Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 38

Pei Yujiang found everything about that Boss Ji irritating.

But that didn’t stop Yu Zhiwan from getting along quite well with Boss Ji so well, in fact, that they even made plans to go fishing together over the weekend.

After returning from dinner that day, Pei Yujiang immediately started looking for an apartment. Hotel prices had skyrocketed during this period, often doubling or even tripling. A room that usually cost 300 yuan per night now went for 500, and the suite at their current hotel, normally priced at 700, had surged past 1,000.

Even though money wasn’t an issue for Pei Yujiang, she still found the situation ridiculous. The Investment Festival had driven up Xiangcheng’s already high housing prices, but wages remained stagnant. As a result, many migrant workers who came to the city for jobs ended up sleeping under bridges or in subway stations.

The mayor of Xiangcheng was swamped dealing with the fallout. The first measure taken was to regulate standard housing prices though hotels, being commercial enterprises subject to seasonal fluctuations, were exempt. Seizing the opportunity, Pei Yujiang began searching for a suitable place to live.

She still wanted to be neighbors with Yu Zhiwan.

At the same time, Pei Yujiang was reminded once again of the importance of financial independence.

In her past life, she had never worried about money only survival. Now, she had transmigrated into the body of a wealthy heiress, with food, clothing, and a formidable mother who could afford to let her live a life of leisure forever. But Pei Yujiang had no intention of being a freeloader.

She soon brought up her plans with Pei Jinhuai.

Since Pei Yujiang had joined Yuerong, Pei Jinhuai’s attitude toward her had shifted. Before, she had been impossible to control, so Pei Jinhuai had simply let her do as she pleased. But now that her daughter showed signs of ambition, Pei Jinhuai though not one to push her child to extremes naturally hoped she would strive for greater heights.

Pei Yujiang didn’t make empty promises. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea; she had thought it through carefully and prepared a formal proposal for Pei Jinhuai.

As part of the planning department, she had learned a great deal from Zhao Manlin and another senior colleague. Her proposal laid out a clear roadmap: her goals, the steps needed to achieve them, the resources required at each stage, and a thorough analysis of potential risks and benefits.

Writing reports had always been one of her strengths. The original host had casually majored in financial journalism, so Pei Jinhuai didn’t suspect anything, she simply assumed her daughter had rediscovered her talents after deciding to turn over a new leaf. The thought delighted her.

“Yujiang,” Pei Jinhuai said after a few days of consideration, calling her via video chat, “I’ve spent years in a daze, being too lenient and sentimental with the old guard. They were the backbone that helped me build this empire, but even the most loyal can make mistakes. Anyone who fails to keep up with the times must accept the possibility of being phased out you’re right about that.”

“If the planning department isn’t the best fit for you, I’ve already been considering restructuring the marketing team. I’ll hand it over to a trusted senior employee, and you can work under her with full autonomy. I’ll make sure she doesn’t micromanage you.”

“It’s good for young people to have their own ambitions. Back when I started, I had to grit my teeth and push forward alone. But you’re different you’re my daughter. I’ll support you however I can. Explore and experiment at your own pace. Even if you stumble, I’ll be here to back you up.”

Pei Jinhuai wasn’t exactly a woman weathered by hardships. She was only in her late forties, not even fifty yet, but strands of silver were already visible amidst her black hair, and the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes couldn’t be hidden when she smiled.

Pei Yujiang had seen her composure during business negotiations with subordinates, as well as her warmth within the family not just toward her, but also toward Fan Zhaozhao and Fan’s child, Jiang Wenxiu. Although Jiang Wenxiu was immature, she rarely defied Pei Jinhuai, perhaps out of genuine embarrassment or because Pei Jinhuai treated her exceptionally well.

Since transmigrating, Pei Jinhuai hadn’t asked the system about the original host. This body was actually quite similar to her previous one her reflexes, strength, hearing, and sense of smell far surpassed those of an average Beta. One could say she was gifted.

