I, A Loyal Dog, Awaken to My Fate as Cannon Fodder - Chapter 20.2

“Master Luo, Happy Birthday.”

Out of respect for Cheng Xian, Luo Yejun didn’t flip the cake over in disgust.

He gave a cold huff, pouted, and took the cake from her.

Knowing this was a cake Cheng Wanqiu had made by hand for Shen Yinan, Luo Yejun’s act was nothing short of theft.

In the Cheng family, one had to obey the one with the most power. Cheng Wanqiu could only watch as the thing she had poured her heart into fell into someone else’s hands.

It wasn’t until Shen Yinan accidentally noticed the Eldest Miss biting her lip and crying.

That single tear was like a stone dropped into a still pond.

Shen Yinan’s heart tightened as if someone were wringing it.

“Uncle, I’m going to cut the biggest piece for you!” Luo Yejun declared triumphantly, holding the cake.

Cheng Xian’s eyes were full of tenderness. “Good, Yejun is a good boy.”

Watching the man’s smug face, Shen Yinan’s eyes grew cold and sharp.

Shen Yinan knew it wasn’t just because Luo Yejun cried that he received everyone’s favor; it was because he was the heir to the Luo family.

In terms of status, Shen Yinan was nothing. Powerful people could make her change her birthday overnight; changing her name would be even easier.

“Everyone, sit down and eat.”

Shen Yinan’s mind was a muddled mess as she murmured, “Okay.”

Her eyes were filled with despair and indignation. Despair, because even with a lifetime, she might never break free from these constraints. Indignation, because she had to live like this, dependent on others.

Shen Yinan didn’t remember much of what happened next; she just ate the meal mechanically, filling her stomach with food that tasted like wax.

Luo Yejun deliberately finished the cake so there was none left for her.

He even feigned innocence. “Oh, the cake is gone. You’re not angry that you didn’t get any, are you?”

Shen Yinan shook her head blankly. She didn’t show that she cared about a single bite of cake at all.

But since Luo Yejun had said it just to spite her, seeing that her precious birthday seemingly meant nothing to a “dog” only made him angrier.

Cheng Wanqiu couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up and brought her plate over to Shen Yinan.

“Shen Yinan, have half of mine. I can’t eat this much anyway.”

Maintaining her composure, Shen Yinan looked up and thanked her without a trace of emotion.

“Thank you, Miss.”

Luo Yejun was being stared at with loathing—and by the person he loved, no less.

He muttered to himself: Wanqiu must be doing this to spite me. She belongs to me. I’ll have to lock her in a cage so she won’t make me angry anymore.

Comforting himself with this thought, his expression brightened considerably.

After the birthday banquet ended and everyone retreated, Cheng Wanqiu collapsed onto her bed.

She was exhausted—both physically and mentally.

Her consciousness slowly drifted away on the soft mattress, entering a world of pure white.

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached her ears.

“Miss, when is your birthday?”

It was the tender voice of a ten-year-old Shen Yinan.

This was half a year after Shen Yinan had been brought into the Cheng family. She had been a loyal, steady dog then.

She knew she had to keep Cheng Wanqiu happy so she wouldn’t be sent back to the Shen family.

Cheng Wanqiu was pulled back to the present of the dream.

She saw the ten-year-old Shen Yinan, who was losing her teeth and spoke carefully for fear of spitting.

There was a reason Cheng Wanqiu always held onto Shen Yinan’s birthdays.

For some reason, she wanted to tease the young Shen Yinan.

“Hmph, if you want to know, call me ‘Sister’.”

Little Shen Yinan turned her head, escaping the grasp of Cheng Wanqiu’s finger and thumb.

Her chubby little face showed a rare huff of anger; back then, she hadn’t learned how to hide her emotions.

The adult Cheng Wanqiu saw right through her.

“Miss, don’t play with me.”

Cheng Wanqiu didn’t know why she was dreaming of the past, but she decided to play along.

“My birthday is on the last day of summer vacation.”

Hearing this, she saw Little Shen Yinan counting on her fingers how many days were left.

It was just a dream, yet it felt incredibly real.

Cheng Wanqiu stroked the child’s head. “Are you going to give me a gift?”

Little Shen Yinan’s eyes widened with a “How did you know?” expression.

