After Being Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Scum Alpha, She Relies on Acting Cute to Survive - Chapter 7

Ruan Ci pouted slightly.

What was so funny?

The protagonist, Lin Shu, actually had some very cute little habits!

For instance, she loved lollipops; she’d buy a whole box every few days and rotate through the flavors at home. Or, for example, her favorite color was pale pink, and her dream wedding dress was the kind with a massive train and tons of tiny bows…

Ruan Ci silently counted these up for a long while, only to realize that she actually knew Lin Shu that well!

So… could she play to those interests?

A surprise that seemed accidental was always the best way to move someone’s heart. She decided she’d have the butler prepare a pink-themed room later, hire a pastry chef, and keep the house stocked year-round with lollipops and White Rabbit creamy candies… As for the wedding dress, one could wear it even without getting married; it was just a dress after all, and she was rich!

Having made up her mind, the gaze Ruan Ci directed at Lin Shu grew increasingly tender, as if she were looking at a poor little thing about to fall into her clutches… oh no, about to fall into her embrace.

She would definitely use the original host’s money to take good care of this poor girl, offset a tiny bit of the original host’s sins, and—conveniently—ensure her own survival!

“Your gaze is so sappy,” Xu Yayi remarked, glancing at Ruan Ci and immediately rubbing the non-existent goosebumps on her arms. “I say, you haven’t actually fallen for her, have you?”

On the bed, Lin Shu closed her eyes again, demonstrating the highest level of “see no evil, hear no evil”—she would never be as easily fooled as she was in her previous life.

How can you be together if you don’t like each other?

—The phrase was on the tip of her tongue, nearly slipping out.

Ruan Ci scratched her cheek and whispered with reddened ears, “It’s not that I like her that much, but it’s not like I dislike her either.”

Xu Yayi: “…” You look so much like an Omega, yet not quite.

It’s one thing for your ears to turn red, but why the hell is your whole face flushing?!

For Alphas with top-tier backgrounds like theirs, playing around before marriage was perfectly normal. Besides, Lin Shu was beautiful and quiet; she’d bring prestige when taken out in public.

But as for talking about marriage—

Only a broken brain would side with penniless “romance.”

Ruan Ci might have been in poor health before, but she wasn’t stupid. She understood that such things were usually just fleeting pleasures.

But now…

She finally managed to achieve a temporary marking, yet it seemed to have come at the cost of her brain.

Did this person have some kind of special curse where they had to choose between their brain and their body?

Xu Yayi stared at the Alpha’s pale nape, lost in idle thoughts.

Ruan Ci was still trying to have a heart-to-heart with Lin Shu, hoping she would temporarily set aside her hatred and think about her future life. Although it was difficult, Lin Shu could definitely do it—wasn’t that how the plot went? She pulled herself together and reached the pinnacle of her life.

“From today on, you can come to me for any role you want to play. You know I… have quite a bit of influence in that area.”

That sounded so bossy, Ruan Ci thought to herself.

Before meeting the original host, Lin Shu was just a newcomer who had just entered the entertainment industry. Given her looks and figure, it was only a matter of time before someone noticed her; unfortunately, that person was the sub-human original host.

Ruan Ci spoke softly, terrified that a bad tone would make her sound like she was giving an order: “I can promise you anything. My only hope is that you stay by my side, in a place where I can see you and protect you.”

In the plot, Lin Shu wasn’t happy even before the original host obsessed over her.

She had a younger Beta sister, and her mother treated her solely as a tool to hook a “rich second-generation” Alpha—changing her school applications to send her to an “Omega Technical Training Academy.”

Given Lin Shu’s grades, she could have attended one of the top three universities in the city and had a bright, brilliant future.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shu didn’t open her eyes. Her lips simply twitched upward in a mocking arc before flattening again—a cold, cynical sneer.

Ruan Ci saw it and pursed her lips: “You… you should rest first. I’ll have someone bring up food.”

Then, she instructed the butler: “Put a fruit knife in the room. Bring some fruit up later, but don’t peel it.”

Her “death-defying” words gave the butler a shock.

He blurted out without thinking: “Miss, you can’t! If she takes the knife when you come in to rest at night…”

Ruan Ci said with absolute certainty: “She won’t. Just do as I say. There’s no need to be so guarded against her.”

Besides, she wasn’t planning to come here to sleep.

