Cannon Fodder And The Protagonist Are A Perfect Match [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 13

Yu Yan did not like his new seat, a feeling that reached its peak when he discovered his front-row neighbor was Zhang Yue.

After his handwriting was ruined yet again by Zhang Yue’s constant fidgeting, Yu Yan lost his patience. He clamped a hand onto Zhang Yue’s shoulder and hissed through gritted teeth, “Stay still.”

The wild-spirited teenager turned around with a provocative grin. “I was just picking something up. How is that bothering you? Don’t be such a petty guy.”

Yu Yan remained silent but increased the pressure of his grip. Feeling the pain in his shoulder, Zhang Yue grimaced and looked to Xu Yansheng for help. “Xie Jin is bullying me! Aren’t you going to do anything?”

Xu Yansheng remained expressionless. “You deserve it.”

Zhang Yue was indignant. “I see how it is. You two are just birds of a feather, partners in crime, a nest of snakes and rats!”

“It is a nest of snakes and rats,” Yu Yan corrected, releasing his grip. He felt that arguing with an idiot was a waste of time. Fortunately, he would not have to see this fool outside of school.

April 12th, Sunday, 6:00 PM.

The sun was beginning to set as Yu Yan left his building and caught a taxi to the party location Xu Yansheng had given him. Once the driver heard the destination, he talked nonstop for the entire trip. The area was a nationally famous wealthy district nestled between mountains and water, where houses averaged over 200,000 per square meter.

The taxi could not go past the base of the hill. Yu Yan, carrying a gift in one hand and a cake in the other, walked for nearly ten minutes before the buildings came into view. Standing before a Chinese-style villa hidden behind rockeries and lush greenery, Yu Yan nervously smoothed out his formal suit.

Xu Yansheng came from an illustrious family, and the guests at his birthday party would surely be wealthy and influential. Yu Yan was determined not to embarrass him. He pressed the doorbell next to the carved iron gate, and a face quickly appeared on the intercom screen.

When he saw Zhang Yue’s goofy face on the monitor, Yu Yan felt numb. Zhang Yue let out an incredulous shout. “Xie Jin! What are you doing here?!”

Yu Yan found the reaction strange. Why shouldn’t he be here?

It was not until he entered the villa and sat at the dining table that Yu Yan understood Zhang Yue’s shock. This was a private family dinner, and Zhang Yue was actually Xu Yansheng’s cousin on his mother’s side. Every seat at the square table was filled, and the surface was covered in exquisite dishes. Yu Yan sat at the foot of the table, flanked by Zhang Yue on his left and Xu Yansheng on his right. Above him sat a dozen relatives, their eyes measuring and evaluating him.

Yu Yan sat up straight, feeling the immense pressure. Beneath the table, Xu Yansheng’s hand found Yu Yan’s pinky finger, hooking it gently. “My mother already spoke to them,” he whispered reassuringly. “They won’t make things difficult for you.”

After a meal where he could hardly taste the food, Yu Yan realized they had not made things difficult so much as they had interrogated him. They asked everything from astronomy to geography and personal family matters. They might as well have asked for the color of his underwear.

The effort paid off, however. As the gathering ended, Xu Yansheng’s mother pulled Yu Yan aside to stand with Xu Yansheng and see the guests out. In the courtyard shrouded by night, a middle-aged man identifying himself as Xu Yansheng’s uncle tugged on Zhang Yue’s ear. “You brat, why can’t you learn from Xie Jin? All you do is flirt and cause trouble for me.”

Facing Zhang Yue’s silent protest, Yu Yan’s lips curved slightly, a hint of smugness touching his brow. After the last guest departed, Yu Yan prepared to take his leave, but he was stopped by Xu Yansheng’s father. The man possessed a natural air of authority, and his dark eyes were solemn. “I have a few questions for you.”

