Chapter 15: Even a Cannon Fodder Needs a Script
Jiang Chenyan’s mind went blank for a moment. When he came to his senses, Qi Bai was already standing silently before him. Those eyes were still cool, yet they held a near-sharp, penetrating power that made Jiang Chenyan’s scalp tingle.
“How did you do it?” he suddenly asked, his question lacking context.
Jiang Chenyan’s brow knit tight as he suppressed the abnormality in his heart. “What does Senior mean by that? It’s just that my genes are better.”
“It had better just be good genes.”
Qi Bai’s gaze didn’t move from his face, cold to the point of near indifference. Finally, he slowly spoke: “Jiang Chenyan, I just want to wish you good luck.”
Jiang Chenyan’s heart sank, but he smiled. “Senior doesn’t need to worry about that. My luck has always been quite good.”
He thought of something and looked up to meet the eyes of the man before him. “I’m just a bit curious, why did the school suddenly have a pheromone test? It was quite unexpected.”
Qi Bai lowered his eyes, his fingers nonchalantly rubbing the document in his hand. His tone was cold without the slightest ripple. “That was a decision from above. You don’t need to know.”
Jiang Chenyan was moved to an angry laugh. What did he mean, “he didn’t need to know”?
He heard Qi Bai continue, “In the future, stay away from Xie Huaijin and Mu Si’an. Stop causing trouble.”
His anger was instantly ignited. Jiang Chenyan retorted, “They were the ones who moved first!”
“I seem to recall,” Qi Bai looked at him, his gaze lacking warmth, “that you were the one who sat in the seat Xie Huaijin usually sits in.”
Jiang Chenyan’s words got stuck in his throat. He was speechless. “…”
“It didn’t have his name written on it. What’s wrong with me sitting there for a bit?”
Qi Bai remained expressionless. “I know that. But that was the fuse, wasn’t it? Besides, you ran very fast back then.”
His tone suddenly shifted, his gaze cooling by several degrees. His words carried a layer of warning: “So I am reminding you to stay away from them. The Xie family and the Mu family are not ordinary. You won’t catch up in several lifetimes. If they want to play you to death, it’s as easy as turning over a hand.”
Jiang Chenyan: “…”
Ran very fast. Won’t catch up in several lifetimes. Play you to death.
How did these words sound so piercing when put together?
Qi Bai didn’t want to say more. He had experiments tonight and didn’t have time to waste with Jiang Chenyan.
“Consider it yourself. Don’t think that just because you’re SS+ level, you can be lawless.”
Having said that, Qi Bai didn’t stay. He turned and left, his long figure soon melting into the shadows.
Jiang Chenyan frowned deeply. Qi Bai’s words kept turning in his head—they felt like a warning, yet also a reminder, and mostly just random.
He thought to himself: It seems the plot has collapsed into a complete mess.
Every day I’m surrounded by the protagonist group; even a cannon fodder needs an added script.
Jiang Chenyan rubbed his tight temples. Fatigue crawled up his spine. Looking up, he saw the window was already soaked in the night.
He let out a “Tsk,” remembering he had to rush back to the dorm. Just as he stepped out, his optical computer vibrated a few times.
Clicking it, it was full of messages from Shen Shiyue. The latest one said: “Something happened. Sorry, I didn’t have time to reply to you.”
Jiang Chenyan stared at the screen for two seconds. His fingers tapped two words onto the light screen and sent them: “It’s fine.”
Despite having many questions, Jiang Chenyan held back. It wouldn’t be too late to ask after going back.
When he unlocked the door, Shen Shiyue was already in the dorm, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his optical computer. Their eyes met, and the air suddenly went quiet. Neither spoke first.
Finally, Shen Shiyue broke the silence. “Today was my fault. My optical computer ran out of energy, so I couldn’t reply in time.”
The corners of his mouth curved, his eyes full of laughter. “I made you worry.” He hadn’t expected Jiang Chenyan to care about him so much, sending messages constantly.
“Mm, actually it was nothing.” Jiang Chenyan’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. What are you laughing at? Is it funny? He suppressed his internal grumbling and asked what he wanted to know: “Did you test?”
The half-sentence “I didn’t see you at the testing site” didn’t have time to come out before he heard Shen Shiyue reply: “I’ve already tested.”
Jiang Chenyan: “…”
How did he learn to lie? He had been staring at the testing center the whole time and hadn’t seen Shen Shiyue at all. Since he wasn’t at the testing center, how could he have tested?
The two went quiet again, leaving only the vague sound of the wind outside the window.
Shen Shiyue clearly had something on his mind. After a while, he looked up and asked, “Did you test?”
“Mm,” Jiang Chenyan responded, without being specific. “I was at the testing center the whole time.”
The implication: I didn’t see you from beginning to end.
Shen Shiyue’s brow knit almost imperceptibly. Knowing Jiang Chenyan was suspicious, his voice dropped: “I didn’t test at the center…” He had originally wanted to say the principal arranged a special channel for him, but the words were swallowed. What if Jiang Chenyan found out his identity was special and, like others, stopped treating him as an equal?
