Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder, Unable to Escape the Black Lotus Villain - Chapter 11

When Ning Qi pushed Mu Xin into the classroom, everyone was visibly stunned for a moment.

Mu Xin was actually late.

The teacher lecturing at the front was also clearly taken aback. He glanced at Mu Xin sitting in her wheelchair and nodded.

“Get in quickly. Be earlier next time.”

“Alright, thank you, Teacher,” Ning Qi thanked him, then pushed Mu Xin back to her seat.

The teacher tapped the desk twice to draw everyone’s attention back and continued the lesson.

“You lot just love watching a scene. There are only three months left until the college entrance exams. Although I know many of you don’t care, I still hope you take it seriously.”

The substitute teacher spoke with earnest concern. Seeing that some were still looking in the direction of Ning Qi and Mu Xin, he added: “You may not know this, but student Mu Xin is about to represent the school in the National Biology Research Competition, and she has already been fast-tracked for admission into the Department of Life Medicine at B University.”

“Holy crap, is she really that amazing?”

“A top student was right beside me? Sorry, I’m just trash.”

“Is it too late for me to start studying now?”

The substitute teacher’s words caused a wave of exclamations to ripple through the classroom.

Although many among them said studying was useless and they’d rather just drift along, they still felt a sense of admiration for someone truly outstanding. They were still at an age of youthful vitality; who wouldn’t want to be excellent enough to receive flowers and applause?

In an instant, the gazes directed toward Mu Xin were tinged with a hint of worship.

“Not bad, Xinxin.”

Ning Qi glanced at the still-dazed Mu Xin and poked her in the waist.

Mu Xin startled suddenly and turned her head. “Stop messing around.”

“When did you sign up? I had no idea at all,” Ning Qi said.

“A long time ago. Actually, I didn’t expect to be able to participate in this competition either.”

A rare expression of pleasant surprise appeared on Mu Xin’s face.

Although Life Medicine at B University was a niche field, it was indeed a top-tier department, accepting only about a double-digit number of students each year. And the Biology Research Competition was a well-known academic competition in the country.

Mu Xin had never systematically studied relevant knowledge before, so being able to participate in the competition was something she hadn’t expected herself.

“Are you looking forward to this competition?” Ning Qi didn’t miss her expression and leaned close to Mu Xin, whispering.

She had never seen Mu Xin this happy over anything before. But seeing Mu Xin happy made her feel quite happy too.

Her, Ning Qi’s, best friend was just that excellent!

“Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen the Life Sciences department at B University.”

Mu Xin nodded. After the events of the morning, the relationship between her and Ning Qi seemed to have become a bit closer and more natural. She also really enjoyed sharing her thoughts with Ning Qi.

As she spoke, she looked down at her legs. After a moment of silence, she tentatively reached out and pinched them.

No sensation.

Her legs had no feeling from the knee down.

A flicker of hatred flashed in the depths of her eyes, but it was quickly masked.

“Xinxin, can I ask you a question?”

Ning Qi, beside her, suddenly spoke up, her eyes fixed thoughtfully on the spot where Mu Xin’s hand was gripping.

“What is it? Why weren’t you this cautious just now?”

Mu Xin found it a bit amusing, though she blushed slightly thinking about how she had just been crying in Ning Qi’s arms. It was truly… embarrassing.

“Um, well, did you choose Life Medicine because…”

Ning Qi pointed at her legs.

She spoke very carefully, but surprisingly, Mu Xin answered very readily.

“Yes, I just want to see if there’s a chance to heal my legs.”

She spoke very directly. Ning Qi didn’t see dejection or sadness on her face—instead, there was more expectation and fighting spirit.

Ning Qi saw a light in her eyes.

She didn’t know exactly what she was feeling, but she felt that the current Mu Xin was particularly attractive.

She suddenly grabbed Mu Xin’s hand and said, “Then can you teach me? I want to go too.”

Mu Xin froze for a moment, looking at her captured hand. “You want to go to the same department as me?”

Ning Qi nodded.

Mu Xin looked at Ning Qi with some surprise. After a silence, she looked at Ning Qi seriously: “Qiqi, I hope you consider this carefully, rather than making an irrational choice out of impulse or because of me.”

In truth, she didn’t suggest Ning Qi join the same department as her. Especially at a time like this, Ning Qi choosing the same department was clearly still because of her. She hoped Ning Qi would have her own choice.

