Cannon Fodder – Chapter 37 – Dispelling Doubts

But perhaps this was just his own incomplete understanding.

After all, Dongfang Yang had indeed changed his opinion of Chi Xiaocheng considerably. He didn’t believe the timid, foolish girl he’d seen was putting on an act.

He paid attention to details, and certain details didn’t add up.

Just then, the surveillance room door was knocked twice.

Dongfang Yang turned to see Su Tao entering, wearing an apron stained with traces of red.

“Any progress?”

Dongfang Yang stepped aside, pointing at the monitor. “It started when Chi Xiaocheng asked that yellow-haired girl for money back. The hostility in the bully’s eyes was obvious, but Chi Xiaocheng was too cowardly and still let them into her home.”

The outcome went without saying.

The cameras couldn’t pick up sounds inside the apartment, only occasional bursts of laughter. “Su Tao, what’s your take?”

Dongfang Yang pulled up a chair, deep in thought.

Su Tao suppressed her anger, exhaling slowly before speaking. “Xiaocheng probably wanted to repay you, which is why she asked Liu Guijia for the money. But I never realized she’d borrowed so much!”

Seven thousand!

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Over three years it might not seem like much, but Chi Xiaocheng’s family was poor. Her frail physique resulted from childhood malnutrition.

Yet Dongfang Yang focused elsewhere. “I meant, what do you make of Chi Xiaocheng’s contradictions?”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me be direct.” Dongfang Yang rewound footage to Chi Xiaocheng cowering as she let Liu Guijia and the follower inside.

“We previously understood Chi Xiaocheng was willing to risk her life for you, even confronting Ye Liang and briefly opposing me. But we both know she’s fundamentally weak. So where did that courage to challenge Ye Liang come from?

“Remember, if you hadn’t stopped Ye Liang in the basement last time, Chi Xiaocheng might not be here now.”

Su Tao lowered her head, nodding thoughtfully. Her information differed from Dongfang Yang’s.

She knew the truth:

Chi Xiaocheng’s courage came from her!

Xiaocheng was a yandere, so anything involving Su Tao would make her impulsive and irrational. That explained confronting Ye Liang despite the risks.

But with Liu Guijia….

Dongfang Yang continued, “There’s another major question I’ve avoided asking to spare feelings, but it baffles me: how did Chi Xiaocheng kidnap you? You could overpower her with one hand.”

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“Ah….”

Su Tao hesitated.

“The kidnapping was my fault. After owing Ye Liang a favor, he insisted I attend a banquet with him. Thinking it was just dinner, I agreed.

“Later, Xiaocheng approached me, saying she wanted to make amends.”

“Then?”

“She brought orange juice ¹ actual orange juice, not blood as a peace offering.” Su Tao’s voice tightened. “I drank it without suspicion. Next thing I knew, I woke up in the basement.”

Strands of hair fell across her downcast face, shadows obscuring her eyes as sunlight faded from the window.

“As for the courage to oppose Ye Liang…” Su Tao clasped her hands behind her back, smiling wistfully. “That came from me.”

“From you?” Dongfang Yang was stunned.

“Yes.” Her tone turned tender. “Despite everything these past two months, I never blamed her. Whether it was you or Ye Liang, didn’t I always mediate?”

“So that’s it….”

Her forgiveness had empowered Chi Xiaocheng’s bravery.

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Dongfang Yang studied Su Tao. “And the bullying….”

Su Tao’s fists clenched. Rage flashed as she glared at Liu Guijia onscreen. “That delinquent bullied weaker students in high school for validation after failing everything.

“I beat her twice until she avoided me. I thought that ended it.” Her voice turned icy. “Turns out she kept tormenting Xiaocheng behind my back!

“Xiaocheng sometimes came home with scrapes, always claiming she fell. She’d smile so brightly, saying ‘Don’t worry.’ I thought she was just clumsy… kind-hearted.”

Dongfang Yang inhaled sharply. “Why never tell you?”

“Probably to protect me.”

Afraid Su Tao would suffer too, Chi Xiaocheng hid every wound behind cheerful lies.

Recalling now, she’d only ever shown Su Tao smiles.

Meeting Dongfang Yang’s gaze, Su Tao added quietly, “And… these hidden wounds may have caused psychological issues. The recent incidents were likely triggered by accumulated trauma.”

Everything clicked for Dongfang Yang. No wonder Chi Xiaocheng’s behavior seemed so inconsistent. Remembering the crimson pool on the floor, his remaining suspicions dissolved.

He’d misjudged her.

“I’ll talk to Ye Liang. Chi Xiaocheng’s suffered enough.”

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Noticing Su Tao’s gloom, he comforted, “The path was rough, but the outcome’s positive, no?”

“Chi Xiaocheng’s nothing like two months ago. She’s recovering.”

Reconciled with Su Tao.

At peace with him.

Only Ye Liang remained.

Yet Su Tao’s smile wavered. “Yes… she’s becoming… normal again.”

“Enough of that.” Dongfang Yang shifted topics. “About those bullies, want me to handle them? I can dig up their dirt and make them vanish.”

Even exiling someone to Siberia was trivial.

But Su Tao shook her head.

“You’ve helped enough. Hurting Xiaocheng? I’ll punish them myself!”

Chi Xiaocheng’s terrified sobs echoed in her mind.

No one hurts my Xiaocheng!