Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 150: This Path Is Impassable

She looked up, her eyes already glistening with tears. "I can’t sleep at night. My heart aches whenever I think about those things. I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I want to change, to turn over a new leaf, to make amends..."

As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, making her seem utterly pitiful.

Mr. Fei stared at her in silence for a few seconds. The initial coldness in his eyes slowly began to soften.

Though he still said nothing, his tightly knitted brow relaxed slightly, as if he were weighing the truth of her words.

After all, he had watched her grow up. No matter how much he disliked her, he couldn’t be completely heartless.

"Lu Lu, you’re not a bad person at heart, but some things are not for you to meddle in."

His tone was a bit gentler, as if he didn’t want to be too harsh, but his gaze remained firm. "Qingya and Ajin’s relationship was decided long ago. The marriage was agreed upon by both our families years ago, a promise made in person. It’s not something you can interfere with. Don’t get any more ideas."

"Uncle, I..." Song Chenglu’s lips trembled slightly.

She had wanted to speak from the heart, to explain that she never intended to sabotage anything—she just couldn’t accept it.

But the words had barely left her lips when he cut her off with a decisive raise of his hand.

"Go home."

Mr. Fei’s voice turned cold again.

He looked away from her, his gaze shifting to the window. "Just take care of your mother. Don’t give her anything to worry about. Having Qingya in this family is enough. We don’t need you making a scene."

Song Chenglu’s face instantly turned deathly pale. The color drained from her lips, and even her breathing became shallow.

She could tell he was kicking her out—an undisguised expulsion.

"Uncle, I understand..."

She lowered her head and continued, "I’ll be a better person from now on, and I’ll take good care of my mother."

She tried to hold it in, but tears still slid down her cheeks.

"I... I just wanted to make up for my past mistakes, to do something for this family, really... I have no other motives, and I’m not asking for anything in return, I just... I just..."

"It’s for the best if you can think that way."

Mr. Fei’s tone softened a little; he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pity.

He closed his eyes. "In this life, the hardest thing to escape is ’love.’ But some love is destined to go unrequited."

"Go on, now. Don’t linger here."

He didn’t look up, just waved his hand dismissively.

Song Chenglu wiped away her tears, turned, and walked briskly out.

She didn’t want anyone to see her in such a sorry state, and she certainly didn’t want anyone to pity her.

She had just reached the door, her hand not yet fully off the handle, when she saw Old Liu walk in, dusty from travel and carrying a large pack on his back.

"Old Fei! I’m back!"

His voice was loud and full-throated, with the rough cadence of a northern accent.

Mr. Fei’s eyes flew open. His body, which had been half-reclining, jolted, and he struggled to sit up.

"Old Liu? Is that really you? You’re back!"

His voice trembled.

"I’m back! Mission’s over!"

Old Liu rushed to the bedside in a few strides, his large hand grabbing Mr. Fei’s. "Look, I’m still alive, and in one piece! I didn’t let you down, did I?"

Mr. Fei looked at him, his eyes instantly turning red.

He gripped Old Liu’s hand back tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

This old brother of his... years ago, he had taken a bullet for him. As a result, he was discharged from the unit, given a demerit, and disappeared for many years without a word.

He had once thought he would never see him again in this lifetime.

But now, here he was, standing right before him—alive, smiling, just like the old days.

Song Chenglu stood to the side, watching the two men’s emotional reunion.

She had originally planned to use the opportunity of caring for Mr. Fei to slowly get closer to Fei Jin, perhaps even turn the situation around.

But now, it seemed that path was closed to her.

The bonds within the Fei Family were so deep that an outsider couldn’t possibly squeeze in.

She stomped her foot hard. The heel of her shoe hit the floor with a dull THUD.

Then, she spun around and stormed off. Her back was stiff, her steps were a mess, and even the strands of her hair seemed to tremble with rage. Her very silhouette radiated fury.

Mr. Fei and Old Liu hadn’t seen each other in decades and had so much to say.

From their youth, to the weathered years that followed, to the changes in their respective families, the two chatted away animatedly.

They talked all the way until noon, so engrossed that the food grew cold twice before they reluctantly paused.

Just then, Song Qingya pushed the door open gently, carrying a bowl of medicine.

"Dad, it’s time for your medicine."

The old man was frail, his back heavily stooped. She supported his shoulder with one hand while propping a pillow behind him with the other.

The moment the smell of the medicine wafted out, Mr. Fei wrinkled his nose slightly before it even touched his lips.

"Here, let me feed you." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Song Qingya said gently.

Mr. Fei opened his mouth and drank it down, spoonful by spoonful.

’This daughter-in-law... she’s truly faultless, more considerate than his own daughter could be.’

Since Ajin left, she had managed the household every day, taking care of him and Liu Li, never once complaining or speaking of hardship.

"Qingya, that boy Ajin has been stubborn since he was little. He shoulders everything himself and never lets us worry."

Liu Li sat on a small stool by the bed, sighing as she watched her daughter-in-law feed her husband his medicine. "It’s been months now, with no news at all... I wonder if he’s cold or tired out there. When he comes back, our family will be whole again, and we can’t ever be separated."

"That’s right. We’re all counting on him to come home, so you mustn’t worry too much."

Song Qingya put down the medicine spoon.

She looked up at her father-in-law and forced a smile. "Ajin has always been tough, a real survivor even as a kid. Heaven will watch over him. Please, rest easy. He’ll definitely come back safely."

Mr. Fei nodded, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes softening.

He reached out and gently patted the back of Song Qingya’s hand.

Song Qingya nodded and replied softly, not saying much more.

But in her heart, she couldn’t let it go.

No matter how she comforted others, no matter how she forced herself to smile, she would lie awake in the dead of night, staring at the ceiling, replaying Fei Jin’s image from before he left.

He had stood at the door in his military uniform, a pack on his back, and turned to smile at her. "Wait for me to come back."

Fate is fickle, and the battlefield is even more merciless.

She didn’t dare to think about the worst-case scenario.

Meanwhile, Fei Jin was sitting in the command post in Jing City.

The bowl of food in front of him had long since gone cold.

But he paid it no mind, simply lowering his head and shoveling spoonful after spoonful into his mouth.

Cheng Peng pushed the door open and came in, a look of confusion on his face. "Village Chief, isn’t this bizarre? We’ve gone door to door, and not a single person has answered! The entire North Street, from one end to the other, we haven’t even heard a dog bark! It’s been almost a whole day, and we haven’t seen a single soul!"

"Send men to investigate. Find out what’s going on."

Fei Jin kept his head down, his chopsticks still shoveling rice.

He never wasted time eating. Every bite was efficient, but his mind had already been racing, turning over dozens of possibilities.

"I’ve already sent them. Three teams are out. We should have news soon."

Cheng Peng scratched the back of his head, his brow furrowing deeper.

"Village Chief, do you think... could someone be sabotaging us behind the scenes? Like, maybe they evacuated the civilians ahead of time? Or... someone tipped them off and told the people to hide?"

"Nine times out of ten."

Fei Jin finally put down his bowl.

"Someone doesn’t want us to gain a foothold in this territory. Naturally, they’ll try everything they can to trip us up."

"These people are rotten to the core! What’s the difference between them and a bunch of street thugs!"

Cheng Peng shot to his feet, his face flushed red and his eyes blazing with fury.