[Quick Transmigration] The Pretty Little Cannon Fodder Who Doesn’t Speak - Chapter 4

“I don’t know why you like me, but liking someone is not just about their appearance. My parents didn’t want me to study—they wanted me to drop out and start working to support my younger brother. I was at a dead end when I met Song Qingchuan. He paid for my education and helped me get into university, and gave me the chance to see a much wider world…”

“The world out there is so vibrant and colourful that it blinded me. I thought that for a better life, I could cast aside the one who pulled me up from the abyss. But I can’t forget him. It’s not that Song Qingchuan can’t live without me—it’s that I can’t live without Song Qingchuan! If I could abandon Song Qingchuan, would I even be worth your love?”

Xia Zhixu’s eyes were red, filled with tears, but the words that came out of his mouth were unusually firm.　　

Jiang Minghui stared dumbfounded at Xia Zhixu. In an instant, he felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.　

He was unaware of the specifics of what had happened between Xia Zhixu and Song Qingchuan. It was their foolish bet that had shaken the resolve of this once-strong and grateful person… Their joke caused Xia Zhixu immense pain.

As the son of a second-generation wealthy family, Jiang Minghui was all too familiar with how people behaved when faced with temptation.

It wasn’t Xia Zhixu’s fault. He was still too young. And yet… Xia Zhixu had come to his senses too quickly.

Thump! Thump! Thump!…　

His heart pounded in his chest like a heavy hammer striking his heart, each one deafening. At that moment, Xia Zhixu seemed to be bathed in a glow before his eyes.　

Xia Zhixu seemed even more attractive.  

And he… seemed to like Xia Zhixu even more.

“… I know I was wrong. Whatever punishment you want to give me, I’ll accept it. But I really can’t be with you. Goodbye!” 

Noticing the rapid changes in Jiang Minghui’s expression, Xia Zhixu was afraid Jiang Minghui would hit him. After all, Jiang Minghui was at a stage in life where his pride was enormous, and Xia Zhixu couldn’t help but think about the impact of a punch from those well-defined muscles he had developed—it would definitely hurt a lot.

Xia Zhixu hurriedly finished speaking and turned to leave, terrified that if he walked too slowly, Jiang Minghui would pull him back and beat him up.  　　

Xia Zhixu spent half a day returning all the valuable gifts he had received.  　　

Yuan Bao was utterly shocked.  　　

Mainly because Xia Zhixu had been crying for most of that time.　

His eyes were swollen and red.　　

Yuan Bao looked at the pitiful Xia Zhixu and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility.　　

The training instructor had said that some hosts were like the system’s children, and the system had to take good care of them!

***

In the southern district of the old city, provincial capital of Province A.　

Xia Zhixu stared blankly at Song Qingchuan in front of him.　

Yuan Bao thought Xia Zhixu had been scared witless and hurriedly comforted him with a concerned voice, ‘Host, don’t be afraid! It’s okay. The current Song Qingchuan hasn’t fully turned dark yet. Don’t cry! Keep going! You can do it! If he tries to hurt you, Yuan Bao will protect you…’　　

Xia Zhixu’s lips moved, but he didn’t hear a single word Yuan Bao said. There was only one question in his mind—how could Lu Heyan be here?　　

The person he had hidden deep in his heart…　　

Back in his original world, Xia Zhixu had attended a school, and most of the younger generation in his family also attended the same school. While other students didn’t treat him terribly, the succession battle among the younger generation had already begun. They couldn’t stand each other. 

And Xia Zhixu was the weakest and the most miserable one—anyone could step on him.　　

Other students, seeing this situation, would either join in stepping on him or pretend that he didn’t exist.　　

It could be said that his personality, including his social anxiety, was mainly shaped by prolonged school violence and bullying.　　

It was Lu Heyan who pulled the soaking-wet Xia Zhixu out of the dark, enclosed toilet stall.　　

Lu Heyan’s mother had died early, and his father was a gambling addict. However, his academic performance was excellent, so the school made a notable exception to admit him, exempting him from tuition fees and providing subsidies.  　　

However, he still had to rely on part-time work to maintain his basic livelihood, spending most weekends doing odd jobs.　　

He was Xia Zhixu’s bridge to the outside world.　　

To show him gratitude, Xia Zhixu accompanied him and helped him with his work. At first, Lu Heyan kept him at arm’s length, but under Xia Zhixu’s persistent efforts, his attitude gradually softened.　　

Lu He would buy him medicine with the bit of money he had, would buy him cakes, and tell him, “I’m so miserable yet I still strive to survive. At least you don’t have to worry about money, so you must live even more strongly.”  　　

He would also say, “I’ll work hard to earn money. I’ll take you away from the Xia family, okay?”　　

Such a kind Lu Heyan died on the eve of his eighteenth birthday.

Xia Mingyu of the Xia family was the least favoured member besides Xia Zhixu. Though he was just as neglected as Xia Zhixu, he inexplicably resented Xia Zhixu. He connected with Lu Heyan’s gambling-addicted father, who, to get money, accepted Xia Mingyu’s offer.　　

He had someone invite Xia Zhixu to his house under the name of Lu Heyan. Xia Zhixu naively went there. The gambler wanted to strip Xia Zhixu naked, take photos of him, and use them for long-term blackmail. As long as the pictures existed, Xia Zhixu would have no choice but to keep sending him money.

Lu Heyan, who was participating in a school-sponsored competition, forgot to bring his ID card and returned home to retrieve it, only to witness this scene. 

He fought with his father, his eyes bloodshot with fury. He pinned his gambling addict father to the ground, intending to strangle him. In a panic, his father grabbed a knife and stabbed Lu Heyan.　

All Xia Zhixu remembered was that there was so much blood.  

Before Lu Heyan died, he kept telling him not to be afraid, told him to live well, and kept saying he was sorry.  

Lu Heyuan died, and his gambling addict father was arrested, confessing everything.  

Xia Mingyu was then arrested as well, since he was still a student, and he hadn’t even bothered to cover his tracks and his connection with the gambler was exposed. He never expected the gambler would go so far as to kill.　

Because Lu Heyan’s academic performance had been outstanding, and with such a tragic background, the case made huge waves online and hit the news. To protect their reputation, the Xia family disowned Xia Mingyu.  　

Xia Mingyu was sentenced to prison, and the gambler was executed.　

It seemed like a happy ending, but Lu Heyuan was gone forever.　　

Xia Zhixu remembered Lu Heyan’s words to live well. So he tried—he worked very hard, worked super, super hard and tried his best to survive. Unfortunately, he wasn’t smart enough—like a useless person—lacking abilities to be someone who could wield power, nor the ruthlessness or enough favouritism from his family to become someone who could act like a lawless tyrant…　　

With someone like Lu Heyan, how could he possibly like Lu Jingzhi?  　　

Their appearances might be similar, but that feeling—it couldn’t be faked. Xia Zhixu couldn’t be fooled. The person in front of him was Lu Heyan!　　

Lu Heyan from another world!  　　

Now the person he had longed for day and night had appeared right in front of him. Xia Zhixu couldn’t care less about anything else. He was at a loss—trembling and unable to speak.

Song Qingchuan frowned, flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground, crushed it with his foot, then stood and walked away with long strides. He didn’t even know where he should go—he just… didn’t want to stay here.

Don’t go! Don’t go! I’ve been so good! I’ve really tried my best to live! But… It’s just so exhausting.