Cannon Fodder – Chapter 85 – Can I Taste a Little of Your Orange Juice?

The next morning, Su Tao woke up early and began her daily routine. After quietly washing up without waking her roommate, she changed into workout clothes and headed out.

The sun had come out yesterday, and with no snowfall, the weather wasn’t as cold, so she resumed her usual exercise routine.

Not only did it keep her body from getting rusty, but it also helped maintain her figure.

After breakfast, she went to the hospital to chat with Chi Xiaocheng for an hour before returning to school.

Attending classes, studying, occasionally helping classmates with trivial tasks, or being bossed around by her advisor. Such was her average day.

After lunch, she went to work at a snack supermarket near the school, and it wasn’t until evening that she finally had some free time.

After visiting Chi Xiaocheng at the hospital again, Su Tao returned to her dorm, reviewing questions for the fourth subject of her driver’s license test while pondering what Dr. Cheng had said.

“Find like-minded friends, chat, and expand your hobbies.”

Thinking of this, she first glanced at Chen Qian and her other roommate.

Chen Qian was humming cheerfully while looking in the mirror.

From what Su Tao knew, ever since Chen Qian started keeping a regular schedule, the blackheads and acne on her face and nose had lessened, making her increasingly vain, constantly checking herself in the mirror and taking selfies.

The other roommate was asleep in bed, snoring loudly while still playing some web drama on full volume.

Their four-person dorm only had three occupants now, as the fourth had moved out to live with her boyfriend and rarely returned.

Su Tao hesitated but ultimately decided not to drag the two into her plans.

If Xiaocheng had an episode, they’d be in danger.

Opening WeChat, Su Tao considered randomly adding some online friends when she noticed someone had suddenly sent her a friend request.

WeChat ID: Chengcheng.

Profile Picture: A green-haired anime girl she didn’t recognize, making a peace sign with one eye closed, tilting her head cutely in greeting.

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Below it was a line of emoticons: Ciallo～(∠?ω＜)⌒☆

Source: People Nearby.

Friend Request Message: “Hey, WeChat recommends one person nearby to me every day, and today it’s you! Since we’ve crossed paths, how about adding each other?”

Su Tao clicked on Chengcheng’s Moments.

Scenery photos, convention photos, memes about anime, and occasional posts like “Hungry, feed me.” She uploaded almost two posts a day.

“She seems like a very cheerful girl. Her location is Jiuzhou Art and Media College?”

Only 20 kilometers away from her own Jiuzhou University.

And she was into anime too.

Didn’t Xiaocheng also like anime?

This fit perfectly with what Dr. Cheng had said about making online friends.

So Su Tao accepted the request and sent a message first: “Hi, I’m Tao-Tao.”

The reply came instantly, and the tone was full of surprise.

Chengcheng: “Oh my gosh, I actually got added!”

Chengcheng: “I try adding one person nearby every day, but 99% think I’m here to hook up. Finally, someone actually accepted!”

Chengcheng: “Miss Tao-Tao, or Brother Tao-Tao? Thanks for adding me!”

Su Tao broke into a slight sweat at the barrage of text and stickers. This girl was way too enthusiastic.

Tao-Tao: “I’m a girl. Miss Chengcheng, why do you add one person every day?”

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Chengcheng: “Do you believe in fate?”

Chengcheng: “I once went to a fortune teller and asked, ‘Where in the world can I find a kindred spirit?’”

Su Tao raised an eyebrow. “What did the fortune teller say?”

Chengcheng: “He said my kindred spirit was right in front of me… for a fee of 3,000 yuan.”

Su Tao: “…”

Chengcheng: “Then he told me, ‘Instead of believing in that mystical stuff, why not add some people on WeChat? You might find someone.’ I’ve been trying for a week, and you’re the first to accept. Ugh!”

Tao-Tao: “I’m also looking for friends. Nice to meet you.”

Chengcheng: “Can I chat with you as much as I want from now on?”

Su Tao smiled lightly and typed back: “No problem.”

So this was what Dr. Cheng meant by chatting to relieve stress.

Just a few words and the other person’s enthusiasm had already infected Su Tao.

Having a stranger to talk to wasn’t so bad.

After all, they didn’t know each other, and if things got uncomfortable, she could just delete them.

No responsibility, no consequences.

But Su Tao had underestimated the other girl’s energy.

This “Chengcheng” was practically a carbon copy of Chi Xiaocheng’s cheerful childhood self. They ended up chatting for two hours.

By the time Su Tao was in bed, Chengcheng finally realized how much she’d talked and sent an apology.

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Chengcheng: “Sorry, I’m a huge chatterbox. I might’ve rambled a bit too much. Really sorry if I bothered you!”

Tao-Tao: “It’s fine. I enjoyed it too.”

Chengcheng: “But it was all about me. Tao-Tao, tell me about yourself! Or if there’s anything I can help with.”

The reminder made Su Tao realize something.

There was something she needed advice on.

So she asked: “I have a friend who’s a bit extreme. She often hurts herself to please me, but I don’t like it. I just don’t know how to bring it up. What do you think I should do?”

Chengcheng: “Hmm, that’s easy. Just make her uncontrollable behavior controllable.”

Tao-Tao: “Make it controllable?”

Chengcheng: “Yeah! You don’t even need to say anything directly. When she acts that way or seems about to, just show extreme annoyance and tell her what you actually want instead.”

Chengcheng: “If your friend really wants to please you, she’ll naturally adjust to fit your preferences.”

Su Tao stared at the messages, thinking it over.

This wouldn’t work on Xiaocheng.

Like on the rooftop that day, if she couldn’t use her hands, she’d switch to another body part, even mentioning her neck at the end, as if absolutely certain Su Tao would love her “orange juice.”

No amount of reasoning got through to her.

But Chengcheng’s words gave Su Tao a new idea.

If she couldn’t stop Xiaocheng from self-harming entirely, maybe she could control it by guiding her with words.

It might not cure Xiaocheng, but it could minimize the harm she did to herself!

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Su Tao’s eyes slowly brightened, as if she’d found a direction for treating Chi Xiaocheng.

She replied to Chengcheng: “Thanks for the advice. I’ll try it tomorrow!”

After bidding each other goodnight, Su Tao slept soundly, aided by the sachet. The next morning, she went straight to Chi Xiaocheng’s hospital room.

“Good morning~”

Faced with Chi Xiaocheng’s soft, sweet greeting, Su Tao’s heartbeat quickened.

Chi Xiaocheng tilted her head. “What’s wrong, Tao-Tao? You look a little off.”

Su Tao steadied herself, sat beside Chi Xiaocheng, and tentatively asked: “Xiaocheng, if I said I liked something about you, would that make you happy?”

“Of course!” Chi Xiaocheng smiled, eyes curving. “I’d be happy if Tao-Tao liked me.”

“Then what if I said I hated something about you?”

Chi Xiaocheng thought for a moment. “Then I’d have to make Tao-Tao like it. Because Tao-Tao can’t hate me~”

Her smile was still sweet, but her eyes carried a faint hint of danger.

Yes, she was a yandere.

She wouldn’t change. Instead, she’d force Su Tao to like it!

Just as Dr. Cheng had said, learning to accept the things she disliked was a crucial step in treating her.

Su Tao gulped, gathered her courage, and met Chi Xiaocheng’s gaze.

“Accept the things you dislike….”

Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke: “Xiaocheng, can I… can I taste a little of your orange juice?”