Chapter 33 Cannon Fodder Ex-Boyfriend 33 On his wrists, silver shackles gleamed...

[Please prepare yourself, host. From now on, your role will be that of a Free Spirit.]

In the following storyline, your character will no longer be confined to the role of cannon fodder, and your choices will no longer need to consider the discovery of the world's plot. You will have absolute freedom until the new world line comes to an end.

Beams of blue light rained down from the sky, and for a moment, Li Qingran's gray eyes seemed to be dyed the same blue as the sky.

Open, vast, free...

He is free.

Li Qingran blinked, and under the stunned gaze of four pairs of eyes, she raised her head slightly and repeated:

"I'm sorry, I've decided to leave on my own."

There were indeed four cars in front of him, but that doesn't mean there were only these four cars in the world.

Why should he have to choose among these four cars? At least for now, he doesn't want to choose any of them.

Jiang Siran's eyes widened. Whether it was from being soaked by the icy rain or something else, he suddenly felt so cold that he couldn't help but shiver. When he spoke, his voice trembled slightly.

"Qingran...didn't we agree to go back to Beicheng together?"

Li Qingran simply smiled at him.

"But I've changed my mind now, don't you know that? I've never been a person who values ​​contracts."

Otherwise, why would she have stood Gu Shiyu up and left with Jiang Siran so easily?

Li Qingran spoke softly, but his voice was like a hammer blow to Jiang Siran's head, leaving him dizzy and his mind blank.

His face had completely lost its color, and his body was swaying precariously. His dark green eyes, fixed on Li Qingran, were filled with confusion, and his pupils seemed to have lost their focus.

"That, that ring..."

"I took it off myself."

Li Qingran looked at Jiang Siran and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"At first, I did want to go with you, but as the others said, I didn't really want to put myself in danger, especially in an unfamiliar environment, I had to consider my own safety even more."

He had no intention of sharing happiness with anyone, so sharing hardship was also impossible for him.

As Li Qingran spoke, he withdrew his gaze, and as his gaze shifted away, Jiang Siran seemed to lose his radiance, his whole being suddenly dimmed.

Like a contestant eliminated from a talent show, no longer bathed in the spotlight, they can only quietly leave the stage in the darkness.

No one will notice, and no one will care.

Jiang Siran lost his grip on the umbrella completely. The large black umbrella fell to the side as his fingers loosened, the umbrella surface touching the ground and splashing muddy water onto his black suit pants. The Alpha, with his dark green eyes, was also soaked, looking like a puppy that had just been abandoned by its owner, with a confused and helpless look in his eyes.

"But……"

He still tried to struggle, "I really won't put you in danger, I swear!"

"If vows were effective, there wouldn't be so many regrettable things in this world."

Before Li Qingran could react to Jiang Siran's vow, Gu Shiyu, who was standing next to him, spoke first:

"Anyone can talk the talk. I said I wouldn't get engaged to Su Jingyi, and you all scoffed at that. So what makes you think you can guarantee that your words will come true?"

Jiang Siran bit her tongue hard.

Gu Shiyu continued, "You can't keep Qingran around like a pendant forever, and don't expect to increase your sense of security by adding more people around him. After all, if this method really worked, I wouldn't be able to take him away today."

"..."

Li Qingran blinked.

Actually, when Gu Shiyu said this, he really wanted to refute it. A large part of the reason why Alpha was able to take him away so easily at the airport was because of Li Qingran's active cooperation. Otherwise, if he had sincerely wanted to stay, Gu Shiyu would not have been able to forcibly pull him away.

This was simply to prevent the world rules or the main system from discovering his underhanded actions after he said these words, thus revokeing his freedom in the story as punishment.

So Li Qingran moved her lips, but in the end, she didn't say anything.

He watched as Jiang Siran's face grew paler and paler with each word Gu Shiyu spoke, his dark green eyes becoming increasingly moist in the heavy rain.

Large raindrops slid down Alpha's long eyelashes, making it hard to tell whether the drops on her cheeks were rain or Jiang Siran's tears.

"So, it was all just a dream..."

He took a deep breath, looked at Li Qingran again, as if to completely give up on her, or perhaps just to seek an answer to a question, and softly said:

"You don't want to leave with me because of what these people said: that the Jiang family's situation is unstable right now, and that you'll be in danger if you come back with me?"

Li Qingran hummed in agreement.

“Okay.” Jiang Siran nodded. “Besides that, do you have any other concerns about being with me?”

"Well..." Li Qingran thought about it seriously for a moment, "No."

