After the school’s most popular girl rejected him, the resident bad boy, Ace, threw a tantrum in the middle of the classroom, making it rain cash to vent his frustration. A lot of kids scrambled to pick it up. My vision was blurry from hunger, so I joined in. But the moment I snatched a crisp bill from the floor, a translucent screen flickered into existence before my eyes. 【Who’s this extra? Doesn’t she know everyone picking up the money is the second male lead’s friend?】 【LOL, he’s just putting on a show for the female lead. He didn’t think anyone would actually take it seriously.】 I clutched the bill, my face burning with shame as I looked up. Sure enough, every eye in the room was on me. Just then, the popular girl, Alice, appeared at the classroom door. In a fit of pique, Ace shoved the rest of the cash into my hands. “From now on, my allowance is all yours.” 1 I stared dumbly at the wad of bills in my hand, barely registering Ace’s words. All I could think was that this was enough money to feed me for a very, very long time. Ever since my dad passed away and my mom remarried, I was the kid nobody wanted. My grandma had stepped up, taking on the burden of raising me. But she was old and frail, barely able to support herself, let alone the two of us. Lately, her vision had gotten worse, and the scrap materials she collected to sell were dwindling. To ease her burden, I rarely ate at school, often going home with a painfully empty stomach. Right now, I was more inclined to believe I was hallucinating from hunger. Ace must have been waiting for a response. He frowned slightly and reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The other students started hooting and catcalling. At the door, Alice saw the scene, turned on her heel, and walked away. 【Sigh, the female lead came back to give him another chance, but he had to pull this stunt.】 【If the second male lead gets the girl this early, what’s the male lead supposed to do?】 【Well, at least this little extra gets something out of it.】 It was then that I realized I was a cannon fodder character in a novel where the second male lead eventually wins the girl. Ace was acting out purely because his pride had been wounded. But none of that mattered to me. All I wanted was a full stomach. “Is this… all really for me?” I asked, my voice trembling. Ace waved a dismissive hand, his mind clearly elsewhere. “Take it. If it’s not enough, just ask for more.” “Thank you.” I clutched the money and walked back to my seat, my world completely changed. I immediately started calculating how to best use this windfall. Grandma’s diabetes medication had run out. If she didn’t get a refill, the complications would be serious. Her shoes had holes in them, and we were out of rice at home… After a quick mental calculation, I figured I’d have about three hundred dollars left for my own meals. I didn’t eat much, so it would have to last. At lunch, I ordered a bowl of plain noodles from the cafeteria. After a moment’s thought, I splurged on a marinated egg. I’d only taken a few bites when I heard someone mention Ace’s name. 2 “Yeah, over by the basketball court. Looks like a fight’s about to break out.” “Let’s go, let’s go! We can’t miss this!” I grabbed a classmate’s arm and asked what was happening. It turned out that right after rejecting Ace, Alice had started dating a notorious rich kid. Ace, furious, had gone to confront him. The pop-up screens had already given me the gist of the plot. Ace was the second male lead. He would only get his chance with the heroine after the main male lead had broken her heart. According to the current timeline, that was a long way off. Still, he had helped me. Worried he might get into trouble, I followed the crowd. From a distance, I could see Ace facing off against another guy. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife; a fight could start at any second. And, of course, that’s when Alice arrived. Without a word, she walked straight up to Ace and stood between him and the other boy. “Can you just stop it? I told you, I don’t like you.” A dark cloud passed over Ace’s eyes. Just as everyone was waiting to see him make a fool of himself, he looked up, and his gaze met mine. “Come here.” He crooked a finger at me. I didn't understand, but I did as he said. He slung an arm around my shoulders and raised an eyebrow at Alice. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve already got someone I like.” Then he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Just play along. I’ll treat you to a feast later.” The word “feast” made my eyes light up. I could already see roast chicken, Peking duck, and grilled steak waving at me. Lost in a daydream of food, I completely missed the strange looks on everyone else’s faces. Seeing how close Ace and I were, Alice took the rich kid’s hand. “I hope so.” After the crowd dispersed, Ace let go of me, looking a little dejected. But I was too preoccupied with the unfinished bowl of noodles waiting for me in the cafeteria to notice. My stomach chose that moment to let out a loud, embarrassing grumble. Ace’s gaze dropped to my stomach, and he scratched his head. “Come on. Let’s go eat.” He was true to his word. He treated me to a real feast. I was so hungry that I stuffed my face, my cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s. Ace stared at me, his eyes wide with shock. “Lily, how long has it been since you’ve eaten?” I counted on my fingers. “Not that long. I’ve only skipped lunch for about twenty days.” He looked even more shocked. “How are you still alive?” I swallowed the food in my mouth and sniffled. “You don’t actually need that much food to survive. Sometimes, a little porridge or just water is enough.” Ace suddenly fell silent. 