The Cannon Fodder NPC Went Too Far [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 17
Chapter 17
After being restless for most of the night, Xia Yu finally fell asleep near dawn. When she woke up, it was already noon.
After washing up, Xia Yu secretly crept to the railing of the third floor, peering down at the dining room. Seeing no sign of Shen Zheng, she finally let out a sigh of relief, lightly coughed, straightened her back, and gracefully descended the stairs.
Of course. Shen Zheng should be at work by this time.
She wasn’t afraid of Shen Zheng, she was just… just…
Hmph. Xia Yu wrinkled her nose and snorted coldly. She took a vicious bite of the bread, chewing with puffed cheeks, intending to imagine it was Shen Zheng’s arm.
She had never been struck like that in her entire life. She would not forgive her.
Absolutely not.
The system stared at Xia Yu’s ever-changing expression with utter confusion. It had turned off its screen and signed off after successfully completing the mission of face-slapping the protagonist and ensuring the host’s successful escape. It knew absolutely nothing about what happened afterward.
The system, which had just clocked in and suspected it had missed out on major gossip, rolled its blue eye and curiously cried out: “Host, Host, what happened last night? The big villain didn’t get angry, did she?”
Xia Yu’s body stiffened at the question. Little Xia Yu shoved the small blue ball away from her cheek, puffed out her cheeks, and turned her back on the system.
Under the system’s persistent pressing, Little Xia Yu pouted, kicked the ground with her toe, and complained tearfully to the system: “Shen Zheng bullied me.”
“What! The big villain actually bullied the Host! That’s too mean!”
The system immediately shot in front of Little Xia Yu, righteously condemning the big villain.
“Even though the Host secretly snuck out without notifying anyone, causing them to search everywhere. Even though the Host dared to provoke the numerous protagonists without bringing any backup. Even though the situation last night was extremely perilous and the Host was almost shot… none of these are reasons for the big villain to bully the Host!”
“Host, let’s ignore her. She’s a bad person.”
With every sentence the little blue ball uttered, Xia Yu’s face stiffened a little more. By the end, even though the system was scolding Shen Zheng, Little Xia Yu’s head dropped lower and lower until she was completely listless.
It seems she was also wrong.
As the little princess of the Great Xia Kingdom, Xia Yu was noble, proud, and conscious of her face. But she was also reasonable.
She muttered a few good things about Shen Zheng. The system contemplated for a moment and then said tentatively: “Then, seeing it that way, the big villain isn’t that bad. Host, let’s forgive her just a little bit.”
Mmm-hmm. As if she had found a stepping stone, Little Xia Yu raised her head and nodded seriously.
Since both of us were wrong, then I will… forgive her just a little bit. Just a little bit.
“Xia Yu.” A familiar voice drifted into her ears.
Xia Yu snapped her head up. It’s Shen Zheng! She actually didn’t go to the company.
Xia Yu instantly leaped to her feet, instinctively taking a step back. Then, remembering something, she defiantly puffed out her chest, snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and proudly turned her head away. She’d only forgiven her a tiny bit, she hadn’t completely forgiven her yet.
“Xia Yu,” Shen Zheng called out again, low and clear, tinged with a slight hoarseness, ringing in Xia Yu’s ears like a mountain spring hitting a stone.
Xia Yu blinked. In the end, she couldn’t resist and glanced back at her.
Shen Zheng was wearing a sheer white shirt that perfectly outlined her broad shoulders, the lines neat and smooth, exuding a certain air of competence. Her dark, long hair was casually scattered down her back.
The neckline was slightly open, casually exposing her fair collarbone. Streaks of light passed through the transparent fabric, precisely outlining the faint contours of her abdomen. Her careless appearance was surprisingly alluring.
Xia Yu stared with her large, round eyes, following the line of her delicate collarbone down to her faintly visible abdominal muscles.
Feeling that it was inappropriate, Xia Yu pursed her lips, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away, as if it were glued there.
A flicker of amusement crossed Shen Zheng’s eyes. She slowly raised her hands to roll up her sleeves. With the movement, the shirt naturally clung to her waist, perfectly exposing a small section of her toned abdomen. The half-covered, half-exposed look was like a cat teaser, drawing Xia Yu’s eyes up and down with the movement of the fabric.
“What are you spacing out about?” Shen Zheng chuckled knowingly, waving her slender fingers in front of Xia Yu’s eyes.
“I’m not spacing out,” Xia Yu retorted, her neck stiff, feeling a rush of heat to her face.
Seeing Shen Zheng appear before her as if nothing had happened, she snorted coldly, plopped back down onto the chair, and turned her head away, sulking and refusing to speak.
Shen Zheng shook her head helplessly. She took a step forward. The muscles on her arm slightly flexed, and to Xia Yu’s gasp, she dragged the chair right next to her.
She placed her hands on the armrests, effectively trapping Xia Yu between herself and the chair. She leaned slightly forward but stopped herself a few feet away from Xia Yu’s face.
