The Cannon Fodder Crazy Beauty Has Awakened [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 40.1

“Now it’s your turn to lock me away.”

Jiang Mengyu’s pen paused mid-stroke. “How did you notice?”

Since she was gossiping behind someone’s back, Chen He’an couldn’t speak too loudly. “The way she looks at you is just, really intense.”

Chi Jingyan was already in a bad mood when she suddenly caught Jiang Mengyu glancing back at her out of the corner of her eye with a scrutinizing gaze.

Confused, Chi Jingyan shifted her attention slightly and noticed Chen He’an also sneaking glances at her. Her brows immediately furrowed.

What were these two up to?

Was that Chen girl secretly badmouthing her to Jiang Mengyu?

The young mistress might as well have written “I’m unhappy” across her face.

Jiang Mengyu withdrew her gaze. “You misunderstood.”

This was directed at Chen He’an.

For some reason, Chen He’an felt there was a hint of protectiveness in Jiang Mengyu’s tone.

But she also realized her earlier remark might have sounded like she was stirring trouble, so she quickly clarified, “Then I must have misread it. Don’t take it to heart.”

It still felt awkward, though.

Chen He’an decided to just shut her mouth.

Clearly, she should stick to solving problems and stop meddling in other people’s business.

The undercurrents between them went unnoticed by the others.

At school, Chi Jingyan was relatively well-behaved. That morning, she and Jiang Mengyu barely exchanged a word except for when she passed by Jiang Mengyu between classes and placed a bottle of warm milk on her desk.

By the time Jiang Mengyu looked up, all she saw was Chi Jingyan’s retreating figure.

In the end, she drank the milk anyway.

Noticing this, Chi Jingyan couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curl up slightly.

Time flew by, and soon it was noon. Chi Jingyan wanted to have lunch with Jiang Mengyu, but the latter refused.

The young mistress was visibly displeased, yet she forced herself to suppress her temper. “I’ve been listening to you in class, but at lunch, everyone’s too busy eating to pay much attention.”

When Jiang Mengyu remained silent, she added in a softer voice, “I promise I won’t even hold your hand, okay?”

All she wanted was to be near Jiang Mengyu. Even if they couldn’t get too close, just sharing the same space was enough to satisfy her.

Jiang Mengyu was tucking her meal card into her pocket and didn’t look up. “Weren’t you the one who said your legs were weak and you had no strength?”

Chi Jingyan suddenly realized she’d misunderstood. The frustration she’d felt over Jiang Mengyu’s rejection instantly melted away.

“Then I’ll wait for you in the art room, okay?”

“Mm.”

Chi Jingyan watched Jiang Mengyu leave, her usually cold eyes now bright with unconcealed delight. Only when Jiang Mengyu’s figure had completely disappeared did she finally lower her gaze.

Then, out of nowhere, a familiar voice cut in.

“How rare.”

It was Chi Jia.

Chi Jingyan’s expression instantly turned icy.

They hadn’t seen each other since the night Grandfather Chi fell critically ill. In just a week, Chi Jia had grown noticeably haggard.

She was thinner than before, her eyes darker and more venomous especially when looking at Chi Jingyan. She didn’t even bother to fake a smile anymore.

In contrast, Chi Jingyan’s complexion, while not particularly rosy, was still much better than Chi Jia’s.

“Chi Jingyan, have you really fallen for some mediocre Alpha with an ordinary background?”

Jiang Mengyu wasn’t just from an average family, she had no family background to speak of at all. Before moving into Chi Jingyan’s apartment, she had even struggled to pay rent.

No wonder Madam Chi felt Jiang Mengyu was unworthy of Chi Jingyan. The gap between them was simply too vast. By all appearances, Jiang Mengyu seemed like the kind of gold-digging, deceitful Alpha who preyed on naive, wealthy beauties.

Chi Jingyan ignored Chi Jia’s sarcasm, merely casting her a cold glance before turning to leave.

She wasn’t lying to Jiang Mengyu, she genuinely wasn’t feeling well and had no interest in wasting time bickering with Chi Jia.

But Chi Jia wasn’t about to let her go.

“Chi Jingyan, are you so sure Grandfather will never wake up?”

There was no way the old patriarch would ever allow Chi Jingyan to be with Jiang Mengyu.

Chi Jia stepped closer, pressing, “Grandfather’s sudden collapse must have been your family’s doing!”

Chi Jingyan didn’t take the bait. “You’ll need evidence to back up such claims.”

“Xiao Jia, I understand your concern for Grandfather. I’m worried too.”

“But…” Chi Jingyan’s tone shifted sharply, “you should remember not to let impulse cloud your judgment, forget what’s acceptable and what’s not.”

Clearly, approaching Jiang Mengyu or scheming against her was absolutely off-limits for Chi Jia.

Chi Jia sneered. “Let’s hope so.”

So Chi Jingyan cared about Jiang Mengyu more than she’d thought.

Chi Jingyan could see right through her ill intentions, but with the situation at a critical juncture, she couldn’t afford to crush Chi Jia completely just yet.

A few more days. Once the old patriarch passed, Chi Jingyan wouldn’t even need to lift a finger, her father would be the first to settle scores with the third branch.

After all, he’d long held a grudge against Third Uncle Chi.

