Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 70

Cheng Xiaoming slept on the sofa.

If you could even call that recliner where half her calves dangled off the edge when she lay down, a sofa.

And if this place, where opening the door led straight to a wall, the staircase was blocked by junk, and the only way in or out was by climbing over the railing to the adjacent rooftop and scaling the external steel ladder, could even be called a home.

Then Jiang Yining’s place was actually quite tidy and cozy.

She had to take medicine every day. The painkillers Jiang Yining gave her were incredibly effective, but she’d never seen them on the market.

Jiang Yining slept until noon daily.

The fridge was stocked with plenty of food, and it was only then that Cheng Xiaoming realized Jiang Yining could cook.

Seeing rice in the kitchen, she wanted to make porridge for Jiang Yining, who was still weak from the effects of the inducer.

Jiang Yining had smashed Cheng Xiaoming’s phone along with her own, cutting her off from the outside world. She couldn’t even search: How to make cabbage porridge.

It burned.

The smell of scorched porridge roused Jiang Yining’s nose. “If you don’t know how to cook, don’t just mess around, Miss Rich Girl! There’s bread and milk on the coffee table, eat that if you’re hungry.”

Flustered, Cheng Xiaoming scrubbed the burnt pot with a steel wool pad.

Jiang Yining: “That pan has a coating put the steel wool down!”

Cheng Xiaoming quickly dropped it, only to knock a plate off the counter with her elbow, shattering it to pieces.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Yining crouched down, picking up the fragments one by one.

She tied up her long hair, revealing her fair, jade-like neck, still faintly marked with bite marks at the base. Her eyes were drowsy. “Hungry? What do you want to eat?”

Cheng Xiaoming whispered, “I already had bread. I wanted to make porridge for you.”

“…”

Jiang Yining turned away. “Don’t bother.”

Then she whipped up two simple dishes and a soup, all Cheng Xiaoming’s favorites.

Two days had passed since she’d been staying here. Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning that night.

It had been very shallow probably just three more days until the temporary mark faded.

Just a light press of teeth, barely sinking in before letting go. Cheng Xiaoming dutifully covered the bite and slept on the recliner in the living room.

Not even a hug. She didn’t dare cross that line.

Cheng Xiaoming noticed the photo on the small square table by the door was important, so every morning, she refreshed the water in the vase of chrysanthemums placed before it.

The woman in the photo looked a lot like Jiang Yining probably her mother.

“I’m heading out. Same rules as always, don’t open the door, don’t pull back the curtains, and don’t unlock the window latch. Got it?”

Every day at 1 p.m., Jiang Yining would leave once, returning with daily necessities and groceries.

Cheng Xiaoming nodded.

Logically, as someone used to getting her way, being ordered around by an omega who was the polar opposite of her ideal type should have irritated her.

But it didn’t.

Not at all.

In fact, she felt a flicker of anticipation. Even happiness.

The esteemed Second Young Miss of the Cheng family, executive director of Changxin Group, had somehow fallen in love with the simple joy of waiting for an omega and eagerly rummaging through the bags she brought back to see if there were any original-flavored chips.

“…” Cheng Xiaoming told herself it was only because her savior was special.

Yes, that was it. Jiang Yining was special. This was Cheng Xiaoming’s way of repaying her.

The bathroom was out of tissues.

Cheng Xiaoming remembered Jiang Yining saying they were in the wardrobe.

She really does love cabinets, Cheng Xiaoming thought. Everything goes in a cabinet.

Pulling open the wardrobe, she froze.

Inside were a pillow, a blanket, and two Luochuan apples. Cheng Xiaoming took the apples out and put them in the fridge.

She kept searching.

Beneath the assortment of hanging dresses and skirts, neatly stacked DIY magic film drawers were arranged.

Inside the drawers, rolled papers could be seen.

Cheng Xiaoming pulled open a drawer and took out one of the rolls. The magic film was transparent, allowing her to see all the way to the bottom drawer when she moved the rolled paper aside.

A marble-patterned gift box.

