After Becoming a Cannon Fodder Side Character, I Became the Group’s Favorite (GL) - Chapter 42.1

But she didn’t miss Jiang Miao’s last sentence.

“Do you think I’m a total pervert for feeling this way?”

“Pervert how?” Wen Mubai asked back.

Jiang Miao was a little embarrassed. “Just secretly liking her like this, secretly fantasizing about something happening between us… I always feel strange.”

“That only means you like her.” Wen Mubai’s voice sounded quite calm. “There’s no need to ask an outsider about this. If you like her, you like her. If you want to confess, then confess. Just be prepared to be rejected.”

She seemed decisive and straightforward when giving advice to others, but when it came to herself, all she saw were countless question marks.

The one on the inside sees less, Wen Mubai felt like prey wrapped in a spider’s web, struggling hard but unable to break free. But deep down, there seemed to be a tiny thought.

What if you stop struggling? What’s the worst that could happen?

In her mind, the girl’s focused and trusting eyes seemed to reappear. The hand in her coat pocket subconsciously clenched, her nails digging into her flesh, but she felt nothing.

No, she was different from Jiang Miao. The other person might still have room for willfulness and mistakes; she did not.

Her relationship with Xu Chacha was much more complicated. One move could affect everything, let alone the worst outcome.

In matters concerning Xu Chacha, Wen Mubai did not allow herself to make even the slightest mistake.

“It’s too late today. I’ll take her back first.” Wen Mubai said to Jiang Miao. “Thank you for taking care of her at school all this time.”

“Wait.” Jiang Miao stopped her. “Don’t you have any other suggestions for me?”

Wen Mubai didn’t look back. Her voice was very soft. It was unclear whether she was speaking to Jiang Miao or to herself.

“Think again. Maybe what you already have is enough.”

…

Wen Mubai stepped back into the room, gave a perfunctory greeting to the others, and walked over to pull the softened Xu Chacha into her arms.

Before leaving, she handed a bank card to Zhu Zhu and the others. “Take this and stay at a hotel if you can’t get back to the dorm. The password is her birthday. You brought your IDs, right?”

“We did, we did!”

“Alright, be careful on your way back. Stick together, the three of you, and don’t linger outside.”

“Mhm-mhm-mhm.” Zhu Zhu nodded vigorously. “Goddess, you’re so gentle and kind.”

“I’m leaving.” Wen Mubai nodded at them and helped Xu Chacha up.

Smelling the familiar gardenia scent, Xu Chacha didn’t even need to look up to recognize the person. She wrapped her arms around Wen Mubai’s waist and followed her securely.

“Auntie, you haven’t wished me a happy birthday yet.”

“Didn’t I say it last night?”

“But that was over the phone. I want to hear your voice.” Xu Chacha climbed onto her shoulder and smiled at her.

In her blurry vision, she saw her warm breath puff onto Wen Mubai’s earlobe, which was as translucent as white jade, and then that jade slowly turned pink.

Wen Mubai’s voice was the same as always. She used a little force to support Xu Chacha’s waist, lifting her sinking body. “Happy Birthday.”

“So cold.” Xu Chacha’s voice was a little aggrieved, like a drooping foxtail grass. “Doesn’t Auntie love me anymore?”

Every tone that came from her mouth tugged at Wen Mubai’s heartstrings, and every string that was plucked created a long aftershock.

Wen Mubai still didn’t turn back. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; it was that she didn’t dare.

She was afraid to see those wet eyes, looking at her without any defense, so soft like a ball of cotton, making one want to squeeze it tightly.

“I do.” When they finally reached the car, her palm pressed down on Xu Chacha’s head to prevent her from hitting it when getting in. “Sleep for a bit. I’ll call you when we get home.”

Xu Chacha tugged at the hem of her coat, looking up. “You sit in the back.”

“You won’t be able to sleep well if I sit in the back.”

“I will sleep well if you sit in the back.”

“…” The two looked at each other for a moment. Wen Mubai surrendered. She coaxed Xu Chacha into the car and then bent down to sit beside her.

