Who Wants to Be the Affectionate Cannon Fodder?! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45

“Didn’t you say we were coming for a match? Why are you two nesting here being lazy? Don’t tell me you’re getting old and want to call it quits after playing for just a bit.”

Lin Nanzhi’s golf club gave two loud “thumps” against the back of the sofa as he cursed, “Screw off.”

The others trickled back to the rest area, each finding a vacant seat. A group of five or six men gathered together while the caddies stood nearby holding their equipment; one of them, sensing the mood, proactively brewed some tea for them.

“You can say that to anyone else, but how do you dare say it to Jiang Shiyan? Aren’t you afraid your sister will find out and settle the score with you?”

“Don’t even get me started. My sister heard Jiang Shiyan sent out an invitation today and insisted I bring her along. My eardrums were nearly shattered by her screaming.” The man sat down on the sofa next to Jiang Shiyan with his legs crossed, shaking one leg rakishly. “I say, when are you going to finally catch that ‘white moonlight’ of yours so that girl will give up hope?”

Someone asked in confusion, “What’s the situation? I was banished to the border by my old man for a few months; how did Jiang Shiyan suddenly get a white moonlight?”

“It’s Ning Jinghe. That ‘high mountain flower’ who grew up in the military compound. Back in high school, he acted like he was worth millions every day. Every time we called him, he had this ‘don’t touch me’ look on his face. Didn’t someone call him today too?”

“Holy crap, now that you mention it, I remember. He’s not the same kind of person as us. Jiang Shiyan actually likes that type?”

A wave of hooting and teasing followed.

“I heard he was abroad for a long time and just came back. A while ago, my phone was full of his promotions. No way, Jiang Shiyan—you’re actually doing the whole secret crush thing? How pure of you.”

“Jiang Shiyan went to a deserted island to feed mosquitoes just to chase him, okay? I see you’ve really been broken in by your old man; you’re like a caveman.” After saying that, the man gave Jiang Shiyan a teasing smile. “So, how far have things progressed?”

Lin Nanzhi glanced at Jiang Shiyan’s expressionless face and felt that he didn’t seem particularly happy.

Jiang Shiyan swept a cold gaze over the people present, his tone flat. “How far could it progress? Don’t you know what kind of person Ning Jinghe is?”

“But that’s different. How can a big superstar like you be compared to a commoner? It’s only a matter of time before you win him over.”

“Speaking of which, that person who used to pester you all the time—what was his name, Shen something? Shen Xingzhuo, that illegitimate son of the Shen family. Didn’t you feel that he and Ning Jinghe looked a bit alike? I was stunned for a second the first time I saw him, but then I realized that besides the same arrogant attitude, their temperaments are polar opposites.”

As the group of men gossiped and chattered, Yu Lin stood behind the indoor glass door, quietly listening to their noisy voices.

【Actually, I’m quite curious. With Shen Xingzhuo’s personality, shouldn’t he rush up and demand an answer? Why is he just letting me watch from here?】

007 said: 【Humans are very complex creatures. Under the weight of a major blow, their reactions don’t necessarily follow common logic. Perhaps for Shen Xingzhuo, he also has his own pride. Upon learning he was always just an object Jiang Shiyan could discard at will, his first reaction was shock, then avoidance. He probably feels that as long as he pretends he didn’t hear it, the matter doesn’t exist. But in the end, he still has to accept the reality that he is Ning Jinghe’s substitute.】

Yu Lin asked: 【Is that so?】

007: 【If it were you, what would you do?】

Yu Lin: 【He’s just a man who’s useless besides his face; why would I labor myself over him? However…】

007: 【Hmm?】

Yu Lin: 【I should still give him a beating. After all, I don’t like being played for a fool either.】

007: 【…That is very much in line with your style.】

“If it really doesn’t work out, just forget it. Someone like Ning Jinghe isn’t meant for ordinary people to handle. Since that Shen Xingzhuo likes you so much, isn’t it fine to just keep him around as a substitute for fun?”

Jiang Shiyan let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Aren’t you the smart one? You think I haven’t thought of that?”

But the moment he finished speaking, he saw the caddy pouring tea falter. Then, the men sitting sideways all fell silent, looking behind him with awkward expressions.

The atmosphere turned silent instantly.

Jiang Shiyan frowned and asked in confusion, “What are you all staring for?”

The equally puzzled Lin Nanzhi followed their gaze. His whole body stiffened, and he awkwardly tugged at Jiang Shiyan’s sleeve, squeezing out three words in a hissed whisper: “Shen Xingzhuo.”

“What?”

Seeing that Jiang Shiyan hadn’t reacted, he repeated: “…Shen Xingzhuo is here.”

Jiang Shiyan’s eyes widened instantly, and he whipped his head around.

He saw Yu Lin standing behind the glass door. The dark glass reflected the grand sunlight and the emerald-green golf course outside. That brilliant and beautiful face was partially visible, appearing indistinct, which added a sense of fragmented vulnerability.

Looking at the eyes fixed on them, it was unclear if it was the sunlight or something else, but his eyes seemed to be rimmed with a layer of moisture.

Jiang Shiyan’s heart skipped a beat for no reason.

In the next second, a single tear fell perfectly from Yu Lin’s left eye.

