Cannon Fodder – Chapter 15 – The Beginning of the Yandere Plan

“Su Tao, you seem distracted after dinner. Is something on your mind?”

At 8 p.m., raindrops as big as beans pattered down, washing over the city shrouded in twilight, the scent of damp earth lingering in the air.

Su Tao and Ye Liang stood outside a shop under the dark, heavy sky.

Having just finished dinner, with the event at 9 p.m. yet to begin, the two decided to stroll around casually.

But the rain came without warning.

Amid the sound of rain, Ye Liang noticed with keen observation that Su Tao’s spirits seemed dampened.

Dressed in a plain white embroidered evening gown, she lowered her head, the tips of her dainty shoes lightly tapping the floor, lost in thought.

Ye Liang watched her for a moment before nudging her shoulder. “What’s on your mind? You seem so far away.”

“Ah… oh, sorry.” Su Tao forced a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about Xiao Cheng.”

Hearing the name, Ye Liang frowned slightly. “Why think about her? She’s not your kind of person, Su Tao. You should cut ties with her sooner rather than later. Why keep defending her?”

Su Tao opened her mouth, wanting to pour out her thoughts, but the memory of what happened in the basement flashed through her mind, stopping her words.

Finally, she asked slowly, “Ye Liang, in your opinion, what kind of person is Xiao Cheng?”

“Disgusting.”

Ye Liang didn’t hesitate.

Su Tao gave a dry laugh. “Putting aside your later biases, what about when you first met me and Xiao Cheng?”

Ye Liang gave her a puzzled look.

Yet his thoughts drifted back to their first meeting months ago, during summer break.

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He had first met Su Tao in a clothing store.

Trying to escape a woman from another family set up for a blind date, he hid in the store’s fitting room, only for Su Tao to step out unexpectedly.

She had changed into a plain white dress she intended to buy.

Like a pure white fairy, she effortlessly drew all eyes to her.

After their accidental encounter, the woman from the blind date came over to confront him. He commanded Su Tao not to reveal his whereabouts, promising 100,000 RMB if she complied.

Despite Su Tao’s attempts to cover for him, he was discovered. Faced with the woman’s accusations, he had no choice but to claim Su Tao was his girlfriend.

To his surprise, Su Tao not only played along but confidently stood up to the shameless woman. For the first time, the domineering young master of his family found himself sheltered behind a girl.

Her gentle smile, her reassuring gaze. She protected him.

Afterward, feeling guilty for delaying her, Ye Liang immediately offered 1 million RMB as compensation.

Most ordinary people would be speechless with excitement at such a sum.

But Su Tao calmly refused.

She patiently reassured him, saying it was “just a small favor.”

Perhaps it was the protagonist’s aura at work, but after repeated rejections, Ye Liang couldn’t help but find Su Tao intriguing.

Naturally, her looks played a big part too.

And so, their story began.

As for Chi Xiao Cheng…

Ye Liang stroked his chin, racking his memory before recalling the tiny, almost unnoticeable figure beside Su Tao.

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“Back then, her makeup wasn’t as outrageous as it is now. Just some light touches, I think?” Ye Liang mused, deep in thought. “If I had to describe her, I’d say she seemed a bit… slow.”

Su Tao sighed, looking up at the overcast sky. “Actually, Xiao Cheng wasn’t always like this. She… fell in with a bad crowd and changed.”

As she spoke, Su Tao recalled their early high school days and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Xiao Cheng used to be so innocent. And without makeup, she was actually quite cute.”

Ye Liang gave her another strange look.

He couldn’t understand why Su Tao was bringing up that person.

With makeup, she was already ugly.

He couldn’t even imagine what Chi Xiao Cheng looked like without it.

So he asserted firmly, “Anyway, I can listen to you and not cause trouble for Chi Xiao Cheng. But you have to listen to me too. No more contact with her.” ¹ …what?

Su Tao opened her mouth then lowered her head. She neither nodded nor shook her head.

Noticing her hesitation, Ye Liang let out a displeased hum. “Hmm?”

Su Tao flinched at the sound. “I… I still want to try. Xiao Cheng was just led astray. Deep down, she’s kind. If possible, I don’t want to give up on our friendship.”

“She kidnapped you! If I hadn’t shown up in time, who knows what could’ve happened? Why do you still have hope for her?!”

Ye Liang couldn’t fathom Su Tao’s reasoning.

But he was helpless.

Because he loved her, he didn’t want to force her or resort to violence.

Seeing Ye Liang’s growing frustration, Su Tao explained timidly, “I’m an orphan. Xiao Cheng and I have been together since elementary school. She’s been with me through my entire childhood, like a little sister. She was the first to make me feel like I had a family.”

“So I want… to try one more time.”

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Ye Liang raised his hand, wanting to say something. But in the end, he let it drop heavily.

He scratched his head irritably.

“People change,” he muttered, not wanting to argue further. “Forget it. Let’s not talk about that unlucky girl. Even though the event starts at 9, let’s head over now.”

Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Su Tao into the car and drove toward Jiuzhou City’s beach.

As he drove, Ye Liang explained, “This event is hosted by several prominent families on a luxury cruise ship. That dress of yours will stun everyone!”

“And my family will be there too. Su Tao, do you know what that means?”

Ye Liang chattered on, but when he glanced sideways, he noticed Su Tao staring at her phone. “Are you even listening?”

“Huh?” Su Tao snapped back to reality, offering an awkward smile. “Um, could you repeat that?”

Though Ye Liang’s voice filled her ears, her thoughts remained fixed on her phone.

Chi Xiao Cheng had just sent her a message:

“Tao-Tao, it’s almost 9. Are you in the dorm? I’ll come find you.”

At 9, she was supposed to accompany Ye Liang to the party. She wondered what Xiao Cheng wanted to say.

If it was just a chat, they could talk over the phone, right?

After some thought, Su Tao typed back: “Is it something urgent? I won’t be back by 9.”

Chi Xiao Cheng replied instantly: “I need to tell you in person. Can you come back?”

“Sorry,” Su Tao sent a cute, pleading emoji. “I’m out shopping with someone. It might take a while.”

Boom—

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A clap of thunder roared. The rain intensified.

As soon as she sent the message, Su Tao regretted it. With the storm brewing, her excuse sounded flimsy.

But she didn’t dare mention she was with Ye Liang, afraid it might trigger Chi Xiao Cheng.

Fortunately, Chi Xiao Cheng’s reply eased her worries: “Then will you keep your promise?”

“Mm, I’ll hurry back as soon as I can!”

Putting her phone away, Su Tao relaxed slightly. This was a good sign.

As long as Xiao Cheng was willing to talk, there was still hope of restoring their friendship.

She lifted her head, smoothing her hair, only to meet Ye Liang’s displeased gaze.

Su Tao forced another laugh. “I won’t look at my phone anymore. I’ll mute it.”

She turned off her phone’s sound and tucked it into her bag.

But she didn’t notice Chi Xiao Cheng’s next message:

“Tao-Tao, I’ll wait for you on the rooftop. When will you be back?”

Ten minutes later: “Tao-Tao, when will you be back?”

Fifteen minutes later: “Tao-Tao, when will you be back?”

Twenty minutes later: “Tao-Tao, when will you be back?”

The rain fell harder.

“Tao-Tao, when will you be back?”