Cannon Fodder – Chapter 71 – It’s Not the Buns I Like, But You

At 8 a.m., Chi Xiaocheng deliberately skipped breakfast, planning to leave early for school to find Su Tao, sneak into her dorm, and surprise her with a hug.

But to her surprise, Su Tao was even earlier than her.

Just as she entered the living room and took a sip of warm water, the doorbell rang.

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t even need to open the door. Su Tao, who had already registered her fingerprint, let herself in.

“Xiaocheng, I’m here.”

Having agreed to go on a date on Saturday, she was more punctual than anyone.

Su Tao tapped the light snow off her boots but froze the moment she stepped inside. “Brother Chi Song?!”

Her voice was a mix of shock and delight, though her heart clenched slightly when she noticed Chi Song’s missing arm.

Chi Song smiled faintly. “Had a little accident while working outside. It’s nothing. It’s been years. You’ve grown even more beautiful, Xiao Tao.”

Su Tao’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Brother Chi Song, stop teasing me. I’m not that pretty, just….”

Before she could finish, Chi Song nodded approvingly. “You’re so lovely, and my little sister is adorable too. You two look perfect together.”

A young woman and a petite girl.

The image was quite charming.

With everything that had happened recently, Su Tao had almost forgotten Chi Song’s earlier question.

‘Do you like my little sister?’

What kind of older brother tries to set up his sister with another girl?!

But Su Tao knew Chi Song was a straight-as-an-arrow guy. Maybe he genuinely thought this way.

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Her smile turned awkward.

Chi Song laughed heartily. “Haven’t you two always been like this since you were kids? What’s the problem? Anyway, I’ll leave you to chat. I’ve got things to do.”

Once Chi Song left, Su Tao turned her attention back to the living room, only to find Chi Xiaocheng already standing right in front of her.

Her head was lowered, eyes fixed intently on the thick thermal tights covering Su Tao’s legs.

Today, Su Tao had opted for a light pink wool coat over a simple white high-neck sweater.

Below, she wore beige thermal tights paired with brown ankle boots, the smooth lines making her legs appear even longer.

Su Tao felt uneasy under Chi Xiaocheng’s gaze and shyly rubbed her knees. “X-Xiaocheng, what’s wrong?”

Chi Xiaocheng looked up at her gloomily. “You’re going out like this?”

“Is… is there a problem?”

While not the height of fashion, it was a fairly normal outfit.

Yet Chi Xiaocheng pointed seriously at the thick tights. “These, no one else gets to see them!”

“Huh?”

Chi Xiaocheng stepped closer, nearly pressing against Su Tao. “Above the neck, hands, and no short skirts either. That’s the limit when we’re outside!”

Watching those crimson eyes grow increasingly resentful, Su Tao gulped and nodded softly.

‘This is a yandere’s possessiveness!’

And also the “illness” in “yandere.”

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The next second, Chi Xiaocheng demonstrated the “dere” side.

Cupping her own blushing cheeks, she murmured shyly, “B-But… at home, Tao-Tao can wear whatever she wants. I-I’ll love it all.”

The drastic shift made it seem like two different people.

Yet no one could deny how adorable the way she went from fiercely possessive to bashfully lovestruck in seconds was.

The tension dissipated, and Su Tao couldn’t help but smile.

She put her hands on her hips and pointed at Chi Xiaocheng. “Then what about you, Xiaocheng? Aren’t you dressed the same way?”

Today, Chi Xiaocheng wore a newly bought down coat that reached her calves, paired with thick thermal tights.

Chi Xiaocheng grinned up at her. “I’m wearing this for you, Tao-Tao. Do you like it?”

Lifting the hem of her coat, she spun lightly in place, the coat flaring like a skirt.

Su Tao huffed playfully. “If you won’t let me wear this outside, then I won’t let you either!”

Chi Xiaocheng paused, then beamed, her sharp little canines peeking out. “Okay~ Tao-Tao is mine, and I’m Tao-Tao’s!”

Their eyes met.

Neither could hold back their laughter.

In that joy, one was utterly content, while the other carried a hint of shyness.

‘This is just shopping. Pretending it’s a date with her, that’s all.’

Su Tao told herself this as they both changed into long pants. The treasure-like legs were now hidden away.

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Su Tao turned and asked, “Where do you want to go today, Xiaocheng?”

“I’ll follow Tao-Tao’s lead~”

“Knew you’d say that.” Su Tao pulled out her phone and checked the itinerary she’d prepared the night before.

As they stepped into the elevator together, she said, “We haven’t eaten breakfast yet, so let’s grab something first. Then we can spend the morning at Dongfang Yang’s café. You can’t keep skipping work there.”

“And after that?”

“The weather forecast says it’ll snow this afternoon. How about a cat café? I think Xiaocheng and cats would be a perfect match. In the evening, we can go shopping at the commercial district.”

“Okay~”

Chi Xiaocheng naturally had no objections to Su Tao’s plans. Smiling, she held Su Tao’s hand as they headed out.

On the street, she walked ahead, pointing at snowy scenery and chattering about something.

Su Tao trailed behind, half-dragged along, nodding now and then with a mix of fondness and exasperation.

Chi Xiaocheng seemed hyper-aware of Su Tao’s gaze. Every time Su Tao looked at her, she’d turn at just the right moment.

And smile.

Pure and heartwarming.

Ripples of nostalgia passed through Su Tao’s eyes, summoning childhood memories.

Wasn’t this how Chi Xiaocheng used to be? Preparing little gifts, then leading her by the hand to all sorts of “mysterious” places, as if guiding her forward.

Back then, those so-called gifts might have been a woven flower crown, a mud figurine, a secretly bought lollipop… or sometimes, just a smile.

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In the blink of an eye, it seemed like everything had changed, yet nothing had.

She had grown up.

And now, her eyes held affection and love.

“Bun, want some?”

Snapped from her thoughts, Chi Xiaocheng held out a bamboo skewer with a small steamed bun.

Su Tao smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in to take a bite.

A row of faint teeth marks indented the bun.

She ate half.

Chi Xiaocheng popped the other half into her mouth and savored it.

Su Tao chuckled. “Xiaocheng, do you really like steamed buns that much?”

Chi Xiaocheng shook her head lightly. “Not really. This shop’s buns are too juicy. The flavor’s too strong.”

“Then why are you enjoying it so much? Hungry?”

“Silly Tao-Tao.” Chi Xiaocheng turned, her gaze tender. “What I’ve always liked isn’t the bun. It’s you~”

For a moment, Su Tao froze.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying flecks of snow and tousling Su Tao’s hair.

And stirring her heart.