After Being Transformed Into Cannon Fodder For Death, The Heartthrob Chapter 78

Ye Qingyun discovered he had transmigrated into a melodramatic ABO novel, becoming the unremarkable Beta Vicious Cannon Fodder who specialized in opposing the iceberg-like Omega Protagonist, Gu Shenyuan.

The first thing Ye Qingyun did was look in the mirror. When he saw that he still had his original “unremarkable” face, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, his body and face were still his own.

Ye Qingyun felt reassured. His body hadn’t differentiated yet, but according to the plot, he was definitely a Beta, unaffected by Pheromones. That was excellent.

Ye Qingyun went to school as usual. One day, while going to the restroom during a break, Ye Qingyun inadvertently saw several troublemaking students cornering a youth. The cornered youth looked aloof and was very beautiful—clearly an Omega.

Having lived in this world for quite some time, Ye Qingyun immediately felt a surge of anger.

Bullying an Omega? Are they even human? Even if the Omega hadn’t differentiated and confirmed their secondary gender yet, it was unacceptable!

Ye Qingyun rushed over angrily and shielded the youth behind him.

Thanks to his excellent grades, Ye Qingyun was well-known throughout the school and held considerable deterrent power over the troublemaking students—if they touched Ye Qingyun, every teacher in the school would come after them.

“Don’t force me to act,” Ye Qingyun warned. “Li Jia, your parents asked me to look after your studies last time. I left practice questions on your desk. Go back and write them.”

The delinquent youths glared at Ye Qingyun for a moment, but eventually succumbed to his threat and slowly walked away.

Ye Qingyun sighed in relief and turned to look at the youth behind him.

Ye Qingyun spoke earnestly: “Student, you are so good-looking, you clearly look like someone who will become an Omega in the future. You need to be careful when you go out and don’t act alone, understand?”

The aloof youth looked at Ye Qingyun, his eyes clearly showing confusion.

Ye Qingyun touched his own face and explained: “Although I’m also good-looking, I’m definitely a Beta. We are different. What’s your name—”

Ye Qingyun’s voice trailed off. He saw the name tag on the youth’s chest. It read: Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan, the aloof, iceberg Omega Heartthrob Protagonist.

Did he, a mere Cannon Fodder, really need to worry about him?

Of course he did!

After all, the author of this book was a pervert who loved making cold beauties endure all sorts of hardships, thus placing the Protagonist in various dark situations.

The author had said that tormenting an iceberg beauty was the most exciting, delicious, and stimulating, and she wouldn’t let Gu Shenyuan off easily.

Ye Qingyun, who could only read the book back then, had been both angry and anxious. Now that he finally had the chance to spread the light of socialism, he wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

Ye Qingyun boasted: “I’m very capable. If you don’t mind, you can find me to go to the restroom with you during this time. Shall I accompany you?”

Gu Shenyuan looked at him for a long time, then softly replied: “Mm.”

————

Gu Shenyuan had just transferred to this school and was in the same class as Ye Qingyun. After Ye Qingyun discovered this, he immediately found the homeroom teacher and requested a seat change, using the excuse of wanting to help the new student quickly catch up with the curriculum. He became Gu Shenyuan’s deskmate, kicking out the Scum Gong deskmate from the original novel who had ill intentions toward Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan came from a poor background, was orphaned, and wore very simple clothes. In the original novel, Gu Shenyuan would rise up later, but in the early stages, he was quite miserable.

Ye Qingyun knew that because he had no money, Gu Shenyuan only wore a thin jacket even in winter and had to work after school in the cold wind just to cover his basic living expenses.

Ye Qingyun felt deeply sorry for Gu Shenyuan’s plight, but he didn’t give Gu Shenyuan money directly. Instead, after going to the restroom with Gu Shenyuan several times and believing they had established a certain friendship, he took out a registration form and mysteriously handed it to Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan took it. Ye Qingyun leaned in and whispered: “The International Knowledge Competition. Bring glory to the country. Want to give it a try?”

The prize money for this competition was very high. The prize for any of the top three places was equivalent to Gu Shenyuan’s earnings from working for a year.

