Transmigrated As The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Of A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 23

“Yeah,” Meng Ze said. “It ended when I woke up this morning. I saw you were still sleeping, so I didn’t disturb you. Although I don’t quite remember what happened these past few days, I didn’t suffer much during this estrus period. It’s likely thanks to you. Thank you.”

Zhao Zhiyi’s heart, which had nearly stopped beating, returned to normal.

It seemed Meng Ze wasn’t lying; he really does forget what happens during his estrus once it ends.

As long as Meng Ze didn’t remember the events of the last two days, Zhao Zhiyi’s plan to immigrate to Mars could be put on hold. Just moments ago, he had merely invited Meng Ze to bite his neck in front of a bunch of old men he didn’t know. They were a married couple now, that was perfectly normal behavior… probably.

“Zhiyi,” a cheerful voice suddenly came from the computer. “Good morning.”

Zhao Zhiyi turned his head and saw Yu Shu’en’s face in one of the small video conference windows.

He fully understood now why Meng Ze’s pheromones were still running wild even though his estrus had ended. Seeing this loathsome “father” first thing in the morning, it was a testament to Meng Ze’s emotional stability that he could even stay seated to continue the meeting.

“Good morning, Uncle Yu,” Zhao Zhiyi greeted awkwardly.

“Child, how many times have I told you? Just follow Meng Ze’s lead and call me ‘Dad,'” Yu Shu’en said.

Zhao Zhiyi thought to himself: But Meng Ze doesn’t call you Dad either.

“However, seeing that you and Meng Ze are getting along so well makes me feel at ease,” Yu Shu’en continued. “I asked Secretary Chen earlier, she said Meng Ze’s estrus had arrived. I was thinking about contacting the hospital, but I didn’t expect you to be by his side.” He paused and smiled. “Does that mean we’ll have good news soon? Remember to get a checkup in time. If you’re pregnant…”

Zhao Zhiyi frowned. Meng Ze had already stood up, saying coldly, “Apologies, everyone. My connection is poor. We will resume the meeting later.”

Without waiting for a response, he snapped the laptop shut.

The study fell into a dead silence.

Zhao Zhiyi cautiously glanced at Meng Ze’s expression.

Meng Ze had absolutely no intention of having children. When Zhao Zhiyi first “transmigrated” here, Meng Ze had tossed out the line, “If you don’t get pregnant this time, we’re divorcing.” It had been pure deflection. At the time, Zhao Zhiyi didn’t have the physiological knowledge of the ABO world and didn’t realize that without a “permanent mark” (knotting), it was nearly impossible for an Omega to conceive.

Now that Yu Shu’en had brought it up again, both Meng Ze and Zhao Zhiyi, who thought of the mentally unstable Meng Qiao in the nursing home, felt a pang of distress.

“Meng Ze,” Zhao Zhiyi started hesitantly. “About the child…”

“I know what conditions Yu Shu’en offered you,” Meng Ze interrupted, his face frigid. “But I will not have any descendants.”

Perhaps because the Meng Ze of the past two days had been so docile and obedient, Zhao Zhiyi found himself unable to adjust to this sudden return of the forceful, indifferent Meng Ze. After a long silence, he let out a soft “oh” and said, “I just wanted to tell you not to worry about whether you permanently marked me during your estrus.”

He offered a small smile. “I have no intention of using a child to tie you down.”

With that, Zhao Zhiyi turned and hurried out. Meng Ze took two steps after him. “I didn’t…”

“I know, I know.” Zhao Zhiyi grabbed his phone from the bedroom, threw on a coat, and headed for the door. “Since you’re fine, I’ll head back. I’ve taken too many days off from the shop. If I don’t go to work, I’ll get fired.”

Meng Ze pursed his lips. He grabbed his car keys. “I’ll drive you.”

“No need.” Zhao Zhiyi made a ‘stop’ gesture. “You’re busy. Don’t worry about me. I’ll just call a taxi.”

He pulled the door open and left. Following the “bang” of the closing door, Meng Ze stood still for a long time before slamming his car keys against the door frame.

Zhao Zhiyi sat in the taxi, staring blankly.

His relationship with Meng Ze should return to how it was before, right? Meng Ze didn’t remember, so he should forget too. That way, he just had to wait quietly for the divorce plotline, take his money, and go live happily ever after anywhere he wanted.

“Young man,” the taxi driver, a talkative middle-aged man, glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Going through a breakup?”

“What?” Zhao Zhiyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Nothing of the sort.”

The driver seemed certain. “Look at how lost in thought you are. If it’s not a breakup, what is it? Aiyoh, you’re so handsome. Who would be so blind as to dump you?”

Zhao Zhiyi: “…Thank you for the compliment, but I really haven’t broken up.”

He propped his chin on his hand, watching the scenery blur past the window, and murmured, “If I had to say, I’ve probably just lost a friend.”

Back at his own place, Zhao Zhiyi ate a quick bite, tidied himself up, and went to the dessert shop for work. The shop manager smiled the moment he saw him. “You’ve been gone for a few days. So many customers came in asking about you. They thought you’d quit.”

Zhao Zhiyi: “How could I? If I don’t earn money, am I supposed to live on air?”

The manager leaned in. “Truthfully, where have you been? You’re covered in the scent of an Alpha… and it’s not our Boss’s scent. I really thought you were the Boss’s boyfriend.”

Zhao Zhiyi was stunned. “Me and Su Jiyu? What are you thinking?”

“Isn’t it? I’ve known the Boss for two years. Even though he’s always gentle and polite, he actually keeps quite a distance,” the manager mused. “It’s like he’s standing right in front of you, but you feel like he’s high in the heavens, forever untouchable. Isn’t that just another form of coldness?”