The only difference was that the scars left by war had disappeared. In her past life, Pei Yujiang would have celebrated her thirtieth birthday in just a few months still very young but the sensations of this body were different.

In other words, it was as if she had been given a version of herself born in peacetime.

Noticing Pei Yujiang’s distraction, Pei Jinhuai ended the conversation, assuming she had lost interest and was about to hang up. Unexpectedly, Pei Yujiang suddenly asked:

“Have you eaten yet?”

Pei Jinhuai froze, seemingly caught off guard by such words from her daughter.

From childhood to adulthood, Pei Jinhuai had given her daughter the best of everything within her means and had been indulgent and tolerant toward her. Yet, all she received in return were repeated acts of defiance and rebellion.

Pei Yujiang wasn’t particularly skilled at showing concern for elders, but now that she had this identity, she didn’t want to shoulder the debts the original host owed others except those owed to Pei Jinhuai, which she was willing to repay gradually.

After a moment’s thought, Pei Yujiang clumsily mimicked the gesture of raising her arms above her head to form a heart, smiling at Pei Jinhuai through the video call.

Pei Jinhuai was amused. “Aren’t you a bit old for this? I’ll hang up now, I still have some things to take care of.”

Two days later, when Pei Yujiang received the personnel change notice from the marketing department on the OA system, she also saw the legal notice posted on Pei Jinhuai’s personal blog. It accused the Zhao family’s company of tax evasion, underreporting profits, and avoiding taxes by issuing “fake salaries” to employees and engaging in fraudulent donations.

Pei Jinhuai’s account had long been inactive, and when it resurfaced, some initially thought it was a fake. But after Pei Jinhuai personally went live to report the matter under her real name, netizens always eager for drama immediately pushed the open corporate battle to the top of trending searches.

News of the Pei family’s eldest daughter being hospitalized had already spread online. Someone who had secretly photographed Pei Yujiang at the hospital seized the opportunity to release the images, and marketing accounts jumped on the bandwagon:

“Yuerong’s CEO accuses Zhaoji Group, after years of friendship, the two families tear apart over conflicts between their younger generation!”

The information had been leaked to the marketing accounts by Pei Jinhuai, of course, framing everything in Pei Yujiang’s favor. The Zhao Group retaliated in kind, flooding the internet with gossip about Pei Jinhuai and Fan Zhaozhao, dragging Pei Yujiang and Jiang Wenxiu into the mess as well, claiming the two youngsters were following in their mothers’ footsteps, indulging in promiscuity at such a young age.

The two parties were locked in a fierce dispute. Following Pei Jinhuai’s instruction to “stay out of it,” Pei Yujiang was busy with the handover work in the marketing department. Though not involved in finance, the marketing sector had its own deep waters, filled with endless trivial matters that kept her occupied for quite some time.

Pei Yujiang threw herself into her work, spending over half a month on it. In the meantime, she was also house-hunting and finally found a suitable apartment in a pleasant neighborhood with reasonable pricing.

The monthly rent was 15,000, located in the city but not the downtown area. Prices in the city center would be higher, likely over 20,000 for a decent place.

Pei Yujiang took Yu Zhiwan to see the apartment in person. It wasn’t far from the hospital where Yu needed treatment for her eyes just a 10-kilometer drive with convenient access to the highway right outside.

The apartment was fully furnished and ready to move in, but after obtaining permission, Pei Yujiang spent another week installing the necessary assistive devices for Yu Zhiwan’s disability and blindness.

The two became neighbors, living across from each other though “across” wasn’t entirely accurate, as an elevator separated their doors. To visit, one only needed to press the elevator button and walk over.

Pei Yujiang quite liked this arrangement. It made it much easier for Yu Zhiwan to come over, eliminating the need for her to escort Yu back home as before, ensuring safety on what would otherwise be a risky short walk for a blind person.