Gu Shenyuan’s gaze lingered on the prize money for the top three for a moment, then he slowly shook his head: “My academic level isn’t that high.”

“I’ll teach you! I’ll tutor you whenever I have free time,” Ye Qingyun said. “You can definitely do it.”

He had observed Gu Shenyuan during this time. Gu Shenyuan was actually very smart; he just hadn’t had a good educational environment. There was still some time before the competition, and if he dedicated this period to intensely tutoring Gu Shenyuan on the relevant knowledge, Gu Shenyuan would surely be fine.

Thinking that Gu Shenyuan’s life would also improve with his help, Ye Qingyun felt delighted.

Gu Shenyuan pursed his lips and lowered his eyes: “That’s too much trouble for you.”

“It’s nothing,” Ye Qingyun told a white lie. “Don’t feel burdened. I’m good at studying and I tutor others often. I’m used to it.”

Gu Shenyuan finally agreed and thanked Ye Qingyun, but for some reason, Ye Qingyun felt that Gu Shenyuan seemed a little unhappy.

Unhappy that all his free time would be spent tutoring?

In any case, it couldn’t be unhappiness about him saying he often tutored others.

————

Ye Qingyun diligently tutored Gu Shenyuan. Since his current identity also lacked parents, their study time was quite flexible.

Initially, they studied at a 24-hour milk tea shop and returned home late at night.

But Ye Qingyun insisted on walking Gu Shenyuan, whom he believed to be an Omega, home, and Gu Shenyuan stubbornly insisted on walking him home. Since they couldn’t agree, they eventually had to change the tutoring location.

The location was finally set at Ye Qingyun’s house. They would start studying after dinner and continue until ten minutes before bedtime.

Gu Shenyuan cooked the meals. Since Ye Qingyun believed their genders would be different in the future, and he couldn’t taint the purity of Gu Shenyuan, the innocent O, they slept in separate rooms.

Ye Qingyun’s mental calculations were loud and clear. This arrangement could also ensure that Gu Shenyuan, who had no income, was fed during this period. It was hitting two birds with one stone, and Gu Shenyuan wouldn’t find out, thus protecting his self-esteem. How clever!

He truly was a genius!

————

That day, after tutoring, Ye Qingyun fell into a deep sleep, completely unaware that Gu Shenyuan in the other room was wide awake.

Gu Shenyuan recalled Ye Qingyun’s eyes, shining like jewels when he explained problems, his soft, rosy lips, and his face, every line of which seemed meticulously carved.

He understood all of Ye Qingyun’s sympathy and care.

In the past, he would never have believed that someone could hold such pure goodwill toward him, but now, he truly had encountered it.

The longer they spent together, the more he couldn’t help but want to get closer to that warmth.

Having been in the darkness for too long, even if he knew it might be a raging fire that would burn him to ashes, he was like a moth to a flame, stumbling toward the light.

————

When the competition arrived, Ye Qingyun and Gu Shenyuan smoothly passed the preliminary rounds and advanced to the final match.

Before entering the examination hall, Ye Qingyun seriously told Gu Shenyuan: “I won’t go easy on you. You should also do your best.”

Gu Shenyuan looked at him and smiled faintly: “I know.”

When the results came out, Ye Qingyun unsurprisingly took first place, and Gu Shenyuan took second.

Gu Shenyuan received his prize money. Looking at the cash in his hand, he fell into contemplation.

This money would be best used for living expenses, allowing him to save time and focus on his studies.

But he wanted to buy Ye Qingyun a gift.

And…

Gu Shenyuan looked down at his clothes, frowning slightly.

He had never cared about his appearance before, nor did he pay attention to the cold, wearing thin clothes in the dead of winter without feeling miserable. But now, the more he interacted with Ye Qingyun, the more he wanted to dress more presentably, less destitute, so that Ye Qingyun would look at him more often.

He didn’t take many things to heart, but he didn’t know when it started—he remembered every glance Ye Qingyun cast his way.

And he felt joy because of it.

————

Ye Qingyun didn’t know what Gu Shenyuan was thinking. He also received his prize money and, without hesitation, bought two down jackets of the same style but different colors.

