Transmigrated As The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Of A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 4

Su Jiyu wore a light gray overcoat with a white scarf draped around his neck. His eyes looked like amber freshly mined from the snow, gentle, yet shimmering with a faint, cold light.

He seemed a bit surprised to see Zhao Zhiyi there. As he hung his coat and scarf on the garment rack, the store manager said, “Boss, this is our newcomer, Xiao Zhao. He’s very hardworking and has great looks. Many people come here to buy cakes specifically to ask for his contact info, he’s become the face of our shop now.”

Su Jiyu let out a soft chuckle and nodded. “Mm, he is indeed remarkably handsome.”

“Xiao Zhao, the boss came by today because he wants to bake a cake. You have great technique, so walk the boss through it. You don’t need to worry about the front counter for now,” the manager instructed.

Zhao Zhiyi hesitated.

To be honest, he didn’t want to get involved with either Meng Ze or Su Jiyu. Based on the original plot of the novel, it wouldn’t be surprising for this pair of “maniacs” to pull off any kind of stunt.

“What’s wrong?” Su Jiyu asked softly. “Do you not want to teach me? It’s alright, you can be direct with me.”

Looking into those moist, gentle eyes, the refusal stuck in Zhao Zhiyi’s throat.

“…No, I’m just a little nervous,” Zhao Zhiyi said. “I’m not good at teaching people.”

“It’s fine,” Su Jiyu said lightheartedly. “I’m just interested in it for fun. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Since it had come to this, Zhao Zhiyi had no choice but to bite the bullet.

Once they reached the back kitchen and finished the sanitation procedures, Zhao Zhiyi asked, “What kind of cake do you want to make?”

“Which kind is simpler?” Su Jiyu looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m quite clumsy. I might not be able to learn anything too difficult. I heard from the manager that you’re very skilled and can make almost any common Western dessert.”

Zhao Zhiyi thought to himself that if you worked in a dessert shop for two years, you’d be able to recite the recipes from memory too, but he remained reserved in front of the boss. “The manager is exaggerating.”

“How did you end up working here? Is it to experience life?” Su Jiyu asked, glancing sideways at Zhao Zhiyi while kneading dough under his direction.

Zhao Zhiyi replied, “To earn money.”

“Ah.” Su Jiyu seemed a bit surprised. “Does Meng Ze not give you money to spend?”

Zhao Zhiyi couldn’t exactly say that while Boss Meng gave him plenty, he was about to be kicked out soon. He answered vaguely, “It’s more secure to earn my own money.”

“True, that makes sense,” Su Jiyu said. “I opened this shop just for fun. If you like it here, you can stay as long as you want. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Both were bosses, but Su Jiyu’s attitude was much better. Zhao Zhiyi’s tone softened slightly. “Thank you.”

As Su Jiyu poured the batter into the cake mold, Zhao Zhiyi’s smile suddenly froze. “Wait…”

“What is it?”

“That mold has a detachable bottom. Did you put it in?”

Su Jiyu blinked. “Huh?”

Zhao Zhiyi watched helplessly as the cake batter leaked out from the bottomless edge of the mold. Within seconds, it covered the entire workstation and began dripping onto the floor.

Zhao Zhiyi: “…”

“I’m sorry.” Su Jiyu hid his hands behind his back, looking like an elementary school student who had made a mistake. “I’m not very familiar with these things.”

“…It’s okay.” Zhao Zhiyi took a deep breath. “We just need to clean it up.”

With the cake-making interrupted halfway, the two of them began laboring away at the cleanup. Once Zhao Zhiyi finally finished wiping the floor, he looked up to find Su Jiyu staring at him.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Yes.” Su Jiyu reached out and lightly flicked the tip of Zhao Zhiyi’s nose, showing him: “Look, cake batter.”

Zhao Zhiyi recoiled two steps in alarm.

Forget about the Alpha-Omega dynamic, even in his original world, normal guys wouldn’t make such an intimate gesture!

“…Did I scare you?” Su Jiyu lowered his eyelids, his lips slightly pursed. “I’m sorry. I always forget that I’m an Alpha.”

Zhao Zhiyi was stunned. “Forget?”

“You must have heard,” Su Jiyu said with a smile. “Meng Ze and I grew up together. Everyone thought I would differentiate into an Omega and naturally marry him. My family even raised me as an Omega. Even I believed it myself.”

“Even though it’s been many years since I differentiated, sometimes I still think I’m an Omega.”