"Is it simply a matter of feeling that the Jiang family is in danger right now?"

"right."

"Okay." After asking the two questions, Jiang Siran suddenly laughed, "Then I know."

? ? ?

no? !

What do you know now?!

Gu Shiyu immediately became alert. "Jiang Siran, what are you trying to do?!"

"What does this have to do with you?"

Jiang Siran didn't even glance at Gu Shiyu, only staring at Li Qingran, a stiff but seemingly gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he said:

"Then I won't force you, Qingran. If you don't want to go to Beicheng with me now, then you don't have to. I'll take care of everything first, and then I'll—"

"Just come to my brother's and my wedding again!"

Before Jiang Siran could finish speaking, Su Jingyi grabbed Li Qingran's arm and interrupted him.

The Omega, his fur standing on end, resembled a leopard whose territory had been invaded. His amber eyes were filled with wariness and hostility as he looked at Jiang Siran.

"Jiang Siran, I'm warning you, get back to your North City right now. You're not welcome here, and I won't be with you in the end!"

However, in response to Su Jingyi's attack, Jiang Siran simply smiled and did not react much to his words.

He didn't need to react to those words. After all, among the five people present, the only one he needed to care about, and should care about, was Li Qingran.

Li Qingran was the judge who delivered the final verdict.

The others were merely competitors standing on the same level as him.

It would be truly foolish of him to actually care about these few people.

Especially Su Jingyi, the Omega who was eliminated by Li Qingran from the very beginning.

So even though Su Jingyi's hostility towards him was already out in the open, Jiang Siran still seemed not to notice him, bending down to pick up the umbrella from the ground, then looking up and smiling at Li Qingran:

"Qingran, I'll come pick you up after I've taken care of everything."

"wait for me."

"Wait my ass!" Qi Ziyan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Are you still waiting for me... to put on an idol drama for him?

Does he think he's some kind of devoted male protagonist? He's really out of his mind; even after being drenched in the rain for so long, he still can't see reality.

In this fast-paced era, where three days without contact is considered a breakup and someone can move on, why bother with all this sentimental drama?

Qi Ziyan curled his lip in disdain, and the other two people in the car also expressed their disdain for Jiang Siran's words.

Gu Shiyu's well-defined fingers, full of possessiveness yet restrained, landed beside Li Qingran, his gaze towards Jiang Siran cold and dark.

"Mr. Jiang, do I need to remind you? No one is obligated to wait for a promise that may not be kept, especially when the person making that promise is someone they have no connection with..."

Jiang Siran seemed not to understand Gu Shiyu's words, and chuckled, saying, "I didn't expect that Mr. Gu's self-awareness would be so terrifyingly clear."

"you--"

"Then please remember this, Mr. Gu, and be sure to abide by it. Do not, under any circumstances, create any burden that you have no relation to, that the other party does not want!"

After Jiang Siran finished speaking, before Gu Shiyu could even reply, he directly pulled Li Qingran's hand and placed a cold object in his palm. His dark green eyes, meeting the light, held a bright, pleading look.

"You don't need to wear it, just... please keep it safe for me, okay?"

Li Qingran glanced down at their clasped hands, his lips parted slightly, as if he was about to say something, but the Alpha who had forcibly stuffed a ring into his hand had already turned and left.

He walked quickly without looking back, and went straight back to his car.

The black Hodge turned a corner in the heavy rain and headed straight for the airport without stopping for a moment.

Perhaps it was because the person sitting in the car also knew that once they stopped, they would never be able to move again.

But he had to leave.

Otherwise, the result and answer he wanted would never come to him...

The dark green gemstone ring rolled from the palm to the fingertip, and then rolled back into the palm as the Alpha's finger bent.

Su Jingyi was somewhat annoyed by what he saw. He subconsciously looked up and focused his gaze on Qi Ziyan by the car, frowning as he said:

"Jiang Siran has already left, what are you still doing here?"

“I’m not on his side, so why can’t I stand here?” Qi Ziyan retorted.

Su Jingyi was even more annoyed. "Didn't you hear what your brother just said? He chose to leave on his own. He won't go with you! Just give up on that idea and hurry back to the Qi family to get rid of your pheromones that keep going out of control."

“But he didn’t say he was going with you,” Qi Ziyan said, completely unmoved by Su Jingyi’s words.

"If you can stay here, why can't I?"

What does it matter if the Alpha chooses to leave on its own?

It's quite a distance from the city center, and it's hard to get a taxi here. Qi Ziyan is beautiful and kind-hearted, so what's wrong with her cosplaying as a rideshare driver for love?

