Cannon Fodder – Chapter 72 – Feelings

Her heartbeat quickened slightly, pores dilating. The biting cold wind didn’t make her shiver. Instead, it somehow made her heart feel warm.

Both mind and body relaxed, thoroughly enjoying this moment.

What was this feeling?

A crush?

Her smiling face, her petite features, her delicate nose, small mouth, and silky hair, all so adorable.

‘But I’m a girl myself. How could I possibly… have a crush on another girl?’

Su Tao averted her gaze, a purely instinctive act of self-preservation.

‘No, maybe it’s just because Xiaocheng’s actions reminded me of childhood memories.’

‘Lost in reminiscence and daze, that’s why I reacted this way.’

Just then, Chi Xiaocheng’s voice suddenly sounded by her ear: “Do you like it?”

“Huh?”

Su Tao froze, flustered once again. What did Xiaocheng mean by that?

‘Asking if I like her?’

This wasn’t the first time. She’d asked several times before.

Would she demand an answer? What if she showed her yandere side again?

Her thoughts tangled chaotically until Chi Xiaocheng’s voice came again: “The steamed buns, do you like them, Tao-Tao?”

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‘Oh. So she was asking about the buns.’

Su Tao hurriedly nodded. “Mhm, I like them.”

“I see~ As long as Tao-Tao likes them, that’s all that matters~”

Chi Xiaocheng glanced back with a smile before walking ahead.

That odd tone, the slightly drawn-out inflection… everything Chi Xiaocheng did always left Su Tao somewhat puzzled.

She was only talking about steamed buns, so what did that mean?

Walking beside Chi Xiaocheng, Su Tao’s gaze lingered on her. After a few steps, she suddenly paused.

The slight rise and fall at Chi Xiaocheng’s chest… were also “steamed buns”….

Her footsteps grew hurried.

Chi Xiaocheng had no idea what Su Tao was thinking. Right now, she was just happy because the system had just delivered a long-awaited notification:

[Detected that female lead Su Tao has developed feelings of attraction toward the host.]

[Emotional value +100…]

Since this was the first time such emotions had surfaced, the reward was undeniably huge.

All her efforts over the past half-month had finally paid off! Tao-Tao was starting to see her differently!

If she could just deal with Ye Liang next, she’d have even more time.

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But for the current Tao-Tao, a date like this was still just seasoning. She needed something more intense.

At the very least, it had to be like the rooftop incident or the black room ¹ The room where Su Tao was trapped for 3 days. The author decides to call it the “Black Room” now .

What should she do?

Unlike before, they didn’t chat along the way. Both lost in thought, they soon arrived at Moonlight Café.

Perhaps due to the café’s constant air conditioning, it was no longer as deserted as usual. Several customers were present.

Chu San greeted them with a smile as they approached. “Miss Chi, Miss Su, what would you like to drink?”

“Coffee starting at 100? Can’t afford that.” Chi Xiaocheng shivered, squinting at the warm air blasting from the AC.

Winter outings were truly torture.

Then, a cheerful voice rang out: “I’ll treat you both to coffee. But Chi Xiaocheng, aren’t you slacking off too much? You were supposed to watch the café, yet you skipped three out of five days.”

Dongfang Yang descended from the café’s second floor, arms crossed, feigning displeasure as he looked at Chi Xiaocheng.

Spotting Dongfang Yang, Chi Xiaocheng’s intermediate acting skills kicked in. She toned down her clingy demeanor toward Su Tao and instead adopted a timid tone. “I was sick those days… Tao-Tao took care of me….”

Su Tao’s smile stiffened.

The days she skipped… were exactly when she’d been locked in the black room.

“Is that true, Su Tao?”

Su Tao avoided Dongfang Yang’s gaze, nodding lightly. “Mhm… Xiaocheng has… always been a bit frail.”

She wasn’t good at lying. If it were Si Chen, a quick glance at her microexpressions would’ve revealed the deception.

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But Dongfang Yang just sighed at Chi Xiaocheng, not doubting Su Tao’s cover-up at all. “Even though the café runs fine without you, if something comes up next time, remember to notify Chu San in advance. Got it?”

Chi Xiaocheng nodded like a chick pecking at rice, then cautiously asked, “Boss… are you worried about me?”

“Hah?” Dongfang Yang scoffed. “I just don’t want you dropping dead and then having your family sue me. Wouldn’t want people thinking I’m some exploitative boss.”

The moment he said this, both Chi Xiaocheng and Su Tao stared at him oddly.

Dongfang Yang faltered, suddenly flustered. “W-What? It’s the truth!”

He quickly changed the subject. “I heard Ye Liang’s been bullying you two?”

Su Tao shook her head lightly. “Not really. Just a small disagreement.”

“He is bullying me!” Chi Xiaocheng puffed up courage, like a kid tattling to a parent. “Boss, you have no idea, Ye Liang actually said he wants to steal Tao-Tao away! I… I could kill him!”

A flash of something dark flickered in her eyes, but her intermediate acting skills swiftly masked it with soft, adorable innocence.

Dongfang Yang was deeply moved.

That little punk Ye Liang claimed Chi Xiaocheng liked Su Tao and was dangerous?

‘Look at her, clearly, she’s into me!’

‘Knowing I like Su Tao, she’s even sacrificing herself to stop Ye Liang from getting close to her!’

‘If that’s not love for me, what is?’

‘She’s so into me, yet she hides her feelings, supporting my bond with Su Tao.’

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‘Really… I could cry.’

Dongfang Yang’s heart ached. Ever since confirming Chi Xiaocheng’s true nature as a ditzy sweetheart, he’d grown fonder of her by the day.

Emotions surging, he thumped his chest with a fist. “Chi Xiaocheng, you’re my employee. Next time Ye Liang messes with you, drop my name. Who does he think he is, bullying my people?!”

Then he turned to Su Tao. “You too, Su Tao. If Ye Liang barks orders at you again, just ignore him. I’ve got your back.”

He hastily added, “But don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I care that much. I just can’t stand Ye Liang. As your boss and friend, I’m just supporting you.

“That’s all. Message me if anything comes up. I’ve got things to do, so I’m off.”

Hands in pockets, Dongfang Yang strode out of the café, humming cheerfully.

Clearly, he was in high spirits.

Watching him leave, Chi Xiaocheng dropped the act and sighed. “Dongfang Yang is such a good guy!”

Su Tao nodded beside her. “He’s always been a tsundere with a warm heart.”

Hearing the two beauties praise his young master, Chu San behind the counter couldn’t help but smile proudly. “Young Master has always been like this. His family gives him a hefty allowance, and he donates a good portion to mountain villages.”

Chi Xiaocheng nodded slightly.

With a personality like this, unless he was an adversary, there was really nothing to dislike.

Still, though Dongfang Yang was a bit dense, he seemed to retain some feelings for Tao-Tao….

After ordering coffee from Chu San, Chi Xiaocheng leaned close to Su Tao’s ear and whispered, “Tao-Tao… you don’t like Dongfang Yang, right?”