Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 146: Hopelessly Stupid

"And you were telling me not to be impulsive!"

Song Chenglu suddenly shouted, her eyes turning red. "Weren’t you just telling me ’don’t make a scene, know when to stop’? What, now that something’s happened, you’re going to pretend you don’t know me and push me out to take the fall alone?"

Yang Meiling’s expression changed, the corner of her eye twitching.

’This Song Chenglu is an absolute idiot!’

’Not only could she not keep her mouth shut, but she also exposed me in public!’

She quickly put on a pained and distressed expression. "Lu Lu, how could you say that? I was clearly telling you not to cause trouble, not to cause trouble, for your own good! How could you turn around and bite me like that? It’s so disheartening!"

Song Qingya watched coldly as the two of them shoved and accused each other, sneering inwardly.

’A pair of fools, partners in crime. Now that their scheme has been exposed, they’re starting to throw the blame on each other. What a pathetic display.’

’Pathetic and pitiful.’

"Yang Meiling, still pretending?"

She took a step closer, her voice icy. "Do you think I’d believe you? Do you take me for a three-year-old you can fool?"

Yang Meiling’s palms began to sweat, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Qingya, don’t listen to her nonsense. I really didn’t order anyone to harm you. You have to believe me..."

"Song Qingya, don’t you forget, if it weren’t for me back then, would Fei Jin be in such a good position now? You’re just being ungrateful!"

Yang Meiling shouted at the top of her lungs.

She wanted to use the fact that she had once saved Fei Jin to pressure Song Qingya, trying to make her back down.

Hearing this, Song Qingya actually laughed.

"Yang Meiling, don’t you think too highly of yourself?"

"That little favor of yours was paid back long ago! Since last time, you’ve had no right to use Fei Jin as a shield."

That past incident was, in the end, just a minor episode. Fei Jin had already come to thank her in person and given her appropriate compensation.

But Yang Meiling clung to it, always wanting to use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card to throw her weight around.

"Song Qingya, don’t go too far!"

Yang Meiling grew anxious, her voice suddenly rising in pitch.

"Too far? Who’s the one going too far?"

Song Qingya sneered. "You’ve come looking for trouble with me time and again. Do you really think I’m a pushover? Last month in the cafeteria, you threw hot water on me in public. The day before yesterday, you spread rumors in the office, saying I got my position through connections. Yang Meiling, did you think I wouldn’t know it was you?"

She stared at her coldly, ruthlessly tearing away her hypocritical mask.

"You! Shut your mouth!"

Yang Meiling was hopping mad.

She suddenly lunged forward, reaching out to scratch at Song Qingya’s face.

Song Qingya was prepared and sidestepped lightly.

She moved back just enough for Yang Meiling’s fingertips to graze the corner of her clothes, remaining perfectly steady.

"OW!"

Yang Meiling lunged at empty air, her foot slipped on a wet spot on the floor from a mop, and she lost her balance, tumbling to the ground.

"Song Qingya! You dare lay a hand on me! I’m not done with you!"

She sat on the floor, all semblance of dignity gone, pointing a finger straight at Song Qingya, her voice cracking.

Song Qingya looked down at her pathetic state.

She felt no pity, her eyes holding only coldness and disdain.

"I suggest you give it a rest."

"It’s useless no matter who you go to for backup. No one will help a clueless fool like you. Fei Jin won’t, and others definitely won’t."

"You!"

Yang Meiling was so furious she could only grit her teeth, unable to utter another word.

"Watch yourself."

Song Qingya couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on her.

She grabbed Song Chenglu, who had been standing beside her all along, and turned to leave.

The crowd, having enjoyed the show, gathered in small groups and began to whisper among themselves.

"That Yang Meiling got what she deserved! She’s always using Fei Village Chief as her backer, acting so arrogant. She finally took a fall this time!"

"Isn’t that the truth! She walks around like she owns the place just because she knows Fei Village Chief, giving everyone attitude. She really hit a steel plate this time. Song Qingya is not someone to be trifled with!"

"Song Qingya is no pushover, either. She looks gentle, but she’s stubborn to the core. Didn’t you see the look in her eyes just now? It was terrifyingly cold."

"Exactly. Yang Meiling really lost face this time, sitting on the ground screaming like a shrew. Tsk, tsk..."

Yang Meiling remained where she was, scrambling up from the ground in a sorry state.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she didn’t even notice.

"All of you, shut up!" she roared.

The crowd scattered instantly.

Hatred surged in her heart. It was all that detestable Song Qingya’s fault for making her lose face in front of everyone, making her look like a buffoon.

"Lu Lu, was it really Yang Meiling who made you do that just now?"

After they had walked some distance, Song Qingya stopped and turned to look at Song Chenglu.

Song Chenglu steadied herself and nodded quickly. "Yes! It was all Yang Meiling’s idea! She kept whispering in my ear that if I just gave you a push and embarrassed you in public, made you lose face, she would help me..."

’How could that guilty look possibly fool me?’

"Forget it."

Song Qingya suddenly gave a small smile. "Let’s just let bygones be bygones. We’re sisters, we shouldn’t talk about these things."

"Let’s not talk about it anymore. Come on, let’s go to the supply co-op and buy some pastries for Mom to cheer her up, okay?"

As she spoke, she naturally reached out and linked arms with Song Chenglu.

"Okay, Sis."

Song Chenglu’s heart relaxed, and she quickly pretended as if nothing had happened.

She smiled, inwardly preening. ’Song Qingya’s pregnancy must have addled her brain. She can’t even see through such a simple trick and is even being so nice to me.’

’What does this mean?’

’It means I’m one step closer to becoming the village chief’s wife!’

"Let’s buy those pastries, Mom loves them!"

She held onto Song Qingya’s arm tightly, as if clinging to a cash cow that would bring her endless benefits.

"We’ll buy them."

Song Qingya didn’t say much, just nodded lightly.

「By the time they returned home, it was already getting late.」

Mrs. Song was still sulking in the main hall. When she saw them return, she rolled her eyes coldly and muttered, "You little brat, you finally decided to come home? Running around all day, who knows where you’ve been off to!"

"Mom, look what goodies I brought you!"

Quick as a flash, Song Chenglu bounded over to Mrs. Song.

Mrs. Song glanced at the package, her brow softening slightly.

"Qingya bought this, didn’t she?"

She took the oil-paper package.

"Yes, Qingya bought it specially for you."

Song Chenglu said sweetly, "She said you love the pastries from Daoxiangcun the most."

She said this with a smile, sidling up to Mrs. Song.

But inwardly, she felt a pang of resentment. She was the one who had put in the effort and run the errand, yet Song Qingya was getting all the credit.

The night grew darker.

In the courtyard, the dim yellow streetlights flickered.

Cheng Peng burst into Fei Jin’s room like a gust of wind.

"Village Chief! Something terrible has happened!"

Fei Jin looked up. "What is it? Spit it out."

"Jing City... there’s a problem!"

Cheng Peng stood before him, his voice trembling slightly. "The higher-ups have ordered our work district to head over immediately and organize an emergency evacuation of the citizens. The situation is critical. The flood broke through the dam, and several downstream villages have already been submerged... but..."

"But what?"

Fei Jin cut him off sharply, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "Stop dawdling! Spit it out!"