Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 23.2

Yicheng’s current management wasn’t very strict either. Though everyone was ordered to stay home, when she drove onto the streets, there were hardly any people, and no patrols stopped her.

When she stepped out of the car, the rain pelted her face with enough force to sting slightly. The wind howled fiercely, as if the season had plunged from early autumn straight into midwinter. The dampness seeped into her bones, and even Pei Yujiang’s robust constitution found it hard to endure.

Her first stop was the Yicheng Flood Control Office.

At the entrance of the Flood Control Office, the local government flag of Yicheng was already blown askew, a pitiful sight. Pei Yujiang first reported at the lobby, going through great lengths just to get inside.

The minor official who received her, managing only two or three subordinates not even worth calling a petty bureaucrat, scolded her for meddling when she mentioned the need to reinforce the levees and deploy personnel to prevent flooding. He tried to shoo her away immediately.

Pei Yujiang didn’t waste time arguing. Instead, she started calling higher-ups one by one. It wasn’t until the third call that someone answered. The person on the other end was initially dismissive, but under Pei Yujiang’s sharp tone, they reluctantly asked a few questions before instructing her to hand the phone to the minor official. In the end, concerned about the issue she raised, they decided to personally inspect the levee.

Seeing how inefficient the local officials were, Pei Yujiang had no intention of going home. She started her car and drove straight to the levee in the suburbs.

Fortunately, Yicheng wasn’t too large. Though the rain was heavy and water had pooled in places, Pei Yujiang, having lived here for years, knew the roads like the back of her hand. Even if the layout had changed, she could still navigate, avoiding low-lying areas.

From the high ground near the cordoned-off area, the levee didn’t appear to be breached yet. But prevention was key. The rain had suddenly intensified again, escalating from a torrential downpour to something unimaginable.

It almost felt like “the heavens were releasing a flood.”

Even with a raincoat and umbrella, Pei Yujiang was drenched from head to toe. Yet she stubbornly stayed, arguing with officials for hours before calling Pei Jinhuai for help pulling strings. Eventually, she convinced the local inspector to issue flood warnings to neighboring cities, putting all firefighters on standby.

Unfortunately, as a nobody, this was the most she could do.

After all that effort, Pei Yujiang only managed two hours of restless sleep in her car. Still, she remained energetic had the cordon not barred civilians from the area, she would’ve stayed to help with flood relief.

The rain outside hadn’t stopped. If she didn’t leave soon, her car might’ve been submerged. The vehicle, a stylish and high-quality gift from her mother for her birthday, wouldn’t last long being waterlogged. So she drove back.

On the way, it suddenly occurred to her that she might be stuck at home for a while, and Yu Zhiwan’s heat cycle could come at any time. She decided to buy some suppressants and clothes essentials for the Omega.

But the nearest supermarket was already closed. After circling around, she finally found one still open, though only two suppressants remained in stock.

Clothes, at least, were available. Pei Yujiang grabbed enough for Yu Zhiwan to last about half a month, along with some food.

By the time she got home, it was already past seven in the evening.

Yu Zhiwan hadn’t turned on any lights, leaving the house pitch black no sign of life inside, a stark contrast to the bustling silhouettes in other homes.

Yet the moment the doorbell rang, the Omega’s soft voice called out:

“Who is it?”

“It’s me!”

Soaked and shivering, Pei Yujiang hurried inside the moment Yu Zhiwan opened the door. The rush of warm air made her feel alive again. A Beta’s constitution really wasn’t as hardy as an Alpha’s had she still been one, she’d have fared much better.

Without time to speak with Yu Zhiwan, Pei Yujiang closed the door, quickly tidied up, and went to take a shower. Washing away the chill and grime, she stepped out while drying her hair and noticed the master bedroom remained untouched, Yu Zhiwan must have slept in the guest room.

Full of energy and youthful vigor, Pei Yujiang felt almost completely refreshed after her shower, showing no signs of wilting from the rain.

Pushing open the door, she was greeted by the rich aroma of food.

After such a long and exhausting journey, even the toughest person would struggle to endure. Pei Yujiang had been tense until now, only realizing belatedly that her stomach was growling with hunger.