Zhao Zhiyi said helplessly, “Don’t overthink it. We’re just ordinary friends… is the smell of pheromones on me that strong?”

The manager: “Can’t you smell it yourself?”

Zhao Zhiyi sniffed himself. “I think it’s okay?”

“That’s because you’ve been marinated in this Alpha’s pheromones until you’re seasoned through,” the manager rolled his eyes. “You young people and your lack of restraint…”

Zhao Zhiyi: “…”

For the next several days, Zhao Zhiyi received no news from either Meng Ze or Su Jiyu. Life finally returned to its stagnant pace until one evening, he received an invitation from Zhan Yue to go out for barbecue.

Zhan Yue had just received his part time pay and grandly ordered a table full of food. Zhao Zhiyi asked, “Can you even finish all this?”

“If we can’t, I’ll pack it up for the other brothers.” Zhan Yue opened a beer and winked at Zhao Zhiyi. “Your relationship with CEO Meng has been progressing by leaps and bounds lately.”

Zhao Zhiyi was startled.

Had the news of him accompanying Meng Ze through his estrus spread to the school?!

“Why… why do you say that?” Zhao Zhiyi asked tentatively.

“Hmm? You don’t know?” Zhan Yue, a skewer in his left hand and a beer in his right, smiled brightly. “The school is buzzing with it. They say CEO Meng is ‘striking out in anger for his beauty.’ He negotiated with the school leadership to establish a scholarship in your name.”

It took Zhao Zhiyi a moment to digest this. His first thought was that Meng Ze must have done it while he was delirious during his estrus. He wondered if it could still be canceled…

“Remember how people were being sour to you in the auditorium?” Zhan Yue said. “Our CEO Meng didn’t just slap their faces, he ground them into the dirt. Those bitter losers who claimed you only married into the Meng family because of high compatibility but weren’t liked by the CEO don’t dare utter a word now. Remember that Omega who questioned you? He wears a mask every time he goes out now. It’s hilarious.”

Zhao Zhiyi rested his fingers on his beer can, eyes lowered as he debated whether to ask Meng Ze about this. Zhan Yue added, “Come to think of it, remember when CEO Meng told you to wait for him? He probably discussed this with the school leaders back then.”

“You mean… this was decided back during the guest lecture?”

Zhan Yue nodded. “At least, that’s what the counselor said.”

So Meng Ze had done this while he was perfectly sober. No wonder he had asked back then if Zhao Zhiyi encountered such treatment often.

Was Meng Ze… standing up for him?

“So,” Zhan Yue nudged Zhao Zhiyi with his elbow. “How is your relationship with CEO Meng actually doing?”

“Not great.” Zhao Zhiyi tilted his head back and took a sip of beer. “Same as before.”

“Huh? That shouldn’t be right.” Zhan Yue muttered, “I thought you’d finally found happiness.”

Zhao Zhiyi thought of something and suddenly asked, “Zhan Yue, we grew up together, right?”

“What about it?”

“How much… do you know about my father?”

This question stumped Zhan Yue. “I mean, we grew up together… but I only met you after the class split in middle school. Plus, you never took me to your house, and your dad never showed up for parent-teacher meetings. I’ve never even seen him. I can’t say I know anything. Why the sudden interest?”

“You asked me before if I was going home to see him,” Zhao Zhiyi said. “I’ve been thinking about paying the old man a visit lately.”

Zhan Yue coughed. “A while ago, I called my mom. She said your dad tells everyone you’re ungrateful, that he put you through a good university only for you to grow wings and fly away without ever looking back. That’s why I mentioned it.”

Zhao Zhiyi smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll go see him.”

After dinner, Zhao Zhiyi returned home and showered. He looked at his contact list, hesitating.

He didn’t know if he should contact Meng Ze regarding the scholarship.

His phone suddenly chimed. Zhao Zhiyi’s finger jerked. He looked down, it was just a spam text.

He took a deep breath, tossed the phone aside, and pulled the covers over his head to sleep.

The next day was his day off. Zhao Zhiyi woke up early, changed into comfortable clothes, put on a baseball cap, and headed out.

“I told you, you can’t just wander in here! If you don’t leave, we’re calling the police!” A security guard impatiently pushed a scruffy, middle-aged man away. “You’ve been coming here every single day. Aren’t you tired of it?!”

The middle-aged man reeked of alcohol. His clothes hadn’t been changed in a long time, and his hair was as messy as a bird’s nest. He was filthy and grimy. After being pushed, he began shouting curses: “Who the hell do you think you are?! You’re just a glorified gatekeeper! You really think you’re someone special? Ptui!”

He brushed aside his matted hair, revealing facial features that were actually quite handsome, but his crude aura made it impossible to care about his looks. The guard remained expressionless, choosing to ignore him. There was no point in getting angry at a small-time thug, a confrontation would only hurt them, as the saying goes: “The one with bare feet doesn’t fear the one with shoes.”

Just then, a young man looking like a university student wearing a baseball cap walked by. Due to his striking appearance, the guard couldn’t help but take a second look. Then, he watched as the vagrant lunged at the young man like a rabid dog spotting fresh meat, screaming, “Zhao Zhiyi! Zhao Zhiyi, you stop right there! I recognize you!!”

Zhao Zhiyi stopped in his tracks.

He took off his earphones, shoved his hands into his pockets, and turned around. When he saw Zhao Jing, his face turned pale. “You… how did you get here?”

“I should be asking you that!” Zhao Jing was already very familiar with his son’s cowardly look. He stepped closer, sizing Zhao Zhiyi up from head to toe. “You’re living the high life now, aren’t you? Look at you, all dressed up like a human. This outfit must have cost thousands, eh? Fishing a ‘golden turtle’ husband really pays off, a phoenix rising from the ashes. Why don’t you think about your old man still being chased for debts in Rong City?!”