The Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Character Is the Zombie King - Chapter 1

System: 【Zhou Yongnan has arrived. Please be prepared, Host.】
Ye Wei’an toyed with the ruby in his hand, his expression blank. “Oh,” he replied flatly.
Two days ago, he had transmigrated into this brain-dead novel and became a cannon fodder character who shared his name—Ye Wei’an.
The main character of this novel was named Yan Qing.
Yan Qing was a walking mass of charm, a beloved darling surrounded by countless men, leaving every one of them dizzy and infatuated.
The original Ye Wei’an was the head of the Ye family, a cold-faced, ruthless, and cunning man. Yet he treated Yan Qing with unmatched tenderness.
That sharp contrast had made him wildly popular among readers, turning the original Ye Wei’an into the most beloved cannon-fodder top in the story.
However, for the sake of making the official top, Zhou Yongnan, rise to his position, the author forced Ye Wei’an to “blacken” and turned him into a complete pervert.
After Ye Wei’an discovered that Yan Qing was stringing him along while secretly being intimate with Zhou Yongnan, he locked Yan Qing up and committed a series of unspeakable acts.
When that part of the story was released, the comment section exploded with outrage. Some extreme readers even launched a full-on hate campaign against the author.
But the author was stubborn to the core and simply decided to kill off Ye Wei’an.
Before dying, Ye Wei’an continued to act recklessly, fully cementing himself as a malicious cannon-fodder villain.
Truly, the author’s cruelty ran deeper than his own.
Ye Wei’an: “.”
Two-dimensional characters have no human rights.
Not long after, the old butler knocked on the door from outside. “Master, the eldest young master of the Zhou family has come to visit.”
He really came.
Ye Wei’an placed the ruby back into the golden nanmu box, then put it inside the safe and carefully locked it before heading downstairs to meet the guest.
*
Zhou Yongnan barged into the living room with his bodyguards, only to see Ye Wei’an lounging lazily on the sofa, a cup of hot tea set before him, looking utterly at ease.
Anger flared in Zhou Yongnan’s chest as he demanded bluntly, “Where’s Yan Qing?”
Ye Wei’an lifted his eyes to look at him.
Zhou Yongnan was the official top. His looks and family background were both top-tier, not much inferior to the original Ye Wei’an.
However, the current head of the Zhou family was Zhou Yongnan’s uncle, Zhou Huaichen, which made Zhou Yongnan’s generation a rank below the original Ye Wei’an’s. In terms of presence and authority, he naturally fell a notch short.
That was also why readers of the original novel preferred Ye Wei’an. After all, most people admired strength.
Ye Wei’an turned his head and said to the old butler, “Bring Yan Qing up.”
Two minutes later, Yan Qing was brought into the living room.
Zhou Yongnan, anxious and worried, called out repeatedly from behind the bodyguards, “Qing Qing, are you all right? Did he force you? Are you hurt? Did he do anything to you?”
Yan Qing let out a sob, tears streaming down his face like pear blossoms in the rain. “I’m fine… Yongnan, I knew you’d come to save me…”
The two of them looked just like Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian, while the Ye family’s bodyguards resembled Fa Hai. A whole West Lake opera of ‘the water is my tears’ is being played out right before his eyes.
Ye Wei’an: “.”
To be fair, Yan Qing wasn’t bad-looking. He had that delicate, pitiful aura of a little white flower.
No wonder he could be everyone’s favorite.
But Ye Wei’an didn’t like it.
His aesthetic leaned toward glittering crystal cores and gemstones. Little white flowers were far too bland for his taste.
He couldn’t understand the original Ye Wei’an’s obsession with this little white flower, especially since just two days ago, the host had nearly gotten himself so angry at him that he fainted.
—The original Ye Wei’an, in a fit of rage, had grabbed Yan Qing and locked him in a small dark room, demanding to know why he was stringing him along while getting intimate with so many other men.
When Yan Qing saw him jealous, before the host could even resort to force, he bashfully offered himself up, saying he was willing to let Ye Wei’an have him.