"..." Su Jingyi narrowed his eyes.

He suddenly realized that after nearly twenty years of being with Qi Ziyan, there was a side of him he had never seen before.

How come he never noticed before how stubborn and shameless Qi Ziyan was?!

With his chestnut-brown hair, the Omega was clearly determined to stick with him to the end, so arguing with him any further would just be a waste of breath.

Just as Gu Shiyu said, the final decision on this matter still rests with Li Qingran.

Thinking this, Su Jingyi turned his gaze back to Li Qingran.

Alpha had already put away the ring and started fiddling with his phone. Beside him, Gu Shiyu was still gently coaxing him.

"Qingran, I know you don't want to see us arguing together anymore, and I understand that you want some peace and quiet. But it's really hard to get a taxi here, especially now that it's raining heavily, it's even harder for drivers to accept your fare. So, how about I take you back to the city first?"

Li Qingran looked up at Gu Shiyu, who immediately raised four fingers to assure her:

"Don't worry, I'll drop you off once we get to a busy street in the city. I definitely won't walk any further, and I won't try to persuade you to leave with me again!"

"I'm just worried that you'll have to wait here for a long time and won't be able to get a taxi..."

I'm really not after my brother, I'm just feeling sorry for him...

Qi Ziyan was almost overwhelmed by the overwhelming smell of tea emanating from Gu Shiyu.

How come he never noticed before that beneath the other person's aloof exterior lay a heart of a green tea b*tch!

Qi Ziyan disliked Gu Shiyu's earnest expression, which seemed to be entirely for Li Qingran's benefit, but on the surface, he spoke up defiantly:

"Then why don't you ride with me? My car is bigger and more comfortable! And I can guarantee I'll drop you off once we get to the city."

"Can you guarantee you won't touch me while driving?" Su Jingyi said coldly.

Qi Ziyan: "...Su Jingyi, can you please stop bringing up things from before? I already said that my pheromones were unstable back then."

"Then don't go out and wander around. Go home and get your suppressants, okay?" Gu Shiyu smiled at Qi Ziyan.

Inside the car, the group kept talking, leaving Qi Ziyan speechless.

The lone Omega standing outside the car was almost amused by the two people inside, who were acting in unison. He said sarcastically:

"You two are truly a match made in heaven, with a 100% genetic compatibility! You really work together as one when things happen, your teamwork is amazing!"

"How can you two not get engaged?"

With a deafening roar, romance novels, known for their heart-wrenching stories, make their dazzling debut!

You're saying he likes to get physical, huh? You're using that to attack him, aren't you?

What kind of good people are you two, whose marriage is still so unclear?

"I'm worried that if Qingran rides in your car, she'll be stopped and dealt with by the Gu or Su families halfway there!"

Qi Ziyan tilted his head and twitched the corner of his mouth, "After all, you two are still living under the surveillance and control of your families~"

"Qi Ziyan, you—" Su Jingyi was so angry that she couldn't speak.

Gu Shiyu's lips moved slightly as she said, "In the end, it's just that none of the three of our cars are suitable. How about this, Qingran, I'll get out of the car, and the driver will take you away first. Then, after dropping you off, he can come back to pick me up. Do you think this plan is acceptable to you?"

Before Li Qingran, who had been playing with her phone, could even speak, the other two Omegas immediately objected!

Qi Ziyan raised his eyebrows high and suddenly felt a bit of admiration for Gu Shiyu.

That's quite a clever self-inflicted injury tactic.

Why is he acting so aggrieved? Isn't he just betting that Li Qingran won't really abandon him?

He knows that trick too.

Qi Ziyan straightened up, ready to learn this move from Gu Shiyu. Beside him, Su Jingyi, who had just realized what was happening, was not to be outdone. The two Omegas grabbed Li Qingran's hand together, their light brown and amber eyes looking pitifully at the Alpha between them.

"Qingran..."

"elder brother……"

"That's what I was thinking too. You can ride in my car, and I'll stay here and come back to pick you up after the driver has dropped you off."

"It's okay, even though I got caught in the rain—"

"Although I've only just recovered from my illness—"

"But for you, I can wait!"

The two spoke in unison, causing Gu Shiyu's lips to twitch slightly.

At this moment, things have once again reached a stalemate, and the problem has spiraled back to square one despite one person being missing.

The remaining three people stubbornly refused to leave, and Li Qingran seemed unable to escape their encirclement.

but……

Is that really the case?

Another screeching sound of brakes rang in their ears. Amidst three stunned gazes, a BYD that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere cheerfully rolled down its window, revealing a smiling face that was completely unfamiliar to everyone present.

