Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting

Chapter 230: Stepping Stone

What Song Chenglu couldn’t stand the most was her cold, indifferent expression.

"Stop putting on an act! Stop acting so high and mighty!"

"You’re just as filthy as I am! What gives you the right to stand so tall now?"

"Song Qingya, if you really have the guts, then kill me right now! Don’t send me back to that hell! I won’t go back!"

Her voice suddenly took on a tearful tone, a shrill cry laced with despair.

"Those scumbags bully me every day, and I know it’s you pulling the strings behind the scenes!"

She stared daggers at Song Qingya, her eyes filled with both accusation and pleading.

"You’re the one who deliberately made them target me! You ruined everything for me!"

Hearing this, Song Qingya sneered, her tone dripping with contempt.

"Kill you? Lay a hand on you?"

A faint glimmer of pity flashed in her eyes.

"Song Chenglu, you really overestimate yourself."

"Kill you? It’s not worth getting my hands dirty."

"Who do you think you are? Worthy of my personal attention? No. The very thought of touching you disgusts me."

"As for sending people to teach you a lesson? Even more unnecessary."

She tilted her head slightly, her voice tinged with disdain.

"I don’t want my mother to find out and get upset. She’s sick; she can’t handle the stress. And don’t think I’m doing this out of any lingering affection. I just don’t want her to worry."

’She’s pitying me?’

’Looking at me with that condescending gaze?’

’I am Song Chenglu!’

’The once-glorious and admired eldest daughter of the Song Family!’

"AH!"

Song Chenglu let out a sudden, bloodcurdling scream.

Summoning strength from nowhere, she seized the split second Old Liu was distracted and threw herself toward the wall with all her might!

"Damn it!"

Old Liu’s pupils contracted. He never expected the woman he was holding down to suddenly go berserk.

He lunged forward instinctively, his arm whipping out.

Just then, he managed to grab her arm!

The force of the pull threw Song Chenglu off course. She lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground.

A dull THUD echoed.

Her head smashed hard against the concrete floor.

Blood immediately began to trickle from the corner of her forehead, starting as a thin red line.

It quickly pooled and streamed down, winding along her brow bone to stain half her cheek and neck.

Song Qingya just stood to the side, watching coldly, her expression utterly unchanged.

"Old Liu."

"Yes, Dean!"

Old Liu answered at once. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but he didn’t hesitate to apply more force, pressing his knee onto Song Chenglu’s shoulder.

"Go get a strong rope and tie her up securely."

Song Qingya’s gaze slowly swept over the dust-covered face on the floor.

"Also, get some gauze and alcohol. Treat the wound on her head."

She paused, then added.

"I don’t want any incidents on the way, getting blood everywhere. It’s a bad look."

"Once that’s done, send her back to the detention center immediately."

"Make it clear to them."

Her eyes grew cold, her tone chilling over.

"If she slips out again, they’ll be the ones to take responsibility. If something goes wrong, don’t come to me to clean up the mess."

In the hospital room, Dean Yuan was lying quietly in his bed.

The medicinal fluid in the IV bag dripped down, one drop at a time.

Accompanied by the rhythmic BEEPING of the monitor.

Mrs. Yuan sat in a chair by the bed, her hands folded in her lap.

Her eyes were red and swollen, with deep, dark circles underneath. It was obvious she hadn’t slept for several nights and was utterly exhausted.

Even so, she forced herself to stay alert, periodically reaching out to tuck in her husband’s blanket.

Yang Meiling entered, walking with extremely light steps, carrying a small tray.

Neatly arranged on the tray were several vials of medicine, a syringe, and sterilized cotton balls.

"Aunt Yuan, you should rest for a bit. You look exhausted."

"The doctor said Dean Yuan is recovering well. Getting these nutritional injections on time will help his body heal."

As Yang Meiling spoke, she glanced down at the chart to confirm the time before continuing.

"The nurse also just said that all his vitals are much more stable today than yesterday, which means his post-surgery recovery is progressing smoothly."

Mrs. Yuan looked up at her, her eyes full of gratitude.

"Meiling, you’ve really gone through so much trouble, always running around helping."

She raised her hand and gently patted the back of Yang Meiling’s hand.

A corner of Yang Meiling’s mouth lifted. She skillfully took the syringe and drew up the clear liquid from a vial.

"Auntie, why be so formal with me?"

She said this as she walked over to the IV stand.

"Dean Yuan has always treated me like his own daughter. What I’m doing is nothing."

As she pushed the plunger, she deliberately slowed her pace, her gaze fixed on the IV line.

The liquid slowly flowed into the tube, traveled down the transparent line, and finally entered the vein in Dean Yuan’s hand.

After she finished, she didn’t leave right away. Instead, she pulled up a chair, sat by the bed, and gently took Mrs. Yuan’s hand.

The warmth from her palm made Mrs. Yuan’s heart tremble.

"Don’t be so sad, Auntie. It hurts me to see you like this."

"I know you’re worried about Dean Yuan, but if you collapse, who will take care of him? And who will be there to deal with Song Qingya?"

Seeing Mrs. Yuan’s expression slowly soften, Yang Meiling laughed inwardly, but her face took on an even more aggrieved look.

She lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling, appearing as if she wanted to say something but was holding back.

"Isn’t that the truth!"

Mrs. Yuan slapped the back of her hand forcefully.

Her chest heaved, her emotions instantly ignited.

"That girl became dean at such a young age. How could she not have some tricks up her sleeve? She must have someone backing her, otherwise, how could she have climbed so fast!"

"This time, with Old Yuan’s surgery, if we could have found anyone more suitable, I never would have let her operate! Who knows what her real intentions are? She’s probably just trying to use this opportunity to snatch the position for herself!"

Yang Meiling took the opportunity to sigh, her voice laced with worry.

She furrowed her brow slightly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Auntie, don’t get too worked up. It’s not worth making yourself sick over it."

She paused, her tone growing more cautious.

"Dean Song is the dean, after all. Her medical skills can’t be that bad, right? But I’m worried... what if, in order to show off, she used some... special methods... That would be trouble."

Mrs. Yuan’s resentment toward Song Qingya surged.

"Exactly... The power transition at the hospital is a sensitive issue right now. Who wouldn’t want to seize the chance to prove their merit? With Old Yuan down, hasn’t he just become a stepping stone for others to climb on?"

Just as she was speaking.

"Ugh... cough..."

Dean Yuan, lying on the bed, suddenly choked.

His face turned a deathly purple at a visible rate.

"Old Yuan!!"

Mrs. Yuan froze on the spot, her pupils constricting in terror.

She shot up from her chair almost instinctively, scrambling to the bedside and desperately clutching Dean Yuan’s cold hands.

"What’s wrong?! Say something! You can’t let anything happen to you!! Wake up! I’m begging you, wake up!!"

Yang Meiling also shot to her feet, her legs feeling a little weak.

"Auntie, don’t panic!"

"I’ll go get a doctor! Right now!"

With that, she bolted for the door.

Just as she was about to cross the threshold, she suddenly paused, turned her head to look back at Mrs. Yuan inside the room, and lowered her voice.