After Becoming a Cannon-Fodder Lackey, I Swore to Protect the Young Lady to the Death - Chapter 11

When Su Momo regained consciousness, she found herself locked in the villa’s basement. She felt neither surprise nor panic; after all, she had spent much of her previous life trapped in this damp, windowless, and suffocating space. Her only worry was for her parents and Shen Nanshu.

******

During their few days in City C, Li Gangjiao felt as if she had fallen into a vat of honey. Life was sweet. Not only was she free from the burden of studying, but she also got to be constantly close to her beautiful benefactor.

Li Gangjiao was like a koala, practically glued to Lu Jiaoyue at all times. Despite having her own room, she insisted on sleeping beside Lu Jiaoyue every night.

“You’re so clingy,” Lu Jiaoyue said with a smile, watching Li Gangjiao wrap her arms around her waist through the vanity mirror.

“I just like being near you,” Li Gangjiao chirped, dipping her head to nuzzle the back of Lu Jiaoyue’s neck. This was her Jiao Jiao—her chosen family.

“I want to discuss something with you,” Lu Jiaoyue said, gently ruffling Li Gangjiao’s hair.

“What is it?”

“I… want to save Su Momo. I still remember the story you told me, where everyone’s life was trapped by a predetermined ending…”

That ending appeared flawless on the surface, but in reality, it was a hollow ruin. Everyone was like a puppet playing a part, unable to touch the strings that moved them. Lu Jiaoyue remembered Su Momo’s smile; bitter, brittle, and full of struggle.

Lu Jiaoyue had tried to escape the cycle countless times, only to be dragged back by the momentum of the timeline. This time, she wanted to break the “inevitable” and wake everyone from their numbness. Perhaps only then could she truly put a period on her old life and see the world with Li Gangjiao.

It was a declaration of war against the gods of fate.

“Will you help me? As you said, Gu Yan is the protagonist; he is the law by which this world operates. But I still want to try for another possibility, even if the price is more than we can bear.” Lu Jiaoyue looked at Li Gangjiao, her eyes full of hope.

Lu Jiaoyue had beautiful eyes, especially when she focused on someone as if they were the only thing in existence.

Li Gangjiao: Lethal! This is a total trap of seduction!

“I’m in. Totally in,” Li Gangjiao replied without a second of hesitation—her brain hadn’t even fully processed the risk yet.

However, toppling a “Child of Fortune” in a novel was no simple feat. The two spent the rest of the day in the hotel strategizing.

“We need to list the victims first and convince them to join us,” Li Gangjiao suggested.

“Su Momo’s childhood friend, Shen Nanshu, and her parents shouldn’t be too hard to persuade. As for my father… after the investigation, he won’t be letting his guard down again. Who else met a tragic end?” Lu Jiaoyue opened her laptop and began listing names.

“Gu Yan’s enemies, I guess. But they only show up toward the end of the book, and the author didn’t give them specific names.” Li Gangjiao racked her brain, feeling as if she was using every ounce of IQ she possessed.

“Gu Yan is only this arrogant because the Gu family has someone backing them from above. Su Momo must have tried to run or call the police, but it was all covered up,” Lu Jiaoyue concluded, thinking through Gu Yan’s pattern of behavior.

“Huh? Isn’t he just an underworld prince?” Li Gangjiao asked, remembering the novel’s tropes.

“Every major family has its ‘Black Gloves’ and ‘White Gloves.’ These are people who do the dirty work for wealthy businessmen or politicians. They could be anyone from teachers and media moguls to high-ranking officials and military officers… it’s all a web of interests.” Lu Jiaoyue tapped Li Gangjiao on the forehead with a sigh. What did this girl do in her past life? How can she be so clueless?

Former Underground Fighter Li Gangjiao: “…”

“Think of it this way,” Lu Jiaoyue continued. “Lawyers and the media, who are often in the public eye, are the White Gloves; they specialize in ‘cleaning’ reputations. Mercenaries and money launderers are the Black Gloves; they’re sent to ‘clear out’ anything unfavorable to the family.”

“So which glove do we go for first?” Li Gangjiao asked, finally following the logic.

“Since his persona is the ‘Underworld Prince,’ he himself is part of the Black Glove network. He’s likely doing the dirty work for various tycoons and politicians, which is why my father considered an alliance in the first place.”

“Right, right,” Li Gangjiao nodded.

“Maybe… we could start with his lawyer,” Li Gangjiao suggested after a long silence.

“What? Are we going to beat him up?”

“Of course not. I mean his lawyer likely has evidence of his crimes and information on his ‘umbrella’ of protection.” Lu Jiaoyue gently corrected Li Gangjiao’s one-track thinking. “We’ll deal with the lawyer later. Step one: we find Su Momo’s parents and her childhood friend.”

Lu Jiaoyue pulled up a screenshot of two tickets. Destination: First People’s Hospital of City F.

*****

On the Plane:

“How do you know exactly which hospital he’s in? The author never wrote those details!” Li Gangjiao wondered aloud.

“Sigh. Your understanding of this world is still a bit shallow. What do you think of the Lu family?” Lu Jiaoyue held her hand and raised an eyebrow.

“Uh… very rich?”

“Exactly. Remember what I said? Every major family has its gloves.” Lu Jiaoyue leaned in, her voice a low murmur against Li Gangjiao’s ear.

Li Gangjiao thought: Holy crap! So nobody in this story is actually clean?!

Outside the window, the clouds looked like fluffy piles of whipped cream. Li Gangjiao watched them for a long time, her heart full of a strange, adventurous joy.

Upon reaching the hospital, Lu Jiaoyue led the way straight to the inpatient ward. The hallway smelled of sharp disinfectant, punctuated by the low hum of conversation. In Ward 306, six patients lay in their beds; some had arms in slings, others had legs elevated in traction, and one was wrapped up like a literal mummy.

Near the door, Li Gangjiao spotted Shen Nanshu. He was sitting up, staring out the window. His aura was like a gentle breeze through bamboo—elegant, with a touch of melancholy. He reminded her of warm jade; a single look made one feel as if they were basking in the spring sun.

Perhaps his broken legs were bothering him; his face was pale, and his hand rested lightly on his right thigh.

Li Gangjiao: He is literally a thousand times better than that lawless psychopath of a male lead!

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