The Cannon Fodder Stole the Male Lead’s Script GL - Chapter 43

Zhan Rao pressed her lips together, unable to hold back a smile. She raised her hand and touched Jiang Yun’s face. Without meaning to, she pinched the soft flesh of her cheek. Her fingertips met a tender and delicate cheek. Her eyes were drawn to those red lips, and without thinking, she leaned in closer.

“Miss Zhan, hello. Please hand our young lady over to me.”

Zhan Rao jumped. She looked up and saw Jiang Ming, who had somehow appeared beside them. His eyes were sharp as he stared at her.

Panic struck her, and she quickly helped Jiang Yun steady herself.

Before she could say anything, Jiang Ming gently lifted Jiang Yun into his arms and placed her into the car with utmost care.

Afterward, he bowed respectfully to Zhan Rao. “Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Zhan. Our young lady will take her leave now.”

He gave another polite bow and left as though nothing unusual had occurred.

But Zhan Rao’s face was burning red.

The older driver had almost certainly witnessed the entire scene that just took place.

On the way back home, Jiang Yun stirred and opened her eyes slightly. Jiang Ming had been watching her from the rearview mirror and immediately offered reassurance.

“Young lady, we’re on our way home.”

Hearing his voice, Jiang Yun looked around and recognized her own car. She let out a small sigh and fell back asleep.

Jiang Ming turned back to the road, his expression thoughtful.

Jiang Yun had been completely drunk. Even the next day, her head was still foggy. It was not until Monday morning that she finally sobered up, just in time for school.

She sat in the car and turned on her phone, and immediately messages began pouring in. Nearly all of them were from Zhan Rao, who kept asking how she was feeling and whether she had recovered.

There were also messages from Xin Keke and Qin Meng.

Xin Keke: Jiang Yun, the video of you and Zhan Rao is blowing up online.

Qin Meng: Rich Girl you’re famous now. You better thank me.

Attached was a video link.

The link led to a short clip filmed on the day Qin Meng slipped into Jiang Yun’s car after leaving the theater.

Originally, fans just wanted to capture a moment of meeting their idol, Qin Meng. But somehow, someone had turned the camera toward Jiang Yun and Zhan Rao, and edited the scene of Jiang Yun holding Zhan Rao into its own standalone video.

Beneath the clip were countless comments.

“That big sister is so handsome.”

“They look perfect together.”

“Big orange and big luck!”

Some fans who liked their looks went even further.

“They should debut. Their visuals are on par with Qin Meng.”

“That girl being held is way too cute.”

Reading through the comments, Jiang Yun suddenly remembered.

In the original script, Zhan Rao had indeed gone viral online at one point. She even received offers from several media companies inviting her to debut as a celebrity.

Later on, Zhan Rao did enter the entertainment industry and eventually met Jiang Yun’s friend, Qin Meng.

The two were close in age and had their own distinctive appearances, so they clashed terribly in the entertainment world.

To put it simply, Jiang Yun was just a villainess in a school drama, while Qin Meng succeeded her as the villainess in the entertainment industry. She schemed against the female lead for Jiang Yun’s sake, only to be thoroughly defeated and become a lifelong enemy of the lead.

But Jiang Yun only remembered the parts of the script she herself was in. The rest was vague.

Yet now, seeing the video and the flood of comments urging Zhan Rao to debut, Jiang Yun felt a sudden helplessness.

It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, Zhan Rao was still going to end up entangled with Qin Meng. They were bound to cross paths in the entertainment world.

What was meant to happen would still happen in the end.

So was the fate she had been struggling to change only going to follow its original course after all?

“Jiang Yun, what are you looking at? Did you see my message? You and Zhan Rao are trending online,” Xin Keke said. She could not resist bringing it up again when she noticed Jiang Yun spacing out after entering the classroom.

Jiang Yun exited the app and nodded. “Yeah, I saw it.”

“Well, you two are definitely top-tier in terms of looks, even in the entertainment world. So it’s only natural people noticed you,” Xin Keke said, resting her chin on her hand casually.

She wasn’t just making small talk either. She had something more important to say.

“Jiang Yun, what are you going to do about the incident where Zhan Rao got hurt? I heard the group from Hongye High has already been expelled, and those two thugs were handed over to the police. Was that your doing?”

Jiang Yun frowned at her words.

She looked up at her, surprised.

Xin Keke looked a little sheepish. “I didn’t mean to follow you. That day…” She paused and glanced toward the third row, where Li Yue was chatting happily with her classmates. “I saw her sneaking around with a second-year girl and got suspicious, so I followed them. But I didn’t expect…”

Jiang Yun’s brows furrowed deeper.

“You’re saying Li Yue was behind all this?”

She had made some calls to investigate and found out that someone from Yinchuan High had been behind the scheme. She had suspected Li Yue too.

Because in the original story, it was Jiang Yun who was jealous of Zhan Rao and sent people to mess with her.

