The Vicious Cannon Fodder Coveted By Long Aotian Chapter 2
byVicious Cannon Fodder
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Yu Yi was silently counting down in his heart. Before he reached zero, Shen Changqing grabbed his wrist, his roar leaving Yu Yi dazed.
He is so mean, and it hurts, Yu Yi thought.
Ding! The deserved amount has been deposited into your bank account.
The system notification sounded, but Yu Yi no longer felt his previous joy. Suddenly, the money did not seem so sweet anymore.
Looking at his reddened wrist and Shen Changqing’s stern face, Yu Yi tilted his head and thought: Shen Changqing, shouldn’t he have fainted? Why is he still awake? He is grabbing me, and his skin is so hot.
He tried to struggle, but he could not break free, and Shen Changqing shot him a fierce glare.
Under his dark, curled lashes, his eyes fluttered for a moment.
He did not understand.
Because you gave him the wrong drug, Xiao Yi. System 987 immediately explained upon seeing Yu Yi’s confusion: You used the aphrodisiac intended for someone else on Shen Changqing.
Yu Yi: “…”
The knockout drug became an aphrodisiac. You could not make this up if you tried.
Having learned the truth, Yu Yi timidly lifted his eyelids, which were as thin as cicada wings, and glanced at Shen Changqing. Meeting his bloodshot and ruthless gaze, Yu Yi’s pale lips trembled, and he almost confessed everything.
Sob.
Is he going to kill me?
“I…” Attempting to make excuses for himself, Yu Yi’s fair wrist was already held so tightly by Shen Changqing’s broad palm that it became damp. Visible traces of moisture began to bloom in circles where their skin met.
His small head was spinning. He was so anxious that his forehead was covered in crystal-clear beads of sweat, and his natural fragrance slowly began to spread.
At the critical moment, a large hand with a vastly different skin tone intervened, gripping Shen Changqing’s wrist as well.
“Shen Changqing, let him go! Don’t hurt him!” The other man forcibly stepped in to defend him, forcing Shen Changqing to loosen his grip on Yu Yi’s wrist.
“Hurt him?” As if he had heard a massive joke, Shen Changqing looked at his friend, He Yuexun.
His tone was gritted through his teeth, yet he tried to remain as calm as possible. Though pushed to his limit, Shen Changqing’s gentlemanly demeanor remained, but only for that one sentence.
“Do you know what he did, and why I had to grab his wrist to stop him from leaving?” The next sentence was fierce and dissatisfied, each word spat out from between his teeth.
He did not know, and he did not want to know.
He Yuexun was entirely focused on Yu Yi, with whom he had fallen in love at first sight. In his mind, Yu Yi would never do anything bad; it had to be a misunderstanding.
“Is it important what he did?” With a tone of incomprehension, He Yuexun gave Yu Yi a comforting smile.
Stunned in place and not understanding why He Yuexun was suddenly helping him, Yu Yi felt the situation becoming increasingly strange.
Aren’t they best friends? Why is He Yuexun helping me instead of Shen Changqing? Is their brotherhood a lie? Are they just maintaining a corporate image of brotherly affection on the surface for the sake of smooth cooperation?
Yu Yi successfully brainwashed himself with his own logic. He glanced at He Yuexun, who winked at him as if to say, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Affected by the potent aphrodisiac and provoked by He Yuexun’s reckless tone and the way Yu Yi and He Yuexun were ignoring him to exchange looks, the fire of the drug ignited Shen Changqing’s icy personality.
Unleashing his hidden sharp tongue, he showed no mercy to He Yuexun: “Whether it is important or not is not for an outsider like you to decide. Besides, my only request is for him to explain what on earth he put in my wine. I am merely defending my basic rights.”
“Is that too much to ask?” he said.
It is very much too much to ask, Yu Yi thought silently. If I tell you, I won’t survive.
Would you believe me if I said I originally wanted to give you a knockout drug?
Even if I said it, using a knockout drug isn’t exactly a noble thing to do.
