Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 173: Punishment

She knew that mentioning her mother could always create a crack in Song Qingya’s composure.

As she spoke, the rims of her eyes turned red, and she wore a look of utter remorse.

Tears welled up, threatening to fall but never quite spilling over—a result of deliberate control.

She lowered her head slightly, avoiding direct eye contact, making her "remorse" appear all the more genuine and believable.

Song Qingya watched her, her gaze scrutinizing.

That gaze was like an invisible ruler, measuring Song Chenglu’s every expression and every movement, inch by inch.

She was all too familiar with this kind of performance. Growing up, Song Chenglu had staged similar scenes countless times.

’If she truly regretted her past actions, why would she have repeatedly pushed my boundaries time and time again before this?’

She could see through the pretense in an instant.

However, she was in no hurry to expose the act. She knew the real test wasn’t in words, but in the actions that would follow.

Under her watch, Song Chenglu couldn’t stir up any trouble.

She had already planted spies and arranged for personnel. Song Chenglu’s every move would be reported back to her faithfully.

She wasn’t afraid of the act; she was afraid Song Chenglu *wouldn’t* act. The more convincing the performance, the more thoroughly she would expose herself.

"Cheng Peng."

Song Qingya called out toward the door.

Cheng Peng immediately pushed the door open and came in, standing ramrod straight. "Ma’am, you called?"

He was one of Song Qingya’s most trusted guards—decisive and never one to ask unnecessary questions.

He stood with perfect posture, hands at his sides, like a sharp blade ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice.

"Arrange for a few people to send her back immediately."

Song Qingya gestured toward Song Chenglu.

She didn’t even spare Song Chenglu another glance, as if the other woman was no longer worthy of her attention.

"Understood!"

He turned to Song Chenglu and, with a deadpan expression, made a "this way, please" gesture. His movements were so precise it was like he was carrying out a routine task.

Song Chenglu snuck a glance at Song Qingya. Seeing that she didn’t say anything more, she felt a sense of relief, lowered her head, and obediently followed Cheng Peng out.

But in the instant she lowered her head, a dark glint flashed in her eyes.

She remembered every word and every look from today, secretly vowing to one day pay it all back with interest.

With a CREAK, the warehouse door swung shut.

The moment the metal doors closed, it felt as if the entire scene had been locked away in the darkness.

Only then did the coldness on Song Qingya’s face fully surface.

The fleeting moment of calm vanished, replaced by a bottomless chill.

She knew Song Chenglu wouldn’t give up so easily. This contest had only just begun.

Not long after, Fei Jin returned, dusty and travel-worn from dealing with Wang Kang. As soon as he walked in, he saw Song Qingya sitting at a table, her head bowed over a map.

There was a small tear on his cuff, a clear sign that he had just escaped a conflict.

His steps were a little heavy and his face showed signs of fatigue, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

"You’re back?"

Song Qingya’s voice was calm, as if asking casually, yet also as if she had been expecting his return all along.

Her finger traced a line across the map, which was marked with several red dots, as if she were planning out some kind of strategy.

"Yeah."

Fei Jin walked over to Song Qingya’s side, casually taking off his jacket and hanging it up. "That business with Song Chenglu, what are you planning to do about it?"

His tone was relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on her.

He knew Song Qingya never did anything without preparation, and she certainly wouldn’t let any threat go easily.

"What else? Send her back to face her punishment."

Song Qingya kept her head down, tidying the things in her hands. She said it so casually, as if she were talking about what to have for dinner.

"Punishment?"

Fei Jin was taken aback. He had assumed she would keep her locked up a while longer, or at least interrogate her a few more times, maybe even set a trap to test her.

He never expected her to decide to send her back right away.

And he knew all too well what that "punishment" entailed.

It wasn’t simple reflection. It was a complete reshaping of mind and body—an utter erasure of the old self to create a new, obedient soul.

"That’s right. She agreed to it herself. She was even rushing us to make the arrangements."

As she spoke, Song Qingya looked down and carefully folded the map in her hands into a neat little square, her movements unhurried.

After she finished, she slowly lifted her gaze to Fei Jin’s face. Her expression was calm, but tinged with a hint of exhaustion.

"Are you done with your business? If you are, you should get some rest."

She said softly, her gentle tone laced with concern, as if she were worried he was too tired but also worried he wouldn’t listen to her advice.

Fei Jin didn’t answer right away, staring at her for a long moment instead.

His brow furrowed slightly, as if there were something caught in his throat that he couldn’t say.

Her current condition weighed on his heart like a stone—she was pregnant, a life quietly growing inside her.

The situation at the camp was still unstable, the personnel a mixed bag, and dangerous drifters still appeared from time to time. How could anyone feel at ease in an environment like this?

"How about..." He paused, his voice dropping a little. "We send you back first? It’s safer."

"No."

Song Qingya’s rebuttal was almost instantaneous.

She looked directly into Fei Jin’s eyes, her gaze firm. "I can’t leave. We’re short-staffed right now. If I stay, I can lend a hand and do my part. I’m a doctor, and more than that, I’m a member of this team, not some fragile decoration to be kept under a glass dome."

Fei Jin’s brow furrowed even deeper, a faint line appearing on his temple.

He knew she was capable, of course.

Her medical skills, her decisiveness, her composure—they had all been proven in countless crises.

But that was precisely why he couldn’t rest easy.

The more capable a person is, the more likely they are to put themselves in danger. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

And in a place like this, not even he could say it was one hundred percent safe.

"It’s not peaceful here. It’s too dangerous for you to stay."

His tone softened. "I can’t watch over you all the time. If something were to happen... I..."

He trailed off, unable to finish, but the pain and fear in his eyes were unmistakable.

"I’m not a child. You don’t need to follow me around everywhere."

Song Qingya cut him off with a light laugh, a playful glint in her eye.

She reached out and patted his shoulder gently, as if to both comfort and tease him. "Don’t forget, I was the one who dug you out of the rubble. You were covered in blood back then, barely breathing. Wasn’t I the one who stitched you back together and saved you?"

Fei Jin opened his mouth, but for a moment, he was speechless.

The scene from that disaster instantly flooded his mind.

Back then, she had been covered in dust, her hands full of cuts, yet she hadn’t uttered a single complaint.

His voice softened, laced with a mix of indulgence and surrender. "All right, all right, you’re right about everything. You’re the best. But—"

His expression turned serious, and his voice grew deeper. "You can stay, but you have to agree to one condition. You have to tell me in advance wherever you go. No sneaking off. No entering dangerous areas alone, and no leaving the camp without permission. If anything unusual happens, you contact me immediately. This is an order, not a negotiation."

Looking at his serious expression, Song Qingya felt a warmth spread through her heart.