Xu Chacha leaned over, her head resting lightly on her thigh, and she smiled up at her. “It’s been a long time since we’ve done this. It feels so comfortable.”

Her cheeks were rosy, and her skin was so flawless that under the light, a fine, velvety texture could be seen. Coupled with the youthful apple cheeks, she looked like a juicy peach.

“Sleep.” Wen Mubai looked away and raised her hand, signaling the driver to start driving.

“Where’s my gift?” Xu Chacha didn’t close her eyes. She drew her long legs up and turned to lie on her side, facing Wen Mubai, blinking her eyes twice.

Wen Mubai thought that if Xu Chacha had a tail, it would be wagging happily right now.

“You want it now?” Her fingers gently brushed away the strands of hair stuck to Xu Chacha’s face, meticulously clearing away the obstructive ones one by one.

“Yes.”

Xu Chacha just blinked, and she didn’t know where Wen Mubai suddenly pulled out a box from.

“Here.”

“A bracelet?” Xu Chacha had received so many gifts that she could guess the item based on the size of the box.

Wen Mubai didn’t deny it. “Open it and take a look.”

The box was quite tight. Xu Chacha frowned and fiddled with it for a long time with her fingers, finally managing to open a slit, but it snapped shut with a clack.

Seeing her pout and about to get upset, Wen Mubai quickly took it and opened it for her.

It was a silver bracelet. Unlike mass-produced crafts, the body of the bracelet had dense hammer marks, and a circular gold piece was embedded in the center, cut into the shape of a sun.

“Hmm?” She held the bracelet, a look of confusion on her face.

There were no brands, big or small, domestic or foreign, that she wasn’t familiar with, and with her keen sense of fashion, she would have at least heard of even the most niche brands.

“I made it.” She raised Xu Chacha’s left hand.

Because of the alcohol, her body temperature was a little high, and the skin on her wrist was faintly pink. Pressing a finger a little harder, one could feel the pulse beneath the skin.

“Let’s replace this one.” Wen Mubai’s thumb rubbed the red string. Even though the owner took very good care of it, it was slightly faded from being worn for too long. “No way. This is a token of love.” After so many years, Xu Chacha still refused to correct this statement. She stared into Wen Mubai’s eyes. “You didn’t throw away the string I gave you, did you?”

“Of course not.” Wen Mubai rolled up her left sleeve in front of her.

In fact, her string was not in much better shape than Xu Chacha’s. The connection point was frayed and looked like it was about to break.

“But a token of love needs to be a pair. If I change mine, what about yours?”

“There’s a second layer.” Wen Mubai gestured with her eyes.

Xu Chacha picked up the box and pushed along the seam in the middle. There really was another layer underneath, the same style, but a little larger in size.

She ran her hand over the uneven hammer marks, and a feeling she couldn’t quite describe welled up in her heart.

“Put it on for me.” She held out her arm, palm up, the inner side of her slender wrist showing several winding bluish-purple veins crawling beneath the skin.

It was like a kitten rolling over for its owner, exposing its softest spot into her hands.

Wen Mubai let out a low “Mhm” from her nose and removed the original string bracelet for her.

It had been worn for so long that it left a faint mark on her skin. There was a momentary sense of loss when the string was untied, but it quickly dissipated as the heavy bracelet was placed on.

She raised her arm and shook it. The bracelet moved along with it. “It’s beautiful.”

“Does it feel uncomfortable? I polished the inner side many times, but it’s still a little rough.”

Xu Chacha used her fingers to tug the bracelet and peer at its inner side. She originally only wanted to see if there were any uneven parts, but she saw a string of slender handwriting there—the same words from the bottom right corner of the sketch.

She instantly understood why the design on the bracelet was a golden sun.

Xu Chacha curled her lips. “It’s great.”

“Mhm, then it’s fine.”

She picked up the remaining one and put it on, extending her arm and putting it next to Xu Chacha’s. Her expression softened, and she showed a slight smile. “It is beautiful.”

