The Cannon Fodder Stole the Male Lead’s Script GL - Chapter 12

On Friday night, the two of them painted together until it was very late. The sky outside had grown completely dark, and the school’s streetlights had already flickered to life. It was only then that Jiang Yun finished applying the final touches of color. She carefully peeled the paper from the drawing board and handed it to Zhan Rao.

“It isn’t perfect. I was a bit rushed, so please don’t mind the flaws.”

Zhan Rao took the painting and examined it closely. Jiang Yun’s work was exquisite. The portrait looked even more radiant and charming than she did in real life. The depiction gave off a cheerful glow, and Zhan Rao’s heart felt as if it were blooming with joy.

After admiring the image carefully, she gently passed the painting back to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun looked at her, puzzled.

With a sweet smile, Zhan Rao said, “Rather than having you give this to me, I would prefer if you kept it yourself.”

Jiang Yun looked startled and asked, “Why would you want that?”

Zhan Rao nervously wrung her hands together in front of her body and pouted slightly. “Well… I just hope it stays with you.”

If Jiang Yun gave the painting to her, then its meaning would only belong to Zhan Rao. However, if Jiang Yun kept it, it would serve as a reminder that she had once created a portrait of someone else. Perhaps that memory would leave a stronger impression on her.

Of course, Zhan Rao had a hidden reason as well. As far as she knew, Jiang Yun had never drawn anyone else before. If Jiang Yun held on to a picture of her, then it would show others that she held a unique place in Jiang Yun’s life.

To Zhan Rao, Jiang Yun was like redemption. And she hoped to become someone equally special to Jiang Yun.

“Jiang Yun, will you keep the painting safe?”

The girl’s eyes sparkled with expectation. Jiang Yun felt that it would be heartless to say no.

With a soft, slightly helpless smile, she agreed. “Alright. I will take good care of it. If you ever want it, just let me know and I will give it to you.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Zhan Rao burst forward with excitement and threw her arms around Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun was speechless.

Their two delicate bodies touched. The sensation… it made her face warm unexpectedly.

Zhan Rao pulled back, satisfied. “Then it’s settled. Also, don’t forget to study hard this weekend. You promised me you’d work to become truly excellent.”

The look on her face was full of smug satisfaction, like a proud little kitten who had just succeeded in a clever scheme. Jiang Yun, snapping out of her daze after being hugged, could not help but laugh. “Alright. I promise.”

Zhan Rao raised her eyebrows and said, “It’s a deal then.”

Jiang Yun nodded. “It’s a deal.”

Only after receiving her agreement did Zhan Rao finally leave, grinning from ear to ear the entire way.

She had hugged Jiang Yun again today. Jiang Yun’s body felt so soft. Her hair smelled so nice. Her waist was so slim. She longed to hug her a little longer, but in order not to make it obvious, she restrained herself.

“There’s always next time,” she told herself firmly, clenching her fist in silent determination.

As she watched Zhan Rao walk away, Jiang Yun looked down at the painting in her hands. She could not help but smile and shake her head. She truly didn’t understand why she always allowed Zhan Rao to cross her boundaries so freely.

Perhaps it was because Zhan Rao was simply too beautiful.

So beautiful that one couldn’t bear to refuse her.

She carefully stored the painting away.

Originally, Jiang Yun had planned to head straight home. She had never been one to take homework seriously. From childhood until now, she never did her assignments properly. She always found someone else to do them for her. The concept of returning to the classroom on a Friday afternoon after school just to pack her books had never even crossed her mind.

But then she remembered the little girl’s hopeful expression and the promise she had made. That thought gave her a headache.

At 7:30 p.m., Jiang Yun appeared in the classroom.

By that time, the evening self-study session had already been in progress for over an hour and a half. Her sudden appearance left many of the students surprised.

Xin Keke nudged Li Yue’s arm and motioned for her to look toward the back door.

Following her friend’s gaze, Li Yue saw Jiang Yun.

“Why is she coming back at this hour? Doesn’t she usually skip evening study sessions?” Xin Keke whispered curiously into Li Yue’s ear.

At Yinchuan High, only boarding students were required to attend evening study sessions. Day students didn’t have to go. However, some students who were ambitious and wanted to challenge themselves could apply to attend voluntarily. Students like Li Yue and Xin Keke were among those.

Li Yue shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She looked only once before turning back to her math workbook, yet she could not focus on even a single character.

Though her eyes had turned away, all her thoughts remained on Jiang Yun.

In truth, she had hoped Jiang Yun would come to ask her why she had moved out. Maybe then she could offer an explanation and perhaps move back in. She missed having Jiang Yun as a strong presence beside her. She also missed being the only one known as Miss Jiang’s close friend.

But that did not happen.

From the moment Jiang Yun walked into the classroom, she did not even pause her steps. She certainly did not come to confront her.

“What’s the weekend homework?” Jiang Yun asked while knocking lightly on the desk of the student sitting behind her.

Her clear and cool voice rang out distinctly in the quiet classroom. Everyone turned their eyes to her again.

