The Salted Fish And Protagonist A Ended Up Together - Chapter 29.1

Lin Tanwei’s fingers twitched slightly as she nodded. “Alright.”

The matter was settled. Pei Ting didn’t show it on her face, but she felt a bit nervous deep down.

Wen Mian, on the other hand, was quite relaxed. She lay on her bed scrolling through her phone. Xu Qing was right, the trending topics were indeed about Song Xue.

[Breaking! Artist surnamed Song taken away!]

[Breaking! Surnamed Song claims she was acting under her manager’s orders!]

Below were the roaring voices of the public:

“Is the entertainment industry really this filthy? I’m shocked!” “This is truly a dog eat dog situation. Wen Mian is so pitiful!” “I feel so bad for Wen Mian. What kind of people are these?!” “But if Song Xue says her manager ordered it, does that mean other artists were framed too?” “…Terrifying. I can’t imagine how many people have been wronged because of them.” “Investigate thoroughly! The company too! I don’t believe for a second that the company wasn’t involved!” “Plus one!”

Wen Mian felt a bit uneasy. Like the netizens said, how heartbroken must those who were framed be? Even if they are cleared now, they can never get those years of their lives back.

The only thing worth celebrating was that this cancer had finally received its due retribution.

She put down her phone and closed her eyes for a nap, but the storm online only grew larger.

The public’s call for a strict investigation yielded results quickly. This was largely thanks to Pei Ting and Lin Tanwei, who had begun investigating Song Xue’s company long ago.

Harmonious on the surface, they had secretly been acquiring shares and then dumping them, making their rivals believe the stock was unstable so they wouldn’t have the energy to hide their dirty secrets. Once they collected the evidence, they reported it immediately, allowing law enforcement to close the net so rapidly.

When the stock crash was reported, the men with big bellies all had bitter faces, but before they could even react, law enforcement was at their door.

“Hello, we have found evidence of illegal activities. Please come with us for investigation!”

The moment the badges were shown, the group collapsed to the floor. They had only one thought. It’s over! Everything is over!

When the frontline reporters sent out photos, the reaction was a chorus of cheers.

“Great! Finally arrested! Reading about what they did made me feel sick!” “Exactly! My poor little O… I didn’t think there would still be fish slipping through the net with such strict protections. We need to strengthen our safeguards!” “Yes, those are real human lives!” “I hope the punishment is severe. Best if they get physically castrated!!! These people are worse than beasts!” “I agree!” “+1… +10086!”

The online clamor didn’t bother Wen Mian. By the time she woke up, it was already 4:00 PM.

Stretching, Wen Mian looked around with hazy eyes before remembering she wasn’t at work anymore.

She checked her phone casually; the situation had developed to the point where Song Xue’s company had been acquired by the Wen Group, expanding the Wen family’s empire once again.

After washing up, Wen Mian headed downstairs. Auntie Li saw her and immediately gave a kind smile. “Hello, Little Miss. Would you like some mango sago?”

A flash of joy lit up Wen Mian’s eyes, and she gave a sweet smile. “Yes, please!”

“Coming right up!” Auntie Li hurried toward the kitchen. “I’ll go get it. Please have a seat, Little Miss.”

Wen Mian nodded. Wen Rong and Pei Shuran were nowhere to be seen in the living room, so she breathed a sigh of relief, curled up on the sofa, and turned on the TV.

The TV was playing a “childish and innocent” cartoon. Wen Mian watched and laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

Auntie Li placed the mango sago on the table in front of her with a soft call, “Here it is!”

Wen Mian picked up the bowl and took a spoonful. The sago pearls popped in her mouth, blending with the sweet texture of the mango. It was delicious.

She narrowed her eyes happily, swinging her small feet left and right, and gave a big thumbs up. “Delicious! Your cooking is the best, Auntie Li!”

Auntie Li watched her kindly and waved a hand dismissively. “You’re too kind. By the way, is there anything special you’d like for dinner?”

Wen Mian tilted her head with the spoon in her mouth and said softly, “I kind of want braised beef noodles.”

Auntie Li smiled. “Alright then, braised beef noodles it is for tonight.”

Wen Mian took another expectant mouthful of mango sago and nodded.

As Auntie Li busied herself with dinner, Wen Mian ate her dessert and watched TV. Gradually, the aroma of beef wafted from the kitchen. Wen Mian sniffed the air, her mouth watering.

After a while, the doorbell rang. Wen Mian turned her head to see two unfamiliar women walking in.