Ruan Ci felt immense sympathy for Lin Shu, but she wasn’t a real Alpha after all; she didn’t have those kinds of thoughts about her.

At most, she just thought Lin Shu had a great figure, a super-unbeatably beautiful face, and that even the slightly bitter tea fragrance was acceptable… uh, things like that.

The butler watched with a breaking heart as the Young Lady walked out.

Xu Yayi’s expression was also complicated. She looked at the motionless Lin Shu, then at her childhood friend who seemed to be wearing a “devoted lover” halo. Shrugging, she followed Ruan Ci out.

At dinner time, Ruan Ci slipped back up to peek. Lin Shu was still lying there, not applying her medicine or intending to go downstairs to eat. The lights weren’t on; it was pitch black.

Ruan Ci: “…” Sigh.

Thinking Lin Shu was still asleep, she entered with light footsteps—but in the darkness, those eyes opened silently, locking onto her figure.

“!”

When the small lamp was switched on, Ruan Ci jumped.

Lin Shu’s eyes were beautiful—clear black and white—but staring at someone for too long made them a bit eerie.

Ruan Ci stammered: “Um, it’s… it’s time to eat. Do you want to go downstairs…”

Lin Shu closed her eyes.

Ruan Ci: “…” Sigh, sigh.

She looked hesitantly at the pile of medicine, then at the scars on Lin Shu’s body. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the bedside—

Ruan Ci was on guard; she was afraid Lin Shu might kick her right in the face, which would hurt way too much, QAQ.

But then she thought, Lin Shu hadn’t eaten for several meals. She must be hungry and weak; she might not even be able to lift her leg.

Sure enough.

The “Reborn Lin Shu,” who had managed to organize her emotions in just one night, was able to peacefully join Ruan Ci for breakfast the next morning.

Gazing blankly at the Omega coming down the stairs, the toast in Ruan Ci’s mouth suddenly felt a bit dry.

She hastily swallowed her food, took a sip of milk, and opened her mouth several times—she wanted to say hello, give a “good morning” or something.

However, because she hesitated too long and wasn’t decisive enough, Lin Shu had already sat down across from her and picked up her chopsticks.

Ruan Ci: “QAQ” I have to say it next time! This is a great opportunity to get closer! Why are you hesitating, Ruan Xiao Ci?!

The Omega in silk pajamas looked indifferent, her features cold. Her black hair was pulled into a simple bun, with loose strands falling casually against her neck and forehead.

Her sitting posture was casual yet elegant. The glimpse of her neck was exceptionally clean and beautiful, forming a sharp contrast with the dark fabric—it was dazzling enough to make one unable to look away.

Lin Shu looked down at the food, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

—Hehe.

The Alpha peeking from the other side laughed in her heart.

Ruan Ci knew Lin Shu’s tastes well. In the morning, she disliked greasy food, didn’t drink milk, and didn’t eat takeout. She usually made do with some whole-grain biscuits and warm water, or if circumstances allowed, a bowl of clear noodle soup.

If she were served a heavy feast, not to mention whether she’d have an appetite, her current body probably couldn’t handle it.

Lin Shu’s life at home hadn’t been good. After entering the entertainment industry, she’d drawn a line between herself and the “filth,” and she hadn’t yet received payment for the two minor roles she’d played.

She was always on the way to finding a job or working a hard one—waiting tables, tutoring, leading dances…

The more Ruan Ci thought about it, the softer her heart became. She couldn’t help but watch Lin Shu for a while longer, watching her eat, watching her slowly recover her health.

“…”

The butler, seeing that his Young Lady wasn’t eating much, thought she was reluctant to let Lin Shu go out.

He leaned in sensibly and whispered: “Miss, there’s actually no rush to take Lin Shu out. She’s just passed her heat; even with suppressants, there’s no guarantee she won’t go crazy outside. For safety’s sake, let’s…”

Lin Shu, who had just taken two bites of noodles, looked coldly at the master and servant. Her grip on her chopsticks tightened.

One playing the “good cop,” the other playing the “bad cop.” The butler was Ruan Ci’s man; his mouth would only speak the words Ruan Ci liked to hear.

So, was she unable to escape that kind of ending again?

