The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 51

Mother Ning set down the hose in her hand and glared at her daughter passing by the flower bed, her expression instantly turning stern.

“Anran, why haven’t you been coming home these past few days?”

The first words in the morning were her mother’s icy interrogation.

Ning Anran paused mid-step and turned to look at her mother, replying calmly, “Miss Gu Er had her birthday yesterday. I was celebrating with her.”

The clothes she wore were all bought for her by Gu Xia before, but the sight of Ning Anran like this set off alarm bells in her mother’s heart.

Too refined, too elegant—too much like Madam Ning from back then.

The increasingly beautiful Ning Anran was like a constant reminder of the mistake she had made, bringing the true golden phoenix of a wealthy family into her own home.

“Anran, even if Miss Gu Er orders you around, you can’t keep running off to their house like this.”

She wiped the water off her hands onto her apron and took a step forward.

“Your father and I have been arranging a match for you recently. You’re pretty, and the folks in the village adore you.”

At these words, Ning Anran turned around fully. She looked at her mother, who was gradually aging and worn, but there wasn’t a trace of emotion in her eyes.

“Arranging a match?”

“Mom, I just got a job. I won’t be considering these things anytime soon, so don’t bring it up again.”

The wind tousled her loose strands of hair as Ning Anran ignored her mother’s persuasion and made to walk out of the Gu family villa.

Her mother’s face darkened, and she pointed at Ning Anran, shouting angrily.

“Ning Anran!”

“Looks like you’ve grown too big for your boots, forgetting how hard your father and I worked to raise you!”

“Let me tell you, whether you want to or not, you will go on that blind date, and you will get married!”

“Your father and I have already picked someone for you—a wealthy man from the village. Sure, he’s divorced with two kids, but at least he owns an apartment in the city.”

“You’d better not—”

Before Mother Ning could finish her aggressive tirade, Auntie Li, who had just returned from grocery shopping, stepped in to mediate.

“Oh, Sumei, what’s the rush?”

“Your daughter just landed a job, didn’t she? That’s something many people can only dream of! At least let her settle into her career before thinking about marriage.”

The harsher words stuck in Mother Ning’s throat. With an outsider present, she couldn’t afford to tear into Ning Anran completely.

All she could think about now was how to marry Ning Anran off, locking her away for life in that underdeveloped countryside.

That place was isolated—once Ning Anran was sent there, she’d never be able to threaten her real daughter’s status!

Once her own daughter secured her position, she could drag her husband along to claim their rightful place, living comfortably in the city, in their own villa, without having to envy these rich people’s fancy cars and houses!

“Settle into her career?”

“You know how expensive city apartments are. Even if Anran works her hardest for ten or twenty years, she might never afford one.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to marry a rich man? Less hassle, less effort. Have a baby early—a big, healthy son—and then just enjoy life.”

“As her mother, aren’t I just thinking of her best interests? If it were someone else’s daughter, I wouldn’t even bother saying a word!”

Ning Anran had long grown accustomed to her mother’s hysterical outbursts. She was about to ignore it and walk away when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

“Auntie, I bought Ning Anran a car and a house—isn’t that better than some worthless men?”

“And a divorced secondhand man at that. How could you even consider someone like that?”

Gu Xia had been deep in sleep, only murmuring drowsily when Ning Anran got up early, reluctant to let her go.

But the system’s alert had her dressing at lightning speed and slipping down from the second floor of the villa.

Someone actually dared to sneak into her home while she was away? Absolutely unacceptable!

To ensure she didn’t lose face, Gu Xia deliberately draped a long coat over herself.

After all, clothes make the man—or in this case, the woman. Her battle attire couldn’t be lacking.

Especially since, in this melodramatic Mary Sue romance novel, Ning Anran’s mother was no pushover. If she was a villainous cannon fodder, her level of toxicity far surpassed Gu Xia’s own.

Wasn’t the entire plot set in motion by her so-called “brilliant schemes”?

At the sight of Gu Xia, Ning’s mother immediately tempered her earlier words. She bent down to pick up the faucet, plastering on an ingratiating smile.

“Miss Gu, you misunderstand. I was just saying Anran hasn’t been home in a while and should visit her father more… He’s all alone, and it’s been hard on him.”

The sudden shift in demeanor left Gu Xia stunned. Even Sichuan opera face-changers weren’t this quick!

And what was so great about Ning Anran’s drunken, gambling bastard of a father? Gu Xia thought the best outcome for him would be a stroke, bedridden and slapped around by a caretaker.

Dying early would be too merciful for someone like him.

But then again, no wonder Ning Anran’s fake mother survived into the later chapters.

Mentally labeling her as a red-name enemy, Gu Xia stepped forward and looped her arm through Ning Anran’s, as naturally as if they did this all the time.

With a smirk, she accepted the flattery.

“If he’s having trouble moving, how about I hire a caretaker for Uncle?”

Preferably one who’d break his legs.

“Oh no, no need!”

“Miss Gu, you’re too kind. My husband’s used to rough labor in the countryside—no need for a caretaker.”

“Besides, wouldn’t that cost a fortune? Our family’s barely scraping by as it is.”

Undeterred by the refusal, Gu Xia pressed on, leaving no room for argument.

“Auntie, it’s just a small gesture.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the expenses. I’ll make sure Uncle is pampered.”

“Consider it my thanks for Anran keeping me company lately.”

“Oh, and Auntie?”

“Let me help vet Anran’s future partners. After spending so much time with her, I know exactly what she likes.”

Gu Xia’s ability to spin lies was improving by the day. Her rapid-fire words left Ning’s mother speechless, only able to nod blankly.

She couldn’t help but wonder—since when had Miss Gu become so sharp-tongued?

And wasn’t she the one who resented Anran for stealing the man she liked? Wasn’t that why she’d been picking on Anran every chance she got?

Now, was she bullying Anran so much that she’d developed feelings and couldn’t bear to let Anran leave her side?

“Young Miss Gu, you may not know this, but us country folk can’t possibly aspire to match city folk. We’re just here to scrape by with odd jobs.”

“If she were to marry someone, they’d definitely look down on her.”

Ning’s mother’s words slightly irritated Gu Xia. Raising an eyebrow defiantly, she retorted, “Who says so? Ning Anran is wonderful. I certainly think highly of her.”