The Infatuated Cannon Fodder Quits Chapter 38

Bo Jin leaned against the balcony railing, looking at the lit-up windows of the apartments across the way, and chuckled as he asked, “What’s up? Did you need something?”

It was already close to ten at night. The whole city had quieted down, no longer bustling with the day’s noise.

The complex where Bo Jin lived was peaceful, with a garden downstairs where young couples strolled hand in hand, their laughter drifting off with the evening breeze.

Bo Jin put the phone on speaker and twisted open a bottle of water, taking a sip. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Xie Ruan was still in a bit of a daze. He licked his dry lips and asked, “How did you know I was going to message you?”

“What do you think?” Bo Jin shot back, then laughed, “Of course, I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”

“Keeping an eye on you”—those words were like a key, unlocking all the pent-up emotions Xie Ruan had held back. All the frustration and grievances welled up, overwhelming him to the point where he could barely contain it.

People are like that—when you’re alone, you can handle anything.

But the moment you receive a bit of care, those negative emotions become hard to suppress.

Xie Ruan took a deep breath, trying not to lose composure in front of Bo Jin. Rubbing his face, he muttered an excuse, “Nothing, I just wanted to ask if you often hang out with Sun Haoxiang and the others.”

He thought he hid it well, but Bo Jin knew him too well and had already sensed something was off.

At this hour, the only thing that would get Xie Ruan down was likely a fight with his family.

Since he was good-looking and connected to Shen Xingyun, Xie Ruan was a bit of a celebrity at school, and his family background wasn’t hard to find out with a bit of inquiry.

His father had passed away early, his mother had remarried, and he had a half-brother.

With a family like that, it wasn’t uncommon to feel wronged.

Bo Jin didn’t expose Xie Ruan’s lie; he just went along with it. “Nah, it’s the first time. Ah Xun, like your friend, used to love gaming so much, to the point that…”

He chuckled, “At the start of this term, his dad confiscated all the computers at home to make him focus on his studies. Right around that time, the pandemic hit, so all the internet cafes were closed. When he walked by a milk tea shop with a computer, he was so envious. Then, he did something big—”

Xie Ruan, who had been feeling down, suddenly got curious. “What big thing?”

Bo Jin said, “He went into a small real estate office by the street and asked to borrow their computer.”

Xie Ruan was incredulous. “He just walked in and asked?”

“Yep,” Bo Jin said, trying not to laugh, “the front desk thought he was from a rival company, sent to steal information. They almost called the police on him.”

Xie Ruan couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s funny? Then let me tell you another one,” Bo Jin lit a cigarette, took a drag, and continued, “Old He has been chasing after Lin Lu for ages. One night, she texted him, saying she had a stomachache.”

At this point, Bo Jin made a cringing face.

Xie Ruan was already fully drawn into the story, urging him on, “And then?”

“Then—”

He Mingjie saw his chance to impress. While other guys would tell her to drink warm water or keep warm, he decided to stand out by being dramatic to get her attention.

So, He Mingjie replied, ‘Women are meant to be pampered.’

Bo Jin flicked his cigarette ash and said, “Since then, Lin Lu never spoke to him again.”

Xie Ruan burst out laughing. “Is this true?”

“Totally. You can ask him yourself tomorrow.” Bo Jin’s phone suddenly buzzed with a new message from Wen Yong, but he ignored it and continued, “Old He has plenty of embarrassing stories. Last time, our class went to pick pears at the orchard. Teacher Sun, who was far from the basket, handed a pear to him, hinting for him to help put it in.”

“But Old He completely misunderstood.”

He Mingjie thought Teacher Sun was favoring him by giving him a pear to eat since everyone else was at a distance. He was so flattered that he kept refusing, saying, ‘Thank you, Teacher Sun, but I don’t want it.’

Teacher Sun: “…”

He just gave him a look, walked over, and put the pear in the basket himself.

Xie Ruan laughed so hard he could barely breathe. “Doesn’t He Mingjie feel awkward around Teacher Sun now?”

