone she cared about, someone she couldn’t resist. A sound like something breaking echoed in her chest.

Strange, unfamiliar voices filled her ears, singing melodies she couldn’t understand.

“My husband calls for his wife with every breath, urging her to her doom. The wine in his cup severs the heart.”

“Cough!” The pain choked off her voice. When she opened her eyes, she saw Aunt Zhang’s terrified face. “M-Miss Yin!”

The sharp pain in her fingers was impossible to ignore. Yin Man raised her hand slightly, and Aunt Zhang recoiled, collapsing to the floor in fear. Liu Siyin quickly explained, “Sister Man, you fainted just now and kept muttering something. Aunt Zhang and Aunt He thought you were possessed and tied your hand with a red string.”

What kind of ridiculous remedy is this?

But she had fainted?

Were those voices just a dream? Or were they real?

“Oh,” she simply replied. Aunt Zhang and Aunt He felt a wave of relief, as if they had narrowly escaped disaster.

Yin Man had no interest in scolding them. Her mind was still occupied by the strange melody she had heard. “Did you hear any voices just now?”

“No,” she replied. No?

The room was long empty of any trace of Yin Nanbai, Wen Si, and Yin Youxia—the family of three. Yin Man rubbed her fingers, feeling a sharp pain. She gasped, and Aunt Zhang and Aunt He gasped in unison, their hands trembling even as they applied ointment to her. Seeing their obvious fear, Yin Man simply dismissed them.

Liu Siyin sat beside her. Yin Man reached out and touched Liu Siyin’s hand. “Liu Siyin, my hand is swollen. Why didn’t you stop them?”

Sure enough, her fingers were swollen and hot to the touch. Liu Siyin lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”

“But Sister Man, please don’t blame Aunt Zhang and Aunt He. They really care about you. When you fainted earlier, they were the ones who took care of you. They were so worried.”

After all, these women had been with the Original Host since childhood. There was bound to be some affection, and they also feared being held accountable if something happened to her. If she hadn’t woken up quickly, they would have likely ended up at the hospital again.

“What about you?”

Liu Siyin rubbed the hem of her dress awkwardly. “I—I couldn’t see. I—”

Yin Man interrupted her, cutting straight to the chase. “Are you anxious too?”

“Yes, I’m very worried about Sister Man,” Liu Siyin replied softly, her voice like a feather brushing against Yin Man’s ear, drifting over her heart, leaving a ticklish, tingling sensation.

Yin Man stiffened slightly. She had initiated this conversation, and Liu Siyin had given her the answer she wanted, yet she suddenly felt embarrassed.