The Little Crybaby Continues to Court Death as a Cannon Fodder - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Preparation?

What preparation?

Although Yu Qing rarely paid attention to system broadcasts—finding them annoying and usually either muting them or ignoring them outright—a fine, dense sense of unease rippled through his heart when he heard this particular alert.

Xi Yue’s disgust value had skyrocketed to 100 in a short burst, only to drop to 0 with an even faster, more rhythmic fluctuation.

What did that mean?

How could one person have a 0 disgust value toward another?

Yu Qing found it illogical. Even in the best relationships—even between parents and children—there were bound to be frictions. He didn’t believe in a relationship that was perfectly harmonious and devoid of a single negative emotion.

“Can’t you check Xi Yue’s disgust value right now?”

556: [Correct. Not just the disgust value, but a lot of emotional data and physical data can’t be accessed through the back end right now.]

To assist the host in completing tasks, the system would typically notify them of a protagonist’s current mood to help them decide on the next move. While Yu Qing rarely used this feature, there was a big difference between “not using it” and it “disappearing.”

“So, Xi Yue’s task is considered ‘successfully determined,’ and I don’t have to associate with him anymore. Is that what it means?”

Yu Qing didn’t want to do tasks, much less curry favor with anyone. If Xi Yue’s task was a success, he could theoretically focus entirely on the other protagonist: Shang Ling.

556 stammered for a while before sighing: [Technically, yes. But it’s best not to cut off ties with Xi Yue. I feel like it’s dangerous.]

[Even if the system marked the task as a success, a 0 disgust value is incredibly eerie in itself.]

[I once guided a very charming female host who accidentally made her protagonist fall in love with her. The guy, who had been a ‘good boy’ for thirty years, turned rebellious and even cut ties with his family for her. Even then, when he loved her so much it was pathetic, his disgust value stayed stable around 20 to 30.]

556 added: [There is no such thing as a flawless relationship in this world.]

This aligned perfectly with Yu Qing’s thoughts.

…

The Night Market Confrontation

The sharp pain in his temples caused by the system faded, replaced by confusion and deep thought. To others, it simply looked like he had been spacing out for a long time.

Yu Qing allowed Yan Duyun to hold his hand. His soft, pinkish palm had been rubbed slightly red; when the tissue wiped his fingertips, it pressed out a faint flush that vanished quickly.

Under the yellow lights, his icy little face looked dazed, possessing a touch of “clueless” charm.

Yan Duyun’s throat bobbed. He grew bold and slowly leaned closer. As their shoulders were about to touch, his heart thundered. He held Yu Qing’s soft hand with his left and cautiously reached out with his right.

He moved slowly, watching Yu Qing’s expression for any sign of resistance. Seeing none, he felt encouraged and tried to put his arm around Yu Qing’s shoulder.

Just as his palm was about to touch the shoulder, Yan Duyun’s shoulder sank, followed by pain as if his bones were snapping. His expression twisted in agony. He looked up and met Xi Yue’s cold eyes.

“S-Senior!”

Panic mixed with his pain. Yan Duyun felt like an adulterer caught in the act.

Xi Yue didn’t speak. He simply looked at him with an expression so calm it was devoid of any emotion. Yan Duyun felt even more guilty when he saw the plastic bag in Xi Yue’s hand containing the food they had ordered. He reached out to take it: “Senior, let me…”

Xi Yue didn’t agree or refuse, but at the moment Yan Duyun reached for it, the bag tilted. A wooden skewer sliced a gash across Xi Yue’s hand. It wasn’t deep, but the sight of blood welling up instantly startled the onlookers.

The “Injured” Victim

Yu Qing finally snapped out of his daze. He looked up at Xi Yue. He knew Xi Yue was tall, but he hadn’t realized he was this tall—looking up at him made his neck ache.

Seeing the blood seeping out, Yu Qing frowned. Because of his own poor health and history with hemophilia, he hated seeing people get hurt or bleed.

Xi Yue held another small bag with a pharmacy logo on it. He leaned over and opened it, letting Yu Qing disinfect and dress the wound.

When Yu Qing focused on a task, he did it with extreme seriousness. His long lashes cast dense shadows under his eyes. Deprived of his usual arrogance, he looked exceptionally well-behaved.

Once finished, he looked at his handiwork and his true nature returned. He tilted his chin up proudly.

Xi Yue knew exactly what Yu Qing needed. He immediately showed a look of perfect admiration: “Little Master knows how to do everything. You’re amazing.”

The flattery was perfectly timed. Yu Qing beamed: “I’ve always been amazing.”

…

Under the Table

Opposite them, Li Wu’s eyes flickered between the two of them, her thoughts unreadable. Beside Yu Qing, Yan Duyun looked like a puppy soaked in the rain, completely deflated since Xi Yue arrived.

Xi Yue, acting the part of the gracious senior, struck up a conversation about art classes to break the silence. Yu Qing had zero interest in the topic and focused entirely on his squid skewers.

“It’s late; you shouldn’t eat too much,” Xi Yue said, turning his head toward Yu Qing while still discussing coursework with Yan Duyun. “Your stomach will hurt.”

