After Transmigrating Into A Book As The Protagonist’s Cannon-Fodder Lackey - Chapter 3

Bad news: the video had been released.

Whether it counted as good news or bad news, Su Linye did not know, but what had been released was an edited version. It only had the latter half, with none of the earlier footage of Su Linye deliberately staging the accident.

Su Linye crawled out from under the covers and, biting her finger, anxiously scrolled through the messages in the group chat.

There were no teachers in this group, so the students spoke freely and chatted with great enthusiasm.

Year Two, Class Five Group Chat

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: Fuck, is that video real? Did Sister Lu really hit someone? And she hit sly?

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: Am I the only one focusing on how big the gap between people can be? Are there really people who can already drive luxury cars worth tens of millions before they’ve even graduated high school? (crying crying crying crying)

【Wheat】: From what I saw, it didn’t look like anyone was hurt. A blessing in disguise. In this kind of situation, if she gives some compensation, it should be fine, right?

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: Is it really fine? sly looked like she got knocked stupid.

【Angry Second Grandpa】: Fuck, she suddenly fainted, then suddenly sat up again. She was doing sit-ups on the spot. You call that fine?

【Wheat】: Calm down. Did you watch the second half? She was crying with so much emotion and volume. She sounded full of strength, so she probably isn’t in any serious trouble.

【Angry Second Grandpa】: Ever heard of adrenaline?

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: Is seriously no one paying attention to that luxury car worth tens of millions?

【Grass to the Fourth Power】: Damn, how much is Lu God going to pay?

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: I really want to know too…

【Today’s Weather Is Clear】: No matter how much she pays, getting hit can’t feel good.

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: That’s true.

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: @Three-Surname, are you okay? How are you now?

【Angry Second Grandpa】: She’s probably sleeping right now, so she might not see the messages. What I don’t get is, I think a car accident is a pretty ordinary thing. Why would someone specially record a video and post it online?

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: That’s pretty normal. If an ordinary person saw a ten-million-yuan luxury car hit a bicycle, they’d want to record it. The ultimate collision of wealth and poverty is basically a natural hot topic. Go check the comments section and you’ll know.

【Grass to the Fourth Power】: Plus, Lu God’s face is right there.

【Today’s Weather Is Clear】: (spreads hands) A certain face-con is starting again.

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: These days, everything can make money, but I just happen to have nothing. (loud crying)

【Wheat】: Don’t worry. You’ll have something someday.

【Angry Second Grandpa】: Have you guys seen the comments under that video? A lot of people are cursing.

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: What the hell? Why are they cursing now? Were they at the scene? Are they witnesses? What right do they have to judge? Watch me go curse them back!

【Grass to the Fourth Power】: I don’t really understand what they’re cursing about either. If the person involved came out to say something, that would be one thing, but these people don’t even know the truth. The car didn’t hit them.

【Get Rich Rich Rich Rich Rich】: Maybe it’s hatred of the rich. A luxury car is still too rich. Some people whose lives aren’t going well might use this to vent their dissatisfaction.

【Grass to the Fourth Power】: Lu God probably won’t see any of this, right?

【Yu Beauty】: Originally, she wouldn’t have. But now that you said it, she has.

【Angry Second Grandpa】: Fuck, Sister Qin, if you know, then Lu God probably knows too?

【Yu Beauty】: She knows.

【Don’t Call Me Little Zhuzhu】: What does Sister Lu plan to do?

【Yu Beauty】: Naturally, she’ll deal with it however it should be dealt with. Disperse, everyone. It’s not a big deal.

The group chat was too lively. By the time Su Linye finished scrolling through the messages above, new ones kept refreshing below.

Especially when Qin Yu appeared, Su Linye’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She wished she could crawl through the internet cable to see what they were planning to do.

If it were just a video of a car accident, that would be one thing. But now there were people online cursing too, and that changed the nature of the matter entirely. This could practically be called guiding cyberbullying. Did they think her ending as cannon fodder was not tragic enough already?

No. She had to first figure out what was going on with that video.

She opened Little Potato Chip’s WeChat and tactfully asked about the video.

There was no response from the other side.

Su Linye placed the phone in front of her, propped her cheek with one hand, and slapped her other hand against her knee again and again in an extremely bold and heroic posture.

She waited for a while, but there was still no reaction.

Her brows slowly furrowed. Just as she was about to make a call, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Su Linye could only go over and open it first.

“Who is it?”

The door opened, revealing a baby-faced girl.

Su Linye glanced at the time, puzzled. “Little Potato Chip, why are you here so early?”

Xi Panpan very honestly lifted what she was carrying. “Boss, I came to bring you breakfast.”

