The Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Character Is the Zombie King - Chapter 14

Ye Wei’an touched his chin, feeling a bit pleased with himself.
—【I really am quite good-looking. A-Chen has great taste.】
—【Later, I’ll have someone draw him a set of piggy emoji stickers as a reward.】
Zhou Huaichen: “…”
Does he even want to admit that he’s a pig?
The two of them silently stared at each other.
Ye Wei’an blinked.
Zhou Huaichen felt he might still be able to salvage the situation, and said, “I want an emoji, too. Can you draw me as a grapevine?”
He knew Ye Wei’an liked things with a grape flavor, but he couldn’t very well compare himself to a grape. So he could only politely suggest turning himself into a grapevine.
Ye Weian: “…”
Why would Zhou Huaichen suddenly bring up emojis…
…He always felt like Zhou Huaichen could see straight through his thoughts.
If the system were here, it would definitely realize that Zhou Huaichen could hear thoughts.
But unfortunately, the system had shut itself off, and Ye Wei’an didn’t consider that possibility.
He responded cheerfully, “Sure, I’ll have someone draw you a set of grapevine emojis.”
Zhou Huaichen let out a soft “hmm”, the corner of his lips curling up slightly.
The two of them chatted casually as if no one else existed, while Zhu Ziyan and Yan Qing’s faces turned dark.
One genuinely liked Zhou Huaichen. The other saw him as prey.
Yet Zhou Huaichen treated only Ye Wei’an specially. How could they not feel jealous?
Yan Qing, fuming inside, glanced at Zhou Yongnan.
Catching the hint, Zhou Yongnan immediately stepped forward to stand between Zhou Huaichen and Ye Wei’an, saying, “Little Uncle, Ye Wei’an is a pervert! How can you let him charm you?”
Zhou Huaichen glanced at him indifferently and said, “Tonight at the old residence, I’ll have something to tell you.” He paused, then added, “I’ll call your parents. Your grandfather will also sit in.”
Isn’t this basically a full-scale family interrogation?
Zhou Yongnan had intended to target Ye Wei’an, but upon hearing this, he didn’t dare to say another word.
Yan Qing looked utterly disappointed.
His disdain for Zhou Yongnan wasn’t unfounded. Zhou Yongnan was far too weak in front of Zhou Huaichen.
Zhou Huaichen lightly tapped the table and said, “That’s enough.”
Today, he had only wanted to introduce Ye Wei’an to Qi Zhangbai and the others. Now that both sides were acquainted and the meal had been eaten, there was no reason to linger.
All of their childhood friends looked to Zhou Huaichen for guidance. When he spoke, they all stood up.
Zhu Ziyan suddenly said, “President Ye, why don’t you see Yan Qing off?” She gave a polite yet composed smile. “You’ve liked Yan Qing for years without getting a response. I think Yan Qing should give you a chance.”
Everyone knew exactly what she meant. On the surface, she was creating an opportunity for Ye Wei’an, but in reality, she just wanted to pair Ye Wei’an with Yan Qing.
—Whether it was Yan Qing trying to seduce Zhou Huaichen or Zhou Huaichen treating Ye Wei’an specially, both were threats to Zhu Ziyan. By pairing Ye Wei’an with Yan Qing, she could eliminate two romantic rivals at once. Everyone would be happy.
Zhou Yongnan stared at Zhu Ziyan in disbelief. “What about me?”
He was Yan Qing’s official boyfriend. Where did Zhu Ziyan put him?
Zhu Ziyan replied casually, “You should go home early and wait for your Little Uncle.”
Zhou Yongnan: “……”
He was about to explode with anger.
But Zhu Ziyan had always been so overbearing since childhood. With Zhu Hongke present as well, he didn’t dare argue with her.
Yan Qing watched all this and grew even more disappointed.
Everyone present held a high status. Zhou Yongnan, despite being the eldest son of the Zhou family, inexplicably seemed inferior to all of them, which made him feel embarrassed as well.
Ye Wei’an glanced at Yan Qing and said, “Then let’s go together. I happen to have something to tell you.”
He wanted to talk to Yan Qing about the fans.
Just now, Assistant Long had messaged him, saying that those troublesome fans had already been taken to the police station to give statements.
Most of the fans had been incited by the “super fans”. The super fans were part of Yan Qing’s team.
He needed to talk to Yan Qing. At the very least, to make sure innocent fans weren’t being used as cannon fodder.
The childhood friends, seeing him actually about to leave with Yan Qing, all looked a little strange. They couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Huaichen.
Zhou Huaichen stood there with a calm expression, impossible to read.
Yan Qing, however, cast a disdainful glance at Ye Wei’an and said, “I’m not going with you.”
Zhu Ziyan, standing nearby, gave a half-smile, half-smirk. “Then who do you want to go with? Don’t tell me you still want to go with Brother Chen. Don’t forget that you’re Yongnan’s boyfriend and Brother Chen’s nephew-in-law.”