But since Jiang Yun had gradually deviated from her role as a villainess and avoided many of the original plot points, someone else had to take her place to keep the story moving. That person naturally became Li Yue.

“What else do you know?”

Xin Keke heard her question and pulled out her phone, as if to hand it over. But then she hesitated. She glanced at Li Yue again.

“I don’t know anything more.”

Jiang Yun said nothing.

Xin Keke was a terrible liar.

Just minutes ago, she had wanted to tell her everything. But when the time came, she couldn’t go through with it.

Jiang Yun understood. After all, Li Yue had once been the person Xin Keke had gone all out to protect. Even now, she still harbored a sliver of hope for her.

It is like when you have broken off with someone you once cared about deeply. No matter how badly they hurt you, the good memories always linger. The anger fades, but the warmth remains.

“It’s fine. You can deal with it your own way. I’ll also have someone continue looking into it. Whether it’s Li Yue or not, I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Jiang Yun patted her on the shoulder and turned to prepare her books for class.

But now Xin Keke hesitated.

She had heard about Zhan Rao’s injured arm. She even knew that the two thugs involved were not ordinary troublemakers. One of them was linked to a major crime. That meant Li Yue had truly gone too far this time.

Still, she could not bear to see her keep making mistakes.

Even if she knew the girl had a bad heart and had done many awful things, she still wished she could change.

After class, Xin Keke waited until Li Yue went to the restroom. Then she cornered her.

“Li Yue, was it you who planned the attack on Zhan Rao last Friday night?”

Li Yue saw her face in the mirror and turned away, refusing to engage. But hearing her question, she froze. A flicker of panic crossed her face, but she quickly composed herself and continued washing her hands like nothing had happened.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word.”

“You and Yang Mengke from the second year arranged to have people ambush Zhan Rao from Class 18 in that alley. Her arm got smashed because of it. Are you still going to deny it?”

Xin Keke’s eyes were full of certainty.

Li Yue’s heart sank, but she refused to admit anything.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why would I do that to her? I’ve got no grudge against her. I’m not crazy.”

“No grudge?” Xin Keke scoffed. “Back in that escape room game, you claimed you didn’t like Yan Kuo. You said Jiang Yun misunderstood and targeted you because she liked him. That she even teamed up with Zhan Rao to hurt you. But the truth is that you are the one who likes Yan Kuo, and you feel jealous because he likes Zhan Rao.”

Honestly, Jiang Yun and Zhan Rao looked more like a couple. Yan Kuo didn’t stand a chance.

“You denied your feelings for Yan Kuo to me. You denied your jealousy. But that was just you using my affection for you. Just like you’re using Yang Mengke now. You act all innocent in front of her, but she’s the one doing your dirty work. I bet even if she takes the fall, she won’t drag you down with her.”

“Li Yue, you’re really good at manipulating people.”

Li Yue’s expression darkened with every word.

Still, she stubbornly refused to admit anything.

“You’re talking nonsense. I don’t like Yan Kuo, so how could I be jealous of Zhan Rao? I didn’t use you or Yang Mengke. What, are you saying both of you are in love with me? Please, we’re both girls. Are you saying you’re a lesbian?”

Li Yue smirked at her sarcastically.

Other students from different classes were nearby and walking past them.

They were all students of Yinchuan High. Naturally, some of them were familiar with her.

Li Yue had said it on purpose.

Teenagers loved gossip. Even a simple rumor about puppy love could spread rapidly like wildfire, and rumors involving same-s*x attraction would circulate even more intensely.

She had done it on purpose.

But she misjudged Xin Keke’s courage.

“Yes. I did like you in the past. I never thought I’d fall for another girl. But now that I’ve met someone truly worthy of my love, I’ve realized you’re not even fit to kiss the ground she walks on. You’re not even as good as her little toe.”

Passing students were all stunned.

Li Yue’s face turned pale.

She felt a mix of anger and disbelief.

She had known all along what Xin Keke felt. She just pretended not to notice. She had always assumed Xin Keke would never confess, yet now she had declared it openly in front of so many people.

And only after she stopped liking her?

Li Yue gritted her teeth. Deep down, she felt like she had lost something.

“Li Yue, all you’ve ever done is exploit the little bit of affection others have for you. But listen well. This is the last time I’ll give you a chance. Before school ends today, go to the school administrators and admit your mistake. Apologize to Zhan Rao in public. If not, I’ll post the evidence on the school forum tomorrow morning. It’s your choice.”

Admit it now, and things can be smoothed over.

Refuse, and once it goes public, you’ll only destroy yourself.

Li Yue, I hope you understand.

Xin Keke turned and walked away with disappointment weighing heavily on her heart.

But in Li Yue’s heart, there wasn’t a trace of regret. There was only fear. Had Xin Keke really gotten her hands on some kind of evidence?