Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 43

After 711 finished their conversation and disappeared, Pei Yujiang poured herself a glass of red wine and drank alone on the balcony.

She rarely drank alcohol could lead to trouble. Even this mild, barely intoxicating wine was something she seldom touched.

Most Alphas had a high alcohol tolerance, and Pei Yujiang was no exception. But in her past life, during military campaigns, someone had forgotten their orders after drinking, resulting in three soldiers burning to death. From then on, no one dared to drink in the barracks. For a time, even mentioning alcohol would make people uneasy, and she had basically stopped drinking altogether.

The cold wine slid down her throat on this winter night. The red wine wasn’t harsh, but its lingering aftertaste was strong. It had been so long since she last tasted alcohol that she coughed twice before slowly adjusting to it.

What 711 had said stirred something in her. Truthfully, more than the present, she wanted to return to her old life, fighting side by side with her comrades. Not only did she share a deeper bond with them, but she also worried they wouldn’t be able to defeat the mutated beasts.

The weather in Xiangcheng wasn’t as cold as in Yicheng, and the winters were still bearable. Pei Yujiang stood silently by the window, gazing down at the lush greenery trembling in the chilly wind within the residential complex.

The neighborhood had excellent landscaping, with evergreen trees imported from the south visible everywhere.

Long ago, the north was simply the north deciduous trees would wither and die in winter, leaving the streets bleak and bare. But at some point, various plants, mainly trees that could survive in slightly less frigid regions, were introduced and allowed to thrive here.

Over time, Xiangcheng, a city caught between the north and south became as vibrant and beautiful as the southern regions. The streets no longer turned bare and unsightly in winter.

The highest building in the complex was only eight stories, designed like a garden villa with a strong aesthetic sense. Xiangcheng was prosperous; one didn’t need to go far to find shopping malls. Beneath the overpasses, traffic flowed endlessly, and crowds bustled about a lively, commercial city brimming with vitality.

People settled down here, turning Xiangcheng into a metropolis with a population in the millions. Its transportation networks extended in all directions, entertainment and information were abundant, and it wasn’t far from the political center. It also boasted the best medical resources in the entire federation.

But no matter how good it was, this place wasn’t her home.

Early the next morning, Pei Yujiang heard knocking and thought she must be imagining it.

Still in her pajamas, she walked to the door and found Yu Zhiwan sitting at the elevator entrance, tapping her cane against the doorbell.

Pei Yujiang’s doorway had a shoe cabinet and a doormat, with a small rug placed right outside the elevator to keep the shoe-changing area clean. Once Yu Zhiwan had learned the layout, she never overstepped, always stopping at just the right distance.

Though they had dined together the previous day, the meal had ended on an unpleasant note. Pei Yujiang wasn’t used to arguing, and while she hadn’t been angry enough to start a fight, she had been deeply frustrated. It was rare for them to not exchange a single word.

Now, seeing each other again, the awkwardness lingered.

Pei Yujiang didn’t know what to say, but then she noticed the food container in Yu Zhiwan’s hand. Her sense of smell was sharp not only was she more sensitive to pheromones than the average Beta, but she also had a keen nose for food.

The sweet, delicate aroma of pumpkin wafted into her nostrils, awakening her appetite. Before she could stop herself, Pei Yujiang swallowed hard.

Early in the morning, after brushing her teeth, washing her face, and completing a set of stretching exercises just as her body was fully awakened and her appetite surged, Yu Zhiwan arrived at her doorstep with pumpkin porridge. Was she here to deliberately tease her with food?

No wonder Pei Yujiang thought this way. Back at the hospital, she had assumed Yu Zhiwan was bringing her a meal, only to watch as the other woman slowly ate it right in front of her. Pei Yujiang had been drooling with envy, yet Yu Zhiwan showed no intention of sharing even a bite.

This time, Pei Yujiang was determined: if Yu Zhiwan was just here to taunt her again, she would immediately order a pile of breakfast takeout!

“May I come in?”

A few seconds passed before Yu Zhiwan spoke, and only then did Pei Yujiang realize she had left her standing outside for a while without moving. She quickly lifted the rug in front of her and helped push the wheelchair inside.

When she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, Yu Zhiwan had already braced herself to be picked up but instead, Pei Yujiang walked past her to the side of the elevator and slowly pushed the wheelchair forward.

The Omega bit her lip almost imperceptibly.

In the past, Pei Yujiang would have lifted her wheelchair and all just like when they first met at the hospital, when she had carried her through the crowd. Pei Yujiang was strong, and moving the wheelchair had never been a strain. Yu Zhiwan had always waited for her to take the initiative, and now she was glad she hadn’t reached out.

The slightly awkward atmosphere was broken by Yu Zhiwan. She was already very familiar with Pei Yujiang’s home and effortlessly found the dining table to set down the pumpkin porridge. When she lifted the lid of the thermal container, a rich aroma instantly filled the cool, quiet room.

The porridge looked perfect golden pumpkin cut into both shreds and chunks, meticulously peeled, with rice cooked until tender and plump. The porridge had a milky white hue, likely from the powdered milk Yu Zhiwan had added, giving it a subtle creamy fragrance that made one’s mouth water.

