[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo":3,"chapter-sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-161":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Sickly Cannon Fodder: Spoiled by the Powerful Apocalypse Bosses",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},562912,814,"Chapter 161","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-161",161,"\u003Cp>She pointed toward the distance, where the deflated raft was barely visible. \"That’s our raft. It’s already leaking. I think the acid rain corroded it. This rain is really dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she watched Liam closely, and sure enough, his brows drew even tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought she heard a faint sigh. Then he gave a small nod and turned back toward his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy followed behind him. By now, she had begun to piece something together. Testing the waters, she asked, \"Are you trying to get back home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t expected a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Mm.\" He answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there someone at home waiting for you?\" she asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could almost understand now why he had tried to touch the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have been testing how much he could endure. If possible, he probably intended to brave the storm and make it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be in such a hurry... the only explanation she could think of was that someone was waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he didn’t reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They returned to their seats and fell into silence once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This should have been a good opportunity. Suzy wanted to take the initiative, to find a topic and build some kind of connection with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he clearly had no intention of talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several times she tried to start something, and each time, he let it fall flat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious—his mind was elsewhere. He didn’t want to engage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassed, she gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No rush, she told herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she pushed too hard, if her intentions became too obvious, it might only make him dislike her. That would lower his favor instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She needed the right moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting go of the idea of forcing a conversation, Suzy glanced around to make sure there was no danger. Then she reached into her pocket, pulled out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and slipped it into her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sweet strawberry flavor spread across her tongue. The candy was fragrant—she could smell it the moment she opened the wrapper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sucked on it absently, then took out her phone to check for any updates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint sound came from Liam’s direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, she turned her head—and met his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he... looking at her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy blinked, curious, thinking it might be her imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he spoke. \"Are you eating candy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded blankly. \"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slipped her hand into her pocket, using it as cover as she pulled out three different kinds of candy from her space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you want some?\" she asked, opening her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze dropped to her hand. Then he stood and walked toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy’s heart skipped. No way... was he really coming over just for a few pieces of candy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have more?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had plenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chocolate, lollipops, hard candies, soft candies—every flavor imaginable. She had stocked up on a huge supply before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t even eat much herself. She had only taken one just now out of boredom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can trade you for something else,\" he said politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" she replied quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then turned back to his seat, picked up his backpack, and returned to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy still held out her hand, the candies resting in her palm. \"Do you want these?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She set them aside and unzipped her bag for show. \"I also have chocolate and lollipops. Do you want those too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. All of them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his own bag and took out a few cans and packs of instant noodles. \"I’ll trade these with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy stared at him in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Canned food and instant noodles weren’t cheap commodities. Liam was being surprisingly generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Suzy reached into her bag and took out even more candy, piling up a generous handful beside her. \"Is this enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes lit up ever so slightly. Looking at the pile of sweets, he nodded. \"That’s enough. Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed her a can of meat and a pack of instant noodles. Suzy accepted them and tucked them into her bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you like candy?\" she asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t answer right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when she thought he wouldn’t respond, he said, \"It’s not for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was only because she had given him the candy that he offered that extra explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy nodded thoughtfully. \"I see... it’s for someone at home, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in such a hurry to return, and he had specifically traded for candy. From that, she could guess there was probably someone younger waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liam glanced at her and said quietly, \"It’s for my younger brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is he home alone?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That explained it. No wonder he had been so anxious to get back—he was worried about leaving his brother by himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liam carefully put away all the candy, then kept one strawberry milk candy aside and handed it to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her, his voice softened slightly. \"For the earlier... a thank you gesture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had acted on impulse just now, reaching out toward the acid rain. If she hadn’t stopped him, who knew what might have happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Suzy could even process what he meant, he had already turned and walked back to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence settled between them once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Suzy was quite satisfied with how things had gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least they had spoken. She had even learned about his younger brother—that was something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only regret was that his favorability hadn’t increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Suzy’s side, things were progressing smoothly, without trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Thomas was making his way upstairs in search of Leonard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Suzy, he climbed three floors in a row without seeing Leonard or hearing a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth floor. Fifth floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until the fifth floor that he finally found Leonard—and Wendy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, he had arrived at a rather unfortunate moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a private office, the two of them were nearly in each other’s arms. Wendy’s lips were just about to meet Leonard’s—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the beam of Thomas’ flashlight landing squarely on them, they would have kissed in the next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What’s going on here?\" Thomas asked hesitantly, making no move to lower the flashlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard snapped back to his senses and quickly pulled away from Wendy, his expression shifting between pale and flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thomas? What are you doing up here?\" His voice carried a trace of awkwardness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wendy, having been pushed aside, lowered her gaze in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been so close—just a second more, and it would have happened. Thomas had impeccable timing for ruining things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bit her lip, then swiftly adjusted her expression. When she looked up again, her face was painted with just the right amount of shyness and fluster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please don’t misunderstand,\" she said softly. \"I slipped just now and almost fell. Uncle Leonard caught me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas glanced at her but said nothing, shifting his gaze to Leonard instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard took a breath. \"It’s nothing. Just like she said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he deliberately avoided Thomas’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas frowned slightly but didn’t press further. \"I wasn’t comfortable staying downstairs, so I came up to check. Have you found a suitable place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the chance to change the subject, Leonard pointed toward the end of the corridor. \"There are a few private offices down there. The environment’s decent—we can rest there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them continued talking, completely ignoring Wendy.\u003C\u002Fp>",1239,"2026-05-30T15:23:36.944Z","2026-06-01T04:31:34.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","165cdfb983a1f384dca475652a87689d65d18d871b7586175999254edc9e0b4d","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-162","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-160",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-cover.jpg"]