Just as Xia Yu was about to burst out, Shen Zheng knelt down slightly, meeting Xia Yu’s gaze. Her eyes blinked lightly. Under her relaxed brows, her eyes were a soft black, like rich chocolate, radiating a subtle warmth.
She spoke softly: “I apologize. I was too emotional last night. I lost control for a moment. It’s understandable that you’re angry with me.”
“But,” Shen Zheng paused, her light eyebrows immediately drew together, and the normally soft corners of her eyes dropped slightly, making her look serious and earnest.
“That doesn’t mean I endorse your actions, nor does it mean your actions were correct. Both of us made mistakes, and we should sit down and talk properly, shouldn’t we?”
Under Shen Zheng’s logical and measured analysis, Xia Yu pursed her lips and lowered her head, feeling a little embarrassed.
After struggling for a moment, she looked up again, her dark eyes filled with sincerity. She said clearly to Shen Zheng:
“Actually, I was also wrong. I shouldn’t have run out without telling you, causing you to worry. I shouldn’t have risked it without any preparation, almost delivering myself to the enemy. And I definitely shouldn’t have…” Xia Yu paused, feeling a wave of shame, but she still whispered with a flushed face: “said things like you don’t have the right to control me.”
“Shen Zheng, we’re even. So, let’s make up.” The little cub, having admitted her mistake, naturally spoke the last sentence, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Shen Zheng.
The proud little phoenix could hold her head high to accept honor and lower it to admit mistakes. This did not diminish her nobility; rather, it added a touch more.
Shen Zheng looked at Xia Yu with some surprise and raised an eyebrow. When were they ever not on good terms? They’ve always been close.
Xia Yu, who had taken a great effort to apologize, grew anxious seeing Shen Zheng silent. She wrinkled her nose, proudly raised her head, and said bossily: “I’ve admitted my mistake. You’re not allowed to be angry with me anymore. Make up.”
With that, she secretly peeked at Shen Zheng’s expression with what seemed like spoiled eyes.
Shen Zheng was amused and chuckled. She shook her head, gently pointing to her chest with a slender finger, and whispered: “I’m not angry. Shen Zheng will never be angry with Xia Yu.”
Seeing Xia Yu blink blankly, seemingly confused, Shen Zheng smirked, a look of triumph on her face.
She released her hands from the armrests, instinctively opened her arms, wanting to hug Xia Yu, but abruptly restrained herself.
Before she was aware of her feelings, she could instinctively be close to her without reservation.
But now? Looking at the innocent little princess who looked back at her with complete trust—as if she would never harm anyone who hadn’t harmed her—could she still bring herself to touch her?
How was this any different from taking advantage of the little cub?
Yes, she had grown up navigating the deep waters of the Shen family’s corruption. She had never been a virtuous person. She had witnessed all sorts of malicious tactics, and had even employed some herself. She was only marginally better than the old cronies of the Shen family.
But Xia Yu was different. She was Xia Yu. She was the person she loved. She was the proud little phoenix, born to soar across the land.
Shen Zheng, who was accustomed to power and always having the final say, despite never having been in love, instinctively restrained all her claws and became overly cautious.
The formidable and domineering giant dragon spread its wings, flying toward the princess on the ground. Next to her, the princess seemed incomparably small and insignificant.
The giant dragon extended its massive, mountain-like claw, its five talons spread wide, darkly descending upon the princess. Yet, just as it was about to touch her, it relinquished all its force, gently tapping the little princess’s head with its fingertip, both indulgent and tender.
In the end, Shen Zheng merely restrained herself and gently ruffled Xia Yu’s hair.
Xia Yu was momentarily stunned, a flash of disappointment crossing her face, though she didn’t know why.
Hadn’t she and Shen Zheng just made up? Why did it feel even more distant now? Normally, by this time, she should be… she should be in Shen Zheng’s arms.
She would rest her head on Shen Zheng’s shoulder, rubbing against her playfully, her nose filled with the faint scent of sandalwood from Shen Zheng…
Qin Ying arrived at Shen Zheng’s office with a stack of documents as usual, only to find Shen Zheng unexpectedly absent from her desk.
Shen Zheng was impassively tidying up the bookshelf behind her, tossing books like Parenting Education, On How to Get Along with Stepchildren, and A Hundred Ways to Build a Good Relationship with Your Child, along with the bookshelf that held them, into the garbage bin outside the office building, seemingly finding them all rather inauspicious.
Good heavens, the sun must be rising from the west! CEO Shen actually had a change of heart!
Qin Ying tried hard to keep a straight face, but her face was red from suppressing her laughter.
Shen Zheng glared at her several times after finishing her task. Treacherous minister, all of them! A treacherous minister has misled me!
Remembering the foolish things she had done these past few days, Shen Zheng rubbed her swollen temples in frustration and twitched the corner of her mouth. What a mess.
She seemed to remember something and pulled up the consultation post she had made online a few months ago.
She diligently scrolled through the thousands of comments discussing mother-daughter relationships and sharing experiences. After reviewing thousands of them, she liked a single comment that mentioned “Stepmom Literature.”
Then, she gracefully went offline, completely unaware of the enormous stir her action had caused online.