After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Gong, I Ended Up with the Cannon Fodder - Chapter 4

“Since we’re here, let’s go to Yuzukawa and try their new dishes.”

It’s said that before death, people recall all the beautiful moments of their lives, one by one. Yet in Liu Siyin’s mind, only this slightly pitying sentence echoed repeatedly.

She felt as if she were dreaming. In the dream, her mother, with tear-filled eyes, pleaded, “Siyin, go back!”

Liu Siyin hadn’t been brought back to the Liu Family after her mother’s death; rather, her mother had begged her to return.

Her mother, Chen Si, was a woman as gentle as water. Too frail to defend herself, she could only evade the main wife’s attacks, retreating again and again until her tender eyes were blinded. Even then, she only thought of running farther away.

Liu Siyin’s life now was no happier than it had been before.

From a young age, her classmates had mocked her for not having a father, calling her an illegitimate child. Just when she finally escaped to a small town where no one knew them, she was ridiculed again for having a blind mother.

Chen Si had always been fragile, with little ability to protect herself. After losing her sight, she became even more vulnerable. Her beauty made her a target for bullies, and Liu Siyin spent her days fighting—with peers, with adults—to protect her mother.

For a time, Liu Siyin had been fiercely independent. This was before her stepfather arrived, before she came to the Liu Family. Her stepfather had been a street thug, a formidable fighter who, according to Chen Si, exuded a sense of security. They no longer feared being bullied. But her stepfather was a heavy drinker, and when drunk, he became violent. He also had a son who inherited his arrogant and domineering nature.

Liu Siyin had long forgotten how she endured those years, until she turned fourteen. That’s when the Liu Family came looking for her. Liu Siyin was as beautiful as a flower, though her biological father was no one of consequence. It was her aunt who insisted on bringing her back, claiming her rare beauty could bring great benefits.

She had begged Chen Si to let her stay.

But Chen Si was too frail, and pregnant at the time, she was even more terrified of the powerful Liu Family. She urged Liu Siyin to go, and the Liu Family publicly declared her mother dead, taking her home to be raised by her biological father.

It wasn’t until she turned eighteen that she understood what her aunt meant by “benefits.” At a banquet, her aunt pointed to a girl in a wheelchair and said, “Siyin, she will be your future.”

But Liu Siyin was useless. She ruined everything.

The moment she approached, the girl wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Bastard daughter. Disgusting!”

Later, she learned that the girl was named Yin Man, the eldest daughter of the Yin Family. Rumor had it that Yin Man was fickle and promiscuous, never letting a beautiful woman pass by her without trying to claim her. Her aunt believed that Yin Man would surely be captivated by her beauty and that she should be offered to Yin Man as a pet.

But Yin Man didn’t want her. Though she would readily accept someone of lower status—a pretty maid or a young model who had debuted in the adult entertainment industry—she rejected her outright.

She had failed. Her aunt punished her by denying her food. After three days of starvation, her aunt declared, “Siyin, from now on, you will bear the Yin surname.”

Yin Man had forced herself upon her younger sister, Yin Youxia, to spite her. She knew Yin Youxia disliked her—because she was the unwanted gift from her detested elder sister, and because she was an illegitimate child.

Yet the more she understood this, the clearer it became that marrying Yin Youxia was the best fate she could hope for. Even if Yin Youxia never loved her, she wouldn’t suffer too much. Yin Youxia was a good person. Though she often spoke coldly to her, glaring and scowling, she had never truly harmed her.

She had never struck her, never insulted her, never locked her in a cage like a wild animal, and never denied her food.

Liu Siyin had rarely experienced genuine kindness. Yin Youxia was already the best she could hope for. Suddenly, she remembered those eyes, slightly tinged with pity: “Since you’re here, let’s go to Yuzukawa and try their new dishes together.”

She could hardly believe those eyes belonged to Yin Man.

The “ferocious beast” everyone spoke of had actually shown her kindness today. In that moment, she lost control. She knew rushing forward might mean death, but she couldn’t bear to let Yin Youxia or Yin Man die.

Thankfully, she managed to push them both out of the way in time.

It hurts so much.

Pain etched itself across her brow. Was she dying?

Truthfully, living hadn’t been particularly good. But it was such a pity she hadn’t had the chance to see Chen Si again, just when she’d begun to feel a sliver of warmth in this world.

It was so quiet, she could only hear her own breathing.

Darkness enveloped her vision, leaving only pain and loneliness. Then, fragmented voices broke through—Yin Youxia and Yin Man arguing.

In the end, the story unfolded as written: Liu Siyin went blind.

Yin Man’s chest tightened. She had been visiting the hospital ward daily for several days now. Yin Nanbai and Wen Si had stopped by briefly, but the Liu Family hadn’t appeared once. To them, Liu Siyin was insignificant; any child from their family would suffice for the arranged marriage.

The Liu Family had no shortage of children.

Only Yin Youxia and Yin Man visited frequently, proving Yin Youxia to be a rare virtuous character in a scum gong novel, showing some semblance of gratitude.

She had stayed by Liu Siyin’s side until now.

Yin Youxia fidgeted with her fingers, rubbing them repeatedly. Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “Sister, I want to break off the engagement. Now that she’s blind, it’s the perfect opportunity.”

Why tell Yin Man? Because the family elders had long insisted that this marriage was arranged by her elder sister. To dissolve the engagement, Yin Man’s consent was required. But how could Yin Man ever agree? She desperately wanted Yin Youxia to be bound for life to a woman she considered beneath her.

After years of Yin Man’s torment, Yin Youxia clung to a sliver of hope now that Liu Siyin was blind. She hoped Yin Man’s conscience might stir, that she wouldn’t have the heart to condemn her to a lifetime with a blind woman.

