The Beautiful Cannon Fodder Coveted by the Protagonist - Chapter 8

“Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“A bit of insomnia.” Zhou Zhou let out a yawn. He’d stayed up until the early hours of the morning playing WeChat mini-games.

“Your department’s uniform looks way better than ours in the Art Academy,” Zuo Zhu said, tugging at his own oversized, ‘Death Barbie Pink’ shirt. “This is hideous.”

The sound of a toilet flushing echoed from the bathroom. Zhou Zhou grabbed his jacket and bolted for the door.

“I gotta go!”

With a sharp bang, the door closed, leaving the room in silence.

“Why’s he running so fast?”

Chen Yuqi shot Zuo Zhu a look. Once he was sure Zhou Zhou was gone, he spoke up coldly. “Who told you to talk nonsense last night? Zhou Zhou is definitely upset.”

Zuo Zhu didn’t buy it. “My eyes are like a ruler—they don’t lie. Back in high school, you said that one couple wasn’t together, and then they went public right after graduation. Besides, Zhou Zhou might be oblivious, but Shanda is definitely interested. I wouldn’t wash a bro’s underwear for him. If I ever started washing yours…”

Chen Yuqi looked at him in disbelief and cursed, “I think you’ve got a death wish!”

Just as he was about to swat at him, the bathroom door opened.

Water was still dripping from Shanda’s sharp jawline, and his damp hair couldn’t hide his striking features.

“Has Zhou Zhou left?”

The two guys standing in the middle of the dorm froze. Chen Yuqi pointed toward the door. “Just left.”

Shanda’s expression darkened instantly; he looked clearly displeased. He strode to his desk, grabbed his water bottle, and ignored the warning Chen Yuqi called out behind him.

“Shanda, it looks like it’s going to rain in a bit.”

Zhou Zhou scanned a shared electric scooter and sped off a split second before Shanda could chase him down.

The early morning light was cool, and the September breeze carried the scent of morning dew and earth. Many students were already walking toward the sports field, so Zhou Zhou barely needed to check his map.

He arrived at the field after a ten-minute ride.

He looked around, scratching his hair in frustration. His phone screen showed his chat with Pei Jue. Comparing his surroundings to Building 5 as mentioned in the text, he frowned. “Isn’t this the cafeteria opposite Building 5? Where is Pei Jue?”

Just as he squinted, ready to twist the throttle and keep moving, a weight hit his shoulder. Startled, his hand jerked on the handle, causing the scooter to lurch forward a few inches.

The phone in his left hand vibrated twice.

Pei Jue: Sorry, my signal was bad and the message wouldn’t send. I’ve got breakfast. You’re at the entrance, right? Coming now.

He caught the message out of the corner of his eye. At the same time, a voice—raspy from heavy breathing and sounding like it was being squeezed through gritted teeth—whispered in his ear. “Zhou Zhou.”

Zhou Zhou turned his head. Shanda’s breath hit his cheek unexpectedly.

How… how did he get here?

Sensing the confusion in Zhou Zhou’s eyes, Shanda blinked his puppy-dog eyes and said innocently, “Why didn’t you wait for me before leaving?”

Caught off guard, Zhou Zhou fumbled for a response. “We… we aren’t in the same class.”

“But we’re in the same dorm?” Shanda blinked again, looking genuinely hurt. “Just because we aren’t in the same class doesn’t mean we can’t eat breakfast together, does it?”

The “clinging tea” vibe was like a cold shower on an autumn morning, giving Zhou Zhou goosebumps. Before he could say anything, a voice carried through the wind. It was Pei Jue calling his name.

“The meat buns you wanted,” Pei Jue said, tilting his shoulder as he pulled one plastic bag out of another. “One egg pancake and a small portion of fried rice cakes.”

“Thanks.” Zhou Zhou took the bag.

As Pei Jue pulled the food out to hand it over, a cold, sharp gaze from the side caught his attention. He looked at the handsome stranger, then back to Zhou Zhou. “A friend?”

“Roommate.”

Pei Jue flinched slightly. Realizing who it was, he tried to greet him, but Shanda didn’t spare him a single glance. His eyes were glued to Zhou Zhou.

“I’ll park the scooter here and we can walk over,” Pei Jue said, leaning in closer to Zhou Zhou once they started moving. “Are you and your roommate that close?”

Zhou Zhou thought for a moment and teased, “Probably the same kind of ‘breakfast-buying’ relationship you and I have.”

“I see… By the way, we’re the only two in our class in a mixed dorm. If there are any problems, let me know. I’ll talk to the head teacher.”

Grateful for the concern, Zhou Zhou nodded. “Thanks. You’re in a mixed dorm too?”

“Yeah. Our class beds were full, so the two of us were left over. That annoying childhood friend of mine insisted on rooming with me.” Pei Jue sounded disgusted at the mention of it. He glanced back, leaning in even closer to whisper, “Your roommate’s face is so sour. He looks exactly like my childhood friend. Are all those PE department guys like that?”

Zhou Zhou looked back. The moment he made eye contact with Shanda, the man’s eyes instantly turned watery and soft.

Not at all?

Shanda stepped forward, wedging himself between the two of them and forcefully widening the gap between Zhou Zhou and Pei Jue. “Where are you going?”

Before Zhou Zhou could answer, Pei Jue spoke for him. “We’re going to our class block. You should go buy some breakfast and head to your own class, classmate.”

Shanda stared unblinkingly at Zhou Zhou and the breakfast in his hand. “See you later, Zhou Zhou.” He left before Zhou Zhou could even open his mouth.

Zhou Zhou felt a strange, lingering sense of guilt, like he had just abandoned a loyal wife to go have an affair.