He truly was a famous teacher producing an excellent student! As a good teacher, he naturally had to give his wonderful student a small reward.

Ye Qingyun found Gu Shenyuan, pulled out the two down jackets, and placed them in front of him: “Which one do you think looks better?”

Gu Shenyuan casually chose one. Ye Qingyun left that one for Gu Shenyuan and put on the other one himself.

“Master-Apprentice outfits,” Ye Qingyun happily took advantage of Gu Shenyuan. “Congratulations on graduating, good apprentice. This is your graduation gift from your master.”

Gu Shenyuan was stunned. He heard Ye Qingyun’s urging, picked up the jacket with trembling hands, and put it on.

Ye Qingyun hadn’t been explicit about many things to protect his self-esteem, but he could guess everything.

The jacket was warm. It warmed his body and, even more so, his heart.

————

Ye Qingyun thought life would continue smoothly like this. He, as an ordinary Beta, would protect the delicate Omega Gu Shenyuan until Gu Shenyuan found an Alpha who was truly good to him. Then, he, the successor of socialism, could retire successfully.

Doing good deeds without leaving a name, waving his sleeve without taking away a single cloud, leaving behind only his legend.

He was truly amazing!

However, that day, Ye Qingyun felt unwell during class. Not wanting to trouble Gu Shenyuan, he secretly slipped away to the school clinic when Gu Shenyuan wasn’t paying attention.

After measuring some things, the school doctor smiled kindly.

“Oh, student, you’ve differentiated,” the school doctor said gently. “You’re an Omega.”

Ye Qingyun suspected he was hallucinating.

“What Omega? Who is an Omega?” Ye Qingyun asked in disbelief.

The school doctor pushed up his reading glasses and said kindly: “Are you too excited? You are an Omega, no mistake. All your indicators show you are an almost perfect Omega.”

Ye Qingyun: “…”

Ye Qingyun felt a bolt of heavenly lightning strike his head, sending his soul flying out of his body.

He was clearly supposed to be a Beta! Did changing bodies mean the identity the author gave him was no longer effective?

Lousy original author! The stuff you wrote has no effect!

Ye Qingyun didn’t want to return to the classroom immediately. He wandered around aimlessly, eventually ending up in a secluded restroom, staring blankly while washing his hands.

Would he go into heat? Would he be Marked?

From now on, he and Gu Shenyuan were Omega sisters.

Although rationally he knew there was nothing wrong with telling Gu Shenyuan, emotionally, the thought of confessing to Gu Shenyuan made his toes curl with embarrassment.

Maybe he should keep it a secret. It wouldn’t hurt to keep it a secret—

“Clack.”

The light suddenly dimmed as the restroom door was slammed shut.

Ye Qingyun turned his head and saw a tall male student blocking the door, staring intently at him.

He knew this person. He was a notorious troublemaker in their grade, an Alpha who didn’t study and was generally disliked, relying on his family’s minor wealth.

Ye Qingyun immediately felt that something was wrong. He saw the person walking toward him, quickly turned off the water, stepped aside to avoid him, and headed toward the door.

However, before he could take two steps, an arm stretched out, blocking his path and trapping him in the corner.

The person tilted his head, a malicious grin splitting his face: “Why are you leaving? Shall we chat?”

“I don’t want to chat with you,” Ye Qingyun said coldly. “Move.”

The boy sneered, then suddenly leaned closer, staring intensely at Ye Qingyun’s face, with obvious infatuation in his eyes: “You’re really beautiful.”

“Thank you, I know. Move—”

A wave of Alpha Pheromones spread out, enveloping Ye Qingyun and instantly making it difficult for him to breathe.

Unlike the insensitivity to Pheromones before differentiation, it was incredibly easy for an Alpha to deal with an Omega.

“Your Pheromones smell good too.” The boy lowered his head and took a deep sniff at Ye Qingyun’s neck, his face showing deep intoxication. “I’ve been watching you for a long time. Ha, you really are an Omega. That’s great.”

