I, A Loyal Dog, Awaken to My Fate as Cannon Fodder - Chapter 7

The November afternoon sun was not fierce; in fact, the intermittent gusts of wind were somewhat bone-chilling. Outside the haunted house, a cold draft blew incessantly. An air conditioner at the main entrance fluttered the white cloth that obscured the interior view; even in a crowded place during broad daylight, the swaying white fabric looked eerie.

The haunted house at Little Bear Theme Park followed the style of Chinese horror. Those waiting in line outside could hear the screams of the people within.

Shen Yinan was a materialist who did not believe in gods or buddhas. She could calmly watch horror movies in the dead of night and then happily run a few laps outside afterward. She was like a person without a heart; even when a ghost jumped right into her face on screen, she remained completely unmoved. Cheng Wanqiu and Ni Zhen loved dragging her along to watch ghost stories in the middle of the night specifically to scare her, but every time, she remained unfazed while the two young ladies clung to her arms, trembling. She would then calmly turn off the television for them.

Blaring sound effects played outside the haunted house, scaring some people before they even set foot inside. Cheng Wanqiu was exactly that kind of person. She was naturally afraid of the dark, though she never admitted it. She crossed her arms, pretending to be composed, unaware that the more one tries to maintain an air of calm, the more obvious their fear becomes.

Shen Yinan saw right through her young lady’s awkward little thoughts.

When it was the turn of their group of four, Hu Ying, as the only male in the party, charged ahead under the gaze of the crowd. However, as the cold draft from the air conditioner blew into his collar, accompanied by the sounds of ghostly wailing, he couldn’t help but start to retreat in his mind. The slight trembling of his legs made him seem entirely unreliable; one got the feeling that if a real ghost appeared, he would outrun the girls in the group.

In contrast, Shen Yinan had her left and right arms held by Cheng Wanqiu and Ni Zhen. Her expression was utterly composed, radiating a sense of righteousness so strong it seemed ghosts would keep their distance. In short, she provided a profound sense of security.

“Little Yinan, you must protect me,” Ni Zhen said. She was no longer just holding Shen Yinan’s arm; she was clutching it, pressing her face against it while speaking in a pitiful and helpless tone.

Shen Yinan wore a look of melancholy and forced a faint smile, offering no naive reply to Ni Zhen. If Ni Zhen were truly that afraid, she wouldn’t have instigated the eldest young lady to come here, nor would she be subtly competing with her.

With both of them clutching her arms at the same time, Shen Yinan wasn’t startled by the ghosts in the house, but rather by the two young ladies.

“Shen Yinan, you have to protect me.”

As soon as they entered the haunted house, Cheng Wanqiu closed her eyes in fear and pressed herself tightly against Shen Yinan. Eerie green lights cast shadows across Cheng Wanqiu’s face, as well as Shen Yinan’s.

Shen Yinan lowered her head calmly to look at her lady. The Cheng Wanqiu in her eyes was truly terrified; the way she clung to her arm was natural and entirely without affectation.

“Miss, I will protect you,” she said, gazing steadily at Cheng Wanqiu.

It was unclear if Cheng Wanqiu heard her; Shen Yinan’s voice was neither loud nor soft, just a normal speaking volume. Whether she heard it or not wasn’t the point; what mattered was that this “loyal dog” had declared her resolve.

While it was uncertain if Cheng Wanqiu heard, Ni Zhen, who was right beside them, heard it loud and clear. She looked up at Shen Yinan and saw that the girl’s eyes were filled only with Cheng Wanqiu. There was no jealousy or bitterness in Ni Zhen’s heart; she had realized long ago that Shen Yinan would never be hers. She had, in a sense, moved on.

Shen Yinan only had eyes for Cheng Wanqiu, and as an outsider who had stepped back, all Ni Zhen could do was help the two of them get together sooner. However, if Cheng Wanqiu lacked the capability to be with Shen Yinan, Ni Zhen would take over without hesitation. The Ni family was no lesser than the Cheng family, and in fact, it was much less complicated.