The air was thick with the scent of cream. Entering the kitchen, she found Yu Zhiwan preparing creamy pasta, a semi-finished dish that required further cooking. The woman’s slender hands fumbled with a tomato, trying to tear it apart while wearing gloves, avoiding a knife to prevent cutting herself.

Though Pei Yujiang wasn’t much of a cook herself, she couldn’t possibly let a blind person prepare food for her. She hurried forward to help but was stopped by Yu Zhiwan.

“It’s almost done. I’m just adding a tomato for flavor. Could you set the table instead?”

Yu Zhiwan’s voice was gentle and soothing, carrying a calming reassurance. After the exhaustion of the day, Pei Yujiang had planned to settle for something simple, but a warm meal was undeniably better for the stomach.

Pei Yujiang quickly set the table before returning to help serve the pasta from the pot. Yu Zhiwan had also prepared a bowl of warm milk for each of them to accompany the creamy dish.

Glancing around the kitchen, Pei Yujiang noticed there was no mess this must have been Yu Zhiwan’s first time cooking here, likely having familiarized herself with the kitchen beforehand.

Yu Zhiwan’s cooking skills weren’t particularly refined, and her hesitant handling of the tomato suggested she wasn’t used to cooking. Still, Pei Yujiang ate with relish.

The feeling of being cared for was undeniably pleasant, the sweetness on her tongue seemingly melting into a warm, comforting sensation. Pei Yujiang thanked Yu Zhiwan, and after this, her goodwill toward the female lead grew significantly.

“By the way, where will you stay after this?”

Once they had eaten their fill, Pei Yujiang thought it best to address the issue of accommodation.

She didn’t mind letting Yu Zhiwan stay temporarily, but as a mere cannon-fodder villain in this story, prolonged proximity to the female lead could be life-threatening.

Pei Yujiang had no intention of risking her life out of kindness, especially since the female lead’s darkening tendencies fluctuated unpredictably.

She believed her question was timely surely Yu Zhiwan wouldn’t want to stay with her either, and this was just a temporary arrangement. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Yu Zhiwan’s expression shift slightly.

The Omega bit her lip nervously, as if unsure how to respond. After a moment of hesitation, she met Pei Yujiang’s gaze and uttered an apology.

“It’s a bit late today. I’ll leave tomorrow.”

Her lowered lashes trembled faintly, and even someone as socially oblivious as Pei Yujiang could tell she had misunderstood. Hurriedly, she clarified:

“No, I didn’t mean to make you leave.”

The moment she spoke, Pei Yujiang regretted it again.

She didn’t mean it that way at all, how did the conversation take such a wrong turn!

Fortunately, Yu Zhiwan’s “darkening” value didn’t randomly spike because of this. Pei Yujiang didn’t dare casually suggest finding her a place to stay anymore and could only cautiously ask:

“Did you break up with Liu Huanran?”

She didn’t know how to describe the relationship between Liu Huanran and Yu Zhiwan, so she could only use the term “break up,” unsure if it was appropriate.

From what she understood, the two probably weren’t officially dating. As for Liu Huanran’s claim that “she had already marked Yu Zhiwan,” it was most likely just to disgust Yu Zhiwan and obstruct her.

In the eyes of some Alphas, an Omega who had been marked by someone else was considered “tainted.” If Pei Yujiang were the kind of Alpha Liu Huanran imagined and had improper intentions toward Yu Zhiwan, she would definitely hesitate or even give up.

But first, Pei Yujiang wasn’t an Alpha and had no improper thoughts about Yu Zhiwan. Second, even if she were still an Alpha, she would never treat Omegas like commodities.

The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.

Yu Zhiwan seemed to be organizing her thoughts, so Pei Yujiang waited patiently. After a few minutes, Yu Zhiwan finally spoke.

She said, “I never expected her to turn out like this in the beginning.”

Liu Huanran had indeed been a decent person at first.

Her decency showed in every aspect, she had a respectable job, though not highly paid, it was stable.

She was a woman who spoke coherently and logically, and her temper initially seemed fine. Most importantly, her family background was unremarkable, making her easy to control. That was why Yu Zhiwan had chosen her as her contracted partner.