The student behind her was startled and quickly pulled out a small notebook. They replied nervously, “Chinese is workbook pages one to five. English is one worksheet. Math is a review packet plus a worksheet. Physics is…”

Jiang Yun opened her phone’s memo app and typed quickly. After she finished recording everything, she nodded and said, “Thank you.”

She then crouched down and packed all the required books and workbooks into her backpack in one go before leaving.

Once she had left, the remaining students exchanged glances, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“Did I really see that? Miss Jiang actually came back to grab her books?”

“You didn’t imagine it. She asked me about the homework, too. And she said thank you. I’m completely stunned.”

“Jiang Yun feels… different now.”

“Yeah. Ever since this semester began, something has been off.”

That rousing speech delivered during the opening ceremony had certainly been given by her.

“She doesn’t seem as distant as the rumors made her out to be.”

“Honestly, with a face like that, I’d definitely want to be friends.”

“Same here.”

“…”

All around the classroom, the students were murmuring about Jiang Yun. At her desk, Li Yue clenched her black pen tightly, unable to write another word.

When had Jiang Yun earned the reputation of being unapproachable?

It likely started back in third grade, after Li Yue carried her on her back once and their friendship began.

Every time someone asked what Jiang Yun was like, Li Yue would respond with a tone of slight pride. She would say, “Miss Jiang is from a wealthy family. Of course, she’s different from us ordinary people. That said, I have always had plenty of patience, and I know how to deal with her.

Over time, everyone began to believe that Jiang Yun had a strange personality and treated people coldly. Only Li Yue seemed capable of interacting with her.

But now, Li Yue had fled from Jiang Yun in humiliation. She no longer had the right to stand in Jiang Yun’s spotlight.

The bitterness was unbearable.

At the Jiang family villa, inside the study.

Jiang Yun had been resting her chin on her hand, staring at her math worksheet for more than an hour. Aside from the bold strokes spelling out her name at the top, the rest of the paper remained completely blank.

The question on the paper stated that set A is defined as the set of all rational numbers greater than negative one. Following that, the problem continued with several answer choices.

Four answer choices followed.

She didn’t need to read them. She didn’t even fully understand the question.

Her Montblanc fountain pen twirled between her fingers. After a long internal struggle, she reached a decision.

She gave up.

Studying just wasn’t possible for her. Not in this lifetime.

Just as she was about to put down the pen, her phone chimed with a new message. It was from Zhan Rao.

Zhan Rao had written a message asking, “Jiang Yun, did you bring your homework books back? Please make sure you study well, alright?”

Jiang Yun stared silently.

She glanced at the math worksheet again.

Forget it. Maybe she could try a little longer.

Jiang Yun replied, “Yes.”

Zhan Rao responded quickly: “That’s good. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me~”

The very next moment, Zhan Rao received a photo from Jiang Yun via WeChat.

It showed a clean and untouched math worksheet. The only writing on the page was her name at the top.

Zhan Rao felt a flicker of happiness that Jiang Yun was reaching out to her. But then…

She asked, “Which question don’t you understand?”

Jiang Yun replied: “All of them.”

Zhan Rao paused.

She asked again, “Not even the first one?”

Jiang Yun confirmed, “No.”

Now she had a clear understanding of Jiang Yun’s academic level. Scoring thirty to fifty on a math test really had not been an exaggeration. And most likely, even those points had been guessed.

She glanced at the time. It was already half past ten. She told Jiang Yun to sleep early and invited her to the library the next morning so she could tutor her.

She wrote, “It’s late now. Get some sleep so you’ll have enough energy to study tomorrow.”

Then she sent another message, “Want to go to the library tomorrow and study together?”

Jiang Yun responded, “Library?”

She had only been to one once, and that was when her older brother took her there as a child. After that, she had never returned. Whenever she needed books, someone from the household staff would deliver them. She had never needed to visit a library.

After thinking for a moment, she replied, “Okay.”

Zhan Rao was thrilled by the message. She smiled and sent another, “Great! It’s a plan. Don’t back out tomorrow.”

Jiang Yun replied, “Okay.”

Zhan Rao sent the last message, “Eight o’clock, City Library. Don’t be late. [Waiting for you~.jpg]”

Jiang Yun saw the playful sticker and sent back, “Okay.”

She put her phone away. Then, the familiar digital notification tone rang in her mind.

The system said, [Ding. Your main mission on the friendship line has been updated.]

She tapped it open and saw that Zhan Rao’s affection score toward her had increased by two points. Jiang Yun smiled to herself. Her heart felt warm.

Just as she was about to close the screen and get ready for bed, another system alert popped up.

[Ding. You have received a new mission prompt.]

[Current mission. First, meet the female lead by coincidence at the library. Reach for the same book at the same time. Lead her to say, “What a coincidence.” Then, sit and study together. Second, help the female lead solve several math problems. Question one is: ****. Answer: ****. Question two is: *****. Answer: *****. Question three is: ****. Answer: …………]

[Each successful task will reward you with 0.5 luck points.]

Jiang Yun stared in disbelief.

This was absurd.