Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 107: The Eldest Sister of the 90s Quits Sacrificing Herself (19)

　　Even in her senior year, during her internship at school, Zhao Fuyao managed to land an interview with a well-known local business tycoon, instantly making her one of the most talked-about students on campus.

　　And that tycoon just so happened to be none other than the head of Haomei Food Factory, Duan Yong.

　　Over the span of four years, Haomei Food Factory had risen all the way to become a leading food enterprise in Shanghai.

　　Duan Yong himself had been interviewed by multiple newspapers and even appeared on local news.

　　Over those four years, Zhao Fuyao’s wealth kept snowballing. She had a sharp eye for timing the stock market, buying in when prices were low and selling at their peak half a year later, turning her investments over five or six times.

　　By now, she had accumulated over a dozen properties, more than thirty prime-location commercial units, and had also invested in several internet startups still in their early stages.

　　Gong Zezhou had originally returned to the country just to rest and take a break. He wasn’t short on money, and his family business was based overseas, so he had no intention of starting anything new.

　　But he couldn’t ignore how fast Zhao Fuyao’s wealth was growing. He was genuinely surprised at how sharp her mind was, so he handed her a portion of his funds to manage, paying her a commission.

　　Unexpectedly, she ended up multiplying it several times over.

　　Over the years, their relationship had always been somewhere between mentor and friend, but more than anything, it felt like two people simply moving at the same rhythm.

　　Gong Zezhou’s feelings toward her had started off as something light and easy in daily interaction. Then, somewhere along the way, he began to genuinely like her personality. Little by little, he kept noticing the spark in her, a quiet admiration that slowly turned into affection.

　　After graduation, Zhao Fuyao found herself with too much free time. The job assigned to her didn’t really appeal to her either, mostly because the working hours were too long and restrictive, like being tightly bound in place.

　　So she decided to go abroad for further studies and polish her credentials, focusing on finance.

　　As a major shareholder in several companies, she knew she needed more targeted professional knowledge. After all, the business world was no different from a battlefield.

　　As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never lose a battle.

　　Besides, in this era, there were still a few arrogant types who looked down on women.

　　So she wasn’t just going to beat them in terms of strength and influence, she would outthink them in their own field too.

　　When Gong Zezhou heard she was planning to study abroad, he didn’t hesitate at all. He immediately stepped in to write recommendation letters, pull connections, and help arrange a suitable school for her.

　　After wrapping up her work, Zhao Fuyao said her goodbyes to close friends like Yang Jiale and set off to study overseas.

　　Since it was summer break, Gong Zezhou traveled with her, also taking the opportunity to visit his parents.

　　While Zhao Fuyao kept growing and building a better life for herself, the Zhao siblings were living more and more miserably.

　　Zhao Pandi didn’t have her first child until her second year of marriage, but because the baby was a girl, her in-laws immediately started treating her coldly. The money she’d brought with her had long since run dry. Back when she first got married, she spent freely, and later, coaxed along by her husband and mother-in-law, she handed over even more.

　　When she was recovering after childbirth, there was no one to care for her, and with no money in her hands, she often cried herself to sleep.

　　Two daughters came one after another in just a few years. Then, in the third year, she became pregnant again. After her mother-in-law had someone check the baby’s gender and confirmed it was a boy, Zhao Pandi was overjoyed, almost relieved. At last, she felt like she had finally fulfilled her duty as a wife.

　　Ever since getting married, her entire world had slowly shrunk down to her husband and his family. Every day was nothing but cooking, laundry, childcare, and serving her in-laws from morning until night. Somewhere along the way, she had completely lost herself.

　　After giving birth to three children, she was still young, but she had already aged into a worn-out woman. Living expenses depended on her husband’s mood, and even daily life required reading her in-laws’ expressions. Day after day of domestic chaos slowly erased any sense of self she once had.

　　Meanwhile, Zhao Handi was far more practical than her second sister. She saved carefully, studied hard, and managed to get into university, all while actively looking for a good match on campus.

　　After all, she was already in her early twenties. She had to plan ahead, so she could graduate and marry at just the right age.

　　After finally choosing a wealthy boyfriend, his parents showed up at the university to insult and cause a scene, publicly warning her off.

　　That boy was also a classic mama’s boy and broke up with her immediately.

　　Zhao Handi’s reputation at school took a sharp dive. Some rich kids even deliberately approached her just to make fun of her and treat her like entertainment.

　　Zhao Handi was furious, but she didn’t have much money in her pocket and no one to back her up. In the end, she could do nothing against those wealthy kids.

　　Because the incident caused a bad impression, both sides involved were given disciplinary action by the school. All she could do was keep her head down and wait it out until graduation.

