The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 6

“…So, you’re saying you encountered a suspicious woman today at noon who had plastic surgery to look like Fourth Miss Shang, and you suspect she was deliberately sent by your rivals to get close to you, using a honey trap to set you up?”

Xie Mei repeated Wei Yixian’s words back to her after listening.

Wei Yixian didn’t respond, only giving her a look that said, “Figure it out yourself.”

Xie Mei: “…”

What kind of new corporate warfare tactic was this?

In the years she had followed Wei Yixian in the “succession battle,” what kind of schemes and corporate tactics hadn’t she seen? But using plastic surgery to mimic Wei Yixian’s late wife as a honey trap? That was a first, strangely refreshing.

Xie Mei couldn’t hold back her astonishment at the mastermind’s thought process: “What are they even trying to achieve?”

If Shang Shiqian had been Wei Yixian’s white moonlight, then this tactic of “substitute white moonlight rising to power” might have made sense. But Shang Shiqian wasn’t Wei Yixian’s white moonlight!

Who in the upper circles of Dongcheng didn’t know that Shang Shiqian and Wei Yixian were nothing more than strangers with a marriage certificate?

Even if someone had merely undergone surgery to resemble Shang Shiqian, let alone if the real Shang Shiqian suddenly appeared before Wei Yixian, there was no way Wei Yixian would fall for it at first sight!

Xie Mei said, “President Wei, with all due respect, the mastermind behind this can’t possibly be from the Wei family.”

Every member of the Wei family believed Wei Yixian had never gotten over her first love, Yin Zaishui. There were even rumors in Dongcheng’s elite circles that Wei Yixian had once leveraged the Shang family’s influence to help her father seize the Wei family’s inheritance rights, and after Shang Shiqian had outlived her usefulness, Wei Yixian had her removed to make way for Yin Zaishui.

The reason these were just rumors was that the logic didn’t hold. After all, even though Wei Yixian had helped her father secure the Wei family, she still had siblings eyeing the heir position. It wasn’t yet time for her to “kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”

Not only did she have no reason to harm Shang Shiqian, but she had also suffered the Shang family’s backlash, leading her father to “exile” her for years.

If not for her exceptional competence and ruthlessness, she might still be languishing in a subsidiary company.

But this also indirectly proved that there had never been any affection between Shang Shiqian and Wei Yixian had they shown even the slightest intimacy, even if just for show, the rumor mill would have spun a different tale.

So, what kind of fool had set up such a foolish scheme?

Wei Yixian said coolly, “Whether it is or isn’t depends on the evidence. I want the truth, not your speculation.”

Xie Mei nodded, then asked again, “Shouldn’t we investigate the Shang family?”

After all, since Shang Shiqian was involved, the Shang family was the most likely to have ties to this matter.

Wei Yixian replied firmly, “Shang Shiqian is the Shang family’s open wound. They wouldn’t do something so self-destructive.”

“Go handle your tasks. Report the investigation results to me as soon as possible.”

After Xie Mei left, Wei Yixian made a call: “Has she shown any unusual behavior?”

The bodyguard on the other end hesitated for a second before answering, “She’s acting extremely unusual.”

Wei Yixian’s expression darkened. “Explain.”

The bodyguard sounded as if he was struggling to articulate it: “Picking through trash… would that count as unusual?”

Wei Yixian: “…”

?

??

???

Dongcheng, near Huayang Park.

Shang Shiqian poked at a trash bin with a stick she had picked up.

Surrounded by passersby, she looked embarrassed and whispered to the system, “Do I really have to dig through the trash?”

[If the host wants money, she must retrieve that pillow.]

Shang Shiqian: “…”

Just now, something inexplicable happened—the Heartbreak Points suddenly jumped to 1%. The Black Moonlight System, as if injected with adrenaline, instantly came online: [Great news! The female lead has sent someone to investigate the white moonlight!]