The relentless pursuit from those people had become unbearable. Ever since escaping that place, they had haunted her like shadows, refusing to relent until they saw her living an ordinary life.

Choosing someone easy to control as a wife was a last resort. Yu Zhiwan had no intention of binding herself with marriage, so she opted for this contractual arrangement. At least on the surface, she would appear as an Omega about to be married, which might make those persistent pursuers lower their guard.

Liu Huanran’s initial behavior had been quite good caring but not overly so, polite and respectful. The two interacted like ordinary friends, with no inappropriate contact in private.

But gradually, as the other woman’s ambitions grew, their relationship began to sour.

After sensing Yu Zhiwan’s unusual identity, Liu Huanran started testing her in various ways, thinking Yu Zhiwan was unaware. Taking advantage of her blindness, she assumed Yu Zhiwan was also mentally slow.

A few times, Yu Zhiwan subtly deflected Liu Huanran’s probing. Realizing Yu Zhiwan was hiding something, Liu Huanran began treating her like some rare treasure to be exploited, dreaming of living off her wealth.

Yu Zhiwan was growing increasingly irritated by Liu Huanran’s delusions. Though they maintained a facade in public, Yu Zhiwan remained distant, while Liu Huanran grew bolder, bragging to everyone about having such a beautiful girlfriend.

But she also knew that Liu Huanran wasn’t exactly clean in her dealings outside, though it wasn’t her concern. She usually turned a blind eye as long as it didn’t become public and affect her reputation.

However, Liu Huanran’s ambitions grew increasingly bold. There were even moments when she could sense Liu’s intent to act against her, though Liu restrained herself at the last second.

Yu Zhiwan’s recent declaration about moving out had actually been foreshadowed for a while, but Liu Huanran hadn’t picked up on it, dismissing her earlier talk of separation as mere anger.

This woman misunderstood their employer-employee relationship, convinced that Yu Zhiwan genuinely wanted to turn their act into reality. Overconfident, she laid out her conditions, only to lose control when Yu Zhiwan tried to leave attempting to forcibly mark her.

Yu Zhiwan always suppressed her heat cycles with early injections, allowing her to endure them safely. But after living under the same roof for so long, even in separate rooms, subtle signs were hard to miss.

This time, with her heat approaching, Liu Huanran sought an opportunity to sneak into her room and hide her suppressants.

But Yu Zhiwan never let herself be taken advantage of, nor would she allow anyone to force her into anything against her will.

She alone had the key to her room, and she had even installed an additional lock. For Liu Huanran to think she could mark her this way was pure delusion.

When caught, the woman tearfully claimed it was just a joke, apologizing and trying to win her sympathy.

Yu Zhiwan still remembered how Liu Huanran had sobbed herself hoarse, insisting she only wanted Yu Zhiwan to understand her importance, really just another ploy to keep her from leaving.

The woman’s hands had clung desperately to her arms, and only after Yu Zhiwan’s expression turned icy did Liu Huanran reluctantly let go, still clinging in a pathetic, sticky manner.

Liu Huanran’s repeated provocations had pushed Yu Zhiwan past her limit. This time, she refused to back down. After returning to her room, she packed a few essentials though she left without her suitcase.

Her fair skin bore red marks she had rubbed into it herself, mysterious, suggestive, easily painting the picture of an Omega being mistreated.

Of course, she wouldn’t explain any of this to Pei Yujiang. Instead, her words came out pitifully:

“She went too far, always trying to take advantage of me. I couldn’t take it anymore. And if I reported her, it’d just be dismissed as a lovers’ quarrel. She’s smart, she knows exactly how far to push each time.”

Pei Yujiang nearly sighed aloud.

Yu Zhiwan was beautiful, an Omega even if she wanted a partner or a family, she’d be highly sought after in the marriage market.

She said, “There are plenty of decent Alphas, good jobs, capable, well-educated…”

“But I’ve realized something,” Yu Zhiwan cut in sharply, her tone resolute. “Too many Alphas are greedy hypocrites, thinking with their lower halves, all wolves in sheep’s clothing. I’d rather have nothing than settle. I won’t hand my future over to someone else.”

