After Being Transmigrated into a Cannon Fodder Scum Alpha - Chapter 30

After handing the brooch to Lin Chen, Yun Qi went out, leaving the space to Lin Xi and Lin Chen.

“Unhappy?” Lin Chen looked at Lin Xi, who was hugging the little snowy owl and stroking its feathers.

From the moment Xi’er walked in, she sensed her daughter seemed to have something on her mind, being quieter than usual.

Lin Xi held the struggling little owl tightly, not letting it escape. Hearing Lin Chen’s question, she looked at her mother with confusion.

“No,” she said, smiling at her mother. The little one looked adorable, but her hand gripped the snowy owl so hard that the bird let out a pained cry.

Hearing the sound, Lin Xi immediately let go and lowered her head, not daring to look at her mother.

“What is it, really?” Lin Chen pulled Lin Xi into her arms.

“They… they said that after Mother has the new baby, she won’t like me anymore.” Lin Xi had overheard the servants gossiping last night. They said the Grand Duke seemed very excited about this child and even betted that the baby would be a beautiful Alpha. They speculated that the Grand Duke’s relationship with the Madam might improve because of this child.

Then, Lin Xi heard her own name. The servants spoke in pitying tones, saying that from now on, the Madam would slowly focus all her attention on the newborn. They pitied Lin Xi for not having the Grand Duke’s affection, and guessed that in the future, she wouldn’t even have her Mama’s love.

Sentence after sentence, their words were like thorns piercing Lin Xi’s heart.

Though Lin Xi didn’t say it aloud, Lin Chen could imagine the words she had heard. Back when “Yun Qi” was out philandering, those Omegas loved to stand beside her, using sympathetic tones to speak the most poisonous words.

“That’s not true. Xi’er will always be Mama’s most beloved child. Your Mother is the same; she’s just not good at expressing it, but she loves you very much too…”

Amidst Lin Chen’s comforting words, Lin Xi gradually let go of her fear. She felt a bit ashamed of herself for feeling jealous of her unborn brother or sister, even to the point of having nightmares.

In Lin Chen’s embrace, Lin Xi felt a complete sense of security. Drowsiness washed over her, and she slowly fell asleep.

Lin Chen lifted her daughter onto the bed and fell asleep beside her. Perhaps influenced by the pregnancy, she had become quite lethargic.

…

Lin Chen’s first outing after becoming pregnant was to attend the birthday banquet for Yun Ye’s young daughter—the same child Bai Mingshu had brought over last time.

Bai Mingshu knew Yun Qi didn’t like bringing Lin Chen to banquets and usually brought other Omegas when she did attend. So, before the invitation, she specifically called to tell her to bring Lin Chen along so she could hold Nuannuan.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to bring other Omegas; it’s that my Aunt requested I bring Lin Chen,’ Yun Qi explained to the system. So, this didn’t count as breaking character.

Yun Qi and Lin Chen arrived relatively early. Not many people were in the hall yet, among them Lin Jue’s family.

Lin Yaoyao came over happily to say hello when she saw Lin Chen. Beside her was a beautiful Alpha who looked like a very gentle woman. Her eyes were full of doting affection when she looked at Lin Yaoyao, but when she turned to see Lin Chen, her gaze held a hint of guilt that made Yun Qi inexplicably uncomfortable.

This person wasn’t in the plot she knew, nor did she recall any prominent family having a daughter like this.

‘Is it another completely new character?’

What made Yun Qi most uncomfortable was that the person first looked gently at Lin Yaoyao, then looked past her to stare at Lin Chen with a strange gaze, as if she shared some very close relationship with her.

Anyone who knew Lin Chen would know how much she disliked the current Madam Lin and this “sister.”

“Long time no see,” the strange Alpha greeted Lin Chen. Yun Qi felt the Omega beside her tremble slightly.

“This is Sister Kong. She was in the same lab as Sister in university. Sister, you used to bring her home to play all the time,” Lin Yaoyao explained with a smile when Lin Chen didn’t respond.

“I’m sorry, it’s been so long I don’t really remember,” Lin Chen said, clutching Yun Qi’s arm and looking at the strange Alpha with an apologetic expression. Yun Qi saw the Alpha’s face turn into one of disbelief.

Moreover, hearing Lin Yaoyao say “used to bring her home all the time” made Yun Qi a bit bothered, though she wouldn’t ask about it here.

“Can any riffraff enter my Aunt’s banquet now?” The Grand Duke looked at the Alpha before her with annoyance. Although she didn’t like her partner, she disliked it even more when an unnamed Alpha, likely a commoner, tried to hit on her partner at a banquet. It made her feel like she was losing face.

“My apologies, Sister Kong is the companion I brought. She is…”

“As they say, birds of a feather flock together.” Before Lin Yaoyao could finish her explanation, the Grand Duke interrupted. Bringing just anyone to a banquet—and as an unmarried Omega, bringing an Alpha in so casually with such intimate movements—it was truly indiscreet.

The “Straight-A” chauvinist Duke might play around a lot herself, but she was as conservative as someone from the last century regarding an Omega’s conduct.

[Scum Value +30.]

The strange Alpha clenched her fists in anger but restrained her emotions and made way for Yun Qi, then looked at Lin Chen with a gaze full of disappointment.

…

Following that little interlude, both Yun Qi and Lin Chen’s moods were affected.

Lin Chen had been somewhat distracted and much quieter since seeing that Alpha. She held onto Yun Qi’s arm, moving along like a puppet.

Yun Qi was used to Lin Chen being like a little rabbit or a little fox, but she had never seen her so lifeless. In the past, no matter how sad the Omega was, she would look at her with dewy eyes and show some emotional fluctuation.