It is neither noble nor upright, System 987 said. You might even get arrested, and the plot mission would fail.
Don’t kick me while I’m down, Yu Yi thought.
He tried to shrink away, but it was useless; he was still held fast.
After thinking it over and replaying Shen Changqing’s request in his mind, He Yuexun realized there was nothing wrong with it, yet he remained stubborn.
His “love brain” had taken over, and he was unwilling to pressure Yu Yi.
This resulted in the three of them each holding a hand, one grabbing, one hiding, and one helping.
The power of the aphrodisiac waited for no one. Shen Changqing did not have as much time as Yu Yi and the other to stand around. He moved his palm up, intending to increase his grip.
At that moment, a sharp ripping sound rang out. The right side of Yu Yi’s fragile lace top was torn away.
His rounded, pale shoulder appeared under the soft lights, small and trembling. The forcibly torn threads drifted slowly to the floor.
Shen Changqing never imagined he would do something like ruining someone’s clothes.
His innate gentlemanly upbringing forced him to let go abruptly, releasing Yu Yi.
My clothes.
Yu Yi froze for a few seconds, feeling at a loss.
He Yuexun stared at Yu Yi’s exposed shoulder blade, which looked delicate and timid. His heart raced, and his ears turned red instantly.
After just two seconds, He Yuexun quickly looked away. He pulled the dazed Yu Yi aside and asked with a frantic, eager tone: “What… what is your name?”
“Yu Yi,” he replied slowly, not knowing why He Yuexun had pulled him over to ask his name.
The tone is wrong. System 987 cleared its throat and reminded him: Xiao Yi, you need to say your name with arrogance and confidence.
Just as Yu Yi was about to speak again to build his image as a vicious cannon fodder, he was stunned again by He Yuexun’s action of pulling the torn shirt back up to cover his shoulder.
He Yuexun’s hot palm rested on his shoulder.
Seeing Yu Yi look at him with a gaze that revealed slight gratitude amidst the confusion, He Yuexun’s confidence surged. He performed for Yu Yi, saying: “Xiao Yi, don’t take it to heart with Changqing… and don’t let it give you a bad impression of me. Changqing is just impulsive and acts without thinking. His mouth is as poisonous as a jar of venom. I’m not like him; I only touch someone when I’m certain of the situation.”
Shen Changqing: “…”
The hole in He Yuexun’s brain has grown larger, Shen Changqing thought, leaning his elbow on the banquet table.
He clenched his palms tightly, pinching his skin to endure the changes in his body.
Yu Yi: “…”
Is that speech correct?
Facing He Yuexun directly, Yu Yi didn’t understand but felt it was very strange.
He thought, what is He Yuexun trying to say? Touching someone only when certain… could he mean he’s only touching me because he’s certain I drugged the drink?
The palm on his shoulder rubbed slightly. Feeling the constant friction, Yu Yi’s face turned pale.
Is He Yuexun a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
He knew that for this group of Long Aotian types, simple business relationships were impossible.
What should I do! The mission is so hard.
… System 987 found it hard to evaluate a host who was such a cowardly, timid idiot prone to overthinking.
Sensing Yu Yi’s gaze, He Yuexun realized his hand on Yu Yi’s shoulder was too frivolous and playboy-like. He quickly let go and defended himself: “I wasn’t being inappropriate.”
“I just didn’t want you to be seen… I was afraid you’d be uncomfortable with people staring.” Amidst his hurried and contradictory words, Yu Yi became even more certain of his suspicions.
Having no time for their ambiguous atmosphere, Shen Changqing frowned and said with cold, merciless irony: “He Yuexun, if you like being the center of attention, if you like falling in love, if you like someone like Yu Yi, I can personally sponsor a dating show to help you solve your needs.”
“But getting involved with someone who drugged my glass and tried to climb the social ladder, and then passionately defending him… it is truly a pathetic and disgusting display.” In just two sentences, Shen Changqing insulted both Yu Yi and He Yuexun.