Pei Yujiang, who had once been an Alpha, was well aware of this point. She believed she understood Alphas better than Yu Zhiwan did. It wasn’t that all Alphas were bad, but many were indeed more impulsive when it came to desires. Yu Zhiwan was still young there was absolutely no need to rush into marriage.

Though she knew Yu Zhiwan couldn’t hear her, Pei Yujiang still looked at her with an encouraging gaze and praised:

“Exactly! You should focus on building your career first. Alphas like Liu Huanran, who only have the title of an Alpha and use their physical advantage to bully others, aren’t worthy of you.”

The moment she finished speaking, the system issued three consecutive warnings in Pei Yujiang’s mind.

But Pei Yujiang didn’t think she had said anything wrong, nor did she believe she had violated the mission rules.

She was the vicious cannon fodder, the stumbling block on the protagonist’s path to love wasn’t it perfectly normal to badmouth the male lead in front of the female lead?

If the female lead decided to break things off completely with the male lead because of her words, with no chance of reconciliation, then their love couldn’t have been as unbreakable as the novel had portrayed.

In reality, could Yu Zhiwan really achieve a happy ending with someone like Liu Huanran? The more Pei Yujiang interacted with her, the more she felt this deserved a question mark.

Yu Zhiwan wasn’t the kind of Omega who lacked independent thought, only dreaming of marriage and children.

She was kind and gentle, but she also had a temper.

The system had no idea what Pei Yujiang was thinking. After its warnings proved ineffective, it simply shut down. Rather than continuing to argue and humiliate itself, it was better to log off and take a break.

With that thought, System 711 gave up and temporarily went offline. Pei Yujiang didn’t pay it any mind, because Yu Zhiwan said she was tired and planned to take a shower before going to bed.

The reminder made Pei Yujiang feel drowsy as well.

She had been running around in the rainy night, arguing with those people, making phone calls until her throat was hoarse, and had only managed to sleep for about two hours and that was just a quick nap in the car.

Later, Pei Yujiang didn’t plan to just stay at home waiting for the rain to stop. The efficiency of Yicheng’s officials was downright pathetic. She had already contacted Yue Rong’s PR department, putting them on standby.

According to the novel’s records, the flood had arrived suddenly. If the flood control office still hadn’t raised its guard by the time signs appeared, she would use Yue Rong’s name to sponsor them in advance and promote it online. That way, it would look like corporate publicity rather than “spreading rumors,” so they wouldn’t arrest her for it.

Pei Yujiang had everything planned out all she needed was the right opportunity. But when she lay down in bed, she couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.

She caught a faint, elegant scent of roses and raspberries.

It was Yu Zhiwan’s pheromones.

Betas were insensitive to pheromones, but not completely unable to detect them. Generally, they could only catch a whiff when pheromones were heavily diffused. But Pei Yujiang had noticed before that she seemed different from other Betas, she could smell pheromones, though they didn’t affect her like an aphrodisiac, igniting her with just a trace.

The Omega’s fragrance drifted faintly from the gap beneath the bathroom door, like an invisible hand teasing her nerves, gently stirring them. If she were an Alpha, she would surely be flushed by now.

Pei Yujiang could smell it and objectively thought to herself that it was quite pleasant.

No matter what, the pheromones of a beauty were fragrant. An Omega of this caliber even the most skilled perfumer might not be able to match their natural scent.

Pei Yujiang took a deep breath, letting the Omega’s diffusing pheromones drift into her nose and mouth. Soon, her nasal passages were filled with the refreshing, intoxicating aroma.

She loved the scent of roses, because back when she was still an Alpha, her pheromones were that of blazing roses. At full bloom, it was like a thorny rose blossoming amidst raging flames, with branches and petals crackling as they burned. The pheromones were intensely aggressive, typically only used on the battlefield.

When she unleashed her pheromones at full strength, enemy Alphas on the front lines would suffer terribly. As an SSS-class rare Alpha, few could rival her pheromones. Even those zombie beasts would lose their way amidst the overwhelming fragrance of roses.