3 After the meal, I looked at the plate of steamed ribs with taro, which was mostly untouched. I asked hesitantly, “Can… can I get this to go?” Ace blinked, then nodded. “Of course.” He probably sensed my awkwardness because he called the waiter over himself to pack it up for me. Outside the restaurant, I held the takeout box and said goodbye. “Thanks for the meal. It was delicious. If you ever have another opportunity like this, please think of me.” The corner of Ace’s mouth twitched. “Be careful on your way home,” he said. As I turned to leave, I couldn’t help but smile. My world now had another good person in it. Besides my grandma, there was Ace. They were the only two people who had ever been willing to feed me. It felt so good to have a full stomach. But the pop-up screens were full of mockery. 【Does Lily really think Ace is interested in her?】 【Please, he’s the devoted second male lead. As soon as he graduates, he’s going to follow the female lead to the same university in the same city.】 【He wouldn’t have even noticed a cannon fodder character like Lily if he wasn’t trying to get the female lead’s attention.】 For a moment, I felt a pang of envy for Alice. She was from a good family, she was beautiful, and so many people liked her. Unlike me. I had nothing to offer. I wasn't particularly smart or worldly, and no matter how hard I studied, I was always just stuck in the middle. Like most people, I was just ordinary, as common as dust. It fit the role of a cannon fodder character perfectly. But I wasn't going to give up. Everyone has their own path to walk. I believed that one day, I would have a good life too. Just look at today. This morning, I was worried about how I would get through the day on an empty stomach, and now I was full. As for Ace, I had known from the start that he came from a powerful family. Whenever he got into trouble at school, a call from home would make it all go away. That’s why he could do whatever he wanted. He was never afraid to stand up for what he believed in. In three years of high school, almost no one dared to cross him. His only failure was Alice. How could I ever dare to have any other ideas about someone like him? 4 Thanks to Ace, I was able to buy my grandma’s medicine, and her vision improved a lot. I had it all planned out. When I got to college, I would work part-time while studying, so she wouldn’t have to work so hard. The final year of high school was intense. It seemed like my interactions with Ace had come to an end. Until the fifteenth of the next month, when he found me, looking mysterious. He pressed a stack of bills into my hand. “My allowance for this month. It’s for you.” I froze, vaguely remembering what he had said before. But we were practically strangers. I couldn’t just take his money because of something he said in a fit of anger. I tried to give it back. “I’d forgotten all about that. You don’t have to give me your money.” But Ace got agitated. “No way. I always keep my word.” He shoved the money back into my hand. “But if you give it all to me, what will you do?” He waved his hand grandly. “Don’t underestimate me. I’ve got a supplementary card from my dad that I can use anytime. You just take this.” He probably said it to stop me from refusing again, because he turned and left right after. “Ace…” I watched him go, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. A guy like him didn’t need to keep a promise like that to someone like me. Maybe he saw how poor I was and felt sorry for me. Whatever the reason, I was grateful. Without him, I would probably still be drooling over pictures of food in textbooks. I counted the money. It was a full five thousand dollars. More than my grandma and I lived on in a year. I didn't dare to spend it recklessly. I put it all aside, only using it for daily necessities. After that, I was never hungry again. I ate in the cafeteria every day. With a full stomach, I had more energy, and even studying didn't seem so tiring. But for the past few days, I hadn't seen Ace. He skipped class sometimes, but never for this many days in a row. The pop-up screens appeared right on cue. 【See? Ace can’t get over the female lead. She just posted one selfie with the male lead, and Ace couldn’t take it. He’s been locked up in a hotel room ever since.】 【His family found out he’s been skipping school. To punish him, they’ve cut off his cards. He’s about to starve.】 【If he hadn’t given all his money to that Lily girl, he wouldn’t be penniless right now.】 How could this be happening? 