“Nope,” Bo Jin flicked on the balcony light, squinting as it suddenly brightened, “he’s thick-skinned. Not like some little classmate, who hesitates half the day just to send a message to his desk partner, tsk.”

Xie Ruan felt indirectly called out and coughed, replying stubbornly, “I was just afraid you’d be busy and didn’t want to bother you.”

***

“Wow,” Bo Jin, judging from his tone, figured that Xie Ruan had probably forgotten most of those troubling thoughts. Raising an eyebrow, he teased him, “Being this cautious, are we?”

He nodded. “Got it; so I’m pretty important in your mind, huh?”

Xie Ruan responded, exasperated, “Your skin isn’t much thinner than He Mingjie’s.”

Bo Jin wasn’t ashamed, instead replying lazily, “Of course. Birds of a feather flock together. If you want life to be sweet, you’ve got to let go of some pride.”

Xie Ruan was speechless. Just as he was about to say something more, Bo Jin spoke gently, “Feeling better now?”

Xie Ruan was taken aback, realizing that with Bo Jin’s playful stories, all those bad feelings had quietly disappeared.

No wonder Bo Jin brought up Sun Haoxiang and He Mingjie’s embarrassing stories—he was helping him feel better.

Holding his phone, Xie Ruan felt warmth spreading through his heart, both a comforting and soothing feeling. After taking a deep breath to steady his voice, he softly replied, “Mm-hmm.”

He suddenly didn’t want to keep up his strong front, nor did he want to pretend to be tough anymore.

Letting himself be vulnerable in front of Bo Jin didn’t seem as hard as he’d imagined.

“Well, I just…” Xie Ruan hesitated for a moment, wanting to properly thank Bo Jin. If it hadn’t been for him, he didn’t know how long he would’ve been stewing alone in his frustration.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Xingxing, are you still awake?”

Xie Ruan pressed his lips together and replied after a moment’s pause, “I’m awake.”

Even though Xie Ruan had covered the phone’s speaker, Bo Jin still heard the noise. “Your family?”

“Yeah,” Xie Ruan replied softly.

“Alright, I won’t keep you. Get some rest, and don’t forget to bring your holiday homework tomorrow.”

He paused for a moment, then with a smile, added, “But, most importantly…”

Xie Ruan reflexively asked, “What’s that?”

Bo Jin chuckled, “Remember to miss me.”

This guy is just too much! Xie Ruan felt his heart skip a beat and replied hastily, “I’m hanging up.”

“Alright.” Bo Jin chuckled, “Goodnight.”

As the bedroom door opened, Chen Wei came in carrying a plate of freshly cut oranges. “Were you talking to a classmate?”

Xie Ruan just nodded.

Chen Wei placed the fruit plate on the table and handed Xie Ruan a slice. “Try it, your Uncle He just bought them downstairs—they’re really sweet.”

Xie Ruan took the orange, holding it in his hand without eating it.

Chen Wei saw this and, thinking he was still upset about her favoritism, sighed. Her older son was so much like her late husband—pure and stubborn.

It was a good quality; otherwise, back when Xie Wangnian was the young master, he would never have defied everyone’s opposition to marry her, a receptionist at a hotel.

But life isn’t that clear-cut.

Her current husband didn’t like her giving too much attention to her oldest son; he’d even caused arguments over it before, filling the house with tension. What else could she do?

After the highs and lows she’d experienced, she valued her simple, quiet life now.

“Mom’s not being biased,” Chen Wei sighed, sitting by the bed. “It’s just that Chenchen is still young, and your Uncle He wants me to focus more on him. It might seem like I’m caring for him more, but in Mom’s heart, you’re both the same. In fact…”

She reached out and stroked Xie Ruan’s head. “Mom doesn’t work, and we depend on your Uncle He to support us. You understand, don’t you?”

Xie Ruan didn’t move, only glancing at the bright jade bracelet on her wrist.

Although his dad had died because of bankruptcy, he hadn’t left any debts. On the contrary, his family still had valuable possessions.

