The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 48

Li Xiao stepped out of the restaurant and spotted Shang Shidai absentmindedly chewing on an ice cream stick. She walked over and nudged her. “What are you spacing out for?”

Shang Shidai snapped back to reality and mumbled, “Finished eating?”

“Talking with an ice cream stick in your mouth? It’s not a cigarette,” Li Xiao remarked. “I’m the big boss, how could I sit through the whole meal and small talk? That’d be a total role reversal! A proper boss shows up on time, leaves early, and picks up the tab.”

Shang Shidai had no interest in dissecting workplace etiquette. “I’m heading back,” she said.

Li Xiao stopped her. “Hold on! I’m planning to shoot free short dramas to boost engagement and promote a few accounts and newcomers. Wanna lend me some props?”

“What props could I possibly have for you?” Shang Shidai waved the ice cream stick. “This?”

“Your paintings!” Li Xiao gave her a once-over and waggled her eyebrows. “And maybe a few cameos, how about it?”

“Sure. Five thousand a day no, five thousand an hour.”

If a substitute Go player could charge five thousand an hour for lessons, it was only fair for a renowned artist like her to name that price!

Li Xiao waved her off. “Bye-bye then.”

Shang Shidai shot her a look. “What, my time isn’t worth that much?”

“I only pay Fu Qianzhong twenty thousand per episode.”

“Fu Qianzhong… that ‘newcomer’ who’s been in the industry for ten years?”

Shang Shidai rarely followed entertainment news, but she had recently caught an actor talent show while watching TV with her grandmother.

Fu Qianzhong was one of the contestants.

She debuted at eighteen and had appeared in numerous films and TV shows, but always in minor roles never even making it to the second female lead.

She joined the show as a “newcomer,” earning her the mocking nickname from anti-fans: “Ten years in the industry, yet still a newcomer.”

Though meant as an insult, she embraced it openly, even joking about it in interviews.

Her cheerful, unbothered attitude won people over, gradually gaining her more supporters online. She gained some popularity and even built a small fanbase.

Shang Shidai frowned. “Didn’t she blow up? Why is she doing short dramas now?”

Though she didn’t follow the industry closely, Li Xiao’s constant chatter had taught her one thing: actors who usually starred in films or TV dramas risked being labeled as “slumming it” if they took on short dramas or web series.

The entertainment world had its own hierarchy:

Film actors looked down on TV actors, who in turn looked down on web and short drama actors.

A film star switching to TV would be mocked for downgrading their status and resources.

A TV actor moving to web dramas would be ridiculed as washed-up and lowbrow.

Only recently, as short dramas gained traction and profits lured investors and celebrities into the field, had this stigma begun to fade.

“That’s just a small spark she still needs more fuel to really catch fire!” Li Xiao said.

In recent years, MCN agencies had created plenty of “gods” in livestream sales and short videos. Fu Qianzhong wanted to leverage their influence to rise further, while Li Xiao aimed to grow her own business and boost her girlfriend’s career along the way. It was a win-win.

Shang Shidai shrugged. “You can borrow the paintings, but no cameos. My time is way too precious!”

Li Xiao laughed. “Precious? You spend all day hanging around Wei Yixian’s Caged Canary, what trying to poach her?”

Shang Shidai’s face darkened. “What are you talking about? Let me clarify two things. First, she is not Wei Yixian’s Caged Canary. Second, I don’t have those kinds of feelings for her. Don’t let me catch you having any dirty thoughts, or I won’t let you off easy.”

Li Xiao rarely saw her so serious and knew some jokes shouldn’t be made.

“My bad, I’ll definitely keep my mouth locked tight from now on.”

–

Even though Shang Shidai now denied the rumors about Wei Yixian keeping a Caged Canary, the impact of her initial revelation in front of high-society elites continued to spread throughout East City.

However, as time passed, some had already discovered that the “Caged Canary” was not Yin Zaishui, the consultant from Zhou Ran Group.

To satisfy their voyeuristic curiosity, they began digging into the identity of the “Caged Canary.”

To their disappointment, not a single person could uncover who it was.

Only employees from Wei Group revealed that on the day of the airshow, Wei Yixian had brought an “intern” to the opening ceremony.

But HR found that Wei Group didn’t have such an “intern” at all.

The accompanying name had been added by Xie Mei and it was a fake one!

Others tried to identify the Caged Canary by tracking luxury cars entering and leaving East City University, but while there were plenty of high-end vehicles, none belonged to Wei Yixian.

When the wealthy socialites gathered for parties, afternoon tea, or cocktail events, they whispered among themselves:

“Maybe no one was dug up because Wei Yixian isn’t keeping a Caged Canary? She doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

“Impossible. Li Xiao mentioned before that her Caged Canary was at East City University, and the fifth child of the Shang family even went there to make a scene.”

“Either Wei Yixian got scared of the Shangs and sent the Caged Canary away, or her first love came back, and she cut ties with the Caged Canary for her sake.”

Someone said, “You all think it’s a Caged Canary, but I think it’s true love.”

The crowd burst into laughter. “True love? Yin Zaishui is back any ‘true love’ would have to step aside for her.”

