Cannon Fodder – Chapter 56 – One Finger

The childish voice was unusually piercing, like a cornered animal desperately displaying its aggression.

Even though Sichen was mentally prepared, the sound still startled him.

He forced a dry laugh over the phone, his tone nervous. “Uh, just kidding! I knew it was you, Chi Xiaocheng. I’m not here for Su Tao this time. I specifically came to talk to you!”

Sichen seemed to know how to handle the situation. Before Chi Xiaocheng could erupt again, he quickly added, “You like Su Tao, right? I have a good relationship with her. I can be your inside man and help you win her over. How about it?”

Chi Xiaocheng’s hoarse tone didn’t soften. “You have a ‘good relationship’ with her?”

“Ahem! I mean, as ordinary friends. I swear I’ve never had feelings for Su Tao!”

“But you just said you wanted her to be your girlfriend!”

“Ah, that was my second personality acting up! This mouth just won’t behave!”

Along with his words came two crisp slapping sounds, as if he were hitting his own face. “Since this involves Su Tao, let’s talk seriously and rationally, okay?”

Chi Xiaocheng wasn’t actually a yandere, so her emotional control was top-notch.

Reason took over, and she sat on the sofa, dropping the act. “What do you mean by ‘teaming up’?”

Sichen replied, “You know Su Tao’s true identity, don’t you?”

Chi Xiaocheng paused, reflexively asking, “True identity?”

“You… don’t know?”

Sichen’s voice was clearly surprised. He’d risked abandoning Su Tao to side with Chi Xiaocheng after much deliberation.

Why did this decision suddenly seem unreliable?

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Realizing something, Chi Xiaocheng quickly said, “Hold on a sec.”

She opened the System interface. “System, show me the original novel’s table of contents.”

She genuinely didn’t know about any hidden identity Su Tao might have.

After scanning the chapters, she finally found clues between Chapters 650 and 700.

Fifty chapters in total, costing 250 emotion points.

If this could secure Sichen’s cooperation, it was a small price to pay!

Chi Xiaocheng purchased it without hesitation. The novel’s content flooded her mind like a memory.

Everything became clear.

This segment was classic melodramatic romance.

Su Tao had offended Ye Liang by siding with the male lead, a genius doctor. Ye Liang, being the ultimate jealous type in the novel, punished her by making her live in his doghouse and tormenting her in various ways.

After all, the “domineering CEO” trope ¹ shit trope btw was popular among female readers who loved seeing the delicate heroine forcibly pampered.

But any writer knows that conflict drives the plot. Sweet moments are just seasoning.

Coincidentally, Su Tao’s background was revealed around this time. She wasn’t an orphan. It was just that her father was a war hero stationed overseas.

When her father returned and learned his daughter had been living in a doghouse, he flew into a rage and mobilized 100,000 mercenaries!

The father and male lead Ye Liang became enemies, leading to a series of battles fueled by love and hatred.

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Sichen’s role in this was minor, but Chi Xiaocheng could infer his motives.

He wanted to use Su Tao’s father’s influence to reclaim his position as the Si family heir!

Of course. To people like him, “friends” were just tools for mutual benefit.

But in that case….

Tao-Tao is mine.

Her doting father would naturally side with me.

With the System and knowledge of the original plot, helping Sichen wouldn’t be hard.

Adopting the “promise first” strategy, Chi Xiaocheng picked up the phone. “You’re talking about Su Tao’s dad, right? I know.”

“You do know!” Sichen sounded relieved. “Chi Xiaocheng, your behavior is so unusual, I figured you must want Su Tao to fall hopelessly in love with you. I can help.

“I can stay close to her, guide her, and assist you in winning her over. In return, after you succeed, you’ll use her father’s connections to help me retake the Si family. Sounds good?

“It’s a win-win. Her father won’t return for a while yet. Until then, I’ll fully support you. If you distrust me later, you can just ditch me. There’ll be no loss to you!

“Plus, facing Ye Liang alone is tough. My influence isn’t huge, but I can divert some of his attention.”

Sichen’s proposal was undeniably tempting.

As a rational character versed in psychology, he had Chi Xiaocheng’s current predicament perfectly analyzed.

After laying out his terms, Sichen began scheming.

Sure, Chi Xiaocheng’s a yandere wildcard, but after two encounters, I’m starting to figure her out.

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‘Her weakness is Su Tao!’

‘As long as I keep using Su Tao as leverage, I can control her rationality and steer her actions. Once I find her limits….’

‘An impulsive maniac like her is way easier to manipulate than a sharp-minded Su Tao.’

But before he could revel in this thought, Chi Xiaocheng’s skeptical voice came through.

“You’ll really do whatever I say?”

Sichen adjusted his glasses, a glint in his eyes. “I, Sichen, always keep my word.”

“Then… what’s the price?”

Chi Xiaocheng’s tone turned eerie.

Sichen paused. “Price?”

“This trade isn’t equal.” Her voice no longer sounded normal. “I don’t need you to win Tao-Tao. I love her, and she’ll only love me!”

Sichen hurriedly countered, “I can help you deal with Ye Liang! And there’s still Dongfang Yang to consider. With me, you’ll have better control over Su Tao’s social circle. That’s the exchange.”

“But… I didn’t like you saying you wanted Tao-Tao as your girlfriend~

“The alley… and just now on the phone. Did you think I’d forget?”

“She’s mine…

“She’s mine.

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“SHE’S MINE!!!

“How can I trust you after hearing those words?!”

Her voice grew colder, edged with something almost feral.

Sichen touched the scar on his cheek, which was left by Chi Xiaocheng in that alley, still not fully healed.

He’d assumed the matter was over. Who knew she’d still remember?!

Closing his eyes, Sichen took a deep breath. “Then what do you want me to do? I swear I don’t like Su Tao. Those words were just part of testing you for her sake! It was… all Su Tao’s idea!”

“Don’t you dare blame Tao-Tao!

“She’d never do that!”

Chi Xiaocheng’s tone was icy. “You must’ve manipulated her!”

At this, Sichen nearly smashed his phone in frustration.

Yandere!

This is impossible to reason with!

Suddenly, Chi Xiaocheng uttered coldly: “One finger.”

Sichen froze. “What did you say?”

Hoarsely, she repeated:

“I want one of your fingers, as an apology gift to Tao-Tao.”