“I…”
“It’s fine. You don’t need to say more.” Jiang Chenyan cut him off. As expected of the protagonist, he could even find a way to avoid the test. No idea how he actually did it…
While he was doubting, the System suddenly popped up. The words on the light screen were urgent: [Host, you must understand the protagonist shou! I just remembered a small plot point—he escaped the test temporarily because his grandfather was seriously ill and he had to go back to look after him…]
Jiang Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say before that he had suppressants in his hand?”
[Exactly! It was on the way to visit his grandfather that he secretly got the suppressants. I admit the plot is indeed a mess, but the protagonist shou didn’t tell you the truth just because he was afraid of worrying you. The protagonist shou is really so pitiful…]
“So, he didn’t test just now at all? He’s lying to me? Afraid I’ll worry?” Jiang Chenyan rubbed his temples. The sense of oddness finally found its source.
[Most likely!] The System added a crying emoji. [I bet the school will call him for a re-test in a bit. Waaa, I remember his level tested extremely low, no different from a Beta…]
Jiang Chenyan’s gaze softened. The oddness from being lied to was suppressed by pity. He remembered the plot description: the protagonist shou’s only relative was an elderly scavenger, and they lived an extremely hard life.
Jiang Chenyan stepped closer to Shen Shiyue, his voice softening. “Sorry. I didn’t care for you properly.”
Shen Shiyue looked up abruptly, his eyes full of shock. “?”
He hesitated for a moment before speaking, “What’s wrong with you?”
Jiang Chenyan shook his head slightly. “Nothing. I just suddenly feel like things are hard for you. I feel a bit bad for you.” He didn’t mention the re-test, only asking indirectly, “Should you be heading out in a bit?” After all, after the re-test, Shen Shiyue’s mood would only be worse.
Shen Shiyue was stunned for a moment, then nodded. Confusion appeared in his eyes. “How did you know I was going out?” He did indeed have to leave; his father had just sent a message asking him to attend a family gathering to meet some high-ranking people.
The social climbing, the deliberate flattery, the probing looks—he didn’t want to touch any of it. But he had no choice and could only suppress his disgust to follow through.
Jiang Chenyan’s heart sank. “I guessed, because you haven’t changed into your pajamas.”
The corners of Shen Shiyue’s mouth turned up slightly. “Then your observation skills are quite strong.” He looked at the time on his device and added, “I have to rush there now. Being late will cause trouble.”
“Mm.” Jiang Chenyan nodded, then added another sentence: “Go and come back quickly. I’ll wait for you.”
“Got it.” Shen Shiyue responded and turned toward the door. His steps paused as he unlocked it.
Because his back was to Jiang Chenyan, Jiang Chenyan didn’t see the smile already gracing his lips.
…
Jiang Chenyan took a shower. Before the steam had completely dissipated from his hair, he walked to the balcony with a pack of cigarettes.
The sparks flickered in the night, and the smoke slowly spread, wrapping around his figure. Before the mist had dissipated, drowsiness caught up with him. Jiang Chenyan leaned against the wall and yawned, holding the cigarette between his fingers. His mind began to slowly replay the day’s events.
As he thought, he suddenly paused and abruptly pressed out the cigarette.
When he left the testing center in the afternoon, the professor had specifically instructed him to go to the lab after he was finished. He had forgotten it completely.
Jiang Chenyan hurriedly clicked his optical computer, his fingers typing rapidly with a hint of guilt: “That… Professor, is it too late for me to come now?”
The reply came back in less than two seconds, with only three words: “What do you think?”
Jiang Chenyan: “Does that mean I shouldn’t come?”
This time Ariel replied even faster: “Do you have any emotional intelligence? Come here right now. I’ll introduce you to someone.”
Jiang Chenyan: “…”
It was a bit annoying, but he still followed the address and hurried to the lab.
Pushing the door open, it was just as he expected. Ariel wasn’t the only one in the lab. Aside from Ariel standing by the lab bench, there was an unfamiliar back in a white coat, looking down at a report in hand. The two seemed to be discussing something.
Just as he stepped through the door, both of them looked up at him. When he saw the face of the unfamiliar person in the white coat, Jiang Chenyan’s footsteps stopped abruptly. He was completely stunned.
It was the Omega who had given him the pheromone converter.
At the testing center, with just one look, Jiang Chenyan had been unable to forget his appearance.
He never expected to see the other person again in this way, in the professor’s lab.
“Nice to meet you. Let’s get acquainted. My name is Kailan.”
Jiang Chenyan keenly caught the keyword: Nice to meet you (first meeting).
He reached out and naturally responded, “Hello. I’m Jiang Chenyan.”
Translator’s Note: “Cannon fodder” (炮灰 – pào huī) is a common trope in web novels referring to a minor character who exists only to be defeated or to propel the plot for the main characters. “Reflex arc” (反射弧 – fǎn shè hú) is a slang way to say someone is slow to react. The introduction of Kailan (凯兰) suggests that the MC’s secret might be more connected to the school’s elite than he thought!
Recommended Reads
![[ABO] After Accidental Marking, I Became Everyone’s Darling](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ABO-225x300.jpeg)
![[Esports] I Started an Online Romance with a Big Shot After Retiring](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/esports.jpg)