He is Too Stingy, This Sand Sculpture Cannon Fodder

Lin Mingxu raised his eyebrow and said, “Afternoon flight.”

“Yes.”

With the words spoken, Shu You forced himself to continue, “The contracts have been signed, and the plane tickets have been bought long ago, yes, it’s been several hours.”

“I…” He paused, avoiding eye contact and said, “I just wanted to tell you before I leave.”

“Okay.”

Lin Mingxu’s gaze softened. “I’ll drive you to the airport.”

“No, it’s not necessary.”

Shu You shuddered again and quickly declined, “I’ve already talked to Wu Ge, he’ll pick me up.”

To prove the truth of his words, he immediately called Wu Youzhe.

“Brother Wu.”

“Shu.”

This time, Wu Youzhe didn’t respond in sync, and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Suddenly you don’t want to go to Siberia?”

“No.” Shu You cleared his throat. “Come pick me up, I’m ready.”

“Now?”

Wu Youzhe couldn’t help but say, “The flight departs at seven, we can make it even if we leave at five. It’s only a little past noon now.”

“Yes, yes, we’re running out of time. I’m heading home now, and I’ve packed my luggage.”

Shu You quickly interrupted him and hung up the phone, trying hard not to look at Lin Mingxu. He spoke quickly and mechanically, “Lin Mingxu, there’s something else I want to tell you.”

Lin Mingxu asked, “Go ahead.”

“I…” Shu You stumbled for a moment, gathered his courage, but still couldn’t look at Lin Mingxu directly, and blurted out, “Let’s break up.”

“What did you say?”

Lin Mingxu’s face darkened, and he suddenly said in a soft voice, “Don’t joke about this.”

“I’m not joking.”

Shu You avoided eye contact and continued, “You didn’t hear wrong, I said we should break up.”

Lin Mingxu froze. “Shu You, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know.”

Shu You braced himself, clenched his fist, and disregarded everything as he said, “I’ve thought about it these past few days, and I feel like we’re not suitable for each other. It was always my one-sided wishful thinking to keep you. Didn’t I say before that I would leave once you succeeded in your business?”

“I’ve been with you through the lows, and now I see that you’re doing well, so I can rest assured. Take care of yourself in the future.”

He spoke faster and faster, but his words became more and more chaotic. Eventually, he didn’t even know what he was saying, his mind was buzzing with all kinds of thoughts flying around.

Then he repeated everything he could say, and when he finished, Shu You numbly said, “That’s it, I’ve packed my things, and the money I owe you is on the table at home.”

“I’m rushing to catch the plane, I’m leaving now.”

He turned to leave, but Lin Mingxu suddenly reached out and grabbed him. “Shu You.”

The man’s face was unusually ugly. “Watch your words.”

“I…I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Shu You still didn’t look at him, keeping his head down. “I’ve been thinking about these things for a long time, and today is an opportunity. I’m going on a business trip, and it’s a good time for us to separate and calmly move on.”

Calmly move on.

A surge of anger flooded Lin Mingxu’s mind, but he tried hard to restrain himself, gritting his teeth and asking, “Why?”

Shu You turned his face away. “No reason, I just feel it’s not right.”

“Not right.”

How could Lin Mingxu accept such a reason?

He had already planned their future together, imagining how they would spend their lives with each other. Now Shu You stood before him, happiness within reach, but Shu You shattered it with a bang and used this ridiculous excuse.

Lin Mingxu couldn’t accept it.

The man coldly said, “I don’t agree.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree.”

Shu You suddenly raised his head, gritted his teeth and said, “I’ve agreed unilaterally. We’re just dating, not married. If I want to break up, I’ll break up.”

He forcefully shook off Lin Mingxu’s arm and turned to leave. But the man quickly caught up with him and blocked him at the door. “Shu You.”

Shu You had never seen Lin Mingxu’s expression so terrifying.

Not only was his face dark, it was completely distorted.

His deep black eyes were almost devouring, and it took great courage to meet his gaze.

Shu You pinched his thigh hard and met his gaze with force. “I’m leaving, I have to go to work.”

“You’re not allowed to go.”

Lin Mingxu held onto his hand tightly. “Explain yourself clearly.”

“I’ve already explained it clearly, haven’t I?”

Shu You tried to appear relaxed. “You heard everything too.”

Lin Mingxu angrily said, “Say it again.”

“I…”

Seeing him like this, Shu You suddenly felt a little scared.