The conflict reached a breaking point. He Yuexun shielded Yu Yi behind him. With the confidence of a fellow elite, he said sharply: “Does what I like have anything to do with you? I don’t need your sponsorship; I have plenty of money. And what right do you have to say Xiao Yi drugged your glass? Do you have evidence? Don’t go throwing accusations around; only a filthy mouth spews filth!”
Faced with He Yuexun’s crude words, Shen Changqing’s brow furrowed deeply. He spoke in a calm, flat tone: “He was by my side just now. He was leaning against me.”
He Yuexun immediately interrupted: “That is only grounds for suspicion.”
“Without solid evidence, you are slandering a beautiful, kind-hearted boy and even tore his clothes.” With logic on his side, He Yuexun struck directly at what Shen Changqing cared about most, driving needles into the wound word by word: “Shen Changqing, where is your gentlemanly upbringing? Don’t you pride yourself on being a British-style high-class gentleman with a next-level upbringing?”
“By doing this, where is your grace? Where is your level? I don’t see it. I only see ‘low.’ You are cheap to the bone.” He hit the mark, dancing specifically on Shen Changqing’s triggers.
Since childhood, no one had dared to speak to Shen Changqing so sharply.
After all, Long Aotians are raised on praise.
However, He Yuexun belonged to the same social class as Shen Changqing, so he spoke his mind without regard for face. He had the background to ensure he would suffer no consequences.
Suddenly, the people surrounding the three of them began to clap one after another. He Yuexun was essentially speaking for them.
How often does one get to see an elite get scolded?
“Exactly, where is President Shen’s grace? Doing that to Yu Yi without evidence is just too ugly,” someone took the lead in saying.
Like a rapidly spreading virus, others soon began to whisper: “I’ve always said that people of President Shen’s special class don’t understand human nature. No matter how polite they act, they are arrogant to the bone.”
“Exactly! Even if someone really wanted to seduce him, they wouldn’t drug him in public. How is that different from turning oneself in at a police station? Yu Yi isn’t an idiot.”
It seems I’ve been called an idiot and a dummy, Yu Yi thought upon hearing the crowd’s evaluation.
System 987 said: To the masses, a vicious cannon fodder is always foolish. Xiao Yi, this shows you are playing the role well.
Yu Yi: “So that’s how it is. Thank you, 987. I will work harder in that direction!”
The guests at the banquet each added a comment, putting Shen Changqing on the spot. His pride was being trampled. To reclaim his dignity, he said coldly: “Do I need to show grace to someone who might have drugged me?”
He Yuexun replied instantly: “Yes.”
Shen Changqing narrowed his eyes: “Fine, I will maintain my grace.”
As Shen Changqing backed down, He Yuexun took a step forward and said to him: “Not only that, you also need to apologize to him.”
The victim having to apologize to the perpetrator—the world had turned upside down.
Shen Changqing stopped frowning and instead gave a frustrated, mocking laugh, raising an eyebrow with restraint. He waited for He Yuexun to continue, wanting to see what other nonsense he could come up with.
Sensing Shen Changqing’s indulgence, He Yuexun became like a professional contrarian, specifically picking at Shen Changqing’s anger: “After all, an important part of a gentleman’s upbringing is having the courage to take responsibility for one’s mistakes.”
Good, very good, Shen Changqing sneered in his heart. He glanced at Yu Yi behind He Yuexun.
Meeting Shen Changqing’s gaze, Yu Yi flinched.
Xiao Yi, join the fray now. System 987 reminded him: Now is your chance to show the arrogance of a vicious cannon fodder. Follow He Yuexun’s lead and demand an apology from Shen Changqing.
Yu Yi: “Okay, okay, okay.”
Leaving He Yuexun’s protection, Yu Yi walked up to Shen Changqing. He tilted his fair neck, putting on a show of power. He pointed his small, pink nose at Shen Changqing: “Yuexun is right. You need to apologize to me.”
