When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 24

“Don’t Bottle It Up and Hurt Yourself”

Jiang Nan and Xiao Ran walked behind a rockery under the gaze of the others.

Xiao Ran’s face flushed before she even spoke: “Sister Jiang, I wanted to tell you I’ll be leaving for Qu City tomorrow to learn embroidery from my aunt. I’ll be gone for about half a month.”

Jiang Nan was still lost in the bizarre words Xiao Ran had spoken earlier, and her mouth moved faster than her brain: “Oh, what does that have to do with me? It’ll be a relief once you’re gone.”

Only after the words left her mouth did she realize what she’d said, and she felt a pang of regret. Though she was playing the role of a villainess, the girl was about to leave.

Xiao Ran acted as if she hadn’t heard and took out a cloth doll, handing it to Jiang Nan.

“After I leave, if Sister can’t find a place to vent her anger, just scold this doll instead. Don’t bottle it up and hurt yourself.”

Jiang Nan: !!!

…What was wrong with this girl lately? It was like she was missing a screw.

Jiang Nan hated her, insulted her, yet Xiao Ran was eagerly handing over a doll made in her own likeness just so Jiang Nan could take her frustrations out on it.

Jiang Nan took a closer look. The doll actually bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Ran.

Her head spun, her thoughts a muddled mess. She no longer knew what expression to wear or how to face Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran stepped forward and pressed the doll into Jiang Nan’s hands. Then, with a radiant smile, her peach-blossom cheeks glowing, she looked utterly enchanting.

Jiang Nan was momentarily stunned, forgetting even to refuse.

Xiao Ran took a step back, curtsied, and cast one last lingering glance at Jiang Nan before lowering her eyes and murmuring softly, “Then, I’ll be going.”

Jiang Nan stood rooted in place, silently watching her walk away.

When she returned to the pavilion, Jiang Xueping and Jiang Huai were both staring at her, waiting for her to say something.

Jiang Nan played dumb: “Auntie, where were we in our conversation earlier?”

Jiang Xueping ignored the question and, after a long pause, blurted out, “What on earth did you do to that girl?”

Jiang Nan: “…” She wanted to know too.

Jiang Huai’s expression was complicated, his face twisted as if constipated. He wanted to ask something but didn’t know where to start, so he ultimately gave up.

Jiang Nan spent half an hour having afternoon tea with them in the awkward atmosphere before retreating to her own courtyard.

She began pondering the reason behind Xiao Ran’s change.

Had Xiao Ran found out about the times she’d helped her?

Impossible. Every single incident had been handled by her covert guards, leaving no trace behind.

Even that time when Jiang Nan, in a daze, had gone to dig up the wine jar herself. She’d taken an unusual path, so it was unlikely there had been any witnesses…

Drowsy, Jiang Nan leaned against the windowsill, idly playing with the morning glory vines dangling from the eaves.

These past few days, her emotions had been in turmoil, all because of this Xiao Ran and the outrageous things she kept saying.

At this thought, Jiang Nan took out the doll Xiao Ran had given her.

The stitching on the cloth doll was meticulous. It had long hair, wore a blue dress, and its eyes were curved into crescents, its face adorned with a wide, beaming smile.

Actually, it was kind of cute.

Jiang Nan fiddled with the doll’s tiny hands, moving them back and forth. But then, suddenly remembering that this was a doll Xiao Ran had sewn to resemble herself, a strange ache filled Jiang Nan’s chest, and she let go.

In her mind, she called out: “System.”

A sharp burst of static crackled before the robotic voice responded: “This is the first time the host has actively summoned this system. What is the matter?”

Jiang Nan asked: “Does Xiao Ran count as having deviated from the plot now?”

The system replied: “She hasn’t completely broken free yet. The Jiang family still exists, and Jiang Huai’s ambitions remain. However, she has a significant opportunity to escape the plot. In the original storyline, Xiao Ran never left this small county town. But now, she’s gone to Qu City on her own…”

Jiang Nan said, “Go on.”

The system continued: “Once she’s there, as long as she meets some outstanding young men, falls in love with one, and marries him, she can permanently break free from the plot. The fact that she left the county town is largely due to you, Host. You’ve accomplished something great.”

It was related to her. Did she drive Xiao Ran away, or was it the butterfly effect?

“Is that so?” Jiang Nan replied bitterly, feeling an inexplicable tightness in her chest. “What if she doesn’t fall in love with anyone?”

The system said, “Once she leaves Yang City, she’ll be outside the plot’s control. This system can arrange for those young men to ‘coincidentally’ meet her.”

Jiang Nan’s tone turned sharp: “That’s not right. It violates the rules of natural development.”

Sensing her anger, the system fell silent for a long moment before responding: “This system is only creating chance encounters, not forcing her to fall in love with them. Whether she does or not is up to her. Besides, this is good for you, Host. The sooner you complete your mission and return home, the sooner this system can meet its performance goals. Xiao Ran would also find a husband a hundred times better than Jiang Huai. Why are you so upset?”

Was she angry?

Jiang Nan suppressed the gloom in her heart.

This was entrapment, it wasn’t right.

But if Xiao Ran truly fell in love with someone and quickly escaped the plot, wouldn’t that be good for her?

Jiang Nan’s thoughts were in turmoil.

Just then, a pigeon flew over and landed obediently on her wrist, gently pecking at her hand.

Jiang Nan scooped some birdseed for it and pulled out the letter tied to its leg.

It was another letter from Qin Wan.

She wrote that she had hunted many animals in her hometown and collected lots of local specialties, all of which she planned to give to Jiang Nan when she returned to Yang City.

At the end of the letter, she mentioned how her parents constantly compared her to her younger brother Qin Yue though this time, they praised her and criticized him.

Finally, she drew a little figure with hands on hips, laughing triumphantly at the sky. Next to it, she wrote: “Serves him right!”

After reading the letter, Jiang Nan placed it in a drawer that already held dozens of others.

Over the past six months, Qin Wan had never forgotten Jiang Nan’s kindness. Whenever she had time, she wrote letters starting with updates about her business, then gradually sharing more about herself, as if she had come to see Jiang Nan as family.

Through Qin Wan’s rambling daily accounts, Jiang Nan grew to understand and know her better.

In Jiang Nan’s mind, Qin Wan’s image became vivid and three-dimensional, no longer just a minor side character from the plot.

________________________________________

That afternoon.

An unexpected visitor arrived at the teahouse.

When Jiang Nan arrived, a man was looking around the teahouse with a critical eye.

Fang Rui stood beside him, watching impatiently. Suddenly spotting Jiang Nan, her eyes lit up: “Boss, you’re finally here!”

“What’s going on?” Jiang Nan asked.

“This man claims to be the manager of Wangyue Teahouse in Qu City and the cousin of the manager of Wanchun Teahouse in Yang City,” Fang Rui whispered. “He just showed up at our Hidden Fragrance Teahouse out of nowhere. No idea what he’s here for.”

Jiang Nan turned to the man, who finally noticed her after his inspection.

“So you’re the proprietor of Hidden Fragrance Teahouse,” the man snorted with a smirk, sprawling onto a seat with an air of arrogance. “My name is Wan Jie, manager of Moonview Teahouse in Qu City.”

Fang Rui frowned; this man had no manners whatsoever.

Jiang Nan remained unperturbed, her tone cool as she replied, “What brings you here to Hidden Fragrance Teahouse, Mr. Wan?”

Wan Jie shook his head and poured himself a cup of tea. “Nothing much. I was just passing by and thought I’d drop in to see the teahouse that’s been troubling my cousin. Honestly, it’s nothing special small-town teahouses really do lack sophistication.”

Fang Rui was so incensed she nearly laughed.

What kind of lunatic is this?

Jiang Nan had no patience for him and saw no point in further conversation, instructing the burly attendants to throw him out.

Wan Jie’s expression darkened. “Is this how you treat guests, Manager Jiang? Where’s your propriety?”

Jiang Nan’s voice was devoid of emotion. “If I wasted propriety on someone like you, this teahouse wouldn’t last long.”

Two large men flanked Wan Jie, ready to drag him out.

“No need to manhandle me. I’ll leave on my own!” Wan Jie sprang to his feet, his face twisted in displeasure. “Manager Jiang, I came to warn you Hidden Fragrance Teahouse is about to face disaster! Farewell!”

After he stormed off, Fang Rui turned to Jiang Nan with concern. “What did he mean by that? Are other teahouses planning to gang up on us?”

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be much of a threat.

Even if every teahouse in Yang City united against them, they wouldn’t stand a chance not against Hidden Fragrance Teahouse, but against her. She still had a few hidden cards up her sleeve.

That said, she already had a good grasp of the situation in Yang City. The major teahouses were at odds with each other, making any alliance unlikely for now.

Even if they did join forces, she’d know immediately.

After some thought, Jiang Nan dispatched two covert guards to tail Wan Jie and gather more information.

________________________________________

After a day of jolting travel, Xiao Ran finally arrived in Qu City by dusk.

Dust-covered and weary, she reached her aunt’s home, where Xiao Wan had prepared a table full of her favorite dishes.

During the meal, Xiao Wan bombarded her with questions about the Xiao family’s current state.

Xiao Ran answered each one dutifully, but when the topic turned to her mother, she fell silent. The same happened when her father was mentioned.

Xiao Wan understood and didn’t press further, patting her back with sympathy.

“Stay here for the next half-month and relax. Consider it a break.”

Xiao Ran smiled faintly. “Alright.”

That night, Xiao Wan shared her bed and probed about her relationship with Jiang Huai. Xiao Ran stammered, unable to form a coherent answer. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Jiang Nan. Unsure how to respond, she feigned sleep.

The next day, Xiao Ran spent the morning learning embroidery before accompanying her aunt on errands in the afternoon. Lost in thought, she barely noticed the bustling streets around her.

Xiao Wan suddenly gasped. “There are so many dashing young men out today! It’s never this lively. Look, Ran’er—there’s one over there, and another here!”

Xiao Ran followed her aunt’s pointing finger.

A poised young man stood on the bridge, while another played by the riverbank. Moments later, a carefree youth galloped past on horseback. All of them were strikingly handsome.

Xiao Ran averted her gaze, uninterested, and gave a noncommittal hum.

“Oh, I recognize the one on the bridge he just passed the imperial exams! Still unmarried,” Xiao Wan teased. “Honestly, any of these gentlemen would be better than Jiang Huai. Since things aren’t progressing with him, why not consider one of them? Your aunt can play matchmaker!”

Xiao Ran pursed her lips slightly.

In the past, such things might have stirred her heart. But now, men were no different to her than a lump of fatty meat and she hated fatty meat!

Shaking her head, she said, “Aunt, let’s finish buying what we need and go home.”

The two stepped onto the bridge.

A sudden splash rang out.

An old woman washing clothes had accidentally fallen into the river.

A young man in red, who had been playing by the water, didn’t hesitate to dive in and rescue her. His movements swift and flawless.

The onlookers applauded.

“My, that young man swims so well!” Xiao Wan exclaimed. “And so brave, so kind-hearted!”

Xiao Ran walked away without a second glance.

At the center of the bridge, a scholarly young man recited poetry with effortless grace, his refined demeanor drawing admiring glances from many young women.

But not from Xiao Ran. She kept walking, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

Xiao Wan looked at her in astonishment. “Ran’er, are you planning to become a nun or something?!”

Xiao Ran sighed. “Aunt, if we don’t buy the sewing supplies now, the shop will close.”