Su Linye moved aside and let her in.

Xi Panpan familiarly went to the kitchen to look for things, then placed the soy milk, buns, and side dishes inside.

“Boss, hurry and eat. It’ll get cold later.”

“Okay. I’ll go wash up first. You eat something first.” As Su Linye thought things over, she paced toward the bathroom and spoke as if unintentionally. “Little Potato Chip, is that video still on your phone?”

Xi Panpan put the food on the table, bit into a bun, and said vaguely, “I listened to you, Boss. After I sent it to you yesterday, I deleted it.”

Su Linye was brushing her teeth. “Mm.”

Xi Panpan finished one bun. “What’s wrong, Boss?”

After washing up, Su Linye came out. “I don’t know what happened, but the video was posted online.”

“How could it have been posted online?” Xi Panpan immediately grew a little flustered. “Boss, I really deleted the video. I didn’t post it.”

She hurriedly took out her phone and opened the records for Su Linye to see. “It’s not in my album or my trash. I deleted it yesterday.”

“I believe you. It’s also possible the phone wasn’t secure and the information leaked somehow.” Su Linye sat down opposite her, bit into a youtiao, and fell into deep thought.

Judging by Xi Panpan’s behavior, it did not really seem like her. Then who else could it be? Could the information have leaked yesterday when her card was taken away and the data was transferred?

But Qin Yu was the one who handled that. Would she set Lu Jiang up? It did not seem like it.

Su Linye’s thoughts came to a halt. She glanced at Xi Panpan, who was eating with great enjoyment across from her.

She sighed softly.

Right now, she only hoped that Lu Jiang did not know she was the one who had recorded that video.

The protagonist’s impression of her was already bad enough. If it got any worse, she was afraid she really would walk the same path as in the original book.

Filled with worry, Su Linye bit off a large mouthful of youtiao and drank a large mouthful of congee. After she was full, she wiped her hands, took out her phone, and searched for that video again, wanting to look at the comments.

Then her brows furrowed again.

“What’s going on? Was it taken down for violating public order and morals?”

Xi Panpan could not keep eating either and leaned over. “What’s wrong, Boss?”

Su Linye showed her the phone. Xi Panpan looked confused. “Boss, isn’t it a good thing that you can’t find the video? You didn’t want it posted, and now it can’t be seen online either.”

Su Linye’s emotions were complicated. “I hope it’s a good thing.”

Xi Panpan clumsily patted her shoulder in comfort. “It’s okay, Boss. Even though we couldn’t trip Lu Jiang up this time, we definitely can next time.”

Su Linye: …

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“Oh, okay.”

“There’s one more thing, Boss.” Xi Panpan glanced at the clock on the wall. “You need to hurry up and get ready, or you’re going to be late today.”

Su Linye: ???

In early autumn, the sky was clear with light clouds drifting gently, and the warm breeze moved without waves.

People came and went at the school gate, wearing uniforms in different colors as they quickly passed through.

Su Linye bent over, panting, her hands braced on her knees. “You… wait… let me… catch my breath…”

Xi Panpan’s face was not red, and her heart was not pounding. “Boss, are you okay? Do you want me to carry you?”

Su Linye had not even caught her breath yet. “The two of us… ran together. How come you… don’t look affected… at all?”

Xi Panpan answered honestly, “Boss, this distance isn’t very far.”

Su Linye: …

She took another minute to recover, then straightened up and adjusted her backpack. “Let’s go. To the classroom.”

The two were just about to set off when Su Linye heard a familiar voice.

“Old Jiang, hasn’t the matter already been resolved? Why do you still look unhappy? Have you heard this saying before? Smile and you’ll look ten years younger. Don’t always act so bitter and vengeful. Cold-type protagonists aren’t popular anymore, understand? My sunny redemption type is the mainstream now. Learn from me.”

Su Linye turned around and saw the two protagonists wearing their school uniforms like fashion pieces.

Qin Yu had one hand in her pocket, brows bright and lively, chattering endlessly.

Lu Jiang was tall and long-legged, both hands tucked into her pockets. Her whole body gave off an even colder, more unapproachable aura than the last time they met.

Listening to Qin Yu speak, Lu Jiang said expressionlessly, “Are you sure you’re the redemption type and not the chatterbox type that talks people to death?”

Qin Yu: …

She gave her the middle finger.

Perhaps Su Linye’s gaze was too noticeable, because both of them looked over.

Qin Yu walked over enthusiastically to greet her. “How’s the phone working?”

Su Linye first glanced at Lu Jiang before turning back. “To be honest, it’s so expensive that using it makes my conscience uneasy.”

