The Cannon Fodder Stole the Male Lead’s Script GL - Chapter 3

Campus Drama?

Jiang Yun paused.

She was sure she had just heard a sound like a game notification, but when she turned her head, there was nothing there. Yet as she continued walking toward the podium, the sound became even clearer.

[Welcome, player. The campus script “The School Beauty Is Everyone’s Crush” has been activated. Please faithfully play the role of the male lead until the final mission — #SweetLoveHappyEnding# — is complete. Completing the mission will increase your luck value; failing it will result in a corresponding deduction.]

[Current tasks:

1. Catch the female lead when she’s about to fall after being tripped by the side character.
2. Advance the love progress to 3%. Each task completed earns 0.5 luck points.]

So if she plays the male lead properly, completes the tasks, and pushes the love progress forward, she gains luck?

What the heck is this?!

As Jiang Yun passed Yan Kuo, she instinctively glanced at him and sure enough, saw his eyes fixed on Zhan Rao, looking like he was ready to pounce.

Jiang Yun: ?

“Now the ceremony will officially begin. Let’s welcome Principal Li Hongjuan to give the opening speech.”

Just as Jiang Yun sat down, the host began the opening remarks.

When the previously empty seat beside her was suddenly taken, Zhan Rao instinctively looked up to see who it was. To her surprise,  it was Jiang Yun! The girl who helped her that morning!

Because of the awkward situation earlier, Zhan Rao hadn’t dared look at Jiang Yun’s face properly and only sneaked a few peeks from behind when they went to the restroom. She vaguely remembered that the girl was tall, strikingly pretty, with a great figure and a high ponytail. Her hair color was a bit light.

Now seeing her up close, Jiang Yun’s beauty was even more dazzling. Her features looked like they were sculpted from porcelain—a straight, high nose, clearly shaped lips that were a bit more reddish than sakura pink, and skin as smooth as white jade. She sat upright beside Zhan Rao, her white shirt accentuating her posture, and her ink-blue school uniform skirt revealing a pair of long, straight legs.

Absolutely radiant!

Zhan Rao’s heart pounded uncontrollably, and her face flushed. Though the setting wasn’t ideal for greetings, the joy in her eyes was obvious.

Jiang Yun had naturally noticed Zhan Rao too. After all, this mysterious female lead was her target. And up close, she certainly deserved the title.

With the mask gone, her pale, tender face was even more pure and charming. Just one glance lifted Jiang Yun’s entire mood—the gloom from earlier vanished instantly.

She recalled a line from the dream:

[The moment Jiang Yun saw Zhan Rao, she wanted to tear her apart. She couldn’t stand Zhan Rao being prettier than her, couldn’t stand Yan Kuo and everyone else staring at Zhan Rao. Jealousy surged in her heart. She wanted nothing more than to scratch that sweet, innocent face to shreds.]

Every time Jiang Yun remembered that, she thought it was nonsense.

Even if this world was a novel, and she was the wicked cannon fodder, that storyline didn’t suit her character at all. With such a pretty face in front of her, how could she think of destroying it? Shouldn’t the plan be to flirt, hug the soft beauty tight, and… have a great time together, over and over?

“And now, let’s welcome student representative Zhan Rao to speak.”

The principal’s speech ended quickly. As soon as the name “Zhan Rao” was called, Jiang Yun’s gaze followed to the stage.

This Zhan Rao was nothing like the awkward girl from the morning. Standing on the podium now, she radiated confidence, strength, and brilliance.

“One step at a time, endlessly forward. Effort never goes to waste, it will flow into the sea. This is a quote I really like, and it constantly encourages me. Whether in life or studies, I believe that as long as we keep working hard, even just making a little progress each day, we will eventually reach the peaks of our dreams and arrive at the shores we long for. I’m Zhan Rao from Class 18, Grade 10. Thank you, everyone.”

After finishing her speech, the girl politely bowed and stepped down. Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Jiang Yun couldn’t help but clap too.

Beautiful and talented. This female lead was just her type!

“Thank you very much to our classmate Zhan Rao. Next, let’s invite Yan Kuo to speak.” The host took the microphone from Zhan Rao and guided her down. At the same time, Yan Kuo stood up, preparing to take her place.

Just as Zhan Rao handed over the mic and stepped off the stage, the cable on the floor was suddenly tugged by someone unknown, and it caught around her ankle.

She gave a startled cry and pitched forward, falling toward the ground.

Yan Kuo, who was three meters away, was thrilled when he saw it.

Here comes the task!

If he completed this, the script would officially start.

As long as he dated the female lead and pushed the love progress forward, his luck would rise. That meant he’d be the male lead of this world—always lucky, always successful.

He rushed forward in quick strides, arms ready to catch her—

But—

[Ding~ #Catch the Female Lead# task failed. Luck -0.5.]

Yan Kuo: ?

At the same time, a chorus of gasps echoed from the students in the auditorium.

“Whoa—” He looked up only to see that the girl who was supposed to fall into his arms had been caught by another.

A girl with a high ponytail, ink-blue school skirt, tall boots—Jiang Yun.

The two stunning girls were holding each other, gazing into each other’s eyes. The scene was breathtaking, wrapped in pink bubbles.

If Yan Kuo didn’t have a task or the title of male lead, he would’ve grabbed popcorn and sat down to ship them.

But the problem was—Jiang Yun had taken the very spot where he should have stood!

And she was… Jiang Yun?!!!

