Cannon Fodder – Chapter 11 – Major Plot Point – Campus Basketball Game

Returning home, Chi Xiaocheng received a message from Chen Qian:

“Su Tao is back in the dorm. She looks a little worn out and absent-minded.”

As a mole on the same side, Chen Qian might not like Chi Xiaocheng much, but with her secrets in someone else’s hands, she was more than happy to betray her so-called “best friend” Su Tao.

Not long after they parted ways, she had already sent a message to Chi Xiaocheng, probing to figure out her real intentions.

Seeing this, Chi Xiaocheng quickly typed a reply:

“I need you to take care of her meticulously. Stick to her side these next few days, and report any of her actions or thoughts to me.”

Chen Qian: “Take care of her meticulously? Are you serious?”

Chi Xiaocheng: “Just do as I say.”

Su Tao was naive. Since Chen Qian hadn’t been exposed yet, she was still considered a close friend. Living in the same dorm, they would naturally share many things.

After the emotional rollercoaster caused by Chi Xiaocheng’s actions, if Su Tao didn’t dare to confide in Ye Liang or the others, she would need someone to lean on—at least temporarily.

Chen Qian was the perfect candidate.

On one hand, she could serve as Chi Xiaocheng’s inside source. On the other, she could build goodwill with Su Tao, making her believe Chen Qian was a true friend.

Then, at a critical moment—

Snap!

A devastating betrayal.

That’s when Chi Xiaocheng would step in, seizing the opportunity to occupy a fragile corner of the female lead’s heart.

Of course, this was only part of her plan. Next, she needed to deal with another key plot point in the original novel—

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The campus basketball game!

Dongfang Yang led the Red Team.

Ye Liang led the Blue Team.

The two would face off in the finals of the intercollegiate basketball tournament!

In romance novels, such games were nothing more than a way to show off how handsome the male leads were while using the female lead as a narrative device—creating the illusion that the two were competing not just in basketball, but for the heroine’s affection.

Even if Chi Xiaocheng’s presence had caused a butterfly effect, Su Tao would likely still attend the game to cheer for both male leads.

Chi Xiaocheng was now considering how to insert herself as a third party into this plotline.

At the same time, she needed to take her relationship with Su Tao to the next level.

At the very least, she couldn’t let Su Tao keep avoiding her. Right now, whenever Chi Xiaocheng messaged her, the female lead wouldn’t even reply.

“Just in case, maybe I should draw another skill.”

Chi Xiaocheng glanced at the system panel, which was another function besides the store.

Gacha!

100 emotional points for a single pull.

1,000 points for a ten-pull, with a guaranteed low-tier skill.

Unlike the bizarre items in the store, system skills were incredibly powerful—Chi Xiaocheng had already experienced their might.

Current skills:

– Acting (Intermediate)

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– Pain Reduction (Intermediate)

– Liquid Modification (Beginner)

Just the Intermediate Acting skill alone had given her immense help.

“Fortune favors the bold!”

“Let’s roll!”

Spending another 100 emotional points, the system’s gacha panel suddenly flashed golden light.

“A skill?!”

Chi Xiaocheng’s face lit up with excitement. “And it’s an intermediate one?!”

But when she saw the skill’s name, she froze, her expression turning strange.

“Is this skill… really useful for my current situation?”

—

Time quickly passed, and soon it was November 5th, Tuesday—the day of the campus basketball tournament.

To avoid running into the male leads (who might still be angry) and her two-faced “friends,” Chi Xiaocheng skipped class for the day.

But today was when the key plot point would unfold.

At 5 PM, the game would begin.

Chi Xiaocheng left early and headed to the school’s outdoor basketball court.

Even arriving half an hour early, the place was already packed, with students crowding around the court.

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This just showed how popular the two male leads were.

Pretending to wander aimlessly, she slowly moved closer to where Su Tao was sitting.

Before long, a girl in the front row, who had secured a prime spot, suddenly waved and called out loudly, “Xiaocheng! Over here!”

Curious onlookers turned their heads, then gasped in surprise.

Today, Chi Xiaocheng had once again gone out bare-faced.

Her petite frame was wrapped in a beige bear-print hoodie, the soft fabric hugging her delicate curves. The cuffs were slightly rolled up, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white wrists, adding to her delicate charm.

Her twin tails were tied with delicate ribbons, the ends naturally curled, swaying gently behind her as she moved—giving her a playful, lively vibe.

Today, she was the adorable girl-next-door.

What shocked everyone was her natural beauty. Among the crowd, only Su Tao, the “commoner school belle,” could compare.

Perhaps because the girl’s shout was too loud, even the three key figures on the court turned to look.

Ye Liang frowned heavily, his eyes filled with disgust.

Dongfang Yang watched her with amused interest.

Su Tao looked surprised, her expression complicated. When Chi Xiaocheng smiled at her, she quickly averted her gaze in panic.

In that brief moment, Su Tao noticed that when she looked away, a flicker of disappointment flashed across the little girl’s face.

Chi Xiaocheng squeezed through the crowd and made her way to the girl who had called her.

One of her so-called “friends,” Zeng Xiuhua.

With a tall nose bridge and meticulously applied makeup, her facial movements were stiff when she spoke, clearly the result of plastic surgery.

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“I knew you’d come to watch the game, Xiaocheng! I saved you a seat!”

She pulled Chi Xiaocheng down beside her, about five meters away from Su Tao’s prime spot.

First, she glanced at Chi Xiaocheng’s flawless, makeup-free face, hiding her jealousy deep in her eyes before putting on a concerned tone:

“Xiaocheng, why didn’t you wear makeup? Girls can’t go out without makeup. You look so plain like this.”

Chi Xiaocheng forced a fake smile. “I ran out of makeup and don’t have money to buy more. But I washed my face thoroughly before leaving, so it’s fine.”

“That’s not okay! A girl has to dress up!” Zeng Xiuhua said disapprovingly. “Honestly, if you didn’t have makeup, you could’ve just told me! Didn’t I give you a set last time? I have another one. I’ll send it to your dorm later.”

Looking at her “caring” expression, Chi Xiaocheng almost vomited last night’s dinner.

That cheap makeup was like a 30-yuan facial cleanser that was full of side effects, unflattering, and bad for the skin.

The original Chi Xiaocheng had been foolish enough to believe her lies after being sweet-talked a few times.

Though she was internally cursing, Chi Xiaocheng kept her strained fake smile in place.

Watching from the side, Su Tao felt an inexplicable discomfort.

The shock of seeing Chi Xiaocheng’s natural appearance was nothing compared to the impact of their conversation in the basement days ago.

Even now, she couldn’t forget what had happened there—including Chi Xiaocheng’s words.

That afternoon, Chi Xiaocheng had bitten her inner lip, and the pain and taste of blood still lingered in Su Tao’s memory.

Why?

Because after that bite… she got a mouth ulcer.