Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 195: The Scheme
Liu Li jumped, all thoughts of Yang Meiling driven from her mind.
She quickly supported Mrs. Song and asked urgently.
"Mrs. Song, what’s wrong? Is your condition acting up? Where does it hurt? Is it your chest? Should I call a doctor?"
Her voice cracked as she spoke. She wrapped one arm tightly around Mrs. Song’s shoulder and patted her back with the other, terrified something might really happen to her.
"My chest... I can’t breathe."
Mrs. Song leaned on her shoulder, her brow tightly furrowed, and she deliberately made her breathing heavy and ragged.
Liu Li was in a full-blown panic.
"Don’t move, don’t move! I’ll help you home first! Or should we get a taxi to the hospital right now?"
She glanced around frantically as she spoke.
She wanted to find someone to help call a cab but was afraid Mrs. Song would collapse if she let go.
"You have to be okay! Imagine how worried Qingya would be!"
Supporting the "ailing" Mrs. Song, she had no more time to deal with anyone else and hurried toward the family housing complex.
As she passed Yang Meiling, she just tossed a sentence over her shoulder.
"Meiling, don’t follow us for now!"
Yang Meiling sat where she was, watching their retreating figures, her expression suddenly turning cold.
"Aunt Liu! Aunt Song! Be careful, walk slowly! I’ll come check on you later!"
Once they were far enough away and had turned a corner, Mrs. Song immediately straightened up. Her pained expression vanished, and she stopped groaning.
Liu Li froze for a few seconds before it dawned on her: she was faking it.
She burst out laughing with a "Pfft," then quickly lowered her voice.
"Oh my god, you scared me to death! I really thought you were having a heart attack. I was about to call 911!"
Mrs. Song scowled, looking displeased.
"You actually believe what that girl says? I can see she’s trying to weasel her way into our family!"
"Have you forgotten what kind of person Yang Meiling is?"
"Now she’s pulling the same old tricks. She thinks she can just cry a little, wipe away some tears, and get into my house? Not a chance!"
Liu Li was a little embarrassed by her words.
"But she was crying so convincingly just now. Her face was covered in tears, she looked so pitiful."
"Convincingly? That was an act!"
Mrs. Song cut her off, her tone firm and decisive.
"Didn’t you see her when she reached for the vegetable basket? There wasn’t a trace of sadness on her face. Her tears dried up faster than you can flip a page! She’s full of schemes. She pretends to be weak on the surface, but who knows what she’s plotting behind our backs!"
"No! I have to tell Qingya about this, and Fei Jin needs to know, too. You can’t bring her home with you. You’d just be asking for trouble!"
Mrs. Song’s tone grew more urgent as she spoke.
She pulled Liu Li’s arm, heading toward the family housing complex.
"Qingya just got out of the hospital, and her emotions are still fragile. If we let someone like that into the house, what if the stress makes her sick again?"
And Liu Li, being dragged along by her, didn’t dare say much more.
She followed behind with her head down, a sense of unease slowly creeping into her heart.
’Maybe that scene just now wasn’t so simple after all.’
Back home, the two of them told Song Qingya everything from start to finish about running into Yang Meiling and almost agreeing to let her stay temporarily.
After Song Qingya finished listening, a complex glint flashed in her eyes.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavier at the sight.
Father Song put down his newspaper.
"Nonsense! You can’t just bring anyone into the house!"
"Have you forgotten all the rotten things she did in the past?"
He stared at Liu Li, his tone filled with displeasure.
"You’re too soft-hearted!"
"Have you forgotten how she treated Qingya back then? How she threw our family into turmoil? And now she just has to act pitiful and you go soft on her? What is that about?"
Liu Li’s face flushed, and she mumbled under her breath.
"I just think she really is in a miserable situation."
"People who live miserable lives often have unlikable traits!"
Father Song snorted coldly.
"You think she’s really at a dead end? She’s a master manipulator! She’s testing the waters, step by step, getting closer and closer, until she can logically worm her way into our home."
"We can’t just let this go. I’m making a call right now!"
As he spoke, he reached for the phone on the coffee table.
Liu Li opened her mouth but ultimately didn’t dare to make a sound.
She knew his temper; once he made up his mind, it was hard to change it.
Just then, Song Qingya spoke up.
"Dad, Mom, sending her away might not be the right move."
She kept her hand gently on her belly as she spoke, but her gaze was resolute.
Father Song and Liu Li both turned to look at her in unison.
A hint of confusion appeared on both of their faces.
"Since Yang Meiling dared to show up at our door, she definitely won’t give up so easily."
Song Qingya’s tone was calm and her thoughts were clear.
"Today she can come asking for shelter because she’s homeless. Tomorrow she could come back citing old feelings or our ’sisterly’ bond."
"Besides, the more helpless and pitiful she acts, the more it proves she’s plotting something."
"Rather than letting her pull strings from the shadows, it’s better to keep her right under our noses where we can watch her."
Father Song paused, frowning in thought.
"You mean...?"
"Arrange for her to go to the hospital."
Song Qingya said firmly after a moment of thought.
"We’ll find her a job in logistics, with room and board in the dormitory."
"The hospital is a place we have some control over. People coming and going are registered, and daily activities are supervised."
"This way, we solve her housing problem and can also keep an eye on her movements."
She lifted her head slightly, her gaze sharp and cold.
"Watching her out in the open is better than being schemed against from the shadows."
Liu Li was still a bit hesitant after hearing this.
"But... will that really work?"
"Won’t it cause trouble at the hospital? What if she uses her job to get close to someone, or starts spreading rumors..."
Her worries weren’t unfounded.
After all, a hospital was a sensitive institution, and its personnel arrangements were always strict.
Father Song, however, thought the plan was sound.
"Yes. The hospital is busy and full of people. It won’t be so easy for her to play tricks."
"And Qingya’s right. It’s better to have her under supervision than to let her run free outside."
He made the final decision.
"We’ll do as she says."
"No!"
The words had barely been spoken when a firm objection came from the doorway.
Fei Jin pushed the door open, strode over to Song Qingya’s side, and gently took her hand.
"Qingya, there are too many people at the hospital. I wouldn’t be at ease."
"Dad, Mom, I’ll handle this."
Fei Jin’s tone was steady.
"I’ll find an excuse to send her to a farm or factory far away from us."
"It’ll be hard for her to even get close, so she’ll naturally give up the idea."
Song Qingya gently shook her head.
"Ajin, I know you mean well."
"Dean Yuan was just transferred, and I’m taking over his duties. This gap in personnel changes is the perfect opportunity. I can use it to move a few people in."
She wanted control, not to be constantly on the defensive.
Fei Jin looked at her determined expression, fell silent for a moment, and finally conceded.
"Alright, I’ll listen to you."
His tone softened, but it still held a hint of worry.
"But I’m going to have two people keep an eye on her. If there’s the slightest sign of trouble, they’ll act immediately."
Song Qingya couldn’t argue with his concern.
"Fine, do as you wish."
A knock sounded at the door.
The sound wasn’t loud, but it was so abrupt that the atmosphere in the room froze.
Liu Li got up to open the door, her steps a little hesitant.
The moment she pulled the door open, she saw Yang Meiling standing there, holding an old bundle.
"Aunt Liu, Uncle Fei, Doctor Song, Brother Ajin, I’m here to report. Sorry to be a bother to you all."
