The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Transmigrated Into a Book Must Protect the Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 3

After adding Zhong Mingxue, Jing Qingxia did not put her phone away but quickly scrolled through her WeChat messages.

One group chat of three people already had over 99 messages and was currently discussing summer homework content.

Ah, the youthful days of catching up on assignments together. Must cherish these moments.

She clicked on the group chat.

Jing Qingxia: [I can handle the math.]

Yuan Leshan: [Wow, Boss, you’re actually planning to write summer homework with us in the final week? Did you get hacked?]

Yuan Leshan was the little cannon fodder’s best friend, classmates since elementary school, a fateful friendship.

Logically, Jing Qingxia should be most likely to expose herself to her.

But Yuan Leshan was a silly, guileless girl, which meant this was not a problem at all.

Jing Qingxia: [If I were hacked, I’d ask you to help me top up my phone credit, not write summer homework.]

Yuan Leshan: [Hahahahaha!!!! Boss, you’re hilarious. Are you planning a telecommunications scam?]

Duan Yajie: [Let’s quickly assign tasks! Otherwise, we won’t finish in time. It’s good to have one more person helping.]

Duan Yajie was their high school classmate and considered the strategist among the three, but her strategy was entirely focused on gossip.

The three girls became good friends because their medical reports all indicated “pre-Alpha,” and they were all female, often doing things together.

Yuan Leshan was an A-rank Alpha, successfully differentiated during the summer break.

Duan Yajie was a B-rank Alpha, with an expected differentiation period at the end of this semester.

Duan Yajie: [I heard a new classmate is coming to school. She’s also an S-rank Omega beauty. It’s probably going to cause quite a stir.]

Right after assigning tasks, none of the three had the immediate self-awareness to start writing homework and began chatting again.

Yuan Leshan: [My dad told me it’s the girl from the Zhong family, named Zhong Mingxue. It’s quite sad. The Zhong family was growing big and strong, about to enter the ranks of major families, but then this unexpected accident happened. Only one uncle who is abroad is helping, and they couldn’t withstand the pressure. The family business fell apart completely. Bear Sigh.jpg]

Duan Yajie: [Ho, Xiao Le is well-informed; you know a lot.]

Yuan Leshan: [Not really, my dad just had business dealings with the Zhong family and knows more. Bear Proud.jpg]

Duan Yajie: [Then that means Sister Xia should know even more, given her family’s vast business, which has dealings with almost every family.]

Jing Qingxia held her phone and paused for a moment.

In the original work, the little cannon fodder had malicious intentions toward the female lead, and her friends played a significant role in this process. Those friends A and friends B didn’t even have names; they were more cannon fodder than the cannon fodder herself.

It must be them.

Jing Qingxia considered for a few seconds.

Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie had already changed the topic to what snacks to buy for the first day of school.

Jing Qingxia: [I have something to say about Zhong Mingxue.]

Yuan Leshan: [Hahaha, Boss, just say it! You’re making it sound so serious. Someone who didn’t know would think you’re announcing your sovereignty over this Omega!]

Yuan Leshan’s words made Jing Qingxia’s eyebrow twitch.

Jing Qingxia: [Leshan, don’t talk nonsense. I really have something serious to say.]

Duan Yajie: [Sister Xia, tell us. What do you need us to cooperate with?]

Duan Yajie was indeed smart.

Jing Qingxia: [The Zhong family doesn’t just have business dealings with my family. Her father was my father’s classmate, and her mother was my mother’s good friend. We’ve known each other since childhood and met often.]

Yuan Leshan: [Aiyo, childhood sweethearts!]

Jing Qingxia ignored Yuan Leshan’s comment: [Her family was doing well before, so she didn’t hide her S-rank Omega identity. But now the Zhong family has fallen, and she lacks security. My mother asked me to take good care of her, do you understand?]

In the world setting of the novel, glandular science was quite advanced, moving beyond the primitive instincts of early society.

