Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 50

Without delay, after hearing that Yu Zhiwan actually had a rough formula for a zombie virus antidote, Pei Yujiang mentioned the piece of rotten meat she had found at the water plant. Yu Zhiwan thought for a moment and said to her:

“We need to return to Wing City. I have an absolutely secure laboratory there. I’ll have someone examine it with me. Organization A likely has branches across the nation, and possibly even beyond. Wing City is their stronghold, and we don’t know how far their research has progressed.”

“So don’t get your hopes up too much. I can only do my best.”

Pei Yujiang nodded vigorously.

Truthfully, she still held quite a bit of hope.

According to Yu Zhiwan, if everything she said was true, she had escaped that underground laboratory organization with a secret in hand. The system had mentioned that the female lead would “destroy the world” after turning dark could it be that she had already developed the zombie virus antidote but chose not to release it?

If so, that would indeed contribute to the world’s destruction.

Yu Zhiwan, as a normal human, wouldn’t live beyond a hundred years. The average lifespan of interstellar humans was around 100, with the oldest recorded individual reaching 160, but most people only lived a few years past a century before passing away naturally.

So, if the virus antidote was hidden in her hands with no successor to take over, this hope-bringing medicine would vanish forever. Even if future scientists attempted to recreate it, it would take time.

Standing on the shoulders of giants was entirely different from starting from scratch. Pei Yujiang still remembered that after her birth, she had received various vaccines, but their effects were barely noticeable.

“Back then, zombie beasts and zombies were different. A zombie bite was invariably fatal, while zombie beasts were just mutated animals with low contagion. So vaccines could help people survive…”

Pei Yujiang murmured.

She couldn’t and wouldn’t blame Yu Zhiwan for not releasing the antidote. After all, even living on the same planet, two people’s different experiences could shape entirely different worldviews.

Even she herself couldn’t confidently say that, if subjected to far more malice than kindness, she would remain perfectly rational and willingly use her hard-earned research to save those who had once wronged her.

At this thought, Pei Yujiang’s mood grew heavy again. But before her thoughts could wander further, she heard Yu Zhiwan call out softly:

“Are you hungry now?”

Pei Yujiang hadn’t eaten in so long that her stomach had long since started protesting repeatedly. Now, she was almost past the point of hunger. She shook her head and quickly replied:

“A little.”

Yu Zhiwan: “Should I cook?”

Pei Yujiang initially wanted to say, “Let me help,” but then reconsidered given her track record in the kitchen, she’d probably just get in the way. So she let it go.

After watching Yu Zhiwan enter the kitchen, Pei Yujiang opened a food delivery app, planning to order two cups of milk tea to celebrate their initial collaboration, tea in place of wine.

In the kitchen, faintly hazy with cooking fumes, Yu Zhiwan turned the range hood to its loudest setting. She put on Bluetooth earbuds, made a call, and rummaged through the fridge, pulling out two vibrant green peppers.

Not long ago, Pei Yujiang had told her not to cook too much and ordered takeout instead, then quickly fell asleep on the sofa while waiting for the delivery. Yu Zhiwan sliced potatoes, planning to stir-fry them with fresh beef to make a dish of green pepper potato beef.

In the conference channel, arguments kept coming through, but most were still willing to support Yu Zhiwan’s decision. She barely spoke throughout, turning on the gas stove and tasting the dish with chopsticks while stir-frying over high heat before adding a bit more salt.

The aroma of potatoes and beef was mouthwatering, while the green peppers were milder she had only added two. After finishing, Yu Zhiwan summarized briefly and left the meeting.

Pei Yujiang was sound asleep on the sofa.

Her nerves had been tense all day, and she had even cried twice, a rare occurrence. Pei Yujiang’s skin had a cool, pale tone, and under the dim light, faint traces of redness could still be seen on her neck. When she cried, her eyes turned red like a little rabbit’s. She almost never showed this side of herself to others, but since Yu Zhiwan was blind, she allowed herself to be a little more unrestrained.

