Who Wants to Be the Affectionate Cannon Fodder?! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 21

The start of the academic year at University A was significantly livelier than in previous years.

First, there was the news of Xie Zhizhang’s admission into the Clinical Medicine department with a staggering score of 673, leading some to jokingly call him the greatest unlucky overachiever in history. Then, a wealthy local scion drove a supercar straight into the residential campus zone, nearly blinding the onlookers with its flashiness.

Coincidentally, the one reporting for duty in that supercar was none other than Xu Ze’an.

By the time Yu Lin arrived at the school, the area beneath the dormitory buildings was already packed. Crowds were gathered three layers deep; aside from the freshmen who had not yet had time to unpack, many were there simply to gawk at the flamboyant purple supercar.

Yu Lin leaned against his car window, looking out, not yet realizing that his previous prediction had come true.

“A four digit repeating plate of 9s, I remember there is only one of those in all of City A. It could not be the one I am thinking of.”

“It is likely the car of the third young master of the Xu family. I saw this exact vehicle outside the Central Tower a few days ago. Who knew I would end up being classmates with a young master one day?”

“Where is he then? Only the car is here. People have been waiting a long time without seeing a soul. My roommate, who went to the same high school as him, said he saw him on the school team once. Apparently, he has a deathly foul temper, but he is incredibly good looking.”

“He is probably at the Omega dorms. I heard this car has been parked here since early morning. Someone said they saw him over at the Omega side helping people move in.”

“He has a partner? Could it be a family alliance? A real life wealthy family novel is playing out right in front of us!”

“Not at all. His partner is a very ordinary Omega, the kind you would not notice in a crowd. My roommate heard about their love hate drama several times back in high school and even went with friends to take a look. They could not understand how that person managed to keep Xu Ze’an so infatuated, but later they heard that Omega is actually quite formidable.”

The students gathered around gossiped incessantly. Their fragmented chatter reached Yu Lin’s ears, and he sharply caught a keyword.

That car belongs to Xu Ze’an?

System 007: “Yes.”

Yu Lin looked with disdain at the bright purple supercar surrounded by the crowd. Under the direct sunlight, the high saturation hue almost burned his retinas. He opened the door and stepped out, glancing at Lin He’s understated yet luxurious Agate Black Maybach, silently condemning Xu Ze’an’s gaudy aesthetic.

“Where are you going?” Lin He asked.

“Just going to check out the commotion. I will be right back, Brother.” Yu Lin squeezed through the crowd, grabbed a lucky bystander to find the location of the Omega dormitories, and tossed his brother a hand gesture that Lin He did not understand before bolting away.

Lin He looked at the large bags of snacks in the backseat, then at Yu Lin’s retreating figure, and let out a sigh.

What on earth are you doing? System 007 asked.

Yu Lin replied carelessly: “Just watching the show. Xie Zhizhang has rejected him so many times; how is he still so persistent?”

“Maybe after Xie Zhizhang left, he realized how important he was. He understands his own heart now and decided to change his ways. Why don’t you give him a chance? After all, the main leads are traditionally supposed to end up together.”

Yu Lin let out a cold laugh, as if remembering something: “Are you referring to the changing his ways where three lovers take turns attending to him?”

“What attending? What are you talking about? That was just social posturing at a business meeting. I told you to stop watching those palace drama shows!”

Yu Lin pondered the phrase “social posturing” before saying neutrally: “Regret that only comes after losing someone is useless to a person.”

Xie Zhizhang had been busy at home all morning. Since he would not be back for a long time, he needed to check the utilities and cover the unused furniture. He double checked everything several times; by the time he left, the sun was high in the sky.

He did not have much luggage, just a single suitcase was enough to hold his daily clothes.

Perhaps it was the scorching heat, or the stuffy, swaying bus ride, but Xie Zhizhang’s head felt dizzy. The sunlight filtering through the tree branches looked like a soft veil before his eyes, blurring everything; passersby seemed to leave trails of afterimages.

Heat radiated from him. Usually, he rarely sweated, but now his forehead was damp.

He forced himself to drag his luggage to the dormitory building. He had hoped to get upstairs quickly to rest, but as he wiped his eyes, he unexpectedly saw a familiar person sitting under the shade of a tree.

Xu Ze’an was wearing a white shirt and wide leg jeans. To avoid the sun, he wore a bucket hat and was lounging lazily on a bench. His outstretched arms spanned the backrest, putting his well defined, powerful muscle lines on full display. He drew frequent glances from those around him, everyone wondering which Omega he was waiting for.

Xie Zhizhang pursed his dry lips, wanting to pretend he had not seen him and walk straight past, but before he could even move his suitcase, Xu Ze’an spotted him.

“Xie Zhizhang!” Xu Ze’an stood up from the bench and jogged over. Without a word, he reached for the suitcase while complaining, “Why are you so late? I have been waiting forever. If you had not shown up, I would have been sunburned to a crisp.”

