Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 106: Why the High and Mighty Act?

"Song... Qingya!! You..."

Sun Zhenhai looked like he was about to explode, his face flushed and his eyes bulging.

Before he could finish, a loud sound rang out beside his ear.

SMACK!

A solid, heavy slap landed on the back of his head!

The slap was so forceful it knocked some of the anger right out of him.

He was stunned.

"Sun Zhenhai!"

Sun Qiang scolded him in a low, stern voice, his gaze severe.

"What kind of attitude is that? How can you call your sister by her full name? That’s going too far! It’s completely improper! Hurry up and apologize to your sister right now!"

Sun Qiang had been sitting off to the side, observing from the start.

"..."

When he saw his son call Song Qingya by her full name in front of everyone, without even adding "sister," Fei Jin’s expression immediately darkened.

Sitting to the side, Sun Qiang’s heart lurched.

He immediately realized the situation was dire.

He clearly remembered the night a few months ago when Fei Jin had called him out for a private word.

His son-in-law was an extraordinary man with powerful backing, the family’s prime target for currying favor and climbing the social ladder.

They had to stay firmly in his good graces to have any hope of benefiting from his connections.

If his son angered Fei Jin again this time and severed that connection, then the family’s grand plans for wealth and success would likely go up in smoke.

The more Sun Qiang thought about it, the more frightened he became, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He hardly dared to dwell on it. He rushed over to Sun Zhenhai, grabbed him by the collar, and yanked him close.

"Zhenhai, apologize to your brother-in-law this instant! Do you hear me?"

"We’ve clearly spoiled you rotten! To act so disrespectful in front of the family, with no manners at all!"

Sun Qiang said, furious and flustered.

"If you keep acting like such a good-for-nothing, how are your sister and brother-in-law supposed to help you find a decent job? How will they help you get promoted and make a fortune? Tell me that!"

Sun Zhenhai’s head spun from his father’s sudden tirade.

He was already twenty years old, yet he was still mooching off his parents at home, idling his days away without a care.

He knew he was at an age where he should be supporting himself, and the shame of it had long worn on him.

He’d been worrying lately about how to find a way into a proper job.

What he’d said just now had indeed been rash and reckless.

The slap had finally knocked some sense into him, and he calmed down.

After a moment of silence, he lowered his head and mumbled, "Sorry... Sister. And... Brother-in-law... I wasn’t thinking straight. I was talking nonsense."

"It’s fine."

Song Qingya, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, her voice flat.

"This isn’t the first time you’ve called me that, is it?"

Hearing Song Qingya’s loaded words, a knot of anger tightened in Sun Zhenhai’s chest. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"He’s just a kid, young and ignorant, he doesn’t think about the consequences."

Yang Yunhua chimed in with a forced, apologetic smile.

"Qingya, dear, be the bigger person and don’t hold it against him. Come on, have a piece of watermelon. I even picked out the sweetest slices just for you, knowing how much you love it."

As she spoke, she picked up the fruit platter from the cutting board and offered it to her.

Slices of neatly cut watermelon were arranged on the white porcelain plate.

Song Qingya merely glanced at it before looking away.

Yang Yunhua, who had been holding the platter with a wide smile, froze mid-motion. Her hand hovered awkwardly in the air, and her smile faltered when it became clear Qingya wasn’t going to take a piece.

"I bought this watermelon just for you. I even chilled it in the well for a while to make it extra refreshing."

"I remember how much you loved it as a child, so cool and sweet. Why aren’t you having any today? Or do you think we’re just putting on an act for you?"

At these words, the corner of Song Qingya’s mouth curled into a cold sneer.

’It’s true, this body does love watermelon.’

’But in the original owner’s memories, how many times did she actually get to eat any?’

’Every time she reached out to try a piece, she would be stopped.’

"Don’t snatch your brother’s."

’And what about that child, Sun Zhenhai?’

’Even when his little belly was bulging, he wouldn’t stop.’

’He’d devour the entire plate until only the thin rinds were left, finally tossing her a few leftover scraps.’

’Back then, she could only look pitifully at Yang Yunhua, pleading for help.’

"Look how much my son can eat! He’s bound to be successful in the future!"

’Although the current Song Qingya wasn’t the original one, she was still affected by those lingering emotions.’

She coldly rejected the hypocritical display of affection, her tone utterly flat.

"I already said I’m not eating."

’Where was all this concern before?’

’Only now do they remember to start sucking up.’

’They’re only putting on this act because I’m the Village Chief’s Wife now, aren’t they?’

Faced with her sudden coldness, the husband and wife exchanged a stunned glance.

Finally, unable to hold back, they spoke, their voices laced with complaint. "Qingya, if there’s something you’re unhappy about, just say it. Don’t keep pushing us away, making it seem like we have to grovel to you."

"We don’t even know what you’re angry about. Can you please just explain?"

"Mom, Uncle Sun, you’ve misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?"

"Qingya isn’t angry," he continued. "Her health just doesn’t permit her to eat those things."

"Her health doesn’t permit it?"

Auntie Sun was the first to look surprised.

Yang Yunhua frowned and pressed, "But I remember she used to eat anything."

Just then, Sun Zhenhai scoffed and stepped forward, his arms crossed and his face full of disdain.

"Stop acting so high and mighty. You just latched onto a rich man and now you think you’re too good for us, is that it?"

"Uncle Sun," Fei Jin said, turning to Sun Qiang. "You really need to discipline your son."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Everyone held their breath.

"Yes, yes, he needs to be disciplined!"

A chill shot down Sun Qiang’s spine, and sweat broke out on his forehead instantly.

He nodded profusely, grabbed the still-dazed Sun Zhenhai, and shoved him toward a room door.

With a BANG, the door was shoved open and then quickly locked from the outside.

Leaving only a panting Sun Qiang on the other side.

Inside the room, Sun Zhenhai clearly hadn’t processed what had just happened. "Dad, I was just complaining a bit," he was heard saying. "Did you really have to lock me in here?"

This was followed by the sound of him pounding on the door and his increasingly furious shouts.

"Mom, come on, stick up for me! Are you really going to let Dad starve me for a whole day?"

Hearing this, Yang Yunhua was about to open her mouth to appeal to Sun Qiang.

But Sun Qiang’s expression changed instantly, and he stopped her. "Don’t you dare speak up for him," he said sternly.

"I’ve said it before, no one is to go soft. Let him learn his lesson the hard way. He’s not coming out until he truly understands his mistake."

His tone was unyieldingly resolute.

Then, he turned back around, his face instantly plastered with a smile.

He faced Fei Jin and Song Qingya.