Qin Yu raised a brow. “It’s not like it was stolen, robbed, or scammed. Why would your conscience be uneasy?”

Su Linye felt that the first half of her sentence sounded a little subtle. Her gaze once again unconsciously slid toward the person beside her. “After all, it was exchanged for an ancient fossil. A few hundred yuan and ten thousand yuan are worlds apart.”

Having been looked at twice, Lu Jiang could no longer ignore that gaze. She glanced over indifferently, then lowered her head and looked at her watch.

Su Linye thought that watch looked strangely good on Lu Jiang’s wrist. She wondered what brand it was.

Qin Yu smiled. “There’s not that big of a difference. Just use it. I bought too many at the time. Leaving it there would only let it gather dust anyway.”

They had barely exchanged a couple of insincere polite greetings when a cold voice sounded from the side.

“Are you done talking? If you want to be punished by standing outside, you can keep dawdling.”

Su Linye froze for a moment and turned her eyes, only to see Lu Jiang’s departing back.

Qin Yu glanced at her phone and turned pale with shock. “Let’s go, let’s go. If we don’t go now, Old Jia is going to catch us.”

She waved at Su Linye, then caught up to the person ahead in two steps.

“Boss, Boss?” Seeing that they had already left but Su Linye was still staring after them, Xi Panpan had no choice but to interrupt her.

Su Linye grabbed the hand waving in front of her and pressed down the emotions in her heart. “Let’s go in.”

The campus was mottled with light and shadow. The early autumn weather was still hot, and after running the whole way, Su Linye had sweat all over her forehead. But before she even entered the classroom, the cool air that rushed toward her instantly brushed away her fatigue.

Refreshed and invigorated, she stepped into the lively classroom. Then, looking at the crowd of heads inside, she gradually petrified at the doorway into a solemn, dignified statue.

Su Linye and Xi Panpan were not in the same class. They had separated at the stairway, one going left and the other right, heading in completely opposite directions. She had walked off with great confidence, only to realize after entering the classroom that she had absolutely no idea where the original owner’s seat was.

Standing at the door and scanning the room for a while, Su Linye tried to identify which seat was hers from memory.

Someone behind her lightly pushed her. “What are you standing here for? Playing door god?”

Caught off guard, Su Linye was forced to stumble half a step forward.

That person was also frightened and reached out to steady her, her tone a little panicked. “What’s wrong? I didn’t use any strength.”

Su Linye turned around and saw an unfamiliar girl.

She had a low ponytail, wore silver-rimmed round glasses, and looked clean and pretty.

A gentle top student straight out of stereotype.

Su Linye said, “I’m fine. I just wasn’t standing steadily.”

The top student sighed in relief. “Why aren’t you going back to your seat?”

Su Linye’s gaze drifted.

Wasn’t she looking for it right now?

The top student wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come on back, desk mate. Let me copy your homework.”

Su Linye: ?

The top student let go and patted her. “I know you definitely did it. You’re a top student who was specially admitted for your grades.”

Su Linye: ??

The top student continued, “Why are you looking at me like that? Didn’t we agree? Every month, I cover your meal expenses, and you let me copy your homework. Are you trying to go back on it this quickly?”

Su Linye: ???

Girl, so between the two of us, you’re the bad student?

A voice roared, “Gu Feng, no copying homework!”

The “gentle top student” fled back to her seat with her hands over her head. “Class monitor, stop yelling! I didn’t even get the chance to copy yet!”

Su Linye looked toward the class monitor. She was a dashing girl with short hair, her phoenix eyes widened round in a glare.

The class monitor looked righteous. “Su Linye, don’t let her copy. Her grades are already at the bottom of the class. If she doesn’t do a few problems herself, she’s going to score negative points.”

“If she bullies you, just tell me. I’ll yell at her for you.”

Gu Feng, who had returned to her seat and taken out her homework, beginning to gnaw on her pen and scratch her head: “Hey, hey!!”

With tears in her eyes, Su Linye said gratefully, “Thank you, class monitor.”

For robbing her of an excellent money-making opportunity.

The class monitor waved her hand with great reliability. “No need to be polite. I’m here to serve my classmates.”

Su Linye: …

She walked to the aisle seat in the third row and sat down, then took everything out of her backpack.

Fortunately, the original owner really was a top student. Before the accident, she had already finished all the homework.

But now came the problem. The original owner was the top-ranked student. Su Linye was not. What was she supposed to do? If she was exposed, would she be expelled?

Su Linye was so anxious she badly wanted to bounce her leg.