5 Worried, I went to the hotel mentioned on the screen. And just my luck, I arrived just as Ace was being kicked out for not being able to pay. When he saw me, he tried to act cool. “The service at this hotel is terrible. I’m finding a new one.” “Ace,” I called out to him. “Why haven’t you been in school?” He grinned. “The knowledge is already in my head. School’s boring.” Then his tone shifted. “By the way, what are you doing here?” “Oh, I was just on my way home. This is on my way.” “Right. Well, you should get going then.” He waved at me. But I didn't leave. “I know a new place that has really good durian pizza. Want to go try it?” Ace subconsciously touched his stomach. After a long pause, he nodded. I ordered two pizzas and pushed them both in front of him. He didn't say anything, just started eating. He had very good manners, very refined. No wonder he was so shocked the first time he saw me eat. After a while, he stopped. He had just realized that I had been watching him the whole time. “Why aren’t you eating?” “I’m not hungry.” A flicker of sadness crossed his face. “Lily, you’re lying.” I froze. “I’m not. I’m really not hungry.” “You are. You can’t survive on just water and porridge. I only missed one meal, and I couldn’t stand it.” Oh, that’s what he was talking about. But it was true. A small amount of rice could make a large pot of porridge. It didn’t keep you full for long, but at least it filled your stomach. And you could buy a huge bundle of loose noodles for just a few dollars, enough to feed my grandma and me for days. As for nutritional value… for poor people, just being alive was enough. I fidgeted with the hem of my school uniform. “I guess I’m just used to it. I have a small stomach.” Ace looked at me and said, out of the blue, “I always wondered why everyone else’s uniform fits, but yours is so big.” “Lily, from now on, let’s both eat properly.” Yes. Eat properly. A full meal. That had always been my biggest dream. 6 Ace and I made a pact to eat together in the cafeteria every day. After a few times, I realized we were surprisingly compatible. He liked the yolks of eggs, and I liked the whites. In chicken curry, he would pick out all the potatoes, leaving me with all the chicken, which I loved. He liked the skins of dumplings but not the filling, so he would always push a bowl of filling over to me. I thought there couldn't be a better eating companion in the world than Ace. At first, I asked him if he was doing it on purpose, just to be nice. But he denied it vehemently. “I’ve always eaten like this. Can’t a guy have his own quirks?” Of course, he could. Just like I’ve always loved meat. When my dad was still alive, I had a few happy years. There was always more meat than vegetables on our dinner table. Then he got sick, and all our money went to his medical bills. Even then, my mom would at least make sure I had one meat dish. But he still passed away. A couple of years later, my mom found someone new. She promised she would come back for me once she was settled. But I waited and waited, and all I got was the news that she had a new son. Those happy times were gone forever. Before I met Ace, I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten meat. Now, because of him, I had actually gained a little weight. My grandma noticed, but every time she asked, I just said I earned the money by doing homework for my classmates. She didn't know much about kids these days, so she believed whatever I said. After lunch, Ace and I were about to head back when we ran into Alice. She was alone. 7 【Sigh, the female lead just had a fight with the male lead. She’s already in a bad mood, and now she sees Ace laughing with someone else. She must be even more upset.】 【The female lead actually likes Ace too, she just can’t handle being with two guys at once.】 【Ace, hurry up and comfort her! In the end, you’re the one she chooses!】 I watched the screens dispassionately as Alice walked up to us. She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. “Ace, can we talk?” It had been a while since Ace’s failed confession. I didn’t expect Alice to seek him out herself. He must be so happy. I couldn’t help but look at his expression. But he was looking at me. He probably felt bad about just leaving me. “Go ahead,” I said quickly. “I’ll head back to class.” “Lily!” Ace said through gritted teeth. “I thought we were going to get bubble tea.” At a time like this, how could he still be thinking about bubble tea? Even I, who had never been in a relationship, knew that this was the moment to seize the opportunity and win Alice over from the male lead. Girlfriend or bubble tea? It shouldn’t be a difficult choice. I gave him a look that said, you idiot. “But Alice came all this way to find you. Maybe you two had a misunderstanding. This is the perfect chance to clear the air.” I thought I had been obvious enough. But Ace seemed to not get it. He put his arm around me again, right in front of Alice. “Sorry, I don’t think we have anything to talk about.” At his words, a tear rolled down Alice’s cheek. She looked at his hand on my shoulder, her expression full of hurt. “But you said you would always like me, whether I liked you back or not. I don’t believe you’ve moved on this quickly. You’re still mad at me, aren’t you? How long are you going to keep this up?” 【LOL, the female lead sees right through him.】 【The second male lead is just putting on a tough act. He’s dying on the inside, but he has to pretend he doesn’t care.】 【It’s fine, a little drama makes it spicier. When they finally get together, it’ll be so good.】 Ace’s hand on my shoulder tightened. I winced but didn’t say anything. He still cared about her, but his words were merciless. “I told you, don’t flatter yourself. You had the right to reject me, and I have the right to move on. Alice, since you’ve already chosen someone else, you shouldn’t come back with regrets.”
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