A Short-Lived Cannon Fodder Alpha Just Wants to Be a Salted Fish - Chapter 13

On Friday night, when Chu Yihan returned home, Han Yu had just finished a phone call. Seeing her daughter change her shoes and enter the house with a light step and a trace of pleasure on her face, Han Yu smiled and asked, “Did something happy happen at school?”

Chu Yihan set down her schoolbag and poured herself a glass of water. “Our class played basketball against Class 2 today.”

“Did you win?”

“We lost.”

Lost, yet she’s in a good mood?

Han Yu’s eyes widened slightly. She observed Chu Yihan more closely; the girl’s features were relaxed, and her eyes were bright. She was indeed happy. A thought occurred to Han Yu, and she stared at her daughter with a knowing smile. “I remember your new friend is from Class 2. Was it her team that beat yours?”

Chu Yihan set down her glass and turned slightly, avoiding her mother’s gossipy gaze. She gave a non-committal, emotionless reply: “I’m going upstairs now.”

Seeing her daughter return to her usual calm and indifferent demeanor, Han Yu smiled and didn’t press further. Changing the subject, she said, “Your grandfather has recovered well. He’s planning to host a banquet at the Zhonghai Hotel on Sunday and wants you to be there.”

Chu Yihan’s brow knit slightly.

Old Man Han had given up hope on his “love-brained” daughter; he had always intended for his far more exceptional granddaughter, Chu Yihan, to inherit the family business. Thus, tomorrow’s banquet was ostensibly to celebrate the Elder’s recovery, but in reality, it was a social networking event. First, it was to show business rivals that Han was still in good health, and second, it was to introduce the future successor, Chu Yihan.

Though she disliked such occasions, Chu Yihan had no intention of upsetting the old man. She replied, “I understand.”

As Chu Yihan walked up the stairs, Han Yu hesitated for a moment before calling out to her.

“That child from your class named Zheng Qin… she won’t be returning to school next week.” Han Yu paused, then said helplessly, “Han-han, next time you are bullied at school, don’t hide it. Tell Mama, okay?”

If Chu Yihan’s grandmother hadn’t grown suspicious and ordered an investigation into the cause of her granddaughter’s allergy—leading them to the security footage of Zheng Qin confessing in the equipment room—this matter might have simply faded away.

Chu Yihan’s footsteps faltered for a second, but she didn’t stop. She gave a faint, detached “Mm.” Han Yu watched her slender back and let out a sigh so quiet it was barely audible.

Back in her room, Chu Yihan leaned her head back against the door. As it closed with a click, she lifted a hand to cover her eyes.

Images flashed through her mind of the moment she had doubled back to the basketball gym and seen Wen Yuan pressuring Zheng Qin with her pheromones. Wen Yuan’s expression and words had seemed to be a deliberate imitation of Zheng Qin in the security footage.

Was I overthinking it, or… was Wen Yuan really standing up for me?

Sunday Night, Zhonghai Grand Hotel.

Wen Yuan followed Fang Jingbai to attend her company’s anniversary banquet. Fang Jingbai held a high position in the company; the tables were filled with clinking glasses and a constant stream of flattery directed at her.

Listening to the adults trade business pleasantries, Wen Yuan ate until she was stuffed. Taking advantage of the host’s speech on the company’s history, she slipped out of the banquet hall after telling her mother.

The top floor of the Zhonghai Restaurant was beautifully decorated, with glass on all four sides. One could enjoy the cool air conditioning while taking in the city nightscape. Only a few children were playing on the swings. Wen Yuan sat down on a wicker chair in the corner.

She put on her headphones and pulled Shi Ran and her “little apprentice” into a team. Just as she was about to start a game, a youthful voice popped up beside her: “PUBG! A Golden Maserati! Take me with you, okay?”

Wen Yuan turned her head. A boy around ten years old was staring at her with wide, expectant eyes. After a brief staring contest, Wen Yuan gave in. “Fine. But let me say this first: if we don’t ‘eat chicken’ (win), don’t blame me.”

