After Being Transmigrated into a Cannon Fodder Scum Alpha - Chapter 50

“Hello?” In the morning, Lin Chen received a call from an unknown number. After picking up, the person on the other end didn’t say a single word.

After asking a few times and receiving no response, Lin Chen glanced at the number—it wasn’t familiar—so she hung up, dismissing it as a prank by someone bored.

In the afternoon, the phone rang again. Seeing it was the same number from that morning, Lin Chen hung up immediately. However, a few minutes later, the caller persisted and dialed back.

Having called so many times in succession, it didn’t seem like a mere prank. Lin Chen wanted to see what the person actually wanted, so she answered.

It began exactly like the morning, with total silence on the line. Just as Lin Chen was about to hang up out of impatience—

“Long time no see.” It was Yi Fei’s voice, though she sounded poorly—weak and strained.

“Where are you?” Lin Chen recognized her former friend from the very first word.

“You were right.” Without answering Lin Chen’s question, Yi Fei said something ambiguous.

“?”

“Lately, I’ve been constantly reminiscing about when we first met…” Yi Fei began recounting old memories.

Lin Chen hadn’t forgotten those memories either. During one of her most difficult times, Yi Fei had always been by her side, comforting and accompanying her. The memories remained, but the person had changed.

“Did you call just to reminisce?” Lin Chen interrupted Yi Fei’s narrative. Given their current situation, chatting about the past felt somewhat ironic.

“We will meet again very soon. I hope the next time we cross paths, I can see the Lin Chen I once knew.” With that, a violent fit of coughing came through the line. Before Lin Chen could ask anything else, Yi Fei hung up.

A mysterious beginning, and a mysterious end.

Lin Chen didn’t tell Yun Qi about the call. She didn’t want the two of them to have further contact, and she wasn’t ready for the Alpha to know about her “other side.” Yi Fei knew many of her unconventional thoughts. Lin Chen still believed she was right, but those perspectives…

Even as children, the version of her in the Alpha’s heart differed slightly from the reality. She neither liked nor disliked teddy bear plushies; it was her mother who liked them and bought her many. The Alpha had simply misunderstood all along, believing she loved them and constantly sending her fluffy trinkets. Over time, she grew accustomed to the label. Even now, though the Alpha lacked her childhood memories, she still habitually sent gifts related to bears.

If a secret can be kept until one enters the next world, then it’s no longer a secret, Lin Chen mused.

She told Nan Yue about the call, but the people Nan Yue searched with couldn’t trace Yi Fei through it. Regarding the “next meeting” Yi Fei mentioned, Lin Chen felt a sense of unease, as if something bad was about to happen.

Yun Qi’s birthday arrived. The Grand Duke’s birthday was, of course, to be celebrated with great solemnity.

Bai Mingshu consulted with Yun Qi about using the opportunity to announce that the child in Lin Chen’s womb was a little Alpha. Although several families had already caught wind of the news in the days following the check-up, Bai Mingshu felt a formal announcement was more proper. Usually, a banquet is held shortly after the check-up, but since Yun Qi’s birthday was only a few weeks away, they decided to combine the two events.

The banquet was held at the Ducal Mansion.

Although Yun Qi disliked the Omega’s mother, she still prepared a polite invitation for Lin Jue. Her public image was still that of someone who loathed Lin Chen; if she didn’t invite Lin Jue, others might look down on the Omega even more.

However, Yun Qi’s good mood soured upon seeing one particular person. Some people had arrived at the banquet uninvited.

“We prepared some humble gifts as a small compensation for the previous incident.” The military Alpha Yun Qi had seen at the earlier banquet walked over with a smile, followed by Mu Yu and a few other familiar faces.

“I don’t recall inviting you,” the Grand Duke said sarcastically.

But the party produced an invitation. The Alpha looked—it was indeed from her side.

“I invited them,” Grand Duke Yun Lan said, walking over. He hoped to use this chance to smooth over the relationship between the two sides or eliminate some grievances, so they could at least speak calmly when they met. Sometimes, help from the military was necessary. As for the previous incident, he would still keep an eye on it and ensure the military punished those involved.