“Gentleman Shen,” he said in a provocative, cat-like tone.
Enduring the heat of the aphrodisiac, Shen Changqing looked toward his assistant in the crowd.
The assistant, who had been observing the situation and was ready to help at any moment, immediately stepped forward toward them.
First, he gave Shen Changqing a ninety-degree bow, then glanced at Yu Yi and bowed again, saying: “Mr. Yu, I would like to express our President Shen’s apologies to you.”
“Don’t accept it,” He Yuexun said loudly, fearing Yu Yi would soften and forgive him immediately.
Shen Changqing letting his assistant apologize for him was an insult to Yu Yi! He Yuexun especially looked down on Shen Changqing’s arrogant posturing.
He completely ignored the fact that if he were in such a position of moral kidnapping, he would act just like Shen Changqing, refusing to apologize personally and letting others speak for him.
He Yuexun: “Shen Changqing, apologize personally.”
Yu Yi: “…”
A Long Aotian apologizing to him? He wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.
System 987: You must think about it. Because you are a vicious cannon fodder.
“Yes, you must apologize personally,” Yu Yi said as if he had been injected with adrenaline. He looked down on Shen Changqing and glanced haughtily at the assistant, contrary to the grateful expression Shen Changqing had expected.
“My apologies. It was my mistake, I misunderstood you,” Shen Changqing said, letting the matter go lightly. He knew he could not waste any more time; he had to deal with the drug in his system immediately.
System 987 reminded him again: Xiao Yi, be more overbearing.
“What do you mean ‘my mistake’?” Pretending not to understand the apology, Yu Yi arrogantly made a demand, imitating Shen Changqing’s indifferent tone: “You should say: ‘It was my, Shen Changqing’s, fault. Please, Young Master Yu Yi, be the bigger person and forgive me.'”
The apology itself was already trampling on Shen Changqing’s pride, but this specific format was like dancing on his spine.
The air went still. The onlookers held their breath, and even He Yuexun didn’t dare to speak.
He glanced at Shen Changqing, wanting to see what his friend would do, while thinking about how he would comfort Yu Yi and win his heart if Shen Changqing refused.
To everyone’s surprise, the veins on Shen Changqing’s arms bulged. He did not look angry; he was as cold as a corpse. He flatly repeated Yu Yi’s demand: “Young Master Yu Yi, it was my, Shen Changqing’s, fault. Please be the bigger person and forgive me.”
Yu Yi nodded randomly: “Mhm, mhm.”
Staring at Yu Yi’s snowy-white jawline swaying in front of him, Shen Changqing felt like snapping it. The look he gave Yu Yi was incredibly hot, his deep, dark pupils like those of a wolf ready to tear Yu Yi apart.
Yu Yi.
Do you like apologies that much?
This hypocritical, shallow, flamboyant little person who loves to act tough and seduce others.
Don’t let me find an opportunity to get you into my hands.
…
Leaving the banquet hall, not far from the hotel’s underground garage, Yu Yi carefully parted a small branch in the cold, lush shrubbery.
He glanced toward the garage entrance, his slender fingers clutching the tender leaves like a cautious little rabbit officer.
Someone just passed by and glanced in his direction. The system’s voice rang in his ear:
Ding! The deserved amount has been deposited into your bank account.
His weak body flinched in fright. Just as he recovered, the person who had entered drove out and glanced at the bushes.
The system sound effect repeated. Yu Yi was startled again. He patted his chest and grumbled delicately: “987, once is enough. It’s a bit noisy.”
System 987 saw that Yu Yi was so scared his already fair face had turned several shades paler: Fine, the system will adjust it. For people or Long Aotians you have already met, the sound will only trigger the first time you meet. In other cases, it won’t sound no matter how many times they look at you. Is that okay?
Yu Yi: “Thank you.”
You’re welcome.
After a while, a few more guests came out of the garage. Yu Yi even saw He Yuexun’s figure. He turned his back to hide, swallowed quietly, and asked the system hesitantly: “Is… is the contact here?”
