Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 6

It’s commonly said that most Betas can’t smell the pheromones of Alphas and Omegas, but that’s not entirely true. When the pheromone levels in an Alpha or Omega’s glands are extremely concentrated and pure, Betas can detect a faint, delicate fragrance.

To Betas, others’ pheromones are like perfumes pleasant but incapable of stirring desire.

During the earlier chaos, the two had been pressed close together. Though separated by the wheelchair, Pei Yujiang could catch the light floral scent emanating from her.

The elegant, refined aroma of roses mingled with the sweetness of raspberries subtle, not like artificial perfume, but more akin to a refreshing, delectable ice cream on a summer day.

This wasn’t Pei Yujiang’s first time encountering an Omega’s pheromones, but most Omegas she’d encountered carried scents like flowers, milk, honey, or fruit soft, non-threatening fragrances that evoked a desire to savor.

She could only detect a trace of it, elusive as a gentle brush against her heart, teasing her senses.

Instinctively, Pei Yujiang wanted to inhale deeper, but ingrained discipline held her back. Even as a Beta with dulled senses, she knew it was taboo and disrespectful to scrutinize a stranger’s pheromones too closely.

Even if this Omega had kissed her in distress.

Even if she was no longer General Pei, who once commanded an army of a hundred thousand.

Pei Yujiang took a step back, putting distance between herself and Yu Zhiwan. Her gaze remained steady as she took in the woman’s face, now unobscured by sunglasses. Yu Zhiwan’s delicate features were fully revealed, her warm, clear almond-shaped eyes particularly striking. Even without embellishment, her bright, captivating gaze was enough to draw attention.

No wonder she worked as a makeup model.

As a blind woman, Yu Zhiwan struggled to find employment, but her striking looks had landed her a job at Yue Rong Cosmetics as a test model.

The role suited her well her face was highly adaptable. Though Pei Yujiang knew little about makeup trends, even by conventional standards, Yu Zhiwan was a rare beauty with flawless bone structure and complexion.

Yet her Omega status and physical disability lent her a fragile air, her pale skin making her appear somewhat wan. A touch of blush from the makeup artist would easily remedy that.

After studying her briefly, Pei Yujiang composed herself and asked with a smile if Yu Zhiwan needed help getting to the treatment room. Yu Zhiwan accepted gratefully, her voice soft as she murmured:

“Xiao Yu, you’re so kind.”

“Cough!”

Pei Yujiang nearly choked on her own saliva.

She wanted to ask why Yu Zhiwan had come alone, how Liu Huanran could possibly let her wander unattended.

Putting herself in Liu Huanran’s shoes, Pei Yujiang couldn’t fathom allowing such a stunning girlfriend  or love interest to navigate a hospital alone. Beyond potential emergencies, daily mobility was already a challenge for a blind woman with leg disabilities.

When would that scummy Alpha start caring about Yu Zhiwan?

The commotion had since been resolved, with police intervention dispersing the crowd. Pei Yujiang escorted Yu Zhiwan to her designated clinic before turning back toward her own waiting area.

Just as she finished her check-up, a message from Yu Zhiwan popped up on her phone.

“Xiao Yu, where are you? When you’re done, could you come pick me up?”

Her voice was soft, carrying the sweetness unique to an Omega, with a playful upward lilt at the end.

Pei Yujiang had originally planned to grab a bite and exercise after her check-up, but hearing Yu Zhiwan’s request, her tone softened involuntarily as she replied:

“Sure, how about I treat you to a meal while we’re at it?”

**

The original owner loved putting on a show wherever she went, partly to save face, but mostly to attract Omegas, stubbornly maintaining the persona of a wealthy heiress.

In reality, though Yue Rong was a notable cosmetics company, it had been on a steady decline. Lacking innovation in recent years, Pei Jinhuai, Pei Yujiang’s mother had been full of drive in her youth. But after the blow of a failed marriage, her personality shifted, and she became more focused on sweet moments with her new wife, paying less attention to the company.

The original owner wasn’t exactly a true socialite at best, she was just a well-off young lady with some connections thanks to Pei Jinhuai.

In the original plot, Yue Rong would stumble from one setback to another until it collapsed. The Pei family, unable to cover the severance pay for so many employees, would declare bankruptcy, leaving the unambitious original owner without her last safety net.

Pei Yujiang got into Yu Zhiwan’s car, switched off autopilot, and manually drove while politely asking what she’d like to eat, all while mentally calculating the balance in her bank account.

Yu Zhiwan didn’t hold back, naming a restaurant. Pei Yujiang pulled up the navigation and glanced at the per-person cost not too high, just around four or five hundred.

It was a highly-rated fusion-style private kitchen.

“My treat, Xiao Yu,” Yu Zhiwan said, her voice as gentle as a babbling brook, pleasant to the ear. “You helped me last time, and I haven’t properly thanked you yet.”