Doesn’t this sound like gender identity confusion?

But thinking about it, the original novel did mention that everyone, including Su Jiyu, expected him to be an Omega. Differentiating as an Alpha at age fourteen must have been a huge blow to him. After all, if he had been an Omega, he wouldn’t have had to watch his beloved marry someone else.

Thinking this way, the 185cm tall Su Jiyu suddenly seemed small and pitiful in Zhao Zhiyi’s eyes.

“It was my reaction that was too much.” Zhao Zhiyi relaxed his body and pointed to the heat-suppressant patch on his neck. “My rut just passed recently, so I’m a bit sensitive to Alphas. It wasn’t directed at you.”

Su Jiyu’s gaze lingered on the patch. “Does it hurt to wear that?”

“It doesn’t hurt, but it’s a bit uncomfortable.” Zhao Zhiyi thought about how to describe the sensation. “It feels like having your mouth taped shut.”

“I see,” Su Jiyu said softly. “Why didn’t you go to Meng Ze during your rut? Then you wouldn’t have needed the patch.”

Zhao Zhiyi: “!”

“Actually, I saw it,” Su Jiyu’s voice grew even softer. “That time at the Bird of Paradise, your gland was very swollen. Did Meng Ze bite you?”

Zhao Zhiyi fell silent for a moment. He couldn’t exactly say it was Cheng Hui who bit him.

“He can be a bit crude,” Su Jiyu said, not sounding bitter, but rather gentle. “You shouldn’t listen to everything he says.”

Zhao Zhiyi forced a smile. “Actually, we…”

Just as he was about to explain that he and Meng Ze didn’t really have that kind of relationship, Su Jiyu turned away. “Let’s continue the cake. We need to mix a new batch of batter according to the previous proportions, right?”

Zhao Zhiyi looked at his profile, sensing a hint of heartache within that elegant and peaceful silhouette.

This is what they call “putting on a brave face.”

He had expected Su Jiyu to be hostile, difficult, and territorial, but it turned out he had been judging a noble heart with a petty mind. Su Jiyu was choosing to endure this immense grievance all by himself.

“You…” Zhao Zhiyi hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

In his opinion, a jerk like Meng Ze, who would compromise and marry just for his family, wasn’t a good catch at all. Su Jiyu was so high-quality that he could easily find someone who would treat him with total devotion. But then again, feelings are like drinking water, only the one drinking knows if it’s cold or warm. If a few words from him could convince Su Jiyu to give up on Meng Ze, then the book Non-Instinctive Reaction wouldn’t have been able to span hundreds of thousands of words.

“Did I get a step wrong?” Su Jiyu stopped.

“No, you’re doing great,” Zhao Zhiyi said. “You can add a bit more sugar, otherwise it won’t have any flavor after baking.”

Su Jiyu was undoubtedly a good student. He did exactly as Zhao Zhiyi said. However, the final product that came out of the oven…

“Is it okay?” Su Jiyu looked at Zhao Zhiyi earnestly, his eyelashes fluttering.

Zhao Zhiyi looked at the blackened lump, a mixture of butter, flour, and sugar transformed by high heat and spoke against his conscience: “It’s quite good. You have talent.”

After two seconds, he couldn’t help but add: “But don’t tell anyone I taught you.”

“It seems I really don’t have a knack for this,” Su Jiyu sighed. “Even with such a great teacher like you, I still can’t do it well.”

Zhao Zhiyi immediately felt his previous words were a bit harsh. He coughed and said, “Actually, it’s not that bad. It’s normal for your first time.”

Just as Su Jiyu was about to speak, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, his expression turning a bit cold. He made an apologetic gesture to Zhao Zhiyi and stepped out to take the call.

He returned a few minutes later. “A sudden emergency came up, I have to go. I’ll ask for your guidance again next time.”

He left in a hurry, appearing truly busy. Zhao Zhiyi looked at the lump of sugar and fat left behind. Based on the principle of not wasting food, he trimmed and decorated it, using the remaining cream and fruit to make a passably decent cake to take home for dinner.

Life had been quite relaxed and pleasant lately, so much so that when he opened his front door and saw Meng Ze sitting on the sofa, he nearly threw the cake at him in fright.

“Why are you here?”

Meng Ze was in formal wear, his handsome face looking cold and stern. He turned to look at Zhao Zhiyi with an air of complete entitlement. For a split second, Zhao Zhiyi thought he was the one trespassing.

“You bought a cake?” Meng Ze didn’t answer the question.

