When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 27

Jiang Nan felt like she was suffering from a strange affliction.

Every time she encountered Xiao Ran, a peculiar emotion would arise in her heart. One she had never experienced before.

For instance, today, when Xiao Ran appeared in the teahouse, Jiang Nan couldn’t help but pay attention to her.

She stood behind the carved redwood screen that separated their line of sight, yet ‘accidentally’ peeked at Xiao Ran through the tiny gaps in the screen.

She had gone to the sparsely populated third floor for some quiet to work on the accounts, yet when Yu Qian asked her to come downstairs to help with a task, she eagerly descended even bringing her ledger along.

After catching a glimpse of Xiao Ran, Jiang Nan found her calculations flowing more smoothly.

The weather was cloudy, with sunlight flickering intermittently.

A golden beam of light streamed in, as if favoring Xiao Ran alone, shining directly on her hair and face. Her plain, delicate features were illuminated to a translucent fairness, the fine down on her skin clearly visible.

Jiang Nan found herself staring for a long time without realizing it. Suddenly, Xiao Ran looked up, meeting her gaze, and gave her a soft smile, her eyes gentle as water.

Jiang Nan didn’t have time to avert her gaze, so she pretended to be lost in thought, acting as if nothing had happened.

But inwardly, her heart itched unbearably like being brushed by a fluffy cat’s paw, soft and adorable, yet she couldn’t grab hold of it and give it a good squeeze.

When she lowered her head to look at the ledger again, the numbers blurred before her eyes. Even when she managed to focus, the characters seemed unfamiliar.

Jiang Nan took a deep breath, forcing herself to concentrate on the accounts.

________________________________________

When the teahouse wasn’t busy, Yu Qian passed by Xiao Ran, who asked softly,

“You mentioned before that you occasionally go shopping to buy things for Sister Jiang. Next time you go… could you take me along? I… have a little savings now.”

Yu Qian silently stared at her for a long moment without responding.

Xiao Ran’s gaze remained resolute.

She felt Fang Rui and Yu Qian must know Jiang Nan better than she did. Now that she had some spare money, she wasn’t sure what to get for Jiang Nan.

Yu Qian’s tone was sharp: “Why don’t you just do it yourself?”

Xiao Ran froze.

“Hey, why talk to a beauty like that?” Fang Rui pulled Yu Qian away, then turned back with an apologetic expression. “Sorry about that, Yu Qian’s words can be a bit harsh. Actually, last time we bought things Boss didn’t accept any of them. She made us take them all back. The only thing she kept was the pair of walnuts you gave her.”

Xiao Ran was stunned for a moment before her eyes lit up with barely contained joy: “Really?”

Fang Rui nodded, wiping her hands. “Boss isn’t the best with words either, but I don’t think she dislikes you.”

Suddenly, Fang Rui struck a proud pose, hands on her hips. “In this teahouse, I’m the only one who knows how to speak properly.”

Xiao Ran couldn’t help but laugh.

________________________________________

Time passed minute by minute.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Jiang Nan finished calculating the accounts for the past two months.

The teahouse’s revenue had plateaued in recent months, showing almost no upward trend. In fact, due to factors like population shifts, there had even been a slight decline.

She needed to move her plans forward sooner.

Jiang Nan called Fang Rui over: “Bring me the map.”

Fang Rui handed it to her, and Jiang Nan unrolled it, glancing briefly before closing it again. “This isn’t the map of Yangcheng.”

Understanding her intention, Fang Rui brought a larger scroll.

Jiang Nan unfurled it halfway before rolling it back up. “Not the map of the areas around Yangcheng I need the entire eastern region.”

Fang Rui turned and fetched the biggest one.

She rubbed her hands excitedly and asked Jiang Nan, “Are we opening a new shop in a different area? Where is it? Qu City or Xin City?”

Jiang Nan picked up a brush and began marking on the map. Fang Rui leaned in to look. Most of the cities on the map were already circled. The scroll was densely covered in black rings.

She was stunned. “Th-These are all the places we’re expanding to?”

Jiang Nan nodded and tossed the brush aside. “Just these for now.”

J-just for now.

Fang Rui swallowed hard, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Boss, you’re amazing! Do we really have that much money?”

Jiang Nan crossed her arms and laughed at the question. “Of course not.”

The wealth accumulated by three generations of her Jiang family made them unrivaled in Nie City, including Yang City that much was true. But across the entire eastern region, spanning dozens of cities, their fortune wasn’t anything extraordinary.

“But we can earn it!” Jiang Nan declared. “We’ll start with Qu City, gradually expanding until we cover every city in the east.”

Fang Rui nodded eagerly, but then a doubt surfaced.

“If the shops are opened so far away, will we have to travel around every year?”