Her small ears were flushed pink—she was terribly cute.

The adult Cheng Wanqiu was completely captivated by the ten-year-old version of her companion.

The dream faded. Cheng Wanqiu checked her phone: 23:10.

There were fifty minutes left before Shen Yinan’s birthday ended.

She had to get up. She still remembered the time Shen Yinan celebrated her birthday.

It was also just before midnight when Shen Yinan had brought a store-bought cake to her and said silly words: “Miss, Happy Birthday.”

The whole family had forgotten her birthday that day; only Shen Yinan remembered.

She had held the “puppy” who warmed her and cried for a long time.

Knock, knock, knock.

Shen Yinan turned over irritably in her blankets. When the knocking persisted, she was forced to open the door.

“Miss?”

She was surprised. Her hair was a messy nest from tossing and turning.

“Miss, is something wrong?” she whispered, her voice low.

The rest of the household was already asleep.

“Come with me. I’m taking you to celebrate your birthday!”

Before she could respond, Cheng Wanqiu grabbed her hand.

“Miss,” Shen Yinan said, not quite understanding. “Where are we going for a birthday celebration in the middle of the night?”

Cheng Wanqiu didn’t answer.

Though helpless, Shen Yinan followed.

The heavy front door of the villa clicked shut. No one knew that the Eldest Miss and a “dog” had snuck out.

In the dark of the late winter night, the streets were deserted.

The only lights came from 24-hour convenience stores.

Shen Yinan was led to the entrance of a convenience store near the villa.

“Shen Yinan, wait for me here.”

Her hand was released as Cheng Wanqiu spoke.

She gave a soft “Mm,” still bewildered.

She didn’t understand why the Miss was so insistent on this.

After about five or six minutes, Cheng Wanqiu emerged carrying a palm-sized chocolate cake. She had lit a single candle and was walking slowly toward her.

In Shen Yinan’s eyes, the warm firelight illuminated Cheng Wanqiu’s face.

She looked like a goddess dispelling the darkness. The cold night wind was no longer felt; the chill in her collar vanished.

Shen Yinan only knew that her heart felt warm.

A voice pulled her back to reality, and she realized she was staring intently and rather rudely at the Miss.

“Shen Yinan, Happy Birthday!”

That second came so fast, Shen Yinan thought she was hallucinating.

Her mouth opened slightly as she murmured, “M… Miss…”

“I wanted to give you a perfect birthday, but I didn’t expect that Luo Yejun to interfere and steal the cake I made for you.”

“Miss, why…?”

Shen Yinan was overwhelmed. She had actually been satisfied with how things were.

“There is no ‘why’.” Cheng Wanqiu’s eyes lit up as she remembered. “If I had to give a reason, it would be the first time you celebrated mine.”

Little Shen Yinan had run out of the house early in the morning to buy a cake for the Miss. She had been bullied by the shop owner because she was a child, and she didn’t get the cake until very late.

At the time, the Cheng family thought the dog they’d had for six months had run away; they figured they could just get another one if she was lost. Cheng Wanqiu had been persuaded by her uncle and sat alone in her room. It was her birthday, and even she had forgotten it.

She had been immersed in the sadness of her lost puppy when, close to midnight, there was a knock at the door. Cheng Wanqiu heard it and ran downstairs barefoot.

The moment she opened the door, she hugged Shen Yinan and cried.

Shen Yinan was so small, standing there shivering in the summer rain, holding the cake.

“Miss, Happy Birthday!”

Shen Yinan snapped back from the memory. Facing Cheng Wanqiu, she was speechless.

Back then, she had only done it to please her master.

“Miss…” Shen Yinan started, then hesitated.

“What is it?” Cheng Wanqiu asked, tilting her head.

What if Cheng Wanqiu knew her motives weren’t entirely pure?

After a moment of panic, Shen Yinan steadied herself.

“Miss, I am truly happy to have met you.”

“…”

The air was silent for a moment before Cheng Wanqiu laughed.

Her face held a doting smile; love was practically overflowing from her eyes.

That must have made her happy, Shen Yinan thought.

“Me too. It’s my luck to have met you.”

Cheng Wanqiu spoke casually, but the words carried immense weight in Shen Yinan’s heart.

Instantly, Shen Yinan’s heart skipped a beat, as if struck by Cupid’s arrow.

