[{"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-57":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},562808,814,"Chapter 57","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Suzy and Derek sat across from each other. She lowered her head to scan the menu and said firmly, \"We agreed—I’m paying this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek smiled. \"Alright, Miss Moneybags. I won’t argue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had come to a Japanese barbecue restaurant. The air carried the faint scent of charcoal and sizzling meat, mingled with soft background music and warm golden lighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy flipped through the menu carefully before settling on a signature set that included several of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up. \"How about this one?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she lifted her gaze, she met Derek’s eyes. They were bright—almost shimmering under the lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been staring at her intently, utterly focused, as if he had forgotten to look away. A faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the restaurant’s warm glow, he looked almost unreal—like a finely crafted doll placed across from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she caught him looking, a flicker of fluster crossed his face, softening the perfection and making him seem vividly human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever you choose is fine,\" Derek said softly, blinking once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy suddenly felt a little uncomfortable under that heated gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too direct. Too earnest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered the favorability he held toward her, and her thoughts wavered for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, she forced herself back to focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, we’ll go with the set.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She called the waiter over and placed the order. While waiting for the food, she spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When are you planning to go to C City?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered he had mentioned visiting relatives there not long ago. But the extreme heat disaster would begin tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he left now, he would most likely be stranded in C City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah... about that.\" Derek didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, \"What about you, Senior? Are you going back to C City again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy shook her head. \"My uncle and I have moved to A City. We’ll be staying here for a while. What about you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My relatives went abroad,\" Derek replied with a faint look of regret. \"So I won’t be going after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy blinked. \"That’s... quite a coincidence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had assumed he contacted her because he planned to leave. But that no longer mattered. What mattered was ensuring he was prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"School’s on break now, right?\" she said. \"You’d better stay in A City for the time being. Don’t go anywhere else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek leaned slightly closer across the table and asked gently, \"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Suzy realize how authoritative she had sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated before explaining, \"Something might happen soon. If you stay in A City, we can look out for each other.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek’s eyes curved as he smiled. \"Okay. I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pressed further. \"Did you buy extra supplies as I told you to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I remember everything you say,\" he replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much did you buy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek unlocked his phone and opened his photo gallery before handing it to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy scrolled through the pictures. Stacks of instant noodles. Ready-to-eat meals. Self-heating hotpots. Drinks. Canned food. All long-lasting supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had clearly prepared seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the quantity... It wasn’t nearly enough. Even rationed carefully, this would last perhaps two months at most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was far from sufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to buy more,\" Suzy said, handing the phone back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she returned it, her finger accidentally brushed the screen and exited the gallery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lock screen appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy glanced at it—and froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wallpaper was a photo of her and Derek together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a club group photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had been in the frame that day—but Derek had been standing right beside Suzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered the moment clearly: the laughter, the casual shoving as they squeezed into position, the sunlight slanting across their shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she hadn’t expected was that Derek had cropped the image down to just the two of them—and set it as his lock screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she was still stunned, he had already snatched the phone back with surprising speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of embarrassment passed through his eyes. His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange, unnameable feeling drifted through Suzy’s chest. She didn’t want things between them to become awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, she chose to pretend she hadn’t seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoothly, she changed the subject. \"I’ll have someone send more supplies to your place tomorrow. Your address hasn’t changed, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had given her his address a long time ago. She still remembered it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...No,\" Derek replied, shrugging at her. \"It’s the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was the faintest trace of something in his eyes—something almost... wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s good.\" Suzy suppressed the odd discomfort rising inside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the waiter arrived with their food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The charcoal grill was already hot. Derek skillfully placed thin slices of marinated meat onto the rack, the sizzling sound instantly filling the space between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he worked, he asked how she had been adjusting to life in A City. Suzy, who had been holding in complaints about Ronan for days, seized the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she started talking, the words poured out in a steady stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time she finished venting, Derek had already cut the grilled meat into bite-sized pieces—golden brown and fragrant—and placed them neatly into her bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He listened with a gentle smile the entire time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after she stopped did she realize that he had been grilling nonstop. And almost all the meat had ended up in her bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d barely eaten anything himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flush crept up her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should eat too. You’ve been cooking this whole time. Let me do it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\" He handed her the tongs without protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued chatting while she took over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy grilled carefully this time, placing each finished piece into his plate, keeping only a small portion for herself, which she wrapped in lettuce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spread sauce over the meat, folded it into a neat green roll, and held it between her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek suddenly said, \"Senior, the one you made looks really good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up. He was staring directly at the lettuce wrap in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you want to try it?\" she asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" he replied softly. \"I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking much of it, Suzy extended her hand to pass it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was rather proud of her seasoning—it was her own special combination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had expected him to take it from her. Instead, he leaned forward slightly and bit directly into the wrap she was holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy’s eyes widened. He had just taken a bite—without taking it from her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reflexively pulled her hand back, her mind buzzing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So good,\" he said, smiling at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I’m glad you liked it,\" she managed, trying very hard to ignore the heat creeping up her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After paying the bill, they stepped out of the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People milled about on the sidewalk, fanning themselves, complaining about the oppressive heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suzy checked the time. It was getting late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should head back,\" she said. \"Did you drive here? If not, I can give you a ride.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek’s gaze flicked, almost imperceptibly, toward his car parked not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decisively shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you. If it’s not too much trouble... could you take me home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1215,"2026-05-30T15:23:36.944Z","2026-06-01T04:31:34.774Z",1,"novelbin.me","b1c3a6ca6eee44d2866da5f9de21e6a43ae0bd2e06fbf5f1fc3a776404099497","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-58","sickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-chapter-56",210,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsickly-cannon-fodder-spoiled-by-the-powerful-apo-cover.jpg"]