Cannon Fodder – Chapter 84 – My Love for You is Fake

Silky chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders as cold-toned lighting cast interwoven shadows across Chi Xiaocheng’s pale, delicate face. The moment she saw Su Tao, her smile bloomed, revealing shallow dimples.

This version of her looked particularly adorable.

That smile put Su Tao somewhat at ease. Carrying some fruit, she sat down beside Chi Xiaocheng. “How are you feeling?”

Chi Xiaocheng sat up slightly, her voice lively. “The moment I saw Tao-Tao, my body told me I’m completely fine now!”

Su Tao lowered her head, tucking Chi Xiaocheng’s fair little feet back under the blanket before casting a pained glance at her waist.

Almost instinctively, she said with concern, “Xiaocheng, please don’t hurt yourself again, okay?”

Chi Xiaocheng blinked, pretending not to understand. “What are you talking about, Tao-Tao? I didn’t hurt myself.”

Su Tao paused. A bitter smile flashed briefly before she forced an indignant expression. “Damn that Ye Liang!”

Chi Xiaocheng nodded deeply. “I heard from brother. Pity they didn’t cripple him. How dare he make you be his maid? May he never leave that hospital bed!”

Su Tao’s small mouth opened slightly before she lowered her head in silence.

‘So… it was because of the maid thing?’

Though the darkroom incident was over, her agreement to be Ye Liang’s maid had merely been postponed. And in Xiaocheng’s eyes, even if avoided this time, it would inevitably happen eventually.

Hence the all-or-nothing approach, forcing her to completely sever ties with Ye Liang!

Su Tao’s gaze grew complicated.

When she looked at Chi Xiaocheng, there was no blame. It was just another version of reaping what she’d sown.

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Chi Xiaocheng becoming a yandere, kidnapping her in the basement, attempting to jump off the rooftop, even this recent self-harm and framing. Every consequence stemmed from seeds she herself had planted.

Su Tao closed her eyes, slowly emptying her mind before exhaling deeply.

‘Whatever. What’s done can’t be undone. No point dwelling on Ye Liang. His true nature wasn’t good anyway.’

The priority now: Soothe Xiaocheng’s emotions, actively try accepting her yandere tendencies, and take the first step toward gradual treatment.

Having sorted her thoughts, Su Tao looked up to find Chi Xiaocheng staring at her. Their eyes met naturally.

The loli tilted her head with a smile. “What’s Tao-Tao thinking about?”

Su Tao’s tone lightened. “About what hobbies Xiaocheng usually enjoys.”

“Are we cultivating shared interests now?” Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes sparkled, her expectant expression like a child seeing toys.

Then with blissful delivery: “This really is something couples would do~”

Couples….

Su Tao naturally wouldn’t acknowledge that label, but to humor Chi Xiaocheng and stabilize her mood, she didn’t outright deny it either.

“What does Xiaocheng like doing when alone?”

“Watching anime!”

Su Tao continued, “What kind of anime does Xiaocheng like?”

Chi Xiaocheng answered with artless cheer: “Anime about girls and girls~”

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Instantly, Su Tao’s smile stiffened.

The observant Chi Xiaocheng noticed Su Tao’s expression. “What’s wrong, Tao-Tao? Do you… dislike girls?”

Su Tao hastily shook her head. “No, not at all.”

“Exactly!” Chi Xiaocheng gazed directly at Su Tao. “Girls are fragrant, soft, super comfy to hug, obedient and sweet. Simply the world’s most precious treasures!”

Under those ruby eyes, Su Tao guiltily averted her gaze. “Y-Yeah….”

Chi Xiaocheng sighed. “Ah, brother even told me boys are too rough around the edges. Said he wants to find a girl to take care of me in the future.”

This triggered Su Tao’s memory of Chi Song’s earlier message.

—Xiao Tao, do you like my sister?

‘So Brother Chi Song wanted to find a girl for Xiaocheng to be with…. That’s why he messaged me then?’

‘And just now, Auntie seemed to hint at pairing me with Xiaocheng too….’

‘This is….’

Su Tao shrunk her neck slightly, too afraid to continue that train of thought, nor did she want to dwell on the topic.

Fortunately, normal-mode Chi Xiaocheng was considerate. Perhaps sensing her discomfort, she yawned and lay down. “Tao-Tao, I’m kinda sleepy~”

“Then rest. Your body needs recovery. Sleep is most important now.”

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Chi Xiaocheng nodded, extending a small hand. “Can Tao-Tao hold my hand? Just until I fall asleep?”

“Of course.”

Su Tao took Chi Xiaocheng’s right hand, transferring her warmth while offering a gentle smile as she watched her drift off.

Within ten minutes, the petite loli in the hospital bed was emitting soft, adorable snores.

Unable to resist, Su Tao reached out to smooth her hair before continuing to gaze at her face.

Cute.

That single word encapsulated everything.

The warmth transmitted through their clasped hands felt comforting too.

Normally tense, Su Tao never noticed these details about Chi Xiaocheng. Now, focusing intently, she increasingly appreciated how smooth and soft Xiaocheng’s skin was.

Her tiny hand was easy to hold: the back silky, fingertips delicate, the shared warmth making Su Tao reluctant to let go.

Yet beyond the wrist, concealed by sleeves, a crisscross of fine lines marred the arm’s flawless surface.

Gently lifting the sleeve revealed intersecting scars of varying depths, some faded ones Su Tao recognized from the rooftop incident, now nearly gone.

But layered atop them were fresh wounds.

Su Tao’s mood darkened slightly.

Even during the darkroom days, she’d vaguely sensed that aside from the ever-present orange juice taste in food and water, at regular intervals her vision and hearing would be deprived by black cloth before being force-fed orange juice directly by Chi Xiaocheng.

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That liquid shared the same flavor but carried a faint… iron smell detectable by smell.

Back then she’d suspected that particularly pungent orange juice was freshly sourced. She’d just refused to consciously acknowledge it, instinctively avoiding the implication.

No wonder the medical report mentioned mild anemia alongside general weakness.

‘If I try accepting her now… will this keep happening? Her hurting herself, then forcing me to drink orange juice?’

Su Tao dared not dwell further, attempting to withdraw her hand to rest.

But the moment she stood, Chi Xiaocheng abruptly tightened her grip.

Looking over, she found the girl still deeply asleep. This clinginess was purely subconscious reluctance.

The loli murmured drowsily, “Tao-Tao… don’t abandon me….”

Su Tao’s heart softened again. She sat back down. “Don’t worry Xiaocheng, I won’t abandon you. Never.”

Her voice was soft, but Chi Xiaocheng seemed to half-hear it, sleepily responding. “Tao-Tao… I… love you. Do you… love me?”

Su Tao’s expression grew complicated. She gently patted Chi Xiaocheng’s hand. “Xiaocheng, I love you too.”

‘But I’m sorry Xiaocheng. My love for you is fake.’

After silently adding that in her heart, the grip on her hand loosened.

Su Tao never noticed that as she left, Chi Xiaocheng’s lips had maintained a faint smile all along.