After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Gong, I Ended Up with the Cannon Fodder - Chapter 7

Wen Si was a timid woman, incapable of standing up to Yin Man. Over the many years since her marriage, she had consistently retreated, making way for Yin Man’s happiness, including Yin Youxia’s arranged marriage.

She knew perfectly well that Yin Youxia didn’t like Liu Siyin, but Liu Siyin was obedient, beautiful, and had no obvious flaws. At least Wen Si didn’t dislike her as a daughter-in-law, and pleasing Yin Man seemed like a small price to pay. Yet she never imagined her daughter would be so different from her—brave, resolute, and willing to fight back.

Liu Siyin’s eye injury had given Yin Youxia the perfect excuse to break off the engagement.

But Liu Siyin had been injured while saving her. Wen Si couldn’t understand why her own child could be so heartless. Yin Youxia’s public slandering had already angered many of the family elders.

Why couldn’t Yin Youxia understand that the real power in this family didn’t lie with Yin Nanbai, but with Yin Zhe and Yin Man?

The family elders overwhelmingly favored Yin Zhe to take over the family business. Wen Si and her daughter were indeed considered inferior, lacking a powerful maternal family or sharp, shrewd minds. Unwilling to upset Yin Man, she had taught Yin Youxia to yield. But Yin Youxia, having been suppressed for too long, had long harbored a rebellious spirit.

Wen Si, a petite woman accustomed to relying on Yin Nanbai, anxiously sought reassurance.

Yin Nanbai calmly flipped through two pages of his newspaper and said, “Since Xiao Ying wants to help Youxia, it’s a matter for the children to handle themselves. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

The mention of Mei Xuying only deepened Wen Si’s unease.

Everyone said the eldest daughter of the Mei Family was exceptionally kind and gentle. Though Wen Si had only met her a few times, she didn’t strike her as the detached, chrysanthemum-like figure of legend. On the contrary, Mei Xuying had sharp edges and repeatedly encouraged Yin Youxia to fight back. While this seemed to be for Yin Youxia’s own good, how could provoking the madwoman Yin Man ever end well?

Wen Si was genuinely afraid of Yin Man.

Still anxious, Wen Si wrung her hands. “Husband, shouldn’t you talk to Youxia again? It’s not just about Yin Man. Si Yin is a good boy—kind-hearted and handsome. He was even injured trying to save Youxia. For her to break off the engagement now would be terribly ungrateful.”

Yin Nanbai adjusted his glasses, scrutinized his wife, and lowered his gaze, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. “Just an illegitimate daughter.”

From beginning to end, Yin Nanbai had never held Liu Siyin in high regard.

Wen Si felt like something was stuck in her throat, preventing her from speaking. Just as she was about to say something, the door opened, and Yin Zhe wheeled Yin Man back in. Whether it was her imagination or not, the pale, frail girl in the wheelchair seemed different from before.

As she entered, Yin Man even greeted Yin Nanbai and Wen Si: “Dad, Auntie.”

Yin Man had never addressed Wen Si before. Every encounter had been marked by cold glares or sarcastic remarks. This was the first time she had used a relatively polite form of address.

Yin Nanbai was surprised. “Hmm? After being ill for so long, she seems quite different.”

Yin Zhe remained silent. Yin Man clutched her chest, gasping for breath. “Where’s Youxia?”

Though she had regained consciousness, the dull pain still came in waves, easing for a while before returning. She had originally intended to go to the Liu Family to find Liu Siyin, but remembering that Liu Siyin’s engagement hadn’t been completely dissolved yet, she tried calling Yin Youxia instead. When the call went unanswered, she returned home.

She had told Yin Zhe to attend to his own affairs, but he insisted on bringing her back.

“Up, upstairs sleeping,” Wen Si replied.

Yin Man curled her lip. How can Yin Youxia sleep so soundly? she thought. Liu Siyin’s reputation is in tatters because of her, and she dragged me down with her. Yet she sleeps so peacefully.

Her eyelashes fluttered again, leaving only an expressionless face. “Tell her to come down.”

As soon as she finished speaking, someone rushed upstairs to summon Yin Youxia.

When Yin Youxia stumbled downstairs, still half-asleep, she saw Yin Man’s livid face. Startled, she stammered, “Y-you’re awake.”

“It’s only been a few days. Have you forgotten how to address your elder sister?” Yin Youxia nervously adjusted her clothes, feeling uneasy. “Even if you’re awake, I’m still breaking off this engagement.”

Although Mei Xuying had repeatedly assured her she would protect her, Yin Youxia’s fear of Yin Man had been ingrained in her bones for over a decade. She couldn’t suppress her terror, especially when facing Yin Man directly.

“I called you down here to break off the engagement,” Yin Man said, her eyes as cold as millennia-old ice, radiating contempt. “You accused me of having an affair with Liu Siyin? Then let’s make it true.”

Yin Youxia almost doubted her ears. The sudden ease with which the engagement was being dissolved was too good to be true. Yin Man was never one to compromise easily.

After a moment of stunned silence, Yin Youxia snapped back to reality. “You… you want to cripple her too!” she exclaimed, recalling Liu Siyin’s legs. Though she had never seen them fully, Liu Siyin’s calves were undeniably beautiful. Everyone in the Yin Family knew Yin Man had a twisted obsession with ruining beautiful legs.

She still possessed some kindness, unable to bear the thought of Liu Siyin truly becoming Yin Man’s plaything.

Liu Siyin was already blind; to cripple him further would be too cruel.

