The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 44

The Gu family villa was brightly lit.

Gu Xia stood at the center of the crowd, dressed in a stunning blue gown that accentuated her beauty to perfection.

“Happy birthday, Xiaxia.”

“Congratulations on growing another year older! You’ve become such a beautiful young woman now!”

Countless praises rang in her ears, but Gu Xia paid them no mind.

Had this been before her awakening, she might have been so flattered by these compliments that she’d be throwing money at these people without a second thought.

In truth, many of them secretly looked down on her—they just didn’t show it openly. This became evident later when she fell from grace; the moment she moved out of the Gu family mansion, these so-called friends immediately blocked her on all platforms. They were nothing but fair-weather friends.

Without wine, feasts, or money, such friendships would dissipate without needing a breeze to blow them away.

“System, keep a close eye on Ning Anran’s situation for me! Notify me immediately if anything happens!”

Gu Xia clasped her hands together in her mind, repeatedly emphasizing this to the system.

This wasn’t just her being overly cautious or paranoid. In the original story, Ning Anran had been humiliated by these very “friends” at the banquet, mocked for being the child of paupers.

Of course, those who ridiculed the female lead would inevitably face dire consequences!

As the ringleader who had insulted Ning Anran, Gu Xia hadn’t just sneered at her shabby clothes—she had also forced an entire bottle of red wine down Ning Anran’s throat, making her drunk and causing a scene at the party.

Just thinking about it made Gu Xia want to gouge her own eyes out.

What kind of childish, elementary-level bullying tactic was this? What was the author thinking—writing this with their feet?!

“Understood, esteemed Host! This Villainess Self-Rescue System will definitely fulfill your mission!”

Well, if the system wanted to be a bit chuunibyou, so be it.

At least it was a reliable system that got things done, not some useless slacker.

“Xiaxia, do you remember me?”

“I’m Zhou Heng.”

A man in a tailored suit hesitated before stepping forward, his cheeks flushed from alcohol. After much deliberation, he finally approached the birthday girl surrounded by admirers.

Zhou Heng—the name sounded vaguely familiar.

Gu Xia frowned, trying to recall the details of this cliché romance novel.

Ding! The system has retrieved information on Zhou Heng’s role in the plot. Please review carefully to avoid future mishaps.

As the helpful data flashed through her mind, Gu Xia remembered all of Zhou Heng’s scenes in the novel.

Before being blown to smithereens as cannon fodder, the original Gu Xia had her own devoted lapdog.

And that lapdog was none other than Zhou Heng.

The classic combination of a simp and a villainess was like a mop dipped in filth—wherever they appeared, the plot would turn rancid.

Later, after losing everything, Gu Xia sought revenge on the female lead, believing that by killing or disfiguring Ning Anran, she could win the male lead’s affection.

She then bossed Zhou Heng around, ordering him to make life difficult for Ning Anran at every turn.

“Xiaxia, it’s okay if you don’t remember me.”

“We can start over and get to know each other again.”

Ignoring the laughter around them, Zhou Heng extended his hand toward Gu Xia.

From the shadows at the edge of the banquet hall, Ning Anran watched this scene unfold, her fingers unconsciously tightening into fists.

Gu Xia possessed a radiant and bewitching beauty that had always made her the center of attention. Ning Anran wasn’t unaware of this fact, but it was the first time she’d witnessed Gu Xia being literally surrounded and adored by everyone like the moon among stars.

For the second young miss of the Gu family, such scenes were nothing out of the ordinary. So why was she feeling so strange?

Why did she care so much about the way these people looked at Gu Xia?

“Anran.”

Cheng Chen emerged from the shadows. He had only managed to sneak into this birthday banquet by posing as an assistant to her elder brother.

Truth be told, Cheng Chen hadn’t wanted to come and see Gu Xia’s detestable face. But the thought of Ning Anran possibly being humiliated by Gu Xia at her birthday party had compelled him to follow.

Didn’t he know exactly what kind of person Gu Xia was?

She was the type to lose interest in things after three days, yet when it came to bullying Ning Anran, she never seemed to tire of it.

“What do you want?”

Ning Anran glanced at him, her tone icy.

This was the Gu family’s banquet. If not for the sake of maintaining decorum on Gu Xia’s birthday, she wouldn’t have hesitated to tear into Cheng Chen right then and there.

“I came to warn you, Anran.”

“I know you’re only bowing your head to that tyrant, that man-eating flower Gu Xia because you’re short on money!”

“You need money, don’t you? I have some here—I can give it to you.”

Gritting his teeth, Cheng Chen pulled out his salary card.

In truth, the card was empty.

He had just started his job as an assistant less than a month ago—how could he have received any wages yet?

Even his daily expenses were still being covered by his parents. Even this suit had been delivered half an hour late by his father’s assistant after his dad had secretly driven over to see his mother.

…

“Zhou Heng, that’s not very considerate of you.”

“Our Xiaxia is the birthday girl today, and you’re just going to—”

The outstretched palm received no response. Gu Xia lifted the hem of her dress and stood up.

Her high heels clicked against the marble floor as the system’s warning alarm rang in her ears.

She knew the male lead, with his ill intentions, was approaching Ning Anran.

“Xiaxia… Xiaxia!”

Zhou Heng awkwardly withdrew his hand, watching as Gu Xia brushed past him without a backward glance. He called after her twice, but she didn’t turn around, nor did she spare him a single lingering look.

“Oh dear, what’s going on? Why did she suddenly leave without a word?”

Baffled onlookers followed Gu Xia’s departing figure with their eyes, watching as she hurried forward with urgency.

“Cheng Chen, stay away from Ning Anran!”

Her fingers clutching the crystal-studded skirt, Gu Xia’s chest heaved as she glared at the male lead, who seemed on the verge of speaking but hesitated.

“I… I was just talking to Anran.”

“Gu Xia, is this really necessary?”

Under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Cheng Chen grew flustered. He lowered his gaze, inwardly cursing his luck.

His boss had specifically instructed him to stay low-key—to just greet familiar executives with a cigarette if he saw them.

“It is necessary.”

“Cheng Chen, don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming.”

She had barely taken her eyes off him, and yet the male lead had already come sniffing around like a dog catching a scent.

“What did you just say? That you have money?”

This penniless male lead actually had the audacity to boast about having money to Ning Anran?

And then try to convince her to leave with him?!

—Trying to get something for nothing? Don’t push your luck.

She wouldn’t let the male lead have his way.

The idea of chopping her into mincemeat? Forget about it!

“If you’ve got money to spare, why don’t you buy everyone here a drink?”

Gu Xia let go of the hem of her dress and stepped in front of Cheng Chen, her tone teasing.

“The wine at this banquet isn’t even that expensive.”

“Just eight thousand a bottle.”