He swallowed and decided not to provoke him too much. “I really have to leave, I have to catch the plane.”

“Don’t go.”

“If I don’t go, I’ll have to pay compensation, and it won’t be good for my reputation. How will I get future acting jobs?”

“You don’t need acting jobs anymore.”

Lin Mingxu’s tone was icy. “I have money, I can support you.”

“That won’t work.”

Shu You panicked. “I don’t need you to support me. I can take care of myself even if I have fewer limbs.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu stared at him ominously. “I can break your legs.”

Shu You “…”

He felt that Lin Mingxu’s words were true.

He dared not speak randomly anymore. He listened to Lin Mingxu and said, “Why did you suddenly bring up breaking up?”

“Just…just what I said earlier.”

Shu You gritted his teeth and persisted. “I know you don’t like me. It was me who pursued you so persistently from the beginning.”

“No, I don’t dislike you.”

Lin Mingxu suddenly interrupted him. “I don’t dislike you.”

Shu You opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Lin Mingxu stared at him intently and said each word slowly, “During this time, you must have felt that I like you.”

“Shu You, maybe our start wasn’t so perfect, and I know there are many complicated things between us. But I like you, there’s no doubt about that.”

“Don’t break up, let’s have a good relationship.”

From now on, from this moment, to the future, to a lifetime, let’s have a good, slow relationship.

Lin Mingxu restrained himself slightly and tried to be as rational as possible. “Shu You, you’ve said so many times that you love me, were they all lies?”

“I…”

Shu You felt like he was lifting a rock to smash his own foot.

But he couldn’t say that those were lies. Otherwise, he might not be able to walk out of this building intact today.

Shu You struggled and said, “Lin Mingxu, how about this? I’ll go on the business trip first, and when I come back, we can talk slowly.”

His attitude seemed to soften a bit, as if he had loosened up.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows. “You’re going for a week?”

Shu You avoided his gaze and said, “Yes.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu said, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

Shu You quickly refused. “Filming is busy, and you’re busy with work too, right?”

“And how can I work properly if you’re there too?”

That’s true.

Lin Mingxu’s plans were critical at the moment, and his spontaneous suggestion of going together was just a reflex.

But the current situation didn’t allow

him to accompany Shu You on the business trip.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows and looked deeply at Shu You. “Just for seven days.”

“Yes.”

Shu You reluctantly agreed, thinking it was fortunate that he impulsively lied about seven days.

Lin Mingxu didn’t say anything.

Shu You pursed his lips. “Brother Wu is still waiting for me. I’m leaving.”

Taking advantage of Lin Mingxu’s slow reaction, he quickly turned and left.

The faster he ran, the faster he ran out of the office building without looking back, his feet almost sprinting.

When he returned home, Wu Youzhe’s small car had just arrived downstairs.

Wu Youzhe looked bewildered, still trying to figure out what had happened, when Shu You rushed past his car and ran into the building, leaving behind a trail of dust.

“Shu…”

Less than a minute later, Shu You burst out of the building again, dragging a large suitcase.

“You.”

Wu Youzhe choked for a moment and quickly went forward to lend a hand, helping carry the suitcase.

After closing the back door, Shu You sat in the passenger seat and said two words, “Go fast.”

Wu Youzhe “…”

He felt like they were fleeing.

Wu Youzhe started the car and headed towards the airport, unable to hold back from asking, “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

Shu You’s face tightened, as if he had changed into a different person. He briefly explained, “I just suddenly wanted to escape this damn life.”

Wu Youzhe “…”

No, Shu You hadn’t changed, it was still him.

The airport was quite far away, and for some reason, there was traffic today.

The small car slowly moved along the elevated bridge, and the atmosphere inside the car was strange. Wu Youzhe didn’t ask too many questions. Suddenly, Shu You’s phone rang, and he jumped as if he were a fish out of water, as if the phone was scorching hot and about to explode.

Wu Youzhe, “Shu You, tell me honestly, are you running away because you owe someone money?”

“No.”

Shu You denied, picking up his phone and looking at it. It was a message from the service provider. He relaxed slightly, but his expression remained serious. “I never owe anyone money.”

“Then someone owes you money.”

“It’s impossible.”

Shu You immediately denied, “No one can owe me money, I never borrow money.”

Wu Youzhe understood, never ask Shu You for money.

“Oh, wait a minute.” Wu Youzhe suddenly remembered something and asked Shu You, “Didn’t you sign a promissory note with your boyfriend for 7,000 yuan?”

