The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 24

Outside Shengding Group.

Gu Xia used her index finger to push up her sunglasses from the bridge of her nose to rest atop her head.

She made herself look fierce and domineering.

That’s right—playing the villainess required this level of arrogance. Otherwise, how else could she protect the female lead?

Gu Xia felt she wasn’t intimidating enough. If only she could smirk like the male lead, it would probably be even more intimidating.

But it couldn’t be helped—it wasn’t that she wanted to act this way.

It was just that this world was one giant Mary Sue novel!

“Anran, you’re here?”

“They’re trying to figure out how to deal with you.”

An intern carrying over a dozen cups of coffee walked over, her face etched with worry as she gave Ning Anran a bitter smile.

Her feelings toward Ning Anran were complicated. When Ning Anran was in the office, the senior employees would focus all their efforts on breaking her—the stubborn, unyielding thorn in their side.

They wouldn’t bother the others.

But the moment Ning Anran stepped away from her desk, those same people would start ordering her around.

She admired Ning Anran, wanted to be like her, but lacked the courage.

“Figure out how to deal with me?”

“By running to the higher-ups like scared little rats?”

Gu Xia grabbed Ning Anran’s wrist, clearly in a protective stance. Ning Anran allowed it, shifting slightly closer to her.

“I don’t know… Anran, are you planning to leave Shengding?”

“If you’re leaving, I’ll go with you.”

“Shengding is a good job with decent pay, but the interpersonal dynamics here… I just can’t handle them.”

Before she could say more, her phone buzzed with several incoming messages.

“I have to go—they’re calling for me.”

Ning Anran watched her for a moment, then reached out and took the coffee from her hands.

“They still haven’t paid you back, have they?”

The girl froze, then nodded with a hint of grievance. That dozen or so cups of coffee weren’t cheap—each one could easily cost twenty, thirty, even fifty yuan.

A single trip like this could set her back several hundred. The others were quick to take the coffee and milk tea, but when it came to paying her back, they kept dragging their feet.

Days would pass without a single transfer.

She’d have to beg them for it.

“I’ll transfer the money to you. Consider these coffees as bought by me.”

Gu Xia pulled out her phone, ready to scan the girl’s payment code.

Her bright, cheerful voice made the girl look up. She had noticed earlier that Ning Anran was standing beside a strikingly beautiful woman.

But “beautiful” didn’t quite capture it.

The woman radiated warmth, like the glow of morning sunlight. She smiled, the corners of her lips curling up.

Somehow, as if compelled, the girl found herself opening her payment code.

Gu Xia sent over a full 1,000 yuan—just a good deed for the day. It wasn’t like she was short on money.

……

Pushing open the office door, Ning Anran walked back in.

The employees who had been slacking off at their desks, eagerly eyeing their coffee and milk tea, now smirked in triumph.

“Oh? Weren’t you so eager to leave last night?”

“What’s this? Crawling back already?”

“How pathetic!”

Ning Anran strode over, her long legs covering the distance in a few steps. She bent slightly—years of working in various restaurants had honed her ability to appear humble.

The gesture naturally made the man seated at the head of the table lower his guard.

But then, Ning Anran flung the scalding coffee straight into his face.

“My apologies, Team Leader.”

“The coffee was too hot, and I accidentally let go.”

“Is your computer alright?”

The man let out a howl as his chair slid backward, its wheels skidding uncontrollably over the coffee-stained floor. He tumbled to the ground—utterly humiliated.

“Ning Anran, you—! How dare you defy me like this! Do you even want to keep this job?”

“I’ll make sure you’re out of here today, and don’t even think about getting a single cent of your salary!”

His face flushed red from the scalding coffee, the man yanked off his glasses and snatched tissues from the desk to wipe the stains off his clothes.

“Oh, so this is how Shengding treats its employees—bullying them just because you’re a big company?”

“Do you really think our Anran has no one backing her?”

“You little bastard.”

Gu Xia walked past the crowd, her tone dripping with disdain. Her slender fingers rested lightly on Ning Anran’s back, making it clear she was here to stand up for her.

Her designer outfit was unmistakably high-end, and given that Shengding was a fashion conglomerate, everyone froze at the sight of her.

No one dared approach, only helping their supervisor up from the floor.

“Where did this brat come from? Outsiders aren’t allowed here!”

The man slammed his coffee-soaked tissues onto the table, glaring furiously.

“Hmm, maybe you haven’t heard of me.”

“But I’m sure you’ve heard of my sister.”

“Her name is Gu Lindong.”

With a flick of her fingers, Gu Xia deliberately knocked over a dozen cups of coffee and tea on the table, sending them crashing to the floor.

At the mention of that name, the man felt as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss. Who hadn’t heard of Gu Lindong?

Squinting, he scrutinized Gu Xia and suddenly realized—this young woman bore an uncanny resemblance to Gu Lindong in the eyes and brows.

“My sister happens to have a contract with Shengding. But seeing how horribly you treat newcomers, I doubt you’re a reliable partner.”

Gu Xia embodied the domineering CEO trope to perfection—except she lacked the usual arrogance, instead draping herself lazily over Ning Anran like a boneless puddle.

And, of course, she was borrowing her sister’s influence—just like the male lead in the original plot had leveraged his half-brother’s status.

“Congratulations, host. Female lead’s favorability +5.”

Success!

Gu Xia was thrilled with her aggressive yet effective approach.

Yes, she was here to shield Ning Anran from all harm—anyone who dared hurt the female lead would get a slap, and if it was the male lead, he’d get two.

Plus, a kick for good measure!

……

“President Cheng, right this way.”

“Our CEO Li is expecting you.”

The tall man glanced at Cheng Chen standing behind him and said flatly, “New guy, wait here.”

Cheng Chen didn’t dare acknowledge his older half-brother—their father had warned him to stay unnoticed, or his brother would eliminate him without hesitation.

“Yes, President Cheng.”

They shared the same surname, Cheng.

But their fates couldn’t be more different.

Cheng Chen obediently stepped aside, just as a commotion erupted nearby.

He looked over and saw Ning Anran standing off against Shengding’s employees.

“I’ll submit my resignation today. Clearly, my values don’t align with your company’s.”

“So, there’s no point in staying any longer.”

Unlike her previous despondency, Ning Anran now exuded a steadfast resilience. She spoke with neither arrogance nor humility, shielding Gu Xia behind her.

That was Anran?!

When had she become so close with Gu Xia?!

Cheng Chen’s throat constricted as he rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his face a picture of shock.