“Have you found the person yet? Otherwise, your ‘dear comrade’ might just become my person.” As for what would happen to her once she was in her hands, she couldn’t guarantee.

Seeing her uncle approach, the Alpha stopped dwelling on how the “pests” got in and instead threw out another challenge. Xu Jilin was also searching for Yi Fei but had no clues yet; the Duke didn’t believe the military could find anything different.

“We have some leads, but it may take a few more days,” that same steady Alpha replied.

Hypocrite! The Duke thought with disdain. She felt the military was likely bluffing; she’d see if they could actually produce the person when the time came.

In the original plot, Mu Yu and Lin Chen met at a banquet, though the description was vague and didn’t specify which one. Could it be this one?

Yun Qi was a bit anxious. Although many things had changed, the major plot trajectory seemed to be proceeding as scheduled, as if the world had a mind of its own, trying to reconcile the plot in a logical way.

The banquet was the starting point for the plot to accelerate in the original story—in a sense, the place where the two leads’ feelings began to bud. Recalling the plot: Lin Chen was being bullied by other Omegas at the banquet, and Mu Yu happened to see it and stepped in. Because Mu Yu was a new face and was wearing civilian clothes, the others looked down on this “random Alpha,” shifting their fire from Lin Chen to Mu Yu, mocking her for not knowing who she was talking to.

“This might be the only time in your life you get to see us. If you want to play the hero, check if your status is worthy first.” Then came a burst of mocking laughter. Yun Qi remembered this clearly because the original host was standing right there, watching them bully Lin Chen and watching Mu Yu appear.

Subsequently, the suitors of those Omegas joined in the mockery until the commotion drew the attention of the Old General of the military. The Old General stated on the spot that Mu Yu was brought by her and expressed her admiration for such a “good prospect,” causing the faces of those young ladies to turn instantly.

The Old General had a beloved Beta and a child who differentiated as a Beta in her youth, but they were hounded to death by her family. They wanted her to marry an Omega of equal status rather than a Beta of unknown origin, and they blamed the partner for the child being a Beta—it was common knowledge that children of Betas were likely to be Betas themselves. Afterward, the Old General never sought anyone else; after killing those involved, she cut ties with her family. Everyone present knew that by pleasing the Old General, they had a chance to inherit her position. Before Mu Yu, the only ones the Old General had praised as “good prospects” were the children of her long-time comrades.

Although the chance of Mu Yu obtaining that position was small, the fact that she had the Old General’s endorsement meant her future achievements would not be low. It was also because of this incident that the original host grew to loathe Lin Chen even more, becoming even more brutal.

As of now, that Old General—who played a major role in the original plot—had yet to make an appearance.

Midway through the banquet, after Bai Mingshu announced that the child in Lin Chen’s womb was a lovely Alpha, congratulations poured in from all around.

From their perspective, the Grand Duke was not staying with her pregnant partner; instead, she was drinking on the side with a dark expression, surrounded by her usual playboy friends. Lin Chen was with Bai Mingshu and the elders. It was obvious: the Duke’s attitude toward Lin Chen remained unchanged, and she didn’t seem excited about the child. However, Bai Mingshu’s behavior showed she accepted this child. Knowing the Duke only had two children—at least on the surface—both born to Lin Chen, they knew how they should treat her from now on.

Those Omegas who used to deliberately gossip about Yun Qi’s scandals right next to Lin Chen acted as if they didn’t remember a thing, wearing hypocritical smiles as they congratulated Lin Chen on how “lucky” she was. The words of praise made Lin Chen feel as if they were talking about someone else; she didn’t recall her luck being this good before.

Another crowded spot was around Lin Jue. People were congratulating her on having a good daughter and surrounding Lin Yaoyao to ask if she had a suitor, recommending Alphas from their own families. It was a scene of universal joy—utterly hypocritical.

