Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 30

Half an hour later, the two sat in the restaurant. Pei Yujiang held a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup, sipping it slowly, too embarrassed to look up at Yu Zhiwan.

Originally, she had thought that Yu Zhiwan’s birthday had been a mess almost spent past midnight at the police station, missing out on barbecue and nearly getting bitten by a dog. If even the longevity noodles had to be simple, it would have been a real letdown.

Looking at the ingredients in the fridge, Pei Yujiang decided to make fried eggs and ham, then chop up some vegetables to stir-fry together nutritious and tasty. They could sleep in the next day and go out for something else.

But her cooking skills turned out to be far worse than she’d imagined. Though her brain had memorized the steps, her hands fumbled in the kitchen.

By the time Yu Zhiwan caught the smell of something burning and rushed over, Pei Yujiang was frantically turning down the heat. She remembered watching chefs cook before high flames, sizzling oil, tossing the wok, sprinkling seasonings dishes ready in no time. She had no idea how she’d ended up like this.

The kitchen was thick with smoke and heat. Even though Yu Zhiwan couldn’t see, she knew something was wrong and quickly told Pei Yujiang to turn on the exhaust fan.

Yu Zhiwan could cook, but she was slow. Unless she was in a familiar environment, she needed time to get used to a new kitchen carefully memorizing where everything was before daring to turn on the stove. Otherwise, accidents could happen.

So in the end, the meal was still made by Pei Yujiang.

Under Yu Zhiwan’s guidance, Pei Yujiang turned down the heat. The stir-fried vegetables were a disaster chopped haphazardly, edges curled and charred, looking nothing like their fresh state. It was as if they’d been wilting for ages.

Pei Yujiang was relieved she hadn’t served this to Yu Zhiwan. The presentation was awful, and even though Yu Zhiwan was blind, it would’ve been embarrassing.

In the end, they settled for simple egg noodles with a bit of salt and vinegar. Pei Yujiang didn’t even bother chopping scallions, she had fully accepted that she wasn’t cut out for kitchen heroics. Being able to eat something passable was already a win.

The next day, Pei Yujiang slept in unusually late, waking only when the sun was high. To treat herself and Yu Zhiwan, who had been startled by her kitchen mishap the night before she browsed a food app after washing up, settling on a highly-rated buffet restaurant.

The buffet served fusion cuisine with Ningxiang’s local specialties, boasting a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 rating. The food from last night had long since been digested, so Pei Yujiang planned to do a quick workout first. By the time Yu Zhiwan was ready, they could head out for lunch.

Even in this era, Pei Yujiang kept her old habits exercising in the morning and before bed. Her morning routine usually involved stretching. Since the homestay had no equipment, she could only do bodyweight exercises.

Ningxiang was a gentle city, its mountains and waters soft. After a night of snow, the yard remained wet but not piled with snow. Pei Yujiang had covered the front yard’s plants when they first arrived, and the enclosed back balcony needed no protection.

The homestay had a clean yoga mat, which Pei Yujiang laid out in the living room for stretching. Just as she was about to start, she heard the sound of Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair rolling across the floor.

“Are you working out?” Yu Zhiwan asked. “Can I join you?”

Yu Zhiwan had already finished her morning routine, her soft brown-black long hair tied up with an elastic band and pinned into a playful bun. A silver-white hair clip adorned the side, with a few loose strands cascading down it was the first time Pei Yujiang had seen her with such a lively hairstyle.

The woman had almond-shaped eyes and a delicate nose, her features refined without being overly pronounced. The only drawback was her thick bangs if they were trimmed more neatly, she would look even fresher.

Pei Yujiang had just finished warming up. “What do you want to work on?”

Yu Zhiwan thought for a moment. “Core strength.”

The core, centered around the waist and abdomen, is crucial for stability, but finding the right engagement point for abdominal muscles is tricky it’s easy to compensate with other muscles. For someone with leg disabilities, rehabilitation inevitably relies on core strength. It seemed Yu Zhiwan had been sincere about wanting to rebuild her strength.

Pei Yujiang didn’t mind having someone join her workout. In fact, this was her first time guiding a disabled person through rehabilitation exercises, leaving her both nervous and a little excited. She immediately kicked the yoga mat aside.

When booking this homestay, she had specifically chosen it for its disability-friendly equipment. Adjustable handrails lined both sides of the living room. After testing their sturdiness, Pei Yujiang gestured for Yu Zhiwan to grip the front bar while she guided her from the side.

“Take a deep breath, then engage your core. Feel the tension in your abdomen, and use it to lift your body…”

Though blind, Yu Zhiwan had grown up in an exceptional family and was quick to grasp Pei Yujiang’s instructions. With Pei Yujiang acting as her “coach,” she didn’t have to worry about falling.

