Cannon Fodder – Chapter 57 – Chi Xiaocheng’s Three-Step Plan

One finger…

Hearing this demand, even the System thought it was excessive, let alone Sichen.

It couldn’t help but voice concerns:

[Host, Sichen is still a young master. No matter how down on his luck he is, his influence is nothing to scoff at. If he sides with Ye Liang instead, couldn’t this backfire?]

[You’re being too impulsive]

“No, I’m perfectly rational.” The crimson glow in Chi Xiaocheng’s pupils didn’t fade. “Sichen is too dangerous. I’m testing whether he’s trustworthy.

“If he chops off his finger without hesitation, it proves he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Such a person would betray me for profit. Sichen cannot stay!

“If he refuses, it shows he’s weak and spineless, unable to endure trials. He’d crack under pressure and betray me. Sichen cannot stay!

“If he uses someone else’s hand as a substitute, it reveals his cold-blooded cruelty. Sichen cannot stay!”

Having someone like that near Su Tao.. would he truly be her inside man, or eventually become someone else’s?

The male leads in romance novels are no pushovers.

If Sichen discovered she wasn’t actually a yandere, would he still choose her over Su Tao?

Pressure must be applied!

And Sichen indeed felt the weight of Chi Xiaocheng’s ultimatum. Holding his phone, a chill shot up his spine, making his scalp tingle.

He’d witnessed a yandere’s ruthlessness firsthand.

He repeatedly reminded himself to maintain careful boundaries when dealing with one.

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Yet he never expected Chi Xiaocheng to hold such a grudge!

A finger… The thought terrified even him.

But Su Tao’s mysterious father was the only leverage he’d found in years!

After glancing at the fruit knife on his desk, Sichen took a deep breath.

“Chi Xiaocheng, can I apologize another way?”

The facial scar already affected him enough. Losing a finger was unacceptable.

So he proposed: “I can carve words into my back instead. I’ll keep my distance from Su Tao from now on. This is truly, absolutely the last time!”

Without shedding blood, it seemed impossible to placate this yandere.

His earlier scheme of controlling Chi Xiaocheng through Su Tao vanished without a trace.

One misstep could mean total defeat!

A yandere’s actions were simply too unpredictable.

Sichen’s counteroffer surprised Chi Xiaocheng, but she agreed. Isolated and outmatched, she couldn’t afford to lose this male lead’s support.

After hanging up, Sichen slumped into his chair with a long sigh.

He knocked on his desk, and a bodyguard entered. “Young Master, your orders?”

“Write something on my back for me.”

The bodyguard froze, then turned to leave. “Understood. I’ll fetch a pen.”

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“No need.” Sichen pointed to the knife. “Use this. Apply pressure, I can take it.”

The bodyguard’s face twitched as he gingerly picked up the blade.

‘Will I be drowned in the river after this carving?’

Hesitating, he asked, “Young Master… are you sure? This will hurt.”

Sichen unbuttoned his shirt. “Don’t worry. I won’t blame you.”

“Then… ‘Loyalty to the Nation’?”

After a long, hollow stare, he resolutely said, “‘Never Love Tao’.”

Having known Su Tao for three months, he’d admittedly developed some fondness for the bright, beautiful girl.

But for the sake of his ambitions, he had to eradicate those feelings himself!

Steeling himself, Sichen gripped the desk edge and roared for courage: “Do it!”

Soon, agonized screams echoed from the office.

Later, an inexplicable rumor spread… that Young Master Sichen was gay, engaging in office romances with suited bodyguards!

But that’s another story.

After dealing with Sichen, Chi Xiaocheng turned her attention back to the room.

Today was the final day, for tomorrow, Su Tao’s leave of absence would expire. After vanishing for three days, Chi Xiaocheng couldn’t possibly keep her confined any longer.

By evening, this beautiful interlude would end.

“Strangely reluctant….”

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Walking toward the room, she sighed wistfully.

[Host, you haven’t achieved this phase’s goal yet. Is half a day enough?]

“Barely.”

Chi Xiaocheng’s plan had three stages.

First: alter Su Tao’s mindset.

Eradicate any notion of “curing the yandere to restore their childhood sisterly bond.” As long as that idea persisted, her feelings would never evolve into love.

This step was nearly complete.

Once she posed as Dr. Cheng to manipulate Su Tao further, “curing the yandere” would become “embracing the yandere.”

Second: make Su Tao stop resisting her.

Dubbed the “Tao-Tao Orange Juice Project!”

By far the most successful phase.

Blurred time perception, oppressive confinement, and extreme feeding distortions made two days feel like a week to Su Tao.

Every liquid she encountered bore that rooftop “orange juice” flavor, except Chi Xiaocheng’s lips’ uniquely sweet and normal taste.

Thirsty but can’t stomach more orange juice?

Then keep begging for my nectar, willingly enduring that suffocating “love!”

Over three days, supplemented by Chi Xiaocheng’s aggressive “treatments,” this had happened dozens of times.

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With Su Tao’s resistance broken, the final step remained:

Make her develop romantic feelings!

Expecting someone to fall in love amid torment within three days was delusional, so Chi Xiaocheng set modest goals.

As long as Su Tao felt conflicted attraction, that sufficed.

Now, she had half a day to accomplish this before releasing her.

As she opened the door, planning this exact sequence, she found Su Tao standing guiltily nearby, clearly startled.

She’d been eavesdropping.

Too bad the room was soundproof.

Chi Xiaocheng smiled faintly. “What’s Tao-Tao doing?”

Su Tao retreated a step, avoiding eye contact. “N-Nothing! Just… wondering when you’d return.”

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t expose the lie, instead happily taking her hand. “Do you like me that much? Even after all those fearful looks you gave me.”

“I…”

Su Tao faltered, unsure how to respond.

Even now, traces of fear lingered toward Chi Xiaocheng.

But beyond that fear swirled a far more complex tangle of emotions.

‘Will I ever leave this place… or be trapped here forever?’