Having helped Ning Qi tutor lately, she knew very well how smart Ning Qi was. She believed that if she continued, Ning Qi would definitely amaze everyone in the next mock exam.

“How do you know this isn’t a choice I’m happy with?”

Seeing her serious tone, Ning Qi started laughing. Was Mu Xin worried about her being irrational?

Ning Qi was a bit moved, but she had her own thoughts. She was definitely going to B University with Mu Xin. As for what major to choose, Ning Qi didn’t care much, so she might as well go with Mu Xin. Moreover, if there really was a chance to help heal Mu Xin’s legs, she definitely had to go.

“Just let me go with you. If you don’t teach me, I’ll repeat the grade. When you’re gone, I’ll go find some younger female students to play with!”

Seeing Mu Xin still hesitating, Ning Qi bared her teeth and threatened.

“…” Mu Xin rolled her eyes, really wanting to tell her to go find them right now.

But… she seemed truly unwilling for Ning Qi to go find younger students.

Mu Xin felt a bit irritated, finding Ning Qi’s smug expression exceptionally annoying. She suddenly reached out and pinched Ning Qi’s cheek, saying with a smile, “Go ahead then, and don’t come back once you’ve gone.”

“No, no, no, I’m not going anymore, let go quickly!”

“It hurts, hurts, hurts!”

At lunchtime, Huo Liuxue dragged Mu Xin to eat as usual.

She chatted non-stop with Mu Xin all along the way, while Ning Qi followed beside them with her bag, looking disgusted.

“Xinxin, do you know? I got Qin Yuyou’s contact info, but she’s so cold, she doesn’t even talk.”

“Xinxin, I heard you’re going to participate in a competition. That’s so amazing! When our teacher mentioned your name, I was stunned.”

“Xinxin…”

By the time the three of them reached the cafeteria entrance, Ning Qi couldn’t listen anymore. She coldly said she was going to get food and headed inside.

“Xinxin, what do you think Ning Qi is carrying on her back?”

“I don’t know.”

Mu Xin replied, feeling a bit helpless. She hadn’t realized before that Huo Liuxue was such a chatterbox, and every three sentences involved Qin Yuyou. Hadn’t they just met yesterday? Their relationship was progressing so fast.

Could she have been tricked by Qin Yuyou? If Mu Xin didn’t know Qin Yuyou’s background, she might have gone to give her a warning.

…

“Auntie, let me use the microwave. Also, the usual, but one portion less.”

On the other side, Ning Qi found the cafeteria lady, took the thermos out of her bag, and opened it.

“Oh, little girl, what delicious food did you bring yourself today?”

The cafeteria lady had a deep impression of this girl with the shockingly large appetite; every time Ning Qi came to get food, they would chat a bit.

“I stewed some soup; it’s nutritious.”

Ning Qi waited for the soup to heat up while she got the rice.

“Ning Qi.” At that moment, a voice came from behind. Ning Qi didn’t even need to turn her head to know who it was.

“Qin Yuyou, what a coincidence?”

Ning Qi hadn’t expected to run into Qin Yuyou here.

“Together?”

Since Ning Qi’s soup was heated and she saw Qin Yuyou had also gotten her food, she invited her.

“Sure.” Qin Yuyou watched Ning Qi pour a bowl of pork rib soup into the thermos. she tilted her head to look toward the service window.

“Where did you get that soup?” Qin Yuyou sniffed. It smelled so good.

“I made it. I’m giving it to Xinxin to try. I don’t really know what she likes to eat.”

???

Qin Yuyou’s face was full of question marks as she looked at Ning Qi in disbelief.

“So why are you stewing soup for Mu Xin?”

“Listen to you. Xinxin’s body is weak and she eats very little. My mom told me to take more care of her. Isn’t this perfectly normal?”

Ning Qi didn’t see any problem. From her experience in the apocalypse: if you eat your fill, your mood will be better, and your health will be better.

Qin Yuyou looked like she had seen a ghost. Mu Xin’s body was weak?

While she knew many things were difficult for Mu Xin now, she really didn’t associate her with being “weak.” Ning Qi surely had some misunderstanding of the word.

However, she thought of Mu Xin’s delicate and weak appearance in front of Ning Qi and understood in her heart. What a poor child.

She followed behind Ning Qi in silence for a long while until the figures of Mu Xin and Huo Liuxue appeared in her field of vision. Only then did she ask: “Why are you so good to Mu Xin?”

She felt Ning Qi was truly strange. Clearly, before, she and Mu Xin had clashed so hard they wished they’d never see each other again, yet now she was protecting Mu Xin like she was the apple of her eye.

