The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Returns as the Black Moonlight - Chapter 17

Within the span of a single morning, Shang Shiqian’s fragile heart had been struck three times in a row.

She was dazed.

Wei Yixian’s emotional state had always teetered on the edge of instability. Had the incident from the other night finally pushed her over the brink?

Offering to drive her to Dongcheng University had already been strange enough. But that affection level notification? That had come out of nowhere and it was downright chilling.

And it wasn’t just Shang Shiqian who froze. Even Wei Yixian, the one who triggered the affection update, paused in visible shock.

She quickly collected herself, her face still composed as ever. “What are you staring at?”

Shang Shiqian snapped to attention and shook her head. “I’m just… surprised.”

Wei Yixian gave her a long look but didn’t comment.

Shang Shiqian sat down at the dining table and, in a silent panic, screamed at the system in her mind.

Why did the affection level go up just now?!

Perhaps it had been supercharged by the new point, because the system sounded more energetic than ever. Even its robotic voice carried a giddy undertone.

“She offered to drive you!”

That’s it?

She was genuinely bewildered. All this just because she said she’d drive me?

“Yup!”

She’s probably just headed that way anyway. What does that have to do with love?

The system answered matter-of-factly. “Isn’t love measured by what someone is willing to do for you?”

Shang Shiqian opened her mouth. The logic… sort of tracked. But something still felt off.

She asked, So by your logic, if she does a hundred things for me, I can max out her affection level?

She had already begun brainstorming ways to hire Wei Yixian to do errands and cheese the affection stats.

The system warned, “It’s not that easy. This was the first time she had taken the initiative, and it marked a significant milestone. If she drives you again, the affection level won’t change. No loopholes. From here on, it only counts if she does things for you willingly.”

Then, maybe sensing her growing disappointment, it quickly added, “But think about it. If she’s already doing things for you without being asked, isn’t that proof enough she cares?”

Shang Shiqian: …

Wei Yixian: …

Impeccable logic.

In that moment, their hearts aligned in an unexpectedly tender way, creating a quiet sense of connection.

The one thing that reassured Shang Shiqian? Wei Yixian didn’t seem to have lost her mind after all.

The system chimed in again with cheerful encouragement.

“Just give it your best shot. And if you’re unsure what to do next, I’ve got tutorials! ‘Accelerated Romance in Confined Car Spaces,’ ‘What to Do in a Car to Win Her Heart,’ ‘Driving Tactics Every Savvy Woman Should Know,’ and ‘Veteran-Approved: Highway Basics for Beginners’…”

Shang Shiqian: … Not again.

—

Before they left, Wei Yixian told her to go change.

She had finally run out of patience with Shang Shiqian wearing the same outfit every day.

Pu Feifei, the maid, brightened immediately instantly and eagerly offered to help her pick out clothes.

What followed was basically a dress-up montage. Shang Shiqian, now a living mannequin, tried on several outfits.

When she finally emerged in a sleeveless matcha-green blouse with broad shoulders and a cinched waist, layered over a tank top and paired with utility shorts, Pu Feifei clapped her hands with satisfaction.

“We can’t make Miss Wei wait too long. Let’s go with this look today!”

Shang Shiqian narrowed her eyes. “Sister Pu, were you just waiting for a chance to do this?”

Pu Feifei grinned. “It would be such a shame to let all these beautiful clothes go to waste, wouldn’t it?”

The guest wardrobe had been stocked for occasions like this. Wei Yixian wouldn’t wear them, and the maids weren’t allowed to. Shang Shiqian had been heading out in her own clothes every day, and it had been painful to watch.

The clothes were scheduled to be taken back in two weeks. Finally, they had purpose.

Shang Shiqian had never been one to fuss over fashion. For her, casual clothes meant comfort, and formal attire was always selected by family or stylists.

But now there were no more stylists. No more family.

She glanced at Pu Feifei. “Sister Pu, can I learn how to style outfits from you?”

It was a simple request, but it was also the highest compliment to Pu Feifei’s taste. The maid lit up. “I’d be honored.”

—

The air inside the luxury car was tense.

The driver stole a cautious glance at the rearview mirror. “Miss Wei, should I go check on Miss Shang?”

Wei Yixian leaned back with her eyes closed, seemingly relaxed. But the rhythm of her fingers tapping the armrest betrayed her growing impatience.

