Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 39

The chimes welcoming Christmas rang out amidst the celebrations, and the dazzling fireworks display came to an end. The crowd surrounding Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan gradually dispersed, with many bold individuals approaching to leave their blessings for the couple before leaving.

Most of them said things like, “May you have a harmonious union for a hundred years,” “May you have children soon,” or “May your love last forever.” They had mistaken Pei Yujiang for an Alpha.

With her tall, striking figure and mature beauty, it was natural for people to assume she was an Alpha. She didn’t bother correcting them, but the awkwardness was overwhelming, so she simply smiled along.

The round-faced staff member, unable to refuse their enthusiasm, insisted they draw prizes twice, saying it was for “double happiness.”

Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan each drew once. Pei Yujiang won a crate of Xiangcheng apples crisp and sweet, just like the one she had eaten earlier. Yu Zhiwan, on the other hand, received a Xiangcheng cultural gift set, a high-quality collectible far from being cheaply made.

Amid the lively, bustling streets, they prepared to continue celebrating into the early hours of Christmas. But Pei Yujiang quickly pushed Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair away from the scene and returned to their neighborhood by car.

True to its reputation as a metropolis, Xiangcheng was still brightly lit and festive even past midnight. Many people lingered downstairs, setting off small sparklers for fun. Spotting Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan, one enthusiastic vendor rushed over with a bundle of sparklers, offering to sell them for just 9.9. Pei Yujiang politely declined.

Though the cold wind bit at her face, Pei Yujiang still felt her cheeks burning. The two of them barely spoke the entire way back.

As they parted in the elevator, Yu Zhiwan suddenly handed the cultural gift set to Pei Yujiang.

“Since I can’t see it anyway, you should keep it.”

When passing it over, the Omega’s soft skin brushed against her hand unexpectedly. Their fingers had touched many times before, but this time, Pei Yujiang’s heart raced uncontrollably.

“Then, then what about this? Should you keep this?”

For some reason, the word “apples” suddenly felt too intimate to say aloud, as if it held the secret of their kiss. The sight of the bright red apples on the gift box made Pei Yujiang recall that moment all over again.

Yu Zhiwan shook her head slightly.

“I prefer my apples peeled.”

With that, Pei Yujiang understood. Ever since they’d met, she had made a habit of peeling and cutting fruit for Yu Zhiwan, ensuring she wouldn’t struggle.

In truth, having lived as a blind person for so many years even conducting experiments Yu Zhiwan’s adaptability and dexterity far surpassed the average person’s.

But she happily indulged in Pei Yujiang’s care.

Her words meant she wanted to leave the apples at Pei Yujiang’s place, to enjoy them the next time she visited.

Pei Yujiang felt her heart threatening to burst from how fast it was beating. Before it could explode in her chest, she hastily bid Yu Zhiwan farewell not even managing to say, “Merry Christmas.”

Pei Yujiang fled home in a fluster, fumbling with her keys several times before managing to unlock the door. Once inside, she kicked off her shoes without bothering to turn on the heating or floor warming system, collapsing directly onto the floor.

To say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement her mind was still flooded with the lingering sensation of Yu Zhiwan’s lips.

She had never been this physically close to anyone before. She’d heard that kisses between Betas and Omegas didn’t evoke such intense reactions, only between Alphas and Omegas, where pheromones amplified the experience, creating a dual physiological and psychological response.

It was said to be an all-encompassing pleasure, both physical and mental. Pei Yujiang had only heard about it, she’d never experienced it herself.

If it had been between friends two clean, platonic girls with no romantic interest, an accidental brush of lips wouldn’t have been a big deal. At most, it would’ve been a little awkward before they laughed it off.

But even though she had no feelings for Yu Zhiwan, she was still a Beta who could detect pheromones!

Pei Yujiang had once been an Alpha, so she retained the basic ability to recognize pheromones, though she didn’t experience the instinctive, visceral reactions Alphas did, the kind that made them crave intimacy the moment they caught an Omega’s scent.

