The System Put Me in the Wrong Cannon Fodder Role—So I Ran Off with the Heroine - Chapter 2

[The link I’ve provided you for the female protagonist’s identity cannot be wrong!] The System insisted, stubbornly clinging to its technical accuracy.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door from outside. [Xu Nanqiao, Mom and Dad are calling you down for dinner. Hurry up, don’t make me call you twice.]

Ji Xunchuan stared at the fluorescent blue screen in the void, where a long string of ellipses appeared in the dialogue box.

Right, you’re not wrong. I’m the one who’s wrong. Everything I see is fake, just a chaotic hallucination from my brain short-circuiting. Maybe if I go back and sleep some more, I’ll actually be revived by a great medical miracle?

[You can doubt my attitude toward this book, but never question my memory.] Ji Xunchuan had to twist the knife. Who told the System to be so stubborn with her?!

The faint voice in her ear seemed to carry a hint of panic. [Checking for you right now… The female protagonist’s consciousness is normal? The link coordinates were wrong during character loading!]

[Uh oh~ What now?] She continued to ruthlessly twist the knife. [I’m not the overpowered female protagonist of a face-slapping novel anymore, am I? I’m just cannon fodder who dies in the later stages]

So, the harem of eighteen or so is out of the picture. I’ll have to say goodbye to these two beautiful worlds after just a quick transition scene!

The girl knocking outside was already getting annoyed. “Are you mute or dead? Say something!”

Her arrogant tone seemed like she wanted to tear the roof off. This textbook villainous entrance could only belong to one person: the green tea villainess, Xu Wanxuan.

“Oh, my dear Young Miss, give it a rest, will you? My head is splitting from the noise. I have a scheduled nap to get to. I won’t die from skipping one meal.” Ji Xunchuan replied dismissively and double-locked the door.

“Then you’d better die inside and never come out!” Xu Wanxuan threw down the words and stormed off, nearly kicking the door off its hinges.

“System, regardless of whether I’m in the female protagonist’s or this supporting female character’s body, does their original consciousness have to be cleared?” Ji Xunchuan asked casually.

“Yes.” The System replied and then admitted its mistake. “This was my error. Furthermore, since the cleared data cannot be recovered, the character of Xu Nanqiao’s subsequent existence cannot be rashly deleted. Therefore, the Host must continue the plot in this identity.”

The System offered a sincere apology and compensation: [I am truly sorry. I will do my utmost to help you change your body’s doomed fate. However, because your actions are no longer aligned with the original character’s planned input, your behavior will be subject to many restrictions. Of course, this is still my fault. Please accept my apologies once again.]

Hey, this System is actually pretty polite, Ji Xunchuan thought. If I keep dwelling on this, I’ll be the one lacking grace. She decided to forgive it and casually turn the page. Alright, fine. Besides, wouldn’t it be thrilling to see a weak and useless supporting female character make a comeback?

[While your actions are now somewhat free, you must still follow the plot’s key nodes. There is also one major issue,]

The System explained a crucial point:

[The worldview of this world is primarily shaped by the female protagonist’s values. Since you are now in the body of the supporting female character, you are forced to conform to the female protagonist’s values.]

That’s a real problem. It really was. How could she possibly control the values of a melodramatic, suffering female protagonist? This put her at a complete disadvantage!

The System seemed to sigh. [Good luck.]

Forget it, forget it. Since I’m already here, I might as well make the best of it. It’s not like I can’t do anything. I’ll just follow the plot points. Besides, my character is supposed to be a slacker, and the System will still keep me alive. Why worry so much?

I’ll just take it one step at a time and do what I can with what I have. After all, it’s not every day you get a second chance at life. No matter what happens, it’s a win. I just need to live it up and enjoy myself.

Following this line of thinking, I should just do whatever feels most comfortable. In that sense, it’s not that different from the female protagonist’s fate. The only difference is that she lives in the spotlight while I’m tucked away in the corners. I’m perfectly happy with the carefree life.

Xu Nanqiao is a relatively simple character: Xu Wanxuan’s older sister and the eldest daughter of the Xu family. She’s usually weak and indecisive, despised by her younger sister and ignored by everyone else. She’s the textbook example of someone no one believes in and who never manages to prove them wrong. Sometimes, when Xu Wanxuan is causing trouble and wants to throw her under the bus, Xu Nanqiao is reluctant but doesn’t dare resist, becoming the pathetic scapegoat.

Fortunately, she had a mother who loved her dearly and a father who adored her mother. By extension, they loved everyone in the family. Even if they indulged Xu Wanxuan’s behavior without restraint, they always protected Xu Nanqiao, ensuring she never faced any major disasters.

Because Xu Wanxuan had been kidnapped as a child, her parents felt they owed her a great deal.

It was also during that kidnapping that Xu Wanxuan had met the male lead, becoming an unforgettable presence in his life—the kind of beauty that defines an era.

When Ji Xunchuan finally cleared her thoughts and went downstairs to see the family, the scene unfolded exactly as she’d read in the novel: Mother Xu greeting her with a beaming smile, Xu Wanxuan looking on with a face full of disdain, and Father Xu wearing a gentle expression.

It was a strange sensation, seeing novel characters come to life right before her eyes. She felt a lack of reality, a feeling of, “I’ve heard of you and know you’re famous, so I think I know you, but we’re still not actually acquainted.”

Zhuang Yan’s words snapped her back to the present. “Qiaoqiao, come eat! You’re finally willing to have a meal with Mommy. Mommy’s so happy!”

Communication is the best way to break down barriers of unfamiliarity. Ji Xunchuan was immediately drawn back into the moment, naturally beginning to integrate into the scene.

Honestly, if it weren’t for her suffocating younger sister, the original Xu Nancqiao would never have hidden herself away in her room, too afraid to come out.

But Ji Xunchuan was different. Facing Xu Wanxuan’s look of utter disbelief, she said cheerfully, “What are you talking about? You’re my dearest mother. Of course I’d love to have a meal with you. In fact, I’d love to eat with you every day from now on.”

Zhuang Yan, who hadn’t seen her eldest daughter be so affectionate in a long time, was moved to tears. “Good, good, good. Nancqiao has finally seen the light!”

Ji Xunchuan had never been the type to shrink into a shell or isolate herself. She loved chatting and interacting with people. Now that she was here, she was determined to break down the barriers between Xu Nancqiao and everyone else.

After all, she had to fully integrate into Xu Nancqiao’s life.

Xu Wanxuan dragged her away after the meal. “Did you lose your mind today? You’re acting like a completely different person.”

“Nope. Just like Mom said, I’ve finally seen the light,” she replied lazily. “I used to find communicating a hassle, but now I realize that family members need to talk more!”

It was a perfectly reasonable, unforced explanation that conveniently covered everything.

“You’re disgusting now!” Xu Wanxuan sneered with even greater contempt. “I’m warning you, stay in your place and behave. If you get in my way, you’re the first one I’ll deal with!”

She felt utterly helpless. Xu Wanxuan had long since branded her an enemy. Though she didn’t understand why the other woman hated her so much, she knew that her words held no weight with Xu Wanxuan. It was better not to speak at all.

Until Xu Wanxuan learned to show some respect, she decided to just brush her off with a few half-hearted replies.

Ji Xunchuan recalled that the plot was about to unfold. Ji Antang was getting engaged, and Xu Wanxuan wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing. She had to make a move.

Sure enough, Xu Wanxuan issued a direct order: “I’m giving you a mission. Arrange for a man to lie in wait at Ji Antang’s hotel tonight. When the time is right, bring in some reporters for a surprise attack. Let’s ruin Ji Antang’s reputation!”

Xu Wanxuan had made the arrangements so carelessly, as if certain that Ji Xunchuan would never dare to defy her. Her confidence was almost laughable.

“Even the turtles in a wishing well need a little sincerity, you know,” Ji Xunchuan replied, refusing outright without wasting any more words. “Xu Wanxuan, until you learn what it means to respect someone, don’t come here and make a fool of yourself.”

Xu Wanxuan’s face darkened. “I see you’ve really lost your mind today. Where did you get the nerve to talk to me like that?”

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