After a few more busy days, the move was finally completed on Christmas Eve. Pei Yujiang also took the opportunity to create her own self-media account, primarily a public account on the Talk app, along with accounts on other platforms.

She didn’t use the Yue Rong name but registered under “Pei Yujiang,” naming the public account “Caviar,” the English word for fish roe.

She had deleted the original owner’s social media accounts to avoid complications. Recently, Pei Jinhuai’s fallout with the Zhao Group had brought Pei Yujiang’s name into the spotlight, and with some blurry photos of her circulating, her new account quickly gained followers.

By evening, the public account had already amassed over 30,000 followers, most likely just curious onlookers.

Pei Yujiang hadn’t been out much lately, mostly holed up in the hotel handling various tasks or shuttling between Xiangcheng and Yicheng.

Christmas Eve and Christmas were national holidays in the country, totaling two days off. With Yue Rong closed and no handovers to manage, and Yu Zhiwan also free from hospital visits, Pei Yujiang invited her out to experience Xiangcheng’s Christmas Eve atmosphere.

Before heading out, Pei Yujiang prepared masks for both of them.

It wasn’t about avoiding recognition winter winds were harsh, carrying tiny ice particles that stung the face with a sharp, prickling pain.

Yu Zhiwan, being more sensitive to the cold as an Omega, bundled up thoroughly.

She wore a short, smoke-white down jacket with a fur-trimmed hood, the fluffy edges fluttering in the wind, adorned with two adorable little pom-poms. Her thick cotton pants didn’t make her legs look bulky, thanks to her slender frame.

For the festive occasion, Pei Yujiang donned a red scarf and a white hat. Less bothered by the cold, her coat featured subtle dark green tassels that blended in seamlessly.

Their outfits today looked quite harmonious. Pei Yujiang noticed it was snowing outside and wore thick boots, thinking it was a shame Yu Zhiwan couldn’t see it, otherwise she could have built her a snowman.

Xiangcheng was much more prosperous than Yicheng. Pei Yujiang hadn’t gone out much before, but now she was experiencing the charm of a big city.

Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and streamers. Even though they weren’t in the city center but at a shopping street nearby, the place was bustling with activity. Many children were running around, some without their parents holding their hands. One nearly bumped into Yu Zhiwan, and Pei Yujiang, who had no patience for unruly kids, immediately scolded the child to stop.

The brat stopped and stuck out his tongue at them.

Pei Yujiang: “…”

She glared at the child fiercely. But unlike Jiang Wenxiu, who was seventeen or eighteen and could be dealt with physically if provoked, this kid was only about six or seven. One punch would probably cripple him, and she’d end up in jail.

“Get lost!” Pei Yujiang shook her fist at him.

The child’s clothes looked cheap, and after being scared by Pei Yujiang’s fierce expression, he stumbled away only to trip over a bright red fire hydrant. The hydrant was so obvious, yet the kid still managed to crash into it. Pei Yujiang glanced at him and was about to leave when she heard a young woman pushing an elderly woman call out:

“Fanfan, stop running around! Come here!”

The woman was very young, probably in her twenties, and didn’t seem like the child’s mother. She had another, slightly older girl with her much more well-behaved, clinging timidly to her sleeve as they navigated the crowd. The woman found Fanfan and gave him a light smack on the bottom.

“Stop causing trouble, or I won’t bring you out next time.”

The elderly woman being pushed in the wheelchair chuckled. “Fanfan can’t tell red from green. You can’t let him run near intersections. But really, on such a cold holiday, why are you young folks wasting time with us lonely old people instead of going out to have fun?”

The kid was colorblind?

While Pei Yujiang was still processing this, Fanfan was already dragged over by the woman to apologize. The previously mischievous boy hung his head and loudly said, “Sorry.” Neither Pei Yujiang nor Yu Zhiwan would seriously hold a grudge against a child. Pei Yujiang waved it off and was about to leave when Yu Zhiwan softly asked:

“Are you from the welfare home?”