For her, sensing pheromones was more like a mental imprint, something she could describe but not act upon.

Yet when their lips had touched, the Omega’s natural fragrance her scent, the sweetness of her mouth, even the crisp freshness of the apple, had all rushed in with the press of her tongue.

Yu Zhiwan’s lips were like jelly, soft and sweet. In that accidental moment, Pei Yujiang had instinctively sucked lightly before she could pull away. The full force of the Omega’s pheromones had struck her for the first time, overwhelming her senses, surging straight to the crown of her head, drowning her in that intoxicating aroma.

For a moment, the world had spun.

But this dizziness wasn’t like the lightheadedness from blood loss there was no pain, only a tingling current of electricity crackling through her bones. It was a completely new sensation for Pei Yujiang, one she had never felt before.

Even now, her face still burned.

Turning it over in her mind, Pei Yujiang began to feel guilty, realizing she might have crossed a line. A belated unease settled in her chest had Yu Zhiwan minded?

But Yu Zhiwan seemed like the type who wouldn’t say anything even if she had.

Outside, the lights were bright, most households were still awake, savoring the transition between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with their families. The glow spilled across her apartment floor as Pei Yujiang padded barefoot into the dark kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water before settling on the edge of the sofa to sip it slowly.

The water was cold, but the heat in her chest lingered, her heartbeat still not fully calmed.

She tried to steady herself with measured breaths, but as her gaze drifted to the clock on the wall, her thoughts circled back to what had happened.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Yu Zhiwan’s pheromones.

That was normal, wasn’t it? Yu Zhiwan was likely a high-tier Omega, her pheromones exceptionally potent like a deadly poison to Alphas, impossible to resist. But as a Beta, Pei Yujiang didn’t experience desire in response to pheromones just pure appreciation.

Yes. She simply appreciated Yu Zhiwan’s scent.

At this thought, Pei Yujiang’s flushed face finally cooled down a bit, partly because she pressed her cheeks against the cup to suppress the rising emotions again.

Xiangcheng’s winters weren’t as cold as Yicheng’s. Located at the intersection of north and south, the city blended the styles of both regions, making it highly inclusive. Even in late December, the lowest temperature only dropped to around -3 or -4°C, which was nothing for Pei Yujiang, a native of Yicheng.

She had been running on ice in Yicheng since she was a child. Back then, during the apocalyptic era, temperatures were even more unstable, sometimes plummeting to -30 or -40°C in the dead of December nights, ten times colder than Xiangcheng now.

Unfazed, Pei Yujiang took a cold shower.

She had acted a little strange today, so she needed to cool off properly. After the cold shower, she did feel more relaxed her cheeks were no longer flushed, and her body returned to normal.

After haphazardly drying her hair, Pei Yujiang collapsed into bed without even turning on the heater. Her bare feet stuck out from under the covers, soaking in the night’s chill, which felt far more refreshing than an air-conditioned summer.

The price? She woke up the next morning with a burning forehead.

Having spent years in military campaigns, Pei Yujiang could diagnose minor illnesses with pinpoint accuracy. Even before checking her temperature, she knew she had a fever likely a high one, above 38°C, possibly even nearing 39°C.

After changing from an Alpha to a Beta, Pei Yujiang’s physical endurance had dipped slightly, but it was still within her tolerance. However, her overall constitution had weakened more than expected, much to her frustration.

In the past, even if she had stripped naked and sprinted through the snow, she wouldn’t have gotten such a severe fever at most, a mild one that would clear up with some medicine and a good night’s sleep.

But now, her head felt heavy and muddled, her thoughts sluggish. She barely managed to grab her phone from the nightstand to check the time, it was already past 9 a.m.

For modern young people, sleeping in until 9 wasn’t unusual. But Pei Yujiang usually exercised in the morning and was up by 7 at the latest. It was rare for her to sleep this late, and even then, she hadn’t slept well.

Last night, she had dreamed of going to war only to desert and end up on the gallows. The nightmare jolted her awake, screaming in vain about her innocence before she was beheaded and her head hung on the city walls.

