The Popular But Cannon Fodder Is Always Coveted [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 1

Standing inside the abandoned warehouse, Yun Yu looked down detachedly at his own body lying in a pool of blood.

That face, even with closed eyes and stained with fresh blood, carried an irresistible charm, though it already bore the grayish hue of drained life.

He had died at the hands of a stalker driven mad by unrequited love.

What a ridiculous way to die.

Yun Yu raised his head to gaze at the swirling snowflakes outside the window, unexpectedly breaking into a faint smile, as if the person who had just died was not him at all.

“Ding, Cannon Fodder System successfully bound!”

Hearing the mechanical voice suddenly ringing in his mind, Yun Yu’s pupils constricted slightly. He forcefully reined in his reactions, remaining silent as he quietly waited for the other party to speak first.

“Hello, Host. This is the Cannon Fodder System at your service. Your duty is to replace missing cannon fodder characters across thousands of worlds and continue pushing the plot forward. Would you like to begin the plane transfer now?”

Operating from a god’s-eye view, the system looked at the blood-stained, bewildered beauty. Its core data vibrated slightly, and it ultimately admitted that out of sheer recklessness and a momentary soft heart, it had casually bound itself to this particular host.

Yun Yu remained silent for a moment, his eyelashes trembling like delicate, fragile branches startled by the snow.

“Can I refuse?”

Hearing Yun Yu’s gentle yet resolute voice, the system silently sighed. True to form, this was someone whose very presence defeated its mechanical core, causing it to intentionally deviate from navigation protocols just to bind with him.

“Host, refusing means you will lose your chance at resurrection.”

The rigid electronic voice echoing in his mind seemed to carry a hint of worry and urgency.

“Grace, but won’t I still die if I play a cannon fodder character?”

Yun Yu bit his lip uneasily, playing the vulnerable card to perfection. A single sentence was enough to make the system’s pity surge all over again.

“I promise to select low-difficulty worlds, and there is pain suppression as well. It will not hurt you at all,” the system guaranteed.

Yun Yu blinked, forcing back the emotions threatening to spill over. Acting as though he were terribly nervous, his right hand instinctively wrapped around his left wrist.

“Then what should I call you, System-san?”

“609. I am System Number 609.” 609 felt as though its electronic core was about to fly out of its chest.

“Then 609, I am willing to go with you.”

“Preparing for plane transfer. Locating coordinates. Initiating plane transfer. Transfer successful!”

Feeling an abnormal warmth radiating from his left wrist, a glimmer of crystal tears seemed to slip from the corner of Yun Yu’s eye.

Enduring the initial dizziness, Yun Yu looked at the unfamiliar face reflected in the mirror before him.

“609? Is this not my own body?”

“The host can converse with me in your mind,” 609 replied, feeling quite satisfied with the character it had chosen for its host. “Rest assured, Host, this body was generated according to the cannon fodder role and belongs entirely to you.”

“I will now begin transmitting the cannon fodder’s mission plot.”

Yun Yu nodded, and a large chunk of text instantly flooded his mind.

The original owner, Mo Yunyu, was an arrogant and willful third-generation wealthy heir. To teach a lesson to a trainee, who happened to be the protagonist and was being kept by his own brother-in-law, he joined a reality talent show. Unsurprisingly, his overbearing personality was completely exposed during the semi-live-broadcasted show, leading to public ridicule and his eventual forced exit from the entertainment industry. Furthermore, he dragged his older sister down by causing her engagement to be broken, and his family business plummeted overnight.

In contrast, the protagonist gained the love of both his sugar daddy and a top-tier celebrity, along with the adoration of countless fans.

He was the quintessential foil to the protagonist.

After reading this cliché plot, Yun Yu narrowed his eyelashes slightly and began reviewing the separate protagonist script.

In summary, a completely destitute protagonist caught the eye of a CEO, successfully entered a talent show program, and won the favor of a top star who provided him with endless resources and personal guidance. After navigating various dramatic setups and misunderstandings, the protagonist achieved the ultimate happy ending where both the CEO and the top star fell firmly into his hands.

