After Becoming a Cannon Fodder in a Restricted Novel, I Was Framed and Slept with My Nemesis - Chapter 1

Ring-ring-ring!

Jiang Yu was jolted awake by his alarm.

He groggily shut off the alarm and tried to sit up, but his entire body ached as if it had been torn apart. Jiang Yu stared at the ceiling for a moment, then remembered he had transmigrated.

And he had slept with someone he shouldn’t have!

Just a few days ago, he had been curled up in his dorm room, listening to his roommates rant about a trashy post-apocalyptic romance novel featuring a cat-like Feline Human cannon fodder who had been mutated by radiation.

“That Jiang Yu guy… Oh, I’m not talking about you.”

His roommate, afraid of being misunderstood, quickly clarified: “It’s a cannon fodder from a new romance novel I’m reading. He’s a news anchor, and he’s so arrogant with his looks that he foolishly tries to seduce the male lead, even though the male lead already has an official partner.”

His roommate, wearing only a pair of briefs, had a slender figure with long, pale legs exposed as he tidied his bed. He chattered on in a high-pitched, affected voice about how shamelessly the cannon fodder tried to hook the male lead, using every dirty trick in the book. In our media school, this kind of roommate was considered pretty average.

Bundled in his blanket, Jiang Yu scoffed. “It’s just a novel. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

His roommate turned around, sat down in front of him, and earnestly and meticulously explained the novel to him. The gist was that the author had initially written the story solely to please the female lead, but even after a third of the plot had passed, the male lead and his official partner had made no real progress. Instead, he spent his days exchanging banter with a cannon fodder character, which drew heavy criticism from readers. Under pressure, the official partner finally made an appearance, but his roommate remained indignant, daily ranting that the cannon fodder should just die!

His roommate seethed, “Jiang Yu should have been exposed by Shang Zhel in the end! He should have died!”

One day, as his roommate was ranting as usual, Jiang Yu felt a sharp ringing in his ears. The image of his roommate blurred before his eyes. When he opened them again, he had transmigrated into the body of that very cannon fodder character—the one his roommate had described as having the most tragic fate.

Good news: He had read this book before.

Bad news: His roommate had helped him read it and explained the plot in such vague terms that he was completely bewildered. The only thing he remembered clearly was the phrase: “writing solely to please the female lead.”

“Jiang Yu? Jiang Yu?”

The station director’s voice snapped him back to reality. Jiang Yu suppressed the panic in his eyes and maintained a polite smile. He was in the hallway of the Yuncheng Federal Television Station, having just been recruited by this director to serve as an anchor for the Inauguration Team. And the man who held his fate in his hands, the male lead Shang Zhel, was none other than the director of the Inauguration Team.

His roommate’s vivid, exaggerated description of the original book’s tragic fate for the cannon fodder left Jiang Yu shuddering. He’d been thrown into a beast cage, later strapped to an operating table, injected with various drugs, his limbs dismembered, and his skin peeled off piece by piece. A sudden chill ran down Jiang Yu’s spine. He had only one thought: survive, hide his mutated identity, and stay as far away from Shang Zhel as possible.

Shang Jingyun turned to look at him. “Is the apartment all set up?”

“Yes, it’s done.”

“Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need. No need to be polite.”

“Understood.”

Shang Jingyun sighed softly. “I’m very grateful you’re willing to come.”

Jiang Yu smiled, his tone distant yet polite. “President Shang is too kind.”

The conference room door opened, and the room’s chatter instantly fell silent.

Shang Jingyun’s tall frame blocked Jiang Yu from view. He scanned the room. “Everyone’s here today. Where’s Shang Zhel?”

Nian Wei, a team member, quickly responded, “Brother Shang… Director Shang is on a business trip and hasn’t returned yet.”

Jiang Yu felt a wave of relief. Not running into him is best. I can hide for now.