Accompanying the porridge was a small side dish of stir-fried celery with dried tofu, perfectly seasoned and portioned for about two people. Yu Zhiwan pushed the food forward.

“Mind if I borrow your place to eat? Can I trouble you for some utensils?”

In an instant, the ravenous Pei Yujiang realized the delicious meal included a portion for her. She was as thrilled as a golden retriever police dog receiving a beef bone, if she had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly.

All previous minor grievances were instantly forgotten. Pei Yujiang fetched the utensils and enjoyed a delightful breakfast with Yu Zhiwan.

Though Yu Zhiwan was blind, her cooking skills were truly impressive. Pei Yujiang took a photo before eating and, still savoring the meal afterward, immediately posted the picture to her personal blog after loading the dishes into the dishwasher.

Caption: [Breakfast made by Zhiwan, yummy.]

The moment she posted it, likes and comments poured in. Some asked when she would livestream to finish that ghost story, while others scolded her for “leaving it hanging.” Pei Yujiang chuckled and logged off.

Yu Zhiwan had no therapy sessions scheduled for the day. After Pei Yujiang tidied up the table, she asked what her plans were.

“Me? I’m thinking of setting up a studio in Xiangcheng. I’ll start by reviewing some floor plans, I want to design the layout myself.”

Pei Yujiang’s statement was pure nonsense. While she did have plans to set up a small studio and outsource the work, she certainly didn’t have time to fiddle with such trivial matters.

What she really wanted was to create a floor plan and 3D map of that water plant. Once she had concrete evidence, she intended to leak the information to Mayor Xiang.

“By the way, my friend Chen Lulu is coming to Xiangcheng tonight with some industry friends for a dinner gathering. Would you like to join us?”

Chen Lulu had messaged her a few days ago about her visit. Pei Yujiang had declined her invitation to hang out last time in Yicheng, but now that Chen Lulu was passing through Xiangcheng and might stay for a day, she only asked if Pei Yujiang wanted to grab a meal together not even requesting a tour. Feeling it would be rude to refuse again, Pei Yujiang decided to treat her to dinner.

After all, back in Ningxiang, Chen Lulu had even invited her to the film set and promised to take her for fish maw hotpot.

Though she never got to try that coveted fish maw hotpot, Xiangcheng had plenty of delicious food and fun activities to offer.

Compared to Pei Yujiang, Yu Zhiwan’s social life was much more subdued. As a blind person, she couldn’t go many places alone, and she preferred solitude over noisy gatherings. Pei Yujiang assumed she wouldn’t want to go but asked out of courtesy anyway.

To her surprise, Yu Zhiwan immediately replied:

“Sure.”

Pei Yujiang shot her a puzzled glance.

When working, Pei Yujiang disliked talking much. Since Yu Zhiwan had nothing to do here, she went back to her own place.

In the past, Pei Yujiang had learned basic drafting and blueprint design. Now, she searched online for images of the factory, cross-referencing registration details and outsider photos to reconstruct its layout. Meanwhile, she opened another window and asked Jiang Wenxiu to buy a drone for her.

She didn’t want to use her own account for the purchase, nor did she want to involve her subordinates in this matter. After some thought, she decided to ask Jiang Wenxiu, who was still in Yicheng.

Jiang Wenxiu was a minor but an expert at bypassing gaming time restrictions with fake IPs and identities just the right person for this task.

Ordering a drone online wasn’t difficult. When Jiang Wenxiu sent her a question mark, Pei Yujiang simply replied:

“I want to play with it.”

She rounded up the payment for the drone and sent the extra as a tip for Jiang Wenxiu’s trouble. True to form, Jiang Wenxiu didn’t ask further and later sent her the tracking number once the deal was settled.

Drafting the blueprint was tedious. Pei Yujiang wasn’t a professional, so she didn’t need precise measurements just enough to calculate a suitable route for the drone to enter undetected. Sending someone in to scout for her was out of the question, and going herself was too risky. A drone reconnaissance was the best option.

There was something eerie about that water plant, and until the secret was uncovered, Pei Yujiang couldn’t rest easy.

After an entire morning, she had barely finished a third of the rough sketch. Progress was slow, and sitting in one place for so long left her back sore and her head throbbing.

In the past, Pei Yujiang had hated this kind of drafting work, always delegating it to friends who were skilled at it. But now, she had to shoulder everything alone, and the exhaustion was taking its toll.

She thought again of the small refrigerator tucked away in the corner of the balcony. Dropping the paper and pen, she walked over, intending to crouch down and inspect it, but then stood up anxiously. After pacing back and forth several times, she finally opened the window to breathe in some fresh air. She hadn’t opened it all morning though the air outside was crisp, the soundproof glass had kept the noise out. Opening it now might let in some noise, further disrupting her thoughts.

But the moment the latch gave way and the cold wind rushed in, a melodious piano tune also swept into her ears. The flowing, rippling notes showcased the performer’s refined skill, each one brimming with emotion, leaping and dancing into the listener’s awareness as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Pei Yujiang paused on the balcony.

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