The mention of “last time” immediately brought back the memory of their rushed, awkward kiss, throwing Pei Yujiang’s heart into chaos. Her pulse raced, and she nearly fumbled the navigation before forcing a laugh and waving it off:

“No worries, it was nothing. Just doing what I could.”

Pei Yujiang was generally outgoing, but for some reason, she felt restrained around Yu Zhiwan maybe because of the guilt over the mission that might target the girl later. Even casual conversations with Yu Zhiwan made her tread carefully.

But there was one question she’d been wanting to ask Yu Zhiwan.

Before taking on the mission, 711 had given her a rough outline of the plot, including Yu Zhiwan’s future descent into darkness, how she would watch “her” imprisoned in a dark room, blindfolded, listening to the drip of blood from cut fingers to pass the endless days; how she would slice “her” flesh piece by piece and feed it to wild wolves right in front of “her.”

In the original novel, Yu Zhiwan did all this mainly to avenge Liu Huanran. She had initially planned to just cast “her” aside, but when Liu Huanran said, “She touched you, and that displeases me,” Yu Zhiwan subjected “her” to relentless torment.

No matter how you looked at it, the original Yu Zhiwan was a full-blown “love fool,” Liu Huanran’s devoted little wife.

Even if she turns dark later, she’d still be a love-struck fool at heart. But she’s already met Liu Huanran. According to the system’s personality profile, Yu Zhiwan should be clinging to Liu Huanran constantly, eager to report even when taking a sip of water.

So why is she now going to the hospital alone and having meals with other women?

And even before this, she had…

Pei Yujiang organized her thoughts carefully. As the car passed through a tunnel, she finally couldn’t help but ask Yu Zhiwan directly.

“Miss Yu, are you currently single?”

The air fell silent for a moment.

Was it inappropriate to ask such a personal question?

Could this be considered an invasion of an Omega’s privacy?

Pei Yujiang stared at the yellow light at the tunnel exit, each second feeling like an eternity. The awkwardness made her wish she could take back those words. No wonder, she’d already kissed Yu Zhiwan! Asking about her relationship status now seemed like locking the stable after the horse had bolted.

Regret swirled through her like a sudden whirlpool, filling her emotions. She’d mostly interacted with rough Beta men or Alphas before and had little experience dealing with Omegas. Who knew a few careless words could upset someone so easily?

Just as she was about to apologize, she stole a glance at Yu Zhiwan.

The woman had already tilted her head against the seatback, breathing steadily in sleep. Her fair, delicate profile formed a beautiful curve, with full lips slightly pursed. A few strands of hair framing her face added a touch of adorable casualness.

Pei Yujiang studied her for a moment in the dim car light and couldn’t help but smile.

**

Pei Yujiang never managed to ask that question again.

The private kitchen restaurant was a quiet garden-themed establishment with private rooms offering excellent privacy. After being seated, they began ordering from a menu filled with whimsical names like “Peach Blossom Winter Snow” which turned out to be peach-flavored shaved ice leaving Pei Yujiang dazzled.

Since Yu Zhiwan couldn’t see, Pei Yujiang read each dish aloud and indicated she had no preferences.

“I’ve never tried any of these, so you choose, Miss Yu.”

This wasn’t a lie. Having grown up in apocalyptic conditions where survival was uncertain, Pei Yujiang considered herself lucky to have plain steamed buns to fill her stomach. These beautiful snow mountains of shaved ice, taro paste bowls, and exquisite unnamed dishes were completely foreign to her.

Yu Zhiwan ordered two meat and three vegetable dishes in small portions, plus an elegantly presented dessert for Pei Yujiang.

“If I remember correctly, this one comes with a limited-edition toy. You can take it back for your sister.”

Yu Zhiwan reminded her kindly.

Earlier, to maintain her fabricated identity, Pei Yujiang had mentioned having a sweet, sensible younger sister to support. But hearing this reference made her scalp prickle with discomfort.

She’d lied before meeting Jiang Wenxiu that brat couldn’t be further from “sweet” or “sensible” if she tried.

Pei Yujiang stammered and changed the subject.

After ordering, she excused herself to the restroom to splash water on her face, calming her nerves after nearly having her lie exposed.

The garden restaurant had a strong sense of ceremony, worthy of its several-hundred-per-person price tag. The private room was scented with a fragrance spray, a sweet yet cool summer aroma that was refreshing and pleasant. But for some reason, when Pei Yujiang pushed the door open to return, she caught a faint whiff of rich rose fragrance.

The diffuser in the room was still spraying lightly, its scent subtle and unobtrusive. The delicate aroma of rose and raspberry lingered in the air, but because she was close, Pei Yujiang, now a Beta with less acute senses could still clearly see the strange flush on Yu Zhiwan’s cheeks.

Noticing the Omega’s unusual state, Pei Yujiang hurried over in quick strides:

“Miss Yu!?”

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