“Yes, sorry for the trouble.”

The woman clearly didn’t want to elaborate whether for privacy or to protect the dignity of the elderly and children and quickly disappeared into the crowd with them.

Yu Zhiwan patted Pei Yujiang’s hand. “Let’s go watch the fireworks. I heard this is the only time of year Xiangcheng allows them.”

Though she couldn’t see the fireworks, she could listen to them. The blind experienced the world through smell, sound, and touch.

“Oh, sure.” Pei Yujiang agreed, though her thoughts were complicated.

The moment Yu Zhiwan mentioned “welfare home,” Pei Yujiang immediately thought of the one near the water plant in Xiangcheng which, incidentally, wasn’t far from here.

That welfare center was the first place where the zombie virus broke out. It housed the elderly and children, with no significant background. In previous years, it had been funded by donors, but now it relied on public funds. However, Xiangcheng was so large that not every welfare center could receive adequate attention, and that particular one was among the neglected.

The streets were bustling with people, food stalls steaming with rich, mouthwatering aromas. The scents were thick in the air. Pei Yujiang bought a portion of takoyaki to share with Yu Zhiwan, drizzled with caviar. Whether it was because they were hungry or not, the flavor was exceptionally delicious.

As Pei Yujiang went to throw away the trash, the fireworks were about to begin. Crowds rushed toward the best viewing spots. She crouched to pick up an empty plastic water bottle from the ground and tossed it into the bin, her red scarf trailing down only for someone to accidentally step on it.

A pitch-black footprint immediately smudged the corner of the scarf.

The person startled, hastily apologizing:

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t notice it there, how much does it cost? I’ll buy you a new one.”

“It’s fine,” Pei Yujiang waved it off. It was dirty, not ruined, and the person hadn’t done it on purpose. “The fireworks are about to start. Go enjoy them.”

She casually unwrapped the scarf from her neck and walked back to Yu Zhiwan, her exposed skin immediately chilled by the biting wind. Sniffling, she led Yu Zhiwan to a good spot to watch the fireworks.

This area wasn’t crowded, but it was close enough to the launch site to hear the explosions clearly. When the fireworks ignited, the faintly acrid scent reached them not too strong or choking, just right, as Pei Yujiang had calculated.

Guobang didn’t celebrate Earth’s “Spring Festival.” Here, New Year’s Day was January 1st, and Christmas marked the transition from the old year to the new.

As they waited for the fireworks to begin, Pei Yujiang leaned down to grumble to Yu Zhiwan:

“When I was throwing out the trash earlier, I saw a water bottle lying around, so I picked it up. Then some guy stepped on my scarf. Annoying.”

The scarf was just a random online purchase, so she didn’t really care. But having someone nearby had sparked her urge to vent and share, and she couldn’t resist telling Yu Zhiwan about it.

Today was great that Ji woman wasn’t around, having apparently gone back to her hometown. It was just her and Zhiwan. Heh.

Pei Yujiang had never liked that Ji woman much, always feeling she was just another Liu Huanran.

“Oh, right.” Thinking of Liu Huanran opened the floodgates. Since the fireworks hadn’t started yet, she bent down in the crowd to whisper into Yu Zhiwan’s ear, her warm breath tickling the Omega’s sensitive skin unaware of how electrifying such warmth could be in the winter cold. “Liu Huanran resigned.”

After Pei Jinhuai resolved to revive Yuerong, she began ruthlessly restructuring keeping the competent and letting go of the underperformers. The saved wages were then used to improve benefits for the remaining employees, helping retain talent.

Liu Huanran had resigned during this period.

Actually, in the original storyline, Liu Huanran left around this time too, fearing Yuerong’s decline would drag her down. But this time, with Yuerong thriving, her departure likely meant she’d found another opportunity elsewhere.

