Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 81

The boat docked fifteen minutes later. After feeding the water birds alone at the bow for a while, Yu Zhiwan tossed the plastic bag into the trash and disembarked with the others.

Pei Yujiang waited at the bow to go ashore with her. Knowing Yu Zhiwan had difficulty walking and might find the stairs tiring, she proactively bent down to carry her on her back.

While the state didn’t encourage high school students to date early, the restrictions weren’t strict either. Education on love and relationships started young, so Pei Yujiang didn’t think much of carrying Yu Zhiwan, who nimbly hopped onto her back, lighter than the water birds.

Their destination was the resort area on the island, a sprawling complex about a kilometer or two from the docking point. The autumn sun was high and scorching. Despite applying sunscreen, the heat still prickled against their skin. Pei Yujiang squinted and soon spotted Jiang Wenxiu running toward them.

The school’s trip wasn’t cheap, so naturally, they spared the students any hassle. Luggage was arranged to be delivered directly to their rooms. Jiang Wenxiu had bought two bottles of ice water and carried a small bag with two foldable parasols inside.

Eagerly, she opened one to shade Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan.

Pei Yujiang immediately asked,

“Why aren’t you holding it for your girlfriend?”

At the word “girlfriend,” Jiang Wenxiu flushed slightly, though more from irritation than embarrassment. She coughed and awkwardly changed the subject, complaining about the intense sun and insisting on holding the umbrella since Pei Yujiang was already carrying Yu Zhiwan.

The two teenagers seemed to be in a spat, but Pei Yujiang didn’t dwell on it. No reason to refuse free help. Just as she was about to continue walking without a second thought, Yu Zhiwan’s gentle voice sounded from her back:

“Did you two have a fight? Are you mad at her, or is she mad at you too?”

Under the blazing autumn sun, Yu Zhiwan, comfortably perched on Pei Yujiang’s back with a mini-fan hat, was cool enough to indulge in some gossip. She looped her arms around Pei Yujiang’s neck, occasionally leaning down so Pei Yujiang could catch the breeze, and glanced at Jiang Wenxiu.

Jiang Wenxiu had been bottling up her frustrations. Prompted by Yu Zhiwan, she shot Pei Yujiang a look, huffed, and vented:

“I asked our senior earlier, and she said the villas here house six to twelve people, depending on size. So I thought, if we weren’t assigned to the same one, we’d just swap with someone. But guess what she said?”

“She already made plans to room with Ding Fang, another classmate! She didn’t tell me! Not a word!” Jiang Wenxiu grew more agitated. “When I asked why, she said she wanted to study with Fangfang. Study! We’re here to have fun, and she’s worried about studying!”

Jiang Wenxiu, who hated studying, couldn’t fathom why Shen Jiayu would choose to focus on academics during their rare getaway. Their curriculum didn’t separate arts and sciences, and the workload in their second year was overwhelming. They could only pick two subjects to complete in their third year, but they still had to pass, meaning an extra year of grinding.

Jiang Wenxiu had been desperate for this break. She was nearly suffocating from the stress. Last week, Fan Zhaozhao confiscated her gaming console, sparking a huge fight between them.

Little did they know, the bickering between the two girls was just a trivial joke in Yu Zhiwan’s eyes. After Jiang Wenxiu finished speaking and looked up, seeing Yu Zhiwan actually smiling, she suddenly felt wronged. Then she heard the Omega’s gentle voice say:

“Then why don’t you join her? You said you wanted to study too.”

Jiang Wenxiu’s mind exploded, and she quickly rejected the idea.

“I…”

Yu Zhiwan’s expression turned serious. The Omega, now devoid of her smile, looked particularly stern. Those beautiful almond-shaped eyes fixed on Jiang Wenxiu as she asked intently:

“Jiang Wenxiu, do you like her?”

A blush rapidly spread across the young girl’s face. Though embarrassed, Jiang Wenxiu still gave a firm “Mhm” to express her resolve.

“Liking someone doesn’t mean forcing yourself to do things you don’t want to do, but at the very least, you’d want to improve for their sake, wouldn’t you?” A gentle breeze carrying waves of heat brushed past Yu Zhiwan’s forehead. Jiang Wenxiu thought she saw a faint mark there, but a moment later dismissed it as probably just the effect of dyed hair. The Omega’s tone remained gentle yet firm:

“If you like someone but aren’t even willing to become better or stronger for them, how can you claim to truly like them? Love comes with the responsibility of spending your life with that person. If you’re just looking for casual fun, don’t target Shen Jiayu. Find someone else.”

Why couldn’t she pursue Shen Jiayu?

Yu Zhiwan hadn’t known her for long, yet this was the first time she’d spoken to her with such an experienced tone. Jiang Wenxiu was bursting with questions but didn’t know how to ask them. Filled with confusion and irritation at being lectured, the rebellious teenager Jiang Wenxiu turned and ran.

The parasol was casually tossed to the ground. Yu Zhiwan sighed, got down from Pei Yujiang’s back, picked up the umbrella herself, dusted it off, and opened it.