Ye Qingyun tried his best to stand straight and said coldly: “I warn you, assaulting an Omega will land you in jail for life.”

“So what?” the boy scoffed. “My family has money. They can shorten the sentence to a few years. A few years in jail for you is totally worth it.”

The boy’s hand squeezed Ye Qingyun’s shoulder: “You’ll wait for me at home anyway, right?”

It was common knowledge that a permanently Marked Omega would suffer pain when separated from the Alpha who Marked them and could no longer bond with other Alphas.

Ye Qingyun felt like vomiting. He decided to fight this idiot.

“Stop struggling. When the time comes, you’ll bear me a child, and I—”

“Bang!”

The closed restroom door was kicked open violently, and someone burst in.

Ye Qingyun looked up in delight, seeing the person he was most afraid of seeing at this moment.

Gu Shenyuan stood not far from them, his face extremely pale as he looked their way.

The boy spun around: “Who—? You? What, an undifferentiated Omega trying to save another Omega? Ha, why don’t you stand aside obediently and watch how I Mark—”

Ye Qingyun wanted to shout at Gu Shenyuan to run and get help, not to come closer, but before the words left his mouth, Gu Shenyuan had already reached the corner, grabbed the boy’s throat with one hand, pulled hard, and then delivered a kick, sending the boy flying to crash against the opposite wall.

Ye Qingyun: “…”

The development of events seemed different from what he had imagined.

How could Gu Shenyuan, an undeveloped Omega, be so powerful?!

Gu Shenyuan didn’t let the person off. He followed up and brutally beat the boy, who was utterly defenseless against the Alpha.

Ye Qingyun watched dumbfounded. Was this the Protagonist’s Halo? Was the novel he Transmigrated into a strong Shou script, where Gu Shenyuan would defeat various Alphas later on and become the pinnacle of Omegas?

Seeing Gu Shenyuan beating the person half to death, Ye Qingyun quickly intervened to stop him, lest someone actually die and Gu Shenyuan end up in jail.

Gu Shenyuan let go of the person and turned to embrace him tightly.

This was the first time Gu Shenyuan had expressed such intense emotion toward him. Ye Qingyun was very moved. He hugged Gu Shenyuan back and patted his back.

“Thank you,” Ye Qingyun leaned against Gu Shenyuan, feeling his rapid heartbeat. His nose felt a little sore. “From now on, you are my best friend.”

Gu Shenyuan held him in silence for a long time before softly replying: “Mm.”

————

Not long after this incident came the winter break. Ye Qingyun and Gu Shenyuan returned to their respective homes.

Ye Qingyun wanted to invite Gu Shenyuan to spend the New Year together, but Gu Shenyuan was awkward and said the day was too special for a visit.

Ye Qingyun couldn’t argue with him, so he let Gu Shenyuan have his way, calling him occasionally to chat.

As the Lunar New Year’s Eve approached, Ye Qingyun, bored, made dumplings himself. Thanks to his precise ingredient ratios, although the dumplings were oddly shaped, they weren’t bad.

Ye Qingyun immediately called Gu Shenyuan and asked for his home address, only to be met with a cold refusal.

Ye Qingyun: “If you don’t eat them, these dumplings will go to waste. Can you bear to waste food?”

Gu Shenyuan was silent for a moment, then still refused.

Ye Qingyun: “?”

This was illogical. Something must be wrong.

Ye Qingyun got Gu Shenyuan’s home address from the teacher and went over.

Gu Shenyuan, a poor orphan, lived in a very remote area. When Ye Qingyun arrived, he found Gu Shenyuan’s home in a dilapidated, small building.

Ye Qingyun knocked, but there was no response. He knocked harder, still no response.

Was Gu Shenyuan not home?

Just as Ye Qingyun was wondering, the door was suddenly yanked open, and he was pressed against the wall by a pair of scorching hands, his neck being squeezed.

But quickly, Ye Qingyun was released.

Gu Shenyuan looked surprised, clearly not expecting him to show up here.

Gu Shenyuan frowned, placing his hand on Ye Qingyun’s neck where he had just been choked.

