Vicious Cannon Fodder? No, It's The Beautiful Wife! - Chapter 1

“Anyway, your husband’s dead. Why don’t you consider me?”

That was the first thing Yuan Su heard when he came to his senses.

Inside the office, he stared blankly at the unfamiliar man sitting across from him. The sunset outside the floor-to-ceiling window cast a warm light into the room. Because the man was backlit, his features were partly hidden in the shadows. But a pair of deep eyes locked straight onto Yuan Su, scanning him from head to toe before finally resting on his face.

The man smiled with satisfaction, and when he spoke again, his low voice carried obvious flirtation.

“Men are fine too.”

—This was harassment.

Yuan Su judged instantly. But before he could react more, a strange voice suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Accept him.]

Too late.

Yuan Su’s self-defense kicked in immediately. He blurted out,
“I’m not that desperate.”

The air froze.

Even though Yuan Su wasn’t paying attention, he could feel the shocked stares from the two officers standing by the office door.

Yuan Su: “…”

The unfamiliar setting and people around him made his mind go blank, and the words he had just said might have put him in danger.

Just moments ago, Yuan Su had been in a rental apartment rushing through a group project. The next second, everything went dark, and he was pulled into a pure white space.

There, a strange thing called the “Villain Cannon Fodder System” forced a bond with him.

A few other systems explained that he had broken too many innocent young men’s hearts. He was flirty and cruel and now deserved punishment!

System 527: [The villain cannon fodder team is short on people, so binding someone like you is just right…]

527 gritted its teeth, but the moment it saw Yuan Su’s face, it suddenly froze. After a long pause, it coughed and changed its tone:
[A human who uses beauty to commit crimes… As punishment, you must be reformed.]

System 818: [Seriously, 527, stop drooling over a playboy’s bad luck!]

Yuan Su, watching this strange scene, quietly muttered, “…I’m homophobic.”

System 341 let out a cold laugh:
[Homophobic? You dated over 80 handsome guys in just one year?]
[Scheming gay!]
[Lies of a playboy!]
[Enough! Send him into the world!]

“I didn’t—”

Yuan Su wanted to defend himself, but before he could finish, his vision faded again.

When he came to, he was already sitting on a sofa.

The slender and beautiful young man looked nervous. His pale, pretty face showed hesitation. Under long lashes, his amber eyes were clear like maple syrup.

He looked clean, fair, and innocent. But those soft, red lips looked too bright, like a wound on a pure surface, dripping with seductive color…

That face—definitely one people would fall for.

Across the table, Chu Wenhe stopped tapping his fingers. Maybe he was staring too directly, because the young man frowned slightly and turned his head.

His discomfort was obvious, but somehow it gave off a feeling of shyness and helplessness.

So lovable.

Even though Yuan Su had insulted him earlier, Chu Wenhe didn’t get angry. Instead, a strange heat burned in his throat. He swallowed and suppressed it.

The man smiled, “You’re very interesting.”

Yuan Su didn’t understand but replied stiffly, “Thank you.”

—Was this man into guys?

He sighed with relief, his voice softening. Then he sneaked a glance at the man—only to meet his gaze directly.

Yuan Su: “…”

He quickly looked away and awkwardly scratched the sofa with his fingers.

Then he realized he was being too obvious—right as the man let out a low laugh.

“No need to be nervous. I enjoyed talking with you today.”

Chu Wenhe leaned back lazily, like a predator toying with his prey. His sharp, handsome face showed a relaxed smile, and the chill around him faded.

He said, “I’ll have someone confirm those weapons you mentioned. If it’s accurate, you’ll be rewarded with lots of points. We’ll give you a light desk job or send you to another base.”

Then, Chu Wenhe stood up and held out his hand.
“Pleasure working with you.”

Yuan Su’s mind was blank, but he copied the motion, “Pleasure working with you.”

He didn’t like physical contact with strangers, so he only lightly touched the man’s hand before quickly pulling away.

That soft, warm feeling disappeared at once, and Chu Wenhe didn’t even get to fully grasp his hand. He quietly rubbed his fingers with a bit of regret, then politely said, “It’s getting late. Be careful on the way back.”

This meeting was just Chu Wenhe acting on a whim. Everyone knew the military and Yuan Su’s husband had always been enemies.

He had been curious why this beautiful young widow had come to him so soon after her husband’s death.