The special nature and rights of Alphas and Omegas were protected.

Take the most special heat and rut periods, for example—there were highly effective suppressants.

On a daily basis, to minimize pheromone interference, the state would distribute free scent-blocking patches.

Schools even had free distribution boxes everywhere. The nurse’s office was always stocked with suppressants, and the Beta school nurse was on standby.

With government benefits to this extent, every Alpha and Omega could conceal their rank if necessary.

But the children of major families never hid these things because they weren’t afraid of being bullied, coveted, or exploited.

Moreover, high-ranking Alphas and Omegas were practically a source of family honor.

Even low-ranks dared to be open about it, sharing resources and suitable training camps.

So, Zhong Mingxue’s current situation was a bit special.

Yuan Leshan: [Understood! I was already very interested in this S-rank Omega beauty. If we can become friends along the way, protecting her goes without saying!]

Duan Yajie: [And since Sister Xia has spoken, we must also remember the saying, ‘do not deceive a friend’s wife,’ and maintain a platonic distance.]

Yuan Leshan: [Oh, right, right, right, there’s that consideration too. Protection through friendship.]

“…”

Jing Qingxia was momentarily speechless.

The image of Zhong Mingxue’s face, almost perfectly crafted by the creator, flashed through her mind.

Duan Yajie wasn’t wrong.

With a girl like that, who could guarantee they wouldn’t be tempted if they got close without mental preparation?

If she caused her two friends to get too close to the female lead and be drawn into some vortex of destiny, it would be a loss as well.

For the sake of her two friends’ safety, she decided not to argue for now.

It was just a joke anyway. As long as they didn’t publicly talk nonsense, there was no need to take it seriously.

Seeing the group chat return to discussing snacks, Jing Qingxia put down her phone and started writing her math homework.

…

Knock, knock, knock—

“Time for dinner.”

Zhong Mingxue’s voice was cool, lacking the urgency of someone calling others to eat.

Jing Qingxia’s attention was still monopolized by the math problem.

“You go ahead and eat. I’ll be down once I finish this question.”

Zhong Mingxue stood outside the door, watching Jing Qingxia at the desk, and frowned.

Although she had only seen her three times since returning, Zhong Mingxue noticed a change in Jing Qingxia.

The twisted, ugly expression from childhood, which resulted from pranks and laughter, was now replaced by a serious side profile.

Had the child who never knew her own strength finally grown up?

Though they met annually, Zhong Mingxue hadn’t properly looked at her for a long time.

Her heroic eyebrows did look more mature.

Her eyes had gotten bigger, but her amber color hadn’t changed.

Her nose bridge was a bit more pronounced, still subtly hiding the faint scar from when she accidentally fell out of a tree as a child.

Her face was more angular, having shed the baby fat.

She had changed, but not entirely.

Or perhaps she had learned to conceal things?

Zhong Mingxue’s eyes cooled because of this.

Her experiences over the past few months made it difficult for her to trust others easily.

Jing Qingxia was still pondering the final step of the math problem when she suddenly felt a hostile gaze, accompanied by a faint, unfamiliar fragrance entering her nose.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of slender, attractive legs very close by.

She knew without a doubt who those excellent legs belonged to.

Sensing the female lead approaching with hostility, Jing Qingxia tensed up.

This reaction, in turn, startled Zhong Mingxue.

Was that a delusion? Is she afraid of me?

Jing Qingxia only relaxed when she realized the female lead wasn’t making any further moves.

No need to overthink it.

This young girl wouldn’t suddenly get fierce and come for revenge over some petty childhood incidents.

Although she hadn’t started earning goodwill yet, it was just dislike, not to the point of a fight to the death.

Jing Qingxia quickly scribbled an answer without steps on the last page of the test paper and stood up: “I’m starving. Let’s go eat.”

Zhong Mingxue continued to look at Jing Qingxia.

