Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine - Chapter 87

Yu Zhiwan, who was drinking water beside them, nearly spat it out.

She barely managed to suppress the smile threatening to curl her lips and shot a meaningful glance at Ji Lingxian, whose expression was a mix of emotions. It was unclear whether Ji Lingxian caught the hint.

Ji Lingxian didn’t catch it and all she wanted to do was roll her eyes.

Pei Yujiang’s slender fingers tapped open her phone screen. Back when the “Emotion Guru” had blocked her, she hadn’t unfollowed the account on the Q&A app. The guru had a sizable following, and among the sea of over a hundred thousand followers, she hadn’t been singled out.

Seeing the familiar profile, Pei Yujiang, in a rare burst of generosity, earnestly handed her phone to Ji Lingxian:

“Here, this is the one. She operates through the platform, just add her as a friend and send her your request. She’s usually online in the evenings. It’s about that time now, but she hasn’t logged in yet. Maybe she’s busy with something.”

Ji Lingxian: “…”

A sudden mischievous urge made her glance at Yu Zhiwan. She really wanted to see Pei Yujiang’s reaction upon learning that she was the so-called “Emotion Guru.” But Yu Zhiwan’s stern look made Ji Lingxian rein in her playful impulse.

Having spent so much time with Yu Zhiwan, she knew that while jokes were fine, when Yu Zhiwan said no, it meant no. That was their unspoken rule.

Ji Lingxian chuckled to herself. She’d get her payback when it came time for these two’s wedding sweets, no rush.

Besides, she might need their help with something later, so she planned to take her time today.

As they spoke, a server knocked and entered, pushing a small cart laden with their ordered dishes. Yu Zhiwan knew Ji Lingxian’s tastes well enough to order a general spread, leaving room for Ji Lingxian to add more if she wanted.

But after spending so much time abroad, Ji Lingxian wasn’t picky about hometown cuisine anymore.

Freshly sliced lamb rolls, marbled red and white, were dipped into the clear broth, releasing a rich, savory aroma without any gaminess. Vegetables were added after the meat, corn slices and enoki mushrooms tumbled in the bubbling broth. Pei Yujiang even scooped up a generous ladleful of the rich, flavorful soup.

The country Ji Lingxian had been staying in was big on bread. At first, it was novel, but after a while, it left her feeling parched. Following Pei Yujiang’s lead, she scooped up a mouthful of soup, stirring the fresh meat and vegetables in the steaming heat.

“So good,” Ji Lingxian couldn’t help but praise after a sip.

After some casual chatter, Ji Lingxian finally got to the point:

“Does Yuerong give New Year’s holidays?”

“Yeah,” Pei Yujiang nodded. “Why? Need something?”

Yuerong had excellent employee benefits, typically granting five days of annual leave, which increased with tenure. Pei Yujiang and Yu Zhiwan had previously taken leave to accompany Jiang Wenxiu, using a combination of annual leave and weekends, two days initially, then another full day later to rest.

The New Year holiday also lasted five days, with Yuerong implementing staggered internal breaks. Assembly line workers could take collective leave once their tasks were completed, and so on for other departments.

Pei Yujiang initially thought Ji Lingxian wanted to switch jobs to Yuerong. But since Ji Lingxian wasn’t in media and Yuerong already had her as their media specialist, she doubted Ji Lingxian would bother competing for her role.

Hearing about the holiday, Ji Lingxian simply said, “Oh,” then smiled and asked Pei Yujiang:

“Stay for a few days? I actually wanted to discuss a collaboration with Yuerong or more precisely, with you.”

Pei Yujiang was momentarily taken aback.

What could Ji Lingxian possibly want to discuss with her?

Upon learning that Ji wanted a business partnership to help promote Yuerong’s products, Pei initially intended to decline outsourcing. However, the terms and compensation Ji offered were quite favorable. Considering she might be swamped soon, Pei eventually relented after some thought.

“You’ll need to discuss this with our Head of Planning,” Pei said, forwarding Zhao Manlin’s contact details. “Her name is Zhao…”

Ji Lingxian mentioned she already had Zhao’s contact from the human trafficking case, where Zhao had asked her to provide counseling for a friend. Beyond formal exchanges, they hadn’t interacted much. With her outgoing personality, Ji directly asked Pei:

“Is your Head of Planning, Zhao, particularly aloof?”

“Not at all.” Pei remembered clearly how Zhao had badmouthed her (the original host) behind her back during their first meeting.

As the dinner concluded, Yu Zhiwan couldn’t suppress a laugh after settling the bill. When Pei asked what was so amusing, Yu laughed even harder.

“How can you not see she’s interested in Zhao Manlin?”

Back in the car, Yu greeted Ji Lingxian, only to immediately betray her confidence. Leaning close to Pei as if sharing a secret, the Omega’s warm breath against Pei’s sensitive ear turned it crimson as the window rolled down:

“Are you really that oblivious?”

Pei genuinely hadn’t noticed.

She thought Ji simply wanted a business collaboration, who knew there were such underlying complexities? Feeling increasingly out of touch with modern dating tactics, Pei asked Yu:

“But if she already has Zhao’s contact, why take such a roundabout approach?”