To make matters worse, her throat and nose were uncomfortably dry, as if stuffed with cotton. Her voice came out weak and hoarse.

She wanted to get up, but her body felt like it was made of loose cotton. She couldn’t understand why this cold had hit her so hard.

For once, Pei Yujiang experienced the sensation of being completely drained. She lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and before she knew it, she had drifted into a fitful sleep, waking up close to noon.

After this nap, she felt slightly better this time, she hadn’t dreamed. Opening her phone, she saw a flood of messages, including a few from Yu Zhiwan sent around 9 a.m., asking her to open the door right when she had been fast asleep.

After moving into their new home, they hadn’t gotten around to exchanging keys yet, mainly because they lived right across from each other. If anything came up, a quick knock would suffice. Pei Yujiang just hadn’t anticipated the unexpected twist of falling ill.

Moreover, she had fallen ill and couldn’t even get out of bed.

After sending two messages without receiving a reply, Yu Zhiwan assumed Pei Yujiang was still asleep and said she’d head back first.

When Pei Yujiang finally saw the messages, she mustered a bit of energy, thinking she couldn’t let Yu Zhiwan see her in such a disheveled state. She forced herself up to wash her face, combed her messy hair to let it fall loosely, brushed her teeth, and freshened up. Once she was somewhat presentable, she poured herself a glass of water and placed it by the bedside before finally texting Yu Zhiwan.

[I can’t make it today. Sorry.]

Scripted murder mystery games were popular in Xiangcheng, and they had planned to play one together today. Fortunately, they hadn’t made reservations or joined a random group. At this time, finding a group was easy, most murder mystery venues were short on players and could quickly form a “team.” They had originally intended to pick a scenario on the spot and join a group then.

She didn’t explain the reason, but Yu Zhiwan wasn’t so easily fooled. She immediately called and asked what was wrong.

Pei Yujiang wanted to brush it off with a few words but didn’t know how. She stammered on the phone for a while, and Yu Zhiwan, noticing the weakness in her voice, came knocking without another word.

Pei Yujiang had no choice but to open the door.

Her mind had been foggy since morning, and she was still wearing the thin spring-and-autumn pajamas she’d slept in. Feeling warm the night before, she hadn’t bothered changing after her shower.

It only dawned on her later that Yu Zhiwan, being blind, couldn’t see her anyway. Just as she sighed in relief, the Omega suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Yu Zhiwan’s grip wasn’t strong, and it didn’t hurt, but for some reason, Pei Yujiang sensed danger. Sure enough, Yu Zhiwan’s fingers trailed up her arm, feeling the fabric of her clothes before continuing upward, even tracing along her shoulder.

To accommodate the inspection, Pei Yujiang had to bend down slightly.

She wasn’t in the habit of buttoning up her pajamas completely, and as she leaned forward, a stretch of fair skin was exposed. But since the person before her couldn’t see, she’d grown used to being less guarded around Yu Zhiwan.

“Did you sleep like this last night?”

From her voice alone, Yu Zhiwan deduced that Pei Yujiang must have caught a chill something that hadn’t happened to her, an Omega, despite being out and about. So it must have happened after returning home.

Though blind, Yu Zhiwan was sharp enough to piece things together. Pei Yujiang didn’t even consider lying and remained silent, tacitly admitting it.

In truth, she hadn’t just slept in thin pajamas, she’d also walked barefoot on the cold floor, drunk chilled water, and taken a cold shower. Such recklessness would’ve been too much for most people. But having always been in good health before, she’d been careless.

Pei Yujiang obediently braced for Yu Zhiwan’s scolding, but the woman only tapped her nails against the wheelchair’s armrest with a faintly amused tone and said:

“Serves you right.”

Pei Yujiang pouted.

“Go back to bed. Don’t get up again.”

Few people spoke to Pei Yujiang in such a commanding tone, yet when Yu Zhiwan used it, her voice remained so gentle that Pei couldn’t muster any resistance. She obediently returned to bed and pulled the covers over herself.

