Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 61

Pei Yujiang: “…”

She straightened her posture: “I’m perfectly fine, not sick at all!”

It wasn’t until Yu Zhiwan burst into laughter that Pei Yujiang realized she was being teased. But ever since becoming aware of her unusual feelings toward Yu Zhiwan, even their previously normal interactions now felt strange, making her instinctively avoid them.

At the same time, Pei Yujiang keenly noticed that Yu Zhiwan had started addressing her as “Little Pei” instead of “Fish Sauce,” even though the unique nickname had originally been Yu Zhiwan’s idea.

With the crowded airport making conversation difficult, the two smoothly got into the car. Yu Zhiwan sat in the passenger seat and cut straight to the point:

“How did your talk with Mayor Xiang go?”

In the past, Yu Zhiwan would always ask about her life before work unless it was urgent the order was rarely reversed.

Beyond the change in address, this subtle shift in priorities seemed to confirm the alteration in Yu Zhiwan’s attitude toward her, leaving Pei Yujiang with a faint sense of defeat.

But she adjusted quickly, especially when it came to serious matters. She wouldn’t let personal emotions interfere. Pei Yujiang swiftly gathered her thoughts and summarized the meeting in concise terms.

Even now, recalling Mayor Xiang’s demeanor, doubts lingered stubbornly in Pei Yujiang’s mind. With time and distance from the scene, she grew more convinced that Mayor Xiang likely knew something.

“Her expression shifted the moment I mentioned the water plant. I’d heard that Mayor Xiang and her wife have a strong relationship. At first, when she left the KTV to meet someone alone, I thought she might be cheating, but…”

Yu Zhiwan finished her thought:

“But what if she dotes on her wife so much that she’s willing to overlook anything she does?”

Mayor Xiang had recently been occupied with urban planning specifically, demolishing an old industrial zone to build a welfare school for migrant workers’ children.

Madam Chen had initially joined their outing but rushed back after a call from Mayor Xiang. Her demeanor didn’t suggest suspicion; she simply grabbed a quick bite before leaving.

During Pei Yujiang’s discussion with Mayor Xiang, the latter initially claimed she only had two hours to spare. Later, it turned out she had a date with her wife.

The couple hadn’t been married long just about two years. Newlyweds often revel in each other’s company, indulging in sweet nothings, a common dynamic among young lovers.

In other words, they were still deeply enamored. What if Madam Chen had done something during this time, and Mayor Xiang chose to turn a blind eye out of love?

Pei Yujiang hadn’t exposed Madam Chen immediately, but what if she had confronted Mayor Xiang directly or escalated the matter? What would the consequences have been?

The more she thought about it, the more her heart raced with dread.

After the spring rain came mid-spring, when all things revived and thawed. The entire city of Wing had been washed several times by the gentle spring breeze and rain. The cold air gradually retreated northward, but nighttime temperatures still hovered around ten degrees. As the car drove out of the underground parking lot, Pei Yujiang felt somewhat hot, even breaking out in sweat.

“Chief Liu, that woman has left. Are you still going to continue investigating as she suggested? I feel this might be dangerous. Some of the old-timers in Wing City don’t care about personal connections. They might smile when everything’s fine, but they didn’t get to where they are by being soft-hearted.”

On the very day Pei Yujiang left, subordinates of Chief Liu Yifang came to express their strong disapproval of her intention to investigate matters in Wing City.

Although as the chief of Xiang City, Liu Yifang had more power and connections than her counterpart in Wing City, the two positions were ultimately parallel in hierarchy. How could they convict those old-timers in Wing City based solely on that woman’s testimony?

Moreover, if they really dared to do such things, it should be handled by higher authorities. If they acted as the vanguard and there happened to be accomplices in higher positions who could remove their official titles, they might not live to see tomorrow.

Liu Yifang had served as chief of Xiang City for about three years. Though her tenure wasn’t long, most people here obeyed her completely. Setting aside other factors, her willingness to crack down on corrupt officials and genuinely improve people’s livelihoods had earned her many loyal followers. When she first took office and investigated those with ill-gotten gains, she even brought down one of her own relatives. She had survived assassination attempts, and scars from those incidents still remained on her arm, never fully healed.

Her trusted subordinate had followed her for several years, having been transferred from elsewhere. This wasn’t Liu Yifang’s first official position, and making Xiang City successful was their current greatest mission. Even this upright subordinate thought it unnecessary when learning Liu Yifang wanted to extend her reach elsewhere.