Another asked, “If you say it’s true love, what’s your proof?”

“Wei Yixian is protecting this person’s identity so meticulously, which means she genuinely doesn’t want the outside world to know who she is. You all remember what happened to Shang Shiqian back then. The fact that she’s going to such lengths to protect this Caged Canary proves she values her deeply and doesn’t want her in any danger.”

The room fell silent at these words.

After a moment, a young heir muttered awkwardly, “Why bring up Shang Si?”

Seeing the mood turn cold, someone quickly changed the subject.

But others discreetly pulled out their phones and sent messages.

Thus, on Wei Yixian’s first day back from sick leave, Wei Yongkun summoned her to the chairman’s office.

Since handing the company over to Wei Yixian, he had either been dining and meeting with political and business associates or busy with his love life.

Apart from shareholder meetings and board sessions, he rarely returned to the company.

His sudden return and immediate call for Wei Yixian made everyone assume something major had happened. Ears perked up, and people scrambled to gather intel.

In the chairman’s office, Wei Yongkun had his assistant lay out a row of designer bags.

“Pick one,” he said to Wei Yixian.

Wei Yixian replied indifferently, “I don’t know your girlfriend’s preferences. You’re the one dating her, you’d know best.”

“Who said I only gave it to her?” Wei Yongkun said. “Pick one for yourself, one for Yihui, and wrap up another one. I’ll take it to your mother when I visit Garden Country next week.”

Wei Yixian selected one and set it aside.

Wei Yongkun didn’t understand her intention.

She said, “This is my gift for Mom. You can deliver it for me when you go.”

Wei Yongkun laughed in exasperation: “Can’t you choose your own mother’s gift?”

Wei Yixian couldn’t suppress the itch in her throat. After coughing, she replied, “If you came here just for this matter, then I have nothing more to say.”

Wei Yongkun stopped laughing and rapped his knuckles on the table. “Why did you halt the Zhou Ran Group acquisition? And why replace the investment bank and accounting firm? Do you realize how much preliminary work your decision has wasted?”

Before Wei Yixian could respond, he launched into another tirade: “Back when you boasted about swallowing Zhou Ran Group whole, I defended you at the board meeting to get this acquisition approved. Now you pause it on a whim, change financial advisors as you please, do you really think this company is yours alone? I’m not dead yet!”

Wei Yixian shot a dark look at his assistant. “Leave us.”

Wei Yongkun’s assistant hesitated, looking at his boss for confirmation until receiving a nod.

Once they were alone, Wei Yixian explained, “I suspended the acquisition because there are still unresolved issues. As for changing the investment bank and accounting firm they failed in their duties as financial advisors. They didn’t conduct proper due diligence on Zhou Ran Group’s financials and performance reports. If we complete the acquisition only to discover massive losses, holding them accountable afterward would be pointless. Why shouldn’t I replace them?”

Despite her persistent coughing and phlegm, her firm words cooled Wei Yongkun’s initial fury.

He questioned, “This isn’t about your first love, is it?”

Wei Yixian countered, “Are you referring to Wei Yiwu, Wei Yizhu, Wei Yihao, or Wei Yihui?”

Wei Yongkun scoffed. “They’re your siblings.”

“If they attempt sabotage, they become my enemies.”

Wei Yongkun snorted disapprovingly and changed subjects. “Are you seeing someone? When will you bring them home?”

Unlike his warning tone during their last phone call, his attitude had shifted now that he knew the “Caged Canary” wasn’t Yin Zaishui.

After all, the Shang family only objected to Wei Yixian rekindling things with Yin Zaishui, they never expected her to remain “widowed” forever.

In fact, the Shangs would prefer her to marry quickly, so people would stop dragging Shang Shiqian into discussions about her love life.

Wei Yixian stated, “I won’t bring her home, nor will I introduce her to any of you. Don’t bother investigating who she is, what her background is, or whether she has exploitable value.”

“How dare you speak to your father like this?”

Wei Yixian coughed several times. “My throat hasn’t healed. My words may sound harsh.”

Wei Yongkun: …

When had his daughter become so much better at verbal sparring?

Not the blunt confrontations of before, but needling remarks laced with hidden barbs.

He said, “You’ve declined multiple family gatherings this past month. The day after tomorrow is your grandfather’s death anniversary, the media will be watching closely. You know the consequences of absence.”

In the evening, before the sun had fully set in the west, dark clouds surged in from the southeast.

Lightning seemed to hide within the thick layers of clouds, occasionally flashing with white light.

It looked like another heavy storm was coming.

Good thing I brought an umbrella.

Shang Shiqian thought absentmindedly as she stepped out of the Go Room.

Suddenly, she spotted Wei Yixian standing in front of the bulletin board in the lobby, seemingly reading the notices.

Even though the other person wasn’t even facing her directly, Shang Shiqian recognized her immediately.

Wei Yixian stood sideways to her, wearing a wide-brimmed white cotton crocheted hat, with most of her face covered by a mask, leaving only her eyes visible.

She wore a sleeveless mock-neck top paired with a utility skirt.

