Cannon Fodder – Chapter 21 – Her Obsession, Born Because of You

The rain gradually lightened. Dongfang Yang closed his umbrella, shook off the water, and rushed into the girls’ dormitory.

Fortunately, the power was out, and he slipped in quickly without being noticed.

After being stuck in traffic for half an hour and receiving a call from Su Tao, he had finally arrived.

His mood was as gloomy as the dark clouds overhead. He knew something serious had happened tonight.

It was also the first time he had seen Su Tao so frantic.

Yet, the one who had made her panic wasn’t him!

Worse, he still didn’t even know what had happened. He was basically just a tool all night.

First, he had to watch Ye Liang show off. Just when he finally had a chance to make his presence known, he got stuck in traffic and couldn’t even help Su Tao. Then, after finally reaching the school, Su Tao called and asked him to go to the girls’ dorm to help?

Help Chi Xiaocheng, of all people!

He felt like a complete tool.

This inexplicably made Dongfang Yang jealous.

Even though the object of his jealousy, Chi Xiaocheng, was a girl.

“But after tonight, Su Tao’s impression of me will definitely improve, right?”

Climbing the stairs, Dongfang Yang couldn’t help but entertain the thought.

Then, he reached the rooftop.

Not even bothering with an umbrella, he hurriedly searched for Su Tao.

The next moment, his smile froze.

Under the shelter of the rain cover, two beautiful girls were nestled close together.

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Su Tao held the curled-up Chi Xiaocheng in her arms, as if afraid she might catch a cold. She did her best to envelop the petite girl, even letting half of her own body get drenched by the rain to shield Chi Xiaocheng from the windblown droplets.

Both seemed to have fallen asleep from exhaustion, their damp hair clinging together.

Watching the two girls leaning on each other, Dongfang Yang had to admit—

He was jealous.

This kind of scene should be between the male and female leads, shouldn’t it? What right did Chi Xiaocheng have?

The genre definitely wasn’t Lily ¹ Yuri/girls love ? Did I pick up the wrong script? ² Dongfang Yang isn’t a transmigrator like Chi Xiaocheng (at least not at the point that I’m currently reading). His talk about genre and script is just the author doing the funnies

Though his heart was in turmoil, Dongfang Yang quickly shook Su Tao awake.

“Su Tao, wake up. Don’t sleep here. You’ll catch a cold!”

Startled by the tap on her shoulder, Su Tao jolted awake.

“Xiaocheng!” she instinctively cried out.

Feeling the burning warmth in her arms, she relaxed slightly. “She’s still here… That’s good.”

This scene made Dongfang Yang’s expression darken further.

His face twisted with envy.

I’ve been pursuing Su Tao for three months, and I haven’t even held her hand!!!

Fortunately, the night hid his expression.

Taking a deep breath, Dongfang Yang calmed himself, reasoning that Chi Xiaocheng and Su Tao were just close friends.

Girls are like that. It’s normal.

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He reached out and helped Su Tao up. “Let’s go. We should head down first.”

“Mm.” Su Tao steadied herself against the wall, then glanced at Chi Xiaocheng. “My legs are a bit numb. Could you help with her?”

“No problem.”

Dongfang Yang crouched down, ready to lift Chi Xiaocheng, but then he noticed a streak of bright red on the ground.

“Blood?”

His voice was full of confusion as he spotted the horrifying wounds on Chi Xiaocheng’s arm.

They stretched from her wrist all the way up to her elbow, only thinning out near the end. Each cut looked deep, the marks stark and clear.

He inhaled sharply and turned to Su Tao. “Is this the ‘life-threatening danger’ you mentioned? Was she trying to kill herself?”

Su Tao hesitated. “Let’s get Xiaocheng to the hospital first. I’ll explain later.”

“Alright!”

Effortlessly lifting Chi Xiaocheng, the two quickly descended the stairs.

After settling her into the car, they both let out a sigh of relief.

Dongfang Yang calmly started the engine. “We’ll take her to the nearest hospital. My private hospital is too far, and with her high fever, we can’t afford delays.”

Su Tao sat beside Chi Xiaocheng, holding her hand. “I hope we don’t hit traffic.”

“If we do, I’ll call for a helicopter!”

Gritting his teeth, Dongfang Yang turned on the headlights and sped away from the school.

With some time before they reached the hospital, he couldn’t help glancing in the rearview mirror.

Su Tao was carefully tending to Chi Xiaocheng. First wiping the water from her hair and neck, then dabbing away the cold sweat.

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Her eyes were filled with worry, her movements gentle.

Dongfang Yang looked away and asked, “We’ve got a few minutes before we arrive. Can you tell me what happened now? How did Chi Xiaocheng get these injuries?”

Su Tao paused, unconsciously licking her lips.

The taste of blood in her mouth had faded, but the sensation felt seared into her soul.

She spoke slowly, “My mind’s a mess too. I haven’t interacted much with Xiaocheng these past two months, so I don’t know what’s been going on with her. The wounds on her arm… she did them to herself.”

After a long silence, Su Tao decided to omit the part where Chi Xiaocheng had forced her to drink her blood.

She knew how Dongfang Yang felt about her.

If she mentioned something so disturbing, she feared he might react as extremely as Ye Liang had.

But even half the truth was shocking enough.

Though Dongfang Yang had seen many strange things, his eyes still widened in disbelief. “You’re saying Chi Xiaocheng has a habit of self-harm?”

The sheer number of wounds looked painful just to see.

Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly added, “Wait, maybe it wasn’t voluntary. She might’ve been forced.”

“Forced?”

She knew Chi Xiaocheng had done it willingly; for her sake.

But why would Dongfang Yang think otherwise?

Dongfang Yang explained, “Actually, yesterday, I had someone look into what’s happened to Chi Xiaocheng these past two months. Without your protection, she hasn’t had an easy time.”

Su Tao frowned.

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Dongfang Yang continued, “Setting aside her actions toward you, outside of all that, Chi Xiaocheng has been a victim of long-term bullying.”

“Her home is nearby, right? Her high school isn’t far either. Even though she’s in college now, her high school social circle hasn’t changed. Since she’s a commuter, she’s often been cornered by delinquent girls on her way home.”

“And at school, a few people got in through connections. Bullied at school, harassed on her way home… someone as naive as her would easily develop psychological scars.”

Dongfang Yang exhaled. “If she was forced into it, it wouldn’t be strange for her to hurt herself.”

Su Tao fell silent.

Without a doubt, Dongfang Yang had given her a convenient excuse.

Su Tao knew the real reason Chi Xiaocheng had become like this was largely because of her. Before, she had just subconsciously avoided thinking about what happened in the basement.

But earlier, holding Chi Xiaocheng—

Waiting under the rain cover for Dongfang Yang to arrive, feeling the fragile body in her arms grow warmer, Su Tao had calmly recalled the words Chi Xiaocheng had spoken in the basement.

“Tao-Tao, I’ve always loved you!”

“You always told me I was your most precious friend, your most important person, the one you loved most!”

“If that’s what you said, why did you betray me?!”

Leaning back in her seat, Su Tao’s throat tightened.

She looked up at the stormy sky. A bolt of lightning seemed to follow her gaze, striking down as if to tell her:

You gave her hope, shaped her thoughts, made her irreversibly love you, cling to you, depend on you… only to then bring her despair.

If that’s the case, why do you still care about her?

The rain pounded against the windows like the heavens knocking, urging her to open the door and send Chi Xiaocheng away.

The howling wind whispered in Su Tao’s ear: A girl like this, living such a miserable life, wouldn’t it be better if she just died?