Moreover, he had lost his sight saving her.

Yin Man knew they probably didn’t see her as a good person—after all, the Original Host had been truly despicable. She didn’t bother explaining herself, simply stating, “Withdraw now, before I change my mind.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Yin Youxia’s eyes. She slowly opened her mouth, “Even though I don’t like her, I can’t stand by and watch you kill her.”

She actually has a sense of justice, Yin Man thought.

Yin Zhe bristled. No one was allowed to speak ill of Yin Man in his presence. “She’s lucky to be with Manman.”

“Yin Zhe, you know better than anyone what kind of ruthless person your sister is.” Yin Youxia gripped the stair railing, her eyes filled with inner conflict. “You can’t let her do this. She saved not just me, but you too, didn’t she?”

No wonder she broke the Scum Gong trope in this world, Yin Man thought. Yin Youxia did have some redeeming qualities. Even when she had shouted at her in the hospital, claiming Liu Siyin’s fate was none of her concern, she still worried about him when danger loomed. That sliver of concern revealed a decent nature beneath her tough exterior.

“Yin Youxia, I’ll say this only once. I just think there’s some truth to what you said. She was originally someone I forced on you, so since the root of the problem lies with me, I bear some responsibility.”

“So, give me back my fiancée.”

These words were like soft daggers, piercing her heart.

A sudden surge of strength seemed to well up within Yin Youxia, and she clenched her jaw. “Are you serious?”

She had never imagined Yin Man would ever take responsibility for anything. Yin Man had always acted without regard for others’ feelings. Yin Youxia was stunned, as were everyone else in the room. No one had ever expected the arrogant and domineering young mistress to ever admit fault.

Afraid of giving herself away, Yin Man lowered her head slightly. “Yin Youxia, you’d better act before I change my mind.”

Yin Youxia clenched her fists tightly, her eyes burning as tears streamed down her face. “I hope you mean what you say!” Suddenly resolute again, she strode forward without even changing her clothes, determined to go to the Liu Family and call off the engagement.

Yin Man could sense Yin Youxia’s yearning—her desperate longing for freedom.

For days, she had imagined countless scenarios: how she would fight back if Yin Man woke up and opposed her, how she would confront her with righteous fury. But Yin Man had actually agreed to let her break off the engagement.

Overwhelmed by joy, Yin Youxia momentarily abandoned all resistance.

If Yin Man hadn’t gone too far, Yin Youxia would have been content to play the obedient younger sister.

As Wen Si had pointed out, opposing Yin Man was unwise. Yin Zhe was already slated to inherit the Yin Family, and his sister complex meant he would do anything to protect her.

Dealing with one madwoman was headache enough; two would be unbearable.

If Yin Man wanted Liu Siyin, why not just send a message to the Liu Family? Why bother making this trip herself? Yin Youxia wondered.

Yin Man, self-conscious about her physical disability, loathed going out. Not only Yin Youxia couldn’t understand it, even Wen Si and the others were baffled. Yin Nanbai stopped her, saying, “Just call Liu Mei directly.”

It was as if Yin Man’s personal visit to the Liu Family would tarnish his reputation.

Yin Man’s lips twitched into a sardonic smile, but she didn’t turn around.

Yin Zhe pushed her out the door. This is the real Yin Man, Yin Youxia thought, the one we know—arrogant, headstrong, and utterly deaf to reason.

Even toward their father.

Yin Youxia pursed her lips. She’d briefly thought Yin Man had changed, but it seemed nothing had changed after all. Yin Man had her own plans, and Yin Youxia no longer cared about her schemes. She could only hope Yin Man was telling the truth.

Otherwise, Liu Siyin is truly doomed, she thought, her eyes softening with pity.

Yin Zhe drove. This was Yin Youxia’s first time riding in his car, and it was all because of Yin Man.

Yin Youxia couldn’t explain the flutter of excitement in her heart. Though they were siblings, being half-siblings with different mothers had always made her feel like an outsider. This was the first time she had ever been this close to them.

Yin Man sat beside her, while Yin Zhe focused intently on driving.

It felt surreal.

Yin Youxia glanced around, unsure what to say. Yin Man broke the silence: “Pass me the water.”

Only then did Yin Youxia notice Yin Man’s deathly pale complexion and the beads of sweat dotting her forehead. She hastily twisted open the bottle and handed it over.

The pain intensified, driving Yin Man to the brink of madness. It was a pain that made her want to scream, to kill, yet she stubbornly suppressed every sound. Tears streamed down her face—purely physiological tears.

The agony was soul-wrenching, as if each bone in her body were being systematically stripped away, one by one, the pain searing deep into her marrow.

She lost track of time, nearly giving up hope, when Yin Youxia’s voice reached her ear: “Sis, we’re at the Liu Family.”

Liu Siyin’s face flashed before her eyes.

Gradually, the pain began to subside.

Could it be that my body is punishing me for breaking my promise? she wondered. Now that I’m here to see her, the pain is fading.

Yin Man couldn’t help but find her own thoughts absurdly naive.

In her mind, Liu Siyin’s face slowly transformed, and Yin Man’s lips curved upward, her gaze softening. Even if she couldn’t change much, at least Liu Siyin wouldn’t have to seek death.

As they entered the Liu Family residence, Liu Mei greeted them with a complex expression. Yin Man cut straight to the chase: “Where’s Liu Siyin?”

“In his room,” Liu Mei said after a long pause. “Wang Gu is there too.”