If Shang Shiqian hadn’t been so accustomed to her silhouette, she might have mistaken her for a student from the school.

“Wei!” Shang Shiqian had just started to call out when Wei Yixian turned toward her and gestured for silence.

Shang Shiqian’s heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed the rest of the name.

Only when Wei Yixian walked up to her did she whisper, “Wei Yixian?”

“Mm.” Wei Yixian nodded slightly.

“What are you doing?” Shang Shiqian asked uncertainly.

Wei Yixian replied, “Don’t want to draw too much attention.”

Shang Shiqian suddenly understood. “Why are you off work so early today? And why are you here?”

“Can’t I leave early and come pick you up?”

Shang Shiqian’s heart seemed to miss a beat. “You can, but…”

Wei Yixian took her hand. “Then it’s fine. Let’s go.”

Shang Shiqian still didn’t quite get what was going on with her, but dwelling on it wouldn’t help.

She matched Wei Yixian’s pace, walking side by side, when suddenly an idea struck her. “If you don’t want people to know who you are, I can’t call you by your name. Should I give you a codename instead?”

Thinking of the name she had given her cat, Wei Yixian politely declined. “You can just call me by my given name… without the surname.”

Shang Shiqian was a little disappointed. “I was going to call you Enceladus.”

Wei Yixian’s lips twitched. “Should I be relieved that your naming conventions have finally moved beyond Go and into the cosmos?”

Shang Shiqian giggled, “Gah gah gah,” before suddenly realizing something was off. “How did you know most of my names are Go-related?”

Wei Yixian thought to herself from the Treasure Pavilion to the cat named Lanke, which of those names wasn’t tied to Go?

“Just a guess.” Knowing that Shang Shiqian could be quite sharp at times, Wei Yixian changed the subject. “Why Enceladus? Is it because I’m the second?”

“Because you’re like Enceladus covered in ice on the surface, but with hot springs beneath.”

Behind the mask, Wei Yixian’s lips curled slightly.

But her words were blunt and devoid of romance. “Are you calling me uncool?”

“You don’t like it? Then Europa, Deimos, Umbriel, Triton… pick one?”

“Does it have to be the second?”

“You are the second.”

“So Enceladus is because you think I’m both uncool and second-rate?”

Shang Shiqian: “…”

Round and round, they ended up back where they started.

The system suddenly chimed in: [Host, quick! Say you want to be Saturn, so she’ll revolve around you!]

Shang Shiqian ignored Little Black System and said, “Actually, Enceladus doesn’t suit you that well. You should be Tengen!”

Wei Yixian looked at her. “So, capturing me means capturing Tengen?”

Shang Shiqian’s eyelid twitched.

I can’t help but feel Wei Yixian’s words carried a double meaning.

Her greatest regret was never winning the “Tianyuan” championship.

If this second chance at life could make up for that regret, then claiming Tianyuan would naturally become her goal.

Yet the system’s purpose was for her to romance Wei Yixian the energy gained from this would sustain her chance to rectify that regret.

So “winning Wei Yixian” would mean gaining the opportunity to “win Tianyuan.”

This thought only flashed through Shang Shiqian’s mind for a few seconds before she quickly dismissed it.

Suddenly, Shang Shiqian felt raindrops hitting her hand.

Looking up, the dark clouds that had previously only occupied the southeastern corner had now rolled in without her noticing.

Hurriedly taking out a folding umbrella from her backpack, Shang Shiqian opened it.

Yet Wei Yixian’s gaze fell on her bag as she asked, “What’s that?”

Following her line of sight, Shang Shiqian saw the amber crystal bracelet.

“A crystal bracelet.”

“Who gave it to you?”

Shang Shiqian was shocked. “How did you know it was a gift?”

Wei Yixian didn’t answer, but the hand holding Shang Shiqian’s moved slightly.

Her thumb brushed lightly against Shang Shiqian’s wrist.

“You never considered buying yourself bracelets when shopping last time,” she said. “I’ve never seen you wear any jewelry either, so you probably don’t have the habit. People without that habit don’t suddenly buy bracelets for themselves.”

“Can’t hide anything from you.” Shang Shiqian admitted truthfully, “Chen Yixun gave it to me. Said it brings safety and relieves fatigue.”

Wei Yixian narrowed her eyes slightly but remained silent.

As the rain intensified, they exited the school gates and ducked into the car Pu Feifei often used to pick Shang Shiqian up.

“Sister Pu, you’re driving Ah Xian again today?”

Pu Feifei froze for half a second, almost not recognizing who “Ah Xian” referred to.

“Huh? Oh…”

Wei Yixian turned to look at Shang Shiqian.

Meeting her gaze, Shang Shiqian explained, “If you don’t like me calling you ‘Wei Two,’ then I’ll just use your name.”

Wei Yixian turned away, looking out the car window.

After a long pause, her muffled voice came through the mask: “Mm.”

Wei CEO: Today I’m Wei Two trying to have a low-key date.

Shang Four: A date that can’t see daylight is called a secret rendezvous.

Pu Feifei: No need to cook dinner – already full from all this dog food.

Support