But Yin Man had no such thing as a conscience. She replied coldly, “She went blind saving you.”

Yin Youxia lost control of her emotions and snapped, “She saved you too!”

“Yin Youxia, do you truly despise this marriage that much?”

“Yin Man, have you forgotten?!” Yin Youxia’s pent-up resentment finally exploded. “Liu Siyin was originally supposed to marry you! You rejected her and forced her onto me!”

Yin Man finally remembered something.

This memory hadn’t been described in the original novel, as the narrative focused so little on Liu Siyin, the cannon fodder character, that even the circumstances leading to her engagement weren’t detailed. It was only through the Original Host’s memories that Yin Man managed to piece together the full story.

Initially, Liu Siyin had been sent by Yin Man’s aunt with the intention of marrying Yin Zhe. However, Yin Zhe was abroad at the time, so the target shifted to Yin Man. Gazing at the graceful, beautiful girl standing before her, with her fair, delicate, and slender legs, Yin Man felt a surge of jealousy. “Illegitimate daughter,” she sneered, “disgusting.”

The Original Host’s harsh words spread like wildfire through high society. Everyone knew Miss Yin looked down on illegitimate daughters, and they echoed her sentiments, joining in the condemnation of Liu Siyin. On a whim, the Original Host had shoved Liu Siyin at Yin Youxia, declaring, “She’s not good enough for me, but we do have Yin Youxia, don’t we? An illegitimate daughter deserves another illegitimate daughter.”

The Original Host knew Yin Youxia’s pride all too well, understood her yearning for freedom, and crushed her without mercy.

Because of this, many outsiders followed the Original Host’s lead in denouncing Yin Youxia as an illegitimate daughter. This was precisely why Yin Youxia was so sensitive about her status.

The culprit, once again, was the Original Host.

Yin Man let out a bitter laugh. She had truly transmigrated into the body of a complete madwoman.

Yin Youxia’s emotions seemed unstoppable, her pent-up grievances and frustrations finally erupting. “Why has everything always been decided by you? Even my marriage! Why were you only mildly scolded for locking me in a room with dogs for three days, while I was hung up and beaten for merely touching your doll?”

“Everything I wanted was denied, while everything you despised was forced upon me. If you find Liu Siyin dirty, why can’t I? You refuse to marry an illegitimate daughter—why should I be forced to marry one?”

“I’m breaking off the engagement with Liu Siyin. I don’t love her. Why should I marry her? This is my future! I want to be with someone I truly love. Is that so wrong?”

As Yin Man listened to each accusation, a flicker of sympathy arose. The female lead had indeed lived under the Original Host’s shadow for nineteen years. She took a sip of water.

Her gaze drifted to Liu Siyin lying on the hospital bed. Her wounds had been treated, many areas wrapped in thick bandages. Her right leg was in a cast, and her eyes were covered with thick gauze. Yet Yin Man’s mind still held the image of those beautiful eyes, their surfaces shimmering like water.

“So beautiful, yet so tragic,” Yin Youxia exclaimed.

Yin Man covered her ears. “We’re in a hospital. Keep your voice down.”

Yin Youxia finally calmed down. “I’m breaking off this engagement,” she declared. “If you don’t agree, I’ll go talk to the Liu Family myself.”

Yin Man paused before replying, “If you break off the engagement, she might die.”

“Are you threatening me?” Yin Youxia glared at Yin Man in disbelief. “What makes you think she can threaten me? What do I care if she lives or dies?!”

The nineteen-year-old girl still clung to her naivety—or rather, Yin Nanbai had done a decent job protecting her. A beautiful, blind woman, still treated as a tool by the Liu Family, would face unimaginable horrors if she lost her last refuge. Yin Youxia seemed utterly incapable of grasping this.

Instead, she saw it as a threat against herself.

Yin Man smiled wryly. The Liu Family would push her into the abyss without needing any intervention from Yin Man. Otherwise, Liu Siyin wouldn’t have committed suicide in her previous life.

“I’m breaking off the engagement right now!” Yin Youxia stormed out.

Yin Man’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “Hmph.”

For the first time, she saw Yin Youxia as somewhat clever. Relying on the original novel, the Original Host’s memories, and her own deductions, Yin Man had recognized the Liu Family’s dark machinations. Yin Youxia, however, remained blind to them.

She really will die.

Yin Man’s gaze returned to Liu Siyin’s face. The pained, restrained expression on her pale face tugged at Yin Man’s heart. She was now certain: Liu Siyin was awake.

She had heard every word of Yin Man and Yin Youxia’s conversation.

Her heart must be aching.

The fiancée she had risked her life to save was now abandoning her.

Yin Man wasn’t good at comforting people. She remained silent until Liu Siyin’s labored breathing filled the room, punctuated by small, frightened sobs.

Yin Man froze. “If you don’t want to break off the engagement, I can help you.”

She admitted it: her heart had softened.

Even if it meant deviating from the plot, she wanted to make things a little easier for the pitiful cannon fodder before her.

Liu Siyin trembled violently, her lips bleeding from being bitten. Yin Man watched helplessly as she self-destructively abused her lips, her heart racing with anxiety. She leaned forward, trying to stop Liu Siyin, but her legs refused to cooperate. Unable to reach her lips, she could only scold, “Stop biting!”

Bl00d trickled down Liu Siyin’s lips, staining the white bedsheets crimson. A timid whisper finally reached Yin Man’s ears: “Man… Sister Man… Can you turn on the light? It’s so… so dark.”

Don’t tell me Liu Siyin is afraid of the dark!

A person afraid of the dark… has gone blind.