Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 172: Stop Being Stubborn

The adults sat in small groups on little stools in front of their doors, chatting about neighborhood gossip—whose kid had aced a test, which mother-in-law was feuding with her daughter-in-law again. All the while, they kept their heads down, mending clothes and stitching shoe soles, their needles and thread darting ceaselessly in the dim yellow light.

Watching these ordinary yet warm scenes of daily life, the tension in Song Qingya’s heart slowly began to ease.

"Village Chief, Ma’am, what should we do with Wang Kang?"

Cheng Peng asked in a hushed voice, keeping it low for fear of disturbing the peace, and also for fear of saying the wrong thing and displeasing his superiors.

Before Fei Jin could speak, Song Qingya said, "Lock him up for now."

After a pause, she added, "And Song Chenglu. Lock her up with him."

At her words, even Fei Jin shot her a sideways glance, clearly not expecting her to bring up that name so quickly.

Cheng Peng froze, his eyes widening. He subconsciously swallowed. "Ma’am, lock up Song Chenglu too? Then... where?"

Song Qingya thought for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as if weighing the pros and cons. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

After a moment, she said, "Isn’t there an empty warehouse at the camp? Throw her in there for now. Post someone to watch her, and make sure she stays put."

Though Cheng Peng didn’t fully understand why, he had always trusted Song Qingya and knew she never acted without reason. He immediately nodded. "You got it! Ma’am, I’ll go make the arrangements right away."

With that, he took off at a run, his steps hurried, afraid of delaying official business.

Song Qingya and Fei Jin walked toward the camp side by side, neither being the first to speak.

Fei Jin saw the grim look on her face but didn’t rush to comfort her, simply walking by her side in silence.

At the camp, the lights were much brighter than outside. The soldiers on sentry duty stood ramrod straight and immediately saluted when they saw them return.

Song Qingya walked straight to the warehouse where Song Chenglu was being held.

It was pitch-black inside, damp and chillingly cold. Moisture clung to the ground, and patches of mold grew in the corners.

Song Chenglu was curled up on a chair in the corner, hugging her legs like a frightened little animal.

Hearing the door creak, she snapped her head up. Her neck went stiff as her eyes quickly focused.

When she saw it was Song Qingya, panic flared in her eyes. Her pupils contracted, and her lips trembled slightly.

"Sister... what are you doing here?"

Song Qingya walked up to her and stopped, looking down at her. Her smile was as cold as ice, without a shred of warmth.

"I came to see you, my dear sister."

She enunciated every word, her tone soft, yet laced with steel.

Song Chenglu’s face went white. She shot up from the chair and stumbled forward a step, reaching out to grab her sister’s arm.

"Sister, don’t be angry! I really know I was wrong! Please, just listen to me!"

Song Qingya sidestepped in disgust.

"And what were you wrong about? Do tell."

"Song Chenglu, do you think I can’t see right through you?" Her voice suddenly turned cold.

"Your little schemes, you think I don’t know? Stirring up trouble time and again, you think I was just playing dumb?"

Song Chenglu’s face was deathly pale, not a trace of color left in it. Her lips trembled as she scrambled to explain herself.

"Sister, I was really doing it for your own good! I didn’t have any selfish motives. I was completely thinking of you, afraid you’d be taken advantage of!"

"I was afraid Wang Kang would bully you, so I tried to find a way to help you avoid this trouble. I really didn’t have any ill intent, Sister, you have to believe me!"

Hearing this, Song Qingya’s mouth twitched, and she almost couldn’t stop herself from laughing out loud.

"’For my own good?’ Song Chenglu, you really know how to flatter yourself, don’t you? How can you even say something like that?"

"’For my own good’ means colluding with Wang Kang behind my back, teaming up to trick me and harm me?"

"You knew he had bad intentions, yet you deliberately pushed me into his trap. And now you’re trying to make it sound so noble, as if you’re some kind of savior?"

"Song Chenglu, you really are my dear sister. Your scheming runs so deep I almost don’t recognize you anymore!"

"Sister! I... I’m not that kind of person!"

Song Qingya cut her off, her tone sharp and decisive, showing no mercy.

"Don’t call me Sister. I don’t have a sister like you."

"From today on, you will reflect on what you’ve done. Think through the entire course of events before you open your mouth again."

Song Chenglu panicked, her face instantly turning deathly white. She finally realized her sister wasn’t just trying to scare her this time.

"Sister, listen to me! I really didn’t team up with Wang Kang! He made all of that up! He was just spouting nonsense!"

Song Qingya turned her head, her gaze cold as she looked out the window, not sparing her a single glance or a single word in response.

Song Chenglu was on the verge of a breakdown. Her eyes reddened and her voice rose as she desperately proclaimed her innocence.

"I have nothing to do with Wang Kang! I wish I could stay as far away from him as possible! He threatened me before and tried to make me do things for him—how could I possibly be willing to work with him!"

"Sister, you have to believe me! I was framed! I really didn’t betray you!"

Song Qingya slowly walked toward her, step by step. Her footsteps were steady, her gaze so cold it seemed capable of piercing a person’s soul.

"You dare say you bear no responsibility in this matter?"

"You dare say you didn’t deliberately bad-mouth me in front of Wang Kang to make him come after me?"

"You dare say you didn’t want to use him to mess with me, to humiliate me?"

"I... I..." Song Chenglu stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. Her eyes darted away, not daring to meet her sister’s gaze.

Song Qingya stared at her, her gaze like a knife, each word stabbing into her heart.

"Song Chenglu, those petty little schemes of yours... you think I can’t see them?"

"Your jealousy is written all over your face; you can’t even hide it. Go and reflect properly. Stop being so stubborn."

She paused, her tone softening slightly. "When you have truly repented, you can still be considered a member of the Shen Family—"

She didn’t finish her sentence, but the unspoken words hung over her head like the Sword of Damocles, chilling one to the bone.

Song Chenglu lowered her head, biting her lip hard.

She didn’t dare look up, afraid her eyes would betray the true emotions in her heart.

She knew that every word, every expression right now had to be carefully measured, allowing no room for error.

’Of course, she understood the second half of Song Qingya’s unfinished sentence—if she didn’t change, she couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.’

’She knew her sister too well. On the surface, she was impassive, but in reality, she planned every move. Once she struck, she left no room for retreat.’

She took a deep breath and raised her head, her face instantly shifting to a pitiful and obedient expression.

It was an expression she had perfected through countless rehearsals—pitiful and vulnerable, a calculated mix of feeling wronged and being completely submissive.

’She knew this expression was the easiest way to arouse pity. Especially for someone in control, seeing a weaker person bow their head always brought a sense of patronizing relief.’

"Sister, I really know I was wrong. Don’t worry, I will reflect on my actions seriously."

Her voice was faint and weak, like a frightened little bird trembling.

’But inwardly, she was sneering. This was all just an act, and she was long accustomed to playing whatever role others wanted to see on her stage.’

"Have someone send me back now. I want to go back early to admit my mistakes and start turning over a new leaf. Also..."

She spoke, then paused deliberately, as if carefully choosing her words, or as if overcome with emotion and unable to continue.

"As for Mom... please take good care of her."

She was implying that she wasn’t heartless, that she was still a filial daughter who cared about her family.