Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 39: The 1970s Naive Supporting Girl (39)

　　Because the college entrance exams were scheduled late, the start of classes was tight.

　　Song Susu explained her situation to the school and arranged to attend as a day student.

　　College courses weren’t easy, but she was able to keep up. The campus itself was quiet and relaxed, which made studying more comfortable.

　　When it got cold, the siblings sometimes skipped cooking and went to the cafeteria or a nearby restaurant. If they felt like cooking, they would happily make a meal at home.

　　On chilly days, their favorite was hotpot. They would dip meat and vegetables into the simmering broth, then pair it with the special sauce Song Susu had concocted—it was delicious.

　　Occasionally, when cravings hit, they fried some skewers. Song Susu always picked the foods she loved, and Song Yuanchao wasn’t picky; if his sister liked it, he liked it too. Their little daily life was simple but joyful.

　　Song Yuanchao had a cup of malted milk every day, along with measured portions of eggs, dairy, meat, vegetables, and fruit. Combined with daily exercise, he shot up to 1.6 meters, a full 30 centimeters taller than before.

　　At some point, he started learning grappling techniques from a retired soldier near the back alley. When Song Susu found out, she asked around the neighborhood about the man. Everyone said he was decent, so she didn’t stop him.

　　That day, Song Susu’s class monitor said she wanted to introduce her second older brother to her and dragged her to the department store.

　　Song Susu didn’t mind at all. The more people she saw, the better she could judge who might suit her. The monitor was tall and pretty, so her brother shouldn’t be bad either.

　　The class monitor’s name was Su Min, nineteen years old, and her family was well-off. She said her second brother was twenty-one, serving in the military, a little leader type. He was tall, handsome, could cook, and knew how to take care of people.

　　The Su family’s eldest son had died on the battlefield years ago. Their father was a deputy director at a factory, and their mother was a retired worker. They had a big house and open-minded parents.

　　For Song Susu, anyone she dated needed to have the right values and at least decent looks. From what Su Min said, her brother ticked all the boxes, so she agreed to come and see him.

　　Su Min brought them to a restaurant, ordered the dishes, and gestured for Song Susu to sit and start eating.

　　She kept glancing at the entrance and nervously checking the plum-patterned watch on her wrist.

　　Her brother was so unreliable. They had agreed he would meet someone today, and Song Susu was really popular at school! How could he be late?

　　By the time they had nearly finished eating, he still hadn’t shown up. Su Min looked apologetic.

　　“Susu, I’m really sorry. My brother must have had something come up at the last minute. You ended up coming all this way for nothing.”

　　Song Susu waved it off casually. “It’s fine. The food you ordered was really good.”

　　Hearing that, Su Min felt even worse. As the two of them got up to leave, a tall guy in a military green camouflage uniform came running from a distance.

　　Su Min’s eyes lit up, and she waved, calling out, “Brother! Over here.”

　　“Sorry, something came up last minute, so I’m late,” he said.

　　Su Chen hurried over, and the moment he looked up and saw Song Susu, he was genuinely taken aback.

　　Song Susu had grown taller, wearing a custom-fitted black coat that accentuated her figure, elegant and graceful. A soft, light-gray scarf was wrapped around her neck, and her long black hair was lazily tied with a red ribbon, making her fair, delicate face even more striking.

　　Su Chen felt his cheeks heat up. He had never seen a girl so beautiful. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he kept apologizing.

　　“I’m sorry, Miss Song. I didn’t mean to… really, I’m so sorry. I heard about a new café nearby. Please, let me treat you both to something to drink.”

　　Su Min tugged gently at Song Susu’s sleeve, giving her a playful wink. “Susu, let’s go.”

　　Song Susu noticed Su Chen’s sharp features and fair, clean appearance. He seemed quiet and composed, and when shy, he had an innocent charm. She smiled and nodded. “Sure.”

　　The café was inside the department store, and the three of them went there to chat.

　　As soon as they sat down, Song Susu spotted someone familiar.

　　Lu Tingxiao was sitting by the window with his back to her, seemingly waiting for someone.

