After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Gong, I Ended Up with the Cannon Fodder - Chapter 21

Mei Xuying couldn’t explain what had come over her. Yin Man’s affection for Liu Siyin that day seemed to have burned itself into her heart. Compelled by some inexplicable impulse, she dug out an old book she’d read years ago—a trivial romance with a simple plot: two girls meet, fall in love, and when one dies of illness, the other commits suicide.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about the story, except that they had only each other.

As Mei Xuying read, she couldn’t help but laugh. Why had she ever imagined that a scumbag like Yin Man, even after possessing Liu Siyin, could ever show the kind of deep affection depicted in the book?

How many women had Yin Man already scarred and broken?

She closed the book, set it aside, and gazed at Yin Youxia lying in the hospital bed. Youxia had been hospitalized for over half a month now, and Mei Xuying couldn’t explain why she found herself visiting the hospital even more frequently than Wen Si.

During these past two weeks, Yin Youxia would drift in and out of consciousness. In her half-dreaming state, she would often murmur, “Sister, I’m scared.”

It was clear she still clung to the hope of Yin Man’s affection.

Mei Xuying suddenly remembered her own younger sister, who was exactly like Yin Man—arrogant, rude, and never taking her seriously. If Yin Youxia were her sister, she would have treated her so well, showering her with all the good things in the world. She longed for a clingy, affectionate sister, not one who only glared at her coldly and haughtily uttered the words “illegitimate daughter.”

If only she were my sister, she thought.

She would have cared for her, treated her kindly, just for a glimpse of the warmth of familial affection.

Still indulging in such foolish fantasies.

Mei Xuying’s gaze deepened, then gradually faded, her focus drifting away.

“What’s the point anyway?”

There were no “what ifs.” Yin Youxia and she shared no bl00d relation whatsoever.

Compared to many others, she had been fortunate. She had been taken back to the Mei Family because Madam Mei had remained childless. She was only a year old at the time, and though illegitimate, she was raised as an heir. Her education was no less rigorous than Yin Man’s, and no outsider dared disrespect her—except for her own family.

Initially, things were manageable. But after Yin Man’s mother passed away, Yin Man grew increasingly volatile. When Madam Mei gave birth to twins, everything changed.

Led by Yin Man, the three younger siblings treated her with condescending arrogance.

She respected Yin Zhe because he was the only one among her peers from the Yin and Mei families who had never looked down on her.

Though Yin Zhe was a ruthless businessman, too sharp and aggressive in the corporate world, he had always been gentle with his family. Though subtle, he treated everyone equally—her, Yin Youxia, Mei Xuping, and Mei Xuning alike. In Yin Zhe’s world, people were divided into three categories: Yin Man, family, and outsiders.

She was fortunate enough to belong to the “family” category.

She received neither excessive affection nor excessive scorn.

During her lonely years living abroad, she met Jiang Yan, a kindred spirit. She truly believed Jiang Yan was her light, come to illuminate her life and warm her heart. But she couldn’t hold onto Jiang Yan; Jiang Yan would marry Yin Youxia.

When Yin Youxia woke up, she saw Mei Xuying standing beside her bed, her gaze lowered, lost in thought. Lying in the hospital bed, Yin Youxia could see the tearful glint in Mei Xuying’s eyes, a fragility that made her heart tremble. Yin Youxia’s brow furrowed. “Sister Xuying, what are you thinking about?”

Hearing her voice, Mei Xuying snapped out of her reverie and looked down at Yin Youxia, meeting her clear, water-like eyes—eyes so transparent and pure. Mei Xuying’s gaze shifted slightly. “You’re awake. Are you hungry?”

Mei Xuying’s eyes held a watery tenderness, as if she gazed at everyone with deep affection. Yin Youxia’s heart fluttered slightly under that gaze, and she murmured, “I’m not hungry.”

Mei Xuying didn’t answer her question. Yin Youxia’s gaze was drawn to the book on the table, its title, “Unwavering Until Death,” glaringly conspicuous. Yin Youxia’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “Sister Xuying, do you really like Dr. Jiang that much?”

“Actually, you don’t need to worry. I’ll call off the engagement. This marriage was never what I wanted.”

What’s the point? Yin Youxia thought. If it’s not Liu Siyin, it’ll be Jiang Yan. If not Jiang Yan, it’ll be someone else. Why bother? Mei Xuying couldn’t quite understand. “You should know that the freedom you desire is hard to come by.”

“I just can’t accept it!” Yin Youxia retorted. “Even Yin Man isn’t pressuring me anymore. Why does Yin Nanbai have to? Sister Xuying, he wants this marriage to give him leverage against my brother, but Yin Zhe already has a firm grip on all the Yin Family’s businesses. Besides, most of the Yin Family’s current wealth was built by Mei Jing through her family’s efforts. What’s wrong with her leaving it to her son? I don’t want to fight for the family fortune or oppose Yin Zhe. I just want Yin Man to respect me and let me be with the person I love.”

Yin Youxia’s fierce resistance stood in stark contrast to Mei Xuying’s own path, yet Mei Xuying envied her. She always envied qualities in others that she lacked herself.

“Do you have someone you like?” A fleeting blush crossed Yin Youxia’s face, quickly masked by a smile. “Not yet, but I have an ideal type.”

Ideal type.

Mei Xuying hummed in acknowledgment, casually remarking, “Marrying Jiang Yan won’t stop you from finding your ideal type.”

Isn’t that how everyone does it? Married couples living separate lives.

“Absolutely not! I’d never be like Yin Nanbai—disgusting and repulsive. If I ever love someone, it’ll be only her. I’d pluck the moon and stars for her, give her all the best things in the world. I’d belong only to her, and she’d belong only to me.”

