Cannon Fodder – Chapter 13 – A Slap

[Host, you could win an Oscar with that performance! If I were the female lead, I’d get goosebumps just from the way you stared. So creepy!]

“You don’t understand. My behavior is the precursor to a mental breakdown. Only by keeping Su Tao unsettled, constantly thinking about me, can I continuously harvest Emotion Points from her and proceed with the next phase of my plan.”

[I can’t wait to see you mess with the female lead! When are you making your move? When?!]

“You’re just a lousy system. Why are you so impatient?”

[We’re both villains here! Villains should act like villains. If I didn’t know your situation, I’d genuinely think you were a yandere.]

Chi Xiaocheng walked dejectedly through the crowd, and the onlookers instinctively parted to let her pass.

Right now, she hung her head low, shoulders slumped, her chestnut hair covering her eyes.

But in her mind, she was chatting cheerfully with the system.

At the same time, Chi Xiaocheng realized that the original owner of this body had a rather peculiar standing at school.

With her delicate, cute face, most strangers and classmates treated her quite well.

But anyone connected to Ye Liang, Dongfang Yang, or the other main characters treated her horribly.

And then there were those who had clashed with the original owner back in high school…

Just as Chi Xiaocheng was lost in thought, heading toward her dorm to rest, a voice suddenly called out from behind her on a quiet, shrub-lined path.

“Hey, Chi Xiaocheng!”

Hearing this, Chi Xiaocheng stopped and slowly turned around.

A girl with bleached-blonde hair, wearing a crop top and a short skirt, sauntered over with her hands in her pockets.

Behind her was a gloomy-looking follower with black-framed glasses and disheveled hair.

Chi Xiaocheng frowned upon seeing her.

This was the same girl who had stomped on the water bottle at the basketball court.

She was also one of the delinquents who had bullied the original owner in high school.

Back then, physical violence was routine, and even after entering university, she still harassed the original owner frequently.

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Huang Limei lightly flicked a bush branch as she walked up to Chi Xiaocheng, her expression full of arrogance.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Chi Xiaocheng. Why aren’t you wearing your pretty makeup today? Trying to play innocent while flirting with someone?”

The hostility was unmistakable. The tone was so stereotypically villainous that Chi Xiaocheng couldn’t help but reflect.

Honestly, I don’t even feel like the real antagonist here.

This kind of attitude and expression is what a true cannon-fodder villain should have, right?

Glancing subtly at the security camera on the corner of the building to her right, Chi Xiaocheng maintained her act.

She shrank back slightly and asked warily, “What do you want?”

“I just don’t like you. Got a problem with that?”

Huang Limei suddenly grabbed the collar of Chi Xiaocheng’s hoodie and lifted her off the ground with one hand.

Her tattooed arm, adorned with a butterfly design, bulged with muscle. It was nothing like an ordinary girl’s.

This was Chi Xiaocheng’s biggest weakness since transmigrating.

Her body was too frail.

In any physical confrontation, she was guaranteed to lose. Even with the system, she couldn’t change that in a short time.

Huang Limei glared at her threateningly.

“Listen up. Stay away from Dongfang Yang. He’s mine!”

“Pfft—”

Chi Xiaocheng, who had been flawlessly acting until now, couldn’t hold back a laugh.

So it’s about the male lead again.

In this novel’s world, these protagonists really are the root of all evil.

But to Huang Limei, Chi Xiaocheng’s stifled laughter was nothing but mockery.

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Her expression darkened as she stared at Chi Xiaocheng’s pale, makeup-free face.

“Think this is funny?”

She raised a hand, her voice turning icy.

Seeing this, Chi Xiaocheng dropped the act.

Her gaze turned indifferent.

“Are you sure you want to hit me? This is a university, not that trashy high school we came from. Even if your grades are good, the school won’t side with you now.”

At the same time, she quickly searched the system for countermeasures.

Her Emotion Points had just reached 200.

She could either spend 150 on a temporary strength-boosting pill…

Or 10 points on a fruit knife and go all the way.

Or… just endure it.

Just then, the gloomy girl behind Huang Limei spoke up weakly.

“There’s a camera above us… Maybe we should let it go?”

Huang Limei’s face twisted further.

Her raised right hand trembled—unsure whether to strike or not.

Chi Xiaocheng secretly sighed in relief.

But then, she spotted a figure approaching rapidly in the distance.

Her eyes gleamed with an idea.

She smirked at Huang Limei.

“Too scared to hit me? Pathetic.”

“Say that again!”

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The veins on Huang Limei’s raised hand bulged as she swung it down hard—

SLAP!

A sharp crack echoed as Chi Xiaocheng’s delicate cheek instantly reddened.

Even with her intermediate pain-reduction skill, the slap made her gasp.

But… mission accomplished.

“What are you doing?!”

The hero had arrived.

It was Su Tao!

She rushed over, her eyes widening when she saw Chi Xiaocheng’s tear-streaked face.

“Xiao Cheng!”

Huang Limei threw Chi Xiaocheng to the ground and turned with a cold glare.

“What, Su Tao? Still playing the white knight for this bitch? She’s been targeting you nonstop!”

Su Tao’s expression was icy, her beautiful face devoid of emotion.

“Regardless, Xiao Cheng is my friend.”

“Such a hypocrite. I’ve hated you for a long time!”

Huang Limei clenched her fist and threw a heavy punch.

But Su Tao wasn’t to be underestimated either.

She dodged swiftly, grabbed Huang Limei’s wrist, and—

THUD!

A flawless shoulder throw sent Huang Limei crashing to the ground.

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Before she could react, Su Tao yanked her up and delivered a brutal knee strike to her stomach!

Huang Limei gagged, stomach acid rising to her mouth as her face twisted in agony.

Su Tao snorted, then grabbed Huang Limei’s hair and dragged her toward Chi Xiaocheng.

“Xiao Cheng, how many times did she hit you?”

Her fierce gaze softened slightly as she spoke.

Seeing Chi Xiaocheng’s swollen cheek, there was even a hint of heartache.

“O-One slap…”

“Good.”

Su Tao nodded, flipped her hair back, and—

SMACK!

Her palm struck Huang Limei’s face with even greater force than before.

A trickle of blood seeped from Huang Limei’s lip as her cheek rapidly swelled.

Su Tao tossed her aside like garbage, then dusted off her hands disdainfully.

The entire sequence took less than a minute; smooth and effortless.

Chi Xiaocheng was stunned.

Now I see why so many people are willing to worship this white moonlight female lead.

She had only intended to take a slap to earn Su Tao’s sympathy.

She’d completely forgotten that Su Tao had considerable combat skills in her character settings.

“Xiao Cheng, are you okay?”

Despite the lingering awkwardness between them, when Su Tao helped Chi Xiaocheng up…

Her eyes were still as gentle as water.