Now he understood—Yuan Su was already looking for his next backer.

He’d heard rumors that Qin Zhao’s lover was weak and spoiled, always causing trouble because of his beauty and Qin Zhao’s affection.

Now that he saw him in person, the pretty face really lived up to the gossip.

Yuan Su got up to leave, but the man spoke again:
“Oh, by the way—”

He turned back, eyes wide with confusion, waiting quietly for the rest.

“You can think about my offer.”

The man smiled meaningfully, lowered his cap, and left first.

…Offer?

System 341 explained:
[He means becoming his lover. That’s what “you” were sent to do.]

Without thinking, Yuan Su replied, “He wishes.”

He said it so quickly, and so calmly, that it didn’t even sound emotional. But that calm tone made it feel like a hidden insult.

341: […]

Sensing the system go silent, Yuan Su quickly said, “I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

It was just a reflex. All instinct. Thanks.

The elevator arrived. Inside the small space, Yuan Su finally relaxed a bit.

Looking out the glass wall, he saw rows of buildings and glowing streetlights. This seemed to be the highest point of the city.

But the view didn’t end at the horizon—it ended at a huge metal wall that surrounded the city. Red lights blinked coldly along the barrier.

The strange architecture made Yuan Su swallow nervously. He asked, “Where… am I?”

System:
[Your first mission world.]

Yuan Su frowned. His voice carried a little grievance.
“But I didn’t agree yet.”

The system paused, then coldly replied:
[It was a forced assignment.]

He gave up hope and asked weakly, “Can I go back?”

This time, the system stayed quiet for even longer. Finally, it answered more gently:
[You’ve already died in the real world. But if you complete your missions and meet the goals, you can be revived. Plus, we’ll give you a cash reward.]

Yuan Su asked casually, “How much?”

[Ten million per world.]

That much?!

In three seconds, the system witnessed a full emotional shift.

Yuan Su, who had looked lifeless a moment ago, suddenly perked up. His amber eyes widened like a cat’s, sparkling with joy and innocence.

“I—I want to work! I’m ready, System Sir!”

System 341:
[Good. I’m your personal system. I’ll help you through every mission.]

Maybe it was the money, but even the system’s cold voice sounded a little gentler.

[Now, I’ll upload the plot of this world.]

This was a post-apocalyptic world.

Disasters struck, viruses spread, animals mutated and became man-eaters. The surviving humans-built bases to keep living.

The male lead (gong) was once the most dangerous experiment in an illegal lab. As a child, the shou (bottom) helped him escape. After the apocalypse, they became teammates without recognizing each other.

The original host (Yuan Su’s character) had once saved the male lead, then used that favor to marry him. He looked down on the lead’s background and poisoned him during a supply mission, hoping to get rid of him and win favor with the rival, Chu Wenhe.

But the male lead didn’t die.

He revealed his true form, came back to the base, found out the truth, and learned that the shou had been defending him and trying to find the truth.

In the end, they reunited, fell in love, brought back a vaccine, and became heroes. The original host was cast out and eaten alive by monsters.

System:
[Your task is simple—follow the plot. You’re weak, but you know how to use your beauty to your advantage. Quietly drive a wedge between the leads and become the biggest winner.]

Yuan Su frowned and whispered, “So I’m just purely bad.”

341 replied with a cold laugh.
[The man you just met is the rival — Chu Wenhe. Be a little more willful. Don’t be so polite.]

Yuan Su finally understood. He scoffed,
“You think I need your advice?”

341: […Exactly. But please still be polite to me.]

“Mm-hmm, System Sir.”

As soon as he heard about the money, Yuan Su was ready to work.

Following the system’s instructions, he went home.

The apartment was simple but tasteful. Yuan Su was surprised. He thought his husband, Qin Zhao—one of the most powerful people in the base—would live in luxury. But the home was just a large apartment.

It was getting dark. He turned on the lights and looked around. Then he sat on the bed and asked nervously, “Where’s… my husband?”

System:
[You already poisoned him to death.]

Yuan Su froze. Then he remembered where the story had started.

He sighed in relief—no need to stay in the same room with a stranger.

He flopped down on the bed and yawned.
“When will he come back?”

System:
[Tonight.]

Right after the system finished, there was a loud knock at the door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A cold male voice came from outside.

“Open the door.”