The Cannon Fodder 'Seme' is the Center of Attention Again (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 32

Nice.

Now everyone was here.

Gu Shiyu stared at Jiang Siran’s approaching figure, his lips twitching into a stiff smirk. The sharp, confrontational energy he had just leveled at Su Jingyi vanished. If the circumstances allowed it, he would have even liked to pour himself a cup of tea and watch.

At that moment, Su Jingyi also stared blankly at Qi Ziyan, who was approaching them from behind with an umbrella.

The three sets of headlights, one in front and two behind, made his eyes ache. Tears began to well up, which, combined with his reddened rims and cheeks, made him look pitiful. In any normal situation, this would have easily triggered an Alpha’s powerful protective instinct.

Unfortunately, of the two Alphas present who could appreciate his fragile appearance, one was looking down waiting for 888’s return and did not look up at all, while the other, well, forget protective instincts.

Gu Shiyu thought expressionlessly: It is already a sign of my high quality and good upbringing that I have not kicked Su Jingyi while he is down.

He had told him to drive away earlier, but the Omega insisted on arguing. Now, was he satisfied?

Both of them had caught up.

Seeing Su Jingyi turn an inquiring gaze toward him, Gu Shiyu shrugged. “Do not look at me. They definitely did not follow me here.”

“So you are saying it is all my fault that these two caught up?!” Su Jingyi’s body went rigid. He gripped Li Qingran even tighter, his voice turning sharp with tension.

Li Qingran reached up to pinch his ear. Su Jingyi immediately leaned in, “Brother, are your ears uncomfortable?”

“I am okay.” Li Qingran flashed a smile at Su Jingyi, then looked around as if he had just realized what was happening. He remarked, “How lively.”

“It certainly is lively,” Gu Shiyu chimed in. He paused for a moment, then looked at Li Qingran and continued, “But, you should know exactly who they are here for, right?”

In truth, it was not just Jiang Siran and Qi Ziyan. Even Su Jingyi, and even himself, had only ever had one target from the very beginning: the man sitting beside him, Li Qingran, who remained perfectly calm even now.

Gu Shiyu stared intently at the Alpha’s handsome, refined face. He watched as Li Qingran blinked in confusion upon hearing the question, appearing as though he truly did not understand what was being said.

Those grey eyes, destined to eventually be filled with the image of someone, were always shrouded in a light mist. It made it impossible to see his true feelings or guess what he was thinking. For a fleeting second, Gu Shiyu felt as though Li Qingran was an elf who had just fallen from a mountain stream into the human world; he could easily bewitch people into kneeling and offering their hearts, while he himself might not even know what a heart was.

Before their eyes, the Alpha first looked up at Jiang Siran. His face did not show the expression of surprise or joy that Gu Shiyu expected. Then, he turned to look behind the car. When his gaze fell on Qi Ziyan, there was none of the shock Su Jingyi had anticipated.

He seemed like a mere spectator who had wandered into this scene by mistake. Even as Jiang Siran pulled open the car door and grabbed his arm, Li Qingran’s face only showed curiosity toward the chaotic situation.

He seemed to only care about how far they would take this drama, rather than caring about the individuals themselves.

Gu Shiyu bit his lower lip. For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. However, that did not stop him from reaching out to grab Li Qingran’s other arm the moment Jiang Siran tried to pull him away.

A game of tug-of-war commenced inside the car once again. Only this time, the players had shifted from one Alpha versus one Omega to one Alpha and one Omega versus one Alpha.

Yes.

The moment Jiang Siran opened the door, the previously prickly Su Jingyi, who had been unwilling to cooperate with Gu Shiyu, immediately bristled and stood by Gu Shiyu’s side. They united to confront Jiang Siran, the biggest threat.

After all, this new Alpha was the one who had actually succeeded in taking Li Qingran away before, and Li Qingran had been willing to go with him. This gave Su Jingyi a massive sense of crisis.

As for the fact that this man had once held him, and had almost temporarily marked him under the influence of pheromones? Su Jingyi did not care at all, let alone feel shy or embarrassed.

The man was a love rival. The only reason he had not stabbed him while being held was that he had been unconscious and lacked the strength.

Shy?

Su Jingyi just wanted Jiang Siran to vanish from the face of the earth!

Alpha-Alpha couples should just go die. Why does an Alpha have to come and snatch my Brother away too?

Holding Li Qingran’s shoulder, Su Jingyi could not help but glare at Gu Shiyu again.

Gu Shiyu, being glared at for no reason, was confused. Is he having another episode?

