Quick Transmigration: I Was Cannon Fodder But Became the White Moonlight

That night on the terrace, she got drunk even from wine mixed with grape juice. Her eyelashes were wet, and she was unaware of her own confusion. She held his hand and repeatedly stroked the string of red agate beads, muttering that he was not allowed to take them off and that he was not allowed to forget her.

In the taxi that took her home, she fell asleep soundly on his shoulder, her breathing shallow and carrying the sweet scent of grapes.

He turned his head to look at her; the light flowing from the window swept across her peaceful sleeping face, flickering on and off.

The driver glanced at her curiously in the rearview mirror, then raised his hand and subtly tucked her face into the crook of his neck, blocking any prying eyes.

The car was parked in the familiar old residential area downstairs from her house.

He carefully carried her out.

She was very light, curled up in his arms like a cat.

As he went upstairs, he deliberately slowed his pace, afraid that the bumps would wake her.

Knock on the door.

Grandma's complaint came from inside: "Why is Su Su coming home so late today..."

The door opened, and dim light streamed out, illuminating Shen Que holding someone in the doorway, and Chen Su, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.

Grandma was stunned. Her gaze swept back and forth between his face and Chen Su in his arms. Her lips were pursed, and her eyes were complicated and hard to read.

This was their second meeting. The first time was earlier, when his grandmother approached him and earnestly yet sharply asked him to stay away from Chen Su.

"Chen Su drank alcohol and fell asleep," Shen Que said first, his voice low and calm as he stated the facts.

Grandma looked at him for a few seconds, and in the end, she said nothing and stepped aside to let him in.

The room was small, but clean and cozy, filled with the atmosphere of Chen Su's life there.

He gently placed her on the small bed, his movements careful.

Just as he was about to pull his hand away to cover her with the blanket, the sleeping person unconsciously clung to him, her soft arms hooking around his arm, her cheek nuzzling against his sleeve in a dependent manner, mumbling indistinctly, "Shen Que..."

The voice was soft, filled with complete dependence and intimacy.

At that moment, Shen Que felt his heart being squeezed lightly, leaving it feeling weak and sore.

He froze, not moving, when he caught a glimpse of his grandmother standing silently by the door, taking in everything.

He gently pulled his hand away from Chen Su's, tucked the blanket around her, straightened up, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

Only a small wall lamp was on in the living room, making the light dim.

Grandma was already sitting on the old sofa, her back straight, her expression more serious than ever before.

"What's your name?" she asked, her voice not loud, but carrying a heavy weight.

"Shen Que," he replied, standing in the center of the living room without sitting down.

"You like Su Su?"

"Yes." Without hesitation.

A few seconds of silence followed. Grandma didn't seem surprised, but the worry in her eyes deepened. She took a deep breath, as if carefully choosing her words, and then said:

"But your family won't accept a girl like Su Su." Her tone was firm, with a worldly wisdom. "And I will absolutely not let her suffer that kind of humiliation, having to be subservient to others."

Shen Que remained silent. The orange light cast a soft shadow on his face.

"Do you have the ability to ensure she doesn't suffer?" Grandma looked at him, her gaze piercing. "Can you decide your own marriage, your own future? If not, child, break it off as soon as possible. It's better for both of you. A short pain is worse than a long one."

These words, like a dull knife, slowly cut open the bloody reality he had been avoiding.

Yes, he doesn't have it now.

His rebellion and resistance appear naive and powerless in the face of the immense family will and network of interests.

He hated this feeling of powerlessness, and he hated even more that this feeling of powerlessness might affect her.

For the first time, he so clearly loathed his past state of merely "rebelling for the sake of rebellion."

If only it had happened sooner... if he hadn't...

"I'm going abroad soon." He finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, but with a resolute determination, "to finish my studies and take over the family business."

He looked up and stared directly at his grandmother: "I will make myself capable of this."

Grandma's brow remained furrowed: "Does Susu know about this?"

"Yes." He nodded. Although the specific date was not mentioned, they both knew that parting was the inevitable outcome.

Grandma stopped talking and just looked at him, as if gauging the sincerity and weight of his resolve.

After a long while, she seemed to sigh softly, her breath filled with helplessness and worry.