In the original book, Jiang Yu had fallen head over heels the moment he first saw the male lead. His emotions had spiraled out of control, and he’d recklessly, unscrupulously slept with the man. Afterward, he’d relentlessly pestered him, threatening to expose their affair if Shang Zhel didn’t stay with him. Once the news spread, Shang Zhel would have no choice but to give him the status he demanded.

A mere cannon fodder, daring to overstep! Jiang Yu thought.

“This is Jiang Yu, our new anchor at Cloud Terrace, officially joining the Inauguration Team today. Shang Zhel isn’t here, so Nian Wei, please relay this to him after the meeting,” Shang Jingyun said, turning to fully reveal Jiang Yu to the group.

Jiang Yu’s appearance was striking. As the book described: fair skin, red lips, refined bone structure, and by his thirties, he was already a senior professor at the Federal Media Academy, widely recognized in the industry as a High Mountain Flower.

The room was filled with curious and awestruck gazes. The news team was mostly composed of rough-and-tumble veterans with military backgrounds; who could resist such a beauty?

After Jiang Yu took his seat, the teams began reporting their story proposals one by one.

The Inauguration was a new program at the TV station, focusing on exposing and reporting on social cases. Its plots were tight, full of tension, and especially captivating in how they gradually unraveled the truth behind the incidents. Though not aired during prime time, it had still garnered a large audience and maintained respectable ratings.

Nian Wei, reading from his notes, stammered out the proposals: “We have three story ideas: the International Building’s stalled construction project, the Highway 3 serial car accidents, and the consecutive disappearances of special service women in Neon Alley.”

As soon as Nian Wei finished, the directors of the other two Ace Program Teams chimed in.

“We’ve been following the International Building for days!” the Focus Group Director said.

“Our reporters are already on Highway 3 and are about to go live!” the Heavyweight Group Director added.

Nian Wei, being the junior member, stammered and couldn’t find his words.

Neon Alley was the kind of place where people disappeared every day, especially women in the sex trade. No one cared, and even mainstream media didn’t see it as worth reporting.

Jiang Yu looked up, his voice cool and steady. “Then we’ll do Neon Alley. It fits perfectly with the theme of our opening broadcast.”

To be honest, Jiang Yu really loved his voice now—a proper, authoritative tone, cool yet carrying the magnetism of a mature man. It was a gift from heaven!

Though he’d always claimed social anxiety had driven him to major in TV directing, broadcasting had been his true dream. He’d even prepared for the art academy entrance exam. But the moment he spoke, the instructor shook his head—his voice was too immature, too unstable, not suited for broadcasting.

Nian Wei secretly marveled at the new hire’s assertiveness. Brother Shang, with his iron grip on control, would surely create fireworks when he returned.

Shang Jingyun approved the topic. While the niche subject matter was conventional, it offered ample room for creative interpretation. He instructed them to prepare their proposals for review and then asked who would lead the on-site investigation.

Neon Alley was a notorious den of vice and crime, and missing persons cases there often involved organized crime. After the apocalypse, the area had been devastated by radiation explosions, making it the most dangerous district. Beyond the thrill-seekers and pleasure-seekers, no one was willing to go there. The conference room fell into an instant silence.

Jiang Yu slowly rose. “I’ll go.”

Shang Jingyun paused. “You just arrived. Wouldn’t it be better to familiarize yourself with the operations first?”

“This is the perfect opportunity to familiarize myself with the operations on-site.”

Jiang Yu’s sincerity seemed genuine, but he was out of options. In the book, he was a feline human who had undergone Beastification after radiation exposure, retaining cat-like traits. Unspayed cats go into heat monthly, and since his transmigration, he’d often felt his emotions teetering on the brink of losing control. According to the book, he would soon fully manifest the post-radiation Beastification traits: uncontrollable heat cycles, an attack on Shang Zhel, and a gruesome death.

Since arriving, Jiang Yu had forced himself to constantly recall details, sifting through his roommate’s complaints to find key information. He remembered a passage from the book describing Neon Alley’s rampant crime and lack of regulation, where Emotional Hormone Stabilizers could be purchased without a prescription.