But she was still an Omega, and not someone who exercised regularly. Before long, exhaustion set in. The one-minute rest intervals between sets weren’t enough for an untrained body her stamina hadn’t fully recovered.

Yu Zhiwan panted heavily, sweat beading on her forehead and trickling down her temples. Her fair skin flushed with exertion, faint veins visible along her neck as she strained.

Her back was damp with sweat. Though the room’s heater was on, she hadn’t dressed heavily just a cotton undershirt yet now she felt unbearably hot, tempted to peel off the outer layer.

Naturally stubborn, she refused to give up. Under Pei Yujiang’s guidance, she could feel her core activating, driving her to push further. Rolling up her sleeves, she tensed her forearms. Seeing this, Pei Yujiang placed a hand lightly against her back, supporting her spine to prevent injury.

Standing so close, Pei Yujiang caught the Omega’s natural scent her favorite blend of rose and raspberry. Now, the rose fragrance was intense, as if steeped in boiling water, its petals unfurling, the aroma intoxicating.

Enveloped in the heady floral notes, Pei Yujiang asked from behind her, “Still got energy left?”

Yu Zhiwan felt nearly spent and was about to say “no,” but then it occurred to her Pei Yujiang hadn’t worked out yet, having stayed by her side the whole time. If she admitted exhaustion, would Pei Yujiang leave to exercise alone?

At the last second, she hesitated and instead asked,

“Do you take off your jacket when you work out?”

Pei Yujiang: “Huh?”

That morning, she was just doing some stretching exercises, so of course, she didn’t need to take off her jacket. However, Pei Yujiang was used to wearing less when working out because she tended to sweat. Today, since they were in an air-conditioned room, she only wore a tank top.

Yu Zhiwan seemed a little embarrassed but hesitated only briefly before making up her mind:

“Do you have abs? Can I touch them? It’d be great motivation for my workouts!”

Abs weren’t exclusive to men women who exercised regularly could have them too. They weren’t the exaggerated eight-pack kind but rather well-defined, sleek lines that looked lean in clothes and striking without. When tensed, they’d feel firm, and with enough training, one could even develop a visible “V-line.” It all took serious dedication.

Alphas were more likely to have abs, Betas less so, and Omegas’ physiques weren’t as suited for intense training.

Pei Yujiang had heard people express curiosity about her abs more than once, but her answer was always the same:

“No.”

She wasn’t in the habit of letting people touch her casually not even other women. Besides, she was ticklish.

Since she refused, Yu Zhiwan didn’t push or pester her. She simply let go of the equipment and went to rest nearby. By the time Pei Yujiang finished her set of stretches, took a short break, and changed clothes in her room, Yu Zhiwan was already ready, waiting for her in the living room.

Pei Yujiang was almost at the door when she suddenly remembered something and dashed back to her room, rummaging through her bag until she pulled out a tube of lipstick.

It was a gift from Yu Zhiwan.

Pei Yujiang had never bothered with makeup before, always going bare-faced with just her natural, youthful glow to rely on.

Luckily, her skin was naturally radiant, so she looked fine without it.

Today, on a whim, she decided to apply lipstick for the first time. The same hands that could wield a heavy sword with perfect steadiness turned out to be disastrous at applying lipstick.

It wasn’t that her hands were shaking, she just applied it too thickly, making it look awkward. Pei Yujiang vaguely recalled that some people drew two lines on their lips, but she couldn’t remember exactly how. After several failed attempts, she still couldn’t get it right.

Yu Zhiwan waited patiently in the living room without rushing her, but Pei Yujiang didn’t want to take too long. She also didn’t want to admit she didn’t know how to do it and ask Yu Zhiwan, a blind woman, to help her.

So she poked her head out and called:

“Zhiwan, wait a sec!”

Pei Yujiang quickly shut the bathroom door and opened a shopping app to search for lipstick tutorials. She remembered that product pages often had models demonstrating application techniques.

Since arriving in this world, she hadn’t shopped online herself, all the browsing and purchase history belonged to the original owner. Though future technology was advanced, it had been useless in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. This was Pei Yujiang’s first real experience with the power of big data.

But the internet’s algorithm didn’t show her makeup tutorials first. Instead, the top results were all kinds of lipstick-shaped… adult toys.

Actual adult toys.

Several minutes had passed since she closed the door when Yu Zhiwan’s clear voice rang out not impatient, just casually asking:

“Ready yet?”

She was probably getting hungry too, as the sound of her wheelchair rolling closer followed.

Even though she knew Yu Zhiwan couldn’t see, a wave of embarrassment overwhelmed Pei Yujiang, making her frantically switch pages and tap to exit.

Pei Yujiang decided to give up struggling. She casually pulled out a tissue and dabbed at her lips, wiping away the smudged lipstick. Raising her voice slightly, she tried her best to appear normal:

“I’m ready!”

