When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 37

The system’s tone was always calm and composed, but this time it used words like “very serious.”

Jiang Nan slowly turned the walnuts in her hand, silently speculating.

“Go on.”

“This is a world where the main storyline revolves around a love story. Without love to be precise, without the female lead, what do you think would happen?”

“Collapse.” Jiang Nan’s expression gradually darkened.

“No, it’s still a world after all. It wouldn’t shatter so easily,” the system replied. “…This world would automatically mend itself. Like a torn piece of clothing, someone would stitch it back together bit by bit.”

“You mean, another female lead would appear?” Jiang Nan pressed.

“Unclear.”

“You’re the system, why wouldn’t you know?”

“During the mending process, it could use a running stitch, a backstitch, or something else entirely. Anything is possible.” The system sighed, almost human-like. “You need to prepare early. If you get too close to Xiao Ran, and the world mistakenly ‘stitches’ her into the role, we’ll lose everything.”

Jiang Nan clenched the walnuts in her hand and remained silent for a long while.

“What do you mean by ‘too close’ between her and me?”

The system said coldly, “The host knows perfectly well.”

Jiang Nan had no retort and asked instead, “With something this big happening, doesn’t your system world have any precedents or countermeasures?”

“No precedents. You’re the first to dig up both the female lead and the supporting female character,” the system replied.

Jiang Nan tilted her head back, gazing at the scattered stars dotting the dark blue sky, unwilling to respond.

“What are you hesitating for? If Xiao Ran can escape this once, you might be able to go home, and she could have a relatively stable life. Her aunt treats her well, doesn’t she?”

“Xiao Ran has taken a special liking to you. If not for you, she definitely wouldn’t have stayed in Yangcheng. You gave her hope. Stop deceiving yourself.”

“You know perfectly well. She must have found out about all those times you helped her. Or what did you think just because you didn’t mention it and hid it deep, this system wouldn’t know that you knew?”

Jiang Nan had no defense against the system’s words.

“Is there really no other way? What if I move somewhere else, leave Yangcheng?” Jiang Nan carefully considered.

“Impossible. As long as you bear the surname Jiang, you can’t escape.” The system sounded puzzled. “Besides, that would be too troublesome. Isn’t it simple enough to just stay away from Xiao Ran?”

“It’s better for everyone this way.”

Jiang Nan absentmindedly nibbled on the fruit beside her, so distracted that she mistakenly picked up a cork instead. She bit into it for a while without making a dent, leaving only two tooth marks. Her teeth ached slightly.

Suppressing the soreness, she slowly said, “Fine.”

Yes. If not for the system’s binding, the two of them would have been complete strangers.

To Jiang Nan, Xiao Ran was just an NPC.

To Xiao Ran, Jiang Nan was someone who inexplicably disliked her, then inexplicably helped her, an utterly baffling person.

They should each go their own way, like bridges and roads that never cross.

She should focus on her business, and Xiao Ran should live her life.

Jiang Nan shouldn’t have appeared in her life again.

But why did her heart ache so much at the thought of staying away from her, a sharp, tugging pain?

The system continued beside her, “As long as you understand.”

Jiang Nan abruptly muted the system.

“Shut up. You’re so annoying.”

The next day.

Just as Jiang Nan stepped out of the Jiang residence, Xiao Ran arrived.

She looked to be in high spirits, her light footsteps brisk, her small face alight with an irrepressible smile in her eyes and at the corners of her lips. She wore a blue-pink brocade dress, her jet-black hair cascading softly over her shoulders, exuding both gentleness and a touch of playful charm.

In her left hand, she held a large bouquet of fresh flowers—red, yellow, blue, and green still adorned with glistening dewdrops, as if freshly picked early that morning.

Her entire being radiated the beauty of a spring breeze.

Yet, Jiang Nan felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.

Xiao Ran’s eyes curved into crescents as she spoke softly, “Sister, many flowers bloomed in the woods today, so I picked some for you. I know you like to keep fresh flowers in your room every day, so I gathered both buds and blossoms. The open ones can be displayed now, while the buds will last longer and can be replaced once they bloom… this way, you’ll always have fresh flowers. These are orchids, they soothe the mind at night.”

As she spoke, she kept trying to hide her damp right sleeve behind her back.

Jiang Nan remained silent for a long while. Unable to bear the awkwardness, A-Jiu interjected, “Miss Xiao is so thoughtful. These flowers are lovely.”

Xiao Ran took a few steps forward.

Jiang Nan’s voice was icy as she spoke, “What are you doing blocking the Jiang residence so early in the morning? Are we that close?”