This drug was designed to control the emotional hormones of Irradiated Humans, preventing Beastification, aggression, heat cycles, or other abnormal behaviors. Normally, it required a doctor’s note to obtain from legitimate hospitals or pharmacies, but Jiang Yu dared not. If his Beastification were exposed, the Federal Bureau would take him for examination, implant a monitoring chip, and track his every move. The scandal of a TV news anchor being a Beastified Irradiated Human would cost him his career.

Jiang Yu had already visited Neon Alley twice. He found it surprisingly easy to obtain the drug. To avoid suspicion, he disguised himself as a woman each time, inevitably enduring unwanted groping. Ah well, such is life in the underworld. We’re all men here—a few touches won’t kill anyone.

Unbeknownst to him, Shang Zhel had returned that afternoon.

Eight o’clock in the evening, and Neon Alley glowed with a sultry, neon-lit ambiance.

Jiang Yu had changed into a wine-red silk dress, his long hair cascading over his shoulders. Light makeup enhanced the striking beauty of his features. Here, he called himself Jiang Xiaoyu.

As a Feline Human, his senses were far sharper than ordinary people’s. The deafening music, the mingled stench of alcohol and cigarettes, and the acrid perfume in the bar converged into a jarring assault that made his temples throb.

Jiang Yu had just settled into a corner when he felt several lecherous gazes fall upon him. In a place like this, striking beauty was undoubtedly a tempting dish.

“Hey, beautiful. All alone?” A burly man with a face like a slab of raw meat approached, his eyes glued to Jiang Yu’s chest.

Jiang Yu forced down the urge to gag, managing a perfunctory smile. “Waiting for someone.”

The man persisted, reaching out to clap him on the shoulder. “Who are you waiting for? Let me buy you a drink, big brother.”

Jiang Yu sidestepped, the man’s hand falling empty. His face darkened instantly.

Just then, Jiang Yu felt the pheromones within him begin to stir, a strange heat spreading from his chest.

It’s coming. The feeling is coming!

He felt his body temperature rising, his heart racing, and his vision blurring.

Jiang Yu rushed into the restroom and splashed cold water on his face, but it did nothing to alleviate the situation. The feeling of emotional turmoil grew stronger. He had to inject the stabilizer quickly to suppress his emotions, or revealing his cat tail would be disastrous.

After several twists and turns, he reached a Gene Testing Shop at the end of the alley. After the apocalypse, these shops were established on every street to ensure genetic stability. Jiang Yu hadn’t been to this specific one before, but he was running out of time and simply went into the first one he found.

The clerk was a middle-aged woman. Her eyes lit up instantly when she saw his attire. She looked him up and down, a knowing smile spreading across her face.

“Need the reagent?” she asked in a low voice.

Jiang Yu froze for a moment before realizing she had mistaken him for a sex worker.

With no time for explanations, he simply nodded. “Yes.”

The woman retrieved a blue vial of reagent from under the counter and handed it to him. “This one’s very effective, but it’s a bit strong. Be careful.”

Jiang Yu took the vial, paid, and turned to leave, thinking, The effects are so strong, I wish I could get a shot that would last forever. He had been here for three days, and almost every day he had needed an injection to maintain his composure. To be honest, he was a little afraid.

He rushed into the bathroom, tore open the packaging, and lifted his skirt. The needle slid slowly into his inner thigh.

Seconds later, a violent tingling sensation surged through his limbs, far more intense than the previous emotional instability.

This isn’t an emotional stabilizer!

Jiang Yu’s consciousness began to blur. He felt like he was trapped in volcanic rock, the heat making his adrenaline surge. All he wanted was a quiet, icy place to cool down.

Stumbling in a panic, he hid in a basement storage room. The cramped space contained a sofa, damp and cold. He curled up on the sofa, his body burning, his mind hazy, and involuntary moans escaping his lips.

Just then, the door to the storage room was pushed open.

