Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 197: Why Her?

"Dad, this piece is leaner, less fatty. Try it and see if you like it."

Father Song picked up the piece of meat, put it in his mouth, chewed a few times, and nodded slightly.

"Mm, it’s soft and tender. Easy to chew. I can manage it."

Only then did Song Qingya turn her head, her calm gaze landing on Yang Meiling’s face.

"Perhaps our tastes are different. If you’re not used to it, just have some more soup."

The strained smile Yang Meiling was barely maintaining almost faltered.

In the end, she could only lower her head and continue picking at the rice in her bowl.

Fei Jin watched all of this with cold eyes.

Just as Yang Meiling was about to speak again,

he suddenly looked up.

"Focus on your food. Stop chattering."

Yang Meiling trembled and instantly froze.

She quickly shut her mouth, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Liu Li and Father Song exchanged a look, each seeing the displeasure in the other’s eyes.

As elders, they could naturally see that Yang Meiling’s behavior was inappropriate and had long since felt uncomfortable.

But this girl was someone Qingya herself had said could stay, so they couldn’t just kick her out directly.

They could only swallow their annoyance for now and see how things developed.

After dinner, Liu Li and Song Qingya started clearing the table together.

Yang Meiling stood in a corner of the living room, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t dare to approach.

Seeing Fei Jin put down his chopsticks and prepare to get up and leave, she shot up from the sofa.

"Brother Ajin, are you heading back to the base? Be careful on the road. It’s cold, so remember to dress warmly."

Fei Jin didn’t break his stride, walking straight past her.

In the instant they brushed past each other, he suddenly spoke in a low voice,

"Don’t forget your place. Behave yourself. Don’t cause any trouble for me and Qingya. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it."

Yang Meiling’s face instantly turned deathly pale.

She lowered her head and replied in a tiny voice.

"I understand."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the family housing compound,

Qi Yuanyuan slammed her phone down, plopped onto the sofa with a thump, her face filled with rage.

"You should have seen how smug Song Qingya looked! Dean Yuan just retired, and she takes his place right after? What is this? On what grounds?"

"Does she even know how to run a hospital? All she does all day is put on a show! I bet she got the position because of the Fei Family’s background! No real skill, just connections!"

"Besides, she’s pregnant! A pregnant woman should be resting at home, not running to the hospital to fight for some title!"

She slammed her hand on the coffee table, startling Mr. Qi so much that his hand almost trembled.

"That dean’s position should have been mine! I’m the most suitable successor! Why should it go to her?"

Mr. Qi and Mrs. Qi glanced at each other, a trace of helplessness flashing in their eyes.

They knew their daughter was proud and ambitious, but reality didn’t always bend to her will.

Mrs. Qi gently patted her daughter’s hand, her tone disdainful.

"Yuanyuan, I’ve seen plenty of people like her. They act all friendly on the surface, but behind your back, they’re always scheming against others."

Mr. Qi nodded, his tone steady.

"Exactly. To secure the position, she has to occupy it first. The problem is, her foundations are shallow, she lacks experience, and her background isn’t strong enough to support such a high position. In a situation like this, as soon as someone makes a move, her weaknesses will be exposed immediately. So, there will be plenty of opportunities to go after her. It’s just a matter of when we decide to strike."

Qi Yuanyuan’s eyes instantly lit up, and her voice rose unconsciously.

"Dad! Mom! Can we really get her kicked out?"

Mrs. Qi leaned in with a smile, lowering her voice with a hint of smugness.

"Silly child, would Mom and Dad let you suffer a loss? We worked so hard to raise you to be a key doctor at the hospital. How could we just stand by and watch an outsider snatch the dean’s position? The dean’s position... what is it? It’s real power, it’s resources, it’s connections! A position like that has to be held by one of us for us to be at ease. As for Song Qingya..."

"Hmph, it’s time she learned that there are some people she can’t afford to provoke or touch."

"Then... then what do we do?"

Qi Yuanyuan was both excited and a little worried.

"She’s officially taken the post now. If we make a move that’s too obvious, won’t it arouse suspicion? Also, what if Ajin... what if Mr. Fei finds out?"

She bit her lip, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

"I don’t want to make Fei Jin angry. If he thinks I was involved in this, he’ll probably look down on me."

"Don’t worry."

Mr. Qi slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"You stay out of this. We’ll handle it; we’ll be the ones to take action. You just keep quiet and be a surgeon. Even if some rumors get out, they won’t trace back to you."

"Then you can pretend to know nothing, which will make you seem magnanimous and innocent. That’s how a smart person plays it."

Mrs. Qi chimed in.

"That’s right. Just wait for news. Your father and I have been around for years; what kind of situation haven’t we seen? We’re not going to mess up something as minor as this."

"Once we’ve taken Song Qingya down, is the dean’s position going to just fly away? When the time comes, someone will naturally step up to recommend you. You have the seniority, you have the ability, and you’re a long-time hospital employee. Who could possibly say no?"

Only then did Qi Yuanyuan’s worries completely vanish. The corners of her mouth slowly curled up into a smug smile.

「The next day.」

The hospital announced the new personnel arrangements.

Song Qingya officially succeeded Dean Yuan, becoming the new dean.

The news spread through the hospital as if it had wings, making the rounds first thing in the morning.

Even the cleaning ladies in the logistics department were whispering about it.

"Did you hear? Doctor Song is the new dean!"

A young nurse’s eyes widened.

"For real? She’s so young to be a dean. She’s only in her early thirties, right? Can she handle it?"

Another doctor frowned, their face a mask of disbelief.

"It’s obviously because she’s riding Mr. Fei’s coattails."

Someone sneered, their voice filled with disdain.

"Anyone else, no matter how capable, wouldn’t have gotten this chance. A hospital isn’t just any old workplace. Without some background, how could you possibly climb to the top in a single step?"

"And Dean Yuan, why on earth did he choose her right before retiring? There are so many senior department heads in the hospital. Which one of them isn’t better than her? I just can’t figure it out."

"I heard she used to be involved in... that kind of thing."

A middle-aged nurse leaned closer to her colleague, her voice even lower.

"Back when she was at a regional hospital, she got into disputes with several patients. Now they’re letting her run a hospital this big? Is that reliable?"

Just as Song Qingya walked into the hospital building, waves of discussion drifted into her ears.

But her expression didn’t change as she walked steadily down the corridor.

"Dean Song!"

Qi Yuanyuan stood with her hands on her hips, directly blocking the office doorway.

The people around them immediately stopped, their gazes sweeping over, afraid to miss the show.

"Doctor Qi, is there something I can help you with?"

Song Qingya stopped and looked directly into Qi Yuanyuan’s eyes.

"What do you think?"

Qi Yuanyuan’s voice suddenly shot up.

"How could I not have something to say? Dean Yuan just left, and you’re already taking his place? Isn’t that a little too fast!"

She sneered, her words quickening.

"Was this all arranged long ago? Pulling strings, using connections, or having someone powerful backing you up? Isn’t it obvious to everyone?"

"This transfer was a joint decision made by the higher-ups and the former dean. The procedure was perfectly legal."