The Beautiful Cannon Fodder Coveted by the Protagonist - Chapter 7

The cool breeze rustled the fallen leaves, brushing against the boy’s flushed cheeks.

Zhou Zhou walked through the door with Shanda following close behind, the heat of the interaction still clinging to him. The driver’s weird look was still playing on a loop in his head.

Something felt… off.

“Hey, you guys are back. Disappeared for a whole day—where’d you go?” Zuo Zhu gave them a cursory glance, his focus intense on the loud game sounds coming from his phone.

Zhou Zhou rubbed his burning ears. “Just went out for a meal.”

“Tsk, damn it! That trash teammate died again!” Zuo Zhu slammed his phone down and stood up, scratching his head in frustration.

Shanda was in a great mood. He strolled over and asked, “Did you eat lunch all by yourself?” There was a distinct air of a peacock flaunting its feathers in his voice.

Zuo Zhu’s shoulders hitched. He glanced at Zhou Zhou, who was still hovering by the door, and said, “Hurry up and take your husband away.”

Zhou Zhou froze for a few seconds, his brain grinding to a halt like a jammed gear. “What husband?”

Zuo Zhu’s eyes flickered between Shanda and Zhou Zhou with a knowing look. He raised an eyebrow. “I mean, who else? You two just got back from a date, didn’t you?”

The jammed gears of his brain finally snapped into place. Zhou Zhou’s face, which had finally started to cool down, flared up again. “Don’t talk nonsense. We’re just roommates.”

“Roommates?” Zuo Zhu smacked his lips. He looked at Shanda, whose earlobes were practically dripping blood-red with a blush, and sighed regretfully. “Alright, roommates. Sure… roommates.”

With that, he patted Shanda’s shoulder as if performing some sort of handover ceremony.

As their free time slipped away, Zhou Zhou climbed into his bunk to catch up on sleep and avoid further conversation. By the time he woke up, the world outside the window was pitch black.

The bedboards creaked as he stretched, and the savory scent of roasted meat hit his nose.

His nostrils flared, and he squinted with sleepy eyes.

“You’re awake? Want something to eat?” The sudden voice made Zhou Zhou’s trembling eyelashes snap open. A face was framed in the gap of his bed curtains.

“Ah!”

When did he get there?

Zhou Zhou, he’s been staring at you for ten minutes. Also, he found out you threw his breakfast in the trash.

Goosebumps broke out all over his body.

“Where are the others?” Zhou Zhou pulled the curtain back, trying to divert his attention as he scanned the room for Zuo Zhu.

“They’re out. Aren’t you going to come down and eat? It’ll get cold.”

Zhou Zhou nodded, shifted his body, and scurried down the ladder.

Shanda had laid out several takeout containers in front of him. A quick glance told him this meal wasn’t cheap there was even a whole salt-baked chicken.

“I just bought a few things. I’m not sure if it’s to your taste,” Shanda said with a goofy smile. To Zhou Zhou, however, the situation felt fraught with hidden danger. What was this guy playing at? Laxatives? Poison? Pesticides?

System, you don’t think he drugged the food, do you?

No.

Zhou Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. He broke apart the disposable chopsticks, rubbed them together, and picked up a piece of meat from the stir-fried pork with green peppers. He hadn’t even swallowed it when the system continued:

I don’t know.

His chewing stopped mid-motion, his eyes filling with terror. Could you finish your sentence in one breath next time?!

“What’s wrong? Is it not good?” Shanda leaned down, inspecting the small dish of pork. “Is it because it sat too long? If it’s cold and you don’t like it, just give it to me. It’s a waste to throw it in the trash.” His expression turned lonely.

The distance between them vanished instantly. Zhou Zhou’s lips trembled before he blurted out, “Th-then, why don’t you eat with me?”

Shanda blinked, straightening his back.

This guy must have spiked it. Look at how he jumped back, Zhou Zhou thought.

Snorting inwardly, Zhou Zhou felt he had seen through the ruse. He picked up a piece of meat and held it out. “Mm! Mm!” He signaled for Shanda to eat it—to test for poison. Even if it was poisoned, Shanda wouldn’t get off easy; they’d go down together.

Just as he expected Shanda to make up an excuse to decline, the man stared at the chopsticks and went still.

Aha! He definitely added something!

In the next second, Shanda leaned over and took the meat right off the chopsticks.

As Shanda chewed, Zhou Zhou watched his Adam’s apple bob. Shanda commented, “It’s delicious. Do you not like it?” It wasn’t poisoned, but the flush on Shanda’s cheeks looked incredibly suspicious.

Still skeptical, Zhou Zhou moved to the next dish. If it’s not in this one, it’s in that one.

The tomato and eggs.

The shrimp with green peas.

The braised fish and the salt-baked chicken.

Zhou Zhou picked up a piece of each, and every single one went into Shanda’s mouth first.

After a full round of testing, Zhou Zhou licked his lips.

Maybe I’m just being too paranoid?

Perhaps the male lead is just being kind. After all, you treated him to a meal at noon.

Zhou Zhou happily accepted this explanation. He stopped punishing his empty stomach and began to eat heartily. He was so focused that he didn’t realize Shanda hadn’t touched the food himself. It wasn’t until he felt full that he realized Shanda had been watching him eat the entire time.

He suddenly remembered the system’s words:

He’s been staring at you for ten minutes.

“Cough, cough, cough!” A few grains of rice got caught in Zhou Zhou’s throat as he choked in surprise. He clutched his chest, coughing so hard it felt like his lungs were coming up.

Suddenly, he was pulled up into a warm embrace. A powerful force squeezed the area between his stomach and chest. He felt like a kite that had lost its string—lightheaded and floating, his feet feeling useless.