Like her own straightforward method, just inviting the Omega she liked to dinner and seeing how things developed. With Ji’s cheerful personality, witty conversation, and respect for Omegas, she seemed like a great Alpha who shouldn’t have trouble finding a girlfriend.

Yu nodded:

“True, but that works for most Omegas.”

Zhao Manlin was no ordinary Omega. Yu could never forget how ecstatic Zhao looked upon securing the rights to purchase original shares, practically wearing “career-focused” on her face.

Someone with past heartbreak finds it hard to open up again, especially a workaholic like Zhao. Hearing Yu’s analysis, Pei couldn’t help but feel a bit schadenfreude.

Serves Ji right for previously coveting her girlfriend, who’d have thought the tables would turn like this?

Pei still believed Ji had genuinely been in love with Yu Zhiwan and couldn’t get over her.

As for how rocky Ji’s pursuit of Zhao would be that’s another story.

Soon after, Pei received a message from Chief Xiang requesting evidence about the corpse found in Yicheng’s Yi Lake. Pei had taken photos during her dive that day as proof. When she returned later, the body was gone, leaving only a faint fishy odor clinging to the aquatic plants, the sole testament to this bizarre case.

After all the cases were consolidated, Xiangcheng was the first to initiate a new round of civilized city campaigns. But this time, the focus wasn’t just on urban cleanliness, anti-human trafficking and environmental protection slogans now filled every street and alley.

Prompted by Pei Yujiang’s reminders, the mayor of Xiangcheng dismantled two human trafficking rings in the city. A special task force was established, and civilians were encouraged to report any suspicious activities.

As the saying goes, “Where there’s a reward, there’s courage.” With verified leads, the mayor even mobilized stationed troops to raid an entire village involved in the trafficking industry. Everyone involved, regardless of age or gender, was arrested, delivering a stern warning to those who might still be tempted.

Other cities across the continent soon followed Xiangcheng’s example. Of course, some places were riddled with collusion between officials and local crime syndicates, deep-rooted networks that made dismantling them far more complicated than anticipated.

The weather had been particularly harsh lately. As November faded into December, cold air swept southward, engulfing Xiangcheng just days before. Pei Yujiang had already started wearing the red scarf Yu Zhiwan knitted for her early in the season. She refused to turn on the heating at home, opting instead to bundle up in layers. When questioned during a video conference, she replied matter-of-factly:

“Everyone’s advocating for environmental protection these days. I’m just trying to save electricity.”

A few women on the call couldn’t help but chuckle, and even Pei Jinhuai cracked a smile:

“Alright, let’s wrap this up. Once we finish this summary, we’ll break for lunch.”

Pei Yujiang was working remotely from Xiangcheng. By the time the meeting adjourned, it was already past one in the afternoon, finally time for a hot meal. Yu Zhiwan wasn’t with her, busy with her own work in Yicheng. After the meeting, Pei Yujiang sent her a message before ordering takeout.

As she watched the delivery rider leave, she noticed how fiercely the wind was blowing outside. Grabbing a bottle of warm mineral water from the insulated box, she called out to offer it to him. But the rider didn’t even glance back, leaving Pei Yujiang no choice but to return the bottle.

Starving, she tore into the takeout box. The weather was truly miserable, bone-chilling winds heralding the seasonal cold snap. Lately, she’d been trying to cook more, but on days like this, she tipped generously for delivery.

Just as she opened her fish-flavored shredded pork rice, she found a tangled mess of yarn stuffed inside the container. The seal showed no signs of tampering likely, the bag had been replaced. Frowning, she snapped a photo, her appetite ruined. Then she spotted something white inside, possibly a note. Before she could check, Yu Zhiwan’s video call came through.

Pei Yujiang immediately shifted gears, pulling up a chair and setting the takeout aside. She greeted the woman on-screen with a warm smile.

Yu Zhiwan was still in her white lab coat, exhaustion evident in her eyes, yet they sparkled as if seeking praise:

“Xiangcheng’s making good progress lately. Yaocheng’s cracking down too, and we’ve got connections there who can push things forward. Yicheng’s the tough one, though might take a while longer.”

She couldn’t suppress a delicate yawn:

“I’ve been swamped. Might be some time before I can visit. But if we both push through this together, we can finally celebrate the New Year properly. What do you say?”

Being unjustly targeted by them, Organization A wasn’t about to take it lying down. After lying low for so long, they were bound to strike back. While Yu Zhiwan was busy with her own affairs, Pei Yujiang was also working hard. During this period, neither had much time to meet. After just a few words, Yu Zhiwan became occupied again. Noticing Pei Yujiang’s poor signal, she asked:

“I’m about to hang up. Is there anything else you’d like to say to me?”

Pei Yujiang’s lips moved slightly, but no sweet nothings came out. On the screen, the Omega, though visibly fatigued yet still strikingly beautiful, smiled at her before Yu Zhiwan ended the call.

Meanwhile, Pei Yujiang was already checking tickets to Wing City and opening the website of Yu Zhiwan’s favorite cake shop, asking the owner if she could place an advance order for a small cake.

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