Her sleeping posture wasn’t the best either. Having grown comfortable around Yu Zhiwan, she didn’t bother with appearances her legs were casually crossed on the sofa, one even dangling off the edge.

Yu Zhiwan wheeled over in her chair but didn’t rush to wake her. Instead, she lingered quietly by the head of the sofa until Pei Yujiang’s phone rang, startling her awake.

“Hello? Yes, yes, please wait at the entrance. I’ll come down to get it myself.”

The security in this residential area was quite strict. Delivery drivers had trouble entering they needed to swipe an access card at the main gate and again for the elevator. Most residents chose to pick up their orders downstairs, and Pei Yujiang was no exception.

Whenever Yu Zhiwan ordered takeout, Pei Yujiang would go down to fetch it for her. But since Yu Zhiwan wasn’t very mobile, she rarely ordered in the first place.

A few minutes later, Pei Yujiang returned with two cups of milk tea and several small-portioned dishes, all their favorites. Ordering smaller portions meant less waste, and she had also gotten a large bowl of rice to share. With so many dishes, eating too much rice would leave no room for the rest.

While she busied herself, Yu Zhiwan prepared a sweet soup and brought it out along with the green pepper potato beef. Pei Yujiang was unwrapping the milk tea when she noticed a card tucked inside and chuckled.

“Businesses these days are getting smarter. Buying two cups even comes with a collectible card.”

Since arriving in this world, Pei Yujiang had noticed how much girls loved “collaboration editions,” especially those featuring cute little animals. This milk tea shop was running a collaboration event, and Pei Yujiang hadn’t paid attention when ordering. The “couple’s set” came with a “love card” collect five different ones to earn two free drinks.

The card featured a long-eared white puppy with an adorable design, sure to spark many girls’ desire to buy. She remembered seeing this puppy more than once before. When she needed to boost orders to clear stock, she had even considered collaborating with this brand. But since popular IPs like this already had plenty of collaborations, Pei Yujiang had crossed it off her list.

“Do you like it?”

Yu Zhiwan asked, and Pei Yujiang shook her head before remembering she couldn’t see: “It’s alright, I’m not particularly interested in these cute little things.”

It’s just a pity that Yu Zhiwan couldn’t see them Pei Yujiang wasn’t sure if she’d like this kind of stuff. She felt Yu Zhiwan was different from most Omegas, but these were trading cards that couldn’t be appreciated through touch.

The two shared a simple, peaceful dinner in a pleasant atmosphere, as if returning to the days when Pei Yujiang was still “Little Fish.” They often sat across from each other like this, chatting about trivial matters while time slipped quietly by.

This was the first time she’d felt so relaxed since arriving in Xiangcheng and discovering that water plant. Yu Zhiwan’s involvement had undoubtedly given her great encouragement, boosting Pei Yujiang’s confidence significantly.

After dinner, when steering the conversation toward serious matters, Pei Yujiang mentioned seeing Madam Chen’s private transaction with that friend at the KTV and shared her suspicions about those people.

After listening attentively, Yu Zhiwan first asked for her thoughts:

“Are you planning to contact the Mayor of Xiangcheng directly?”

“Blindly approaching her won’t work. I intend to fully investigate the water plant first. Once we have evidence, I’ll anonymously send her part of it and decide our next steps based on her response.”

Although history books portrayed this mayor as benevolent and caring toward citizens, subtle changes had occurred since Pei Yujiang’s transmigration.

Unwilling to gamble with the lives of Xiangcheng’s residents, Pei Yujiang planned to test the mayor first. If she remained as recorded in history, they could gradually establish cooperation while seeking other opportunities.

Foresight was her advantage, but overreliance on it might lead her into traps. Well aware of this, Pei Yujiang proceeded with caution at every step.

Yu Zhiwan didn’t object. After hearing Pei Yujiang out, she suddenly changed the subject:

“Since we’re returning to Yicheng in a few days, would you like to attend the music festival nearby? I heard it’s happening soon.”

