Cannon Fodder Gathered Together

Chapter Seventeen

The top spot on the Black Dragon challenge attempt rankings had remained unchanged for nearly a month.

At first, people still discussed whether that Little Mushroom player had truly given up.

But as time went on, the players gradually assumed that Little Mushroom had finally given up challenging the Black Dragon, quit the game, and returned to real life.

Until today, when Little Mushroom's challenge record gained another attempt.

Round, plump, and pale white, Little Mushroom.

Just like before, it raised its bun-like hands, launched a mycelium attack, and was knocked to the ground by the Black Dragon Boss.

When Yan Beiyou connected to the Black Dragon game interface, Little Mushroom was lying on the ground with a look of utter despair.

Its two short little arms rested on its chest as Little Mushroom lay serenely. "I did something stupid."

The Black Dragon, not yet taken over by Yan Beiyou, replied under the AI's control, "Humans are always prone to doing stupid things."

Little Mushroom said, "There probably aren't many as stupid as me."

Outside the screen, Yan Beiyou rested his chin on one hand, his gaze fixed intently on the display.

Little Mushroom muttered to itself, "Will he think I'm playing some kind of cheap trick?"

The game screen reflected the man's slightly raised brow.

After a long silence, Little Mushroom let out a drawn-out sigh. "I just didn't react in time..."

Yan Beiyou took control of the Black Dragon. "Didn't react to what?"

Little Mushroom said, "When I heard his name, I didn't react in time."

Yan Beiyou continued, "Is he someone very famous? Does everyone have to know his name?"

Little Mushroom said, "You have a point. Though that makes me sound like an idiot with absolutely no common sense... I just rarely watched the news before..."

He had probably watched it once or twice.

His father would watch the news in the living room while he sat on the couch with his head down, reading a magazine or playing on his phone.

Little Mushroom sighed and reflected, "From now on, I'll watch News Broadcast on time."

It seemed he intended to put that into practice starting today.

Little Mushroom said, "I'm going to watch News Broadcast. Bye."

The next second, Little Mushroom logged out and vanished from the instance.

Ye Nanxun did not take to heart the fact that he had clearly promised not to log into the game again, only to go back on his word.

It was not as though he had made that promise to anyone else.

Placing too many rules and restrictions on himself would be no different from drawing a prison around himself.

He came downstairs from his room.

Holding his soup, Ye Nanxun sat on the living room couch and waited attentively for today's News Broadcast to begin.

Ye Xiangsong, who had just returned home, quietly slipped into the kitchen and whispered to his wife, "Why did Xiaoxun suddenly start watching News Broadcast today? I remember that whenever it came on when he was little, he'd run back to play games."

Chen Mingzhu had just asked Ye Nanxun the same question herself.

She leaned close to her husband's ear. "Making up for his lack of common sense."

He no longer needed to go to the Imperial Palace to practice the piano.

The next morning, Ye Nanxun opened his eyes sometime after eight.

He glanced at the time, then at the foggy sky outside the window.

Curled up in his warm bed, he rolled over and closed his eyes again.

This extra bit of sleep was not very comfortable.

At times, he seemed awake; at others, he seemed asleep.

One dream after another made it difficult to distinguish reality from dreams.

When he had first returned after being reborn, even while traveling with his family under the pretense of a vacation, Ye Nanxun had been plagued almost every day by nightmares from his previous life.

Especially that period when sulfuric acid had disfigured his face, blinded him, and left his entire body in excruciating pain.

He had suddenly fallen into boundless darkness.

Pain, cold, hunger.

His face was now clean and smooth, without the slightest scar.

There was no cold, nor was there hunger.

The body's defense mechanisms had gradually made him forget the pain he had suffered in his previous life.

Otherwise, why would there be the saying, "Once the wound heals, you forget the pain"?

But wounds of the mind were not so easily healed.

Otherwise, how could so many people be tormented by the misfortunes of childhood for their entire lives?

"Xiaoxun, it's about time to get up and eat!"

With the knock on his door, his mother's warm call from outside was like a lifeline, pulling Ye Nanxun out of the hell of cold, hunger, exhaustion, and pain.

He opened his eyes, and bright but gentle sunlight poured in through the window.

"I'm coming, Mom."

Wearing his slippers, Ye Nanxun sat at the dining table. He took a sip of hot black tea with one hand and opened his phone's messaging interface with the other.

Jiang Yuenian had not contacted him.

Ye Nanxun sent him a message.

Little Mushroom: Teacher Jiang, Teacher Xu said I won't need to go to the Imperial Palace starting today.

The other party did not reply immediately.

After he had eaten two pan-fried dumplings, the phone at his side chimed.

Jiang Yuenian: I heard from her. Rest for a few days first. We only need one final rehearsal.

Little Mushroom: Teacher Jiang, I usually need to practice the piano too. We can rehearse in advance.

Jiang Yuenian: Are you busy this afternoon? We're rehearsing at Dream Star Opera House. If you're free, you can come by and hang out.

Ye Nanxun looked up. "Dad, Mom, I'm going to Dream Star Opera House to see Teacher Jiang this afternoon. I might not come home for dinner."

Chen Mingzhu's face lit up with delight. "All right, go ahead. Your dad has nothing to do today, so let him drive you there."

Ye Xiangsong said with a smile, "Dad will drive you over later."

His parents had never said anything about how he had stayed home like a shut-in for ten years.

But in truth, they had always hoped that he would go out more and make more friends, hadn't they?

Ye Nanxun smiled and pressed his lips together. "Mm."

After lunch, Ye Xiangsong drove Ye Nanxun to Dream Star Opera House.

Ye Xiangsong stuck his head out of the car window. "Xiaoxun, call Dad when you're ready to go home. Dad will come pick you up."

Ye Nanxun adjusted the black-and-gray cashmere scarf around his neck. "Got it, Dad. Go on home."

Instead of going inside immediately, Ye Nanxun stood near the parking lot and watched his father leave.

Just as Ye Xiangsong's car drove out through the opera house gates, a luxury car slowly entered from outside.

With most of his face buried in his scarf and both hands in his coat pockets, Ye Nanxun strolled forward at an unhurried pace.

The luxury car that had just driven in stopped three or four meters in front of Ye Nanxun.

That was not a parking space.

Ye Nanxun stopped alertly.

The car door opened, and a lovely figure in fiery red ran out.

Her beautiful face was filled with unconcealable delight.

"Young Master Ye! Why are you here too?"

The newcomer was a tall, beautiful omega wearing a fiery red coat and cute fluffy boots. The moment she stepped out of the car, she ran toward Ye Nanxun.

Ye Nanxun's gaze swept over her face as he stood quietly in place. "Hello. Do we know each other?"

He Lanxue gave an awkward chuckle. "I was at the Imperial Palace ceremony that day too. My name is He Lanxue."

"What Young Master Ye? Don't tell me he's related to that Ye Zhineng guy?" Another voice sounded.

A young alpha in a fur-collared leather jacket, looking exceptionally cool and luxurious, leaned his head out from the driver's seat. When his indifferent gaze fell on Ye Nanxun, it paused for a moment.