Gu Shiyu frowned. He knew now was not the time to argue with Su Jingyi; they needed to get rid of the two people outside the car first.

It was then that the final arrival, Qi Ziyan, squeezed his way to the car door.

He did not draw swords like the three seniors before him or try to physically seize ownership of Li Qingran. Instead, looking at the Alpha who currently had six hands on him, a shy smile appeared on his pale face.

“Qingran, long time no see.”

It had been over a week since they last met. He was completely normal now and would never repeat the loss of control that happened in the Alpha’s room.

So…

“Qingran, if you still want to leave, would you consider coming with me?”

The other three, who were still subtly wrestling, immediately looked up. Their faces were written with shock and speechlessness.

What was the meaning of this?

In a battle where everyone was prepared for a physical or verbal brawl, why did he have to be so special and play the emotional card?

Where was his sense of sportsmanship?!

Jiang Siran snorted coldly. “Go with you? How? The kind of going where you get detained and taken away at the airport?!”

Gu Shiyu and Su Jingyi stayed silent. After all, they had both participated in the airport interception. Besides, this was clearly a fight between the two outside the car; as long as it did not involve Li Qingran directly, they did not want to interfere.

Let them fight like dogs.

Better to eliminate one now.

Ideally, they would both end up injured, leaving fewer competitors.

The Inside-the-Car Group was calculating well, but unfortunately, Qi Ziyan had no intention of bickering with Jiang Siran.

The chestnut-haired Omega did not even have the intimidating Alpha next to him in his sight. His heart and eyes were fixed solely on Li Qingran, who was leaning against the seat and turning to look at him.

He looked at me!

That means I am still in his eyes!

In other words, he cares about me!

Qi Ziyan’s heart surged with excitement, and his hand holding the umbrella trembled. He was like a fanatic fan finally standing before his idol, excited, shy, and looking at Li Qingran with an urgent, burning gaze.

“Really, Qingran. No matter where you want to go, I can take you. We can even travel the world and never return to Nancheng. If you’re willing, I can take you away right now.”

As if fearing Li Qingran would hesitate, Qi Ziyan turned his spear toward the other competitors.

“If you think about it carefully, I am the most suitable person to take you away.”

“Qi Ziyan, you,” Su Jingyi could not take it anymore. But Qi Ziyan ignored him. Before Su Jingyi could finish, Qi Ziyan interrupted:

“Take Gu Shiyu, for example. The Gu family is just a nouveau riche in Nancheng. Their wealth, power, and influence cannot even compare to the Su family. He could not possibly abandon the Gu family to be with you wholeheartedly.”

Gu Shiyu, belittled before he could even speak, was speechless.

“And Su Jingyi. The Su family is large, but it does not all belong to him. Besides, the Su family has been pushing for a marriage alliance between Su Jingyi and Gu Shiyu. How could a commercial family like that allow an Omega to have a normal, ordinary marriage?”

Su Jingyi, getting kicked next, tried to argue. “What is wrong with my family?”

“And Jiang Siran!”

Qi Ziyan was attacking everyone in sight.

“Do not be fooled by the fact that he has nothing to do with Su Jingyi and can take you to Beicheng. Qingran, you must know, this Alpha next to me is the True Young Master who just returned to the Jiang family. He has two brothers watching him like hawks and a False Young Master who is close to them. Old Man Jiang might favor Jiang Siran, but being able to protect him does not mean he can protect you. You would definitely be dragged into a family power struggle. If you encounter danger,”

“Bullshit! I would never let Qingran be in danger!” Jiang Siran barked. The scent of gunpowder began to spread, as if dragging everyone into a smoke-filled battlefield.

Qi Ziyan did not back down. “You would not, but what about the people in your family? Can you guarantee they will not use Qingran to threaten you?!”

“I will not give them the chance!”

Qi Ziyan sneered. “Words are cheap. The point is, if Qingran leaves with you, his life might be in danger. But if he follows me, those safety issues will not exist!”

“Physical safety might not be an issue, but what about his personal dignity?”

Before Jiang Siran could counter, Su Jingyi, who had reached his limit with Qi Ziyan, jumped into the fray.

“Do I need to remind you? Both times Brother suffered from a pheromone backlash, it was because of you!”

Qi Ziyan’s face went pale instantly. “I,”

“The first time was your sudden heat. We can call that an accident, as it is normal for an Omega in heat to lose their mind and seek an Alpha’s mark. But what about the second time?”