Yu Qing glared: “Don’t nag!”

As he spoke to Li Wu, Yu Qing shifted his legs. The shirt stays (garters) were digging into his thighs, making him uncomfortable. He didn’t want to adjust them in public, so he just rubbed his knees together and kept his legs tight.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around his shoulder from behind.

“Introductory classes are indeed a bit boring,” Xi Yue said to Yan Duyun, but he naturally leaned in, trapping Yu Qing in his embrace. His large hand rubbed slowly against Yu Qing’s shoulder, creating heat through the fabric.

Yu Qing stiffened. Under the table, he stepped on Xi Yue’s foot as a warning to let go. Hugging in public? Have you no shame!

“They develop visual sensitivity to observation… helping us understand forms,” Xi Yue continued, while his hand slid down from the shoulder to the waist.

Yu Qing looked around like a little thief, terrified someone would notice. He thought he was hiding their relationship well, but Li Wu and Yan Duyun had known each other for a long time.

The Hidden Trap

Yu Qing fidgeted with his legs to relieve the stinging from the shirt stays, but it only made it worse. Near the garter on his thigh, a mix of pain and a slight itch made him want to cry out.

Under the table, Xi Yue grabbed Yu Qing’s hand. He felt Yu Qing’s shoulder tremble and saw his frustrated, confused expression.

Just then, Li Wu and Yan Duyun stood up to get drinks. “What do you want to drink?” Li Wu asked.

Yu Qing was so startled his muscles tightened. His timid, nervous look earned a soft chuckle from Xi Yue. Yu Qing tried to pull his hand away, but he was squeezing his legs so tightly that Xi Yue’s hand was trapped. Visually, it looked as if Yu Qing was unwilling to let him leave.

Yu Qing’s face turned red from the heat. “I-I’m not drinking anything!”

Li Wu gave Xi Yue another strange look before turning away.

Xi Yue leaned in and whispered in Yu Qing’s ear: “Little Master, has anyone ever told you your legs are very beautiful?”

His voice was low, raspy, and full of a mischievous, wicked intent.

Yu Qing’s brow furrowed. Was he being hit on? His small hand, wrapped in Xi Yue’s palm, was getting sweaty and sticky. He tried to pull back.

But under the table, Xi Yue caught his hand again and pressed it back against his own thigh—directly onto the outline of the shirt that stayed visible through his shorts.

Yu Qing was stunned. He looked at Xi Yue, his mind unable to process the deeper meaning behind this move. He was usually so cold and aloof that this dazed look made him seem incredibly naive.

Xi Yue tightened his grip, the heat rolling in his throat. Their bodies were pressed together.

“Since you’re uncomfortable, let me help you adjust it,” Xi Yue seemed to imply as he guided Yu Qing’s own hand to trace the path of the leg ring.

Through Yu Qing’s soft, hurried gasps, it was clear Xi Yue was using a bit too much force. The hidden outline of the garter, the easily imagined pink circular marks on the skin—it was all a trap.

Xi Yue’s fingertips pressed against the skin, attempting to slide under the shadow of the fabric.

Yu Qing’s eyes widened. He raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap.

…

The Master and the “Pet”

The night market was bustling, and the commotion drew a few looks. At the center of the attention, Yu Qing stood with a cold, glamorous face, his brow furrowed in clear displeasure.

556 was stunned: [He actually dared to touch your leg! Even I haven’t touched it!!]

Yu Qing corrected him: “He was just helping me adjust my shirt stay.”

They were both men; he wasn’t that prudish about physical contact. Besides, he was satisfied with Xi Yue’s service so far. When Shang Ling wouldn’t buy him cotton candy, Xi Yue did. When the bodyguards wouldn’t let him eat BBQ, Xi Yue found a way to make them look the other way.

What actually angered him was that he had warned Xi Yue to stop with his eyes, but Xi Yue had treated his command like wind in his ears, brazenly continuing and even trying to reach inside his trouser leg.

He wasn’t being obedient.

Xi Yue was always like this—biting him when he let his guard down, reminding Yu Qing that he wasn’t a perfectly submissive pet, but a dog with a lingering wildness that needed a master’s patient taming.

Yu Qing could accept some of Xi Yue’s temper, but not blatant disobedience.

The slap didn’t hurt much; it was more of an insult. Xi Yue touched his cheek, his fingers lingering on the mark as if savoring the residual warmth.

“Little Master, I only wanted to make you more comfortable,” Xi Yue murmured, his voice thick with a wounded, low rasp.

The pampered young master didn’t care. He was overbearing and entitled. Yu Qing leaned in close to that disappointed face, placing his hand over the back of Xi Yue’s hand on his cheek, creating the illusion that they were both touching the “wound.”

His fingertips idly scratched the skin between Xi Yue’s fingers—a feather-light, untraceable touch.

Then, because he hated looking up at him, he grabbed Xi Yue’s collar and pulled it down hard until their faces almost collided.

Yu Qing spoke in a breathy whisper, his hot breath hitting the corner of Xi Yue’s lips:

“But you weren’t a good boy.”