　　It had been over three months since they last met. Song Susu almost forgot what he looked like, but she still remembered he was destined to be a big shot. After lunch, she thought she might go over and greet him. Sometimes it’s nice to brush up on old acquaintances.

　　She also wondered if the pill she gave him last time had worked. If it had, then she’d have another title to her name: lifesaver.

　　“Miss Song, have some hot water.”

　　Su Chen had sharp, delicate features and a naturally handsome face. As he poured the water, the heat in his cheeks only deepened, and his ears flushed an even brighter red.

　　Su Min leaned her forehead against her hand, nudging her brother’s elbow, and handed over the coffee menu.

　　Is he really this clueless? We’re at a café to drink coffee, not… hot water!

　　Su Chen’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. He cleared his throat, handed the menu to Song Susu, and asked quietly, “Miss Song, what would you like to drink?”

　　Song Susu pressed her lips into a gentle smile, took the menu with graceful ease, picked what she wanted, and then handed it back.

　　Seeing her brother order coffee, Su Min’s eyes darted around before she grinned. “I didn’t eat enough earlier. I’m going to grab a snack from the food stall. You two just chat.”

　　With that excuse, Su Min left, and Su Chen felt even more flustered. He fidgeted nervously, not daring to meet Song Susu’s gaze.

　　Song Susu laughed softly, friendly like a friend teasing him. “Su Min said you’re in the military. Are you always this shy?”

　　Su Chen looked up at her and felt an odd sensation. Song Susu smiled, and somehow she looked even more beautiful than before. She was clearly younger than him, yet there was this strange feeling that she was the older one.

　　Not knowing why his thoughts were all over the place, he clenched his fists to steady himself and explained, “I’m sorry… I just haven’t interacted much with girls. Miss Song, you’re very beautiful, and I… I got a little nervous.”

　　It was sincere, the shy little puppy energy unmistakable.    

　　Song Susu perked up, resting her chin on her hand as she studied him. “I heard you can cook too?” she asked.

　　Su Chen waved his hand quickly, almost panicking. “Don’t believe what Su Min says. I only make simple dishes. Anything complicated, I’d still have to learn.”

　　Song Susu nodded thoughtfully. “I see.”

　　Seeing her reaction, Su Chen immediately felt a twinge of regret. Could it be that Miss Song liked men who could cook? He scolded himself inwardly and hurriedly added, “I-I can at least handle home-cooked meals.”

　　Song Susu chuckled at him. From what she could see, he was handsome, had a good personality, and seemed relatively straightforward.

　　“So, is your work far from here? Where will you be stationed in the future?”

　　Su Chen answered honestly. “The military base is pretty far from here. I’m just a squad leader, so retirement is still a long way off. As for my assignments, I have to follow orders, but my family is here, so I’ll try to get transferred back if I can.”

　　“Here’s your coffee, both of you,” a server arrived, setting the drinks down.

　　Song Susu thanked them politely and didn’t plan to ask more. She was looking for someone for marriage, to find a happy and stable relationship.

　　Su Chen was a good man, but the timing just wasn’t right.

　　Besides, he still had years left before retirement, and his rank wasn’t high enough for his wife to accompany him to the military base.

　　If they married now, they would only end up living apart, and that was no kind of happy marriage.

　　Su Chen saw that Song Susu had stopped asking questions and assumed she was at least somewhat satisfied with him. He tried hard to make conversation, asking about her studies and what hobbies she had.

　　Song Susu wasn’t planning to continue anything with him, so her answers were polite but formal. Eventually, she gently declined his invitation to watch a movie.

　　Su Chen could sense it and felt a little flustered, wondering if he had done something wrong.

　　Before he could ask, a woman suddenly barged in, and behind her came a panting Su Min.

　　“Mom! Let’s step outside and talk!” Su Min’s cheeks were bright red as she tugged her mother toward the door.

　　Su Chen’s mother shook off her daughter’s hand and walked over with a serious expression, giving Song Susu an appraising look that carried a hint of disdain.

　　No father, no mother, and still taking care of a ten-year-old brother? She couldn’t believe this girl dared to come for a matchmaking meeting.

　　“Miss, my son already has someone, and my daughter didn’t know about it, which is why all this happened.”

  

           

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