Afraid she might be upset, Pei Yujiang patted Yu Zhiwan’s shoulder to comfort her:

“Don’t be angry. Deep down, she’s not that bad just spoiled rotten before and admittedly quite unruly.”

Truth be told, Pei Yujiang wasn’t particularly fond of Jiang Wenxiu’s personality. The girl had been disrespectful to the original host in the past. Regardless, the original host had never targeted this underage girl years her junior. Yet despite living in Pei Jinhuai’s house, Jiang Wenxiu had been so harsh toward Pei Jinhuai’s daughter, it was really too much.

But Jiang Wenxiu had also helped her a few times, and Pei Yujiang hadn’t forgotten that. When Liu Huanran had tried to corner Yu Zhiwan at the company, it was Jiang Wenxiu who had driven him away. At that time, their relationship had been far from good, yet Jiang Wenxiu had stepped up to protect an Omega, proving she wasn’t inherently bad.

Yu Zhiwan shook her head. How could she possibly be angry with a young girl?

“That Shen Jiayu probably comes from a poor family. Xinghan High has always had scholarships for impoverished students, tuition is high, but it’s waived for those in need. I saw her name in the teachers’ office the other day. She ranked first in the monthly exam with outstanding scores.”

Such high marks were rare for Xinghan High, which typically underperformed compared to some public schools. In fact, her results would stand out even across all of Yicheng. The school needed students like Shen Jiayu, and Shen Jiayu needed the financial aid, it was mutually beneficial.

Yu Zhiwan noticed in the car that her iPad was an older model. If it was second-hand, it probably cost only a few hundred yuan. Domestic electronics depreciate quickly with rapid upgrades, and the wired earphones were the kind that cost just over ten yuan, proving Shen Jiayu was very frugal.

A diligent girl like her would surely strive for a top university to secure a brighter future.

“So if Jiang Wenxiu just wants a casual fling, I don’t want a girl like her to be disturbed.”

Pei Yujiang listened to her analysis and, after a moment, burst into laughter, glancing at the group ahead:

“You’ve started meddling in others’ business now.”

In the past, Yu Zhiwan had always maintained an aloof attitude, keeping to herself. Pei Yujiang found this change intriguing. But whether out of embarrassment or something else, Yu Zhiwan quickly changed the subject, asking if she wanted to try some local specialty fruits later.

The most famous fruit on this island was the “Golden Pomelo,” true to its name, with a skin that looked like it was coated in gleaming gold. They were sold everywhere, along with mini golden pomelos, tiny and adorable.

On the way, Pei Yujiang spotted someone carving characters on pomelo peels and couldn’t help but comment to Yu Zhiwan:

“How long can these peels even last? Won’t they just rot after a while? And they’re charging 20 yuan per character, enough to buy a whole pomelo!”

Yu Zhiwan, whose vision had only recently recovered, found everything fascinating. Since money wasn’t an issue for her, she said, “I want one.”

Pei Yujiang immediately thumped her chest: “I can make one for you!”

The moment she spoke, she realized her voice might have been too loud several nearby vendors turned to look. Pei Yujiang quickly grabbed Yu Zhiwan’s hand and hurried ahead. They had fallen a bit behind the group, so Pei Yujiang simply scooped Yu Zhiwan up in a princess carry and jogged with her under the scorching sun.

This small island was called Qianshui Island, named after the legend that a thousand streams once flowed into the lake here, creating a spectacular sight. The lake itself was enormous, the largest freshwater lake in the country.

The lodging area was situated on a slightly elevated part of the island, cool in summer and warm in winter, shaded by sprawling trees. Coincidentally, their group assignment placed Pei Yujiang, Yu Zhiwan, Jiang Wenxiu, Ding Fang, Shen Jiayu, and another girl together in a spacious three-story villa, where they could even see the distant lake.

Pei Yujiang was quite satisfied with the accommodations. She and Yu Zhiwan chose the top floor, a converted attic with insulation to keep it from getting too hot. Best of all, it had only one bedroom, a bathroom, and a small garden, perfect for them.

The other girl, Jin Duo, was lively and outgoing. Though from a different class, she wasn’t shy at all, immediately introducing herself to everyone. Pei Yujiang recognized her as the one who had asked for a photo earlier.

Jin Duo wore two braids woven with colorful ribbons, vibrant and full of energy. She darted between floors, helping with luggage and chatting enthusiastically after settling in:

“The view outside is so beautiful, can we have a barbecue tonight?”

Jiang Wenxiu, now in slightly better spirits, told her their homeroom teacher had forbidden barbecues, worried about fire hazards.

Pei Yujiang happened to come downstairs and overheard: “No problem, if you want, I can grill them. I could even catch fish to grill.”

She was a good swimmer and excelled at outdoor barbecues. With some seasoning, it would surely taste even better. Pei Yujiang hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time and was in high spirits, but then Jin Duo came up with another wild idea:

“Isn’t this place connected to the sea? What if we run into sharks down there?”

Ding Fang laughed and gave her a playful pat:

“Don’t be silly, how could sharks appear in a lake?”

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