One wore a wine red long dress. Her fox-like eyes lacked Wen Mian’s usual allure, carrying instead a faint sense of detachment. The other was in a black suit, standing tall and straight, her peripheral vision constantly drifting toward the woman beside her.

Wen Mian froze for a moment, then hesitantly waved a greeting: “Hello?”

Pei Ting walked over gracefully and sat beside her. She stared at Wen Mian for a while, then suddenly smiled. “Sister…”

She chewed on the word “sister” as if it were something interesting.

Wen Mian swallowed and responded, “Sister…”

Though it was a word for a stranger, the moment it left her mouth, it felt incredibly natural.

Pei Ting nodded with a smile and turned to Lin Tanwei to introduce her: “This is my special assistant, Lin Tanwei. She is also family. You can call her sister, too.”

Wen Mian looked at Lin Tanwei. Unlike Pei Ting’s feigned coldness or Gu Man’s aloof elegance, Lin Tanwei gave off a bone-chilling coldness. Her gaze was indifferent and emotionless except for the moment she looked at Pei Ting, when it became gentle and burning with intensity.

Wen Mian’s eyes flickered as she realized the situation. She nodded to Lin Tanwei and called out with a smile, “Hello, Sister. I’m Wen Mian.”

Lin Tanwei nodded. “Hello.”

For a moment, the three ran out of topics and waited quietly for Wen Rong and Pei Shuran to return for dinner.

The moment Wen Rong entered, the awkward atmosphere vanished. Pei Ting took the things from her hand and said softly, “Mama.” After a pause, she turned to Pei Shuran. “Mother.”

The two nodded and greeted Lin Tanwei. “Tanwei is here.”

Lin Tanwei hummed. “Hello, Auntie.”

Auntie Li walked out with a smile. “Everyone is back! Let’s eat.”

Wen Rong put her arm around Wen Mian’s shoulder and guided her toward the dining table, whispering, “Mianmian, why don’t you sit with Mama?”

Wen Mian naturally agreed.

After dinner, as the long day came to a close, Wen Mian walked back to her room with the other three following silently behind her.

Awkwardly pushing the door open, Wen Mian was about to close it when Wen Rong suddenly stopped her. “Mianmian, wait!”

Wen Mian gave a puzzled “Hm?” and turned to look at the three, as if asking: Is something the matter?

Wen Rong took Wen Mian’s hand, hung a bag on it, then squeezed her hand and patted it reassuringly. “To celebrate your return, this is a gift from Mama and Mother.”

Caught off guard, Wen Mian looked down at the paper bag. A strange feeling welled up in her heart, it was like accidentally biting into an unripe persimmon: incredibly tart and astringent.

She cleared her throat and after a long silence, replied: “Thank you.”

She wanted to say more, but it seemed there was nothing else to say besides “thank you.”

Wen Rong kindly withdrew her hand, a trace of disappointment and sadness hidden in her eyes. “Mama is going back to her room now.”

Wen Mian watched silently as Pei Shuran put an arm around Wen Rong and led her away, her fingertips lightly clutching the hem of her clothes.

Pei Ting stepped forward and quietly placed another gift by Wen Mian’s door. She said, “No need to feel embarrassed. You just need to remember, you have always been our pride.”

With that, without waiting for a response, she turned and left, her dress cutting a sharp arc in the air.

Wen Mian stood dazed for a moment, then bent down to pick up the paper bags and slowly walked into her room.

Sitting cross-legged to open the gifts, Wen Mian’s eyes lit up. The three items were all things she liked. A vinyl record, a black card tucked inside, and a necklace adorned with a galaxy of stars.

Wen Mian’s fingers carefully traced the record, filled with a myriad of emotions.

She placed the items carefully on her nightstand and went into the bathroom, letting the warm water wash away her scattered thoughts.

When she came out, she turned on the record player. A soothing melody filled the room.

Her phone “dinged.” Wen Mian opened her eyes and checked it, it was someone she didn’t expect.

Gu Man? Why is she messaging me? Wen Mian was puzzled. She thought their interaction would be limited to the show. After all, Gu Man was the protagonist of a novel and had her own destined partner.

As a cannon fodder who didn’t even have a name in the original novel, Wen Mian felt she shouldn’t have any connection with her, not even a trivial one.

Wen Mian looked down. A line of text lay quietly in the chat box.

[Gu Man: Are you asleep?]

Wen Mian thought for a moment and replied.

[Mianmian Loves Sleeping: Not yet. What’s up?]