As long as she stayed out of her life, Pei Yujiang couldn’t care less about what connections that scumbag Alpha had, she wouldn’t even spare her a glance.

Before Yu Zhiwan could respond, the fireworks display began.

The two were quickly captivated by the spectacle.

The fireworks they hadn’t seen in Ningxiang finally fulfilled their dreams in Xiangcheng. Colorful explosions painted the night sky in dazzling shapes, stitching together a brilliant tapestry of light.

The night breeze was cool, but the crowd’s cheers soared into the heavens. Fireworks weren’t rare, what was precious was celebrating the holiday with someone special, shedding burdens to cheer freely among the crowd.

Pei Yujiang was swept up in the atmosphere, shouting along with them. She even fetched a small sparkler for Yu Zhiwan to hold, letting her feel the heat of the flames up close.

Yu Zhiwan flinched at the crackling sparks, hastily handing it back.

“You play with it. I don’t dare.”

But Pei Yujiang could clearly see the eager curiosity on her face. Suppressing a laugh, she took Yu Zhiwan’s hand.

“I’ll help you. Don’t be scared.”

Before the tiny flame in their hands could burn out, cheerful music drew nearer. Pei Yujiang looked up to see a small cart approaching, the crowd parting with excited shouts.

“Would you ladies like to join our Christmas Eve performance? We can show our credentials no scams here,” an apple-cheeked girl in uniform said with a smile, flashing her ID. “It’s simple: just share a ‘peace apple’ together, and you’ll get a gift!”

A “peace apple” was just that an apple, sometimes a sweeter, crisper Red Delicious. Xiangcheng was known for its apples, and this one was large and ruby-red. Pei Yujiang leaned in to ask Yu Zhiwan, who raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of gift?”

“All sorts! You’ll draw for it later.”

The allure of the unknown sparked anticipation. Yu Zhiwan nodded, and after verifying the staff’s credentials, Pei Yujiang accepted the challenge. The apple was hung from a string for them to eat since Yu Zhiwan was in a wheelchair, Pei Yujiang had to bend down, hands braced on the armrests.

The apple-cheeked girl added, “Oh, and you’ll be blindfolded for this.”

Pei Yujiang agreed.

The apple was sizable, its juice sweet as she took a bite. Thirsty, she chewed quickly, eyes shut. But when her lips accidentally brushed against something equally soft, it was too late to pull away.

The apple’s fresh sweetness lingered on their lips as Yu Zhiwan, tilting her head to bite the other side, met her in the middle. Guided by the string, their mouths collided. Pei Yujiang felt the woman’s breath against her cheek the crumbs, the fragrance, all fading into insignificance the moment their lips touched.

This wasn’t their first kiss, but it was the first time she truly tasted her.

Pei Yujiang had only meant to sip the apple’s juice, but the sudden press of the Omega’s lips flooded her senses rose and raspberry pheromones, threads of apple sweetness from Yu Zhiwan’s mouth, all melting into hers.

So sweet.

And so soft.

The second round of fireworks happened to begin blooming at this very moment. The booming sounds seemed unable to drown out her nervous heartbeat. From her brain to her lips, Pei Yuqiang felt completely numb, yet her senses of smell and touch remained acutely sensitive, feeding her every sensation of this moment.

Several fireworks collided in the sky, leaving behind the lingering aftertaste of parted lips. The teasing cheers of the surrounding crowd, the Omega’s fair face flushing with shyness,

Pei Yuqiang had never imagined that she would kiss an Omega on the bustling, untouched streets of Xiangcheng two hundred years ago, beneath a winter night’s sky filled with cascading fireworks, amid the vast sea of blessings and playful jeers from the crowd.

At this moment, the soft sensation of lips lingered belatedly before fading from her touch, transforming into a drumstick, a gentle breeze, a muffled bell “dong”, colliding with the melodious chime announcing midnight as it struck her heart.

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