Unexpectedly, Shu You calmly replied, “I will pay him back in these few days.”

“Oh.”

The small car finally arrived at the airport, but they had come too early, so there was nothing to do after getting the tickets.

The two of them sat in the waiting area, looking at each other, their eyes meeting, feeling idle. Wu Youzhe awkwardly said, “Um, I have a dinner date with my wife tonight.”

Shu You was taken aback, “It’s only 2:30 in the afternoon now.”

“I have to go home and tidy myself up,” Wu Youzhe said apologetically. “I haven’t seen her in a long time, I thought if I spruced myself up a bit, it might help mend things between us.”

Wu Youzhe had some expectations, “I’ve been on a diet recently, do you think I’ve lost weight?”

Shu You stared at him for a few seconds, under Wu Youzhe’s hopeful gaze, he chose to go against his conscience and said, “You look good, especially your hairstyle.”

“I haven’t had a haircut in three months.”

“But you reminded me,” Wu Youzhe said again, “I’m going to get a haircut now.”

He waved goodbye to Shu You, leaving him alone at the vast airport, watching people coming and going, in

the midst of the bustling world. The next moment, his phone buzzed, and Lin Ming called.

Shu You only glanced at the screen and his heart skipped a beat.

To answer or not to answer.

That was the question.

The phone continued to buzz, reluctant to let go. Shu You struggled for a moment, extending his finger to touch the screen, but the other party hung up, and the screen returned to calm.

Shu You…

Soon after, he received a message.

Lin Mingxu arrived, let me know you’re safe.

Oh right, he needed to report his safety.

Shu You suddenly felt fortunate that he hadn’t told Lin Mingxu the exact shooting location.

He also felt fortunate that the country was so big, allowing him to fly anywhere he wanted.

However, with Wu Youzhe gone, Shu You was alone, and his thoughts began to drift aimlessly.

The protagonist has arrived, and their love story is about to begin. This cannon fodder character should indeed exit the stage.

Ah, it’s a pity that he has almost forgotten the original book, so he is not clear about how their relationship developed afterward.

But after all, they are a couple, so it should gradually…

Just as Shu You thought of this, he suddenly couldn’t continue. His heart felt suffocated, and he felt uneasy. Subconsciously, he shifted his thoughts to something else, something important, like money.

Money was his biggest reliance, the urgent need for his livelihood.

From a young age, Shu You knew that money was extremely important, and he understood that life was unstable and had no support. Only money could provide him with enough security.

When his parents were constantly running around because of money and they moved from place to place, Shu You tried to save his pocket money, hoping to buy them a day to spend time with him.

But that night, his parents could only helplessly pat his head and say they would send him back to their hometown, telling him that the money he had saved was far from enough.

So, Shu You became more and more thrifty and frugal. As he grew up, he realized that it was just a childish act, but he couldn’t change his habit of being stingy and frugal.

It was the same since entering the book.

No money, no savings, and being powerless in the face of problems—these were the thoughts that occupied Shu You’s mind.

The resurfacing of bad memories made him think of nothing but obtaining enough money.

That’s why he and Lin Mingxu were fundamentally not on the same path. Their views on life, the world, and values were not compatible, and there would be no result if they were forced together.

Lin Mingxu believed that he could return to the peak no matter what. He had confidence and ability. He was an awe-inspiring talent and would inevitably become successful.

But Shu You was just an ordinary person who only wanted to live an ordinary life, earn enough money to buy a small house, decorate it into a cozy nest, and peacefully go through each day.

It would be even better if he could raise a dog.

Without Linda, he could have Carla.

But Carla seemed a bit unpleasant. Maybe he should call her Mira instead.

In Shu You’s mind, a small boat drifted back and forth, unable to return to the shore. Finally, after enduring until the designated time, he quickly boarded the plane and arrived at the filming location an hour later.

It was a famous tourist city.

The production team sent someone to pick him up at the airport.

With beautiful scenery and clear blue skies, Shu You got into the car and headed to the filming location. As soon as he got out of the car, a familiar figure came rushing towards him. “Shu You, Shu You, Shu You!”

Without thinking, Shu You opened his mouth, “I don’t have a private plane. Duan Siqi, why are you here?”

“I’m a guest,” Duan Siqi said with delight. “I heard that you were coming, so I agreed to come as a guest.”

He casually pushed his hair back, striking a graceful pose. “You should know that my appearance fee and popularity on this variety show are…”

Shu You interrupted, “Everyone wants to beat you up.”

