Cannon Fodder – Chapter 40 – The Young Master’s Methods!

After casually buying a bottle of mineral water from a roadside stall, Chi Xiaocheng quickly arrived at Moonlight Café.

She still had a bandage wrapped around her forehead for appearances, covered by her chestnut hair like a headscarf, adding a lively touch to her sweet and cute demeanor.

Yesterday’s bloodstained hoodie had been sent for washing, and Chi Xiaocheng had no autumn-appropriate clothes left. Reluctantly, she wore a sailor outfit with an extra T-shirt underneath for warmth.

Already adorable, the sailor uniform made her shine like she was draped in stars, drawing everyone’s gaze.

She had clearly prioritized cuteness over comfort.

Entering the café, she spotted Chen Qian waiting anxiously.

After a glance, she greeted Chu San at the counter, “Good morning, Uncle Chu San! I’m here for work.”

Chu San smiled. “Our café’s prices are quite high. Even though we’re near the school, we barely get any customers. Miss Chi, feel free to relax wherever you like. I’ll handle things here.”

As expected, Dongfang Yang had just put her here to idle away time. In her two visits, she hadn’t seen a single customer.

A glance at the price list made her eyes widen. The cheapest coffee cost over 100 yuan! With less than 300 yuan to her name, buying winter clothes would leave her without food.

Sighing inwardly, Chi Xiaocheng approached Chen Qian.

Sitting across from her, she slid the mineral water over. “Drink.”

Chen Qian stared at the bottle of “Farmer’s Punch,” shuddering instinctively. “This… this is the antidote?”

Chi Xiaocheng replied coolly, “Keep your voice down. There are no cameras here, but loud noises aren’t ideal.”

Chu San was Dongfang Yang’s man.

If not for the elegant background music, even whispers might be overheard.

Chen Qian gulped, carefully inspecting the bottle.

Rеαd oո КatRеadіոɡСаfe

The cap was unopened, the label untouched.

Even the production date was clearly printed.

It looked like a freshly bought bottle from a convenience store.

“This is really the antidote?”

Chi Xiaocheng said, “A temporary one. This is a two-week supply. Drink half a bottle at a time. Just like last time, it’s disguised. Try the taste if you don’t believe me.”

Half-convinced, Chen Qian unscrewed the cap and sniffed.

No unusual smell.

She took a sip.

“A bit sweet?”

It tasted like grape juice.

The “poison” last time had been bitter.

The different flavor dispelled her doubts, and she chugged half the bottle without hesitation. After finishing, she exhaled in relief.

Whether it was psychological or not, she did feel slightly better. Once Chen Qian was done, Chi Xiaocheng asked, “Tell me about Su Tao and Si Chen.”

Chen Qian nodded, now accustomed to her role as a mole. “Last night, their call only lasted ten minutes. I don’t know what they discussed, but I saw Su Tao leave early this morning, probably to meet Si Chen.”

Hearing “left early,” Chi Xiaocheng’s eyebrow twitched. “Was she dressed up?”

“Uh…” Chen Qian didn’t understand the relevance but answered truthfully, “Not really. She just wore a down jacket.”

“Then it’s not a date.”

Chi Xiaocheng muttered to herself, relieved Su Tao wasn’t out with one of the male leads.

Rеαԁ οո KαtRеαdіոgСafe

In her eyes, Su Tao already belonged to her.

She wouldn’t allow those male leads to lay a finger on her.

But her unconscious murmur made Chen Qian give her a strange look.

Still, Chen Qian continued, “Besides last night, Su Tao also had lunch with Si Chen the day before. When she returned to the dorm, I probed a bit. She said Si Chen had studied psychology and she was just asking him some questions.”

Chi Xiaocheng’s sense of crisis skyrocketed!

Si Chen had a psychology buff!

She must have been asking about her yandere tendencies!

Urgently, she pressed, “And then?”

“Then I don’t know.” Chen Qian pursed her lips. “Even though I’ve been sticking close to her on your orders, I can’t follow when she’s with those young masters. We’re not in the same social circle.”

That was a problem.

Chen Qian couldn’t infiltrate the upper echelons.

If not for her connection to Su Tao, Dongfang Yang wouldn’t have spared her a glance either.

As a spy, she was useful, but only to a limited extent.

“Anything else happen this week?”

Chen Qian frowned in thought before suddenly remembering. “Oh! There was one thing involving you.”

“What?”

“I found out while you were hospitalized. I meant to tell you after you were discharged but nearly forgot.” Chen Qian explained:

Reaԁ оո KatReαdіngCafе

“Apparently, you offended Ye Liang by ruining his banquet. To apologize, Su Tao agreed to be his maid for three days, starting the 15th, this Wednesday.”

Chi Xiaocheng: “?”

Her crimson eyes darkened ominously. “Tao-Tao… is going to be Ye Liang’s maid?”

For some reason, Chen Qian found Chi Xiaocheng especially terrifying at this moment.

After gulping, she nodded. “From what Su Tao said, she made Ye Liang lose face at that banquet, so he demanded she serve as his maid for three days.”

“And… she also mentioned it might placate him so he wouldn’t target you.”

“Heh… hehehehe….”

Chi Xiaocheng let out a chilling laugh.

So this was why Ye Liang hadn’t come after her all this time.

The original plot had no such development.

Her butterfly effect was accelerating.

Given her “condition,” Su Tao would never mention this to her. She’d likely even warned others to keep it secret.

If not for Chen Qian, Su Tao might have been devoured by Ye Liang without her knowing!

After some thought, Chi Xiaocheng reached into her pocket.

She pulled out a small pill and tossed it to Chen Qian. “You’ve done well. This is your reward.”

“What is it?”

Chen Qian picked up the pill.

Chi Xiaocheng replied expressionlessly, “A high-tech solution for blackheads. It will take effect in half a day.”

Reaⅾ oո KаtRеаdіnɡСаfе

“Really?!”

Chen Qian had problematic skin, requiring thick foundation every time she went out. Having witnessed Chi Xiaocheng’s capabilities firsthand, if this was genuine….

Overjoyed, she didn’t hesitate and swallowed it immediately.

[Detected supporting character Chen Qian’s gratitude toward host]

[Emotion Points +7]

“This….”

An unexpected windfall.

The pill had cost her 30 Emotion Points in the system. It was purely meant for winning people over.

She’d momentarily forgotten that any named character in the original work, whether protagonist or supporting, could generate Emotion Points!

And Chen Qian happened to be a relatively important cannon-fodder antagonist.

She’d been worrying about lacking cards to counter Ye Liang, but if this was the case….

Chi Xiaocheng took out her phone and scrolled through her contacts.

Her finger paused over the ID labeled “World’s Greatest Brother.”

Just wait, Tao-Tao.

I’ll save you from Ye Liang’s clutches.

You’re mine!

You can only like me!