The host was stunned, completely thunderstruck.
He never imagined Yan Qing could be so shameless, able to go to bed with anyone so easily.
This wasn’t the pure, innocent little white flower he’d imagine. So in the end, he worked himself up so much that he passed out from anger.
After that, Ye Wei’an transmigrated over.
Ye Wei’an: “.”
How could the dignified head of the Ye family faint from anger over something like that?
…Oh, right. Because this was a brain-dead novel.
If you asked why, well, it’s simply because the author’s godlike.
Feeling unusually charitable, Ye Wei’an bowed his head in a brief two-second moment of silence for the original.
“You’d better let Qing Qing go! Otherwise, our Zhou family will definitely become enemies with the Ye family!” Zhou Yongnan’s shout snapped Ye Wei’an out of his thoughts.
He asked calmly, “Can you even make the decisions for the Zhou family?”
Zhou Yongnan was caught off guard, then sneered coldly. “You don’t have to provoke me. You’re the head of the Ye family, and I’m the Zhou family’s eldest grandson, the future heir. Our status isn’t that different… I’ve already called my uncle for help. He’ll be here soon!”
Ye Wei’an: “.”
Zhou Huaichen was the current head of the Zhou family, two years older than the original Ye Wei’an. He didn’t appear much in the novel, but the host’s impression of him was that he was low-key yet formidable.
Ye Wei’an agreed with that assessment because the system had told him that Zhou Huaichen was the only man in the novel who hadn’t fallen for Yan Qing’s charms and the one who eventually helped Zhou Yongnan defeat the original Ye Wei’an.
In other words, Zhou Huaichen was basically Zhou Yongnan’s cheat code.
It was impressive. It completely defied all logic.
Zhou Yongnan was still shouting, “Scared now? If you’re scared, then let—”
Ye Wei’an interrupted him expressionlessly. “You can stay, too.”
Zhou Yongnan: “?”
Ye Weian: “Three people together. It’s more fun that way.”
Zhou Yongnan: “?”
Yan Qing: “……”
System: 【Warning! Warning! The host’s mission is to capture Yan Qing’s heart! Zhou Yongnan is a love rival. He cannot be targeted!】
Ye Weian: “Why not? Can’t I become the one everyone loves instead?”
System: 【……】
It was the first time the system had encountered such a rule-breaking host. It was already exhausted.
【ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!】 The warning came in bold, all caps, highlighted red, and punctuated with a string of exclamation marks.
Ye Weian: “.”
He turned to Yan Qing. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be with me, but also couldn’t let go of Young Master Zhou? The three of us living together, creating a perfect ending. Doesn’t that sound good?”
System: 【Warning! Warning! The host’s mission is to capture Yan—】
Ye Wei’an immediately muted it.
Yan Qing: “……”
Yan Qing hesitated.
Zhou Yongnan’s eyes widened. “Qing Qing, how can you hesitate?”
Yan Qing blinked his teary eyes and said softly, “But Mr. Ye treats me very well, too.”
And indeed, the original Ye Wei’an had treated him very well.
Yan Qing was a small-time actor who had been struggling in obscurity for three years. In his fourth year, the original Ye Wei’an took a liking to him. Over the next two years, Ye Wei’an invested in four TV dramas for him and even created a variety show just to promote him, finally making Yan Qing a household name.
As for Zhou Yongnan, he only carried the title of “eldest young master of the Zhou family”. He received yearly dividends but didn’t dare to use the Zhou family’s name to get Yan Qing any opportunities.
Yan Qing knew perfectly well. His current fame was built on Ye Wei’an’s money.
How could he possibly let go of such a dependable golden backer?
After a bit of coaxing from Yan Qing, Zhou Yongnan’s anger dissipated. Embarrassed, he muttered, “All right then…”
Ye Wei’an: “.”
He actually agreed?
Good.
Ye Wei’an said, “From now on, you’ll be on the bottom.”
