The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 11

The vendor dropped Shang Shiqian and another girl off under a tree in a street alley, then handed them two small stools, saying thoughtfully, “It’s cool here. Take your time and enjoy.”

Seeing the vendor about to leave, the girl quickly asked, “Hey, boss, where are you going?”

The vendor replied, “I’m going to collect the tables and chairs.”

“But what about these two stools?”

The vendor drove off, his cheerful voice carried by the wind: “Just leave them here. I’ll come back for them later. You can stay or leave after you finish eating, it’s up to you.”

Shang Shiqian: “…”

The girl: “…”

They exchanged glances and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The girl said, “I guess chasing after a spicy hot pot cart together counts as bonding. Let’s be friends! I’m Chen Yixun, a student at Dongcheng University.”

Shang Shiqian: “E-God?”

The girl instantly caught her drift and laughed. “I’m the number one, and ‘Xun’ as in ‘medal.'”

Shang Shiqian also chuckled. “I’m Shang Shi Yu. ‘Shang’ as in Shang Yang, and ‘Shi Yu’ as in ‘Time Waits for No One.'”

Chen Yixun immediately perked up. “You’re from the Shang family?”

Shang Shiqian countered, “Why is your first thought that I’m connected to the Shang family?”

Chen Yixun said, “Well, you’re near the Shang family’s area, and you’re also part of the ‘Shi’ generation, what a coincidence!” Her train of thought paused for half a second before she corrected herself, “Wait, no, I don’t think there’s anyone in the Shang family with that name!”

Shang Shiqian smiled. “Seems like you know the Shang family well.”

At this, Chen Yixun clearly warmed up to the topic.

“Who in Dongcheng doesn’t know the Shang family? And, well, I might as well admit it, I’m an orphan. I was lucky enough to receive funding from the Phoenix Education Foundation to finish high school and get into university. Thanks to their scholarships, I’m doing pretty well now. As for the Phoenix Group, being a Fortune 500 company, I probably don’t need to say more, right?”

Shang Shiqian nodded with a smile.

The Phoenix Group was a company founded by her grandmother, Shang Yufeng, and her great-aunt, Shang Yu Huang. It started as a small shipyard but later expanded into a major conglomerate covering aviation, transportation, energy, education, and more.

However, her grandmother prioritized education and scientific research, so she handed the company over to her great-aunt early on and personally donated a billion yuan to co-establish the Phoenix Education Foundation with the education department.

Chen Yixun continued, “But the person I admire most is Madam Shang Yufeng. Not only did she dedicate herself to supporting Xia’s education sector, but she also raised two outstanding scientific talents her eldest daughter, Shang Yunyu, is an expert in aviation manufacturing technology and a consultant professor at Jiaotong University. Her second daughter, Shang Yunpei, is even more impressive, she’s an academician at the Academy of Engineering.”

Chen Yixun rattled off the Shang family members’ social statuses and achievements as if reciting a well-rehearsed script.

Shang Shiqian didn’t interrupt her. Her understanding of the Shang family was outdated. Over the past eight years, everyone had moved forward, and she didn’t dare claim she knew them better than outsiders based on old memories.

“Shang Yunyu’s eldest daughter, the one we call the Shang heiress, Shang Shixing.”

Before Chen Yixun could finish, a voice cut in: “Hey, why is Shang Shixing the Shang heiress? Shouldn’t the heiress be the CEO of the Phoenix Group?”

Shang Shiqian turned her head and noticed several young people sitting under the tree behind them, enjoying the shade. Judging by their attire, they were likely tourists visiting the area.

Chen Yixun didn’t seem to mind being overheard. She said, “Madam Shang Yufeng’s branch of the family doesn’t live with Shang Yu Huang’s branch. To distinguish between the descendants of these two branches, the Phoenix Group refers to them as ‘princesses.’”

Shang Shiqian cringed so hard she could practically dig her toes into the ground.

Just yesterday, she had mocked Wei Yixian for being domineering, but her own family took it to another level princesses, young mistresses, the whole lot.

The tourists suddenly understood. “Go on,” they urged.

“Where was I?”

“The eldest Shang daughter.”

Chen Yixun nodded. “Ah, right. The eldest Shang daughter was also a top student at the Aeronautical University, but she didn’t pursue a career in research. Instead, she entered the civil aviation industry. Two years ago, she even succeeded Madam Shang Yufeng as the chairperson of the Phoenix Education Foundation.”

One of the tourists interrupted, “Hey, is she married?”

Shang Shiqian glanced sideways. Why did they seem more interested in her elder sister’s personal life than her career?

Though she cared too, it was from a familial standpoint they, however, seemed driven by mere curiosity.

Chen Yixun, oblivious to the awkwardness, replied, “She is married and has two daughters.”

The tourists looked astonished. “Really? All daughters?!”

Their reaction finally made even the thick-skinned Chen Yixun feel a little uncomfortable.

One tourist muttered, “I heard there’s a rumor in Dongcheng about a ‘curse’ on the Shang family, that they can only bear daughters for generations, so the Shang family in Dongcheng passes inheritance through women, only taking in sons-in-law and never marrying daughters out.”