The dating gift that had been scorned by all the omega guests.

“Ming-jie, do you remember what happened to the gift from your first date?”

Cheng Xiaoming’s eyes flickered with emotion. After a few quiet seconds, she opened it.

A pair of pure gold filigree earrings.

Originally nestled in the grooves of a jewelry box, they were now meticulously sealed in individual bags and stored in a moisture-proof container.

Cheng Xiaoming’s heartbeat quickened, her throat burning.

Did Jiang Yining ask the show crew for these back? Why? And why hide them like this.

They were just a pair of gold earrings. Why go to such lengths to preserve them? She could gift as many as she wanted. Cheng Xiaoming placed the box back, her heart tangled with threads, the other end of which led straight to Jiang Yining.

So she likes gold jewelry, Cheng Xiaoming thought.

The rolled paper was found, no need to disturb Jiang Yining’s things any further.

Cheng Xiaoming straightened up, her height making it awkward to maneuver in the 160cm-tall wardrobe, knocking down a few hanging clothes in the process.

A leopard-print bandeau, a lace-up backless top, a high-slit miniskirt.

And one of Cheng Xiaoming’s sweaters.

Yes, it really was Cheng Xiaoming’s sweater.

Moreover, it was the very sweater that had mysteriously disappeared fifteen years ago.

That sweater had been knitted by her grandmother while she was still alive white cashmere with a cartoon lion on the chest, the tip of its tail embroidered with three letters: cxm. Her grandmother had said: “At school, don’t mix it up with other students’ clothes. This way, you’ll know it’s yours at a glance.”

But after a high fever at fifteen, this favorite sweater of Cheng Xiaoming’s vanished without a trace, along with the memories of those days.

Cheng Xiaoming traced the letters on the lion’s tail, confirming again and again that this was indeed the one she had lost.

She hung the sweater back up, closed the wardrobe, and sat on a small stool in the living room, lost in thought.

Why was the sweater here?

Cheng Xiaoming clutched her head, fingers digging deep into her hair.

Her head throbbed.

Fragmented images flashed through her mind.

A pair of peach-blossom eyes.

A blinding crimson.

In the darkness, a tender and soft figure, tightly embraced.

She spoke to a blurred silhouette: “Wait for me to come get you.”

Cheng Xiaoming gripped her hair, straining to see that shadow clearly, but all she got in return was even more intense pain.

Who was she telling to wait for her?

Jiang Yining, just who are you?

The lock turned.

Cheng Xiaoming looked up.

Jiang Yining walked in, a backpack slung over her shoulder and a plastic bag from Happiness Supermarket in hand. “Pork belly chicken for New Year’s Eve, I bought a ton of groceries.”

Cheng Xiaoming couldn’t handle spicy food but loved fresh flavors. A hot pot for the New Year was perfect, and pork belly chicken was one of her favorites.

Cheng Xiaoming stood up.

Jiang Yining opened the bag. “Hey, don’t rush original flavor chips, I know you want them, bought three big bags. The promotion even came with a ramen bowl.”

Cheng Xiaoming loosely wrapped her arms around Jiang Yining’s shoulders.

Welcome home.

＊

On New Year’s Eve, Wen Huiyun couldn’t stand the sight of the old villa’s pitch-black curtains any longer and took them all down.

With Ye Zhuoyan’s approval, she replaced them with versatile beige ones.

She even added tasseled pearl buttons in bright red.

The dining table, coffee table, and cabinet surfaces were all adorned with “Flowers of Wealth and Honor” liners.

Before this, Wen Huiyun would never have imagined that the elegant classical goddess Ye Zhuoyan would love such bold “Flowers of Wealth and Honor” patterns.

Ye Zhuoyan declared: “Tear up Ke Yuxin.”

Then added: “And you.”

Wen Huiyun felt her soul popping like popcorn inside her skull. Pop, pop, pop.

But what was she afraid of?

Oh, right. Her wife was so gentle and adorable, why should she be scared?

Just follow along.