It dawned on her then that around Yu Zhiwan, she sometimes acted like a petulant child yet at crucial moments, she was surprisingly compliant.

She had never been this childish with anyone else. Only with Yu Zhiwan did she feel this way, even a little foolish, something Pei herself couldn’t help but notice.

Lying in bed, Pei heard the sound of Yu Zhiwan leaving. About ten minutes later, the door opened again, and the soft roll of Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair approached. As the bedroom door swung open, the aroma of ginger-infused cola soup wafted in.

Yu Zhiwan was a woman who excelled in experiments, and her cooking was no exception. Naturally skilled, her version of the soup was far superior completely devoid of any harsh ginger bite, perfectly blending the sweetness of cola with the warmth of ginger, steaming and delicious.

Pei gulped down the entire bowl in one go, then handed the empty dish back to Yu Zhiwan with a satisfied flourish. A fleeting smile crossed Yu Zhiwan’s lips before she placed the bowl back into Pei’s hands, who then set it on the bedside table.

“How did you manage to catch a cold?” Yu Zhiwan sighed, looking genuinely regretful. “We finally have a break, and I was planning to go play script murder today. Since you’re out of commission, I’ll just have to ask Boss Ji instead.”

At that, Pei, who had been lounging lazily, bolted upright like a carp leaping from water.

“You can’t go to her!”

“Why not?”

“She, she’s just like that Liu Huanran from before! She’s after your looks, wants to be with you, marry you, have kids, she’s only in it for your face, not because she actually likes you!”

Pei’s words tumbled out in a jumble, perhaps because her fever-addled brain was struggling to articulate. Just thinking about Liu Huanran made her furious.

“You really have to be careful with people like that.”

She had once been an Alpha herself, and precisely because of that, she understood the gender all too well.

Even if it was natural for Alphas to be drawn to Omegas, there should still be a gradual process. Who in their right mind would shower someone with attention right off the bat? Boss Ji couldn’t even tell what Yu Zhiwan truly wanted, she wasn’t considerate at all, just desperate to win her over.

Though Pei didn’t despise Boss Ji as much as she had Liu Huanran, she still placed her on the danger list. In short, she didn’t want to see Yu Zhiwan with her.

“But I’m an Omega. Eventually, I’ll have to find an Alpha to marry. I can’t stay single forever, can I?”

Yu Zhiwan shrugged, genuinely puzzled.

Watching her earnest expression, Pei, who had so much she wanted to say, suddenly felt a wave of melancholy wash over her.

Due to physiological differences, many Omegas are naturally maternal and have traditional values, tending to prioritize family life. Perhaps Yu Zhiwan simply believed marrying an Alpha was the natural order of things something Pei Yujiang couldn’t argue against, let alone interfere with her happiness.

But if the female lead were to leave now to pursue romance, not only would the plot have veered completely off course, what if she encountered another scumbag and ended up going mad, turning dark, and destroying the world?

In a flash of inspiration, Pei Yujiang came up with a brilliant idea.

“A woman should have some financial independence before marriage, especially with an Alpha. If all the property is in their name, any conflict could leave you completely at their mercy.”

Pei Yujiang adopted a “well-meaning” tone as she began her persuasion:

“Zhiwan, I think you’re still young there’s no need to rush into marriage. Since I’ll be busy after taking over the marketing department, why not assist me while continuing your treatment? I’ll pay you a monthly salary.”

She had heard from Pei Jinhuai that Yu Zhiwan hadn’t officially resigned from Yuerong, she had only stepped down as a beauty model. Finding a replacement model was trivial, and Pei Jinhuai had readily approved her leave for treatment.

Now, Yu Zhiwan was essentially just a nominal employee at Yuerong. However, she still held intellectual property rights for the new product line and received dividends, which sustained her financially.

But future dividends were uncertain, so a stable job would be better. Pei Yujiang thought that if Yu Zhiwan agreed to work with her, the female lead would stay by her side.

