Cannon Fodder – Chapter 12 – Don’t You Like Drinking Water?

The tip of her tongue often pressed against the wound inside her lip, and every time the pain flared up, Su Tao couldn’t help but recall what had happened in the basement.

Her first kiss was gone.

And she had been forced to drink blood.

Xiao Cheng had become completely unrecognizable and had said things she had never imagined.

Over the past two days, she had thought a lot about it but hadn’t mentioned it to anyone else. No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t understand why Chi Xiaocheng had changed like this.

She didn’t get it. She couldn’t make sense of it.

So she chose to avoid her for now.

But she hadn’t expected Chi Xiaocheng to show up at the school basketball game.

Did she come to see me?

Or was she here to cheer for Ye Liang and Dongfang Yang?

For some reason, a strange thought arose in Su Tao’s mind again.

—Didn’t Xiaocheng say she didn’t like Ye Liang and Dongfang Yang?

With these odd thoughts swirling in her head, the game soon began. As the male leads of the story, Ye Liang and Dongfang Yang were naturally near-perfect in every way.

The two teams were locked in a fierce battle, and one handsome shot after another sent most of the girls in the audience into screams of excitement.

Halfway through the game, Chi Xiaocheng stole a glance at Su Tao.

She saw Su Tao’s eyes sparkling with admiration too.

Though her feelings toward her were complicated, it was clear she held quite a bit of fondness for the male leads as well.

Noticing two unopened bottles of mineral water beside Su Tao, Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes darted around mischievously.

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She turned to a boy behind her and smiled sweetly. “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

The boy was stunned by Chi Xiaocheng’s sudden approach, his gaze lingering on her delicate, adorable face for a couple of seconds.

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t mind. Instead, she playfully blinked at him.

The boy quickly snapped out of it and nodded nervously. “S-sure, no problem.”

“I’m a little thirsty. Could you buy me two bottles of mineral water?”

“T-Two bottles?”

The boy nodded blankly, secretly pleased.

He was thirsty too. One bottle for each of them.

As the game continued, the boy, eager to please the pretty girl, rushed back quickly. He handed one bottle to Chi Xiaocheng and was about to open the other when she reached out again.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s two bottles,” Chi Xiaocheng said with an innocent smile.

The boy glanced at his friend beside him in confusion, then back at her. “You’re drinking two bottles by yourself?”

“Oh, they’re not for me. I’m giving them to Ye Liang and Dongfang Yang later.”

Her simple, matter-of-fact words instantly shattered the boy’s heart.

I buy water for a pretty girl, and she uses it to give to other guys.

What does that make me?

Dazedly handing over the water, the boy watched as Chi Xiaocheng took out a small wallet and pulled out a 5-yuan bill.

She placed it in his hand. “Thanks, cutie~”

The two bottles only cost 4 yuan.

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She even gave him a 1-yuan tip for his trouble!

The boy felt his nose turning red, as if he were wearing a clown’s explosive wig.

Love had ended before it even began.

His friend silently patted his shoulder and stood up. “Let’s go. Otherwise, Batman’s gonna come arrest the Joker soon.” ¹ because he’s a clown!!!!! Also, in China, people often joke that a man after a failed confession is like a starving tiger

Soon, the first half of the game ended.

Ye Liang’s blue team was in the lead.

It was break time.

The players on both teams were drenched in sweat, and girls kept bringing them water and towels, except for Ye Liang and Dongfang Yang.

These two were the undisputed heartthrobs of the school, famous and respected, making it hard for ordinary people to approach them.

Besides, everyone knew they were both pursuing Su Tao.

And the main girl was right here.

Just as Su Tao picked up a bottle of water and stood, a petite figure moved faster than her.

Chi Xiaocheng grabbed a bottle and trotted over to Dongfang Yang, offering a silly smile. “Young Master Dongfang, would you like some water?”

She held it out with both hands, her face full of hope, as if it were some priceless treasure.

Dongfang Yang chuckled lightly and shook his head. “No need, thanks.”

Though his opinion of Chi Xiaocheng had improved somewhat, there was no way he’d accept her water in front of everyone.

Especially with Su Tao watching.

Disappointment flashed across Chi Xiaocheng’s face, but she quickly masked it with an Oscar-worthy performance, forcing a strained smile. “If you want water later, just let me know, okay?”

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She turned away.

In her mind, the system’s voice chimed.

[Emotion Points +4…]

[Emotion Points +7…]

[Emotion Points +2…]

Dongfang Yang was surprised she’d dare to offer him water in front of so many people, especially when Su Tao had already stood up.

She’s doing this on purpose!

But she hadn’t expected to earn some extra Emotion Points from it.

So she turned and walked toward Ye Liang.

Her silly smile instantly morphed into a timid, fearful expression as she stood before him, holding out the bottle with both hands.

Before she could even speak—

Smack!

Ye Liang slapped the bottle to the ground.

“You still have the nerve to show your face and put on an act in front of me? Get lost!”

His voice carried a hint of anger, and his disgust provided Chi Xiaocheng with another 23 Emotion Points.

The bottle rolled several times before stopping at the feet of a girl with dyed blonde hair.

She stomped on it.

The girl sneered at Chi Xiaocheng.

The petite figure stood in the small clearing the crowd had made around her, looking utterly wronged and helpless.

Dongfang Yang frowned at the sight and couldn’t help but say to Ye Liang, “Was that necessary? There are so many people here. At least maintain some dignity.”

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Ye Liang snorted coldly. “What, Dongfang Yang, are you actually sympathizing with this trash? I haven’t even settled things with her yet, and she still dares to come near me. If Su Tao hadn’t stopped me yesterday, she’d already be gone from this school. Just looking at her makes me sick.”

From start to finish, he never once looked directly at Chi Xiaocheng.

Her pale, makeup-free face was pitiable, but if he didn’t look, how could he be tempted?

Chi Xiaocheng returned to her seat in a daze, then picked up the last bottle of water and slowly turned to Su Tao. “Tao-Tao… do you want some water?”

After being rejected twice in a row, she seemed to be searching for emotional support.

Seeing Chi Xiaocheng’s devastated expression, Su Tao wanted to take the water and comfort her.

But then Ye Liang walked over from a distance and let out another cold snort.

Su Tao shrank back, glanced at him, and after hesitating, shook her head. “Sorry, Xiao Cheng… I’m not thirsty right now. I don’t really feel like drinking water.”

Thud!

The bottle in Chi Xiaocheng’s hand fell heavily to the ground.

The surrounding onlookers’ gazes gradually shifted. Some mocking, some pitying.

“I see… so Tao-Tao doesn’t want water….”

Chi Xiaocheng’s voice was soft, but it reached Su Tao’s ears clearly.

Su Tao handed a bottle of water to Ye Liang, then turned back, only to see Chi Xiaocheng’s lips curled in a faint, ambiguous smile.

Her crimson eyes reflected Su Tao’s action of offering water.

Her pupils seemed devoid of light, hollow and empty.

That lifeless expression seemed to convey one message to Su Tao:

Chi Xiaocheng’s world had collapsed.