Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 181: This Woman Is Beyond Saving
She had only one thought now: ’I have to keep her calm and get her out the door.’
’There are people waiting outside. That’s better than letting her go crazy in here.’
Qingya’s instructions flashed through her mind—’Tonight, Lu Lu must be handed over smoothly. There can be no mistakes.’
’The path Qingya has arranged for her can’t be ruined now.’
Song Chenglu narrowed her eyes, staring at her mother suspiciously. She slowly relaxed her grip and put down the shard.
But her eyes remained locked on her mother. She never trusted anyone easily, not even the woman who had given birth to and raised her.
"Mom, if you dare to lie to me, I’ll kill myself right in front of you."
Her voice was low and trembling, carrying a final threat mixed with deep helplessness.
"I’m not lying to you. I promise, I won’t lie."
Mrs. Song nodded repeatedly, her voice choked and her eyes red.
She had to keep up the act, even if her heart was bleeding.
"Let’s go. Let’s go somewhere no one can find us."
Her palms were slick with cold sweat, but she held her daughter’s arm steadily.
Seeing her mother so cooperative, Song Chenglu relaxed slightly.
’Maybe... Mom really does love me after all.’
’As long as I can hide somewhere safe, those people won’t be able to find me. What can they do to me then?’
Just as they reached the door, she could vaguely make out the silhouette of a car and a few people standing in the dim light outside.
Mrs. Song suddenly gripped her hand tightly and shouted with all her might to the people outside:
"Quick, get in here! She’s trying to run!"
In the car, Wang Gui, who had been dozing against the seat, was jolted awake by the shout.
Without a second thought, he threw open the car door and rushed into the house.
Song Chenglu froze.
She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. She wanted to run, but her legs felt like they were nailed to the floor.
’So... she was lying to me.’
A wave of hatred exploded from the depths of her heart, a searing heat that left her feeling ice-cold.
’Mom... how could you do this to me...’
Tears streamed down her face, but the corners of her mouth slowly twisted into a distorted smile, as if mocking her own naivety, or perhaps foreshadowing an irreversible conclusion.
Wang Gui bounded to the doorway in a few steps. His gaze swept the room and landed on Mrs. Song, who was pointing at Song Chenglu, her face a mask of alarm and anger.
"She’s trying to bolt! Stop her!"
Her voice suddenly shot up an octave.
Wang Gui understood immediately and lunged forward.
Song Chenglu screamed in terror and scrambled backward, her heel catching on the threshold, nearly making her fall.
But she was no match for Wang Gui’s speed.
Caught off guard, her wrist was seized in an iron grip.
"AH!"
She screamed in pain as tears streamed down her face.
Wang Gui didn’t let go. With his other hand, he shoved her shoulder, pinning her tightly against the wall in the corner.
"Stay still! Don’t try any tricks!"
His tone was cold and hard, clearly laced with impatience.
If he let her escape, he’d have to answer to Cheng Peng.
He had no intention of taking the fall and being punished because of some woman.
Song Chenglu’s entire arm throbbed with a fiery pain as she struggled and cried out.
"Let go! You’re hurting me! Let me go!"
Wang Gui snorted, tightening his grip.
"Move again, and I’ll tie you up!"
Song Chenglu sucked in a sharp breath, biting down hard on her lower lip.
Her lip turned purple, and a trickle of blood began to well up.
She didn’t dare to move again, terrified that he would actually tie her up.
Her hatred for Song Qingya, catalyzed by the pain and humiliation, grew even more twisted and monstrous.
She lifted her head and stared daggers at Mrs. Song.
"This is all your fault! You’re not my mother! The only one you care about is Song Qingya!"
"If you hadn’t called them, I would have been long gone! And that Song Qingya, she’s a jinx! I curse her! I hope she has a miserable life!"
She screamed herself hoarse, every word dripping with curses and malice.
At the words "miserable life," Mrs. Song swayed violently, her face instantly turning as white as a sheet.
She gripped a nearby table to keep herself from collapsing on the spot.
"Chenglu, stop it. Just let it go."
She struggled to lift her gaze to look at Song Chenglu.
"Those people, those things... they were never meant for you."
"Why do you insist on clinging to them? If you can turn over a new leaf, in the future... there might still be a chance."
Her voice grew softer until it was almost a whisper, filled with exhaustion and a sliver of hope.
She just hoped Song Chenglu would listen to even a single word.
She didn’t want to watch her daughter walk step by step toward her own ruin, much less witness her being consumed by hatred.
Hearing this, Song Chenglu slammed forward with all her might, trying to break free from her restraints.
The frenzied burst of strength was so sudden and violent that even Wang Gui staggered slightly before tightening his grip again.
She glared at Mrs. Song, the hatred in her eyes practically boiling over.
"Easy for you to say! Where were you when I first started making mistakes? Why didn’t you stop me? Why didn’t you tell me what was right and what was wrong sooner?"
"Now that I’ve ended up like this, you show up to say these things. Don’t you think it’s a little late?"
"You loved it when I acted spoiled and threw tantrums, so you always gave in. You indulged me time and time again. But now? Now you blame me for being willful and immature? Is that fair?"
"If you hadn’t let me do whatever I wanted, would I have ended up like this? If you hadn’t given me everything I ever asked for since I was a child, would I have become this person?"
"If it weren’t for you, I might have been just like Song Qingya! I would have studied hard, gotten a job, married a decent man, and lived a simple, stable life!"
"This is all your fault! You spoiled me rotten, and then you pushed me into this abyss with your own two hands! If you hadn’t doted on me so much, how could I have ever ended up like this? Tell me! Go on, tell me!"
Mrs. Song stood frozen, her lips trembling.
She wanted to explain, to argue, but her throat felt choked, and she couldn’t utter a single word.
It was true. She had spoiled her daughter too much.
She had thought love meant unconditional indulgence, that as long as her child was happy, everything would be fine.
But she never imagined that this boundless love would end up becoming the poison that destroyed her daughter.
Listening to Song Chenglu’s crazed rant, Wang Gui’s brow furrowed deeper.
’This woman is a lost cause.’
’Even now, she refuses to reflect on her own mistakes and instead pushes all the blame onto others.’
He had no desire to listen to her nonsense any longer. He tightened his grip and began dragging her out toward the courtyard.
"Let me go! You can’t do this! I didn’t do anything wrong! What right do you have to take me? I want a lawyer! I’m calling the police!"
Song Chenglu continued to struggle desperately, her legs kicking wildly, her nails digging bloody scratches into Wang Gui’s arm.
Wang Gui ignored her completely. Without breaking stride, he shoved her into the back seat of the car.
The engine started, and the tires crunched over the gravel as the car sped off, quickly disappearing down the road.
In a corner near the courtyard gate, a small, slender figure peeked out.
It was Yang Meiling.
She had been wandering nearby, hoping she might run into Fei Jin, exchange a few words, and get a little closer to him.
She never expected to stumble upon a scene like this.
Terrified, she quickly shrank back behind the corner of the wall, holding her breath.
’Song Chenglu is unbelievably stupid, getting herself into a mess like this.’
’She used to be so arrogant, and now she’s being dragged away like a rabid dog. She totally brought this on herself. Looks like she’s finished. Completely finished.’
’I’ll have to think of another way.’
she muttered to herself, her gaze growing dark and calculating.