Zhou Yongnan: “…”
Ye Wei’an: “Didn’t understand?”
Zhou Yongnan was so furious that he couldn’t even speak. He pointed at Ye Wei’an with a trembling hand, and after a long struggle, squeezed out through gritted teeth, “You’re not human!”
This pervert! Fine, defiling Yan Qing was one thing. Sharing Yan Qing half-and-half was barely tolerable. But now he actually wanted to touch him too?!
Shameless!
Maintaining his relaxed posture, Ye Wei’an’s face remained expressionless. “I can make you happy.”
Zhou Yongnan exploded in rage, lunging forward as he shouted, “Pervert! In your dreams!”
Ye Wei’an: “.”
Very well. Negotiations failed.
Then, time to take them in.
In no time, Zhou Yongnan was seized by Ye Wei’an’s men, along with all the bodyguards he had brought.
Ye Wei’an said calmly, “Think it over carefully.”
Zhou Yongnan: “……”
He was stunned.
It had never even crossed his mind that Ye Wei’an would actually dare to capture him.
“Let me go right now! My uncle’s on his way here! You’d better not go against the Zhou family, or my uncle will make you pay for this!”
Ye Wei’an: “.”
He was already in his twenties, yet he was still shouting for an elder to come to his rescue.
“Gag him and take him downstairs,” Ye Wei’an instructed the old butler.
The old butler stepped closer and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Zhou has arrived.”
Ye Wei’an, who had been planning to return to his room to continue admiring his gemstones, sat back down on the sofa instead.
Two minutes later, Zhou Huaichen strode in from outside.
His features were sharp and handsome, his bearing refined. Every movement carried the calm authority of someone born to command.
Ye Wei’an’s heart suddenly began to pound.
He couldn’t quite see the “handsome” part, but he could see that Zhou Huaichen looked utterly delicious.
…This man seemed to radiate light, just like his favorite kind of purple crystal core.
Dazzling like a gemstone, sweet and luscious like a grape.
Ye Weian almost drooled.
—【He must taste amazing.】
Zhou Huaichen’s steps faltered.
He… seemed to have heard Ye Wei’an speak.
But since Ye Wei’an sat there completely still, not a ripple of expression on his face, Zhou Huaichen began to wonder if he had imagined it.
He stepped forward and greeted him politely, “President Ye.”
Ye Weian: “Mm.”
—【Even his voice tastes like grapes. I want to eat him.】
Zhou Huaichen raised an eyebrow.
Grape-flavored?
“My nephew Yongnan was reckless and offended you, President Ye. I’ve come to have him apologize,” Zhou Huaichen said, his gaze briefly brushing over Ye Wei’an’s face.
Ye Wei’an replied calmly, “Oh, it’s fine.”
Zhou Huaichen frowned slightly.
According to rumors, the head of the Ye family was moody and gloomy, unpredictable in temperament. He hadn’t expected Ye Wei’an to be this easygoing.
Then Ye Wei’an said, “I’ve taken a liking to your nephew and his lover. Just have them both stay here with me.”
Zhou Huaichen: “……”
He took back his earlier thought. Ye Wei’an was not easy to deal with. In fact, he was downright eccentric.
Zhou Huaichen smiled politely. “I’m afraid that won’t do.”
Ye Wei’an: “Oh.”
—【Fine, then forget it. It’s not like I actually like your nephew or his lover anyway. Two idiots. Not my type.】
Zhou Huaichen: “……”
That was the third time he’d heard that strange voice.
After a moment of thought, he was certain. What he was hearing were Ye Wei’an’s inner thoughts.
His expression grew complicated.
Today’s Ye Wei’an seemed completely different. He is no longer gloomy and sinister like before, but rather… a master of deadpan sarcasm.
It was truly beyond his expectations.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “President Ye, if you have any requests, feel free to state them. As long as you let my nephew go.”
Ye Wei’an lifted his gaze, staring straight at him.
—【Then you stay. I’ll give you pleasure.】
Zhou Huaichen: “……”