Yan Qing knew she was mocking him for daring to fancy Zhou Huaichen. His face turned dark with anger.
Zhou Yongnan, however, didn’t notice Yan Qing’s thoughts about Zhou Huaichen at all. He immediately draped an arm around Yan Qing’s shoulders to rescue him: “Of course, you’re going with me.”
Recently, Yan Qing had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Zhou Yongnan and was somewhat resistant to his closeness.
But in front of everyone, Yan Qing didn’t push Zhou Yongnan away. He just lowered his head and endured it silently.
Zhu Ziyan looked at Zhou Yongnan as if he were an idiot, then her gaze slowly drifted to the top of his head. She clicked her tongue and muttered, “So green.”
Zhou Yongnan: “…”
Zhu Ziyan ignored him, gracefully walking to Zhou Huaichen’s side. She said, “Brother Chen, let’s go together. I bought a gift for Aunt, but I’m not sure if she’ll like it, so I wanted to ask your opinion.”
This was the first time she had proactively approached Zhou Huaichen. She nervously awaited his response.
Zhou Huaichen replied calmly, “Sorry, I still have things to discuss with President Ye.”
He turned his gaze to Ye Wei’an. “Let’s go together.”
Meeting his eyes, Ye Wei’an couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
He frowned slightly and asked the system, “Why can’t I say no to Ah Chen?”
The system, wall-facing, happened to hear his question and, in a self-abandoning tone, said: 【Maybe this is what love is.】
Ye Wei’an: “…”
The system ignored him after that.
Ye Wei’an: “……”
He met Zhou Huaichen’s gaze for a few seconds, then nodded and said, “Alright.”
—【Who could refuse such a handsome little pig?】
The corner of Zhou Huaichen’s lips froze into a faint, subtle smile.
He felt it was necessary to find a proper time to have a serious talk with Ye Wei’an. He only wanted to be the grapevine that Ye Wei’an loved, not a pig rooting through cabbages.
…Although, admittedly, he did want to get his hands on that fresh, tender cabbage.
Zhu Ziyan, having been rejected, looked visibly downcast.
Her brother gently patted her shoulder, then called the other childhood friends to leave.
The private room was left with only Ye Wei’an and Zhou Huaichen, along with Yan Qing, who had been kept behind by Ye Wei’an.
As for Zhou Yongnan, worried that Yan Qing might be bullied, he had also stayed behind.
Ye Wei’an turned to Yan Qing and got straight to the point: “Those fans of yours who caused trouble have been caught.”
Yan Qing immediately frowned. “They’re all innocent.”
Ye Wei’an said, “Yes, they’re all innocent. But only because they were following your manager’s orders.”
Seeing that Ye Wei’an had figured out his manager’s involvement, Yan Qing eyed him warily. “What do you want to do?”
Ye Wei’an replied, “We’ll go through legal channels. The company will issue a statement to advise the misguided fans.”
Yan Qing’s face went pale. “You’re not going to issue a statement, right? No way! You can’t put this online.”
His fans caused trouble offline. Whether or not he had incited them, netizens would link the incident to him, affecting his reputation.
Not to mention, the super fans behind it really were following his manager’s orders.
Ye Wei’an said nothing, merely staring at him with an expressionless face.
Yan Qing gritted his teeth and hissed, “You just want to smear me online!”
Ye Wei’an replied calmly, “You weren’t innocent to begin with.”
Yan Qing was furious.
Ye Wei’an said lightly, “As long as you devote yourself to being with me, I’ll let bygones be bygones regarding your past and future prospects.”
Yan Qing secretly felt triumphant.
He knew Ye Wei’an still couldn’t let go of him.
No—he thought. Ye Wei’an was already obsessed with him to a pathological degree.
He truly believed Ye Wei’an was twisted.
Back then, he had even been willing to sleep with Ye Wei’an, but Ye Wei’an had suddenly gotten angry, insisting he break up with Zhou Yongnan and keep his distance from other pursuers.
He snorted coldly. He wasn’t about to obey Ye Wei’an’s wishes.
“You’re dreaming!” Yan Qing sneered coldly at Ye Wei’an.
From now on, Ye Wei’an could forget about ever getting him again!
Ye Wei’an: “.”
If they couldn’t come to an agreement, then so be it.
He turned to Zhou Huaichen. “Let’s go.”
During Ye Wei’an and Yan Qing’s entire conversation, Zhou Huaichen had remained silent.
Only now did he respond quietly, “Alright.”
He pushed the door open and left together with Ye Wei’an.
Yan Qing watched their backs disappear around the corner of the hallway and stomped his foot in anger.
Zhou Yongnan reached out to hug him. “Qing Qing…”
Yan Qing shoved him away violently and began to sob. “You’re so useless! You just stood there watching me get bullied by Ye Wei’an!”
Zhou Yongnan felt a pang of guilt.