Su Jingyi stared at Qi Ziyan, his red lips spitting out words like daggers to the heart.

“You knew Brother was in his rut, yet you intentionally released your pheromones to seduce him. On the surface, you said you wanted to help him, but in reality? You just wanted to satisfy your own selfish desires, did you not?”

Su Jingyi continued, “Admit it. You liked Li Qingran back then. You wanted to be with him, all while pretending it was for my own good. Qi Ziyan, when you said those things, did you not feel even a bit guilty?”

Qi Ziyan bit his lip. “Did I do something wrong? It was obvious back then that Qingran did not want to be with you.”

“But he was still my boyfriend. Even now, we have not officially broken up. So we are still a couple. And you, and both of them, are just shameless third parties trying to cut in. Do you understand?”

Su Jingyi tilted his head while looking at Qi Ziyan. His slender fingers rested lightly on Li Qingran’s shoulder, but his eyes were locked on Qi Ziyan. His face was pale from the rain, but his lips were as red as blood. When they curved into a slight smile, he looked like a beautiful, man-eating ghost from the middle of the night.

Qi Ziyan gritted his teeth. “But every sign shows that Qingran just does not want to be with you anymore!”

“I do not need to dwell on whether he wants to be with me. I only need him to stay by my side.”

Su Jingyi said, “Besides, even if Brother truly does not want to be with me, does that mean he wants to be with you?”

The Omega rested his chin on Li Qingran’s shoulder, tilting his head to look at Qi Ziyan.

 

“It seems he does not. After all, Brother has already rejected you twice. One of those times was even during his own rut.”

 

Qi Ziyan was incensed. His chestnut hair seemed to flicker like a flame under the car lights. “And you think he accepted you?!”

 

“Otherwise, whose boyfriend would he be right now?” The smile on Su Jingyi’s face grew wider, even as his arm tightened around Li Qingran’s waist.

 

“Mine.”

 

He stared at Qi Ziyan, but his words were directed at everyone present.

 

“He is my boyfriend!”

 

“So what? What does being your boyfriend matter? All I know is that he agreed to leave with me tonight,” Jiang Siran said. His grip on Li Qingran’s wrist was firm, and his breathing had grown heavy due to the chaotic scene.

 

“If it were not for you people, we would already be in Beicheng!”

 

“But the fact is, you are still in Nancheng, and you lack the ability to take him away.”

 

Gu Shiyu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. “So, you should face reality. You cannot take him with you.”

 

Jiang Siran looked at Gu Shiyu, a mocking smile curling his lips. “And may I ask, Mr. Gu, in what capacity are you speaking to me? As Mr. Su’s prospective fiancé? Or as the stray dog who was rejected by Qingran multiple times and left my house in disgrace?”

 

“Jiang Siran, I am warning you!”

 

Gu Shiyu’s dark eyes were filled with cold fury. “I left back then only to respect Qingran’s feelings and give him space to calm down. I never said I was giving him up to you!”

 

“Giving him up?” The smile on Jiang Siran’s face brightened, becoming even more an eyesore to Gu Shiyu.

 

He heard Jiang Siran continue, “I am curious from what perspective you use the word ‘give.’ As far as I know, Qingran has never expressed any special feelings for you. The plan he agreed to was simply for you to send him away.”

 

“You also said back then that you were going to get engaged to Su Jingyi. That was why you wanted to cooperate with Qingran—to send Su Jingyi’s current boyfriend away so you could secure your loveless marriage and the cooperation between the Gu and Su families.”

 

“From that perspective, you have been nothing more than a collaborator to Qingran from start to finish. You do not even count as a friend. What right do you have to talk about ‘giving’ Qingran to me!”

 

Even if he were a dish on a menu, “giving” or “passing” should only happen between people already at the table. Someone who has not even made it to the table has no business talking about giving anything away. It was truly laughable.

 

“Jiang Siran!”

 

“Are we trying to see who can shout the loudest, Gu Shiyu?!”

 

The pheromones of gunpowder and red wine lost all the gentleness they possessed in front of Li Qingran. They surged and roared toward each other in a violent confrontation.

 

The two Omegas in the middle were also affected. The scents of lemon and honey tangled together without a hint of harmony, simply biting at one another.

 

For a moment, the pheromones inside the car were so chaotic it felt like a riot. The four of them attacked each other, collectively viewing the other three as invaders of their territory, doing everything in their power to drive the others out.

 

“Do you really think Qingran likes you? You are just a dog who thinks he is a person!”