If what Pei Yujiang said was true, it would involve at least hundreds of people, none of them minor figures. To expect them to take the lead in such matters that woman really had some nerve, using them as pawns, didn’t she?

The subordinate fumed: “I think she’s just doing this for her company, putting on a righteous act. If her company hadn’t faced this crisis, she’d probably be hiding in some corner watching the show.”

“Enough,” Liu Yifang waved her hand, signaling her subordinate to stop. She had already made her decision. The subordinate frowned in dissatisfaction but knew this was an unshakable trait of hers. Though Liu Yifang usually treated her subordinates gently without airs, once she made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

Standing in her office, Liu Yifang watched as her subordinate retreated angrily. Her eyes stung, and her chest still ached with the lingering pain of that earlier rapid heartbeat.

When she heard Pei Yujiango clearly lay out the water plant situation, her mind had gone blank with a buzzing sound, as if losing all capacity for thought. Only gradually did her consciousness return.

Fortunately, the mutation at the water plant hadn’t yet reached its final stage. There might still be time to stop it unlike in that dream where it had already invaded and infected the welfare center, turning all the staff and volunteers there.

Moreover, the virus had an incubation period initially. When infected individuals returned home, they spread it to their families, leading to exponential transmission until the entire Xiang City fell under the virus’s siege, transforming from its current prosperity into an absolute living hell.

Liu Yifang had recently experienced an eerily realistic dream.

She dreamed that an ordinary, unremarkable water plant in Xiang City’s economic development industrial park became the source of a catastrophe. Someone was researching biochemical weapons inside, attempting to artificially create zombies, these new “semi-living entities” that feared neither death nor pain to serve as weapons for personal gain.

The water plant was utterly inconspicuous. Normally preoccupied with other pressing matters, she had completely overlooked it. Yet this minor oversight resulted in irreversible, massive losses.

In Xiang City, opening any business (including factories) required trademark registration, and transfers of ownership were no exception. Logically, the water plant should have needed approval to repurpose its operations.

But she had never reviewed such documents, nor had anyone reported it to her. As the city mayor, her daily responsibilities were overwhelming, leaving no attention for a small water plant’s ownership status in the industrial park.

Later, drone footage revealed the welfare center’s inhabitants transformed into shambling corpses, their stiff movements and piercing wails projected on screens. By the time she panicked and tried to prepare, it was too late.

The industrial park lacked military presence, and reinforcements would take time enough for the zombies to massacre the entire economic development district repeatedly. Many workers were forced to arm themselves against the creatures, which felt no pain and could only be stopped by fatal blows. Yet a single bite would doom any human, with transformation being merely a matter of time.

The death toll became unimaginable, the situation spiraling beyond control until Liu Yifang’s eyes burned with desperation.

As Xiang City fell completely, she learned the outside world faced equal devastation. These experiments, hidden underground, needed only a vector to erupt catastrophically.

It was during this chaos that Liu Yifang, after continuous frontline battles, finally returned home one night. The lights were off to conserve electricity for civilians, she had restricted household usage, even rationing showers.

With most power plants overrun by zombies, the remaining personnel risked their lives to provide utilities using minimal equipment, yet civil infrastructure teetered on collapse. That night, Yangyang tearfully apologized, sobbing that she shouldn’t have let the water plant personnel inside.

Liu Yifang felt thunderstruck. “What water plant?” she urgently asked. Only then did Chen Shuyang recount everything in detail.

Yangyang’s maternal family was quite well-off, but later, due to certain circumstances, their fortunes declined. Yangyang loved luxury goods, so Liu Yifang tried her best to save her salary to let her wife spend freely. However, she never imagined Chen Shuyang would secretly engage in shady deals behind her back, even daring to dabble in land transactions.

The only thing Chen Shuyang didn’t dare to do was trade official positions, fearing it would jeopardize her political career.

“But it was just an outer water plant. I didn’t think it mattered to you or Xiangcheng, so I sold it. The buyer gave me a lot of money, just for business use there…”

Chen Shuyang sobbed and threw herself into Liu Yifang’s arms, her face full of terror:

“I didn’t know they’d do such things! I only found out later, during the virus outbreak. By then, it was already too late.”

For the first time, Liu Yifang lost control and slapped Chen Shuyang hard across the face.

