Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 59.1

Before the First Rebirth.

The Scrapped Draft World.

A cramped interrogation room.

Shadows sprawled across the pale walls.

The light above the police officer’s desk was blinding.

A female officer with a cross-shaped scar on her cheek let out a thoughtful hum, her voice slightly hoarse:

“Yi Ning.”

“Legal name: ＊＊”

“Female, Omega, thirty years old.”

“Lost her mother at six, father remarried, was sent to live with an Italian host family. Dropped out of school at ten and joined the children’s division of an Italian underground organization.”

“At twelve, was brought back to her home country by her father. Attempted murder during a New Year’s Eve family banquet, fled back to Italy, and assumed a new identity.”

The woman wore a prison uniform with “Yi Ning” and an inmate number stitched on the chest. Her cheeks were sallow, her sunken eyes dull and unfocused.

The female officer’s voice was calm and measured.

“At fifteen, selected to enter the Emerald City, trained as a high-level operative. Used her identity as an artist studying abroad and cultural exchanges as cover, participated in multiple high-profile smuggling cases and large-scale underground syndicate conflicts.”

“At twenty-two, infiltrated Changxin Group, remained undercover for eight years, masterminded the major 1.17 economic case involving trillions in illicit funds, linked to three deaths one from the Su family, two from the Cheng family.”

Click. The projector screen lit up abruptly.

The woman instinctively squinted.

Then, in an instant, her pupils dilated violently, trembling.

Her bloodshot eyes reflected a black-and-white portrait. Thick brows, star-like eyes, a straight nose, lips slightly upturned as if the person in the photo was looking back at her. Smiling at her.

“…”

The woman’s eyes reddened, a choked, wordless sound escaping the depths of her throat.

The female officer glanced at her and continued:

“Victim Cheng Xiaoming, executive director of Changxin Group and general manager of Changxin Capital, was mistakenly struck by a police sniper’s bullet at 8:31 p.m. on 1.17. Despite emergency treatment, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away.”

“Regarding the above statements, does the defendant Yi Ning admit to the charges?”

The woman stared at the portrait, murmuring, “No objections.”

Silence.

Another thoughtful hum from the female officer.

After a moment, she spoke: “The case has been reviewed many times, and the facts are clear. But there’s still one unresolved question.”

The female officer raised her hand and slapped the projector screen, right over the black-and-white photo.

“You spent eight years by the victim’s side, crafting the illusion of deep friendship. But after the truth came to light, the victim already knew everything.”

“That night, Cheng Xiaoming was taken hostage by you. So why did she step in front of the bullet for you?”

The woman, gaunt as dead wood, stared blankly. The corner of her lips twitched, an expression caught between laughter and tears.

“Defendant Yi Ning, answer the question! What else are you hiding?!”

The “dead wood” swayed unsteadily, as if caught in an invisible gale, trembling violently.

A guttural sound forced its way from the woman’s throat, growing louder like crying, like laughter:

“Because.”

“She was a fucking idiot.”

A younger male officer snapped, “Yi Ning! This is an interrogation! Show some respect!”

The female officer stopped him, waiting calmly for the woman’s hysteria to subside.

Until she was exhausted, utterly spent.

“Xiao Zhang, step outside,” the female officer said to the male officer.

“Yes, Captain Jiang.”

The cramped, icy space held only the two women now.

The female officer spoke slowly: “Many years ago, in Florence, we met.”

The woman lifted her gaze, her dry, tangled hair falling messily. Through the strands, she caught a glimpse of the cross-shaped scar on the officer’s cheek.

The officer raised a hand, gesturing vaguely. “Back then, you were only this tall skin and bones, staring at the apple pie in my hands like a starving wolf. I remember you because those peach-blossom eyes of yours were just too striking.”

“I remember you too, Officer Jiang Cheng. Thank you for the apple pie you gave me when I was ten and starving, and for treating me to pizza.”

Jiang Cheng’s expression was sorrowful.

“Yi Ning, when I saw you again during the Jade City branch case, I regretted it deeply.”

