The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 15

After delivering the last order, Ning Anran still returned the car.

After much deliberation, she sent Gu Xia a message.

Gu Xia, where are you?

Do you need me to pick you up?

Are you drunk?

Ning Anran had long grown accustomed to asking these questions tirelessly. In the past, if she missed even one, Gu Xia would snap at her viciously.

She would scold her for being a servant who didn’t even know how to serve properly—failing to ask the necessary questions, showing no semblance of proper service.

Whether Gu Xia was in a bad mood or an exceptionally good one, she would go drinking with her rowdy friends, and it was always Ning Anran who had to pick her up, dead drunk.

Ning Anran had lost count of how many ill-intentioned people she had dealt with, those who tried to take advantage of Gu Xia.

Gu Xia was beautiful, raised in luxury, radiant like the sun. Her striking eyes were enough to make people stop and stare, utterly enchanted.

Ning Anran herself couldn’t understand why Cheng Chen had taken a liking to her instead of someone as stunning as Gu Xia.

Gu Xia’s personality was truly awful, but she was also undeniably gorgeous.

Compared to her, Ning Anran had nothing—not even a penny to her name.

Just surviving already took everything she had.

Ning Anran’s feelings toward Gu Xia were complicated. She hated Gu Xia’s senseless beatings and the humiliating insults that were hard to stomach.

Yet, she also saw Gu Xia as her only refuge. Though Gu Xia was like a drafty house to her, compared to the overwhelming storms from her parents, Gu Xia wasn’t as terrifying.

When in a good mood, Gu Xia would even toss her some leftovers.

Ning Anran remembered it clearly—back then, she hadn’t eaten for a full day and night when Gu Xia saw her after her mother had punished her.

Gu Xia handed over the half-eaten chocolate in her hand and, like a child playing a cruel prank, shoved it into Ning Anran’s mouth.

There was no doubt that Gu Xia’s actions were meant to humiliate her, to strip her of dignity.

But that was also the sweetest chocolate Ning Anran had ever tasted—her first taste of chocolate in her life.

With her bl00d sugar critically low, it felt like she had been brought back to life.

I’ll send you my location. Drive slowly, no rush, Ning Anran.

Have you eaten, Ning Anran? If not, I’ll pack something for you. Anything you like? There’s sushi, tamagoyaki, and stuff here.

Her eyes curved into a smile. For some reason, Gu Xia felt a sweet warmth in her heart—maybe because Ning Anran had taken the initiative to message her?

And not just one message, but so many in a row.

It seemed like Ning Anran really cared about her.

So, she raised her hand and called the waiter over.

“Could you remake everything on the table for takeout? Small portions will do.”

Ning Anran had a small stomach and couldn’t eat much.

Ordering more would be pointless.

But Gu Xia wasn’t sure what she liked, so she just decided to pack another set of what she had ordered, since she thought it was decent.

“Of course,” the waiter nodded, quickly jotting it down.

“Damn, Xiaxia, I never knew you had the makings of a doting girlfriend!”

Yu Yingying speared a piece of beef tongue and popped it into her mouth, clicking her tongue in amazement.

“I told you, there’s really nothing between me and Ning Anran.”

“You can joke about it in front of me all you want, but when Ning Anran comes to pick me up later, none of you better say anything weird.”

“I swear, I’ll lose it on anyone who does.”

Gao Fei nodded and added to the busy waiter,

“Oh, and please pack one of your signature drinks too.”

Hearing this, Gu Xia rubbed her head in frustration. She had been so focused on packing dinner for Ning Anran that she forgot to buy her something to drink.

“Thanks, Feifei. You’re way better than Yingying, who just teases me all the time. I almost forgot to get Ning Anran a drink.”

Most of the food on the table had been eaten. Though Gu Xia was verbally praising Gao Fei, her eyes remained fixed on her phone screen.

Ning Anran replied quickly.

Got it. I’ll be there soon.
Haven’t had dinner yet. Just bring anything simple.

Gu Xia let out a sigh of relief. At least her efforts these past few days had paid off—Ning Anran wasn’t as resistant to her as before.

“Of course, Host. Thanks to your heroic efforts, the female lead’s favorability toward you has reached -60%.”
“Please continue pursuing her with this intensity, Host. That way, your life will be spared!”

Listening to the system’s encouraging words, Gu Xia suddenly felt like her future was no longer hopeless but bright and full of promise. Hope was waving at her.

This was all thanks to the fact that Ning Anran hadn’t completely turned dark yet—she was still easy to placate.

Like a rain-soaked stray dog, homeless and wary—just a little food could make it drop its guard toward humans again.

……

“Xiaxia, you can head back first.”

“I made plans with Feifei to hit the bar later.”

Yu Yingying wasn’t the type to stay idle at home. She had already planned where to go after dinner before arriving, but since Gu Xia was heading back, she hadn’t mentioned it earlier.

“Alright, just don’t stay out too late, you two.”

Carrying her bags, Gu Xia glanced out the window and saw a figure approaching. Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

Dressed in a simple white shirt, Ning Anran wore a plain digital watch on her wrist, but her figure was model-perfect.

The moment she pushed open the door, she drew the attention of everyone in the Japanese restaurant.

Yu Yingying and Gao Fei also looked over.

Ning Anran was thinner than they remembered, exuding an indescribable, melancholic beauty.

The golden afternoon sunlight bathed her, turning even her black hair amber.

A car key dangled from her fingers.

“Gu Xia, get in the car.”

Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

Though only in her early twenties, Ning Anran already carried an air of unshakable calm. Many in the restaurant felt their hearts flutter at the sight of her.

With her kind of presence, she could captivate countless people.

“Miss, your order is packed.”

“Would you like me to bring it to your car?”

A waiter approached with a brown paper bag, but Ning Anran reached out and took it herself.

“I’ll carry it.”

Her hands, often exposed to water in winter, had several patches of frostbite. Gu Xia noticed, though Ning Anran seemed to have treated them—the wounds weren’t too obvious.

Just faint streaks of red.

If she hadn’t looked closely, Gu Xia might not have even noticed the injuries.

Suppressing her urge to ask, she knew this was Ning Anran’s private matter. Even if she wanted to inquire, she shouldn’t do so in public, in front of so many people.

That would only embarrass Ning Anran.

Why did she know this so well? Because she’d tried it all before awakening!

Gu Xia was well aware of the consequences such thoughtless actions could bring.

Turning around, Ning Anran caught a glimpse of the unguarded pity in Gu Xia’s eyes before it could be concealed. She remained expressionless, momentarily puzzled.

Had Gu Xia just pitied her?

She must have been so exhausted from working nonstop these past few days that she couldn’t even distinguish between teasing and genuine concern anymore.