　　Back in the countryside, Zhao Hu had already come of age last year. He decisively took his younger brother and left. By then, the Zhang family had nearly spent all the money and didn’t bother stopping them at all, completely indifferent to whether the two lived or died.

　　Zhao Hu first went to find his second and third sisters after coming out, but neither of them was willing to help. They refused to take them in and didn’t give them any money either.

　　He was completely heartbroken after that. With no other choice, he went to look for his eldest sister, but she had already left Shanghai. They were left with no one to rely on.

　　Zhao Hu didn’t even have proper documents, and no place to settle down. After a long search, he finally found a bricklaying job.

　　It was backbreaking work, and he only earned a few yuan a day. After working for around ten days, he quit.

　　He couldn’t take the hardship, and felt the pay was too little anyway. So he ended up dragging his younger brother, Zhao Long, into petty theft instead.

　　The first time, they didn’t get caught and stole 50 yuan from someone. That was more than they could make from bricklaying, and the two brothers were thrilled for quite a while.

　　Once they started, there was no stopping. They didn’t dare steal too much, only going into houses when no one was around.

　　After each theft, they would lay low for a few days, then move on to the next place once things calmed down. For several months, everything went surprisingly smoothly.

　　Money came in fast and effortlessly, and the two brothers got lazy with it. They stayed in hotels, ate out every day, and stopped thinking about anything proper. All they did was scheme about how to steal from people.

　　A few dozen yuan no longer satisfied them. They started planning something big, something that could set them up for life.

　　Two brainless fools ended up wearing masks one night and trying to rob a bank with knives. That attempt got them caught immediately.

　　Because of their previous theft record, and now a deliberate plan to rob a bank, Zhao Hu, already 18 and legally an adult, was sentenced to twelve years in prison.

　　Zhao Long was still underage, so he was sent to a juvenile detention facility, and would face criminal charges once he came of age.

　　Meanwhile, Zhao Fuyao, studying diligently abroad for two years, transformed herself.

　　She came back at just 26, mature and radiant, and her real stage in life was only just beginning.

　　After returning home, she threw herself into the financial world, moving smoothly through business and the stock market, steadily growing her wealth.

　　As a major shareholder in several companies, she never missed a meeting, and even visited sites in person to fully understand each company’s situation.

　　Within just one year, she had become a well-known figure in Shanghai’s elite circles.

　　Gong Zezhou had pursued her for over two years before finally earning the title of her boyfriend during the New Year.

　　By then, Zhao Fuyao’s career was thriving, and her relationship was just as fulfilling. Gong Zezhou was mature, reliable, and thoughtful. The two of them shared the same wavelength, getting along effortlessly both emotionally and in daily life.

　　A few years older than her, he could also offer guidance and perspective whenever she needed it. Although the Gong family’s main base was not in Shanghai, they were still a powerful support behind her, helping her handle many domestic and overseas business dealings.

　　By the time she turned 35, Zhao Fuyao had long achieved financial freedom. She gradually stepped back from the front lines and slipped into an early retirement lifestyle.

　　Gong Zezhou was a fairly laid-back person who knew how to enjoy life. He often took her traveling across the country to see different scenery.

　　After he officially took over the family business, the two of them registered their marriage and held a grand wedding last year.

　　They had met when Zhao Fuyao was 19. Over more than a decade since then, they had barely ever been apart, and they had never once argued or fallen out.

　　With a partner who was emotionally steady like that, Zhao Fuyao’s life stayed comfortable and peaceful.

　　After stepping back from the front lines, she accepted an invitation from her in-laws overseas and went to stay and travel for a few months.

　　After the couple returned to the country, they became even more interested in exploring the beautiful landscapes of their homeland, often traveling together and enjoying life at a relaxed pace.

　　Only after they had had their fill of travel did Zhao Fuyao decide to try for a child. In the end, she gave birth to twins in one go.

　　Perfect timing. One took her surname, the other took his.

　　The elders of the Gong family were overjoyed. Open-minded as they were, they respected the decision on the children’s surnames, and later even moved the whole family back to China to develop their business.

　　With a large family full of elders doting on the two little treasures, Zhao Fuyao hardly needed to worry about the children at all.

　　She simply focused on herself, earning money when she wanted to, traveling when she felt like it. Her life remained much the same as before.

　　……

　　“Ding—congratulations, host, task completed!”

　　Ye Susu returned to the Time Travel Bureau and stretched lazily, completely satisfied. She had loved this world. A woman should live a main-character kind of life.

　　“Points successfully claimed. Host will now proceed to the next mission.”

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