“And System, are you sure that if I use the same trade secret I stole before, change the names and stamps with editing software, and print it out, the contact really won’t notice?”
Not sure. System 987 imitated Yu Yi’s voice: But the world is a makeshift stage, and a novel world is even more so. The contact might not have seen those documents. Besides, you just have to insist that they are real. If the writing is blurry, say it’s a printing issue. Finally, based on your persona as a vicious cannon fodder, it’s perfectly fine to turn the tables and blame them.
Yu Yi: “…”
It felt wrong, but he had to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
It was impossible for him to go back to Shen Changqing.
After humiliating him like that and forcing him to apologize.
Going to him would be like delivering his head on a platter. He wasn’t an idiot.
Staying there wasn’t an option. After confirming that most of the people from the banquet had left, Yu Yi emerged from the bushes.
A small green leaf was stuck to his slightly upturned hair, and he didn’t notice it at all.
He was entirely focused on the fact that when he lied later, he had to be confident and generous. Even if it was fake, he had to act as if it were real so the contact wouldn’t dare to question him.
Right! Just like that! Yu Yi held his head high, looking at the row of black, expensive luxury cars in the garage. After identifying them, he locked onto a license plate and walked straight to a long Maybach.
The signal for the contact: knock on the window three times. Yu Yi repeated this in his mind and gently tapped on the window near the trunk, which was covered with privacy film. He knocked once, and the window slowly rolled down the next second.
Ding! The deserved amount has been deposited into your bank account.
The light in the underground garage was very dim and murky. Yu Yi could only see the lower half of the man sitting in the back seat.
The luxurious black suit wrapped around a pair of long legs that seemed to take up all the space in front of the wide seat. The outline of the thigh muscles was traced by the slightly loose suit pants, suggesting a powerful physique.
The lower half of his face was indifferent and cold, like a glass of crisp, pure red wine—mature, steady, and noble.
Is this the contact? Are contacts so noble-looking nowadays? Being a contact seems very high-class, Yu Yi thought.
The other person did not give Yu Yi a single glance, saying only one thing: “Give it to me.”
He was concise, and his presence was so strong that Yu Yi couldn’t help but admire his professional aura.
He took out the printed fake trade secrets and arrogantly tossed them into the car.
With a thud, they landed right in the center of the man’s lap. The man’s fingers paused. He picked up the folder and tossed it back. Yu Yi caught it immediately, pressing his fair fingers against the document.
He doesn’t want it? Yu Yi thought.
His fingers curled slightly. Yu Yi’s well-defined, pale little hand appeared in the man’s line of sight, each knuckle looking as pink as if touched by a paintbrush.
The length and size were almost comparable to a professional hand model.
The palm was fleshy and soft, much like the soft pads of a kitten. The light pink fingernails had a smooth curve, showing healthy half-moons.
He was inadvertently captivating the man inside.
The man’s gaze lingered on Yu Yi’s fingers. He spoke again, his voice a few degrees gentler than the first time: “Hand it over personally.”
Although he didn’t know why the contact had so many demands, Yu Yi followed them one by one to complete the plot mission.
He held the folder with both hands and offered it to the man in the back seat.
The man first took a deep look at his hand before taking the folder decisively, his fingertips brushing against Yu Yi’s fingernails.
The pink turned white for a moment. The man’s eyes lowered slightly, flashing with an unreadable, dark emotion.
Seeing the other person take it and place it on his lap to begin checking, Yu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
He planned to find an excuse to leave quickly after the hand-off.
Yu Yi’s fair and delicate hand had not yet completely left the car window.
A rough, well-defined hand stopped him, grabbing the wrist that had previously been squeezed by Shen Changqing.
The man’s grip was somewhat strong, causing Yu Yi—who should have been panicked and afraid of being caught with fake secrets—to forget his fear. He couldn’t help but let out a delicate cry: “Hiss—”
“It hurts…”