Shen Que took out a thin card from the inside pocket of his coat.

It was an ordinary savings card containing a sum of money he had saved over the years. The amount wasn't astronomical, but for an ordinary family, it was enough to cope with a sudden crisis for half a lifetime.

He handed the card over.

Grandma's face immediately changed, her expression turning serious and resolute with offended displeasure: "What are you doing? We don't want it! Take it away!"

"After I went abroad."

Shen Que tried to make his tone sound more like a suggestion than a handout: "Use it in any emergency or difficult situation. The password is Chen Su's birthday. It's just for backup."

He gently placed the card on the small wooden coffee table next to him and pushed it a little over.

Grandma shook her head again, her attitude resolute, and her voice involuntarily rose: "We don't need it..."

"Don't wake her." Shen Que suddenly interrupted in a low voice, glancing at Chen Su's door.

Grandma's words came to an abrupt end.

"I'm leaving now. Take care."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He pushed open the door and his figure disappeared into the night outside.

The door closed very quietly.

Grandma looked at the closed door, then turned to look at the card on the coffee table.

In the end, he just let out a long, deep sigh.

_

On the day he left the country, amidst the noisy background noise of the airport, he held his phone and hesitated countless times.

Chen Su's number was on the screen, and my fingertip hovered over the dial button, unable to drop it for a long time.

He knew today was the day the results would be released. He also knew she had done very well.

After the college entrance exam, she estimated her score by looking at the answers and excitedly told him about it. He had seen her recollection of the problem-solving process and answers, and the accuracy rate was astonishingly high.

That dazzling light should have belonged to her.

So, selfishly, he wanted to use the joy of passing the imperial examination to dilute the impact of the news of parting.

Even if it can only cover up a little bit, it's still good.

He finally dialed the number. When he heard her sleepy and nervous voice, he almost regretted it.

But the airport announcement sounded coldly, like a countdown to fate, forcing him to speak.

She indeed noticed something amiss.

Questioning, choking back sobs, and then uncontrollable weeping.

The crying, transmitted through the electricity, carried a damp despair that struck his heart repeatedly, a hundred times worse than the worst he had imagined.

For a moment, a crazy thought seized him.

don't go.

Regardless of family responsibilities or future plans, all he wanted was to turn around immediately, return to her side, wipe away her tears, and tell her that it was all just a joke.

But the next second, reason returned, chilling me to the bone.

don't go?

What can protect her?

What can I give her to live a life free from grievances?

Is he using his empty shell, which has nothing but rebellion at this moment, or his unstable "young master" identity, which could be taken back by the family at any time?

He remembered his grandmother's stern face and his own words, "I will make myself capable of this."

To stay would be a deeper betrayal.

So all he could do was listen to her cry, listen to her call him "annoying" in her tearful voice, and listen to her say "have a safe journey" with all her might.

Every word felt like being slowly sliced ​​to death.

After hanging up the phone, the bustling crowds at the airport instantly became blurry and distant.

He held his phone, his knuckles turning white, and stood there for a long time until the boarding announcement urged him one last time before he finally took a step with legs that felt like they were made of lead.

_

My first year in San Francisco was a year of tempering and forging myself, a year of walking on a knife's edge.

He faced immense academic pressure, needing to complete courses that would take others several years in a very short time, while also achieving top grades.

The family was not a monolithic entity; his appearance threatened the interests of many, leading to both overt and covert attacks that were difficult to defend against.

Exclusion and suppression are commonplace.

Until that time in the parking lot, a gunshot rang out without warning. A searing pain exploded in his abdomen, and the huge impact made him stagger backward, crashing into the cold car body.

The world suddenly slowed down and became blurry.

He looked down and saw the dark blood quickly soaking his clothes. He also saw the persimmon-red agate bracelet on his wrist snap in the impact, the smooth beads scattering all over the ground with a crackling sound. A few beads rolled into the pool of blood, as if they had become one with it.

That was something Chen Su had so devoutly prayed for for him at the temple.

Peaceful and stable.

On the verge of losing consciousness, he seemed to see again that summer afternoon in the mountain temple, sunlight streaming through the windowpane, and her profile as she held a bracelet and prayed with her eyes closed.

