After Marking The Female Lead, The Cannon Fodder Became The Daughter-in-law of a Wealthy Family - Chapter 6

Qin Yushu gave her a sidelong glance. “This is the conclusion you came to after thinking it through?”

Lu Ningshuang blinked. “…Huh?”

Qin Yushu massaged her temples.

She suddenly realized her earlier investigation on Lu Ningshuang had missed one crucial detail—she really should’ve looked into what this woman had going on in her head.

Then again…

Lu Ningshuang’s academic records, from childhood all the way through college, were laid out neatly on her desk. Her entrance exam results and university background were solid—no red flags there.

But still.

How was she so skilled at completely misunderstanding her words? Was she doing it on purpose?

While Qin Yushu was lost in thought, Lu Ningshuang, perhaps out of boredom, began sneaking glances at the car’s interior.

She thought she was being discreet, unaware that Qin Yushu had seen everything.

“Miss Lu.”

The moment her name was called, Lu Ningshuang instinctively looked over, hands tucked neatly in front of her. Her pale eyes were wide and glassy, sparkling like a wet puppy’s.

Seriously, just like a dog.

“Stop staring,” Qin Yushu said calmly. “I’m not as wild as Miss Lu seems to imagine.”

Boom.

Lu Ningshuang’s face and mind exploded.

Qin Yushu’s lips curved in amusement, her voice low and teasing. “You seem to know quite a bit, Miss Lu. Not as innocent as you look, hmm?”

“I—I wasn’t…” Lu Ningshuang stammered.

“Oh, I know.”

Qin Yushu cut her off. “I’m very aware of that.”

She had personal experience.

Years of being in charge had lent Qin Yushu’s voice a cool, distant tone. But under the soft haze of night, those memories stirred back to life.

That stunningly beautiful and aloof face had once been tinged with the heat of passion. Even her normally sharp features had softened, grown dazed and dreamy… The vivid red at the corner of her lips had practically invited someone to take a bite.

Lu Ningshuang’s face was still burning.

But now, instead of just embarrassment, her blush was tinged with something warmer, more suggestive. It crept deeper, hotter.

Impossible to voice stuck behind trembling lips.

She cleared her throat. “Ah—!”

Her voice was louder than intended, as if trying to bulldoze over all the awkwardness. “That man earlier. What happened to him?”

“He left after dinner,” Qin Yushu replied. “It was just a meal.”

“He didn’t offer to take you home?” Lu Ningshuang asked, confused.

In the original plot, both leads were high-powered CEOs; proud and headstrong. But perhaps because Alpha instincts were biologically hardwired for courtship, he’d always been subtly considerate toward his Omega counterpart.

And considering Qin Yushu’s stunning looks, it made sense that Huo Yunyi had always given her a little extra leeway in their interactions.

Even when they faced off as business rivals, that subtle favor never disappeared.

Of course, that so-called “gentlemanly” behavior didn’t actually please the heroine—on the contrary, it had sparked arguments.

Now that she’d stolen the “one-night-spring-fling” plot point, even though the story was meant to compensate with a formal matchmaking banquet later, the emotional intimacy wasn’t the same. Everything was already sliding off-script…

“He offered,” Qin Yushu said nonchalantly, then added more slowly, “But if I got in his car… who would take care of you?”

Oh, she knew this one!

Lu Ningshuang raised her hand enthusiastically. “I can take the subway home myself~”

That little “~”!

Qin Yushu lifted her hand from her knee and let her fingers fall rhythmically, like playing notes on black-and-white piano keys.

“Get in,” she said, chin tilted ever so slightly. Elegant, commanding without being arrogant. “Consider it a little bonus benefit in advance.”

Lu Ningshuang hesitated.

She knew her role in this story. She had the self-awareness of a background character. She wasn’t supposed to get too close to the heroine.

Especially when the male lead was such a cold-blooded, possessive type.

That’s not someone you mess with lightly.

Qin Yushu raised an eyebrow. When she spoke again, her tone wasn’t quite so polite. “You planning to keep standing here like a fool for everyone to see?”