“Made it myself.” Zhao Zhiyi put his coat away, wondering if Meng Ze was there to talk about the divorce.

“You knew today was my birthday?” Meng Ze asked.

Zhao Zhiyi was stunned.

He genuinely did not know that.

But he quickly pieced it together, no wonder a wealthy young master like Su Jiyu suddenly wanted to bake a cake, it was meant for his beloved’s birthday.

Even though Su Jiyu had left early, by some twist of fate, the cake he “made” had still ended up in front of Meng Ze. These two really were destined for each other.

“I don’t eat such sweet, greasy food,” Meng Ze said.

Zhao Zhiyi opened the box, took out the mediocre cake, and said, “You should have some. Someone made it by hand; don’t let their heart go to waste.”

Meng Ze: “?”

Someone?

Why was Zhao Zhiyi suddenly acting so coy?

“Su Jiyu had to leave suddenly because of an emergency, otherwise he probably would have come to see you,” Zhao Zhiyi explained. “Did he tell you about it?”

Zhao Zhiyi was talking about the cake-making, but Meng Ze interpreted it differently. He gave a brief “Mm” and added, “His father had a medical episode and was hospitalized.”

So that was it.

Zhao Zhiyi didn’t know it was Meng Ze’s birthday, so naturally, there were no candles. After rummaging through the house, he only found a jar of scented candle. He lit it with a lighter and placed it before Meng Ze. “Will this do?”

Meng Ze said, “I don’t celebrate birthdays.”

In the past, Zhao Zhiyi couldn’t wait to stay as far away from him as possible. Why was he being so proactive today?

“You have to, you have to. Like I said, don’t let someone’s hard work go to waste,” Zhao Zhiyi urged. “Blow out the candle and make a wish. Who knows, it might come true.”

Ever since Meng Qiao moved into the nursing home, Meng Ze hadn’t celebrated a birthday, let alone blown out candles. He had come here for something else, but looking at Zhao Zhiyi’s smiling eyes in the candlelight, for some reason, he actually blew the candle out.

“Alright, let’s eat,” Zhao Zhiyi said. “Even though the appearance isn’t great, the ingredients are top-notch. Don’t be picky.”

After saying it, he felt he’d stated the obvious. This was handmade by Su Jiyu, there was no way Meng Ze would be picky. Even though the man looked stoic, he was probably overjoyed on the inside.

What a poser.

Zhao Zhiyi gave half the cake to Meng Ze and ate the other half himself. They sat at the dining table in silence.

After finishing, Zhao Zhiyi figured it was time for Meng Ze to leave, but Meng Ze said, “The place I need to go tomorrow is close to here. I’m staying the night.”

Zhao Zhiyi: “?”

First free food, now free lodging? Is Meng Ze switching from the “prison style” CEO trope to the “beggar style” one?

Zhao Zhiyi wasn’t happy and tried to decline politely. “I haven’t tidied the guest room.”

Meng Ze said calmly, “Sleeping in your room is fine.”

Zhao Zhiyi and Meng Ze locked eyes for two seconds. Then, Zhao Zhiyi turned around and cleaned the guest room with lightning speed and efficiency, as if Meng Ze were a man-eating beast.

When he came out, he couldn’t see Meng Ze anywhere, eventually finding him back on the balcony making a call.

He always seemed so busy.

Zhao Zhiyi used to be busy too, but that was for survival. Why did a golden-spoon young master like Meng Ze keep himself running in circles?

As he was lost in thought, Meng Ze slid open the glass door and stepped inside. “Tomorrow we’re going to the nursing home to see my mother. Be on your best behavior.”

So that was the real reason he came tonight.

The original owner had only met Meng Qiao once, on the day he and Meng Ze registered their marriage. It had been a brief encounter. Meng Qiao had simply instructed the lawyer to put the house in his name before going back to take her medication.

“I will,” Zhao Zhiyi nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything out of line in front of your aunt.”

Meng Ze: “She’d be happier if you called her ‘Mom’.”

Zhao Zhiyi signaled that it wouldn’t be an issue. As long as the money was right, let alone calling Meng Qiao “Mom,” he’d call Meng Ze “Mom” if required.

“Then… goodnight?” Zhao Zhiyi tilted his head and gave a small wave to end the conversation.

Meng Ze hummed in response. Just as Zhao Zhiyi reached his bedroom door, Meng Ze suddenly spoke again.

“Your suppressant patch, do you need me to help you change it?”