I must not die.

This thought gripped him more clearly than the sharp pain in his abdomen.

He still has a promise to keep, and there is someone waiting for him to return.

His survival instinct and an inexplicable belief originating from the distant East sustained him.

He covered his wound and used his last bit of strength to press the emergency call button.

I woke up in the hospital's intensive care unit, where the smell of disinfectant was strong.

The people sent by the family stood guard outside the door, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

He survived, but at the cost of a hideous scar on his abdomen and a heart that had been tempered to be even colder and harder.

He later retrieved every single broken bead from the string, washed them, and put them in a small velvet bag.

They were no longer just a bracelet, but had become a part of his flesh and blood, reminding him of where he came from and guiding him back home.

On my phone, there was a message from Chen Su: [Shen Que, I got the scholarship! Although you probably don't think it's anything special, I'm so happy! [cat spinning.jpg]]

Despite the sixteen-hour time difference and the brush with death he had just experienced, that simple joy shone like a faint but persistent light into his gloomy world.

He typed a reply with difficulty: 【Hmm.】

After thinking for a moment, I added a built-in clapping emoji to the end of the conversation.

He survived, and he will live better and stronger.

for her.

_

The second year, the third year... time flew by in the midst of hard work.

His studies were going increasingly well, and the projects he led were a huge success, bringing astonishing profits to the company. His seat on the board of directors quietly moved forward.

He began to have a real voice, not only as the "Crown Prince" but also as "Shen Que".

His contact with Chen Su gradually became more frequent, starting with just a few words.

In the video, her hair has grown longer, and her youthful innocence has faded, replaced by a serene glow.

He was still not a man of many words, but listening to her talk about campus life and seeing her smile became the only comfort in his busy life.

_

In the autumn of the third year, during that late-night video call, when he heard her say in a tearful voice, "Grandma fell, I'm so scared," he almost didn't think twice and immediately checked the nearest flights.

All the efforts of the past three years seem to have been in preparation for this moment.

When she needs him, he can cross oceans and return to her side immediately.

He arranged a ward, hired a caregiver, and held her as she fell asleep, exhausted. Looking at her slightly furrowed brow as she slept, he realized for the first time that "ability" is not just about wealth and power, but also about having the confidence and drive to provide a safe haven for loved ones when they are vulnerable.

_

In his fourth year, he returned to China with a mature plan and the trust of his team to officially expand the market.

At the signing ceremony, watching her stand on the stage, her legs trembling with nervousness, yet she still managed to remain calm and speak fluently, a sense of pride and a certain wicked pleasure welled up inside me at the same time.

His girl has been growing up well, moving steadily towards the light.

_

just now.

She lay in his arms, tired from studying the documents, and fell into a deep sleep.

The ruby ​​ring on her ring finger shimmered slightly.

Even breathing brings a familiar, reassuring scent.

Little Orange is quite old, but still chubby. He lies on the soft cushion at the foot of the bed, occasionally letting out a soft snoring sound.

They got married during her second year of graduate school.

The wedding was extremely lavish and caused a sensation.

He wanted everyone to know that Chen Su was his lawfully wedded and cherished wife.

Grandma wore a festive Tang suit at the wedding, held their hands, her eyes were filled with tears, but her smile was relaxed, and her "Bless you" was heartfelt.

His journey home was fraught with hardship, and her journey to hers was equally difficult.

Fortunately, they eventually met here and will join hands to move towards a shared, unwavering future.

Outside the window, the city lights gradually went out, and the Milky Way hung low.

The weight in my arms felt real and warm.

He finally reached her side, and would never leave her again.

_

She lay in his arms, her fingers unconsciously resting on his waist.

He turned over in his sleep, and a corner of his pajamas rolled up, revealing the uneven, dark-colored scar on his abdomen.

She touched it vaguely, her fingertips paused, and then she gradually came to her senses.

"Shen Que," her voice was still soft and hoarse from just waking up, her fingers gently tracing the edges of the scar, "how...did this happen?"

She asked him several times, but he always changed the subject.

He kept his eyes closed, but tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer. He placed a light kiss on the top of her head, his voice languid and sleepy as he mumbled:

"I forgot."