Xie Zhizhang coldly pulled the suitcase back, avoiding his hand. “You did not mention you were attending University A as well last time.”

A light flickered in Xu Ze’an’s eyes. “Well, I wanted it to be a surprise.”

Xie Zhizhang did not find it a surprise. He pulled his suitcase, intending to leave, but Xu Ze’an raised his hand to block his path.

“Can you just listen to me for a second?” Xu Ze’an coughed awkwardly, trying to soften his voice so it was not so overbearing. “I went to a lot of trouble to get in here. A few months ago, my dad thought I was possessed by a ghost.”

After winter break, Xu Ze’an had thought long and hard. There was not much about Xie Zhizhang that was special, his looks were not outstanding, his personality was not particularly pleasant. There were plenty of better Omegas out there, and countless who wanted Xu Ze’an’s affection. But he just could not let it go.

His friends had tried to introduce him to others, the obedient ones, the beautiful ones, the pure ones, all kinds. But no matter what face appeared before him, his heart was always elsewhere.

Because none of them were Xie Zhizhang.

The old Xie Zhizhang was very ordinary, his heavy bangs covering most of his eyes, appearing gloomy and timid. But he was like a rabbit; when pushed, his eyes would turn red, looking pitifully vulnerable. His skin was pale and tender like tofu; the slightest touch would leave a red mark, making one maliciously want to bully him even harder.

The later Xie Zhizhang had become a porcupine, no longer timid, but cold and sharp, showing softness only toward Yu Lin. He shone brightly on the stage, drawing more attention than the stars. But that star no longer belonged to Xu Ze’an.

Xu Ze’an thought that all Xie Zhizhang wanted was a normal life. If Yu Lin could provide that, he, Xu Ze’an, could too.

“Give me another chance, Xie Zhizhang. Whatever kind of life you want, I can be with you,” Xu Ze’an said.

Xie Zhizhang did not know what to say. His head felt heavy and swollen, and white spots danced before his eyes, a sign of heatstroke.

Just yesterday, he had been boasting to Yu Lin about how much better his constitution had become, and he had even taken a cold shower to cool off.

Seeing that he did not move, Xu Ze’an assumed he was being moved by his words and continued: “People have moments of youthful folly. I was immature back then. If you have any issues, I will change in the future, okay?”

As he spoke, he reached for Xie Zhizhang’s suitcase again.

“The sun is too strong out here. If we stay out much longer, we will melt. I will help you take your things up first, and then we can find a cool place to talk.”

However, just as Xu Ze’an’s hand gripped the suitcase handle to take it from Xie Zhizhang, the latter suddenly yanked it back. The twenty inch suitcase swung through the air in an arc, flinging Xu Ze’an three meters away.

As he crashed onto the bench, Xu Ze’an did not even have time to register that Xie Zhizhang could be this strong. He only managed to curse: “Holy shit!”

Xie Zhizhang regained a sliver of clarity in his dazed mind, realizing belatedly what he had done.

“Sorry, I am not feeling well today. I was a bit agitated just now; I did not mean it.” He looked at Xu Ze’an, who was rubbing his pained lower back. He wanted to help him up, but as he raised his hand slightly, he hesitated and let it drop.

“I have heard everything you said. But my only goal right now is to earn enough money to pay off my debts and live a good life with my grandmother. I am not thinking about being with anyone.”

“Besides, Xu Ze’an, I don’t trust you. Maybe you have forgotten, but I still remember last winter when you suddenly said you wanted to eat boiled fish. I went to several supermarkets before I found fresh grass carp. I rushed to finish cooking it and hurried across half the city to the club address you gave me, only to be stopped at the gate by security because I did not have clearance. I waited for you for an hour in the winter wind. In the end, it was your friend who came to see me, saying you had already gone to the next party.” Xie Zhizhang clutched his burning forehead, wondering why he had suddenly remembered such a distant memory, and gave a soft, bitter laugh.

“Xu Ze’an, forget it. Don’t waste your time on me.” With that, Xie Zhizhang dragged his suitcase toward the dormitory entrance. Under Xu Ze’an’s gaze, he picked it up with one hand and carried it upstairs effortlessly.

“Suddenly, I feel like a proud parent watching their child grow up.” Yu Lin, who had been watching the whole scene from a distance, smiled with satisfaction.

System 007: “…”

Yu Lin brushed off the osmanthus petals and twigs that had fallen on him, preparing to turn back and find Lin He.

Unexpectedly, a warm chest suddenly pressed against his back. A cool cheek brushed past his ear, and a chin rested lightly on his shoulder.

A cold voice murmured faintly in his ear: “You ran over here in such a hurry just because you were worried Xie Zhizhang would be pestered by Xu Ze’an again?”

“Yu Lin, do you really like him that much?”

The scent of pure cedarwood flooded his senses, wrapping around him like a piercing north wind.

He turned his head in shock, only to see Lin He’s eyes, as dark as an abyss.

What was wrong with his brother now?