The Real Daughter Needs Saving by This Vicious Female Cannon Fodder? - Chapter 52

“Ding dong! Ding dong! Host, you’re doing great! Female lead’s favorability +1!”

Listening to the system prompt in her mind, Gu Xia looked up at Ning Anran’s profile, feeling a warm flutter in her heart.

It was so nice that the female lead wasn’t an unfeeling rock!

At least she could be warmed up!

“Haha, Second Miss Gu, you’re too kind.”

“Our Anran isn’t worthy of such things. Please don’t spoil her.”

By now, Aunt Li had already quietly retreated a few steps with her vegetable basket in hand. Watching Liao Sumei’s stubborn delusion, she sighed inwardly, wondering whether this was a case of “a dead pig fears no scalding water” or “one won’t yield until faced with disaster.”

“If I say she’s worthy, then she’s worthy.”

“Aunt Liao, no one dares to contradict what I say.”

Since these people already saw her as a spoiled princess, she might as well play the villain to the hilt.

After all, the kind-hearted get bullied.

Only by being a bad woman can one achieve greatness!

“By the way, Aunt Liao, if you’re watering the flowers, focus on watering them. If Anran does anything wrong, just tell me—I’ll scold her for you.”

Completely oblivious to the reversed order of things, Gu Xia pushed Ning Anran forward by her slender waist.

Liao Sumei: “…”

She stood frozen, watching their retreating figures, gnashing her teeth. Wasn’t Ning Anran supposed to be her daughter? What right did this Second Miss Gu have to meddle?

Had she switched from liking men to women now? Rich people sure had their eccentricities.

But what could two women possibly do? Since Second Miss Gu fancied Anran, she might as well let her play around for a while.

After all, sooner or later, she would still marry Ning Anran off to that prearranged man.

She’d make sure Ning Anran never set foot in the capital again in her lifetime!

Liao Sumei hastily coiled up the hose, her mind drifting to the plainclothes officers who had been frequenting the area lately. A sense of unease prickled at her heart.

It felt like something terrible was about to happen.

Originally, she and her husband had opposed Ning Anran attending Imperial Capital University, but Ning Anran had been adamant. Afraid that excessive resistance might provoke her rebellious streak and drive her to run away—jeopardizing their own biological daughter’s status—they had reluctantly relented, allowing her to follow her wishes.

In the meantime, Liao Sumei had found a decent job as a live-in housekeeper at this villa, tending to the owners’ daily needs.

The days passed swiftly, lulling her into a false sense of security, as if this peaceful routine would continue indefinitely.

But change had come far sooner than expected. Liao Sumei had no idea why those people were investigating the employers’ household.

Yet her secret absolutely could not be exposed. Otherwise, all the plans she and her husband had painstakingly built over the years would go up in smoke.

Without delay, she contacted her husband, instructing him to find a man with some influence in the countryside—preferably one who could ensure Ning Anran would never escape the mountains.

At first, the man had been reluctant, boasting about his wealth and insisting he deserved nothing less than a fresh-faced virgin in her early twenties.

But the moment he saw Ning Anran’s photo, his pudgy hands rubbed together in glee, and he slapped ten thousand yuan onto the table.

“Not bad at all. A top student from Imperial Capital University, no less—worthy of a man like me.”

“Since you’re inclined to this idea, father-in-law, we can address each other as father and son from now on.”

The man took a sip of the baijiu he’d poured, his face immediately flushing red as he modestly declined, “Oh, come now, Director Zhang. My daughter has always been willful and arrogant!”

“If she marries into your family, you’ll have to keep her in line!”

Hearing this, the man addressed as Director Zhang was utterly delighted by the flattery and replied without reservation, “Naturally! If a woman doesn’t behave, you just whip her with a belt! Best to beat her until she obeys!”

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the marriage was settled. Before leaving, Ning’s father was even handed two expensive packs of cigarettes as part of the betrothal gift, finalizing the arrangement.

…

Just as Gu Xia stepped out of the villa gate with Ning Anran’s arm in hers, she felt her phone buzzing incessantly in her pocket.

Pulling it out, she saw responses from the people she had previously assigned to investigate.

Second Young Miss, we’ve checked. After more than ten days, we finally found that godforsaken place!

Here’s the location and some photos.

Next, images of a muddy, unpaved rural road appeared, with a few plump village chickens accidentally wandering into the frame.

The photos were dynamic, but Gu Xia didn’t dare open them fully, fearing that the sound of clucking chickens might burst from her phone!

Good job, but I need you to keep investigating. Stay hidden and don’t let the villagers notice you.

Gu Xia typed rapidly. Hearing Liao Sumei’s plans to arrange a blind date for Ning Anran had instantly made her realize that Liao Sumei was definitely up to no good!

In the original story, the author had vividly portrayed that sleazy man to the point where readers would want to tear him apart.

Understood. We’ll make sure you’re satisfied, Second Young Miss.

We’ll stay here for the next few days. We won’t let you down.

Compiling the information sent over, Gu Xia saved it in a separate folder and bookmarked it for quick access.

“Gu Xia, are you coming to work with me?”

Ning Anran knew she had only followed her out to help her escape the earlier situation. Otherwise, at this hour, Gu Xia would still be fast asleep in bed.

As an art student, her classes usually started at noon or in the afternoon—something Ning Anran was well aware of.

“I…”

Gu Xia was about to say she wanted to go along, but the thought of sitting idly by Ning Anran’s side at work like some aimless rich kid, doing nothing but calling out “Ning Anran” repeatedly, was too embarrassing!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Xiaxia.”

Somehow, her mother had a knack for appearing out of nowhere. The sound of her voice startled Gu Xia so much that if she had ears on her head, they would have perked up instantly.

She straightened her posture and turned to face her dear mother.

But Gu Xia didn’t want Ning Anran to be scolded by her mother. Extending a slender arm, she shielded Ning Anran behind her and flashed her mother a smile.

“Ahem… Then I won’t go today, Mom. I’ll stay with you and Dad!”

Seeing this, Madam Gu became even more convinced her daughter was corrupting this innocent girl. Twirling her car keys, she tossed over the keychain bearing the iconic “B” logo.

Her aim was precise—Gu’s mother completely bypassed her own daughter, looking at Ning Anran who was still dazed after reflexively catching the car keys.

With a light parting of her red lips, she smiled and said, “Keep it. This car is yours now.”

“Being our Xiaxia’s girlfriend means you have to be on call 24/7, you know~”

No! What kind of outrageous talk was this from her mom?!

Was this even something you could say out loud?!

Shut up, Mom!

She and the female lead really weren’t in that kind of relationship!

Well… at least not yet!