Cannon Fodder – Chapter 47 – Since You’re Already Here

The cold wind silently swept through the winter campus, rustling the dry branches with a faint whisper.

After leaving the dorm, Su Tao realized the sky was even gloomier than she had imagined.

Her short boots crunched against the snow beneath thick gray tights as her gaze drifted past the passing students, occasionally meeting the adoring eyes of a few girls.

Attracting both men and women….

Su Tao couldn’t help but recall Sichen’s words to her.

In the past, she would never have misunderstood those gazes. But now, she couldn’t ignore them.

Because among those many girls, one of them was Chi Xiaocheng.

Was it just her acting as a yandere?

Or was it like Sichen said, had her own misunderstandings turned Chi Xiaocheng into a real yandere?

She couldn’t figure it out.

But the answer would be revealed today.

First, she went to see her academic advisor and requested three days off. Then, she headed to Ye Liang’s place.

After taking a taxi, she arrived at the company building.

“Miss Su.” The security guard recognized her and gave a slight bow. “Are you here to see the young master?”

“Is Ye Liang free now?”

“My apologies, Miss Su.” The guard replied, “Due to an unexpected incident, the young master flew to Lizhi City last night. He won’t be back until tomorrow at the earliest.”

“He asked me to inform you that the agreed-upon matter will have to wait until he’s available.”

Su Tao frowned delicately. “What happened?”

The guard shook his head. “The young master didn’t tell me. He just asked you to wait for now.”

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“This guy….” Su Tao kicked the snow in frustration, pouting before swallowing her irritation.

She told the guard, “Then I won’t disturb you further. If Ye Liang returns, have him call me.”

“Understood, Miss Su.”

After saying goodbye, Su Tao stewed in annoyance before bending down to scoop up a snowball.

As if imagining the snowball was Ye Liang, she hurled it hard at the wall.

“Everyone just does whatever they want without considering others.”

Last time, at the yacht banquet, she had been the one to stand him up, causing Ye Liang to waste a considerable amount of money and connections. Agreeing to be his maid for three days had been a reluctant compromise under his forceful demands.

For those three days—

She had humbly adjusted her shifts and taken extra hours at her part-time job.

She had spun countless excuses and signed a guarantee with her academic advisor just to get leave.

She had dealt with the constant rumors swirling around.

And she had even kept it all from Chi Xiaocheng, begging everyone who knew about it not to spill the secret.

Add to that the psychological pressure from the yandere loli, and Su Tao hadn’t slept well for several nights.

Her original plan had been to use this opportunity to test Chi Xiaocheng.

If she really was a yandere, Su Tao would follow Dr. Cheng’s advice and carefully soothe her.

If she wasn’t a yandere and had just been acting, then after clearing things up, Su Tao would go serve as Ye Liang’s maid.

But now? He just up and left without a word.

Su Tao stuffed her hands into her pockets, pulling out her phone with a long sigh.

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“Well, maybe this is for the best. I can focus on Xiaocheng. If she really is a yandere and reacts badly to what I say….”

Su Tao recalled the scene at the hospital when she had comforted Chi Xiaocheng.

She murmured softly, “If I hug her and say the right things, then tell her my hopes… she’ll go along with it, right?

“Because she likes me, she’ll listen to me?

“From what I’ve read online, that’s how it works.”

But Dr. Cheng had said it was worth trying, so it should be fine!

Suppressing her unease, Su Tao hurried toward Chi Xiaocheng’s apartment as the sky darkened with impending rain.

Boom—

A low rumble of thunder rolled through the air.

As she neared the apartment complex, Su Tao glanced up at the sky before covering her head and breaking into a run.

“Ugh, can’t the rain hold off a little longer?!”

She sprinted inside, barely making it into Chi Xiaocheng’s building before the downpour began. The moment Su Tao ducked inside, the rain came crashing down in torrents.

The wind howled as if trying to drag her back outside, driving the rain violently into the entrance.

Su Tao hastily retreated further into the building, heart pounding.

This rain had come out of nowhere. Even with an umbrella, she’d have been drenched in seconds.

“Oh, I should let Sichen know.”

Turning toward the elevator, Su Tao sent a message: “Sichen, I’m going to Xiaocheng’s place to try out that idea we talked about.”

“DON’T GO!!!”

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Sichen replied instantly, the three exclamation points radiating sheer panic.

Su Tao blinked in confusion. “Why? Did you already test it?”

Last time, Sichen had suggested two methods.

She hadn’t agreed to the first one, so he must have gone to test it himself. She’d assumed he hadn’t acted yet since he hadn’t updated her.

While waiting for his reply, Su Tao stepped into the elevator.

Sichen: “Well… I did test it. Let’s just say Chi Xiaocheng really is a bit of a yandere.”

Sichen: “So you don’t need to go. Provoking her could be dangerous.”

Su Tao: “Really? I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”

The elevator doors opened, and Su Tao slowly walked up to Chi Xiaocheng’s door, glancing at the tightly shut window beside it.

The storm raged outside like a giant hand frantically pounding on the glass, as if warning her not to enter.

Sichen: “I’m just worried about you.”

Su Tao lowered her head and typed back: “It’s fine. Since I’m already here. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”

After sending the last message, she pocketed her phone without checking for further replies. Smoothing her bangs with a finger, she pressed the doorbell.

The door opened, revealing a playful strand of tea-colored hair, followed by an impossibly adorable face.

Peeking out cautiously as if checking for danger, Chi Xiaocheng’s expression lit up upon seeing Su Tao.

“Tao-Tao!”

“Come in, come in! It’s cold outside!”

Her sweet, delighted voice warmed Su Tao’s heart.

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Compared to the wealthy young masters who “cared” with a perfunctory “You okay?”, Xiaocheng was practically an angel.

She seemed so normal. How could she possibly be a yandere?

Su Tao tapped her boots before stepping inside. “You’ve got the heater on, Xiaocheng? So cozy.”

“Because I knew you were coming today~”

Chi Xiaocheng smiled inwardly but didn’t answer aloud, instead fetching a pair of slippers. “Change into these first. I’ll make you some hot tea. You must be freezing after being out in that wind and rain!”

Without waiting for a response, she took Su Tao’s hand, cupping it between her own and bringing it to her lips.

She blew a soft, warm breath onto it.

Looking up with a silly, content smile, she asked, “Warmer now?”

Seeing Chi Xiaocheng like this, Su Tao’s chest ached faintly.

She’s so good to me… If I bring up Ye Liang and the maid thing later, she’ll be really hurt, won’t she?

I… don’t want to do this.

But no one knew whether this adorable side was real, or just an act.

Was her cuteness genuine?

Or was the yandere side her true nature?

Sorry, Xiaocheng!

Steeling herself, Su Tao stepped further inside in her slippers.

She didn’t notice Chi Xiaocheng lingering by the door, a faint smile playing on her lips as she pressed a button on the electronic lock.

The door locked behind them!