Cannon Fodder – Chapter 77 – The Beginning of Dependency

The surrounding noise buzzed in her ears, yet Su Tao simply held Chi Xiaocheng, her expression dazed.

Chi Song had arrived. Another fight had broken out.

What happened afterward was unclear since she could barely hear anything.

In a daze, she got into the car, her vision fixated only on that weak, pale little face.

After winding through the streets, the car arrived at Dongfang Yang’s private hospital. Dongfang Uang himself had clearly just rushed over as well. After instructing doctors to lift Chi Xiaocheng onto a stretcher, he frowned at Su Tao.

“What happened this time? Did she hurt herself again?”

“It was that bastard Ye Liang!” Chi Song stood beside Su Tao, his fury unabated.

Just moments ago, he and his men had brawled with the bodyguards Ye Liang had called.

His ten followers, all of whom had fought alongside him since two years ago, were seasoned veterans. Even if Ye Liang’s bodyguards were professionally trained, they were clearly just hired muscle.

They lacked that ruthless edge.

In less than ten minutes, the entire group was sprawled on the ground.

Moans of pain filled the air.

As for Ye Liang, beaten half to death in Chi Song’s rage…. His body was covered in bruises, yet even then, the pride of a CEO kept him from collapsing or begging for mercy.

If Liang Hei hadn’t stopped him, warning that the aftermath would only worsen if Ye Liang were seriously injured….

Chi Song would have at the very least crippled him.

Under the immense pressure from Chi Xiaocheng, Su Tao’s mind had briefly short-circuited, her rationality gone.

Chi Song and his men were all rough, straightforward types.

None had considered the consequences of beating Ye Liang senseless. Only belatedly realizing that Chi Xiaocheng might bleed out, they rushed her to the hospital.

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Chi Song glanced at Su Tao, still seemingly out of it, and sighed. “Xiao Tao must be pretty shaken too.”

His large hand patted her back gently.

Only then did Su Tao snap back to reality.

Her haggard face attempted a smile, but finding it too bitter, she lowered her head again.

Even the fine snow dusting her shoulders and hair remained untouched.

“Sorry, I spaced out.”

She then turned her head, watching the doctors and nurses wheel Chi Xiaocheng away, her heart growing heavier and more tangled.

Dongfang Yang studied Su Tao, her expression eerily familiar.

On the night they came down from the rooftop, Su Tao had worn this same look for a long time.

Like withdrawal, yet more severe than that.

Confusion, agony, conflict, like a drowning person struggling desperately.

Her exhausted face was heartbreaking to behold.

Her pale pink lips, chapped from the cold, went unnoticed even by herself.

With a helpless sigh, Dongfang Yang turned to Chi Song, his gaze briefly lingering on the missing arm. “Brother, could you tell me exactly what happened?”

Extending a hand, he added, “I’m Dongfang Yang, a friend of Chi Xiaocheng and Su Tao.”

Wiping his hand on his clothes first, Chi Song shook Dongfang Yang’s hand with a straightforward grin. “I’m Chi Song, Xiaocheng’s older brother.”

“I’ve heard of you.” Dongfang Yang glanced at Su Tao before steering Chi Song aside. “Su Tao told me she’s an orphan, but that one person treated her like a real sister.”

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Chi Song smiled bashfully. “Xiao Tao’s mentioned you too.”

Dongfang Yang’s eyebrow rose. “Oh? What did she say?”

“That you’re a warm-hearted tsundere. A good guy.”

Instantly, Dongfang Yang’s face stiffened.

‘Bro, if we’re gonna hype me up, don’t hit me with the “good guy” card.’

‘Since when am I a tsundere?!’

Clicking his tongue, he swiftly changed the subject. “Brother Chi, what did you mean about Ye Liang being responsible?”

Chi Song exhaled heavily and recounted the scene.

“When I got there, I saw Ye Liang stab my sister, then move toward Xiao Tao. Out of respect for him being the Ye family’s young master, I hadn’t made trouble these past few days despite knowing he was targeting Xiaocheng.

“Who’d have thought he’d go insane, attacking two defenseless girls!”

These two girls, delicate and soft-skinned, looked like they wouldn’t dare harm a chicken.

And Ye Liang still attacked them!

Absolute scum!

Hearing this, Dongfang Yang couldn’t help but inhale sharply.

He’d only known about minor tensions between Ye Liang and Chi Xiaocheng. He never imagined things had escalated this badly!

Still, the full story would require asking Su Tao directly.

Returning to the hospital entrance, Dongfang Yang saw Su Tao still sitting blankly on a bench and sighed, abandoning his questioning plans.

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His heart ached as he spoke softly, “If you’re tired, go rest. Or sleep here. There are plenty of empty rooms.”

Su Tao parted her dry lips. “Will Xiaocheng… be okay?”

Just then, a female doctor approached. “She’s fine. The knife missed vital points and wasn’t deep. Her cells are more active than average, there’s no need to worry.”

At this, both Su Tao and Dongfang Yang relaxed slightly.

Closing her eyes, Su Tao’s voice was thick with confusion. “Dongfang Yang… what should I do?”

Dongfang Yang kept his tone gentle. “Don’t overthink it. I don’t know the details, but you should sleep first. You look terrible.”

“Terrible” was an understatement for Su Tao’s current state.

Hair disheveled, face ghostly pale, fine wrinkles forming at her eyes from prolonged frowning. Her once-vibrant eyes now dull and lifeless.

Su Tao opened her mouth, gazing pleadingly at the handsome man before her. “Dongfang Yang… could you talk with me for a while?”

His heart softened, but he shook his head. “Sorry, Su Tao. With this huge incident, regardless of Ye Liang himself, his people will investigate and target you and Chi Xiaocheng.

“Before things escalate further, I need to handle this. Otherwise, it’ll affect your future lives.”

He then turned to Chi Song. “Brother Chi, you acted too rashly earlier. Come with me. You’ll need to apologize at least. With me there, they won’t dare harass you. This is the only way to move past it.”

Watching Dongfang Yang and Chi Song leave, Su Tao braced against the wall and rose unsteadily, shuffling aimlessly out of the hospital.

She called Sicheng on her phone.

No answer.

Texted Dr. Cheng.

Left on read. He was busy.

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Chen Qian and her roommates were nowhere to be found, unreachable.

It was as if everyone connected to Chi Xiaocheng, everyone who could be her pillar, her confidant, had vanished.

She had other friends, of course, but….

Could she tell them about this? If Chi Xiaocheng went this far with Ye Liang, would dragging more people in endanger them?

The weight in her chest grew heavier with each stifled thought.

Walking without direction, Su Tao suddenly found herself standing before Chi Xiaocheng’s home.

That front door brought back memories of everything that happened in that dark room a week ago.

Breathing… hurt.

Thinking… was agony.

She wanted to stop thinking, reject reality, abandon everything.

But collapsing here would be no different from abandoning Xiaocheng.

Fear. Terror.

Conflict. Struggle.

Desperately, Su Tao sought anything to anchor herself, to relieve this pressure.

Whatever it was, however painful, if it could make her forget today’s events, that was enough!

She drifted into the living room, her gaze suddenly locking onto the refrigerator. Her throat moved.

She… really wanted some orange juice now.