 

Although the strength gap between an Omega and an Alpha is vast, Su Jingyi was a clever Omega who knew how to use the tools around him. For example, he pulled a folder from the seat pocket and struck the back of Jiang Siran’s hand with the sharp edge.

 

Two distinct bloody gashes appeared on the back of Jiang Siran’s hand where the veins bulged, but it was not enough to make him let go.

 

“If he does not like me, does he like you? If I am a dog, what are you? A pathetic worm who clings to him because no one wants you!” Jiang Siran’s dark green eyes turned completely somber. Had it not been for the fact that an Alpha hurting an Omega leads to imprisonment, he would have crushed the hand Su Jingyi had on Li Qingran’s shoulder long ago.

 

“So, what exactly are you all fighting for? Everyone is at the same starting line. Why not just lay out your benefits and let Qingran see who is the most useful choice?”

 

Qi Ziyan rolled his eyes, not understanding why this group was arguing so much.

 

Gu Shiyu did not understand where Qi Ziyan’s sense of superiority came from either. “What do you mean by ‘most useful’? Do you really view yourself as nothing more than a tool?”

 

“If Qingran chooses me, what is the harm in being a tool?”

 

Qi Ziyan grinned at Gu Shiyu. “On the other hand, Gu Shiyu, if you are still worried about your pathetic Alpha pride, why don’t you get out of the car? And take your prospective fiancé with you so he can stop acting crazy here!”

 

“Do I need to remind you?” Gu Shiyu said with a cold face. “This is my car!”

 

“And Gu Shiyu and I are not getting engaged. Give up on that, Qi Ziyan!” Su Jingyi added from the side.

 

Jiang Siran raised an eyebrow at that. “Do you think it won’t happen just because you say so? You two are just useless puppets controlled by your families. Stop barking.”

 

“And why is a stray dog who just returned to his pack barking so loud?”

 

Gu Shiyu’s gaze was burning. “If I am controlled by my family, then your mess is even harder to solve. Can you guarantee your grandfather will let you love another Alpha? Can you guarantee your two brothers won’t seek revenge and hurt Qingran in the process?”

 

“So, after everything is said and done, I am still the most suitable for Qingran,” Qi Ziyan concluded.

 

“Get lost!”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, the other three interrupted him in unison.

 

The air suddenly grew still for a moment, and the noise around Li Qingran’s ears finally quieted down.

 

Before him stood four people: two Alphas and two Omegas. In the original plot, these characters could have been paired off into two couples, but now they were fighting tooth and nail.

 

Everyone was emotional, biting their lips and breathing heavily. If there were a stethoscope present, one would likely hear their hearts racing with intensity.

 

Perhaps they realized that continuing the argument would lead nowhere, because the final decision lay with Li Qingran. He was the only one in a position of power.

 

Gu Shiyu took a deep breath. His gaze slid across each person’s face before finally landing on Li Qingran.

 

He pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “So, Qingran, we have argued for a long time and said everything there is to say. Now, do you have anything to say?”

 

“Me?” Li Qingran blinked as if he did not understand Gu Shiyu’s question. “What should I say?”

 

“Who do you want to go with?” Jiang Siran asked softly. “Qingran, there are four cars parked in front of you. Can you tell us which one you want to get into the most?”

 

As Jiang Siran finished speaking, the eyes of all four people focused on Li Qingran, who had remained quiet throughout the entire conflict. They pursed their lips and held their breath, hoping the Alpha would speak their name.

 

They were waiting.

 

At the same time, Li Qingran was also waiting.

 

Distorted pillars of blue light flashed before him, covered in dense white text. The engravings were deep, as if intended to stay there forever.

 

However, at this moment, the text that had been embedded into the pillars was disappearing line by line. As the old text vanished, new white text written by an unknown hand emerged from within the pillars. One after another, sentence after sentence.

 

Finally, a blank blue pillar flashed before Li Qingran’s eyes. As a mechanical voice echoed in his mind, Li Qingran looked up at Jiang Siran and the others.

 

His grey eyes, finally reflecting the people in front of him, blinked twice. Then, under the expectant gazes of the four men, Li Qingran spoke softly.

 

“I am not choosing anyone.”

 

He gave the four of them a small smile. “I choose to leave on my own.”

 

At the same time, inside his mind:

 

[Ding! System Emergency Notification: Since all major characters in this world have deviated from the plot settings, the world line is now in a completely unknown state. The importance of all characters will be determined by the world rules themselves! Of course, these re-evaluated characters also include you, my Task Participant.]