Yun Yu sighed. What a completely unchallenging and boring plot.

Yet, immediately after finishing the read, Yun Yu began embellishing the persona of the cannon fodder he was meant to play. He always strove for excellence in everything he did; even when portraying such an arrogant and unlikable character, he intended to make him vibrant and eye-catching.

“Host, you must strictly avoid OOC behavior, meaning deviating from your character settings, otherwise you will be thrown into a punishment world.” 609 felt that if it possessed a face, it would currently be wearing the deeply worried expression of an aging father.

The unfamiliar face in the mirror flashed a soft smile that somehow clashed delightfully with his haughty styling. “I will pay attention. Thank you, 609.”

True beauty lies in the bone structure rather than mere skin. Yun Yu’s soul breathed life into this vessel, sending 609’s central processing code spinning into disarray once more.

“Now, the cannon fodder plot is about to begin. The recording for the first episode starts in one hour, so please do not be nervous and stay relaxed,” 609 comforted him as best as it could.

“I know.”

Curiously, Yun Yu twirled a strand of his newly acquired fluffy, curly hair around his finger and leaned closer to the mirror to examine his brand-new body.

The young man in the mirror stood around one hundred eighty centimeters tall. Atop his head sat a mass of fluffy, soft black curls that practically screamed to be touched, framing a pretty face naturally imbued with an air of spoiled haughtiness. His outfit, however, was haphazardly draped with all sorts of flashy, glittering jewelry that chimed with crisp, tinkling sounds whenever he moved.

609 wanted to continue its comforting monologue, but before it could speak, someone knocked on the door outside.

Yun Yu turned his head and saw a woman dressed in a sharp, professional business suit striding into the room in a fluster.

“My little ancestor, if we do not leave right now, we are really going to be late.”

Perhaps to prevent the transmigrator from losing their sense of self, memories hidden in the back of his mind only began to surface upon seeing her face.

Matching her to her identity as Manager Wang from his memories, Yun Yu naturally put on a cold, dismissive expression.

The spectating 609 felt half the boulder crushing its heart instantly lift.

Manager Wang moved with a gust of wind, her speed born from sheer habit. She raised her hand to grab him, turning around instantly to head back out, only to realize two steps later that her hand was completely empty.

Noticing that the young master had dodged her grasp, Manager Wang tried hard to suppress her rising impatience as she turned back around. She expected the usual mess, but instead, saw those slender hands of his casually rearranging the chaotic pile of flashy jewelry on his chest. Within a few swift motions, the glittering accessories instantly harmonized, looking chaotic yet orderly and incredibly eye-catching.

When Manager Wang first took on this young master, she knew how exceptionally good-looking he was. However, due to his eccentric tastes, he had always been obsessed with dressing himself up like a walking Christmas tree. Standing under sunlight or stage lights, he shone brighter than a disco ball, making people want to cry from the glare.

Yet right now, that naturally superior appearance of his somehow looked even more blinding than all the glitter combined.

Feeling the familiar, dazed gaze fixed upon him, Yun Yu narrowed his eyes in amusement and took a step forward. The accessories on his body chimed crisply, snapping Manager Wang back to her senses.

Yun Yu raised his chin slightly and let out a soft huff before stepping past her and walking straight out the door.

Keeping its god’s-eye view active, 609 watched the completely stable character-setting score and suddenly felt its system career looked bright. The scorching core temperature made it feel an emotion akin to the human concept of a racing heartbeat.

Lord Main System above, was it actually going to become a system carried to success by its host?

While rapidly lowering its internal temperature, 609 grew increasingly engrossed in spectating its host’s performance.

Watching the glittering boy walk by, Manager Wang collected herself with a helpless expression, though she resignedly chased after him. “Once we get inside later, make sure you greet everyone properly. Before you debut, you absolutely cannot afford any scandals about disrespecting seniors.”