Back with the class, Pei Jue went to the front to take attendance while Zhou Zhou stood at the back, peeling the meat out of his bun and nibbling on the oily dough.

He chatted occasionally with the girls nearby.

Once breakfast was finished, the school loudspeakers began blaring the rhythmic music for morning exercises.

Pei Jue held up the “Music Academy” sign and led their group to the center of the sports field to sit down.

Zhou Zhou looked down at his phone.

Zuo Zhu: You guys at the field? There’s no room for the Art Academy, so they moved us indoors. Hahaha, watching the livestream.

Bright White Zhou: That’s so lucky.

Zuo Zhu: I know, right.

Zuo Zhu: [Image.jpg]

Zuo Zhu: We can see your livestream on the big screen. They just showed the Music Academy, but I didn’t see you.

Zhou Zhou zoomed in on the blurry photo; he couldn’t see himself at the back at all.

He tapped out a reply and locked his phone. In the reflection of the black screen, he saw Shanda’s exceptionally handsome face.

He snapped his head up to find Shanda smiling as he sat down right next to him. Before Zhou Zhou could process the shock, Shanda spoke. He was holding a bag of breakfast that looked identical to the one Zhou Zhou had just finished.

“What a coincidence. I happen to be sitting here too.”

He could hear the gasps and whispers from the girls nearby. There was no doubt they were reacting to Shanda.

Zhou Zhou gave a stiff smile. “Yeah… what a coincidence.”

Shanda asked, “Are you alone? That guy from earlier…”

Zhou Zhou knew what he was getting at. “Oh, the Class Monitor? He’s at the very front leading the group.”

Shanda smiled faintly, finished his breakfast in a few bites, and said to Zhou Zhou, “The breakfast you picked is really good. If you like it, I’ll bring it for you from now on.”

“Mm,” Zhou Zhou hummed noncommittally.

As the students from the entire university settled in, the microphone on the podium crackled with static. The host began to speak.

Zhou Zhou wasn’t listening. His attention was entirely on Shanda. The man was sitting perfectly upright, making the blue academy uniform look like a tight-fitting compression shirt that strained against his firm chest muscles.

Wait, Zhou Zhou, where are you looking?!

He pulled his gaze back and focused on the principal giving a speech.

At that moment, dark clouds gathered, and the distant rumble of thunder echoed.

The crowd became restless. The principal paused. “Students, please stay calm. It seems the heavens aren’t giving me much face today; the rain just had to start now.”

The proactive students began opening umbrellas. Zhou Zhou thought that if he went back soaked like a drowned rat, he’d have to shower immediately or he’d miss the afternoon entrance evaluation.

While he was daydreaming, a shadow suddenly moved over him.

The school leaders were efficient, and the class monitors quickly went to collect disposable raincoats. But before they could be distributed to everyone, the clouds broke. Rain fell in a sudden, heavy sheet, like a bucket being overturned. Several girls shrieked, fruitlessly trying to shield themselves with their hands.

Rain drummed against the surface of an umbrella. Underneath an umbrella branded with a local bank, two hearts were pressed close together.

Zhou Zhou felt his heart skip a beat when he saw Shanda smiling and moving the umbrella over him, but his heart sank when he heard the system notification.

The umbrella is his, and you want me to hog it? System, you’re not human.

Our mission is to bully the male lead. This is a perfect opportunity. Don’t waste it.

The heavy rain hammered down on the campus, driving out creatures that usually stayed underground. A few frogs hopped boldly across the grass, startling the more timid students, while the bolder ones tried to catch them, only to get splashed.

Zhou Zhou listened to the “piano music” of nature, feeling incredibly anxious. Many students were huddling under shared umbrellas, grumbling about the cursed rain and the opening ceremony. The only happy ones were the Art Academy students, enjoying the AC while watching the livestream.

“Did you get wet?” The sudden voice snapped Zhou Zhou out of his thoughts.

Zhou Zhou’s eyelashes flickered, his eyes clearing. “N-no.”

He looked at his right side; he wasn’t wet at all.

The umbrella looked small, but it was doing a perfect job of protecting him.

“That’s good. Tell me if you get wet,” Shanda said, putting an arm around Zhou Zhou’s shoulder. “This way it’s harder for you to get hit by the rain.”

Zhou Zhou’s heart was pounding so hard he thought it might pop out of his throat. He swallowed hard and managed a “thanks.”

Silence returned. Zhou Zhou racked his brain, trying to bargain with the system.

How about we skip this one? My conscience can’t handle pushing him out into the rain.

Conscience doesn’t earn money. Think about your hundred million.

You can just give me 99,990,000. I’ll trade the last 10,000 to skip this mission.

Electrocution.

He gave in. He shouldn’t have even bothered talking to this “Electro-Boy” system. He gritted his teeth, preparing to kick Shanda out, when a literal lifesaver of a voice appeared.

“Zhou Zhouo, your raincoat.” Pei Jue handed him a yellow disposable raincoat. At the same time, a guy Zhou Zhou didn’t recognize was sticking close to Pei Jue, holding an umbrella over him. Pei Jue, already wearing a raincoat, clearly didn’t need the umbrella. He stepped out from under it and snapped, “Why do you keep following me?”

“Tsk, you think I want to? If it wasn’t for your mom…”

Pei Jue glared at him, turned, and walked away.

Host, please complete the mission immediately.

Zhou Zhou looked at the raincoat in his hand and handed it to Shanda. Before he could even try to drive the man away, Shanda asked happily, “Is this for me?”

With a complicated expression, Zhou Zhou watched Shanda put on the raincoat. Before he could say anything harsh, Shanda stepped out from under the umbrella himself. The space beneath it suddenly felt very wide.

Congratulations, Zhou Zhou! Mission completed. Progress: 15%!

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