Xu Yansheng opened his mouth to intervene, but his mother pulled him away. Yu Yan obediently followed the older man to the study. They sat across from each other at a spacious walnut desk. Looking at the talented young man before him, Xu Yansheng’s father spoke first. “What is your top choice for the university entrance exam?”

Yu Yan was stunned. He had not expected such a grounded question. After a pause, he answered seriously, “Aerospace Engineering at Q University.”

In the original story, Q University was the top-tier school Xu Yansheng had long admired. The father was surprised but kept his expression neutral. “The prospects for aerospace aren’t exactly lucrative.”

Yu Yan agreed. It was a field where passion often outweighed financial gain, but he did not care. There were many mysteries in this world; if the answers could not be found on the land or in the sea, he would look to the stars.

The father continued with many more questions. By the time Yu Yan left the study, the servants had already finished their shifts. The vast living room was empty except for Xu Yansheng’s mother, who was still sitting at the dining table. Hearing the door, she looked over and said warmly, “It is too late now. You should stay the night.”

Yu Yan offered a polite refusal. “Wouldn’t that be inconvenient? We have school tomorrow.”

She insisted. “It is fine. You and Yansheng can take the car together tomorrow morning. As for the uniform, you can just wear one of his.”

Yu Yan allowed himself to be persuaded and went to the guest room she had prepared. However, someone had already arrived. Under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, Xu Yansheng sat in indigo pajamas on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the mechanical puppy Yu Yan had built.

Yu Yan walked over quietly and sat on the soft mattress. “Why haven’t you activated it?”

Xu Yansheng pushed the alloy-cast puppy with his fingertip, sending it rolling onto its back. “It isn’t my birthday yet.”

Yu Yan set the puppy upright, his voice full of affection. “Then we will wait for it together.”

That wait soon moved under the covers. Even though Yu Yan was wearing the pajamas provided by Xu Yansheng’s mother, he still smelled of a fresh, rich fragrance from his shower. Xu Yansheng buried his head in the crook of Yu Yan’s neck, breathing deeply.

In the sweet silence, Yu Yan pulled Xu Yansheng’s waist close. His unbuttoned pajama top slipped, revealing his pale, elegant collarbone. His voice was husky. “Xu Yansheng, what is our relationship now?”

Feeling the heat between them, Xu Yansheng gave Yu Yan’s collarbone a light, playful bite and sighed softly. “We are whatever relationship you want us to be.”

Yu Yan’s grip tightened. As the mechanical puppy on the nightstand chirped to life, he lost control and kissed Xu Yansheng’s thin, red lips. The boy, having just given up his first kiss, was clumsy and uncoordinated, yet he moved with a desperate intensity. After a fierce pursuit, Yu Yan retreated from the conquered territory to plant soft, lingering pecks on Xu Yansheng’s lips.

“Happy birthday, Xu Yansheng.”

Xu Yansheng’s eyes were flushed from the kiss. Yu Yan rubbed the corners of his eyes and said tenderly, “It isn’t time yet.”

The battle that had just begun was eventually called off under the spray of cold water.

The next morning, Xu Yansheng was caught leaving Yu Yan’s room by his mother. He explained awkwardly, “The light in Xie Jin’s room was broken, so I went to help.” He nodded as if to convince himself. “Yes, that is it.”

His mother obviously did not believe that someone capable of building a robotic dog could not fix a lightbulb, but she spared her son the embarrassment. Instead, she cornered Yu Yan after he finished washing up. Her expression was gentle, but her voice carried weight. “Nothing happened between you and Yansheng last night, right?”

Yu Yan shook his head guiltily. Her voice grew more forceful. “You are still students. I trust you know where to draw the line?”

Under her piercing gaze, Yu Yan nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, Auntie. Before the entrance exams are over, I won’t touch Xu Yansheng.”

Catching a glimpse of Xu Yansheng’s disappointed face in the corner of the hallway, his mother could not help but sigh. Her son was truly lost to this boy.