Ye Qingyun coughed twice: “I’m fine. I brought you dumplings—Are you sick? Why is your hand so hot?”

Gu Shenyuan didn’t speak, but continued pressing the spot. The intensity made Ye Qingyun momentarily suspect Gu Shenyuan was caressing him.

Ye Qingyun pushed Gu Shenyuan inside, entering his house.

The house was small, and there was no heating in the middle of winter. It was freezing, enough to stiffen a person.

Since Ye Qingyun entered, Gu Shenyuan had been in a state of concealed, helpless agitation, looking extremely nervous.

A young person’s self-esteem is always strong. Ye Qingyun didn’t comment on Gu Shenyuan’s home. Instead, after closing the door, he felt Gu Shenyuan’s forehead.

It was burning hot. He was clearly sick.

Ye Qingyun said incredulously: “Were you just planning to lie at home and let the illness cure itself?”

“I’m fine,” Gu Shenyuan insisted. “I’m not that delicate.”

Ye Qingyun was almost amused by his anger. He put down the dumplings and turned to leave.

When Ye Qingyun returned, he found the door still open as he had left it.

Ye Qingyun was furious. Why didn’t Gu Shenyuan close the door? The wind blowing in would only make his illness worse! Moreover, Gu Shenyuan was a delicate, beautiful male who would soon become an Omega. What if a bad person tried to harm him?

Ye Qingyun wanted to scold Gu Shenyuan, but when he actually entered the room, he froze.

Gu Shenyuan was staring blankly at the box of dumplings he had left, his face expressionless, yet somehow conveying a sense of vulnerability.

Hearing the noise, Gu Shenyuan turned his head. Upon seeing the visitor, his dark eyes suddenly lit up.

“Sit down, sit down.” Ye Qingyun pushed Gu Shenyuan, who had walked over, back. “Why are you just staring at these dumplings? They won’t give birth to little dumplings, they’ll just get cold.”

Gu Shenyuan didn’t speak, but gripped Ye Qingyun’s arm tightly.

Ye Qingyun sighed, urging Gu Shenyuan to finish the plain porridge he had just bought, and then gave him the medicine.

“Why aren’t you delicate? Do you think you’re an Alpha?” Ye Qingyun said, but seeing Gu Shenyuan’s unhappy expression, and choosing not to argue with a sick person, he changed his words: “Even Alphas need to take medicine when they’re sick.”

Gu Shenyuan took the medicine, looking very uneasy: “I… I’m not that difficult to serve. You can treat me however you want.”

What did he mean, “treat him however he wanted”? Listen to that, is that something a person says?

Ye Qingyun assumed Gu Shenyuan was talking nonsense due to the fever and didn’t bother correcting this completely wrong idea at the moment. Instead, he looked around and pushed Gu Shenyuan toward what must be the bedroom.

Gu Shenyuan didn’t want to go: “The dumplings haven’t been eaten yet…”

Ye Qingyun: “…Eat them when you’re better. They won’t grow legs and run away, will they?”

Ye Qingyun coaxed and persuaded, finally managing to bring Gu Shenyuan to the bedroom.

However, as soon as he entered the bedroom, Ye Qingyun frowned.

The bedroom was extremely sparse. Despite it being the middle of winter, there was only one thin blanket, which clearly wouldn’t be warm.

Ye Qingyun had been mentally prepared, as it was written in the book, but seeing it in reality still made him feel sad.

Covering up with such a thin blanket would be cold, and the fever wouldn’t break.

And his house was some distance away. It wasn’t realistic to ask the sick Gu Shenyuan to go there to rest.

Ye Qingyun thought for a moment, took off the jacket he was wearing, and placed it on top of the blanket.

“Qingyun…?” Gu Shenyuan was stunned. He grabbed Ye Qingyun’s jacket, trying to put it back on him. “I’m not cold. You wear it.”

Ye Qingyun refused the jacket and instead asked: “Do you have other pajamas?”

Gu Shenyuan nodded, confused.

Ye Qingyun told Gu Shenyuan to fetch them. Gu Shenyuan’s clothes were all clean, so even though they were old, Ye Qingyun didn’t mind.

