The Supporting Female Character Refuses to be Cannon Fodder Chapter 142

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Jiang Chan rarely showed a smile. “I won’t be going anywhere this year. I’ll stay home and keep you company. Just don’t find me annoying once we spend too much time together.”

Xiao Hua held Jiang Chan’s hand, hopping along as her ponytail swung high in the air. “I never would. I just want to stay with Grandma all the time. I’d never find you annoying.”

Jiang Chan was telling the truth. The plans she had finalized with Liu Yuan during this trip to the provincial capital would not need adjustment for at least one or two years. Besides, Xiao Wu had truly graduated as a technician in the workshop. Jiang Chan, as the former technical lead, could finally breathe a little easier.

Now, Jiang Chan devoted more of her attention to the company in the capital, while also spending more time with Xiao Hua. After all, Xiao Hua was already in fifth grade, and her academic workload was heavy. Jiang Chan had to ensure that Xiao Hua’s studies were not overly affected by outside distractions.

Time passed quietly. By the time Xiao Guang was struggling his way through the third year of middle school, Xiao Hua had already graduated from high school. She was only fifteen years old then. Over the past few years, she had skipped one year in middle school and another in high school. At fifteen, she was admitted to Capital University.

Seeing Xiao Hua’s academic results and looking at the tall, graceful young girl she had become, Jiang Chan felt a deep sense of pride, like watching her own child grow up.

She had raised this girl from a scrawny little sprout to who she was now. Her figure, temperament, manner of speech, and academic performance were all outstanding. Her calligraphy and pipa skills were also presentable. Jiang Chan felt nothing but pride.

At this point, Jiang Chan was already sixty four years old. After ten yearsq years of battling in the business world, her aura had become sharp and decisive. She was now a well known figure in business circles, the head of a famous food company in the capital.

Although she was older, her thinking was very modern and not at all conservative. Her judgment was especially sharp and seasoned. Businesses she set her sights on rarely lost money.

Those in the know were aware that Jiang Chan had only this one granddaughter, Xiao Hua. Everything she owned would eventually be left to Xiao Hua. She was practically a walking golden doll. It was not that no one had set their sights on Xiao Hua.

Unfortunately for them, Xiao Hua was upright and focused, throwing herself entirely into her studies. Besides, people still had some sense of propriety. No matter how tempting Jiang Chan’s wealth was, Xiao Hua was still a minor. If anything inappropriate spread at this time, it would amount to luring a minor.

So many people waited eagerly, simply waiting for Xiao Hua to come of age. Once she became an adult, it would be perfectly legitimate for her to date.

Families close to Jiang Chan waited and waited, expecting Xiao Hua to be an adult by the time she graduated high school.

Unfortunately, Xiao Hua did not follow expectations. She graduated from high school at fifteen and immediately entered university. Everyone assumed she would inherit Jiang Chan’s path and at least major in business administration.

Instead, after discussing it with Jiang Chan, she chose medicine.

She had not forgotten how Jiang Chan had taken her everywhere seeking treatment when her face was burned as a child.

Jiang Chan fully supported Xiao Hua’s decision. Xiao Hua had her own life path to walk, and Jiang Chan would never force her to follow a predetermined route. Besides, the reason she had built such a vast business empire in the first place was simply because she had too much time on her hands.

The original owner’s task was only to see Xiao Hua find a suitable husband. There had been no requirement to leave Xiao Hua vast material wealth. Jiang Chan’s original urgency to make money was mainly to heal Xiao Hua’s face.

Of course, another reason was to live better herself. Later on, the scale of things expanded naturally, and Jiang Chan found that she quite enjoyed the sense of achievement she gained from business. The company had continued to operate for many years.

Medical school was nearly equivalent to repeating senior year year after year. While other students joined clubs and enjoyed campus life, Xiao Hua spent her university days buried in the library and laboratories.

She came and went in a hurry. After years as classmates, most people had no idea that Xiao Hua was a hidden second generation rich heir. This was because she was extremely low key, modest, and diligent, rarely mentioning her family.

As Xiao Hua’s eighteenth birthday drew closer, Jiang Chan knew it was time to put the original owner’s second task on the agenda, divorcing Zhou Dayou.

Over the years, Jiang Chan had consulted lawyers. Although the original owner and Zhou Dayou had never registered their marriage, she had borne him two sons, Zhou Fuquan and Zhou Fugui. This constituted a de facto marriage.

Under these circumstances, to divorce legally, Jiang Chan would first need to register the marriage with Zhou Dayou and then formally divorce. Only then would the process comply with legal procedures.

Jiang Chan had already made her decision. Once Xiao Hua’s eighteenth birthday passed, she would go to the provincial capital and settle matters with Zhou Dayou’s family once and for all.

Xiao Hua’s eighteenth birthday celebration was held on a grand scale. It was partly about raising a daughter with care, and partly a declaration to the outside world that Jiang Chan’s heir, Xiao Hua, was officially stepping into the public eye.

It did not matter if Xiao Hua did not want to take over the company. Professional managers existed for that purpose.

Xiao Hua’s bearing at the event astonished everyone who saw her. Although she studied medicine, her overall demeanor resembled that of a well bred young lady from an eminent family, steeped in scholarly refinement.

When Jiang Chan announced on stage that everything in the company would eventually be inherited by Xiao Hua, many of her business partners found their breathing quickening.

Xiao Hua was a girl, and she studied medicine. If she married into their family, would this massive business empire not fall into their hands? Especially given how Jiang Chan’s company was flourishing, the looks people cast toward Xiao Hua grew even more direct.

Xiao Hua disliked such social engagements. After tactfully brushing off those who came to strike up conversations, she slipped into the family’s greenhouse to find some peace and quiet, letting out a soft sigh.

To be honest, she had been shocked by Jiang Chan’s announcement that day, but she understood it. Jiang Chan was no longer young. Ordinary people in their sixties were already enjoying retirement at home.

Unlike Jiang Chan, who still went to the company every day and stayed busy. Xiao Hua would graduate in half a year, and she would inevitably have to shoulder the company’s responsibilities.

But she was not cut out for that. Xiao Hua rubbed her temples with a headache. She studied biopharmaceuticals. How could she possibly handle the scheming and maneuvering of the business world?

A low voice suddenly sounded behind her. “I knew you’d be here. Whenever you’re unhappy or troubled, you always like to sit in Grandma Jiang’s greenhouse for a while.”

Xiao Guang stepped out from the shadows of the greenhouse and sat down across from Xiao Hua. He was only in his final year of high school now and had come with Chen Xiaopei to attend Xiao Hua’s coming of age ceremony.

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