“Music festival?”

Pei Yujiang, who never paid attention to entertainment circles, searched online after Yu Zhiwan’s mention and discovered tickets for a commercialized music festival near Yicheng would go on sale at midnight.

More than just singers and rappers, this event would feature popular actors and influencers including two familiar names: “Chen Lulu” and “Fang Nianjing.”

Previously, their outings with Yu Zhiwan had always involved dining or park strolls. This was the first time Pei Yujiang heard her express interest in such a lively event.

Though unfamiliar with music festivals, Pei Yujiang quickly researched online and learned it would be held at a stadium accommodating tens of thousands, with deafening music, an energetic setting perfect for group activities.

Yuerong’s current performance is getting better and better, which is closely related to the plan proposed by Yu Zhiwan. Pei Jinhuai couldn’t be more fond of this “daughter-in-law,” sometimes even calling to inquire about their relationship and asking when they would get married, leaving Pei Yujiang both amused and embarrassed.

Pei Yujiang glanced at the ticket prices and found them quite reasonable, with group purchases offering additional discounts. Without hesitation, she immediately called Pei Jinhuai.

“Team-building? Sounds good. Is it for the entire company or just specific departments?”

“The whole company. Everyone has been working hard lately.”

With the surge in orders, the entire company had been bustling around the clock, leading to rare instances of employees working overtime continuously.

The product planning department was busy at the forefront, while the production line workers bore the brunt later, often having to rush back to the assembly line after barely eating to meet the increased demand through overtime.

Pei Jinhuai had initially been uncertain whether the plan would succeed, and given past experiences with inventory pile-ups, she dared not stock too much.

Yuerong hadn’t seen such large order volumes in a long time, and the reservation numbers even seemed unreal. Production began immediately after the first day of reservations, but it still took considerable effort. Fortunately, the entire company persevered together.

With the profits earned through the collective effort of the company, treating everyone to a music festival for team-building was nothing.

However, Pei Yujiang had also advised in advance that some people might prefer rest over lively events. Pei Jinhuai promptly distributed a reservation survey within the company: those interested could fill in their details, while those who preferred not to attend could take the day off and go home early.

The day before the music festival, the two returned to Yicheng.

After landing, Pei Yujiang first went to Pei Jinhuai’s place to pick up the tickets, VIP box seats specially arranged by an assistant.

The VIP box was located at the “mountain top,” offering excellent views. It had a private restroom, partitions for privacy, and superb acoustics without the deafening noise typical of front-row seats near the speakers.

Dedicated staff would deliver fruits, ensuring top-notch service throughout, a feature Pei Yujiang had seen praised on review apps. Though there was no artist interaction, the experience was well worth the ticket price.

Neither Pei Yujiang nor Yu Zhiwan were star-chasers, and they hardly recognized any of the performers at the festival. Interaction wasn’t a priority; clear sound was all they cared about.

They had kept their rented apartment in Yicheng for convenience during visits. After collecting the tickets, Pei Yujiang planned to take Yu Zhiwan home. Since the elders weren’t around, Pei Jinhuai had left the tickets there, and Yu Zhiwan was waiting downstairs.

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Wenxiu emerged from her room and, seeing Pei Yujiang holding the two VIP tickets, approached to tap her shoulder.

Noticing Jiang Wenxiu’s mysterious demeanor, Pei Yujiang shot her a glance, prompting her to straighten up immediately.

“Sis, could you swap two of your company’s team-building tickets for regular ones with me?”

Pei Yujiang paused, puzzled.

“Why do you need my ticket when you already have one? The company tickets all have stamps and are for seats together, nothing particularly special.”

She initially thought Jiang Wenxiu wanted it for some purpose, but to her surprise, the girl grew bashful and actually blushed.

Having known Jiang Wenxiu for so long, this was the first time Pei Yujiang had ever seen her display such an expression of shyness, which struck her as quite novel.

Jiang Wenxiu took a deep breath, as if steeling herself:

“It’s for a friend. I want to go to the music festival with her, but she said it’s not worth spending the money on.”