The spicy hotpot vendor, who had returned to collect his stools, chimed in bluntly, “That’s because, to secure the status and inheritance rights of the women in the family, the Shang patriarchs of past generations would quietly dispose of newborn boys. Over time, the rumor spread that the Shang family was cursed to only have daughters. Later, when same-sex marriage became legal and that Parthenogenesis Technology came along even women could bear daughters together. So whether it’s a curse or man-made, no one can verify it now.”

The vendor’s words instantly ruined whatever goodwill Shang Shiqian and Chen Yixun had previously felt toward him.

Chen Yixun said angrily, “Boss, stop spreading nonsense!”

The vendor shrugged. “It’s an old secret that’s been passed down not something I made up.”

Shang Shiqian sighed. The authorities could control online rumors, but it was nearly impossible to stop people from spreading them privately.

She stood up to leave.

Chen Yixun didn’t want to stay either and hurried after her. “Hey, wait for me!”

After throwing away their trash, Chen Yixun asked, “I still don’t know which school you’re from. Or are you already working?”

Shang Shiqian replied, “I was at Xiadong Normal University, but I dropped out.”

After being dead for so many years, the university certainly wouldn’t have kept her enrollment records.

“Why drop out?” For Chen Yixun, who had grown up in an orphanage and worked hard to get into university, the opportunity to study was precious. She couldn’t understand why anyone would give it up.

Shang Shiqian couldn’t explain, so she just smiled and said, “I should head back soon. Thanks for sharing all those stories with me today.”

“Let’s add each other as friends?” Chen Yixun pulled out her phone.

Shang Shiqian patted her pockets. “I didn’t bring my phone with me.”

Chen Yixun recalled that she had paid for the spicy hot pot in cash, so he regretfully put away his phone.

Shang Shiqian seemed to have thought of something, pausing mid-step before suddenly turning back to ask, “I remember East City University has special admissions for Go masters, right?”

Chen Yixun was taken aback for a moment before replying, “Yeah, but our school only has two high-ranking professional players currently enrolled. There are more low-ranking and amateur players who didn’t get in through special admissions. Do you like Go?”

“Yep,” Shang Shiqian admitted with a smile, then asked, “Can outsiders go in to play?”

“Sure. Our school has a Go club and a dedicated Go Room. Even students who aren’t in the club can go there to play.” Meeting Shang Shiqian’s sparkling eyes, she hesitated before adding, “If you want to go play, I can take you there another day?”

Having achieved her goal, Shang Shiqian happily said, “Thank you!”

Since they didn’t have each other’s contact information, Chen Yixun set a time with her: “I have classes tomorrow morning and won’t be free until the afternoon. You can wait for me at the convenience store near the east gate at 2 PM.”

Shang Shiqian beamed: “I’ll definitely be on time!”

–

After returning to Tianhao Garden, Shang Shiqian borrowed a tablet to catch up on recent Go-related news.

Wei Yixian didn’t come back for dinner, and though Shang Shiqian was curious about where she had gone, she didn’t bother asking the tight-lipped maids.

It wasn’t until past ten, when she was about to go to bed, that she heard a car pull in.

Perhaps because Wei Yixian’s return had recharged the system, it suddenly came online and began screaming in her mind, writhing in dark, twisted frenzy: [Ahhh! What are you doing? What have you been up to all day? Why has the original plot progression increased?!]

Shang Shiqian: [Huh? What’s original plot progression?]

The system: [If you don’t work on winning over the female lead, events will continue unfolding according to the original story, which is terrible for our mission!]

Shang Shiqian asked: [And then?]

The system continued its screaming and writhing: [Aren’t you curious why the female lead is back so late? Do you know what she was doing? She had a candlelit dinner with her white moonlight! She even accepted a birthday gift from them! Damn it, I thought we’d avoided this plot point yesterday, but it somehow got back on track!]

Shang Shiqian remained unfazed: [See? I told you, no matter what I do, it just brings them closer.]

The system fumed with frustration: [Go seduce her! Do you know how to seduce someone? If not, I’ll send you a tutorial.]

Shang Shiqian: What kind of underworld nonsense is this?

Truly befitting of the Black Moonlight System, its dark, negative image had instantly become vividly clear!

[I’ve sent you the tutorial. Remember to seduce her.] Having delivered its instructions, the system logged off again due to low energy.

Downstairs in the garage.

The bodyguard who had been following Shang Shiqian all day was already waiting. After the driver left, he stepped forward to report.

Suddenly, Wei Yixian raised a hand to stop him: “Go rest for today. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Knowing her no-nonsense personality, the bodyguard obeyed and left.

Wei Yixian sat alone in the car for a while, processing the conversation between the system and “Shang Shiyu,” before finally getting out and heading inside.

Mini Theater:

When CEO Wei walks past Shang Si eight hundred times in one night.

Shang Si: What are you doing?

Wei Zong: Didn’t you want to seduce me? I’m giving you the chance.

Shang Si: ?

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