Wasn’t she supposed to be the wicked cannon fodder? Why didn’t she trip the female lead with the mic cord and instead caught her?!

This isn’t how the script goes!

Zhan Rao also thought she was about to fall hard in front of the entire school—she was terrified. But right before her body met the stage, someone caught her waist and held her firmly.

This posture… just like in the morning.

This person… was the same as that morning.

Zhan Rao’s face burned even hotter, and her heart was pounding out of her chest. She couldn’t even tell if it was fear or nerves.

Jiang Yun helped her stand. “Are you okay?”

Zhan Rao covered her flushed face and shook her head. “I’m okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Jiang Yun pointed to their seats.

Zhan Rao quickly understood and jogged back behind Jiang Yun, returning to her seat.

But once she sat down, her heart wouldn’t calm down no matter how tightly she clutched it. She was afraid the pounding was so loud it’d be heard by the person next to her. She didn’t even dare look at Jiang Yun, her eyes nervously fixed on the stage.

Coincidentally, Yan Kuo was looking at her too.

Their eyes met.

A notification rang in Yan Kuo’s mind.

[Ding~ Love progress has reached 3%. Luck +0.5]
[Your total luck is now: 0.]

Yan Kuo paused for a second, then suddenly understood: even if he didn’t catch the female lead or complete the first task, the story would still make her fall for him!

So even though Jiang Yun caught her just now, it didn’t matter.

Per(fect)(fect misunderstanding)!

He straightened up, fixed his uniform, and walked to the stage to give his speech.

Still full of fancy words, still thunderous applause.

Not because his speech was good, just because he was handsome. And because… the plot said so.

After him came Jiang Yun.

She stood at the podium without a single sheet of notes in her hand.

Her eyes swept steadily across thousands of students and teachers. Her voice showed no trace of fear.

“I know a lot of you don’t think I deserve to stand here.”

The cold, calm tone silenced the murmurs below.

“You only see me as the heiress of the Jiang Corporation, a girl with failing grades and a bad attitude.”

Now, all eyes were locked on her.

Even Yan Kuo, who used to sneer at her, glanced over and thought: At least you know your flaws.

Many others had the same thought. But curiosity also crept in—what was the notorious Miss Jiang doing airing her dirty laundry on stage?

“In the past, I didn’t care to explain. But today, I just want to tell you. I’m standing here because I deserve to.”

The whole room held its breath, not daring to exhale.

Had Jiang Yun lost it?

How dare she say something so arrogant? Did she think the school belonged to her?!

Even the homeroom teacher of Grade 10 Class 1 turned pale with fright.

Leaders from the education bureau and school board sitting at the back all had stern faces.

But Jiang Yun smiled and continued. “As the representative of the art students, I’ve been painting for fifteen years. I’ve won many youth art awards both at home and abroad. Some of you might know that I received an invitation from the Liebin Academy of Fine Arts last year. But I didn’t go. That was just one opportunity. I have a long life ahead and many more chances to come. But attending Yinchuan High is an irreplaceable part of that journey.”

Her words now had everyone’s full attention. Even the director of the education bureau, who had been about to have her pulled off stage, stopped the principal and leaned in to hear more.

“Yinchuan High is like me. In the eyes of outsiders, neither of us has a good reputation. People think this school is full of spoiled rich kids, wasting top resources without giving anything back. Wasting their lives on their parents’ hard-earned money. But is that really who we are?!”

Jiang Yun’s voice rang out loud and clear.

Everyone froze. They exchanged glances, something unspoken beginning to stir within them.

A few tentative voices answered, “No!”

Jiang Yun: “Then do we want to become people like that?!”

Voices grew louder: “No!”

Jiang Yun: “Are we really worse than everyone else?”

This time, the answer came from the whole auditorium: “Not necessarily!”

Jiang Yun: “So we will spread our wings, we will become unstoppable, we will have bright futures, right?!”

The entire school answered in unison, “Right!!!”

The high school section of Yinchuan High was ablaze with passion.

They had endured so many rumors, so many accusations of being spoiled and useless.

Just because they had privileged backgrounds, did they have to shoulder more blame?

Just because their grades were weak, but they had other talents, did that mean they deserved to be dismissed?

Was judging someone by scores alone really right? Did they need red ink on a test paper to prove their worth?

No!

No one else had the right to decide who they should be!

Not parents!
Not schools!
Not society!

Their lives were theirs to define!

“Look, this is our school. These are our students! Maybe we don’t look impressive to outsiders, but we know we’re amazing! Our school is amazing! Because this is a school that values whole-person development. A school that teaches us humility. A school that tells us we are not limited to just one path!”

“And we, the new Class of Grade 10, are full of possibilities. We are the students of Yinchuan who will soar high!”

“Thank you, everyone!”

Jiang Yun took a step back and gave a steady bow.

The applause that erupted was louder and more intense than for any speech before.

Because these were the true feelings of every Yinchuan student!

Not only students, even teachers clapped with tears in their eyes as they watched the girl walk off stage. Even the officials in the back nodded in approval.

Under everyone’s gaze, Jiang Yun returned to her seat.

At that moment, no one dared say she didn’t deserve to stand on that stage.

Once, Jiang Yun was a disgraced side character, forced into a role she didn’t choose, unable to fight back.

But now, awakened, she would not be overshadowed by unfair fate or a rotten script.

So, what if she was fated to play the wicked side character?

She was still the main character of her own life.

Because she was Jiang Yun!