With his little uncle present, how could he possibly act arrogantly toward Ye Wei’an?
And thinking about how his uncle had told him to come home that night, he was already dreading it to death.
Grandfather and his parents were all against him being with Yan Qing. On top of that, his young uncle disliked Yan Qing as well. He didn’t know if he could keep going with Yan Qing.
…No!
Even if it meant going against the whole world, he would never be apart from Qing Qing!
Determination was written all over Zhou Yongnan’s face.
…
When Ye Wei’an stepped out of the private room, the system let out a long, faint sigh: 【Host, I don’t think you can complete the mission anymore.】
Yan Qing was about to hate the host to death. How was this supposed to end happily ever after?
Ye Wei’an remained calm. “No worries, I can handle it.”
System: 【……】
Ye Wei’an ignored it and tilted his head to look at Zhou Huaichen. “Do you still have something to discuss with me?”
He had thought that they had already finished the serious matters this morning.
At this moment, the two of them stood by the door, waiting for the car.
Zhou Huaichen lifted his eyes and met Ye Wei’an’s gaze silently for a few seconds. “Talking about business was just an excuse.”
Ye Wei’an: “…”
Zhou Huaichen’s voice was low and pleasant: “I just want to spend a little more time with you.”
Ye Wei’an’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
For once, he felt a little flustered and asked the system for advice: “He’s way too much like a purple crystal core. He’s so fragrant and exudes deliciousness. What do I do if I want to just pounce on him?”
System: 【……Hold back!】
Ye Wei’an: “But I really want to take him home and keep him. I want to hold him while I sleep.”
System: 【……】
System: 【Absolutely not!!!!】
System: 【Host, calm down!!!!】
Ye Wei’an stared at Zhou Huaichen.
—【I still really want to take him home, really want to hold him while I sleep.】
Zhou Huaichen lifted an eyebrow slightly.
Ye Wei’an swallowed hard, almost unable to resist the delicious grape scent he was giving off.
The system had no choice but to shout right into Ye Wei’an’s ear: 【Close your eyes! Don’t look at Zhou Huaichen! Empty your mind, imagine yourself lying in a pile of purple crystal cores, and Zhou Huaichen is just a pig rooting through cabbages!】
Ye Wei’an: “……”
With the system yelling like that, he finally managed to resist the temptation.
Just then, the car arrived. Zhou Huaichen personally opened the door for him and said, “I’ll take you back to the company.”
Ye Wei’an was still a little dazed, casually murmured a reply, and got into the car.
It wasn’t until the car started moving that he came back to himself and said, “Oh, right, this is for you.”
He handed the purple pendant to Zhou Huaichen.
Zhou Huaichen didn’t take it immediately, speaking softly: “This is a gift for you. Please accept it, alright?”
Meeting his dark, intense gaze, Ye Wei’an blurted out, “Are you going to pounce on me?”
Zhou Huaichen: “……”
Ye Wei’an: “……”
It was all the system’s fault. Talking about Zhou Huaichen being a pig rooting through cabbages had filled his head with cabbages and pigs!
He was unusually embarrassed, his eyes showing a hint of discomfort.
Of course, his poker-faced expression still gave nothing away.
Zhou Huaichen let out a low chuckle, staring directly at him. “Do you want me to pounce?”
Ye Wei’an: “……”
He blinked once, then again, staying silent.
The system was freaking out: 【Say no, NOW!】
Ye Wei’an: “But I don’t mind.”
System: 【You have to pursue Yan Qing!】
Ye Wei’an sighed, and for the nth time interrogated the system: “Why can’t I switch to a different target?”
Pursuing Zhou Huaichen would make everyone happy.
System: 【Anyway, you can’t agree to Zhou Huaichen.】
System: 【You’d better refuse quickly, or the big BOSS will sink deeper and deeper. In the end, love will turn to hate, leaving you devastated.】
Ye Wei’an: “……”
Zhou Huaichen was so capable. If he went dark, it really could end in catastrophe.
He looked at Zhou Huaichen, reluctantly saying, “I can’t.”
Zhou Huaichen’s expression didn’t change. He gave a soft “hm,” saying, “Alright, I understand.”
He didn’t press for a reason, nor did he force Ye Wei’an to agree.
Because he wasn’t in a hurry.
His voice remained gentle: “Then can I make a different request?”
Ye Wei’an: “Mm.”
Zhou Huaichen: “I want to be a grapevine.” Not a pig.
Ye Wei’an tilted his head to look at him.
Zhou Huaichen’s voice was husky: “A grapevine can bear lots of delicious grapes. When the grapes are ripe, you can take me home and… you can even eat me.”
Ye Wei’an: “!”
System: 【!】
Damn, Big Boss Zhou was just too good at this. Too good.
Its host was going to get pounced on sooner or later!

Author’s note:
Ye Weian: No way, I can handle it.
System: Pfft! Yeah, right!