Gu Feng secretly cast glances her way and whispered, “Second physics paper, flip to the third page. Keep the movement small. Do it so secretly that no gods or ghosts will know.”

Su Linye came back to herself and also whispered, “Didn’t the class monitor say you couldn’t copy?”

Gu Feng’s voice grew even smaller. “Then don’t let her see.”

Su Linye said, “I think the class monitor is doing it for your own good too.”

Gu Feng sighed. “But I can’t even learn it in class. Can you really expect me to answer the questions correctly? Look at this. Why are there so many English letters in physics problems, and they’re not even fucking from the twenty-six letters? I’m starting to suspect English went behind the other subjects’ backs and created a few new ones specifically for physics. Too messy. How can it be this messy?”

Su Linye: …

Gu Feng looked at her and pressed her hands together in prayer. “Kindhearted desk mate, save me. You don’t know how terrifying the old physics man is. He’ll take me to the office and explain the questions one by one, and he’ll ask me whether I’ve learned it or not. Have you ever seen spit flying everywhere? Do you know how it feels to only be able to watch helplessly as that spit splashes onto your face and you can’t dodge it?”

Her face was full of grief. “You don’t know. You also don’t know how bad spit smells when it spreads into the air.”

Su Linye: …

Enough. She still wanted to eat lunch.

With great righteousness, she pushed the paper over.

Gu Feng immediately beamed, joyfully hugging it over and writing furiously. “Love you, desk mate. I already contacted someone to put money on your meal card. At noon, you can go spend to your heart’s content.”

After saying that, she carefully glanced at the person beside her.

Su Linye nearly shouted “benefactor mother” on the spot. With a grand wave of her hand, she said, “Say no more, desk mate. From now on, I’ll take care of all your homework. All of it for the rest of your life.”

Even if she did not know how to do it, she would stay up all night until she learned!

“Many thanks, benefactor mother!” Seeing that Su Linye was not rejecting it, Gu Feng relaxed. “But there’s no need for the rest of my life. I don’t want to still be writing homework after I grow up.”

Su Linye was abnormally indulgent. “Whatever you say.”

While writing with her pen practically spitting sparks, Gu Feng gossiped, “I heard you got hit yesterday. Are you okay?”

Su Linye felt very guilty. Her eyes flicked toward Lu Jiang’s seat. “I’m fine. Completely fine.”

“Did you go to the hospital for a checkup? A car accident isn’t a small matter. Don’t think it’s nothing just because you’re young. By the time you’re old and regret it, it’ll be too late.” Gu Feng was a little unsure what symbol her desk mate had written, so she bit her pen, then wrote the word “urine” in the blank space.

Su Linye laughed awkwardly and mumbled, “My body is fine. It’s my conscience that’s been riddled with holes.”

When she had talked about her conscience hurting at the school gate, half of it had been meant for Lu Jiang to hear. But the other girl either had not gotten her meaning, or had understood and simply been too lazy to care.

Gu Feng’s ability to split her attention clearly was not quite enough, so she did not really hear what her desk mate had said. By the time she finished copying that page and wanted to continue the conversation, the classroom rang with cries rising and falling in a well-organized chorus.

“All right, all right, everyone, quiet down. Sort out your weekend homework and hand it in.”

The moment those words came out, the class instantly burst into wails.

“Don’t rush, don’t rush, Little Zhuzhu. Wait a bit. Almost done.”

“Class monitor, can’t you give us a little more time and collect it tonight instead?”

Zhu Qiyue was baffled. “What kind of nonsense are you saying?”

“Come on, don’t make things hard for Little Zhuzhu. If she had that kind of power, would she have needed to get up at five this morning to start catching up?”

That voice sounded like it was watching the fun and not afraid of stirring trouble. Su Linye looked over in the middle of searching for her homework.

It was a girl with light-colored short hair. Her features were very heroic. She should have looked handsome, but the dimple on the left side of her face added two points of cuteness to that heroic look.

Zhu Qiyue rolled her eyes and ignored her.

“Meng Lian, did you finish your homework?” The student speaking buried their head and worked hard while tilting sideways to dodge the homework book flying through the air.

Meng Lian crossed her legs. “Your class monitor got up at seven and finished within half an hour. How do you think she did it?”

“Damn, Sister Meng, Sister Meng, let me take a look.”

Zhu Qiyue turned around and, with a dark expression, raised her pen and drew it across her neck.

Meng Lian burst into laughter and handed out her own homework.

Su Linye found it very interesting. Smiling, she turned back, only to see her desk mate’s indignant expression.

“The class monitor won’t let me copy homework, but she herself copied so happily. I’m going to report her!!!”