The smile on Xiao Ran’s lips froze. Her almond-shaped eyes welled with tears, the corners reddening as she gazed at her.

She had thought they were at least.

A-Jiu was stunned, forgetting the rules of a shadow guard for the first time. His eyes darted between Xiao Ran and Jiang Nan’s faces.

Jiang Nan turned away abruptly, muttering that she had something to fetch.

She couldn’t bear to see the joy in the girl behind her shatter in an instant, the light in her eyes dimming bit by bit.

After a long silence, A-Jiu said, “Miss Xiao has left.”

Only then did Jiang Nan turn back, staring blankly at the empty spot. It felt as if a piece of cloth had been torn open in her heart, letting in a chilling draft with every gust of wind.

A’Tuo came out to run an errand and, seeing them standing motionless at the door, curiously asked the maid on duty what had happened. After hearing the story, she offered consolingly, “It’s nothing. Last time, the young mistress said something similar too, and Miss Xiao didn’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Nan’s mind was unsettled.

How could last time and this time be the same?

Xiao Ran returned home, her heart in turmoil. In her distress, she mindlessly opened The Hundred Ways to Woo a Maiden, flipping to the sixth tactic.

The sixth tactic began: By this stage, the maiden you seek must already hold some affection for you. All you need to do is…

The ink on the page blurred as teardrops fell like rain, rendering the words illegible.

Xiao Ran’s nose was red, her eyes brimming with tears.

Liar…

Outside the window, gray clouds gradually overtook the blue-white sky, thick and heavy, as wild winds howled.

With a bang, the window before Xiao Ran was flung open by the wind, the wooden frame creaking. The books on her desk rustled violently, flipping to the very last page.

In the bottom right corner of that page, a single word was written:

Author: Li.

Xiao Ran sat numbly at her desk.

Outside, the dense, rolling dark clouds were swept away by the wind, and the weather returned to what it had been before.

A sharp knock at the door pulled Xiao Ran from her despondency.

She opened the door.

Standing there was Yue Xue, who studied her for a moment before asking, “Have you been hiding in here crying?”

Unwilling to admit it, Xiao Ran replied, “I was just reading a tragic story.”

Yue Xue burst into laughter, clutching her sides. “I told you to cut back on those books.”

She said, “You’ve been away from home so often these days, I couldn’t even find you when I looked. Come, let’s go watch the iron fireworks display, it’s right in the city.”

Xiao Ran stared at her as she spoke, lost in thought. It wasn’t until Yue Xue tugged her along that she snapped back to reality. “No, I don’t want to go,” she replied.

Yue Xue was slightly taken aback.

In the past, Xiao Ran had never refused. Whether it was Yue Xue or any of their other friends suggesting an outing, she would always agree.

After a moment of surprise, Yue Xue changed her approach. “I’ve been feeling down lately and wanted to join in the excitement. Could you just keep me company?”

________________________________________

Jiang Nan had gone to the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion. She stared at the ledger, but after half a day, not a single word had registered in her mind.

Her fingers holding the ledger trembled unconsciously, as if her heart had been submerged by a tidal wave, suffocating her.

She kept thinking about Xiao Ran’s smile that day and the words she had spoken.

Jiang Nan sighed.

It seemed she wouldn’t be able to focus today. She went downstairs to stretch her legs and, not far from the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion, spotted a familiar figure darting through a lively crowd.

Jiang Nan took a few steps forward.

Sure enough, she saw the familiar silhouette ahead, walking side by side with someone else.

Suddenly, the young woman seemed to sense an intense gaze and turned around. Her eyes swept over the crowd but didn’t linger on Jiang Nan’s face for even a second.

Jiang Nan’s heart felt hollow. She stood there for a while before turning back toward the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

Since she had made her decision, it was better not to disturb each other.

________________________________________

Not long after, the two young women also arrived at the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

Yue Xue laughed. “You wouldn’t know this, but while you were away in Qu City, I came here every day to pass the time. It’s such a wonderful place.”

Xiao Ran looked up and happened to lock eyes with Jiang Nan on the second floor. She averted her gaze subtly.

Yue Xue continued chattering. “I heard the shopkeeper Jiang also went to Yang City. Since you both left and returned together, do you know each other?”

Xiao Ran smiled faintly. “How could that be? Shopkeeper Jiang and I aren’t close.”

Jiang Nan sat by the window on the second floor, every word reaching her ears clearly.

Her heart felt as though pierced by countless needles, the pain sharp and relentless.