Her blood surged, and a voice in her head screamed: Hug her! Reciprocate her love!

Shen Yinan’s fingers twitched against her trousers.

But she didn’t dare. She was afraid.

The two of them found a place to sit.

In the empty street, bundled in thick coats, they gathered around a single candle for warmth. Their pupils reflected each other’s faces illuminated by the flame; a single candle was enough to dispel all darkness.

“Make a wish,” Cheng Wanqiu said, looking at her like an older sister.

Like a pampered child, Shen Yinan nodded shyly.

She blew out the candle and, under Cheng Wanqiu’s gaze, closed her eyes to make a wish.

She wasn’t a child anymore; she didn’t truly believe that wishing on a cake would make things come true.

The midnight bell chimed, and Shen Yinan opened her eyes.

“Thank you, Miss. My birthday was very pleasant.”

She suppressed the tears in her eyes, her expression unreadable to Cheng Wanqiu.

She wasn’t like the child in the dream who wore everything on her face.

“So, have you fallen in love with me?”

Cheng Wanqiu’s eyes twinkled, a playful smirk on her lips.

“Have you fallen for me, Shen Yinan?” she pressed, leaning in closer.

“Eh?”

Shen Yinan was forced to lean back, shaking her head.

Staring into those upturned eyes, she saw her own reflection—and her own bright red ears.

She had never realized how easily she blushed.

She stiffened her neck and answered nervously, “Miss, stop teasing me.”

She expected Cheng Wanqiu to let her go.

Instead, she saw the other’s body move closer.

A second later, her arms were full of something soft.

Cheng Wanqiu leaned in, almost enchanting, her free hand curling around Shen Yinan’s neck as she spoke in an ambiguous tone.

“Really? I don’t like lying puppies.”

Anyone else would have folded under such an assault, confessing their love immediately in the face of such gentleness.

Shen Yinan pinched her thigh hard to maintain a shred of clarity and logic.

She couldn’t look at those red lips so close to her own. Her throat felt dry.

The tempting “red fruit” was right there, swaying before her. She wanted to bite it, to hear the sound of it, to know how wonderful it would be.

Shen Yinan already knew the beauty of it; she felt that if she could taste it just once, she would be willing to die.

Suddenly, she remembered Tao Ye’s words: “Cheng Wanqiu gives you a gift every year; you should return the gesture, shouldn’t you?”

She thought for a moment, then looking at Cheng Wanqiu who was nearly touching her face, she said, “Miss, wait for me a moment.”

“?”

Cheng Wanqiu didn’t understand why Shen Yinan suddenly moved so much. She nodded blankly.

Holding the cake, she gave a soft “Mm.”

Shen Yinan gently pushed Cheng Wanqiu’s shoulder back, gave her a polite smile, stood up, brushed the dust off her pants, and looked significantly brighter.

“Miss, I’ll be right back!”

Cheng Wanqiu was left stunned. “Okay” was all she could manage.

By the time she snapped out of it, she realized the “cooked duck” had flown away!

She touched her lips with her fingertip. “Just now… Shen Yinan’s throat moved. She was going to kiss me, wasn’t she?”

Her eyelashes fluttered. Her cold finger was startled by the heat of her own lips.

She felt as if she had drunk strong wine, leaning on Shen Yinan entirely by instinct. Her head was still spinning after Shen Yinan left.

Shen Yinan returned quickly, holding a single red rose.

Perhaps she could never fully reciprocate the Eldest Miss’s love in this life, but giving a single rose was enough for now.

From a distance, she looked elegant as she walked back with the rose in hand.

“Miss, thank you for spending my birthday with me.”

Cheng Wanqiu had been waiting for something big, but this was what she got.

There was disappointment, but there was more surprise.

Setting the cake down, Cheng Wanqiu stood up and said haughtily:

“This Miss will always be with you. I’ll wait for when you give me ninety-nine roses.”

Shen Yinan listened but didn’t answer. She couldn’t give such a promise.

Loving someone is easy, but a promise is hard to keep.

“Miss, here is the flower. Let’s eat the cake together,” Shen Yinan said, changing the subject.

Cheng Wanqiu fell for it easily.

She shed her arrogant persona and replied, “Mm, okay.”