Same-sex marriage had only been permitted for a few years, and pedantic, wealthy aristocratic families had yet to accept it. As the sole heir of the Cheng family, Cheng Wanqiu’s future was destined to be walked under the arrangements of the family elders. Shen Yinan could never personally destroy the future of the person she loved; thus, protecting Cheng Wanqiu in silence was her best choice. Perhaps in this lifetime, this “loyal dog” could only live in the shadows, faring worse than even a kept lover.

Of these two, one was willful and ignorant, failing to see clearly while living within the complex Cheng family; the other saw everything clearly. They say that the one who is awake suffers the most, and Shen Yinan was that sober person.

Inside the haunted house was a winding tunnel. There wasn’t much that was truly scary; it mostly relied on sound effects. There were very few NPCs running out to scare people. So far, Shen Yinan hadn’t seen any NPC come for them—perhaps because they saw three girls, two of whom were huddled together in fear around the only brave one.

Crack—!

A loud noise erupted, and the haunted house flashed with light, similar to thunder and lightning. Shen Yinan paused slightly—not out of fear, but because white cold mist had sprayed out ahead.

“Shen Yinan, is something wrong?” Cheng Wanqiu didn’t dare open her eyes as she clutched Shen Yinan’s arm and spoke.

“It’s nothing, Miss, it’s just…”

Before she could finish, footsteps approached from behind. A “ghost” with disheveled hair and a red bridal gown tapped all three of them on the shoulder in succession. The screams of Cheng Wanqiu and Ni Zhen interrupted whatever Shen Yinan was about to say.

Ni Zhen let go of Shen Yinan’s hand and bolted forward. Whether it was intentional or not, she left Shen Yinan and Cheng Wanqiu behind. Without hesitation, Shen Yinan quickly used her other arm to pull Cheng Wanqiu into a protective embrace.

The refreshing scent of cedarwood enveloped Cheng Wanqiu’s nose; the firm chest was warm and reliable. Cheng Wanqiu slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Shen Yinan’s well-defined face. The sexy jawline was incredibly alluring, and her face looked wicked under the haunted house’s lights. If she were a ghost, she would surely be the king of a hundred demons.

This was a Shen Yinan she had never seen before. She hadn’t realized that Shen Yinan would reveal such a starkly different side of herself in a moment of danger. This demonic face was a far cry from her usual act of playing a well-behaved puppy. It was as if she had evolved from a dog into a wolf—a cold, stalking wolf that had been lying in wait, with the “good puppy” persona being nothing more than a disguise.

“Are you alright, Miss?”

Shen Yinan asked with a slight frown, her eyes staring straight ahead. She gave a cold sweep of her gaze toward the NPC who had tapped their shoulders. The NPC was startled, freezing for a second before giving a sheepish smile and tactfully retreating.

“Shen Yinan… my legs have gone weak,” Cheng Wanqiu said, finding it difficult to admit.

Shen Yinan: “???”

Shen Yinan lowered her head with some difficulty to meet Cheng Wanqiu’s pitiful eyes. The light in the haunted house was dim, and she couldn’t tell if her lady was being serious or intentional.

“Carry me on your back.” Cheng Wanqiu pulled one hand away and provocatively wrapped it around Shen Yinan’s neck. Standing on her tiptoes, she whispered right into Shen Yinan’s ear. Her scorching breath hit Shen Yinan’s earlobe, turning it bright red.

Shen Yinan knew then: her lady was toyed with her again.

Shen Yinan turned her head slightly to the side. The fierce protectiveness she had shown a moment ago was gone, defeated by the flirtatious words. Her resolve crumbled, and she reverted to a “good puppy.”

“Do you disagree?”

Cheng Wanqiu’s teeth were nearly grazing Shen Yinan’s ear as she spoke. Shen Yinan’s remaining logic told her that the lady was the lady, the master, and she must not overstep. Her heart was beating out of her chest, and her blood was racing. “I don’t disagree.”

She secretly tightened her grip on Cheng Wanqiu’s waist. The soft sensation traveled throughout her body, burning her palms.

“As expected. I trust you wouldn’t dare leave me behind. Shen Yinan, good dog.”

Shen Yinan didn’t want to be a “good dog” at all. Reluctantly, she released her hold on Cheng Wanqiu and obediently crouched down so that Cheng Wanqiu could jump onto her back. She braced her hands on her knees, waiting.