“With your skills and investigative abilities surpassing even alphas despite being an omega, if I had taken you back to the team and trained you properly, you could have walked the right path. Maybe even become an outstanding international agent.”

“But there are no ‘what ifs.'”

“Your final sentence is execution by firing squad, to be carried out tomorrow.”

“Yi Ning, is there anything else you want to say? You don’t have to see me as an interrogating officer. Just think of me as the sister who once treated you to pizza in Florence.”

The woman still stared at the black-and-white portrait.

After a long silence, she said, “Officer Jiang, I have an apple. It’s stained with blood and almost withered now. Can you bury it with me?”

“Alright.”

“Officer Jiang, if life could start over, and you met me in Florence again, would you still want to recruit me into the special forces?”

“I would.”

The projection faded.

The photo disappeared.

The woman panicked.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t draw breath.

What do I do, Cheng Xiaoming? What do I do, Cheng Xiaoming!

Ah, ah.

Her heart convulsed, stomach acid churned, and she coughed violently until she dry-heaved repeatedly.

Cheng Xiaoming!

“You’re also a Cheng. I wanted to kill your aunt, why did you save me?”

“My aunt is fine. I know she was the one who harmed your mother. You’re only twelve. Don’t throw your future away for revenge, understand? You must be hungry. Here, eat this. I like Luochuan apples, do you?”

Cheng Xiaoming!

“Kid, you’re freezing all over.”

“Mhm, but I’m warm now. Xiaoming-jie, can you hold me like this forever?”

Cheng Xiaoming!

“Hello, CEO Cheng. I’m Yi Ning.”

“Your resume is impressive. Welcome to Changxin.”

Cheng…

“You idiot, Cheng Xiaoming! I’ve been lying to you all along! Why did you take that bullet?!”

“With you, I’ve lost everything family fortune, career, loved ones, my engagement. A complete defeat. I had to win at least one thing, right? So I’ll win against the liar. Your deception wasn’t perfect. Listen, Yi Yi, let me tell you.”

If you’re going to lie to me, lie till the very end.

That day when we went bungee jumping, you said: Hold me.

That day when we danced the cha-cha, you said: Kiss me.

That day when we baked apple tarts, you said: Happy birthday. Be happy forever.

Today, you pointed a gun at me.

You said.

I love you.

Damn it, I’m an idiot.

I want you.

To lie to me until the last moment.

–

The iron bars descended.

A black gun lay on the white-clothed table.

Before the execution.

The woman, shackled, walked in slowly.

As she stepped into the execution chamber, Jiang Cheng grabbed the hem of her clothes.

In that fleeting moment, Jiang Cheng’s hushed words slipped into her ear.

Jiang Cheng left, walking down the corridor where cold wind howled.

The sunlight was clear.

Winter snow was about to melt. Dawn, just shy of early spring, was almost here.

Suddenly, the woman thrashed violently, howling hysterically.

“I can’t die yet! I can’t!”

Bang!

Silence returned.

She lay on the ground, breath stilled.

Pupils dilated, eyelids stubbornly refusing to close.

Jiang Cheng had said: The bullet that hit Cheng Xiaoming wasn’t from the police sniper. During the autopsy, I thought the casing looked off. Last night, I checked again, it was a replica. But orders came down: the case is closed, no more delays. Yi Ning, I thought you should know.

There was an assassin from Jade City at the scene. The police didn’t accidentally shoot Cheng Xiaoming.

It was that imitation bullet that wanted to silence you to kill you.

Cheng Xiaoming saved you.

–

–

“Sister Xiaoming, why do you like eating apples so much?”

“Oh, your birthday is on Christmas Eve, when everyone is busy celebrating Christmas. I don’t celebrate Christmas, so I remember you instead.”

“Okay, I’ll hide here and stay put, I won’t go anywhere. Sister Xiaoming, you have to remember to come back for me.”

“My name is **. My mom wanted me to be free, to soar like a bird, so she gave me this name. You can also call me by my nickname, Yi Yi.”

Who? When were these memories from? Why don’t I remember any of this?

Support