The colleague who was on a business trip near Ningxiang had moved up their schedule and would arrive tonight. They weren’t staying together but at a company-booked hotel. However, formal work would begin this evening, so Pei Yujiang didn’t mind her alone time coming to an end, she just wanted to celebrate Yu Zhiwan’s birthday properly.

The high rating of this buffet restaurant wasn’t fabricated. The decor alone was pleasing, two servers dressed in ancient-style costumes stood before the red-lacquered wooden doors. After receiving their ticket, one of them greeted them softly and guided them inside.

The lighting in the restaurant was dim, with soft instrumental music playing in the background. Everyone moved quietly no noisy children or shirtless men loudly drinking and talking.

Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan were led to a small pavilion on the water, shielded by bamboo curtains. The elegant setting was flanked by decorative boats, with fallen petals drifting slowly along the current.

The server had noticed Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair earlier and was about to take a detour to guide her across a bridge when Pei Yujiang effortlessly leaned forward and lifted both Yu Zhiwan and her wheelchair. Yu Zhiwan didn’t seem the least bit startled, as if this was completely normal.

The path Pei Yujiang took was lined with stone steps. Though she couldn’t see them while carrying Yu Zhiwan, she navigated by feel without missing a step, quickly reaching the pavilion. She pushed aside a stone stool and set Yu Zhiwan down across from her.

Though it was a buffet, ordering was done via iPad. After receiving the device, Pei Yujiang signaled for the server to leave temporarily. She dragged a stone stool over to sit beside Yu Zhiwan, reading out each dish name one by one complete with descriptions and asking what she’d like to eat.

The server, Xiaoya, who attended to them, was utterly envious.

She was a lesbian, a Beta and had always dreamed of finding her ideal butch partner like Pei Yujiang. Though a gaydar wasn’t always accurate, anyone could tell from their intimate interactions that these two were deeply in love.

Since it was still early, the restaurant wasn’t too crowded. After placing their order and seeing her boss wasn’t around, Xiaoya seized the chance to slack off and gossip with her friend:

“Remember those two stunning women who came in earlier? The one with blue eyes tall, cool, and domineering!”

Her friend teased, “Oh? Found your dream butch? Planning to steal her away?”

Xiaoya playfully swatted her. “Shut up!”

She couldn’t find a single flaw in Pei Yujiang her figure, height, or face. Despite the chilly late-November weather in Ningxiang, Pei Yujiang wasn’t bundled up. Her slender waist and long legs were perfectly proportioned, and the knee-high boots only accentuated her commanding presence.

As for the woman with her though disabled, her looks were striking, especially those almond-shaped eyes with their delicate creases and refined features. The two women seemed made for each other. Xiaoya couldn’t even entertain the slightest inappropriate thought they were just that perfect together!

“Plus, I just heard the sister in the wheelchair call her ‘Fish-chan’ her voice was so sweet! That must be a nickname. I wanted to guide the wheelchair sister around, but that Fish-chan just picked her up, wheelchair and all. Girlfriend energy max! Most Alphas probably couldn’t even do that wheelchairs are heavy. And that stone bench? Last time, we had to ask Brother Xiao Wu to move it, but she lifted it easily!”

Xiao Ya’s voice grew louder and faster as she got excited.

She and her friend were waiting near the kitchen window for a new teapot, their chatter drifting intermittently to nearby ears.

Chen Lulu had long stopped eating, holding her breath to listen. If she had ears on her head, they’d be perked up right now.

Chen Lulu was filming in Ningxiang, sitting across from her industry friend Fang Nianjing. Fang waved a hand in front of Chen’s face, her deep, magnetic voice murmuring:

“Zoned out?”

“Stop poking my face with chopsticks!”

Chen Lulu was the Omega who had once contemplated ending her life atop the White Tower of Yi Lake Park, only to be saved by Pei Yujiang. After that, encouraged by Pei, she reported the slander to the police, bringing her tormentors to justice.

Though defamation cases rarely resulted in long sentences, as a public figure, Chen was destined to endure endless scrutiny. Still, her mindset had improved drastically since then.

After recovering, she threw herself into her next project. She hadn’t seen her savior Pei Yujiang since parting in Yi City until now, unexpectedly running into her while filming in Ningxiang.

If “Fish-chan” wasn’t an online alias, Chen suspected the waitress had misheard. “Yujiang” was an uncommon name.

Moreover, based on the waitress’s description, she was certain it was Pei.

Chen’s heart swelled with joy and sorrow. She gripped her cup so tightly her knuckles whitened, betraying her turbulent emotions.

She wasn’t socially anxious or particularly shy, as an Omega, she pursued what she liked. But hearing Pei already had someone special made her heart twist painfully, as if yanked by an invisible string.