Wen Huiyun regained her composure.

She sat obediently by the sofa, next to an eight-treasure box filled with red dates, peanuts, and melon seeds.

It all looked so auspicious~

“If you confess everything now, we can have a good New Year,” Ye Zhuoyan suddenly said.

“Zhuoyan, which matter are you referring to?”

Ye Zhuoyan was stern. “All of them.”

Probably the things mentioned at the police station.

“Zhuoyan, what I told Captain Ning was the whole story. Do you want me to go over it again in more detail?”

“Mm. Start.”

Ye Zhuoyan stared at her, locking eyes, making Wen Huiyun feel like she was being scrutinized by a strict exam proctor.

Wen Huiyun took a sip of water to moisten her throat. “Alright.”

She began with how Ke Yuxin had sought out the original owner, tricking her into believing she wanted a relationship.

And ended with regaining a sliver of consciousness while locked in Jade City’s cold storage.

“You’re done?”

Ye Zhuoyan quickly spotted the inconsistency. “But in everything you said, you didn’t mention how you escaped.”

Wen Huiyun’s explanation of how she managed to escape Jade City’s captivity unscathed was extremely vague.

That was one point Ye Zhuoyan found puzzling.

But she asked because she had another thought.

Call it intuition or deduction.

Ye Zhuoyan simply felt:

The original Wen Huiyun was gone.

Lost in Jade City’s hideout.

And the one before her now.

Ye Zhuoyan’s gaze settled on Wen Huiyun.

Wen Huiyun sat with her head slightly lowered, hands resting on her knees, feet pressed together.

Occasionally, she peeked up at Ye Zhuoyan, gauging her mood.

When their eyes met, Ye Zhuoyan curved her lips slightly, and Wen Huiyun responded with a gentle smile.

Ye Zhuoyan thought, this Wen Huiyun was someone else.

Not just different from before, not some possession.

She was simply not the same person.

Not even the same body. From head to toe, entirely different.

If one day, a family member of yours went missing, only to return days later looking almost identical, with the same memories but their temperament completely changed.

And you realized this person wasn’t your family member.

But someone else.

Or perhaps, something unknown.

And with unknown intentions.

What would you do?

Would you be afraid?

Ye Zhuoyan had encountered such a “family member.”

And had embraced her.

Shared a bed with her.

Kissed her.

Ye Zhuoyan’s mind wandered, her fingertips slightly cold. She picked up a few peanuts and slowly peeled them, masking the turbulent waves in her heart.

“Zhuoyan, peanuts are high in calories.”

Wen Huiyun softly reminded her, then added, “But it’s New Year’s, you can have a little.”

She reached over, the bandage on her wrist revealing a partially healed scar.

The wound was long, winding along the vein all the way to her elbow.

She peeled off the red peanut skins and placed the white kernels into Ye Zhuoyan’s palm.

Their palms and fingertips brushed.

Wen Huiyun smiled, stars twinkling in her eyes.

A shower of falling stars.

Amid the dazzling starlight, Ye Zhuoyan saw her own reflection with perfect clarity.

Then, she heard Wen Huiyun’s soft, tender voice:

“Happy New Year.”

Midnight. The clock’s hands overlapped.

Fireworks bloomed over the villa district’s lawn.

They soared into the distant night sky and burst with a bang, showering the air with fleeting beauty like a waterfall.

The crackling of firecrackers filled the air.

Ye Zhuoyan curved her lips, lowering her gaze, her eyes stinging with guilt.

She lowered her hand, gently covering the slowly healing scar on Wen Huiyun’s body, her eyes glistening:

“With you, I’m happy.”

After countless moments of hesitation, the boulder that had been weighing on Ye Zhuoyan’s heart finally settled at this moment.

She only hoped the day would come soon when Wen Huiyun would fully open up to her.

Only then would she truly and completely possess the miracle bestowed upon her by the heavens.

They stepped outside and nestled together in the front yard.

Watching the fireworks burn beautifully in the sky.

Listening to the crackle of firecrackers.

“Do you like it?”

Ye Zhuoyan leaned against Wen Huiyun’s shoulder as Wen Huiyun asked.

Ye Zhuoyan replied, “I just like watching from afar. Up close, it scares me.”

When she was little, her father had held her hand to set off bottle rockets, teasing her:

“If you don’t behave, the firecracker will shoot out from this end and punish naughty children.”

Ye Zhuoyan buried herself deeper into Wen Huiyun’s embrace.

Wen Huiyun magically produced a small rectangular paper box from somewhere.

Dark blue with white sparkles painted on it.

Sparklers.

Wen Huiyun pulled one out. “These are gentle. Want to try?”

Ye Zhuoyan just looked at it, neither agreeing nor taking it.

With a smile in her eyes, Wen Huiyun flicked the lighter, the orange-red flame igniting the sparkler.

Sizzle.

White beams branched out like blooming dandelions.

Wen Huiyun handed the unlit end to Ye Zhuoyan, embracing her from behind. She lit another one, guiding Ye Zhuoyan’s hands to hold the sparklers, drawing circles in the night.

“Wow, this is so cute.”

Ye Zhuoyan smiled, her pupils sparkling like dandelions.

“This is a fairy’s little flower,” Wen Huiyun said.

She turned her head, pressing close to Ye Zhuoyan’s ear. “Didn’t you play with these as a kid?”

Ye Zhuoyan shook her head with a laugh. “No. I saw others play with them. I was too scared.”

The firecrackers were loud, so Ye Zhuoyan spoke loudly too.

Suddenly, Wen Huiyun smirked, let go, and slowly stepped back one step, two steps, moving farther away.

Her shadow remained, still embracing Ye Zhuoyan.

Ye Zhuoyan clutched the sparkler in both hands, turning her head in panic. Wen Huiyun grinned at her mischievous like a fox’s trick, a little wicked but mostly affectionate.

The sparkler burned shorter and shorter, inching closer to Ye Zhuoyan’s fingertips.

She hurriedly shifted her fingers back, wanting to let go, but the sparkler hadn’t burned out yet.

Frowning, she shot Wen Huiyun a playful glare.

Wen Huiyun said, “It’s gentle, don’t worry. It’ll go out soon.”

Ye Zhuoyan huffed, then suddenly dashed toward her.

The sparkler in her hand swayed wildly, scattering white embers, as if they might land on her any second!

“!”

Wen Huiyun instinctively bolted, but Ye Zhuoyan quickly caught up.

Laughing, they embraced face-to-face.

“Hahaha~” Ye Zhuoyan wrapped her arms around Wen Huiyun, crossing them, as the two sparklers dimmed and burned out. Like a silent play quietly drawing to a close.

Wen Huiyun held Ye Zhuoyan tightly, pressing her palm against her back, pulling her into her body.

Gently nuzzling the top of Ye Zhuoyan’s head.

Ye Zhuoyan tilted her face up, exhaling a faint, fragrant mist with a smile. “Every New Year’s Eve, I want to spend it with you.”

Wen Huiyun kissed her forehead through her hair. “Of course. Family should always be together.”

“Let me cast a spell on you.”

Ye Zhuoyan said solemnly, “A New Year’s spell prosperity and good luck for you.”

“Mm, cast it quickly.”

Wen Huiyun wrapped an arm around her waist as Ye Zhuoyan lazily draped her arms over her shoulders.

Ye Zhuoyan rose on her tiptoes, her red lips drawing near, pressing firmly and leaving a lipstick mark on Wen Huiyun’s bare lips.

A kiss stained red.

Ye Zhuoyan: “Do you change your phone wallpaper for the New Year?”

Wen Huiyun: ?

“Not yet.”

Ye Zhuoyan added another lipstick mark on Wen Huiyun’s cheek and took a selfie with her using the new phone.

Ye Zhuoyan: “Now you have a new wallpaper.”

Wen Huiyun covered her face, the corners of her mouth curling up.

How can my wife be like this?