Those pheromones were different from Yu Zhiwan’s scent. Yu Zhiwan’s rose fragrance carried a hint of sweetness from raspberries, reminiscent of the popular desserts of this era that combined floral and fruity notes for a refreshing taste.

Pei Yujiang was immersed in the Omega’s delightful pheromones when suddenly the bathroom door opened, letting out wisps of steam.

Yu Zhiwan’s clear voice, muffled by the humidity, rang out from the bathroom:

“I forgot to bring a towel. Could you pass me one and leave it by the door, Xiao Yu?”

Ever since Pei Yujiang’s identity was revealed, Yu Zhiwan had changed her nickname for her from “Xiao Yu” (little fish) to “Xiao Yu” (little feather), without showing the disgust or aversion Pei had feared.
Pei Yujiang let out an “Ah,” paused for a moment, then said, “Okay.”

Yu Zhiwan used her wheelchair in the shower it was multifunctional and waterproof, allowing her to enter the bathroom. However, after showering, she needed to dry the wheels with a towel to avoid dirtying the floor outside.

Pei Yujiang hurried out to fetch one for her.

By the time she knocked on the bathroom door again, Yu Zhiwan was already dressed.

When Pei Yujiang had bought clothes for her, she had guessed the sizes and thoughtfully included underwear, though all were standard sizes. She had even held them up to herself for comparison, but they still turned out slightly loose on Yu Zhiwan’s slender frame.

The skin exposed on Yu Zhiwan’s body was pale, with collarbones slightly indented not the exaggerated “fish-keeping” kind of thinness. Her hair, still wet, cascaded messily down her back, and her cheeks were flushed a deep red.

Not just her cheeks from her face down to her neck, and even further below, her fair skin was tinged with pink everywhere. Yu Zhiwan’s lips were moist and crimson, as if she had just bitten them, leaving faint tooth marks that made one want to deepen them.

Despite being fully dressed, there was an inexplicable aura of pure allure about her, radiating naturally from within rather than being a deliberate affectation.

Pei Yujiang had taken physiology classes, and with Yu Zhiwan’s scent so strong, she quickly realized:

“Are you?”

“Xiao Yu, I want to sleep with you tonight. Is that okay?”

Yu Zhiwan cut her off, nearly making Pei Yujiang choke.

Her ears grew slightly warm with embarrassment, though of course she knew Yu Zhiwan wasn’t making any indecent advances, she simply wanted to share a bed with a close friend, just like how Pei had once lain in tents with her fellow female Alpha comrades, talking heart-to-heart.

But she used to be an Alpha. Now, even though she’s a Beta, she still feels awkward sharing a bed with an Omega especially someone like Yu Zhiwan.

Even if Betas can’t mark Omegas, it still feels inappropriate…

“Do you dislike me?”

Before Pei Yujiang could voice her refusal, Yu Zhiwan seemed to have already sensed her hesitation through the silence.

Pei Yujiang tensed up immediately: “No, I don’t, how could I?”

Yu Zhiwan asked, “Then are you straight?”

Pei Yujiang nodded in response.

“If you’re straight, and I’m an Omega who’s only interested in Alphas and you’re not an Alpha then what’s the problem?” Yu Zhiwan’s voice slowed, her fingers twisting the loose cotton nightgown into messy wrinkles. Her tone turned wistful. “My heat is coming soon… If you can’t even stay with me, hold me for one night, what kind of friend are you?”

She pushed the bathroom door wide open, eyes closed, slender fingers interlaced as she stretched them forward.

“Pei Yujiang, are you coming or not?”

Yu Zhiwan: Pretends to be pitiful, fragile, and sensitive but is actually a true pervert (not really).

Note: Yicheng is a fictional city, not part of Earth. Its climate, local customs, and laws shouldn’t be compared to reality, everything serves the plot.

Some time later, after they got together:

Yu Zhiwan: That first time you agreed to sleep with me was it because you were already captivated by my beauty, moved by my gentleness?

Pei Pei Yujiang: No, I was genuinely afraid you’d turn dark.

Yu Zhiwan: .

Support Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine