I, A Loyal Dog, Awaken to My Fate as Cannon Fodder - Chapter 32

Cheng Wanqiu emerged from the dream realm, her body jerking as if she were falling off a cliff. She startled awake, realizing she had been leaning over beside Shen Yinan.

Her hands had been tightly clutching Shen Yinan’s the entire time. She lifted her gaze to look once more at that pale, bloodless face on the hospital bed, and her heart throbbed with pain.

Suddenly, Shen Yinan’s finger twitched. This imperceptible movement was caught by Cheng Wanqiu.

It was a moment of immense joy.

It seemed that the actions taken within the dream could change the past and, indirectly, alter the future.

A person who had been in critical condition, for whom the doctors had already issued a notice of impending death, had miraculously come back to life.

Shen Yinan slowly opened her eyes. The oxygen mask covering her nose and mouth made her feel uncomfortable.

“You’re awake!”

Beside her, Cheng Wanqiu gripped her hand excitedly, not knowing how to react. Shen Yinan nodded.

One could faintly hear the sob in Cheng Wanqiu’s voice. “This is truly wonderful.”

I have caused trouble for the Young Mistress.

Shen Yinan spoke while lying on the bed, the white mist from the oxygen mask fogging up the entire plastic dome.

“Young Mistress, I feel as though I had a very strange dream.”

In just a few days, her cheeks had hollowed out and the flesh on her hands had vanished; she looked pitifully frail.

Feeling the weight of Cheng Wanqiu pressing against her chest, she felt a profound sense of peace.

Ah, it’s so good that she didn’t die. However, there was still one male protagonist left who had not been eliminated for Cheng Wanqiu’s sake.

Remaining by the Young Mistress’s side all the time was simply too passive.

Shen Yinan’s eyes filled with tears as she stared at the white ceiling above.

She was so loath to leave Cheng Wanqiu; she didn’t want to go.

“A strange dream?” Cheng Wanqiu murmured. She didn’t know if the dream she had was the same as Shen Yinan’s.

Looking at Shen Yinan’s tear-filled eyes and wet eyelashes, she felt that nothing was more heartbreaking than seeing a “puppy” cry.

“Everything is fine now. We are both safe and sound. Shen Yinan, recover well, and when you’re discharged, let’s go play together.”

Shen Yinan looked deeply at Cheng Wanqiu—a gaze so lingering and piercing that it seemed to hide an ocean of longing.

Her tears could no longer be held back; they flowed slowly from the corners of her eyes, soaking the pillow and wetting the hair at her temples.

Cheng Wanqiu held her head high, harboring beautiful fantasies for the future. “When you’re out of the hospital, we’ll hold hands and visit every park. We’ll sit on a long bench, and I’ll rest my head on your shoulder.”

“Or perhaps we’ll read the same manga in the room, wearing wired headphones to listen to the same song.”

Cheng Wanqiu had so much she wanted to do with Shen Yinan. For Shen Yinan, was it not the same?

But she had to leave. If that final male protagonist wasn’t dealt with, there would always be a thorn in her heart.

Shen Yinan wept silently for a long time. Only her tears were visible; her lips remained tightly pressed together, and she didn’t make a single sound.

Cheng Wanqiu stayed with Shen Yinan all night, and Shen Yinan cried all night.

Because ICU beds were in high demand and Shen Yinan’s improvement was unexpected by everyone, she was moved to a general ward the next day.

To the outside world, the Cheng family stated that Shen Yinan was ill and hospitalized.

Many of them knew the truth: if Luo Yejun hadn’t gone mad, Shen Yinan would never have ended up like this.

Now that Luo Yejun was in a coffin, the Luo family was in the wrong and didn’t dare vent their anger.

Tao Ye opened the door, carrying a fruit basket to visit Shen Yinan.

As soon as the door opened, she saw a certain person lying on the hospital bed acting all sweet and lovey-dovey with her partner.

She was truly interrupting them; they even had to eat a single apple together.