The latter simply stretched and walked past Zhong Mingxue. She didn’t even ask why she hadn’t gone downstairs first but had entered the room.

Zhong Mingxue had already prepared the answer to that question: [Because Aunt Lin wants us to go down together.]

The actual answer was: [I need to test you while Uncle Jing and Aunt Lin are here.]

Unfortunately, neither answer was needed.

Zhong Mingxue suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and followed behind Jing Qingxia.

“Oh, right, I was chatting with my classmates this afternoon and found out that quite a few people probably know you’re transferring to our school. Be a little careful yourself when school starts… hmm… pay attention. If you need anything, you can come to me. My parents will probably talk to the school, too,” Jing Qingxia said, trying to give Zhong Mingxue a heads-up.

According to the original plot, the two of them would become deskmates in the back row of the classroom, a situation that would change after another one-sided clash.

She wasn’t going to let the clash happen.

Although Jing Qingxia wouldn’t treat Zhong Mingxue as her private property like the little cannon fodder, protecting her shouldn’t be a problem!

“Xiaxia, Xiaoxue, hurry up and eat!” Lin Chanjuan called out with a joyful smile, then said to the man reading the newspaper on the sofa, “Old Jing, stop reading and come over.”

“Mhm, coming,” came the steady voice.

This was Jing Qingxia’s father, Jing Guangyao.

A mature male Alpha, his large stature commanded an imposing presence. He was serious outside but always wore the same gentle smile as Lin Chanjuan at home.

Jing Qingxia took a deep breath.

It was truly wonderful to have parents like these.

She truly didn’t understand how the little cannon fodder could be spoiled so badly in such a family environment! What if she hadn’t had parents?

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but glance at Zhong Mingxue.

Didn’t this girl just lose her parents? Just like her former self.

No, she never had them in the first place, while Zhong Mingxue lost them.

She sighed.

Apart from seeking hope for survival by befriending the female lead, Jing Qingxia felt a touch of pity and a sense of duty toward this aloof girl.

“Xiaxia, I heard you proactively told your mother you want to inject nutrient solutions and participate in physical training?” Jing Guangyao sat down and stated the fact first.

Jing Qingxia took it seriously, putting down her chopsticks and saying: “Yes, I’ve decided. Is there a problem now?”

Jing Guangyao was momentarily surprised by Jing Qingxia’s sudden seriousness and couldn’t help but smile: “My fault, my fault, I was too formal just now. There is no problem. We can arrange it for you this afternoon. You’ll have continuous sessions for the next week, and after school starts, we’ll schedule them on weekends and holidays. The training camp instructor also told me that after the nutrient solution injection, you’ll likely have excess energy, so you can exercise appropriately on your own.”

When Jing Guangyao mentioned this, Jing Qingxia suddenly remembered something.

In the original text, Zhong Mingxue rode a bicycle to and from school to avoid contact with the little cannon fodder, which led to a few accidental plot developments on the road.

She wasn’t sure if anything unfavorable to Zhong Mingxue would happen during the blank period of the novel before the male lead showed up. To be safe, Jing Qingxia said: “Then how about this? I’ll buy a bicycle and ride it to and from school?”

Zhong Mingxue paused her movement of picking up food.

“That’s perfect! Xiaoxue also told me this afternoon that she wants to ride a bike to and from school and not need a driver. This way, you two can go together, and I’ll be more at ease,” Lin Chanjuan said happily.

Jing Qingxia quickly glanced at Zhong Mingxue, afraid she wouldn’t agree.

But after a moment, she thought she probably wouldn’t disagree.

Although Zhong Mingxue’s main reason for refusing the ride was not wanting to be alone with the little cannon fodder, given her non-troublesome nature, she definitely wouldn’t want the driver to pick her up separately either.

A moment later, only the sounds of eating remained at the dinner table.

Heh, sure enough, the aloof little stray cat didn’t raise any objections!