[{"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-53":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},562804,814,"Chapter 53","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>Before leaving C City, Suzy still owed Adam a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard had clearly remembered that as well, and so tonight’s dinner had already been arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were meeting at the same familiar hotpot restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Suzy received the call, she drove straight over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She arrived last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam and Leonard were already seated—and there was an unfamiliar young man sitting with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was strikingly handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, he resembled Adam by about fifty percent, but their temperaments could not have been more different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Adam was like a frost-covered pine standing alone on a snowfield—reserved, austere—then this man was like a peach blossom in full bloom. Bright, flamboyant, with a pair of naturally smiling peach-blossom eyes that made every glance seem drenched in affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Suzy approached the table, the young man looked up at her, the corners of his lips curved in an easy smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy, you’re here,\" Leonard greeted. \"Let me introduce you. This is Adam’s cousin, Ronan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronan and Adam had always been close. He often spent time with Leonard as well. They were all old acquaintances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had known Leonard had a niece, but this was his first time seeing her in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he couldn’t help studying her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Leonard had described, she was exceptionally beautiful. But she also looked fragile. There was a faint pallor in her complexion, a hint of illness in her delicate features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello,\" Ronan greeted first, his smile open and disarming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello,\" Suzy replied politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging greetings, she took her seat. Her gaze instinctively drifted to Adam, who sat directly across from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Adam,\" she called softly. She noticed he had changed his hairstyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made him look younger—so much so that he didn’t seem nearly thirty. If anything, he resembled a university student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam inclined his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You changed your hair?\" Suzy asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It suits you,\" she said sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard clicked his tongue. \"It really does knock a few years off you. What haircut is that? I’m getting the same one tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Adam could respond, the server arrived, effectively ending the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plates of ingredients were placed on the table one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard handed the tablet menu to Suzy. \"Take a look. Add whatever you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t stand on ceremony. After scrolling through the menu and adding several items, she noticed that nearly everything she wanted had already been ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then set the tablet down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you add?\" Leonard asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head. \"Nothing more. You already ordered what I wanted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard waved it off. \"Alright. We’ll add more if it’s not enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he finished speaking, a familiar notification sounded in Suzy’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Target detected: Ronan Tyler]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Level: SS]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Favorability insufficient. Binding unavailable.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronan Tyler??\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He qualifies too??\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy stared at him in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another eligible target?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And only SS-level—lower than Thomas Kim’s SSS—but still impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why had the system only triggered now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldn’t it have notified her the moment she saw him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grumbled inwardly. The system, as usual, ignored her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Objectively speaking, Ronan’s external conditions were excellent. With fifty percent resemblance to Adam, it was impossible for him to be unattractive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet... At that exact moment, Ronan was also studying her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, assessing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity flickered in those oval eyes of his, bright and probing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes collided unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronan smiled at her—wide, confident, almost dazzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a split second, Suzy felt as if she’d been lightly electrocuted. Her thoughts stalled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked away awkwardly, only to find Adam watching her as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy blushed, feeling strangely exposed. Was there something on her face? Why were they both staring at her like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam still wore that same indifferent expression. The shifting restaurant lights reflected faintly in his pale gray eyes, yet revealed nothing of what lay beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy, don’t be so reserved,\" Leonard said, attempting to liven the mood. \"Ronan’s about your age. He’s still in college, too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay,\" Suzy replied obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she had no intention of striking up a conversation with Ronan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that she disliked him—she simply didn’t know what to say. And with Leonard and Adam both present, the atmosphere felt subtly restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Suzy had the strange impression that if her gaze lingered even slightly in Ronan’s direction, Adam’s eyes would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Adam really that possessive of his cousin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment that thought surfaced, Suzy didn’t dare glance at Ronan again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam rose from the bubbling hotpot, curling softly between the four of them. The air shimmered with heat and spice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy lowered her head and ate the slices of fatty beef Leonard had placed into her bowl, though her mind wandered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Ronan was also a viable \"target\" left her distracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked and forced herself to refocus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost immediately, she sensed a faint but unmistakable gaze resting on her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked up, it was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she was certain. It had been Adam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That only made her more uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it. Just eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she realized it, the soup in her bowl was nearly gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached instinctively for the ladle, but a big, well-defined hand had already beaten her to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam lifted the ladle with unhurried ease, scooped a spoonful of the mushroom broth she liked, and poured it neatly into her bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked up, she saw only his calm profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pouring the soup, he withdrew his hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his gaze already lowered back to his own bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Adam,\" she said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a faint acknowledgment without lifting his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy lowered her gaze again and continued eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about how she might not be able to enjoy such food much longer, she ate a little too quickly... And choked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had barely coughed once when a glass of iced tea appeared beside her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a small sip. The coolness slid down her throat, soothing the burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" she murmured again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard was busy loudly discussing a recent football match with Ronan and hadn’t noticed the small exchanges at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ronan had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those affectionate peach-blossom eyes shifted between Suzy and his cousin, a trace of amusement flickering within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adam Bennet was famously disciplined and distant. Reserved. Self-controlled. Indifferent to women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet tonight... He was being... remarkably attentive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronan found it intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Suzy,\" he suddenly said, smiling lightly. \"The shrimp paste here is excellent. Want to try some?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy looked up, slightly startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t know why Ronan had suddenly addressed her, but she nodded anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh... sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Binding equals reward. It wouldn’t hurt to build goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronan reached for the serving chopsticks with a grin, but Adam’s calm gaze flicked toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a mild look. Quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Ronan’s hand paused almost imperceptibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She can’t handle spicy food,\" Adam said evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, without a trace of awkwardness, he reached into the tomato broth and fished out two cooked shrimp paste balls, placing them gently into Suzy’s bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is milder. Try this instead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What... was happening now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly... How did Adam know she preferred shrimp paste cooked in the tomato broth?\u003C\u002Fp>",1215,"2026-05-30T15:23:36.944Z","2026-06-01T04:31:34.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","31bfdbb25a33ea6fdcb3485d5c58a8f17b0b2a6489834aac8cc359ab5099840c","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-54","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-52",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-cover.jpg"]