Cannon Fodder – Chapter 73 – Setting the Trap

‘Xiaocheng always overthinks like this.’

Having been asked this many times before, Su Tao had gradually built up resistance to such remarks.

After all, she was just humoring her, placating her, pretending to like her.

Su Tao naturally curved her lips into a smile. “Don’t worry, Xiaocheng. You’re the one I care about.”

She still avoided directly saying “like.”

Chi Xiaocheng understood Su Tao’s thoughts but didn’t expose them. Instead, she leaned closer, her warm breath brushing against Su Tao’s earlobe. “Tao-Tao can only like me, okay? Whether it’s Dongfang Yang, Si Chen, or even Ye Liang… Tao-Tao must never like them~

“Otherwise….”

Chi Xiaocheng smiled sweetly, leaving the threat unspoken as she sat on a stool, swinging her legs while waiting for their coffee.

The previously ambiguous and harmonious atmosphere between them cooled significantly after Dongfang Yang’s arrival and Chi Xiaocheng’s sudden shift in demeanor.

Su Tao couldn’t help but wonder: If Chi Xiaocheng stayed like this, would her relationships with others become a complete mess?

Just a few words of conversation had already sparked hostility toward Dongfang Yang.

The relaxation from recalling childhood memories over steamed buns quietly transformed back into pressure.

The coffee arrived.

Chi Xiaocheng added one spoon of sugar, watching as Su Tao added two and a half.

So Tao-Tao really has a sweet tooth.

Chi Xiaocheng noted this detail, then propped her chin in her hands, gazing at Su Tao, smiling without a word.

Perhaps feeling pressured under Chi Xiaocheng’s stare, Su Tao drank cup after cup of coffee, seeming unusually restless.

They spent the morning in the cozy café, enjoying the warm, pleasant atmosphere.

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By noon, after lunch, light snow began to fall.

The temperature seemed to drop several degrees in an instant.

Su Tao cupped her hands and exhaled warm air. “This weather is really unpleasant.”

Chi Xiaocheng, hands in her pockets, agreed. “Yeah, I heard this winter will be especially cold. You don’t usually turn on the heater in your dorm at night, right?”

Su Tao nodded. “In summer, the AC is fine, but the heater in winter gets too stuffy. I can’t stand it.”

“Then…” Chi Xiaocheng hopped in front of her, eyes sparkling with anticipation. “How about coming to my place? It’s not far, and we can sleep together!”

“S-Sleep together?”

“Yeah!” Chi Xiaocheng swayed slightly. “I want to hug Tao-Tao while sleeping. You’re so soft and sweet-smelling. Love it~”

‘But the one who’s truly soft, sweet-smelling, and petite enough to easily embrace is you, Xiaocheng!’

Su Tao felt tempted by the offer.

She and Chen Qian were early risers, while their other two roommates slept until 11 a.m. unless they had class, combining breakfast and lunch. Every time Su Tao got ready in the morning, she had to tiptoe around.

But the thought of Chi Xiaocheng’s yandere tendencies made her hesitate.

She deflected with an excuse. “Applying for off-campus housing is a hassle, and I have a lot of 8 a.m. classes. The classrooms are far, so commuting would be inconvenient.”

“Okay….”

Chi Xiaocheng looked disappointed but didn’t go insane, which secretly relieved Su Tao.

Quickly changing the subject, she said, “Let’s go to the cat café first. It’s a bit remote, so we’ll need to walk a stretch.”

“Can a cat café in a remote location even make money?”

“It’s Dongfang Yang’s business. Rumor has it he employs a few high schoolers who had to drop out due to family issues. He’s also taken in stray cats from other places, tamed them, and sent them to the café.”

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Su Tao sounded slightly eager. “He mentioned it last time, but I haven’t been there yet.”

‘So Tao-Tao is a cat person.’

Another detail to remember.

As they walked toward the cat café, Su Tao suddenly blushed and said, “Xiaocheng, wait here for me. I need to use the restroom nearby since I drank too much coffee.”

“Okay~”

Chi Xiaocheng nodded obediently.

She already had a plan: once they arrived, she’d ask repeatedly whether Su Tao liked cats or her more.

Then she’d pretend to be a cat to win Su Tao’s affection.

And if Su Tao got too friendly with the high school girls working there, she’d switch to her yandere persona.

The goal remained the same: keep applying pressure.

Make Su Tao realize—

She must devote herself entirely to Xiaocheng~

However, fate had other plans.

Just as Chi Xiaocheng finalized her scheme, an unexpected incident occurred.

A sports car roared past on the road beside her.

At first, nothing happened, but then, the car reversed back toward her. Chi Xiaocheng raised an eyebrow, putting away her phone and eyeing the car warily.

A tall figure stepped out.

“Chi Xiaocheng. What an unfortunate coincidence!”

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It was Ye Liang!

Instantly, Chi Xiaocheng pulled her hands from her pockets, retrieving a fruit knife from her system space.

Her gaze turned icy and alert.

The driver, his bodyguard, stood protectively beside Ye Liang. “Young Master, this is her, right? This area has no surveillance. Should I take her out?”

“Don’t!” Ye Liang eyed the fruit knife with lingering fear. “Don’t act rashly. You might not win.”

“Huh?” The bodyguard stared at him in disbelief. “Me? A 20-year veteran who once killed a tiger with a sliding tackle? You’re saying I can’t handle this 1.5-meter-tall girl? Seriously?”

Ye Liang shot him a look. “If you want to risk your life, be my guest. Right now, call for backup just in case!”

Cautiously observing Chi Xiaocheng, Ye Liang quickly noticed something different about her compared to last time.

She seemed… more rational?

‘Right, she’s a yandere. If not provoked, she won’t lose control!’

With this realization, Ye Liang relaxed, smirking at Chi Xiaocheng. “What bad luck for you, being alone this time. You won’t escape again.”

Chi Xiaocheng narrowed her eyes. “Ye Liang, are you seriously planning to trap me here while waiting for backup?”

“So what if I am?”

Even if she saw through his plan, Ye Liang wasn’t worried. No matter how strong she was, could she take on a group of professionally trained bodyguards?

But what he didn’t expect was Chi Xiaocheng stepping toward him. “Ye Liang, since you’ve already targeted me, why would you assume I’m out here alone?”

A faint smile played on her lips. “I’m on a date with Tao-Tao~”

A date!

Ye Liang’s anger flared instantly.

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His expression darkened further. “Where’s Su Tao?!”

Had she been locked up again?!

By now, Chi Xiaocheng had closed the distance, unafraid of Ye Liang trying to grab her.

Her soft smile remained. “Tao-Tao went to the restroom.”

“Then what’s your game?!”

Chi Xiaocheng raised the knife, making Ye Liang stumble back.

But instead of attacking him, she flipped the blade—

Pointing it at herself!

Her voice took on an eerie, unnatural tone. “Tao-Tao will be back soon. Right now, there’s an easily provoked grown man and a weak, harmless little girl.

“Guess who’ll be blamed if I end up hurt… or stabbed?

“Ye Liang, I’ve been wanting to make Tao-Tao stay away from you. Your timing is… perfect~”

The knife tip pressed against her own abdomen, avoiding vital spots.

Ye Liang’s scalp prickled, cold sweat drenching his back. If he attacked now, wouldn’t he be playing right into her hands?

Even if he explained later, would Su Tao really take his side?

The two stood locked in a stalemate—

Unaware that, behind a nearby tree, a slender figure had overheard every word.

Su Tao stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.