“Yaoyao, why don’t you go congratulate your sister?” one Omega who had a past conflict with Lin Yaoyao asked with feigned innocence. She had been there when Lin Yaoyao took the strange Alpha to find her sister! Seeing Lin Yaoyao still acting as if she and Lin Chen were close—wasn’t it awkward?

“Sister… she’s currently with the Grand Duke’s elders. It wouldn’t be right for me to disturb her,” Lin Yaoyao said with a look of sadness, while inwardly cursing Du Yiyi—the Omega who asked. She was certain Du Yiyi did it on purpose.

“It’s fine, you’re her sister. Why don’t you take us to meet her when the banquet is almost over?” Du Yiyi was also curious about Lin Chen. “I knew those rumors were fake. Lin Chen doesn’t look ‘dull’ at all; she’s clearly very beautiful.”

Seeing Lin Yaoyao’s smile starting to crumble, Du Yiyi felt a surge of joy. Since Lin Yaoyao hated Lin Chen so much, she would keep praising her right to her face to spite her. Besides, she really did want to know Lin Chen. A while ago, Lin Chen was the object of their pity—mother dead young, mother-in-law unloving, partner loathing. She had even seen other Omegas tell Lin Chen to her face that the Duke was staying over at their place. Seeing how the others ignored Lin Chen then versus how they had to look up to her now…

Though the Duke still seemingly didn’t like her, she had earned the recognition of Bai Mingshu and the elders, and she was the first to bear an Alpha for the Duke. She might even be able to fight for the inheritance. Du Yiyi wanted to see what kind of person could turn a dead-end situation into a winning hand; it certainly wasn’t the person in the rumors.

The other Omegas, while aware of the friction between Du Yiyi and Lin Yaoyao, shared Du Yiyi’s sentiment. Their previous impression of Lin Chen was shaped by rumors and Lin Yaoyao’s words; they wanted to meet her in person. A sister taking friends to see her older sister—wasn’t that perfectly normal?

‘Damn that Du Yiyi.’ Lin Yaoyao’s blood boiled with hatred for the smiling Omega and the others chiming in. She had been so good to them, and this was how they repaid her.

Du Yiyi knew exactly how much Lin Yaoyao hated her right now, but the more she hated, the happier Du Yiyi felt and the more sincere her smile became.

“Sister… she told me last time that she’s been feeling unwell due to the pregnancy. She likely needs rest. I don’t want to disturb her,” Lin Yaoyao said, acting like a caring sister. Seeing that Du Yiyi seemed to want to say more, she hurriedly made an excuse and left.

A loud burst of laughter from Du Yiyi followed her. Watching Lin Yaoyao flee, Du Yiyi could no longer restrain her delight, not caring if Lin Yaoyao heard her.

“Are you Lin Chen’s sister?” a military Alpha walked toward Lin Yaoyao.

Mu Yu had been nearby. She had no interest in Omega gossip and had stayed hidden in the crowd until she heard Lin Chen’s name.

“Yes, why do you ask?” Lin Yaoyao replied, softening her voice.

“I just… I just heard you say your sister is feeling unwell?” Although she felt it was strange to admit to eavesdropping on Omegas, she asked anyway.

A strange Alpha inquiring about her sister—Lin Yaoyao felt she had discovered something. Kong Ying was a fool; after being scared once, she never came back and only complained on the phone, wanting her to find Lin Chen and the Duke to tell people how materialistic Lin Chen was and how the Duke had snatched her away. As if that was possible!

Fortunately, that useless Kong Ying failed. Now, here was another one.

“Yes, my sister…”

Then Lin Yaoyao started chatting with Mu Yu, and they even exchanged contact information because Mu Yu wanted to know about Lin Chen’s life from childhood to the present.

In the distance, Yun Qi watched this, her mood improving slightly. So, has the plot changed? Mu Yu hadn’t met Lin Chen at the banquet; instead, it was a “bullied” Lin Yaoyao?

But remembering the way Mu Yu looked at her Omega and the dimming of her eyes last time, Yun Qi felt she still couldn’t let her guard down.