Being an Alpha, her strength far exceeded that of an ordinary woman. The blow left Chen Shuyang’s cheek swollen. She stared back, half ashamed, half aggrieved. After so many years of marriage, Liu Yifang had never once raised her voice at her.

Liu Yifang realized she had spoiled her wife too much, leading to this disaster. But what was done couldn’t be undone. She couldn’t bear to leave her beloved wife here to be torn apart by zombies or lynched by an angry mob once the truth came out.

Using her authority, she arranged for Chen Shuyang’s escape while she herself stayed behind to fight the zombies to the death. Even Liu Yifang’s mother chose to remain, tending to the refugees.

In that eerily realistic dream, Liu Yifang had died from betrayal.

When she woke, Yangyang lay beside her, sleeping peacefully with a faint smile on her face.

At first, Liu Yifang dismissed it as just a nightmare, albeit an unusually vivid one that left her unsettled for days.

After waking, she was too busy to dwell on it. It wasn’t until days later that she thought to ask Yangyang about the water plant. But Yangyang hesitated and evaded the question, confirming Liu Yifang’s suspicions. Then Pei Yujiang came to her, and when Pei described scenes nearly identical to those in her dream, Liu Yifang realized it hadn’t been just a simple nightmare.

Whether it was precognition or something else, Liu Yifang was now certain these events would unfold in the future. Her wife had likely already sold the water plant to those people. She couldn’t act rashly and alert them, but fury burned inside her.

Yangyang called again. Normally, Liu Yifang adored her clinginess, it made her feel secure.

Chen Shuyang wasn’t particularly beautiful, but they had been classmates, drawn to each other from the start. They had weathered life’s storms together for years, trusting each other implicitly. Yet now, seeing Chen Shuyang’s name on her phone, Liu Yifang felt no tenderness.

She hung up with a sharp click.

“So, if Mayor Xiang already knows about this but is determined to shield his wife, then he can’t be trusted either.”

Yu Zhiwan sat in the passenger seat, rolling down the window for some fresh air. The chilly breeze seeped into the car, sharpening both their minds with its crisp touch.

At the thought of this possibility, Pei Yujiang’s earlier good mood evaporated entirely.

She had initially believed that finding Mayor Xiang meant securing a third highly reliable ally. But if this were the case, regardless of what reasons had led her to stay and perish with the zombies in her past life, the mere fact that she shielded her wife made Pei Yujiang unable to fully trust her with her back.

“Love-struck fools are terrifying,” Pei Yujiang concluded with a shake of her head.

Though she’d recently noticed some vague fondness toward Yu Zhiwan, she would never be so love-blind as to cover up mistakes or betray an entire city for someone.

What use was there in Liu Yifang ultimately choosing to leave her behind? To bear the consequences for her wife after the damage was already done?

The car turned silently onto Xiangcheng’s brightly lit main road. Neon lights trailed after their taillights in a dazzling stream. From the overpass, they could see the city’s streets still bustling with nightlife.

After this exchange, silence lingered between them. Pei Yujiang sensed Yu Zhiwan had been acting distant lately. Turning it over in her mind, she couldn’t pinpoint any wrongdoing on her part, leaving her feeling inexplicably wronged.

As they passed another traffic light, nearing home, Pei Yujiang inhaled the cold wind rushing through the window. Unable to hold back any longer, she glanced over her eyes unconsciously brimming with hurt, lips downturned.

“Yu Zhiwan,” she finally ventured after much deliberation, mustering courage to ask outright, “are you… mad at me?” Her voice softened, “Is it because I called you ‘wife’ during your heat at my place?”

“Or because I carried you to bathe? Or let you sit on my lap?”

“But you called me wife first! You hugged me first too! Just because you’re Omega doesn’t mean I took advantage! I’m not an Alpha who could mark you. Touching your gland was necessary when you were unwell, I let go immediately after! Never clung to you or deliberately touched your gland. Please don’t be angry?”

“Zhiwan-jiejie, pay attention to me~”

Pei Yujiang’s final plea rose in a practiced, coquettish lilt, a skill honed through repeated attempts. She’d been uncertain whether Yu Zhiwan responded to such antics; many Omegas enjoyed being coy themselves but disliked others doing so.

Yet when she caught the subtle upturn of Yu Zhiwan’s lips different from her usual serene smile, Pei Yujiang perked up like an Alaskan malamute who’d successfully begged for treats.