Duan Siqi’s expression turned furious. He glared at Shu You and said, “Aren’t you my happy playmate anymore?”

“Um…”

Shu You hesitated for a second and said, “As long as you don’t mention your unrequited love history.”

“Oh, that.” Duan Siqi blushed when he heard this. He shyly said, “After the last recording, I had a good talk with Sisi. She agreed to give me a chance to pursue her.”

Shu You thought, “Is that so?”

Love truly made no sense.

His expression became complicated, and Duan Siqi got annoyed. “What do you mean? Do you, like my older brother and Rohan, think that I can’t win Sisi’s heart?”

“No, no.”

Shu You quickly denied, thinking to himself that sometimes love didn’t follow ethics either.

He sighed softly and said, “That’s great, I envy you.”

Duan Siqi’s courage is admirable, despite repeated setbacks that haven’t defeated him.

That evening, Shu You lay on the hotel bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

It was only a little past ten o’clock when the phone rang again, and it was Lin Mingxu.

Shu You took a deep breath and deliberately hesitated before answering.

The other person was patient, and the phone kept ringing until he answered.

A man’s voice came through, gentle and particularly clear in the dark night, as if he was right there. “Are you asleep?”

“Yes, I am.”

Shu You pretended to be in a good mood, just like usual, and asked, “Have you slept?”

Lin Mingxu replied, “I’ve also laid down.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Shu You only held on for a few seconds before his tone became dry. He mumbled and chatted with the other person for a while, then suddenly spoke up, “Lin Mingxu.”

The man paused, waiting for his next sentence.

Shu You stammered, “Have you looked at the information of those decoration companies?”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “No, what’s wrong?”

“Well, why don’t you take a look first.”

Shu You didn’t even know what he was saying, almost speaking nonsense, “I… I trust your taste, and I don’t understand these things very well. You can take a look, get an overview, and just let me know.”

“Well, I don’t have any specific requirements for decoration.”

He didn’t plan to go back.

He didn’t want to witness someone else’s story unfolding.

What the house would look like after being decorated no longer mattered to him.

Since seeing the protagonist suffer, his heart felt like it was weighed down by a huge stone. Now, that stone was becoming heavier and heavier, making him feel very uncomfortable.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You pursed his lips and softly said, “I’ll be shooting all day for the next few days, and I’ll be coming back late at night. The signal here seems to be bad, so it might be inconvenient to contact me.”

He asked the production team today, and if the shooting went smoothly, he could finish his part in two or three days by squeezing his schedule.

Then he would go far away, to a place where Lin Mingxu couldn’t find him, and start over.

After a while, Lin Mingxu’s faint voice came, “I understand. Goodnight.”

Shu You quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

But he also felt a bit lost.

The next morning, Duan Siqi came to find him.

As soon as he opened the door, the other person was startled. “What the hell happened to you, Shu You?”

The person in front of him had heavy dark circles under his eyes, revealing a weak and exhausted smile, as if all his energy had been drained by an all-nighter.

“It’s nothing.”

Shu You wiped his face and grinned, “The scenery here is really nice.”

Duan Siqi said, “Isn’t your room facing the back building? What scenery can you see?”

Shu You changed the subject, “Of course, there are beautiful views everywhere. Just think about it, what did you see when you came to the mortal realm this time?”

Duan Siqi remained silent.

He felt like he was being questioned about his soul, and his mind went blank.

However, although Shu You looked physically exhausted, he was still very efficient at work. Duan Siqi suspected that he could seamlessly switch between two personalities; otherwise, he couldn’t explain why he was full of energy as soon as he stepped in front of the camera.

Unable to hold back, Duan Siqi asked, and Shuyou looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, “Of course, there’s a reason for it.”

Duan Siqi asked, “What reason?”

“I’m someone who values money.”

Shu You reasoned, “If the production team gives me so much money, how can I not work hard?”

Duan Siqi understood.

Perhaps it was because Shu You was in a particularly good state during the shoot, everything went unbelievably smoothly.

The crew praised him.

The whole day passed, and when they finished work in the evening, everyone scattered after dinner. Shu You returned to his room alone and took out his phone to take a look.

Lin Mingxu had sent a goodnight message.

Shu You couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart.

The next two days passed in the same way. On the afternoon of the third day, Shu You packed his luggage and checked out of the hotel.

He randomly bought a train ticket at the station and, after boarding, sent a message to Lin Mingxu.

The last message.

I’m sorry.