That Alpha must have bullied the Omega beside her before, in whatever sense of the word.

And it must have been a very excessive bullying, Yun Qi thought.

Calculating her Scum Value, Yun Qi decided to have Jilin look into that woman as soon as she got back. If she couldn’t find anything, she would buy a piece of specific special plot.

…

As the clock ticked on, more and more people arrived until the hall was nearly full.

Bai Mingshu pulled Lin Chen away, saying Omegas should play with Omegas, and the drinking and socializing outside should be left to the Alphas.

Others in the hall came to congratulate Yun Qi on her new child.

Yun Qi followed the original host’s memories: she socialized for a while with those of high status and completely ignored those of low status, maintaining the original host’s arrogant and conceited image.

While socializing, she felt a gaze. Following it, she saw the woman from before. The Alpha was staring at her with loathing, and she returned an experimental, malicious smile.

“Does the Grand Duke not like her?” a person socializing with Yun Qi asked after seeing her reaction.

“Mm?”

“That Alpha is named Kong Ying. She’s called the most talented potion researcher in the Empire.” Seeing the Grand Duke’s disapproving look, the person quickly added, “But I think she’s all talk. She probably bought the hype herself to cook up that title.”

Seeing the Grand Duke’s expression soften, the person knew they had said the right thing.

The most talented potion researcher? There was no “most talented” person in the plot, only several researchers standing at the top—Yi Fei, Lin Chen… but none named Kong Ying.

Yun Qi secretly compared herself to that strange Alpha and found she couldn’t lose no matter what. She felt a moment of smugness in her heart, then immediately felt silly for such a childish act.

To please the Grand Duke, that person called a waiter and whispered a few words. A moment later, Kong Ying’s clothes were splashed.

Kong Ying looked toward Yun Qi, assuming she had done it. Yun Qi arched an eyebrow at her, smiling arrogantly.

‘I feel like those minor villains in the first chapter of a novel, using my family background to bully a protagonist with no standing,’ Yun Qi mused to the system.

[You should have been like this from the start.]

[Scum Value +30.]

The system didn’t need to say it; Yun Qi knew those points came from Kong Ying, who was glaring at her from a distance.

Later, Yun Qi saw an Alpha in military uniform walk toward Kong Ying, presumably taking her to change. He even exchanged a look with Yun Qi.

Yun Qi didn’t know the person in uniform, but she wasn’t surprised he disliked her. The military didn’t like the original host; it was in the plot. They had long been dissatisfied with this arrogant Grand Duke and would look for trouble whenever they crossed paths.

…

“Sister, can you still not forgive Sister Kong?”

A waiter told Yun Qi that Lin Chen was feeling a bit unwell in the lounge. Thinking of Lin Chen’s pregnancy, Yun Qi went to find her, but unexpectedly ran into Lin Yaoyao visiting Lin Chen and heard those words.

She stopped her footsteps and stood quietly outside the door.

“I’m sorry, I really don’t remember her,” Lin Chen’s voice was very cold.

“Or are you still unhappy because Sister Kong confessed to me before? I rejected her then. I only see her as a very close sister. I really didn’t know you liked her back then, Sister,” Lin Yaoyao continued explaining.

“Enough. I told you I never liked her.”

“So you do remember her, Sister,” Lin Yaoyao said, looking at Lin Chen with a smile.

Yun Qi realized she had likely been led here by Lin Yaoyao.

“After I saw the love letter you wrote, Sister, I rejected Sister Kong. I don’t know why she misunderstood and thought you forced me. Later, I explained to her that I rejected her because I simply didn’t like her, and she has always regretted her actions back then. She reached out a few days ago saying she wanted to see you to apologize for her rashness, so I brought her along.”

“You know the truth about that love letter better than anyone,” Lin Chen’s voice was laced with anger.

Pregnant women shouldn’t get angry; excessive emotional swings are bad for the body. So, Yun Qi pushed the door open and walked in.

“I hate Omegas who think they’re clever.” The Grand Duke looked at Lin Yaoyao with disgust. She enjoyed the small jealous games Omegas played, but she wasn’t happy when they crossed the line and tried to use her as a tool.

In the past, Lin Yaoyao knew her place—when to act spoiled and when to use minor tricks—but lately, she had been crossing the line more and more, just like her foolish father.

“I…” Lin Yaoyao didn’t expect Yun Qi’s reaction to be different from what she imagined. Shouldn’t the Grand Duke be angrily questioning Lin Chen about who that Alpha was and what had happened between them?

She knew the Grand Duke didn’t like her sister—at least, she hadn’t before. Lately, for some reason, the Grand Duke had been acting a bit strange, but surely it hadn’t reached the level of “liking.”

She knew the Grand Duke didn’t like Omegas overstepping, but wasn’t she helping her see Lin Chen for who she was?

However, she didn’t persist. The Grand Duke’s gaze was becoming more and more annoyed. She knew further explanation would only deepen the Grand Duke’s loathing. In any case, the Grand Duke had heard what Lin Chen said; the thorn had already been planted.

She then walked out of the lounge.

Lin Chen didn’t know how much Yun Qi had heard. Perhaps she had been there from the start and heard everything, or perhaps she had just arrived and heard nothing.

She loathed Lin Yaoyao and Kong Ying even more, hating herself for being blind back then and mistaking a wolf for a rabbit.

“I’ll explain to you when we get back. I really have nothing to do with that Alpha.” Lin Chen walked over and buried herself in Yun Qi’s embrace, nuzzling her.

“Who would care?” the Grand Duke said mockingly. “I just came to see if you were ready. Nuannuan is about to come out.”

After Lin Chen let go, the Grand Duke walked out.

She had to admit, after Lin Chen said those words, Yun Qi’s heart felt settled.