Like that jade bracelet.

They didn’t need He Jinqing’s support.

So he’d never understood why, since he was little, his mother had always told him to obey Uncle He, to avoid upsetting him, or they’d be kicked out.

Now, he understood. His mom loved him but loved her new family more. She hoped his patience would maintain the household’s surface-level peace.

Was she really unbiased? Then why didn’t she react when he made academic progress? Why did she treat his and his stepbrother’s meals differently? Why didn’t she remember his likes and dislikes?

It was just a lie she’d told herself over and over until she believed it.

Xie Ruan scoffed sarcastically.

Chen Wei, noticing his expression, instinctively pulled her hand back, feeling oddly uncomfortable. She stood, leaving with a parting remark: “You’ll understand me when you’re older.”

Then she turned and left.

When the door clicked shut, Xie Ruan chuckled bitterly. He rose and tossed the orange slice into the trash.

He thought he’d be more upset, but glancing at the call log with Bo Jin, he found that he simply didn’t care.

That night, Xie Ruan unexpectedly slept soundly, only waking to sunlight streaming through a gap in the curtains.

He rubbed his eyes, sat up slowly, and went to wash up.

The house was quiet; no one else was home.

He Jinqing was at the store, where the morning rush of commuters buying breakfast created a small peak in business. His mom… well, she’d probably gone to drop off He Chen at school.

After drying his face, he went to the kitchen to find something to eat.

In their rush, the table hadn’t been cleared. Used dishes piled together, with bits of eggshell scattered about, leaving the area in a bit of disarray.

He grabbed an egg and poured a bowl of half-cold porridge, just as his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced down—it was Bo Jin.

Why is he calling this early? Is something urgent going on?

Xie Ruan quickly put down his bowl and accepted the call. “What’s up?”

Bo Jin asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

The weather was cold and damp lately. Xie Ruan felt a chill as he held the phone between his shoulder and ear, pouring hot water as he answered, “Not yet.”

“Perfect,” Bo Jin replied.

Xie Ruan’s eyebrow raised. Wait, did he call this early just to gloat that he’s eaten already? So childish. He took a sip of water, preparing to give him a piece of his mind, when Bo Jin’s amused voice came through the line: “Seems my trip wasn’t in vain after all.”

Xie Ruan’s eyes widened, his mind racing as his heart started to thump faster.

Bo Jin slipped one hand in his pocket, found a spot shielded from the wind, and raised his phone to take a picture of his surroundings. He sent it to Xie Ruan. “Little classmate, come meet me at your complex entrance.”

Xie Ruan couldn’t remember how he made it downstairs or how long it took him. By the time he snapped back to himself, he was already standing in front of Bo Jin.

The man, wearing a light gray hoodie, faced him, backlit by the morning sun. Tall, long-legged, and impossibly handsome.

“Your delivery has arrived; please rate five stars.” Bo Jin gripped Xie Ruan’s wrist, smiling as he handed him a small thermos.

Seeing Xie Ruan staring blankly, Bo Jin flicked his forehead gently. “Snap out of it.”

Holding the thermos tightly, Xie Ruan finally found his voice. “You…”

He adjusted his breath, trying to appear calm and not like an overexcited fool. “Did you come here just for this?”

“Not really.” Bo Jin tilted his head to dodge a leaf falling from a tree, his tone casual. “I just made extra porridge this morning, so I thought I’d share some with you.”

Xie Ruan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. He could only manage a dry “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Bo Jin replied nonchalantly. “Family doesn’t need to stand on ceremony.”

Xie Ruan froze. “Family?”

Wait, since when did they become family? How did he not know about this?

“Why so surprised?” Bo Jin, ever the shameless flirt, looked down at him without a hint of embarrassment. “Didn’t you think the same, sharing a bed and all?”

He gazed at Xie Ruan and raised an eyebrow. “What, don’t you remember?”

Clicking his tongue, he concluded, “Must be lack of sleep. We should do it more often.”

Xie Ruan: “…”

You rogue! Give him back his moment of gratitude!