Shang Shiqian didn’t understand: “Is this supposed to be some heartbreaking plot?”

[It means the female lead suspects the white moonlight’s motives for returning to the country. Suspicion is often the beginning of tragedy—isn’t that heartbreaking enough?]

Shang Shiqian: Fine, whatever.

She asked eagerly, “Then can you help me solve my identity issue now?”

[Ahem, no. To interfere with the world requires immense energy… For example, reviving you cost me 99% of my energy! Fabricating an identity for you and making your existence more plausible would require at least the same amount.]

Shang Shiqian wore a “Mom is very disappointed in you” expression: “Then what’s the point of you? You useless Illegitimate System—this Direct Line Host is about to sell you off along with the offline maps.”

[Host, I know you’re anxious, but don’t be. Even though I can’t solve your identity issue, I can help with your immediate predicament! I’ve detected cash in a nearby trash bin. Go pick it up, and you won’t have to worry about sleeping on the streets tonight.]

So, following the system’s guidance, Shang Shiqian made her way to the garbage sorting station.

Though Shang Shiqian wasn’t some delicate young lady who’d never lifted a finger, rummaging through trash was pushing the limits of her dignity.

The system: [You’re fine taste-testing for pigeons, but digging through trash is where you draw the line?]

Shang Shiqian had an epiphany: Fair point.

When survival is at stake, the boundaries of dignity can be flexible.

Under the strange gazes of passersby, Shang Shiqian successfully fished out over a hundred yuan in cash from a discarded pillow.

Great. Another heartbroken soul had just lost their secret stash.

To soothe their wounded heart, she’d reluctantly play the good Samaritan and spend all this money!

Shang Shiqian asked the system, “Any more? I want to do more good deeds and help more heartbroken people.”

After emitting an [Insufficient Energy] alert, the system went back into standby mode.

Shang Shiqian bought a bottle of water, then spent two yuan to take a bus to the stop near the Shang Family Estate. From there, she walked to the main gate.

The Shang Family Estate was built by the largest lake in the eastern city, occupying an entire ten-thousand-acre mountain. Several buildings were scattered across the summit and halfway up the slope.

However, aside from being a private residence, it was also a tourist attraction—though the Shang Family’s actual estate only covered a hundred acres.

Shang Shiqian returned with a mix of nervousness and excitement, but she’d forgotten that eight years had passed—and the place had changed quite a bit.

—She was stopped at the foot of the mountain because she couldn’t buy a ticket.

Shang Shiqian was stunned.

Wait, wasn’t this attraction supposed to be free, with only the cable car requiring payment?

Even if tickets were required now, she could afford the twenty-yuan fee but why did it have to be real-name registered?

She asked the ticket seller, “Do members of the Shang Family also need to buy tickets to go home?”

The ticket seller eyed her warily but, seeing her innocent expression, replied, “The Shang Family has their own private road up the mountain.”

After some more inquiries, Shang Shiqian finally learned that a few years ago, the scenic area had undergone a major upgrade. Since the Shang family’s original gate was adjacent to the newly built road at the foot of the mountain, a highly convenient location for the scenic area, the management negotiated with the family. The Shangs relinquished their gate and road to the scenic area and used the compensation land to construct a new road instead.

Shang Shiqian crouched outside the scenic area entrance and let out a deep sigh.

So, the dethroned emperor was me all along!

–

The bodyguard reported Shang Shiqian’s movements to Wei Yixian in meticulous detail.

Wei Yixian: “…”

Where on earth did the mastermind dig up such an attention-seeking fool?

She then called Xie Mei and asked, “Have you found anything about Shang Shiyu?”

Xie Mei came over in person and said with a serious expression, “President Wei, we haven’t uncovered any information yet.”

Wei Yixian wasn’t the least bit surprised. “Is it that you haven’t found anything, or that you can’t find anything?”