“You guys…” Black lines appeared on Tao Ye’s forehead.

The crisp sound of a biting apple echoed through the quiet hospital room, audible to everyone.

Seeing her old friend looking at her with a strange expression, Shen Yinan couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.

She and Cheng Wanqiu each had their teeth sunk into one side of a peeled apple, their lips and teeth just millimeters away from touching.

Seeing Tao Ye arrive, Shen Yinan finally bit through the apple, ending the intimate scene.

“Xiao Ye, why are you here?”

Tao Ye finally snapped out of it. “You two… please continue.”

Her eyes darted around frantically, not knowing where to look.

“I brought some fruit for you, just a small gesture. I’m leaving now!”

The door closed with a click, and the hospital room fell silent again.

Shen Yinan glanced at Cheng Wanqiu, feeling a bit at a loss.

Then she heard Cheng Wanqiu whisper in her ear, “Let’s continue.”

The enchanting scent of orange candy lingered at the tip of her nose—the signature scent of the person before her. As she took that flavor into her mouth, it was filled with the sweet and sour taste of orange.

The room became filled with the sound of lingering, tender breaths.

For several days in a row, Shen Yinan stayed glued to Cheng Wanqiu. Their daily routine consisted of eating, kissing, and cuddling.

Repeating the same things every day never felt boring; no matter how many times they did them, it never felt like enough.

But such days were numbered. Shen Yinan hadn’t told Cheng Wanqiu about her plan to go abroad.

Only Cheng Xian knew about this, and he had agreed.

Last time, while Cheng Wanqiu was away, she had discussed it with Cheng Xian. He was highly supportive; for someone like Shen Yinan who was worth the investment, the money spent on her would return dozens of times over in the future.

Just as Shen Yinan’s father believed, she was a “golden egg”—a person capable of producing gold.

With more time spent apart than together, the days ahead would surely be difficult.

“Shen Yinan, how about we go out and get some sun?”

Kept in the dark, Cheng Wanqiu spent every day finding new ways to be with Shen Yinan. If she knew that Shen Yinan would be leaving before long, who knows how heartbroken she would be.

Shen Yinan cherished the present moment deeply. “Alright. Staying in this bed has made my limbs feel weak.”

Shen Yinan wore the blue-and-white striped hospital gown. With so little flesh on her bones, the loose clothing hung limply on her, making her look frail.

The sight made Cheng Wanqiu’s breath hitch. She saw the fragility and felt the ache in her heart.

“When we go back, I’m going to watch you every day to make sure you drink bone broth. Beef, chicken, fish, mutton—I’ll rotate them all to make sure you eat. Look at how thin you’ve become.”

It was that feeling of “Mom thinks you’re thin” or “Grandma thinks you’re cold.”

“Young Mistress, there’s no need to go to such trouble.” Shen Yinan couldn’t give a promise. If she heartlessly agreed and then left, Cheng Wanqiu would only be more devastated.

“It is absolutely necessary. Come on, let’s go soak up some sun.”

As soon as she spoke, Shen Yinan’s arm was tucked into hers, and she was helplessly led away.

It was the morning sun. There was a small garden below the hospital building, and many people were sitting on benches enjoying the sunlight.

The piercing sunlight made Shen Yinan squint, shielding her eyes with her hand.

Her pale face and bloodless lips gave her the air of a sickly beauty; her face was indeed beautiful.

It was a beauty that could be admired from afar but not trifled with; her aura exuded a certain coldness.

Fortunately, Cheng Wanqiu’s presence neutralized the frostiness surrounding Shen Yinan.

Shen Yinan and Cheng Wanqiu’s fingers were interlocked. Though she was a cold person, her gaze was fervent. This look seemed to freeze into a deep memory, one that would never be forgotten.

Young Mistress, rest assured. Once I deal with the final male protagonist, I will return. At that time, we can be together in peace.

Shen Yinan made a silent vow in her heart.

Once she left, there was no telling how long it would be before she could return.