Cannon Fodder – Chapter 64 – Tearing Off All Pretense, A Fight to the Death

In that moment of shock, the small knife aimed straight at his waist was already upon him, so fast that Ye Liang didn’t even have time to counter.

Barely managing to twist his body aside, the blade still sliced through his suit, leaving a thin red line in its wake.

“You—!”

Ye Liang turned sideways, lowering his head slightly to meet Chi Xiaocheng’s crimson, slit-pupiled eyes.

Like a furious, rabid kitten!

In the blink of an eye, Chi Xiaocheng tossed the knife into the air, spun, and caught it effortlessly with her other hand before thrusting it inward again at Ye Liang.

Her petite body made her movements agile.

But Ye Liang, as a male lead, was no pushover either. Shaken but recovering quickly, he slapped her knife-wielding hand away with force.

At the same time, he retreated two steps, adjusting his stance.

Like an enraged lion, he growled, “I was going to let you off for Su Tao’s sake, but you dare try to take her from me? You brought this on yourself!”

How much of a threat could a 1.5-meter-tall loli possibly be?

With such weak attacks and strength, if he’d overpowered her once, doing it again would be just as easy!

Taking a large step forward, Ye Liang reached out arrogantly.

Like a dragon snatching its prey, he tried to grab Chi Xiaocheng’s throat again, but the moment his eyes met that seemingly frail little hand, his expression twisted in shock.

Her small hand easily caught his wrist, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move an inch forward.

‘How is she so strong?!’

‘She wasn’t like this earlier!’

Before he could process the shock, a crack echoed, followed by a hoarse scream.

Reаⅾ oո KаtRеαdіոɡСαfe

“Gah—!”

His entire arm was wrenched out of its socket by Chi Xiaocheng’s grip on his wrist.

No no no!

Ye Liang stumbled back in terror, cold sweat breaking out on his face, his breathing ragged.

How can someone so small be this strong?!

And….

Ye Liang watched as Chi Xiaocheng stepped toward him, swallowing hard.

Now, her chestnut hair was disheveled, half-covering her face, leaving only one eye visible beneath her messy bangs, revealing a vertical pupil glowing faintly red.

The hand holding the knife hung limply at her side, drops of crimson liquid sliding down the blade.

Drip. Drip.

The liquid fell, blooming into bright red roses on the floor.

Then, a small foot stepped on those roses, approaching him step by step.

Blackened: 8x!

“Tao-Tao… she’s mine.”

After murmuring those words, Chi Xiaocheng whooshed forward again.

“Damn it!”

Ye Liang scrambled toward the door, shouting, “What the hell are you all doing outside?! Get in here and help!”

Rеаd οո КatRеаdіոɡСαfе

The door had been left open the whole time, with bodyguards standing vigil outside.

Hearing Ye Liang’s voice, the suited man outside rushed in. He was the same one who’d chased Chi Xiaocheng in the basement before.

He glanced at the blackened Chi Xiaocheng, then at his young master clutching a dislocated arm and a bleeding wound on his waist.

Ye Liang glared at him. “What are you staring at?! Take her down!”

“Huh? Me?”

The suited man met Chi Xiaocheng’s eerie slit pupils and immediately felt fear.

One effect of cat-like eyes was instilling terror in those who met their gaze.

‘This girl is clearly not right in the head!’

His scalp tingling, the man hoisted Ye Liang over his shoulder without another word. “Young Master, let’s get you to the hospital first. I’ve been in this business for years, and I’ve never hit women before!”

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t give chase. Only after they left did she slowly regain her senses, collapsing weakly by the entrance.

Her eyes gradually cleared as she exhaled. “That was impulsive.”

[Host, you’re back to normal?]

“I was never really out of it.” Chi Xiaocheng peeked at the hallway camera. “Luckily, the Blacken skill kicked in at the last second. Being so unreliable is frustrating.

“System, do you think it’s because Ye Liang mentioned Su Tao? Maybe the female lead’s aura weakened his male lead halo, letting me activate the skill?”

[Host, is there a chance, just a small one, that you might actually be a little yandere yourself, which is why the skill triggered?]

“Hah?” Chi Xiaocheng scoffed. “If I were a yandere, wouldn’t I know? Everything I’ve shown is all acting.

“Of course I’m not a yandere.”

Reаⅾ оո ΚаtRеαⅾіոɡCαfе

She waved a hand dismissively. “Let’s drop this. I know myself best. The real issue is that both times the Blacken skill activated, I’ve been left weak afterward. Why?”

[Blackening multiplies your combat power, but it’s essentially compressing your body’s potential. After the state ends, the backlash weakens you based on the multiplier.]

“I see.”

Chi Xiaocheng sighed, her expression turning complicated. “The real trouble starts now. Besides the weakness, Blackening affects my rationality. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have acted so recklessly.

“At this point, even Tao-Tao might not be able to protect me.”

Given what just happened, it was no exaggeration to say she and Ye Liang were now locked in a fight to the death!

A cannon-fodder villain facing off against a male lead?

“Talk about a tough challenge.”

[Host, we should act fast. Ye Liang’s character will definitely retaliate. Should we ask Su Tao for help?]

“No!” Chi Xiaocheng’s voice was firm. “Last time, that bastard already pushed for Tao-Tao to be his maid. Now that we’ve torn off all pretense, he’ll definitely restrict her!

“But… this is also an opportunity.”

Pulling out her phone, Chi Xiaocheng murmured while staring at Su Tao’s WeChat avatar.

Her conflict with Ye Liang had escalated.

As the one caught in the middle, Su Tao would inevitably have to choose, no matter how much Chi Xiaocheng wanted to keep her out of it.

Would she pick her?

Or Ye Liang, whom she still had some feelings for?

Tao-Tao, you’d better not choose Ye Liang!

Rеαd οո KatRеαԁіոɡСafe

A red glint flashed in Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes as she switched to Dr. Cheng’s alternate account.

She had a new plan—one to make Su Tao break with Ye Liang for good!

“But before that, I need bodyguards.”

[Bodyguards?]

The system sounded confused.

[Host, even with the few hundred emotional points Ye Liang just provided, you only have 1,635. The shop doesn’t sell people. Should we ask Si Chen?]

“Si Chen isn’t trustworthy yet.” Chi Xiaocheng shook her head and opened someone else’s WeChat.

Typing a message: “Ge, I got bullied. Can you bring some people to help me?”

The reply came instantly.

World’s Greatest Brother: “Okay. I’ll be home by midnight.”

Reading those few words, Chi Xiaocheng felt warmth in her chest.

Honestly, she hadn’t wanted to drag her brother into this.

But….

‘Plans can’t keep up with changes!’

Switching back to Dr. Cheng’s account, she slowly composed a message to Su Tao.

‘Now then, Tao-Tao… between me and Ye Liang, who will you choose?’

‘Will it be me… or will it be me?’