Hearing those words, Ning Qi paused for a moment. She lifted her eyes to look at Mu Xin, who was looking over in their direction, and a flash of warmth crossed her eyes.

“Why does there have to be a ‘why’? Does being good to someone really need a reason?”

Ning Qi glanced at her, her voice light and calm. “Isn’t it all just because I care?”

Yes, Ning Qi knew very clearly that she cared about Mu Xin. She experienced a very strange feeling through Mu Xin. It would affect her mood, her judgment, and her way of speaking and acting.

But she didn’t dislike this feeling. In fact, she liked it very much.

Mu Xin looked toward the direction Ning Qi had left for the fifth time. This time, her wish was granted as she saw Ning Qi’s figure, and a smile appeared on her cool face.

Huo Liuxue also saw Ning Qi. Just as she was about to ask what Ning Qi was carrying, she saw Qin Yuyou behind her. Huo Liuxue immediately became nervous, pointing at Qin Yuyou and stammering, unable to speak.

Ning Qi rolled her eyes, sat down next to Mu Xin, and pointed to the seat next to Huo Liuxue. “You sit there.”

“Mm.”

Qin Yuyou sat down next to Huo Liuxue without a word. However, she soon felt the gaze coming from the person beside her. There was no helping it; the gaze was so scorching she couldn’t ignore it.

“Eat, eat.”

Ning Qi saw Qin Yuyou’s awkwardness and spoke up to break it, placing the soup in front of Mu Xin.

“Here, I made it myself. Hurry and try it.”

As she spoke, she looked at Mu Xin expectantly.

“Since when did you know how to cook?”

Mu Xin felt that today brought one surprise after another. She looked at Ning Qi with surprise, but didn’t rush to use her chopsticks. Instead, she lowered her head to sniff it. The rich aroma made her amber eyes squint slightly.

“Surprised already? There will be more to surprise you later.”

Ning Qi curled her lips, satisfied with Mu Xin’s expression.

“You eat too little. Tell me what you want to eat in the future; I guarantee I’ll feed you until you’re stuffed.”

“Is anything okay?”

Not knowing what she had thought of, the smile on Mu Xin’s face became even more obvious.

Ning Qi nodded. “Of course.”

“Wow, it smells so good! Where did you buy this pork rib soup? I want to get a bowl too.”

At this moment, Huo Liuxue, who had been immersed in the joy of eating at the same table as her idol, finally snapped out of it. Her attention was immediately drawn by the scent. She stared at the bowl in front of Mu Xin and swallowed her saliva.

“Xinxin, I…” Huo Liuxue reached out her chopsticks wanting to take a bite, but she was given a fierce glare by Ning Qi.

“If you want to eat, make it yourself!”

“Ah, Xinxin, look at Ning Qi!”

Huo Liuxue gritted her teeth at Ning Qi. This person was doing it on purpose, right? A little couple showing off their affection and actually making things difficult for her.

That’s right, in Huo Liuxue’s eyes now, Ning Qi and Mu Xin were just like a little couple. They were ridiculously clingy.

“Alright, next time you want to eat something, it’s my treat,” Mu Xin consoled her while stifling a laugh. Then, she picked up a piece from the bowl and put it in Huo Liuxue’s bowl.

Huo Liuxue’s face changed instantly, blooming with a smile. “Thank you, Xinxin.”

As she spoke, she even glared back at Ning Qi. Hmph, as expected, Xinxin still cares about me more!

Ning Qi was so angry she almost slapped the table. But the next second, she was silenced.

Mu Xin picked up a piece of meat and fed it to the disgruntled Ning Qi, laughing softly: “Give me some face and try it.”

“Oh, um, actually I already tried it at home.”

Ning Qi bit the meat into her mouth and spoke while chewing. Clearly, this move of Mu Xin’s was very effective. Ning Qi squinted her eyes, feeling very happy.

“Mm, it’s very fragrant.” Mu Xin also took a bite, biting her chopsticks in praise. She hadn’t expected Ning Qi’s skills to be so good.

She looked at Ning Qi with a hint of deeper meaning in her eyes, her thoughts unknown.

Meanwhile, Qin Yuyou, who was sitting across from them and had already finished eating, let her gaze sweep back and forth between Mu Xin and Ning Qi. Her brow furrowed slightly. Why did she feel like Mu Xin was acting strange? Was her intuition wrong?