Rebirth Of A Cannon Fodder From A Novel CHAPTER 16

Mu Tian Heng felt that something was wrong. After knocking on the door a few more times and getting no response from the house, he took out his phone and called Mo Di.

Mo Di had been sleeping in KFC for two hours. When he was awakened by the ring, his mind was still groggy. Seeing that Mu Tian Heng was the caller, in a moment, he was not prepared to react.

But he knew subconsciously that the person at the other end meant him no harm so he swiped to answer the phone. “Hello?”

“Little fellow, you’re not awake yet?” Mu Tian Heng heard Mo Di’s voice sounded dazed.

“No, brother, I’m awake.”

After Mo Di said ‘hello’, his brain was already alert. He sat up straight and pondered why Mu Tian Heng had called him this early.

“Brother, why are you calling this early today? Is there something wrong?”

Mu Tian Heng looked at the breakfast bag with the soymilk and xiao long bao that he was carrying and said warmly: “I’m at your door now. I knocked but no one answered. You’ve already left for school?”

“Ah?” Mo Di was slightly stunned. He was quite surprised that Mu Tian Heng had come to see him so early. Within an instant, he organized and revised all the strategies and plans in his head and answered in the most common sentence: “I’m sorry brother. I’m not at home at the moment. Is there something that matters?”

“Not at home?”

Mu Tian Heng was acutely aware that when this little Mo Di said that he was not home, it was also unlikely that he went to school. He asked: “What’s wrong? You’re not at home and you’re not going to school?”

“I…” the voice coming from the phone sounded a little scared. There was also a feeling that he was trying to keep his composure: “Brother, my place was discovered. I was afraid, so …I left in the middle of the night.”

His place was found?!

Mu Tian Heng’s first reaction was that Mo Di’s address was discovered by the Mo family. No wonder he had to run away at night. He spared the details and asked: “Where are you now?”

“I’m…in the KFC next to Da Huai Road subway station.”

“Wait there. I’ll come find you.”

After Mu Tian Heng hung up his phone, he immediately turned to go downstairs. He almost bumped into someone coming up but managed to shift his body and dodged in time.

After Mo Di hung up his phone, he sat and waited quietly for a while before getting up to order two cups of soymilk, two cheeseburgers, and 2 deep-fried dough sticks.

Mu Tian Heng clearly came just to see him and yet he had calculated him into his scheme. The least he could do was to buy him breakfast.

Unexpectedly, Mu Tian Heng also arrived with two cups of soymilk and two baskets of xiao long bao in his hands.

Mo Di was a little bewildered.

Mu Tian Heng also saw the double set of breakfast on the tray in front of Mo Di. For a short moment, his eyes softened. He then sat himself down opposite of Mo Di.

“Would you like to try the xiao long bao I bought?”

Mu Tian Heng put the take out box with the dim sum basket on the table. He opened it and said: “It’s still warm. There’s pork, celery, and crab. I don’t know if you like it.”

“I like it.” Mo Di looked at the basket and oil pattern on the wrapping paper and his eyes drooped lightly. There was an undetectable trace of warmth.

This is the first time… someone cared if he had breakfast. 

“Then eat more.” Mu Tian Heng was wearing a stylish loose top which did not restrain his movement. He reached for the burger and said to Mo Di in a gracious tone: “Do you mind if I have one?”

“Of course not.” Mo Di shook his head, “I bought it for you.”

“It seems we have a tacit understanding of buying breakfast for the other.” Mu Tian Heng smiled. He then peeled off the wrappers and took a bite. “It’s delicious.”

Mo Di chewed the juicy meat of the xiao long bao in his mouth and also thought that it was really delicious.

Mu Tian Heng finished his hamburger and went on to eat a piece of xiao long bao. In between, he made small talks with Mo Di. Only when they were almost finished with the meal that he asked in a warm voice about what happened last night.

Mo Di paused for a moment before recounting the event. He spoke about how he knew he was discovered but hid the part regarding Qin Cheng Yi’s identity by blurring out some details in his story.

He then honestly voiced his intention of moving to another place.