Ye Qingyun took off his clothes and changed into Gu Shenyuan’s pajamas.

When Ye Qingyun finished changing, he found that Gu Shenyuan had turned his back to the wall, a faint blush on his fair earlobes.

Ye Qingyun was amused. He poked Gu Shenyuan with his finger: “Time to sleep. You need to sweat to break the fever. Where’s your jacket? Put it on top of the blanket with mine.”

Ye Qingyun watched Gu Shenyuan awkwardly place both jackets on the blanket, then he lifted the corner of the blanket first, lay down on the bed, and consciously rolled to the inner side, leaving a space for Gu Shenyuan.

He had made all the preparations, but Gu Shenyuan stood by the bed, staring at him as if dumbfounded.

Ye Qingyun urged: “Hurry up. Aren’t you cold?”

Gu Shenyuan stiffly got into bed, lying beside him like a piece of wood.

Ye Qingyun moved closer, making himself nearer to Gu Shenyuan: “This way you won’t be cold. Sleeping alone is cold; sleeping together is warm. We have limited resources, so this is the only way.”

Gu Shenyuan remained completely rigid, his lips tightly pressed. Ye Qingyun looked at Gu Shenyuan’s expression and belatedly realized that his behavior was too intimate, and Gu Shenyuan might not like his personal space being invaded.

He blamed himself for getting too familiar with Gu Shenyuan recently, forgetting that Gu Shenyuan was the aloof, high-mountain flower Protagonist who kept his distance from others.

Ye Qingyun whispered: “Do you dislike other people sleeping in your bed, and wearing your clothes?”

The more Ye Qingyun thought about it, the more he felt this was the case. He awkwardly tried to move outward: “Sorry, I won’t do it again. I’ll go back and get you…”

Ye Qingyun wanted to say he’d go back and get Gu Shenyuan a blanket, but before he finished speaking, Gu Shenyuan grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.

“I really don’t like others doing this, but it’s okay if it’s you. I… I’m very happy,” Gu Shenyuan looked at the ceiling, his voice hoarse. “I’m just, just too nervous.”

“What are you nervous about?” Ye Qingyun was happy after getting the explanation. He moved closer to Gu Shenyuan again, even daring to touch Gu Shenyuan’s calf with his foot. “Before, we could say there was a difference between B and O, but now we are both Omegas, and both male Omegas. Our genders are exactly the same. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

Gu Shenyuan was silent for a long time, then finally asked: “How do you know I will definitely be an Omega in the future?”

Ye Qingyun couldn’t possibly say this was a novel and he could predict the future, so he could only pretend to be mysterious: “I’m so smart. I’ve already seen through something like this.”

“Oh.” Gu Shenyuan fell silent again. Just as Ye Qingyun was drifting off to sleep, he heard Gu Shenyuan ask, “Qingyun, I’m still cold. Can I hug you to sleep?”

Gu Shenyuan’s voice was soft. Ye Qingyun mumbled a response, then felt a pair of arms wrap around him, pulling him into a solid embrace.

Ye Qingyun briefly woke up, also reaching out to hug Gu Shenyuan, and laughed: “In the future, the one hugging you like this will be your Alpha. Cherish the time we have now to hug each other for warmth.”

Ye Qingyun felt the arms holding him tighten. He shifted a few times, found a comfortable position, and completely fell into slumber.

————

Gu Shenyuan looked at Ye Qingyun lying quietly in his arms, observing his straight nose, long eyelashes, and slender eyebrows. Finally, he followed his heart and leaned in.

A kiss as light as a snowflake fell on Ye Qingyun’s delicate cheek.

Ye Qingyun was oblivious. Gu Shenyuan kissed him again and held him tighter.

He didn’t want to be Ye Qingyun’s friend.

He wanted an identity that would allow him to hold Ye Qingyun like this forever.

He wanted Ye Qingyun’s body to never carry the scent of anyone else.

He didn’t want to be an Omega. He wanted to be an Alpha—an Alpha who could Permanent Mark Ye Qingyun, an Alpha who could make Ye Qingyun carry his Pheromones.