“Come up, Miss.”

If there had been 360-degree surveillance here, it would look as though Shen Yinan and Cheng Wanqiu were there specifically to torture “single dogs.” The security personnel in the control room were stuffed with “dog food” (witnessing public displays of affection). They had seen many couples pulling and pushing in the haunted house, but they had never seen a pair so inseparable, their chemistry practically tangible. One would be shocked to learn they weren’t actually a couple.

Cheng Wanqiu felt as though her heart had been dipped in honey. She unhurriedly and gently hopped onto Shen Yinan’s back. “Let’s go, puppy.”

Cheng Wanqiu weighed less than 100 pounds; she was very light and lean. Shen Yinan supported Cheng Wanqiu’s seat with her hands and walked with her head lowered in embarrassment. As she walked, she grumbled gloomily, “Miss only knows how to bully me. You’re clearly afraid of the dark, yet you agreed to come to the haunted house with Senior Hu Ying.”

To Cheng Wanqiu’s ears, this was clearly the sound of a jealous puppy. She gently rested her head on Shen Yinan’s back and wrapped her arms around her. “I didn’t come to the haunted house for Hu Ying. I came because of you. I wanted you to protect me, just like you are now.”

This wasn’t a lie; it was exactly what Cheng Wanqiu was thinking. She told Shen Yinan her true thoughts without fear of her overthinking it. She simply liked her. Shen Yinan was smart enough; she couldn’t fail to guess.

“Miss, you’re toying with me again.”

Cheng Wanqiu had always believed that it was Shen Yinan’s personality that kept her from accepting her confession. Shen Yinan was slow to warm up, and Cheng Wanqiu could give her plenty of time. She closed her eyes and lay quietly on Shen Yinan’s back, not answering the remark. She savored this private time belonging only to the two of them. With Shen Yinan there, even the ghostly wails of the haunted house became less terrifying.

Meanwhile, Hu Ying, who had wanted to showcase his masculinity, had long since abandoned Cheng Wanqiu and fled. After stumbling out and catching his breath, he realized he had left her behind. He was frantic, yet he didn’t dare go back inside. He looked like someone who had lost all his money, jumping with anxiety.

Ni Zhen was the second to emerge. Seeing Hu Ying like this, the word “loathing” was practically written on her face. Why would such a delusional man pursue her Cheng Cheng? Did he not know his own worth?

Noticing Ni Zhen had come out, Hu Ying stepped forward to question her. “Why isn’t Cheng Wanqiu with you?”

Ni Zhen gave a light scoff, crossing her arms as she looked the man up and down. “Does Senior really intend to pursue my Cheng Cheng? You were the first one to run out of that haunted house.”

Her words left Hu Ying speechless and drew the attention of the surrounding crowd at the exit.

“I… I… I was just…”

Before Hu Ying could explain further, Shen Yinan emerged from the haunted house with Cheng Wanqiu on her back. In that moment, the onlookers could clearly see who was the reliable one worth entrusting oneself to.

“Miss, we’re out. You can open your eyes now,” Shen Yinan said softly, not putting her down immediately.

Cheng Wanqiu slowly opened her eyes. The brightness outside stung slightly. She opened them a crack then closed them again, shaking her head as she acted spoiled toward Shen Yinan. “It’s too bright, my eyes hurt.”

Shen Yinan was helpless. “Alright, alright, rest a bit longer, Miss.”

She looked up and met Hu Ying’s impotent, furious gaze. She actually felt a secret surge of satisfaction. It was as if, with the lady standing by her side, she had won. The “minor cannon fodder” had defeated the protagonist under the laws of the world.

In truth, she never admitted to being the “cannon fodder” of an old-fashioned novel who had suddenly awakened. How could she possibly be beaten to death, and how could her lady ever fall so low as to end up with three sick male leads? If it ever came to that, to repay the years of upbringing, she would personally deal with anyone who dared touch the Cheng family.

Everyone thought she was a “good girl,” but only she knew how “dirty” her heart truly was. Shen Yinan’s hands were already stained.

“Senior Hu Ying, let’s end today’s amusement park trip here. The Miss is tired.”