Cannon Fodder – Chapter 30 – System Rewards, Massive Upgrades!

After leaving the hospital, Chi Xiaocheng stretched her body. Despite three days of IV drips, she still didn’t feel as good as before.

When she first transmigrated, she had lost about 300cc of blood. On the night she self-harmed the other day, the amount of blood lost was definitely far more than 300cc.

If not for the system’s medicine, Chi Xiaocheng felt she would either have died from severe illness or been hospitalized for three to five months.

Being discharged in four days wouldn’t delay things too much or cause her to fall behind the novel’s plot.

Back home, Chi Xiaocheng first enjoyed a relaxing bath, savoring the charm of a girl’s body, then changed into a little dress from the closet.

She slightly lowered the neckline with her thumb, posed a peace sign with her index and middle fingers, and—

‘Click—’

A selfie. A few water droplets clung to her skin, trickling down her delicate collarbone into the gentle curves of her figure. Strands of hair stuck to her pretty face, blending cuteness with a hint of allure.

She sent the selfie to Su Tao and typed, “Back home, just took a bath.”

Then, she changed into ordinary casual clothes and took a rather plain photo. She posted it on her social media with the caption:

“Does no makeup look better?” — Visible to everyone.

The photo had heavy shadows, some overexposure, and a completely unremarkable angle, like something a clueless amateur would take.

Though unimpressive, Chi Xiaocheng’s natural beauty still made even this casual shot breathtaking.

After finishing these tasks, Chi Xiaocheng sat down in her room and asked, “System, how many emotion points do I have now?”

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[Host, you have 2,333.]

Since nothing major had happened these past few days, the emotion points earned were minimal. The bulk still came from that rainy night.

“I can do two ten-draws now. Even if I don’t know this system’s rates, the pity system guarantees at least two skills.”

As she browsed the system shop, Chi Xiaocheng pondered how to spend this fortune. “System, do a ten-draw first!”

After treading on thin ice these past few days, it was time for this useless system to prove its worth!

Ten cards fanned out on the system panel, one glowing gold and another faintly white. Chi Xiaocheng raised an eyebrow. “Two skills?”

With a wave of her hand, the full results of the draw appeared.

[Obtained ‘Delicate Soft Candy’ x1 (Consuming this will make the skin more delicate.)]

[Obtained ‘Sleep Chocolate’ x3 (Consuming this will induce at least 6 hours of deep sleep within 1 minute, greatly restoring fatigue.)]

[Obtained ‘Cinderella’s Handkerchief’ x1 (The person who receives this will involuntarily think of the host.)]

[Obtained ‘Liqueur Chocolate’ x3 (Consuming this will quickly induce a tipsy state.)]

[Congratulations, host has obtained the passive skill: ‘Cat Eyes (Beginner)’]

[‘Cat Eyes (Beginner)’: When the host stares at someone for an extended time while experiencing strong emotions, their pupils will become eerie and emit an illusory glow, producing a strong intimidating effect.]

[Congratulations, host has obtained the skill: ‘Skin Recovery (Intermediate)’]

[‘Skin Recovery (Intermediate)’: Accelerates the healing of any epidermal damage the host suffers, removing scars and restoring the skin to its original state.]

Eight items and two skills! And they all seemed quite practical.

Especially ‘Cinderella’s Handkerchief.’ In Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes, its effect was no worse than the two skills!

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If given to Su Tao, it could deepen her impression of Chi Xiaocheng. Moreover, Chi Xiaocheng felt these two skills were deliberately matched to her by the system.

Her eye color was already an unusual crimson, and whenever she activated her acting skills, she tried to make her gaze look unhinged. With the ‘Cat Eyes’ skill, she wouldn’t have to strain her eyes like a rooster anymore.

As for the ‘Skin Recovery’ skill, its benefits were even more obvious. She would definitely self-harm again. If she overdid it, she risked scarring and ruining her looks. This skill’s automatic scar removal was perfect for her!

“Some ‘random draw’ this is. System, you’re such a tsundere. Just say you love me outright.”

[…]

With the remaining 1,000+ points, Chi Xiaocheng was tempted to do another ten-draw. But reason ultimately triumphed over impulse.

“System, exchange for a ‘Body Strengthening Potion’ from the shop.”

[‘Body Strengthening Potion’ exchanged for 800 emotion points.]

A deep-red potion appeared in her hand.

It provided a minor permanent boost to physical fitness. Without hesitation, Chi Xiaocheng drank it.

A wave of warmth spread from her abdomen throughout her body. She exhaled deeply and checked her system panel.

[Host: Chi Xiaocheng]

[Age: 18]

[Physical Condition: Sickly → Suboptimal]

[Emotion Points: 533]

[Skills: Acting (Intermediate), Pain Reduction (Intermediate), Hacking (Intermediate), Skin Recovery (Intermediate), Spiked Drinks (Beginner), Cat Eyes (Beginner)]

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With 533 emotion points left, Chi Xiaocheng decided to save up. She had her eye on something good in the system shop:

[‘Status Glasses’ (3,000 emotion points): When worn, displays others’ favorability and attitude toward the host in numerical and text form. The glasses can be upgraded/modified using emotion points.]

This was an amazing item… just way too expensive.

“Seriously, everything costs emotion points!”

Closing the system panel, Chi Xiaocheng sprawled on her bed in a starfish pose. After lying in the hospital for so long, she couldn’t sleep at home despite being tired.

She picked up her phone and checked it. The social media post she’d just made already had a flood of replies.

”Xiuhua”: “Xiaocheng, why do you keep posting without makeup? Without foundation, your complexion looks a bit zombie-pale. Didn’t you get the makeup I sent you? Come to school tomorrow, and I’ll do your makeup beautifully.”

”SodaWater”: “@Xiuhua, how disgusting. Jealous of her natural beauty? So it was you who pushed her to wear that ghastly makeup before? Having a ‘friend’ like you is such bad luck.”

”Xiuhua”: “What’s with the tone? What do you, a stinky man, know about girls?”

”Kunkun”: “Cute.”

”Yang”: “Can’t even take a proper photo. So stupid.”

”WannaBeXiaochengsDog”: “@Yang, Young Master Dongfang, last time you said you’d eat three pounds of shit if Xiaocheng’s no-makeup look was real. When’s the feast?”

”Yang”: “???”

Watching the chaos unfold, Chi Xiaocheng couldn’t help but laugh.

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Even though she’d deleted Dongfang Yang’s previous comment, karma had come back to bite him!

Seeing that Su Tao hadn’t replied, Chi Xiaocheng turned off her phone and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Chi Xiaocheng woke up full of energy.

The potion really made a difference. Usually, her chest ached when she got up, but now she felt much better.

It was Friday.

She wouldn’t go to school today. Instead, she’d head to Dongfang Yang’s café first. According to him, she was supposed to start working right after being discharged.

After brushing her teeth and washing up, she had oatmeal and eggs for breakfast, then added a light-blue hoodie before heading out.

“Still a bit cold… Gotta save up for a winter coat.”

Rubbing her hands together, she could see her breath forming faint mist in the chilly air.

Leaving the neighborhood, she greeted Old Man Zhang at the gate and walked straight toward the school entrance.

“‘Moonlight Café’… sounds like a nice name. North Street isn’t far from school, but I wonder what the situation is like… Hm?”

As soon as she reached the school gate, Chi Xiaocheng narrowed her eyes slightly.

Outside a milk tea shop near the entrance, Su Tao was talking to a boy, her head lowered as she nervously scuffed the ground with her toes, her expression troubled.

“That’s Si Chen, right? The novel’s other male lead. Did he seek out Tao-Tao, or did she go to him?”