“Are you that narcissistic?” Xu Chacha grabbed her arm, trying to see the words on the inner side of her own bracelet, but Wen Mubai avoided her with the advantage of her arm length.

She patted Xu Chacha’s forehead. “Weren’t you going to sleep? Why are you still moving around?”

“I’m too excited by your gift to sleep.” If someone else said this, it would sound like flattery, but coming from Xu Chacha’s mouth, it sounded natural.

Because she really thought so, and Wen Mubai knew her.

“Are we passing by the dessert shop later? I want to buy some cake.”

“We are.” Since Wen Mubai said it, even if the driver wasn’t going that way, he had to take that route.

Half an hour later, the driver finally followed the navigation and found a branch of the dessert shop and parked the car.

“You stay in the car. I’ll go.”

“Why? I’m not drunk.” Xu Chacha opened her eyes wide in protest, then suddenly let out a small burp. She immediately covered her mouth, looking like she had done something wrong. “Does it smell bad?”

“Didn’t you say that a fairy’s fart smells like strawberries?” Wen Mubai rubbed her head. “I’ll be quick. You wait here. It’s windy outside.”

“Okay, fine.” Xu Chacha could accept this reason. “I want a chocolate crepe cake, a matcha cream puff, red bean finger mochi, and… milk toast.”

“Can you eat all that?”

“I can save it for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

Wen Mubai, who was usually strict with the diet control of the models she signed, even criticizing them for drinking an extra glass of juice, compromised with just one sentence here.

She straightened up, closed the car door, and went to buy everything Xu Chacha wanted. Since it was almost closing time, the server was very enthusiastic about promoting other hot items, worried that the cakes wouldn’t sell and would have to be thrown away.

Wen Mubai didn’t even look at them and said generously, “Take them all.”

Someone loves to eat them anyway.

When she returned to the car, Xu Chacha was already curled up and asleep. She took off her coat and covered her with it, then sat in the passenger seat.

“Drive slowly, and don’t make any sudden stops.”

The driver dared not speak, only nodding to indicate he understood.

The car drove all the way to Wen Mubai’s apartment building. She got out of the car and helped the still groggy Xu Chacha out of the back seat.

Xu Chacha was extremely sleepy, and her head was heavy. Although she was conscious, she was too lazy to move, hanging softly on Wen Mubai’s shoulder like a cloth sack, being dragged along.

She didn’t know how many years it had been since she last visited this apartment, but she was surprised that the furnishings and decor hadn’t changed at all.

Black, white, and grey. Besides the necessary furniture, there was nothing else.

Unlike her, whose room was almost filled with the dolls she won from claw machines.

“Drink some water first. Go shower when you’re a bit more awake.” Wen Mubai peeled off her coat and handed her a cup of hot water.

Xu Chacha frowned and finished it, then made a request. “Can I eat cake now?”

“Eating too much sweets at night is not good.” But Wen Mubai still handed her the bag. “You can only have one. I’ll put the rest in the fridge.”

“Just this one.” She picked out the chocolate crepe cake, then climbed up to feel her coat pocket, pulling out a bent and nearly broken candle.

She had swiped this from the restaurant while eating cake, and it got messed up like this from being tossed around in her pocket.

“Why is it like this…”

“You didn’t have a birthday cake tonight?” Wen Mubai sensed her intention.

“I did. I ate it with Zhu Zhu and the others.” She pouted. “But I want to eat one with you.”

The way she looked, with her eyes cast down, resembled a pathetic pet.

“I have candles.”

Wen Mubai got up and went into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and brought out a cake box. She hadn’t expected to be called home when she ordered the cake, so she had asked the cleaning lady to help receive the delivery.

Wen Mubai didn’t bring the cake over. She just took out the complimentary candle package from the cake box. Inside were two candles with the numbers “1” and “8” written on them.

She picked up a lighter on her way back and handed the candles to Xu Chacha.

The two candles were almost as large as the small crepe cake, but Xu Chacha inserted them steadily with a serious expression.

“We can’t skip the ceremony.”