[{"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-20":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},562871,814,"Chapter 20","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Leonard recognized Suzy at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode toward her, a gentle, indulgent smile already spreading across his face. \"Suzy, it’s been a long time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It truly had. The last time they had seen each other was at her mother’s funeral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, meeting again under such ordinary circumstances—Leonard still as warm and tender as ever—Suzy felt her nose sting uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m really happy to see you, Uncle,\" she called softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard smiled and patted her head the way he used to. \"Come on. I’ll take you to eat something good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy nodded obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His car was parked just ahead. He had driven here personally to pick her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting into the passenger seat, Suzy glanced around. She didn’t see the woman Leonard had mentioned—her so-called aunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before boarding the plane, Leonard had said they would come together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it was just him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard caught her subtle glance and explained apologetically, \"Your aunt had something come up at the last minute, so she couldn’t make it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s okay,\" Suzy said gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’ll join us at the restaurant later,\" he added. \"Let’s go ahead first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drove toward a restaurant he had reserved in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, they arrived smoothly. Leonard had booked a private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Order whatever you like,\" he said, handing her the menu. Suzy took it, scanned it briefly, then glanced up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard’s attention was entirely on his phone. His fingers moved quickly across the screen, typing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ordering a few dishes, she pushed the menu back toward him. \"Uncle, I’m done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard set his phone down, reviewed her selections, and added a few more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While waiting for the food, he kept asking about what had been happening in A City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dishes were served one by one, but her aunt still hadn’t appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy frowned slightly. \"Uncle, hasn’t Aunt arrived yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard checked his watch. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll give her a call,\" he said, standing up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped out of the private room. Suzy’s brows drew together faintly. A subtle unease flickered in her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a server entered with another dish. When leaving, the door didn’t close completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the gap, Suzy clearly heard Leonard’s voice in the corridor—and the sharp voice on the other end of the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Monica, where are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already told you—I’m not coming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can you go back on your word? You agreed. Suzy and I are both waiting here...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does that have to do with me? I said I’m not coming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Is this really about a bracelet? You’re making such a fuss over it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard’s voice sounded faintly weary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, so what! I told you I like that bracelet. What’s wrong with you giving it to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. That bracelet was prepared for Suzy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold laugh crackled through the phone. \"Fine. So you just won’t give it to me, right? Leonard Kale, this is how you treat me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said I can buy you something else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want that one. You figure it out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call seemed to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard stood outside in silence for a long while. Inside the private room, Suzy’s emotions churned. She hadn’t expected to overhear all of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What startled her even more was how clearly she had heard every word—despite the distance. Her hearing had sharpened dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be the spirit spring water, she realized. It had strengthened her body far more than she’d understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy, I’m sorry. Your aunt has something urgent and can’t make it. It’ll just be the two of us tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard returned, his warm smile back in place as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy nodded obediently. \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pretended she hadn’t heard a thing, but her heart felt unbearably sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her uncle had fallen hard. Even after being spoken to like that, he was still smoothing things over for the other woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy’s impression of this so-called aunt plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t even about the bracelet anymore. It was the way she had spoken to Leonard—condescending, dismissive, as if he meant nothing to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this was what it looked like when someone was spoiled by being favored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the aunt present, the meal itself was peaceful. They talked about old times, about her mother, about memories from years past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the meal, Suzy hesitated. Should she tell Leonard about the coming apocalypse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She struggled with the thought all the way until dinner ended, until they were back in the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, she still couldn’t decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to observe a little longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her uncle truly was hopelessly blinded by love... then perhaps she shouldn’t say anything yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard arranged for Suzy to stay at his home. He owned a large apartment in C City, spacious and elegantly decorated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were plenty of guest rooms—she could choose whichever she liked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t her first time here. Years ago, she had visited C City with Elisabeth and stayed in this very home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they entered, Leonard smiled. \"Treat it like your own place. If you need anything, tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued, \"You said you plan to stay in C City for about two months, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded. They had discussed it during their phone call the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard walked to a cabinet, retrieved a set of car keys, and handed them to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can use this car while you’re here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy took the keys, deeply touched. \"Thank you, Uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed softly. \"Why are you being so polite with me? Wait here,\" he added. \"I have a gift for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his gesture, Suzy followed him upstairs to the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked to his desk, smiling. \"I had a bracelet specially chosen for you. It’s meant to bless you with safety and good health.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy froze. She instantly realized—it must be the same bracelet mentioned in that phone call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth gathered in her chest. Her eyes began to sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I picked it very carefully. Our Suzy will definitely like—\" His words cut off abruptly as he pulled open the drawer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bracelet was gone. It wasn’t there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could it be missing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He distinctly remembered placing it inside this drawer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard’s brows furrowed as he searched again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes. He had put it here. If it was gone, someone had taken it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he already knew who.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth drained from his eyes, replaced by something colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uncle?\" Suzy asked quietly, having noticed the change in his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at her, and his features softened once more, returning to their usual gentleness. \"Suzy, I’m sorry. Uncle must have remembered wrong. I left the bracelet with your aunt. I’ll call her now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy took the initiative to step out of the study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, she stood in the hallway, her expression complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the earlier phone conversation... and from Leonard’s reaction just now... She understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bracelet he had prepared for her had almost certainly been taken by her aunt.\u003C\u002Fp>",1162,"2026-05-30T15:23:36.664Z","2026-06-01T04:31:34.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","d63715034f3cbefa166f324d24059081c191a134d653ce93d156909bb561305c","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-21","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-19",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-cover.jpg"]