Pei Yujiang felt her plan was flawless and eagerly rubbed her hands together.

Other transmigrators either opposed the protagonist or romanced them, why couldn’t she be the female lead’s career supporter instead?

Seeing Yu Zhiwan hesitate but not outright reject the idea, Pei Yujiang immediately offered favorable terms.

Initially, it would be profit-sharing; later, a fixed salary. For her participation, Yu Zhiwan would receive half the earnings but had to collaborate on projects.

The first six months would be profit-sharing since Pei Yujiang estimated that even with Yuerong’s backing, building a public marketing account would take time.

Her marketing department functioned like a semi-independent studio. At first, it would exclusively promote Yuerong’s products, but later, it would diversify, the very purpose of her venturing into self-media.

Pei Yujiang wasn’t in it for business. If she merely wanted to sell products, restructuring the marketing department would suffice. Leveraging Pei Jinhuai’s resources was mainly to spread awareness of the impending apocalypse.

Her offer was generous. Regardless, the studio likely wouldn’t lose money initially, and even if it did, Pei Yujiang would ensure Yu Zhiwan got paid.

No tricks involved.

Only a fool would turn down easy money. Yu Zhiwan, who had just been discussing marriage, was now captivated by Pei Yujiang’s vision for the future.

Pei Yujiang felt she was no longer just a cannon fodder character, but more like the villainous supporting role who uses money to tie the female lead to her side, preventing her from pursuing her own happiness.

But regardless, Yu Zhiwan readily agreed to collaborate with her, and now Pei had once again become the female lead’s direct superior.

When the boss demanded Yu accompany her for the entire day, of course Yu wouldn’t defy her. Her attitude even softened as she gently asked Pei what she’d like to eat for lunch.

People with colds and fevers shouldn’t eat anything too greasy, so Pei Yujiang suggested a few lighter dishes. She initially thought Yu Zhiwan would either order takeout or go downstairs to buy food there were restaurants right across the street from the residential area, not far at all. But instead, Yu Zhiwan chose to cook at home after ordering the ingredients.

While waiting for the delivery, Yu Zhiwan first familiarized herself with the kitchenware. By the time the groceries arrived, she had already gotten used to the kitchen layout, even knowing exactly where the seasonings like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were stored.

After drinking ginger soup, Pei Yujiang felt much better and couldn’t resist getting out of bed to watch Yu Zhiwan cook, worried she might have an accident. To her surprise, Yu Zhiwan seemed more at home in the kitchen than she was. Since moving in, Pei Yujiang had barely used the kitchen except to grab something from the fridge.

Though Pei Yujiang excelled in combat skills, she was utterly hopeless in the kitchen. At best, she could manage to cook frozen dumplings or noodles and even those often turned out undercooked.

Yu Zhiwan appeared gentle and quiet, but in the kitchen, she was a different person. The Omega’s hands were beautiful slender, fair, and dexterous, whether handling lab equipment or kitchen tools. Watching her effortlessly lift the stainless steel pot without the slightest tremble, Pei Yujiang realized she must be quite strong, especially with the added weight of the ingredients.

After cutting the winter melon, Yu Zhiwan started making hand-pounded meatballs, using a small bowl and mallet she had just bought. Noticing Pei Yujiang at the kitchen door, she waved her in.

“Could you help me with something?”

Of course, Yu Zhiwan wouldn’t dare let her chop vegetables even as a blind person, she was far better at it than Pei Yujiang. She had once felt the haphazard cuts Pei Yujiang made and worried she might slice her fingers. This time, she only asked her to pound the beef for meatballs, which would later be used in a winter melon soup easy to digest. The meat mixture, seasoned with some vegetables for balance, was already prepared by Yu Zhiwan herself.

But Pei Yujiang had no talent for kitchen work whatsoever. Despite Yu Zhiwan’s patient instructions, she either splattered bits of meat everywhere or failed to pound evenly, leaving some parts stuck together while others fell apart.