"Excuse me, could you tell me which of you is Mr. Li? Your taxi has arrived."

no? !

In this awful weather, in this desolate wilderness, how can you even hail a taxi?!

The two A's and two O's looked at Li Qingran in shock. Under the intense gazes, the latter only smiled slightly, her expression innocent.

Gu Shiyu and the others watched as he waved his phone at them, his voice still clear and gentle.

"If you offer more money, people will naturally take the orders."

All problems can be solved with money; those that can't be solved with money simply mean that not enough money has been spent.

The people in front of him definitely understood this principle better than he did, so Li Qingran didn't quite understand why they were looking at him with such astonishment.

"I've already said it, I choose to leave on my own."

Li Qingran put his phone back in his pocket, then reached out and pulled away the two Omegas' hands that were gripping him. His gaze was calm, and his voice was devoid of any extra emotion.

"So, you can all stop wasting your time here and leave."

After Li Qingran finished speaking, she got out of the car, her slender figure becoming even more blurred in the heavy rain.

He didn't look at the expressions of the three people behind him, nor did he care how they would react after realizing his decision.

After all, he is now free.

You don't need to worry about the plot, and you don't need to revolve around any of the main characters anymore.

From now on, his life will belong only to himself!

Perhaps because the money was right, the BYD owner not only arrived ten minutes earlier than scheduled, but also gave Li Qingran a bottle of coffee to warm him up after he got into the car.

"Sir, you can just use this coffee to warm your hands, you don't need to drink it. It doesn't taste very good, it's quite bitter, but it was the only hot drink left in the vending machine at the time, I'm sorry..."

Li Qingran sat in the back, listening to the driver's apologetic voice. Outside, the rain was pouring down and the cold wind bent the weak tree branches, but inside the air-conditioned car, it was warm.

Li Qingran lowered her eyes and glanced at the coffee in her hand, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"How could that be?"

He glanced up at the rearview mirror and smiled, "I'm so grateful to you."

Whether it's coffee or the fact that he was able to take his order in this kind of weather.

The driver smiled too. He could tell that the customer in the back seat wasn't the talkative type, so after a brief chat, he focused on driving.

As Li Qingran held her steaming hot coffee and turned to look out the window, she finally heard the belated call of 888.

[Host, the feedback is in! There is indeed a problem with this world, so we can stop our cannon fodder missions!]

However, because the world itself had problems, the world rules were re-evaluated, and you, the host, were also judged to be a member of this world.

We can only leave work after the timeline has completely reverted... I'm sorry, host, I couldn't get you an early departure.

888 sounded very downcast.

Li Qingran thought for a moment and then comforted it, saying:

It's okay, just treat it as a vacation.

Anyway, he's no longer bound by missions or cannon fodder roles. He's carefree and can go wherever he wants.

Rather than leaving early and then entering another mission world where she would be controlled again, Li Qingran would much rather stay here.

Li Qingran leaned to the side and rested her head against the car window, her gray eyes filled with eager anticipation for a free life.

"So, how are you planning to go on vacation, host?" 888 asked curiously.

[Let's take a look around first.] Li Qingran really wanted to go out and travel. Before, she couldn't move at all in the game, and after entering the small world, she couldn't look around because of the missions. Now that she's free, the first thing she wants to do is definitely to walk around and experience the reality of this world.

[That's really good,] 888 strongly agreed with Li Qingran's plan, but there was still one thing he wanted to know.

[So, host, how long are you planning to go out? Are you really not going to take any of those main characters?]

It hadn't been a system for nothing all these years, so it could naturally see that Gu Shiyu and the others all had special feelings for their host, and each of them wanted to be with Li Qingran.

However, 888 could not fathom what its host was thinking or what their attitudes were toward the main characters.

Sometimes, it felt that Li Qingran cared about one of them, but other times, it felt that Alpha didn't seem to care about anyone.

Regarding this question, Li Qingran didn't give the answer "888" directly, unlike before.

The black-haired, gray-eyed Alpha simply leaned against the window, watching the ever-changing scenery outside, and gently curled the corners of his lips.

How long will we be able to shop?

Wandering around...

"Splash—"

Li Qingran glanced down at the smooth, brand-new silver shackles on her wrists, then looked up at the room with only a window at the very top of the wall. Half a year later, she finally answered the question that 888 had asked on that rainy night.

[They wandered around until one of them couldn't hold back any longer...]

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Author's Note: Hello host, your "little black room" storyline has arrived. Please check it! [Heart emoji]