The intense sincerity in her eyes stunned Mei Xuying. Yin Youxia’s words sounded genuinely heartfelt.

If she had seen even a hint of such devotion in Yin Man, she would have found it laughable. But with Yin Youxia, it felt genuinely beautiful, because Yin Youxia had always been a different kind of girl.

“Jiang Yan would be lucky to marry you.”

“I’ve already told you, I’m not marrying her. If you like her, go talk to her. Maybe that would make it easier for me to break off the engagement.”

“Pointless.” Mei Xuying hated doing pointless things.

Yin Youxia disagreed. “You won’t know if it’s pointless until you try.”

Yin Youxia was sharp and assertive, while she was soft and yielding.

She wasn’t the type to rush into things or insist on finding answers. Moreover, she understood Jiang Yan well—Jiang Yan was even more timid than she was. Though Jiang Yan appeared aloof and proud, she was actually quite submissive.

Yet Yin Youxia insisted she ask, knowing that doing so would only crush her heart, which still beat for Jiang Yan, even more completely.

Mei Xuying reached for the fruit on the table. “I’ll peel an apple for you.”

“Sister Xuying…”

Mei Xuying ignored her, gently helping her sit up. She handed the peeled apple to Yin Youxia. “Youxia, I can only stay a little longer. I have a meeting this afternoon.”

“Okay,” Yin Youxia nodded slowly, her words catching in her throat.

Before she could speak, Mei Xuying’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and answered, “Hello, Wanwan.”

“Sister Xuying, I finally got my big villa! Come keep me company, please?”

Mei Xuying paused, suddenly remembering so much. She hadn’t particularly liked Jiang Wan, but she had approached her with an ulterior motive. Though she hadn’t achieved her goal, Jiang Wan had always been very dependent on her. But this dependence seemed inappropriate now that Jiang Wan was getting married.

In the past, Mei Xuying would have readily agreed to keep Jiang Wan company. But over the past two weeks, she had pondered deeply, Yin Youxia’s words echoing in her mind. Suddenly, she felt indecisive.

It wasn’t until Jiang Wan’s urging voice broke through her thoughts: “Sister Xuying, come over! Wang Gu is here too, and he misses you so much.”

There was one thing she needed to clarify: she didn’t like men, and she certainly didn’t like Wang Gu.

If Jiang Wan hadn’t mentioned him, she would have almost forgotten that Wang Gu had once pursued her.

Perhaps she had concealed it too well, or perhaps the Mei Family’s influence was too overwhelming. She had always been popular, with countless suitors. Wang Gu was nothing special among them; they had simply known each other since childhood, which meant nothing.

“Wanwan, you’re getting married next month. Stop causing trouble,” Mei Xuying said after a moment of contemplation. “We shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

“Sister Xuying, are you rekindling things with Jiang Yan?!”

“No,” Mei Xuying replied. At least, not at that moment. She hung up the phone.

The call came again. Annoyed, Mei Xuying blocked the number. After a moment’s thought, she blocked Jiang Yan’s number as well, sending her one last message before doing so:

Jiang Yan, this is truly over.

Yin Youxia took a bite of her apple, asking casually, “Sister Xuying, is that your girlfriend?”

“She used to be. Not anymore.”

“Sister Xuying, it’s not good to play both sides.” Mei Xuying wanted to argue, but when she met Yin Youxia’s clear, innocent eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. “I know. I’m working on it.”

Yin Youxia barely suppressed a smile. “So you’re not going to coax Dr. Jiang anymore? If you need help, I can go coax her for you.”

“Worry about yourself first. What’s your ideal type?”

“Someone brave enough to stand up to Yin Man for me and Yin Man!” Mei Xuying pondered for a moment. “Then you might end up alone forever. Few dare to oppose Yin Man.”

“Hehe.” Yin Youxia chuckled, a hint of naivety flickering in her almond-shaped eyes. She’s still just a child, Mei Xuying thought, clinging to unrealistic dreams. Yet Yin Youxia’s views on love were exactly as described in the book.

Huh?

The book was gone. The one that had been lying on the table had vanished without a trace. Mei Xuying blinked, almost doubting her eyes. She searched again, but it was nowhere to be found.

“Youxia, have you seen the book that was on the table?”

“No, I haven’t.” This was truly strange. Mei Xuying didn’t have time to dwell on it; she checked the time and left the ward.

After she left, Yin Youxia’s gaze softened. She pulled a book from under her pillow—the very one Mei Xuying had been reading. Her fingers traced the cover, where a line of small characters read: My only love in this lifetime.

The past doesn’t matter. What matters is the future, right?

Wen Si arrived in the afternoon, her face clouded with worry. “Now you must be satisfied,” she said. “Manman has moved out.”

“Huh?”

Lost in her own thoughts, Wen Si muttered, “It’s all because you’re afraid of dogs. She took Xiao You and Si Yin with her to an old-fashioned apartment complex—no elevator! Manman’s leg is still healing. What are we going to do? Xiao Zhe will visit even less now, and your father never comes home. This family is falling apart.”

“Has Yin Man changed her ways?” Yin Youxia asked.

“You should call her ‘Sister’,” Wen Si chided absently.

Yin Youxia barely registered the words. She was used to Wen Si’s doting affection for Yin Man. But had Yin Man gone mad? Moving out because she was afraid of dogs? And Yin Zhe agreed? To an old-fashioned apartment complex? She wasn’t short on money—what was she trying to prove?

Was she actually thinking of her?

Or was Yin Man plotting another scheme against her?