Chi Jia watched Chi Jingyan leave, her gaze fixed intently on her retreating figure, her mind undoubtedly plotting something.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mengyu was on her way to the art studio, carrying a takeout meal, when she spotted Chu Muyao in the distance, alongside another woman.

Chu Muyao hadn’t expected to run into Jiang Mengyu, but she didn’t avoid her. Instead, she greeted her openly.

“There were too many people in the classroom earlier, so I didn’t get a chance to ask, how have you been lately?”

Chu Muyao wasn’t inquiring about Jiang Mengyu’s health. She was asking whether Chi Jingyan had mistreated her.

Jiang Mengyu shook her head. “I’m doing fine.”

Only then did Chu Muyao relax. She turned to the woman beside her, hesitating briefly before introducing, “Sister Li, this is my classmate, Jiang Mengyu.”

Then, to Jiang Mengyu, she added, “This is my neighbor’s older sister, Li Qing.”

Jiang Mengyu wasn’t familiar with the woman’s face, but she recognized the name.

Li Qing wasn’t that the name of the devoted second female lead in the novel?

She met Li Qing’s gaze, finding the other woman studying her just as intently. The moment their eyes locked, both saw a flicker of deep contemplation in the other’s expression.

Jiang Mengyu instantly understood Li Qing must have heard of her name, perhaps even deliberately looked into her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be looking at her with such an expression.

Lowering her gaze slightly, Jiang Mengyu nodded. “Hello, Miss Li.”

She didn’t follow Chu Muyao’s lead in calling her “sister.”

The smile on Li Qing’s face was faint, not reaching her eyes. She was the first to extend her hand. “Hello.”

“Classmate Jiang.”

Jiang Mengyu had no interest in competing with Li Qing. She knew Li Qing likely saw her as a romantic rival, but unfortunately, she had no intention of getting entangled in the ambiguous tension between the female lead and the second female lead.

After all, a certain young lady was still waiting for her to bring food.

But since Li Qing had already offered her hand, Jiang Mengyu thought it over and decided to shake it to avoid future complications.

The moment their hands clasped, an invisible tension seemed to collide between them. Though Jiang Mengyu was a few years younger, she showed no trace of timidity.

Li Qing’s expression darkened slightly, this person seemed different from what she had investigated.

Chu Muyao didn’t notice the undercurrents between them, but she wasn’t foolish either. She knew the identities of these two made the situation somewhat awkward.

Though she was well aware that Jiang Mengyu didn’t actually have feelings for her previous pursuit was likely just to get Chi Jingyan’s attention, the problem was, Li Qing didn’t know that!

But since very few people knew the truth, Chu Muyao couldn’t explain it in front of Jiang Mengyu.

Fortunately, Jiang Mengyu quickly released Li Qing’s hand and said calmly, “Ah Yan is waiting for me. I’ll take my leave first.”

Chu Muyao exhaled in relief. “Alright, go ahead.”

Only after Jiang Mengyu had walked away did Li Qing raise an eyebrow and ask, “Ah Yan?”

Among the people she knew, there was only one whose name contained that character.

Chi Jingyan.

Li Qing’s expression grew even colder.

Chu Muyao: “Mm.”

She then softly explained, “What happened before was all a misunderstanding.”

Li Qing listened quietly, the gloom around her gradually dissipating.

So, this was the relationship between Chi Jingyan and Jiang Mengyu.

Two disliked romantic rivals suddenly pairing up.

How delightful.

Though it seemed they weren’t officially together yet Li Qing wouldn’t mind giving them a little push.

After all, she loved nothing more than helping others.

At this thought, the corners of Li Qing’s lips curled up. “Weren’t you hungry? Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere good to eat.”

Chi Jingyan was growing restless from waiting.

Hadn’t Jiang Mengyu just messaged that she was almost here? Why was she taking so long?

Had she run into Chi Jia on the way?

Just as Chi Jingyan was about to go check herself, the door to the art studio was pushed open from the outside, and Jiang Mengyu appeared in the doorway.

Seeing her, Chi Jingyan immediately relaxed. She wanted to ask if Jiang Mengyu had encountered Chi Jia, but the words that came out instead were a complaining whine: “What took you so long? I’m starving.”

Jiang Mengyu gave her a deep look, wondering if Chi Jingyan still remembered how, the last time they met in the art studio, she had treated her with an overbearing attitude.

Jiang Mengyu recalled the medical report Secretary Zhao had just sent her Chi Jingyan’s physical condition showed no issues, only signs of extreme mental tension.

In the field of medicine, there is a condition known as separation anxiety disorder, which refers to excessive distress, emotional breakdown, or apathetic suffering exhibited by patients when separated from their attachment figures.

They suspected that Chi Jingyan might already be experiencing such symptoms.

To be honest, Jiang Mengyu found it hard to imagine Chi Jingyan suffering due to their temporary separation. However, considering this was an ABO world where people’s brains could be influenced by pheromones, Jiang Mengyu could understand it.

During the past period, she had been with Chi Jingyan every day. Even though she hadn’t bitten Chi Jingyan’s gland again, Chi Jingyan had still inevitably developed a dependency on her pheromones.

This kind of dependency was difficult to completely sever.

Moreover, they had a 100% compatibility rate.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Chi Jingyan might only ever respond to her pheromones for the rest of her life.

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