Xie Mei sighed helplessly. “We can’t find anything. Among all the people named ‘Shang Shiyu’ in the country, male or female, none match the person in the photo. Running a facial recognition search only yields one result.”

“…Shang Shiqian.”

“Exactly.”

A cold glint flashed in Wei Yixian’s eyes. “That can only mean one thing, ‘Shang Shiyu’ doesn’t exist. She’s a fake, and that face was sculpted through plastic surgery.”

Though she had already guessed this outcome, Wei Yixian’s mood didn’t improve because of it.

She said, “Send people to investigate plastic surgery hospitals and clinics nationwide. If she went under the knife, there must be records.”

Xie Mei hesitated. “That might take a considerable amount of time.”

“It’s fine. Take your time.” Wei Yixian suddenly wasn’t in a hurry anymore.

Whoever was behind this had gone to great lengths to set things up, which meant they wouldn’t act rashly. She had already decided to play this game, slowly.

–

The sky was painted in a dazzling array of sunset hues, and the last remnants of twilight were swallowed by the horizon.

Having failed to spot any members of the Shang family, Shang Shiqian smacked a mosquito sucking blood from her arm and stood up, dusting off her pants as she prepared to find a place to stay that didn’t require ID.

There were plenty of hotels and apartments nearby, but unfortunately, no one dared to check her in.

Suddenly, inspiration struck Shang Shiqian: I can go to the police station!

Even if I’m an undocumented person, isn’t it true that you can turn to the police for help?

Just as she was about to take the bus to the nearest station, a car slowly pulled to a stop in front of her.

Shang Shiqian eyed its golden, fluorescent glow under the streetlight and muttered to her system: This driver has no manners—parking in the bus lane like this.

Then, the rear window rolled down, revealing Wei Yixian’s face.

Shang Shiqian tried to summon a look of shock… but failed.

Well, first time’s awkward, second time’s familiar. She wasn’t going to be startled by Wei Yixian’s sudden appearances anymore.

“Wei—” She nearly blurted out Wei Yixian’s name but abruptly remembered her persona as someone from the mountains who knew nothing about the Shang family or Wei Yixian. She quickly corrected herself: “…Hey, you can’t park here.”

Wei Yixian stared at her intently before finally saying, “I have no manners.”

Shang Shiqian felt an inexplicable pang of guilt: Does Wei Yixian know I was just badmouthing her? Can she read minds?

This had to be a coincidence!

She gave Wei Yixian a thumbs-up and praised, “You embody the fine traditional virtues of our Xia nation—honesty.”

Wei Yixian let out a cold laugh.

She shot Shang Shiqian an icy glare: “Get in the car.”

Shang Shiqian felt uneasy: [She’s become so unfamiliar, so domineering, so bizarre!]

But the system and humans didn’t share the same emotions. It urged: [Host, get in quickly! This is how you start winning her over!]

Shang Shiqian: [Are you sure this isn’t the opening scene for a true crime documentary: “Mysterious Disappearance of Young Girl in Unmarked Vehicle”?]

Wei Yixian: “…”

Behind them, a bus honked impatiently as the private car blocked its lane.

Losing patience, Wei Yixian got out and opened the car door herself: “Get in.”

Being a civilized person, Shang Shiqian couldn’t withstand the pressure from the bus’s incessant honking and obediently entered the vehicle.

CEO Wei: Suspicious woman. Pick her up. Keep her where I can watch her.

Shang Four: Yay, I’ve got a place to stay now.

“I know you’re anxious, but don’t be anxious yet” — internet meme.

“Illegitimate System, Direct Line Host” internet meme.

The “needing tickets to go home” concept was inspired by the last emperor of Qing Dynasty.

Regarding the private estate spanning hundreds of acres since this is a world derived from fiction, such novelistic settings are considered normal here.

While Wei’s background check would be illegal in reality, in this fictional world’s setting it’s perfectly legal. Remember to distinguish between fiction and reality!

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