Mu Tian Heng could tell that Mo Di was hiding something back but he did not pursue and only said: “Since this person could find you so quickly, then he can do so the second time. Even if you moved, it’s still not safe.”

“Then I’m really out of options.” Mo Di licked the oil off his lips and lowered his head.

“Actually, you still have an option.” Mu Tian Heng said tenderly, looking at Mo Di’s soft black hair. 

“What?” Mo Di looked at Mu Tian Heng with a little curiosity and eagerness: “Brother, what other choice do I have?”

Mu Tian Heng was pleased by the little fellow’s adorable animal-like tentative expression. He felt a little pressure on his heart, laughed and said: “You have never thought of asking me for help? Have you forgotten about the reward I promised?”

“Reward?” Mo Di was stumped, “Brother, do you mean that I can use that reward to ask for your help?”

Without waiting for Mu Tian Heng to respond, he continued softly: “Brother, are you going to help me rent a place under your name?” 

“You silly.” Mu Tian Heng reached out his hand and finally touched the soft tuft of hair on Mo Di’s head that he had been coveting for days. He gave it a good shuffle and then did it again.

“Of course not. Your brothers already knew that I took you away. They just have to track me to find you, so using my name will not help.”

Mo Di did not answer. He was looking at Mu Tian Heng in a daze and was not responding. Mu Tian Heng actually reached out…and patted his head, and he did it twice?!

“Cough.” Mu Tian Heng, on the other hand, kept a calm expression. He had absorbed the child’s stunned but inexplicably beautiful look into his eyes. He cleared his throat and took back his hand. Acting as a guardian, he picked up Mo Di’s bag on the seat.

“Since the choice of renting another place is not feasible, little fellow, why don’t you live with me. In fact what Lai De Si said before made sense. There are many rooms in our villa. There’s no problem with you living together.”

And when the time comes when he and Lai De Si had to leave Hua Xia, this house will be left to the little guy to repay for the life-saving debt. That way he could leave with peace.

“Live with you both?!” Mo Di looked as though he truly could not follow Mu Tian Heng’s thinking. There was a stupefied expression on his face.

“That’s right. Are you done with your food?”

“Yes, I’m done. But…”

“Come with me then. It’s already quite late.” Mu Tian Heng stood up and once again rubbed Mo Di’s hair. He carried Mo Di’s large bag in one hand then said to Mo Di in a gentle but adamant voice: “I’ll take you back first so you can pick a room.”

Mo Di looked at Mu Tian Heng who was carrying his luggage from a distance and his eyes drooped. He lowered his head and grabbed at his bag strap.

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But when he raised his head three seconds later, it had returned to the obedient and pitiable expression that Mu Tian Heng was familiar with.

Mo Di followed behind Mu Tian Heng like a good boy and got in the car with all his things.

Things had gone a little better than Mo Di expected. When he found out that Qin Cheng Yi and Mo Liu Gui’s meeting was moved up ahead of time, the devastating sense of crisis told him that he needed to use the ‘Mu Tian Heng lifeline’. Initially, he had only wanted to use Mu Tian Heng’s connections and power to avoid this disaster, not to move in with him.

But he had to say that he no longer resisted the idea of cohabitating with Mu Tian Heng. It was actually a good way to get close to him and to brush up their feelings.

“Brother, there is only you and Lai De Si brother living in the villa?” Mo Di asked softly.

“Yes but there’s a housekeeper that comes in the morning to cook. After she’s done with the cleaning, she’ll leave.” Mu Tian Heng stepped on the accelerator, “You can review in your bedroom or the study on the first floor. Don’t worry, no one will disturb you.”

“I’m not worried about this. I’m just…” Mo Di paused for a while, then said: “Brother, before the exam I don’t want to go back to school for the review classes. I want to review by myself, is that …ok?”

“Of course.”

Mu Tian Heng finally understood what Mo Di was concerned about. He was worried that they would mind leaving him at home alone for the whole day. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Mo Di’s cautious and timid mind. “You only have to study hard, don’t think about anything else.”