“No problem!” The kid tilted his chin up, sat opposite her, and said with full confidence, “I’ll carry you guys!”

Wen Yuan found the kid amusing. After giving Shi Ran and the others a heads-up, she pulled him into the lobby.

They jumped into Novorepnoye (N-Port). As soon as they landed, the kid and the apprentice were knocked down. The two of them clutched their stomachs and crawled into a shipping container, starting a conversation.

The kid began nagging like Tang Sanzang: “It’s over, it’s over. Die on landing. I haven’t even sat in the Golden Maserati yet.”

“Hide further inside so you don’t get finished off,” Shi Ran’s apprentice comforted him. “My Master and her friend are very strong. Soon, all of N-Port will be ours. We’ll definitely win.”

“Impossible. She said you guys are all noobs.”

“She lied to you.”

“Why don’t I believe that?”

Wen Yuan thought the kid was funny and teased him on purpose: “What if I really do carry you to a win?”

“Then you’re my boss!” The kid furrowed his brow in a dilemma. “Ah, no… I already have a boss. But if you keep me alive, I’ll let you be my boss instead.”

Wen Yuan burst out laughing. Curious, she asked, “Who is your current boss?”

“She’s my role model! The strongest Omega.” The kid’s face was full of worship. “Her grades are amazing! Math problems that make my head explode—she can solve them with just one look!”

That tells me basically nothing, Wen Yuan thought with a smile, shaking her head. But then, a specific person flashed through her mind.

She is also an Omega with amazing grades.

During that split-second distraction, Wen Yuan was sniped. Shi Ran quickly pulled the two “crawlers” up. Seeing his health bar dropped by half, the kid was even less convinced. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got?”

The words had barely left his mouth when the kid was knocked down again. He screamed, “Ahhh! Save me! Save me! I’m going to be finished off!”

Wen Yuan focused her mind, her brow knitting as she said coldly, “Quiet.”

Instantly, the three people in the team were too scared to even breathe.

Wen Yuan knocked the opponent down just before the kid could be eliminated. There were three more sets of footsteps nearby. Wen Yuan muted her mic and listened carefully. Once the kid was revived by the apprentice, he huddled in the container with a sliver of health, too scared to even use a medkit.

A burst of gunfire rang out. In the bottom right of the screen, a “Quadra-Kill” notification appeared. Immediately after, the system announced Wen Yuan as the first “Kill Leader” of the match. The brat shrieked, “So cool!”

“Come and loot the crates.”

“Coming, coming!”

Twenty minutes later, they won. Wen Yuan put down her phone and took off one earbud. She looked at the gobsmacked brat and arched an eyebrow. “How was that?”

The kid praised her excitedly, “Boss, you’re awesome! You’re mighty! You’re my father! You’re my own mother!”

Wen Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how smoothly this kid called her “Dad” and “Mom.”

A soft laugh came from behind her.

Wen Yuan turned around and saw Chu Yihan standing a few paces away by a heart-shaped flowerbed.

Chu Yihan didn’t have her hair in a ponytail today. Her long, wavy hair was down, with small, delicate braids at the front. She wore a taro-purple, knee-length gauze dress. It was a romantic, elegant color that required a certain complexion to pull off; her skin was so pale it suited her perfectly, retaining a youthful vibrancy while adding a touch of soft beauty.

It was just like the shallow smile on her face—gentle, yet containing a trace of subtle playfulness.

Being caught taking advantage of a child made Wen Yuan a bit embarrassed, but she was more surprised by Chu Yihan’s presence. “Why are you here too?”

“My grandfather was discharged. He’s hosting a banquet in the Fulu Hall on the sixth floor.” Chu Yihan took two steps forward. “And you?”

Wen Yuan remembered hearing the HR department say earlier that they originally wanted the sixth floor, but a “big shot” had booked all the halls on that floor for a recovery banquet, so they had to move to the Ruyi Hall on the fifth floor.