Yet if she didn’t go see for herself now, letting this chance slip by when they were so close, she knew she’d regret it.

After much deliberation, Chen put on a mask and stood, feigning aimlessness as she wandered inward.

She’d barely taken a few steps when she collided with Pei Yujiang, who was fetching snacks.

This buffet-style restaurant mostly served dishes to tables, with only light fare like desserts and drinks available for self-service. Pei had gone to grab snacks for Yu Zhiwan when she bumped into someone vaguely familiar.

Pei wasn’t great with faces mildly face-blind and had only met Chen once. Though Chen was a celebrity occasionally seen on TV, Pei didn’t follow stars and mostly browsed news online. She merely found Chen somewhat recognizable.

It wasn’t until Chen excitedly called out that Pei placed her.

“Zhang… Lulu?” She’d nearly forgotten the girl’s name.

Chen Lulu corrected with good temper: “My surname is Chen.”

To be fair, Chen Lulu could be considered a beauty. After all, those who gain fame in the entertainment industry usually aren’t too bad-looking at least not the kind of forgettable faces that blend into the crowd.

Chen Lulu had a sweet appearance and an equally sweet demeanor, her pheromones likely milk-related. Although Omegas wear suppressant patches when going out, they still carry a natural scent. Chen Lulu’s was milky, but light and fresh rather than heavy, reminiscent of a certain brand of baby powder.

Pei Yujiang maintained her usual habit of keeping a proper distance from Omegas. Noticing this, Chen Lulu didn’t get too close either, instead politely exchanging a few pleasantries while following behind her to fetch something.

“Teacher Pei,” Chen Lulu chose an appropriate form of address, hesitating before shyly asking, “Are you here in Ningxiang with your girlfriend? I’m filming here, you know.”

The words “girlfriend” came out painfully, almost squeezed through gritted teeth.

But Pei Yujiang clearly didn’t notice the little turmoil in Chen Lulu’s heart. Her focus was first on the mango pomelo sago in the fridge, and second on correcting Chen Lulu’s mistaken assumption:

“I’m single. No girlfriend.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Chen Lulu bumped into her.

Despite years in the entertainment industry, Chen Lulu remained an open book, unable to hide her emotions hence why she was often criticized online. The Omega clapped a hand over her mouth, desperately trying to suppress her delight before shyly confirming:

“Teacher Pei is single?”

“I’m here on a business trip with my subordinate, sourcing materials in Ningxiang.”

Pei Yujiang knew that, officially, she and Yu Zhiwan were strictly superior and subordinate. Even if they got along well privately, blurring those lines in public wasn’t appropriate.

She was telling the truth, unaware that Chen Lulu’s heart was blooming with joy, her emotions soaring like a rollercoaster before safely settling.

Chen Lulu kept her expression neutral, using all her acting skills to play it cool. She also grabbed a cup of the mango pomelo sago Pei Yujiang liked, deciding to try it later.

Since Chen Lulu kept asking about her, Pei Yujiang couldn’t be too cold, so she asked in return:

“What kind of film are you shooting?”

Naturally talkative, Chen Lulu launched into an excited explanation about this rare new challenge. Known for her cute looks, she usually starred in campus romances and modern idol dramas, but this time she was attempting a disaster film, partly shot in Ningxiang.

At the mention of “disaster film,” Pei Yujiang paused, unable to resist asking more. Chen Lulu grew even more animated, chatting all the way until they reached a small pavilion.

Yu Zhiwan, sitting in her wheelchair sipping Ningxiang’s signature scented tea, suddenly heard the sweet voice of an Omega, the faint milky scent drifting into her nose, accompanied by cheerful laughter.

Chen Lulu looked up at Pei Yujiang, her expression coy and bashful:

“Disaster films are really scary, and the makeup isn’t great either. Are you sure you want to visit the set?”

She didn’t expect that after just a few words, Pei Yujiang would show such great interest, even mentioning she wanted to visit the site in person. Chen Lulu was a serious actress who didn’t put on personas, so naturally she didn’t need to avoid suspicion, her excitement evident in her rising tone.

Before Pei Yujiang could respond, she suddenly heard Yu Zhiwan’s calm voice.

“Your lipstick is smudged.”

Pei Yujiang instinctively touched the corner of her lips. She had eaten something earlier without paying attention to her lipstick, but knew smudged lipstick would look terrible.

Yu Zhiwan crooked her finger at her, rummaged through her bag, and pulled out a lipstick in the same shade. With a voice even sweeter and more delicate than Chen Lulu’s, she smiled gently at Pei Yujiang:

“Come here, let me help you touch up your makeup.”

Yu Zhiwan: Hmph. (Sweet smile on the surface, but a knife in her heart)

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