Jiang Nan shook her head. “We’ll make them come to us.”

Fang Rui didn’t understand. “The journey is long. Why would the shopkeepers we hire be willing to travel all the way here… unless we pay them extra.”

“We won’t pay extra either,” Jiang Nan said. “Shared interests will be enough.”

Fang Rui still didn’t get it, and Jiang Nan didn’t plan to explain further. Some things were simple in concept but complicated to articulate.

Another incense stick’s worth of time passed before Jiang Nan stretched, rubbing her tired eyes.

Outside the window, the sky had darkened completely, and only a few patrons remained in the teahouse.

When Jiang Nan turned her head, she saw Xiao Ran still sitting there. Something inside her chest seemed to burst softly, scattering away most of her exhaustion.

She didn’t understand why. She just inexplicably found Xiao Ran pleasing to the eye, inexplicably felt more motivated whenever she was around.

Like today.

Normally, she would have left the teahouse long ago, or simply not come at all. After all, everything here was managed by others, requiring no effort on her part.

The teahouse emptied until only Xiao Ran and Jiang Nan remained.

Xiao Ran called out to Jiang Nan, and when Jiang Nan turned to look, Xiao Ran’s face flushed crimson in an instant.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out for a long moment.

Jiang Nan anticipated her. “It’s late. Should I walk you home?”

Xiao Ran nodded silently.

Then she suddenly asked, “Does the owner personally escort every guest from Hidden Fragrance Pavilion?”

“Mm,” Jiang Nan replied. “If I see them, I do. Hidden Fragrance Pavilion cares deeply about its guests’ safety.”

For some reason, the image of Fang Rui pouting and muttering “Yeah, right” flashed through her mind.

Would she really escort every single guest?

Jiang Nan asked herself.

After closing the shop, the two walked one behind the other. The distance to Xiao Ran’s home wasn’t particularly far, but neither was it close. They barely spoke the entire way.

Once Jiang Nan saw her to the door, she prepared to return to the Jiang residence.

Xiao Ran, holding a cat that had just climbed onto her, nervously called out to her again.

She approached slowly, her eyes shimmering with scattered starlight. As she drew near, Xiao Ran’s gaze swept over Jiang Nan’s naturally rosy lips, her face flushed as if intoxicated, her palms damp with sweat.

Softly, she called out, “Sister Jiang.”

Then, rising onto her tiptoes.

The cold white moonlight traced the contours of her face and the graceful curves of her figure.

Jiang Nan remained motionless, not resisting her approach.

Xiao Ran carried a delicate floral fragrance, the scent lingering at the tip of her nose. She lowered her gaze and inhaled softly.

Just then, a sharp meow pierced the air.

The cat in Xiao Ran’s arms had been squeezed too tightly and yowled in protest.

The feline leaped from her embrace and dashed into the night, vanishing without a trace.

Jiang Nan snapped out of her daze from the lingering floral scent and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Ran looked into her eyes—cold and clear, reflecting the moonlight and all her earlier courage evaporated. She murmured, “I just wanted to say… Sister Jiang, be careful on your way back.”

Inside the house, at the desk.

Xiao Ran jotted down notes beside “100 Ways to Pursue a Woman—Strategy No. 1.”

First attempt: Failed.
Reasons for failure:

1.Not brave enough.

2.Must not hold a cat while attempting.

________________________________________

The next day.

Xiao Ran ran into Jiang Huai at a street corner.

His left arm was still wrapped around a girl from the Spring Breeze Pavilion.

“Xiao Ran, long time no see,” he greeted her.

Xiao Ran ignored him and walked around him.

Jiang Huai grabbed her sleeve to stop her. Xiao Ran took three steps back, a trace of disgust flashing across her face. “Young master, please behave yourself.”

Jiang Huai grew irritated. “What’s your problem? Have you forgotten how I helped you retrieve your handkerchief from that pile of beggars?”

Xiao Ran wasn’t stupid. She saw right through Jiang Huai’s little scheme.

Her expression hardened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no such incident. Please don’t spread baseless rumors.”

Jiang Huai stared at her for a moment, struggling to suppress his anger. “Fine. Forget it if you don’t remember. I just wanted to tell you, Jiang Nan keeps giving you a hard time. Stop seeking her out. If you need anything, come to me. She won’t let you into the Jiang residence, will she?”

Xiao Ran shook her head. “No, I just don’t want to go in.”

“You’re lying. Did she bully you?”

“I let Sister Jiang bully me.”

“She treats everyone else well, only you differently.”

“I’m willing.”

“She smashed your lunchbox…”

“Sister Jiang just likes the sound it makes. What’s wrong with that? I can bring her a different lunchbox to smash every day.”

“You—!”

Jiang Huai pointed at her, his face a kaleidoscope of emotions, utterly speechless.