With ample monthly allowance and Fan Zhaozhao’s own career though not as successful as Pei Jinhuai’s supporting a young girl was no issue.

After a brief consideration, Pei Yujiang understood. Jiang Wenxiu likely wanted to invite that person but knew the other might refuse if she paid. Girls at this age are often thin-skinned and prideful, especially if the other person’s family was financially strained. So Jiang Wenxiu came up with this idea, claiming the tickets were leftovers from a company event, free for the taking to make it easier.

Pei Yujiang handed over the tickets without hesitation and took back the two general admission ones.

On her way downstairs, Pei Yujiang spotted Yu Zhiwan sitting under a streetlamp.

Though Yicheng wasn’t as warm as Xiangcheng, spring was slowly arriving. The omega, sensitive to cold, wore a red scarf around her neck, accentuating her snow-white skin.

From a distance, the moths fluttering around the streetlamp seemed to Pei Yujiang like tiny butterflies dancing above the woman’s head, their wings flapping wildly in the harsh light.

This red scarf was one Yu Zhiwan had knitted earlier. During that Christmas, while bending down to pick up trash, someone had stepped on the scarf around her neck. It wasn’t until she got home that she noticed it had begun to fray.

Yu Zhiwan had volunteered to knit her a new one. Pei Yujiang had initially thought of just buying one online, but not wanting to dismiss the gesture, she accepted with a smile.

To her surprise, Yu Zhiwan’s handiwork surpassed anything she could have bought online. Hidden within the scarf’s weave was a subtle pattern the initials of her name.

Pei Yujiang often marveled at Yu Zhiwan’s dexterity. Whether in the lab, cooking, or playing the piano, her hands seemed capable of anything.

The scarf was made of fine material, with the initials woven in a way that didn’t irritate the skin. Pei Yujiang cherished it, handwashing it carefully to preserve the color and embroidery.

Yu Zhiwan mentioned she had knitted a matching one for herself, with slight differences. At a glance, Pei Yujiang couldn’t spot them. Smiling, she ran over with the tickets and playfully spun Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair around and around.

Dizzy but uncomplaining, Yu Zhiwan let Pei Yujiang continue the childish yet harmless “prank.”

“What happened? Why are you suddenly so happy?”

When Pei Yujiang finally stopped, Yu Zhiwan gripped the wheelchair’s armrests, catching her breath.

To steady herself, she had to rely on her arm and core strength something she’d been diligently training lately.

“Nothing,” Pei Yujiang smiled, her eyes curving into little crescents. “I just feel really happy now, much happier than before.”

Sometimes she would think about how nice it would be if she were just an ordinary person, free from all these burdens, living a simple life clocking in at work every day, only worrying about rent and living expenses.

But certain things had to be done by someone, and such thoughts usually vanished as quickly as they came, replaced by the familiar gnawing anxiety.

Yet after meeting Yu Zhiwan, Pei Yujiang realized that many of her troubles seemed to melt away effortlessly.

“I like having you in my life.”

She defined the inexplicable joy she felt today, then pressed the tickets into Yu Zhiwan’s hand.

“What’s this?” Yu Zhiwan asked.

“Our VIP tickets.”

“Just for us?”

“Just for us.” Pei Yujiang paused under the lamplight, glancing down to see faint dimples appear on Yu Zhiwan’s cheeks. “What are you smiling about?”

A few days ago, when she had called Pei Jinhuai to book the tickets, Yu Zhiwan had excused herself to shower and sleep after overhearing a few words. Since then, she hadn’t spoken much to Pei Yujiang.

Pei Yujiang wasn’t stupid, she knew Yu Zhiwan had been upset that their private outing turned into a group event, with her playing the generous host. But after holding out for days, the moment she handed over the VIP tickets for two, Yu Zhiwan’s composure cracked.

Pei Yujiang couldn’t help but smirk, muttering under her breath, “You little thing.”

“Pretty easy to please.”

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