It seemed the “big shot” was Chu Yihan’s grandfather. Wen Yuan gave an “Oh” and said, “My mom’s company is having their anniversary.”

Just then, the kid shouted excitedly, “Boss!”

Wen Yuan turned her head and realized the kid was calling out to Chu Yihan. So, the Omega with the amazing grades really was Chu Yihan.

“Yue-yue,” Chu Yihan tilted her head and smiled at the boy. “Your mother is looking for you.”

“Ah, what does she want now?” Yue-yue pouted and left reluctantly.

Once he was gone, Chu Yihan sat in his seat. Her gaze fell on Wen Yuan’s phone screen. “Are you playing a game?”

In the headset, the others were asking if they were playing another round. Wen Yuan looked up at Chu Yihan and asked, “Do you want to play?”

“I’m not very good at it.”

“It’s fine. I am. I’ll protect you.”

Wen Yuan had assumed that for an “Academic God” like Chu Yihan, she would learn everything quickly and be a pro at gaming—that “not very good” was just modesty.

But when she saw Chu Yihan’s character walking like an NPC, only killing an opponent with a “aiming-at-the-sky” technique after being beaten to near-death, jumping at a window for ages without getting through, and jumping at the car when told to get in… Wen Yuan finally realized she truly didn’t know how to play.

Shi Ran was dying of laughter at Chu Yihan’s movements and couldn’t help teasing: “Why are your grades so good but your gaming so ‘trash’?”

Chu Yihan turned on her mic and said sheepishly, “I’m playing poorly and dragging you down… Ah! There’s someone here!”

There were two “campers” in the building she was looting who had already taken half her health. She had accidentally turned on “All” chat. The campers heard her soft, sweet girl’s voice and immediately called out, “Hey, it’s a girl! I won’t shoot you. Where are your teammates?”

Chu Yihan was stunned. She bit her lip, staying silent and not daring to move. she lifted her eyelids and looked at Wen Yuan somewhat helplessly.

Shi Ran and the apprentice asked with concern, “Why did your health drop so much? Did you get ambushed?”

“There are four campers over there. I’m going upstairs now,” Wen Yuan explained to the team while pulling her chair closer to Chu Yihan.

Their knees and shoulders brushed together. Wen Yuan leaned in a bit closer; a stray lock of hair at her temple lightly swept against Chu Yihan’s cheek, causing a slight itch.

Chu Yihan tensed up, forgetting to breathe. It wasn’t until Wen Yuan reached over to turn off her mic and sat back up that she finally let out a breath. Wen Yuan glanced at her and smiled comfortingly. “Don’t be afraid. Wait for me.”

Chu Yihan opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately just gave an “Mm.”

The opponents were still trying to talk to her: “Are you an Omega? Your voice is so sweet, you must be an Omega, right?”

“Little sister, if you call us ‘husband,’ we’ll carry you to a win, how about it?”

“Get lost, don’t take advantage of her. Come on, just call us ‘good older brother’.”

The four men let out a series of lewd laughs.

Chu Yihan lightly tugged at Wen Yuan’s sleeve. Wen Yuan’s brow knit, her eyes turning cold. She popped a booster and went straight upstairs.

Seeing the footsteps on the map, the four campers grew alert, but two of them were downed the moment they stepped out with their guns. Wen Yuan nimbly swapped weapons, reloaded, maneuvered around the cover, and wiped the entire squad.

Wen Yuan turned on “All” chat and scoffed, “So ‘trash.’ You’re only fit to be called ‘sons’.”

The four men in the headset began cursing, making the soft laugh next to her ear stand out.

Wen Yuan turned her head and licked her lip, her brow arching playfully and triumphantly. “Am I awesome or what?”

“Awesome.” Chu Yihan lowered her eyelids, her gaze slowly sweeping over Wen Yuan’s damp, red lips. She said slowly and softly: “You are the most awesome.”