Embarrassed, Pei Yujiang stopped.
“I don’t think I’m doing this right. Maybe I should just—”

Before she could finish, Yu Zhiwan, ever the patient teacher, stepped behind her and gently took hold of her wrist.
“If pounding is too hard, try stirring along the edge of the bowl in one consistent direction. Use your wrist for the motion.”

Their soft skin touched, and as Yu Zhiwan spoke, her warm breath brushed against Pei Yujiang’s face. The kitchen wasn’t heated, leaving a winter chill in the air, making the Omega’s exhales near her ear all the more noticeable reminiscent of last night’s intimacy.

Gradually, already lightheaded from her cold, Pei Yujiang lost control of her body under Yu Zhiwan’s continuous touches.

Pei Yujiang was feeling a bit frantic and even somewhat embarrassed. Yu Zhiwan clearly treated her like a friend, yet here she was blushing and her heart racing at the other woman’s presence. Though she had no ill intentions, Pei Yujiang couldn’t help feeling she was betraying that trust, her ears burning crimson.

Just then, the Omega’s soft voice drifted close to her ear, almost brushing against her flushed skin:

“Why are your hands getting weaker? Are you tired?”

Pei Yujiang wanted to shake her head, but the charged atmosphere in the kitchen became unbearable. She could only murmur a faint “Mm.”

“Maybe it’s because I caught a cold today, I’m not feeling well, and everything tastes bland. I’ll go have some sweet soup.”

Yu Zhiwan responded with an understanding “Oh,” then added:

“No need. I made you a bowl of sweet soup already. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth myself you go ahead and eat. We’ll have dinner together later.”

Touched by Yu Zhiwan’s thoughtfulness, Pei Yujiang nearly overturned the table in her haste to flee when she saw the crystal-clear apple soup waiting for her.

Were there really no other fruits in her house?

After a guilty mental inventory, she realized no, there weren’t. The grapes she’d bought days ago had been devoured during TV time. The other fruits were either too heaty for someone with a cold or, like pears, too cooling to be advisable.

The only fresh fruit available was indeed apples.

And of course, these particular apples were the very ones they’d won together in that raffle.

This was a pit she’d dug for herself.

Regret washed over Pei Yujiang, why had she impulsively taken Yu Zhiwan to that street yesterday? Had they gone further downtown, they might have avoided that awkward event and the overly enthusiastic, visually challenged staff who mistook them for an Alpha-Omega couple.

Steam curled invitingly from the apple soup, its sweet aroma teasing her nostrils. Truth be told, Pei Yujiang loved apples especially Xiangcheng varieties, the crispiest, sweetest she’d ever tasted, plump and impossible to find so fresh elsewhere.

Frowning at the troublesome bowl, she glanced through the frosted glass door at Yu Zhiwan bustling alone in the kitchen, then back at the soup.

She couldn’t possibly waste it, yet letting it grow cold would be unhealthy. Her new media venture was just taking off subscribers increasing daily, though she hadn’t officially launched content yet.

Originally planning a two-day break before proper updates began, perhaps with a vlog or live stream to introduce herself properly, her thoughts were interrupted as the door opened.

Yu Zhiwan wheeled herself to the table. Instinctively, Pei Yujiang moved to hide the soup, but the potent blend of rock sugar and apple caught the Omega’s attention. Her hand found the bowl as she asked curiously:

“Not eating? Don’t you like it?”

Pei Yujiang shook her head vigorously. “No no, I love it! The rock sugar makes it wonderfully sweet and fragrant.”

“I see,” Yu Zhiwan mused, then tilted her head with playful exasperation. “I thought maybe you couldn’t even lift the spoon anymore that you wanted me to feed you.”

Pei Yujiang was about to protest that she wasn’t that weak, but as she gazed at the bowl of glistening sweet soup, her eyes involuntarily drifted to the woman’s full lips, blooming like deep pink roses. Her thoughts wandered to the roses at the Ningxiang homestay, and before she knew it, the words slipped out:

“The kind where you feed me with your mouth?”

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