“…”

Thinking that the slightest disturbance might make the “poor little thing” stop eating her breakfast, alarm bells rang in Ruan Ci’s heart. She looked at the butler unhappily: “Haven’t we discussed this already? Yayi said her body has no major issues and she can go out.”

Mother Ruan had given Lin Shu a specific dose of suppressants; the tea fragrance on her was now so faint it was almost undetectable.

“But you…”

Ruan Ci blinked: “It’s fine, don’t worry. Have you had breakfast? You don’t need to keep watch over me all the time.”

From the moment she got up to coming downstairs to eat, the butler had loyally stayed by her side at a short distance. He gave her whatever she wanted, sometimes bringing things over before she even opened her mouth.

Hearing his Young Lady’s concern, the butler felt somewhat smug for some reason and glanced at Lin Shu—though he naturally only saw the top of her head.

He replied with a smile: “I have, thank you.”

“That’s good. Skipping breakfast is very harmful…” His Young Lady mumbled as she lowered her head. These words went straight to the butler’s heart.

He only felt as if they were actually meant for the other person at the table.

While clearing the dishes, Ruan Ci saw that Lin Shu didn’t leave immediately, and her little heart leaped with joy.

Sipping the fresh-squeezed juice brought by the housekeeper, as if drawing energy from the sweet and sour liquid, Ruan Ci mustered her courage and asked cautiously: “Um, are there any scripts you like lately? Your heat isn’t an issue; you can act normally. If you’re really worried about people taking advantage of you, you can use my name—”

Lin Shu looked up slightly.

Ruan Ci immediately changed her tune: “No, I mean, I’ll have two bodyguards watch over you. And… if you want to learn some self-defense, that’s fine too. I can… I can arrange all of that!”

—She was like a shopkeeper terrified that a customer wouldn’t pay, heart and soul promoting her various services and after-sales support.

Perhaps because she had never heard such words before, or perhaps because this person’s unprecedentedly diligent attitude made her uncomfortable, Lin Shu’s delicate brows knitted together. She said, “No need.”

Lin Shu’s voice was perfect for folk songs—ethereal and wonderful. Every time she spoke, it was like a lingering, sorrowful poem.

“Don’t… don’t say that,” Ruan Ci said, fearing Lin Shu wouldn’t ask her for anything. “Money is the one thing I’m not short of. For me, these things are just a word or a phone call away…”

The butler stood elegantly to the side, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.

He couldn’t see what was so good about this Omega that she deserved the Young Lady being so… humble. Look at that face—it was clearly the look of an ungrateful wolf that could never be tamed!

Realizing Ruan Ci wouldn’t give up unless she agreed, Lin Shu answered in a low voice: “As you wish.”

It was still a resistant attitude, but Ruan Ci breathed a sigh of relief. She considered for a moment, then said: “I’ll hire two skilled masters to teach you self-defense personally. Things learned in the heart are the ones you’re never afraid of forgetting.”

—She couldn’t protect Lin Shu at every moment from other people or the original host’s group of “fox friends.” It was just that Lin Shu would have to suffer a bit; practicing martial arts was very hard.

Lin Shu didn’t speak, her tensed body remaining rigid.

On someone else’s turf—especially this person’s turf—she didn’t even dare to relax her breathing. She would never change her stance just because of a few words.

Her cold eyes swept over the newly healed wound on the neck of the person opposite her.

She didn’t believe this person would forget the pain of bleeding or the embarrassment of the past two days. Calling it “martial arts” was actually just a form of torture.

But she wouldn’t give up.

She would work with all her might to master those skills… and then return them to Ruan Ci personally.

Her lowered eyelashes hid a flash of ferocity.

The atmosphere had been quite good; the ice between the two of them seemed to have melted just a tiny bit (at least Ruan Ci thought so).

Until they stood up, when Ruan Ci’s “loose tongue” offered a concerned question: “Does your neck still hurt?”

—The temperature in the living room plummeted instantly.

Lin Shu, who had finally started to look a bit human, turned back into a block of ice. She gave Ruan Ci a cold look, as if looking at scum.

Ruan Ci: “!” Waaa, I’m sorry QAQ! I… I really just asked because it slipped out…

Lin Shu left, taking all the warmth with her.

—Ah, I guess that’s what happens when the relationship hasn’t reached that point yet, Ruan Ci thought miserably.

The butler took a deep breath, his immense displeasure turning into a single phrase: “Ungrateful.