The rice stuck in his throat was coughed out, and a rush of fresh air flooded his lungs. Zhou Zhou pounded on Shanda’s gripping hands. “Cough… I’m okay… I’m okay… let go.”

He reasonably suspected Shanda was using this chance to assassinate him.

Shanda scratched his head. “Sorry. I saw you choking and just reacted. I’ll get you some water, hold on.”

He turned around, grabbed the giant water bottle from his own desk, and presented it eagerly.

Zhou Zhou batted away the hand Shanda was using to steady him and sat down to catch his breath, waving his hand to indicate he didn’t need it. Shanda, thinking Zhou Zhou was disgusted because Shanda’s saliva might be on the bottle, grabbed a tissue to wipe the rim clean before offering it again.

“I don’t want water… cough.” Feeling dizzy and faint, he just wanted to sit and rest for a moment.

“Do you want a drink instead? There’s a vending machine downstairs. I’ll go get one for you.” Zhou Zhou really wasn’t thirsty, but before he could refuse, the man vanished from the dorm like he’d been shot out of a cannon.

“Hey… I don’t want…” I have my own.

Why was Shanda acting like he’d been drugged with “loyal dog” serum? He was falling over himself to wait on him.

I feel like this is a great opportunity to make things difficult for him.

Zhou Zhou massaged his temples; everyone was giving him a headache. He looked at the table. He’d only eaten one leg of the salt-baked chicken, and the other dishes were barely touched.

He couldn’t eat another bite. Really.

Shanda was incredibly fast. It was as if he hadn’t even waited for the elevator and had run up the stairs on his own two legs. Panting, he dumped a pile of drinks—bottles still dripping with condensation onto Zhou Zhou’s desk.

One, two, three, four, five.

He had practically cleared out the entire machine.

Zhou Zhou looked at the five bottles with a complicated expression. He picked up a bottle of milk. “I’ll just have this. How much was it? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“No need. My treat. If you like it, drink more. Take the rest too; I bought them all for you.” Shanda stared at the bottle of milk, making a mental note of Zhou Zhou’s preference.

Zhou Zhou wasn’t the type to take advantage of others, so he transferred 200 yuan anyway. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Shanda watched his silhouette until the bathroom door was locked. Then, he pulled up a forum on his phone. The screen displayed a question he had posted:

What should I do if the person I like threw the breakfast I bought into the trash? Please help [Crying]

The post already had quite a few replies, ranging from the sensible to the absurd.

Shanda scrolled through them, the blue light of the screen reflecting in his eyes as he read the dense comments.

-1L: Bro, let me tell you: twisted melons aren’t sweet. If they don’t like you, they won’t like you even if you give them Chanel.

-AAA Professional Pig Farmer (Reply to 1L): I looked up Chanel. Which one would a guy like?

-1L (Reply to AAA Professional Pig Farmer): …That’s not what I meant.

-2L: Just keep giving. If they don’t eat it, you get an extra portion for yourself—no loss. That’s how I got my girlfriend.

-AAA Professional Pig Farmer (Reply to 2L): Okay. But I’m chasing a boyfriend.

-3L: Chasing someone requires big spending. People are materialistic.

-AAA Professional Pig Farmer (Reply to 3L): He’s not that kind of person.

-3L (Reply to AAA Professional Pig Farmer): You’ve already got ‘love brain.’ Good luck…

-AAA Professional Pig Farmer (Reply to 3L): Thanks for the blessing.

I’m Not a Side Character (Reply to AAA Professional Pig Farmer): OP, listen to me. Just be good to him. Keep sending breakfast, buy him meals, do his group project PPTs, rush to help him with everything. Spoil him until he can’t live without you. Then confess. Your success rate will be much higher! Girls shouldn’t be shy when they like someone.

Shanda looked at this advice and replied with a smile.

AAA Professional Pig Farmer (Reply to I’m Not a Side Character): Thanks for the tip. My roommate just ate the dinner I bought. Also, I’m a guy.

Pei Jue was eating when a notification popped up at the top of his phone. He opened the message and, upon seeing the content, let out a loud “Holy crap!”

“Pei Jue, don’t curse,” a voice drifted from nearby, sounding steady and lecture-like.

Pei Jue cleared his throat. “Got it.”

Another arrogant, rebellious voice chimed in: “What? You listen to him when he talks, but you won’t listen to a word I say?”

Pei Jue rolled his eyes. “Mind your own business.”

Zhou Zhou finished his shower and opened the door, jumping slightly when he saw a tall figure standing right there.

Shanda was holding a basin. Seeing Zhou Zhou come out, he stared at him intently and smiled. “Can I wash your feet again today?”

What is going on? Zhou Zhou looked at him, his eyes still misty from the steam, looking dazed.

When Shanda returned with the basin, Zhou Zhou realized the guy wasn’t joking. Does someone really enjoy washing other people’s feet? Zhou Zhou immediately pulled his pale feet back, looking at the man warily.

Zhou Zhou, why not let him wash them? 031 suggested.

Will it increase the progress?

Repeating the same task won’t increase progress.

Then I don’t want him to. It hurts.

“I can do it myself.” The moment he spoke, Shanda’s eyes dimmed. He asked piteously, “You don’t want me to?”

Zhou Zhou remembered the feeling of those calluses rubbing against the soles of his feet and nodded frantically. “No thanks.”

The water in the bathroom ran for a long time until the foot-washing water went cold. Zhou Zhou was leisurely playing on his phone, completely forgetting that he had left his dirty laundry in the bathroom.

The familiar sound of the door opening was like a bolt from the blue.

Zuo Zhu opened the bathroom door, peeked inside, and shouted: “Yo, Shanda, washing your wife’s underwear again?”

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