“I know.” Yun Yu knitted his delicate brows together, copying Mo Yunyu’s impatient expression to absolute perfection. At this moment, he truly was Mo Yunyu himself. “Why are you so nagging? Are you not annoyed?”

With that, Yun Yu turned away and followed the route provided by 609 straight into the waiting room beside the main studio.

Manager Wang, having just been dismissed by Mo Yunyu, stood frozen in place for a moment, inexplicably reaching up to touch her own chest.

Why did this little ancestor’s words carry a hint of a spoiled act just now? For some reason, it made her feel an itchy, strange sensation in her heart.

Mo Yunyu paid no attention to what others thought of him. Holding his chin high, he strode into the waiting room and chose a seat far away from everyone else.

Secretive glances swept over him intentionally or unintentionally. Mo Yunyu let out a disdainful huff, though his eyes were busy scanning the room for the story’s protagonist shou.

“He is in the front right,” 609 dutifully reminded him, keeping close tabs on the situation.

Yun Yu offered a polite mental word of thanks. While his system’s central algorithm continued to run hot, he cast his gaze toward a quiet corner identical to his own.

Beside a half-man-high potted plant, a person sat quietly with a straight posture. His hair partially shadowed his eyes, giving off a somewhat gloomy vibe. Seeming to sense Yun Yu’s gaze, the person raised his head, his eyes carrying a look of vigilant coldness.

Pinned to the uniform talent show outfit on his chest was a name tag: Zhou Xingyu.

The pulse on his left wrist felt faintly warm, prompting Yun Yu to rub the spot with his fingers. The tender skin quickly flushed pink under the friction, and faint greenish-blue veins throbbed beneath the surface.

Sensing a slight moderation in the monitored heartbeat, 609 assumed the host had simply adapted to the environment and was no longer nervous.

This was the official recording phase, well past the preliminary auditions. Everyone around was casting covert glances at Yunyu. He possessed an exceptionally striking appearance and a proud, aloof aura that clearly screamed privilege built on wealth, instantly distancing him from everyone else in the room.

Yet no one seemed to have ever seen him around before.

Having been stuffed into the show by his family, Yunyu remained completely nonchalant. Amidst the surrounding scrutiny, he stood up and slowly walked over, seating himself right beside Zhou Xingyu.

Zhou Xingyu silently shifted a bit further away, an action that instantly amused Yunyu. The breathtaking visual impact he unleashed in that single moment made the surrounding air stall for a fraction of a second.

“You are the one kept by my brother-in-law?”

Yunyu spoke in a very low voice, keeping it just loud enough for Zhou Xingyu to hear.

Facing such a barbed remark, Zhou Xingyu showed little reaction, his tone remaining flat. “I do not understand what you are talking about.”

Observing Zhou Xingyu’s completely unbothered attitude, Mo Yunyu felt a flicker of annoyance. “You refuse to admit it? Your top boss, Zuo Yan, is my brother-in-law.”

“As far as I know, Mr. Zuo is not married. Furthermore, I am merely a minor artist under his subsidiary company, and even meeting him is extremely difficult. What evidence do you have to make such claims?” Zhou Xingyu looked toward the flushed, slightly angry face beside him, exercising strict control over his wandering gaze.

Yunyu carefully scrutinized Zhou Xingyu’s eyes, making sure the other person was not lying before speaking up. “You had better hope I do not catch you slipping.”

Zhou Xingyu placed his hands on his knees, his fingers curling slightly as the young master’s tone abruptly shifted from anger to triumph.

“From now on, you will be my roommate. I hope you can hide your secret well.” Seeming pleased with his own brilliant idea, Mo Yunyu revealed the second smile he had worn since entering the waiting room. Though slight, it only served to make the surrounding stolen glances burn even hotter.

A naive yet stunning young master.

Zhou Xingyu lowered his gaze to look at his own empty palms.

If only he could cage a butterfly like this right in the palm of his hand.

At that thought, Zhou Xingyu similarly wore a faint, shallow smile. “Of course. Please take care of me from now on, roommate.”