Everyone thought he would rush forward hysterically to demand answers like before, but instead, Yu Lin simply lowered his gaze with a neutral expression and raised a hand to wipe away the tear.

The striking red mole on the bridge of his nose flashed by, leaving Jiang Shiyan with only a retreating back and eyes filled with sorrow and grievance.

Jiang Shiyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he asked in a strained voice, “When… did he arrive?”

【Affection Value +10, Contributor: Jiang Shiyan】 【Affection Value +10, Contributor: Lin Nanzhi】 【Affection Value +5, Contributor: …】

Yu Lin bought a bottle of ice water from the vending machine at the entrance of the golf course. As soon as he got it, he hurriedly took a large gulp.

His tongue felt so spicy it was losing sensation. The pungency and bitterness rushed into his nasal cavity as if they were going to clear out his esophagus and airway all the way to the top of his head. Uncontrollable tears continued to patter down. Yu Lin rubbed his eyelid, but the residual mustard on his finger tip burned directly into his eye.

007 hurriedly advised: 【Stop rubbing, it’ll only feel worse the more you rub. Clean your hands first, then rinse your eyes with water…】

Yu Lin struggled to open his eyes to a slit, his cells alertly helping him navigate around obstacles.

【…007, you lied to me.】

007: 【What did I do?】

【You only said mustard could induce tears; you didn’t say the taste was… this strange.】

007 was silent for a moment before saying: 【I thought that given your strange sense of taste—where you could eat Tang Mo and Zhuang Wang’s charred potato shreds with your eyes closed—the only thing you couldn’t eat in this life was coffee.】

【Are you mocking me?】

007 shut down and played dead.

Yu Lin leaned against the wall, tears streaming out uncontrollably, his vision a blurred mess from the mist. He blinked rapidly five or six times, forcing out more tears to wash away the spiciness in his eyes.

【But don’t I look a lot like a poor guy who just suffered a heartbreak? If one of them suddenly comes out and sees this, wouldn’t they think I’m deeply in love with Jiang Shiyan and contribute more affection value?】

007 said heartlessly: 【I didn’t see you wanting affection value this much usually.】

【Since I’m already here, it would be a waste not to…】

His ears sharply caught the sound of steady footsteps, and then a familiar voice sounded from behind him: “Shen Xingzhuo.”

“Brother?” Yu Lin didn’t even notice that his tone had gone up several pitches. “Why are you here?”

Ning Jinghe thought to himself, I haven’t even asked you why you’re here.

But after taking a few steps forward and seeing Yu Lin’s half-closed eyes rolling with tears, his expression turned strange.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Ning Jinghe asked in a deep voice. His raised hand stopped ten centimeters in front of Yu Lin’s face. He wanted to wipe away the traces of water but hesitated to move. “Are you… crying?”

Yu Lin whispered: “I’m not crying, it’s mustard.”

Ning Jinghe: “?”

“I accidentally got some on me.”

It was the first time he had heard of mustard being consumed with the eyes.

Ning Jinghe didn’t know what kind of expression to make for a moment. Seeing Yu Lin instinctively reach out to rub them again, he quickly grabbed his wrist: “Don’t move anymore. Come to my car? I’ll help you clean it.”

Yu Lin nodded and allowed Ning Jinghe to hold his wrist and lead him to the parking lot.

“Why aren’t you filming at the set today?”

The sound of a packaging bag tearing open echoed inside the cramped car. Ning Jinghe held a corner of a wet wipe and carefully wiped away the tear marks from the corner of Yu Lin’s eye. “Am I not allowed to rest?”

After a pause, he added: “I came to see an old friend.”

Yu Lin felt the soft wet wipe slowly brush over his eyelid. The scent of the fragrance drifted into his nose, making him instinctively rub the tip of his nose.

“Jiang Shiyan?”

Ning Jinghe paused and said, “I didn’t know he was here.”

Yu Lin said bluntly: “He is here. Your friend probably called you over specifically to see him.”

Ning Jinghe: “…How do you know?”

“I just came out from inside, of course I saw him.”

The discomfort in his eyes was cleared away. Yu Lin’s eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes. Whether it was because of his repeated rubbing or the excessive tears, his eye sockets were flushed red and hazy, looking quite pitiful.

Ning Jinghe slowly withdrew his hand. He was just wondering where in this middle of nowhere Yu Lin got mustard to mess himself up like this when the phone sitting on the side suddenly lit up. The screen clearly showed the name of the old friend who had invited him.

“Brother Ning, where are you? This place might be a bit hard to find; do you need me to come pick you up?”

Ning Jinghe held the phone, his gaze falling on Yu Lin’s face, meeting his curious look.

“I encountered a small matter, wait for me…”

“Don’t go, Brother Ning. It’s no fun.” Ning Jinghe watched as Yu Lin slowly opened and closed his lips, saying wordlessly: “Why not accompany me to a place instead.”

Ning Jinghe’s gaze lingered, his breathing heavy for a few moments.

“Brother Ning? Hello, what’s wrong, Brother Ning?”

The person on the other end of the phone continued to urge him. Ning Jinghe breathed out a long sigh and replied: “I’m sorry, I encountered a matter on the road. I might have to break the appointment.”