She gave a terse hum.

Just then, Shang Shiqian stepped out the door, wearing a bucket hat.

Pu Feifei stood by the entrance, waving as she left.

The driver quickly stepped out to open the car door for her.

When the seat beside her moved, Wei Yixian slowly opened her eyes and turned to the side, meeting Shang Shiqian’s gaze directly.

She looked away just as quickly. “What are you looking at?”

Shang Shiqian asked, “Did Sister Pu pick your outfit too?”

Wei Yixian,. “…No.”

“So you styled yourself? That’s amazing. You’ve got a real eye.”

Wei Yixian found her annoyingly talkative and pulled a face mask from the compartment.

“Put this on.”

After she did, Wei Yixian seemed to remember something and gestured for the driver to hand over the phone kept in the car.

“For me?”

“It has the driver’s and housekeeper’s numbers. If you need anything, call them.”

“Thanks.” Shang Shiqian opened the contacts list. Sure enough, there were only two numbers saved.

She blinked. “Not adding yours?”

“I said, contact them if anything happens.” Wei Yixian shut her eyes again. End of conversation.

Shang Shiqian quietly turned her attention to the phone.

When she’d used the tablet earlier, she’d already noticed how much tech had advanced.

But phones? Phones had evolved even more than tablets. There were so many new apps and features that she could hardly recognize half of them.

There was no point in expecting Wei Yixian to explain anything. She simply registered a WeChat account so she could contact Chen Yixun more easily.

—

While she was fiddling with the phone, Wei Yixian subtly opened one eye and studied her.

She still couldn’t believe what she had thought two nights ago.

That “Shang Shiyu” might actually be the resurrected Shang Shiqian?

Impossible.

She didn’t know Shang Shiqian well, but there was one thing she was certain of. Shang Shiqian was never the type to be glued to electronic devices. She would never be caught fiddling with her phone in a car.

In fact, the only time she wasn’t playing mental Go in transit…

Was when she felt carsick.

Just then, Shang Shiqian set the phone aside, pressed a fist gently to her stomach, leaned against the headrest, and closed her eyes.

Wei Yixian: …

It had to be a coincidence.

—

The car pulled up near the east gate of Dongcheng University.

Students bustled toward the teaching buildings from their dorms. It was just before class.

Chen Yixun had agreed to meet at this time and was already waiting at the entrance.

She kept glancing at the bus stop nearby, when suddenly, a hand tapped her shoulder.

“Chen Yixun, morning!”

Chen Yixun turned around.

The person was bundled up and in new clothes, but the graceful figure and familiar eyes gave her away instantly.

“Shang Shiyu? What are you…”

Shang Shiqian pulled down her mask and blinked. “Hmm?”

Chen Yixun gave her a once-over. Surprise lit her face. “New outfit?”

Shang Shiqian tilted her head. “You don’t like it? A very kind sister spent a lot of time picking it out for me.”

Chen Yixun let out a half-laugh. “No, it looks good… Anyway, let’s go.”

“By the way, we can add each other now.” Shang Shiqian waved her phone.

Chen Yixun hesitated, then couldn’t help but ask, “Did you strike it rich or something?”

“I used to, not recently,” Shang Shiqian said lightly.

Chen Yixun: ?

Before she could say more, Shang Shiqian added, “I didn’t buy this phone. Someone lent it to me.”

Chen Yixun gripped her hand earnestly. “If anything’s wrong, you can come to me. I’ll help however I can. Just promise me you won’t get pulled into something bad.”

Shang Shiqian seemed so innocent, so unfamiliar with the world. She couldn’t help but worry.

Shang Shiqian smiled with curved eyes. “You’ve already helped me a lot. And no, I haven’t been tricked. She’s practically family to me. A good person.”

—

Inside the dark-tinted luxury car, Wei Yixian watched as someone held Shang Shiqian’s hand.

Her ringtone interrupted the moment.

Expression frosty, she turned away and instructed coldly, “Back to the office.”

The car merged into traffic and pulled away from the vibrant university campus.

—

Interview with Reporter Author: Why is Miss Shang, with her genius-level Go brain, the one leading the romance?

Miss Wei: I want to know what kind of tutorials the system’s been feeding her. I let her lead on purpose.

Author: And when you find out?

Miss Wei (cool smile):

Obedient Miss Shang.jpg