Yu Zhiwan cleared her throat, feigning exasperation:

“You didn’t give me a chance to speak earlier.”

Before Pei Yujiang could respond, she added:

“Truthfully, I don’t remember any of what you just mentioned.”

Pei Yujiang erupted into violent coughing. Yu Zhiwan hurriedly rolled up her window. The woman in the driver’s seat sealed all windows shut, though her cheeks and ears burned.

She swiftly changed the subject.

As they neared home, Yu Zhiwan mentioned she was feeling a bit hungry, so the two found a parking spot near the food street.

At this hour, with the night market stalls bustling near the residential area, many of the street food options weren’t the cleanest. They opted for their usual noodle shop instead.

The shop was run by a couple during the day, but in the evenings, their daughter took over. The young woman, around their age, recognized them immediately and promptly served two steaming bowls of beef noodles.

Pei Yujiang, already hungry, felt her appetite surge at the rich aroma. The young woman smiled warmly:

“Come on, no rush. Just got back from a trip, huh? Must be starving. These two bowls are on the house, help yourselves to drinks too. Just let us know how they taste!”

The beef noodles were simmered in a rich broth with ground bone marrow and a touch of milk powder, creating a deeply savory flavor. Pei Yujiang took an eager sip of the broth, savoring it so much her eyes crinkled with delight.

She’d really lucked out finding this place not only was the neighborhood comfortable, but the local vendors were incredibly kind.

After finishing, Pei Yujiang couldn’t bring herself to leave without paying, especially since they might not return for a while after heading back to Xiangcheng. She discreetly tucked a hundred-yuan bill under her bowl.

Feigning nonchalance, she sipped the last of her broth while waiting for Yu Zhiwan, who ate at a slower, more deliberate pace. Pei Yujiang never rushed her or distracted herself with her phone.

Once Yu Zhiwan was nearly done, Pei Yujiang reached for a napkin as usual only for a drop of broth to trickle down the corner of Yu Zhiwan’s lips.

Instinctively, Pei Yujiang pressed the napkin lightly to her mouth, blotting the stain before folding it neatly to dab her lips again, then tossing it into the trash with a flick.

The shop was quiet now, and Pei Yujiang hadn’t noticed the owner’s daughter watching them, leaning against a table with an amused but warm smile.

Her eyes brimming with admiration, the girl teased while clearing the table:

“Did you two move here after getting married? Never seen you around before. You’re such a sweet couple!”

“We—”

“We’re not married,” Yu Zhiwan cut in smoothly. “She’s my boss, and I’m her subordinate. We just live next door.”

Pei Yujiang’s lips parted slightly, but she stayed silent, staring at Yu Zhiwan for a long moment.

The girl’s jaw dropped as if she’d stumbled upon juicy gossip, only snapping out of it when the two left. By the time she noticed the money under the bowl and chased after them, they were already gone.

Pei Yujiang had parked nearby, so they walked home together. The streets grew hushed near the residential gate, the only sound the faint creak of Yu Zhiwan’s wheelchair.

The silence between them weighed heavily, leaving Pei Yujiang unsettled.

She had indeed explained her relationship with Yu Zhiwan more than once, but when that ambiguous boundary beyond friendship was abruptly shattered, her heart felt as if it were being pulled back and forth by an invisible, delicate thread, wearing away at it with faint yet impossible-to-ignore pain.

By the time they reached the parting path, Yu Zhiwan was already familiar with the area, so Pei Yujiang didn’t accompany her further. Instead, for the first time, she silently turned to leave for home.

“Yujiang.”

But then she heard a familiar voice call out to her from behind. Pei Yujiang instinctively turned around immediately. Under the combined glow of the streetlights and moonlight, the Omega’s face resembled a ripe, plump white peach, her delicate snow-like skin and fine, soft fuzz clearly visible. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, as if smiling:

“Love can indeed blind people and cloud their judgment at times, but don’t worry, I won’t let that happen.”

Pei Yujiang didn’t know how to respond.

Her heart ached with a bittersweet swell, and the turbulent emotions within her peaked the moment she saw Yu Zhiwan turn away. All her accumulated confusion and hesitation were pushed aside as she practically shouted something she’d never done to Yu Zhiwan before:

“Then what if I pursue you? Would that still not affect you?”

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