Mo Di did not expect Mu Tian Heng to treat him as such, there was a pang of sudden guilt in his heart. But thinking of the goals and guidelines he set out for himself after his rebirth, he had to put away the guilt. He replied nicely: “Ok.”

“And also, Lai De Si and I will leave before 8:00 in the morning. In the evening, we’ll usually come back after 10:00. I’ll tell the cook to come and make lunch and dinner for you. You can tell her what you want to eat.”

“That’s not necessary, brother.” Mo Di said hurriedly after he heard this: “Don’t let the cook make two more meals just for me. I can cook. I’ll do it myself.”

“It’s not a problem. You don’t have to mind. It’s quite convenient for the cook…”

“Brother, I really don’t need it.” Mo Di interrupted Mu Tian Heng. He insisted: “I really can cook. And it’s delicious. Really!”

Seeing Mo Di’s insistence of the matter to the point that he was almost too embarrassed to stay, Mu Tian Heng could only sigh, “Alright. But I’ll let the housekeeper stock up on the groceries and fill up the fridge. The rest you can do as you see fit.”

Mo Di replied immediately: “Thank you, brother!”

“What’s there to thank. You’ve helped me out a lot before at the construction site.” Mu Tian Heng turned the steering wheel as he drove past a traffic light.

He had to admit, his own life was indeed very valuable.

When Mu Tian Heng and Mo Di arrived at the villa, they were just in time to meet up with Lai De Si who was about to leave. Seeing his brother in arms actually manage to abduct the beauty home after casually going for a drive, Lai De Si could only stare with wide eyes and remained speechless for a while.

“You…you two are….”

“Sorry to impose.” Mo Di stood at the door like a small and straight poplar tree.

“You you you, are…”

“His address was found out. I brought him here to stay.” Mu Tian Heng said in an unperturbed tone, as if the person who had previously rejected Lai De Si’s suggestion was not himself. 

Lai De Si did not want to say anything else but just wanted to ask Mu Tian Heng if his face hurt?!

As for the young cutie that was going to live together with them, he was more than welcome.

“Little brother, come here. You are very welcome to stay with us. Come on, I’ll show you around. This way…”

“That’s enough. If you linger any longer we’ll be late for the appointment with Hai Dong.” Mu Tian Heng grabbed Lai De Si’s back collar and said to Mo Di: “Little fellow, the room in the southeast corner of the first floor is Lai De Si’s, you can’t choose that one. The rest you can pick whichever one you like. We’re now leaving for work. You can study at home by yourself.”

Lai De Si’s plan to arrange the cute kid’s room next to his had failed!

“Ok, I got it. Thank you, brother.” Mo Di gave a somewhat restrained smile.

Lai De Si wanted to say something but he was dragged away by Mu Tian Heng who slammed the door shut.

After settling in the car, Lai De Si looked suspiciously at Mu Tian Heng: “Why didn’t you restrict the little guy from going to the second and third floor? You normally don’t even let me go up there!” 

“There is no need.” Mu Tian Heng opened the folder and looked through.

“You’re too treacherous!” Lai De Si suddenly seemed to understand something. “You’re so insincere. On the surface, it was to help the kid and repay him but actually, you’re not very pleased with the kid!”

“If he goes to the second or third floor without your permission, and touched something that he shouldn’t touch, then you’re going to drive him out aren’t you?!”

“You’re overthinking. His life-saving grace I will repay. It’s just how I’m going to repay it is a little different. And the reason why I did not restrict him was to show that I trust his character.”

“Bullshit!”

…

On the other hand, Mo Di did not even explore the whole first floor. He directly chose the second room on the right-hand corridor as his room.

Then he took out the things in his two large bags and packed them up.

When he was done with the room, he took out his phone, intending to ask his teacher for a leave of absence. It was then that he realized he had received a group email. It was the result and ranking of the mock exam.

Mo Di naturally opened it and his eyes twitched slightly.

At the top was his name. 

Chinese 132, Mathematics 150, English 148, Science 278. Total score: 708. Class rank:1st. School rank: 2nd

Below another name was Mo Liu Gui’s. Total score: 689 Class rank: 3rd. School rank: 7th