[{"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-162":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},562913,814,"Chapter 162","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-162",162,"\u003Cp>Wendy stood off to the side, the smile on her face growing stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t willing to accept this. Just a moment ago, she had been so close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the excuse of slipping, she had fallen straight into Leonard’s arms. When she tilted her head up to look at him, she had clearly felt his breath falter for a split second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Thomas hadn’t appeared out of nowhere, she would have kissed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once that happened, Leonard would have been hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering her gaze, she concealed the frustration in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle Leonard, thank you for just now,\" she said again, softening her voice. \"If it weren’t for you, I might have fallen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard glanced at her. \"It’s nothing. Be more careful next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned and walked toward the end of the corridor, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas followed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wendy remained where she was, the smile finally slipping from her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bit her lip, then reluctantly followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them entered the office one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room wasn’t large, but it had a sofa, a few chairs, and a dry floor. Compared to downstairs, it was clearly a better place to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard looked around and nodded. \"This will do. I’ll go get Suzy and the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll go,\" Thomas said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard glanced at him, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Thomas was about to leave, Leonard stepped forward and called out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his voice, Leonard said, \"About what you saw just now... well, don’t tell Suzy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas’ expression didn’t change. He gave a small nod. \"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard patted his shoulder. \"Thanks. Go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas headed downstairs at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw that Suzy and Liam were still sitting where they had been, he relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy,\" he called.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned, her eyes lighting up. \"You’re back. How is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We found a place. Pack up—we’re heading upstairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy quickly grabbed her backpack. \"Okay, let’s go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, she glanced at Liam. \"Do you... want to come up with us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She figured Wendy would come for him soon enough, so she didn’t insist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and Thomas headed upstairs first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped into the stairwell, he spoke. \"Suzy, there’s something I need to tell you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw your uncle and Wendy just now. They were holding each other.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy’s eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What did you say?\" she asked, certain she had misheard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He repeated it more clearly, \"I saw Leonard and Wendy in each other’s arms. They were about to kiss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy felt her mind go blank, a loud buzz filling her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—she hadn’t misheard, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard and Wendy... almost kissed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had only been upstairs for a few minutes... was he messing with her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to look at him, but his expression was completely serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed her doubt and said again, \"I’m serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy came to an abrupt stop in her tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas stopped as well, and the two of them stood in the stairwell, staring at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What exactly is going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy still couldn’t wrap her head around it. It was too strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her uncle clearly knew she didn’t get along with Wendy—so how could he possibly get involved with her? What had gone wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the two of them weren’t even close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that, somewhere she hadn’t seen, something had already happened between them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No... that didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had used a loyalty card on Leonard. He shouldn’t betray her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So where exactly was the problem?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts tangled into a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas took her hand. \"Let’s go up first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy looked up and met his eyes. There was a quiet steadiness in his gaze, enough to calm her racing thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Okay. Let’s go up first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would ask her uncle directly when they saw him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two quickened their pace and reached the floor where Leonard and Wendy were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them were keeping a certain distance now, not close at all, each searching the area for supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing footsteps, they both looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy, you’re here,\" Leonard said, stopping what he was doing and walking over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy,\" Wendy echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not seeing Liam, Wendy frowned slightly. \"Didn’t Liam come up with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He didn’t want to,\" Suzy replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wendy suddenly smiled. \"Is that so? I’ll go get him, then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she quickly headed back downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, only Suzy, Leonard, and Thomas were left on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy fixed her gaze on Leonard, studying him carefully, trying to catch even the slightest clue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard gestured toward them. \"Come over here. I found a decent room. We can stay there tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They followed him into the room he had mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy got straight to the point. \"Uncle, what’s going on between you and Wendy? You were about to kiss her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard’s body visibly stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From behind, his posture grew even more rigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Uncle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around, his expression awkward, avoiding her eyes. Instead, he shot Thomas a glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through gritted teeth, he said, \"Thomas, didn’t we agree you’d keep that to yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thomas shifted his gaze lightly. \"Sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t keep things from Suzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy put her hands on her hips, her eyes sharp. \"Uncle, aren’t you going to explain? You know I don’t get along with her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t tell me he’s fallen for Wendy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that’s the case, she might as well disown this uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard cleared his throat. \"This... was actually an accident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked over quickly and gently pressed Suzy down onto the sofa. \"Suzy, sit. I’ll explain properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he passed Thomas, he deliberately stomped down on his foot in retaliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He missed—and nearly lost his balance from the force, stumbling forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard cursed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some \"friend\" he was. Betrayed him in a heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steadying himself, he shot Thomas another glare before finally sitting down across from Suzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy, listen to me. It’s really not what you think.\" He raised both hands in surrender. \"I swear, I don’t have any feelings for that woman whatsoever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy raised a brow. \"Then how did you almost kiss her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1030,"2026-05-30T15:23:36.944Z","2026-06-01T04:31:34.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","be5e4ddd9e7664091d006116f52290858be51161a025d683ccf9bc55989dccf9","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-163","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-161",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-cover.jpg"]