On his way there, Shang Zhel had listened to Nian Wei’s report. Uninterested in meeting the new team members, he brought his team along, disguised as wealthy young men throwing a party to scope out the bar.

The moment he stepped into the bar, he noticed the figure in wine-red. Though it was just a fleeting glance, her stunning beauty and unique aura left an indelible impression.

But for some reason, as he was about to approach, the woman in red suddenly grew tense and fled in a panic.

“Song Xiao, Nian Wei, go check over there,” Shang Zhel instructed, pointing to another section of the bar. “I’ll search the basement for clues.”

He descended into the basement, finding himself in a series of private booths. After taking a few steps, he heard faint moans from one of the booths. He gently pushed the door open and saw a breathtaking beauty curled up on the sofa.

It was the same woman in wine-red.

Just as Shang Zhel was about to speak, a commotion erupted behind him. A group of drunken men swaggered over, and seeing the open booth door, they barged in without hesitation.

“Hey! There’s a beauty here!”

“Come play with us, gorgeous!”

Shang Zhel instinctively moved to shield Jiang Yu, his gaze icy as he glared at the drunken men. “Get lost.”

The men were startled by his imposing aura, but seeing he was alone, they quickly regained their arrogance. “Who the hell do you think you are? Who gave you the right to interfere in my business?”

Shang Zhel had no patience for drunken ramblings. He dealt with the men in a few swift moves.

“You fucking wait! Don’t let me catch you again! I’ll kill you next time! You little brat, you came to a place like this to have fun, so why act like some hero saving the damsel? I don’t believe you’d keep your pants on and not pull out your little thing to play… She…”

Slap! The sound of the cubicle door closing cut off the voice outside. He turned to look at Jiang Yu, who was slumped on the sofa.

The woman in red was gone, replaced by a creature with fluffy ears and a long, alluring tail.

Shang Zhel: Irradiated Human? Feline attributes?

Jiang Yu’s mind was completely muddled. He felt a tall figure blocking his path, radiating a cool aura that drew him in.

Like a kitten melting in the sun, he instinctively crawled toward the icy shadow.

Just as Shang Zhel bent down to ask if he was alright, Jiang Yu suddenly grabbed his collar.

Jiang Yu’s strength was formidable, completely unlike that of a delicate woman. He grabbed Shang Zhel’s collar and pulled him close, his scorching breath spraying across Shang Zhel’s face.

Shang Zhel froze. He could distinctly feel the other man’s terrifyingly high body temperature and the faint yet intoxicating fragrance emanating from him. The scent was subtle, yet possessed a deadly allure that ignited an inexplicable heat surging through him.

He had intended to push Jiang Yu away, but when he saw the flush in the other man’s eyes and his bewitching face, his rationality instantly crumbled.

Jiang Yu’s lips brushed against his cheek, soft and strangely warm. Shang Zhel felt as though the spot touched by those lips had caught fire.

Jiang Yu actively sought out his lips, kissing Shang Zhel with clumsy yet desperate intensity. Shang Zhel’s breath hitched—it was the first time anyone had kissed him. A million tiny electric currents surged through his body, making his scalp tingle, his mind go blank, and his heart race wildly. Finally, the nameless heat erupted uncontrollably, and he seized Jiang Yu’s waist, lowering his head to kiss him back.

Jiang Yu was kissed so fiercely he couldn’t catch his breath. Instinctively, he opened his mouth, giving Shang Zhel the opportunity he’d been waiting for. Shang Zhel impatiently pried open his teeth, savoring the sweetness of his mouth.

Such soft lips, such a sweet kiss. Even the man’s breath was fragrant, making him want to push further, to ravage him completely.

Jiang Yu passively endured the possessive kiss, yet he couldn’t help but crave its taste. This uncontrollable, dangerous feeling excited him, drove him mad. It wasn’t enough; he wanted more.

The two male creatures ground and gnawed at each other’s lips with destructive force, both driven to madness as they tangled and tore at each other.

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