Lu “Fool” Ningshuang: “…”

“Don’t drag me down with you,” Qin Yushu muttered. She didn’t have the dignity to spare.

“……”

Couldn’t you just drive off and leave me here?

Not daring to argue, Lu Ningshuang accepted her fate. It was always the underling’s fault. She obediently walked around to open the passenger door.

No matter how you looked at it, Qin Yushu was her boss. The backseat was reserved exclusively for the big boss.

Respect!

“Other side,” Qin Yushu’s voice floated out as the car window began to rise.

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

“…Okay.”

*****

Lu Ningshuang got in the car.

She gave the driver her address, and he quickly acknowledged it—then raised the partition like he couldn’t wait to shut them out.

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

Okay, no need to act like we’re dangerous criminals! What could we possibly do in here?!

Eventually, she settled quietly into the backseat. Qin Yushu sat beside her, but with almost a full body’s distance between them.

Qin Yushu was working on her tablet.

Despite her motto of “lead poorly, work forever,” Qin Yushu had no shortage of capable people under her. However, as the heir to the entire Tiansheng Group, she assumed responsibility for the overall strategy. Her team was often too afraid to make tough calls without her approval.

And so, all the important decisions still had to be handed to Qin Yushu for the final say. One task after another added up, and even just skimming through them took a fair amount of time.

Lu Ningshuang didn’t dare interrupt the big boss.

The car was silent.

This was a luxury car most people could only dream of seeing up close, but Lu Ningshuang didn’t even have the urge to touch anything. If she so much as bumped something and broke it—selling her whole body probably wouldn’t cover the cost.

Most of the time, she sat properly in place, hands folded, not daring to move. But when boredom finally crept in, she’d sneak a sideways glance at the boss sitting next to her.

Alphas were known to be at their most attractive when focused on work, but that charm clearly extended to this Omega as well.

Because Qin Yushu was reading emails, the car’s interior light was on. The glow from the screen reflected off her face, layering over the cabin light. Her long, wavy hair cascaded gently down, and that usually cold, stunning face now looked just a little softer under the gentle lighting.

So close, so tangible just a reach away…

Qin Yushu worked fast. This was an urgent partnership case, and she finished her replies quickly. She didn’t even bother putting her tablet away. The moment she lifted her head, her eyes met Lu Ningshuang’s sneaky little stare, caught in the act.

Lu Ningshuang froze like a deer in headlights, and quickly averted her gaze, pretending nothing happened.

Way too obvious.

She looked away, but Qin Yushu’s eyes lingered on her.

The college girl sat with perfect posture, hands resting flat on her knees, fingers slightly spread—like a model student listening intently in class.

Sensing Qin Yushu’s attention, her spine straightened even more. Her neatly tied ponytail made her slender neck look even more graceful. Awkward and flustered, her fingertips curled inward slightly, like she wanted to scratch herself out of embarrassment.

Too obedient.

So obedient that Qin Yushu felt like if she said “give me your hand,” the girl would immediately place that pretty paw into her palm.

So she did.

Lu Ningshuang turned around, blinking up at her with those clear, innocent eyes completely confused.

What a pity.

Qin Yushu closed her tablet and leaned back into her seat. “Give me a head massage.”

Then she added with a smile, “Consider it a free trial.”

“…”

As it happened, Lu Ningshuang actually knew how.

She scooted a little closer, moving her rear with exaggerated caution. Qin Yushu didn’t rush her. Once she took the first step, it seemed to melt some of her nervousness, and she slowly shuffled over beside the boss.

She raised her hands. “I’m really doing it, okay?”

Qin Yushu had her eyes half-closed, but now she looked up and saw those elegant hands hovering in front of her.

They were a flawless, pure white with no blemishes, no freckles. The palms were balanced and smooth, which only emphasized the graceful length of each finger.

From base to tip, the structure was well-defined. No knuckles sticking out awkwardly, no odd angles. Even the bare nails were trimmed into a clean oval, with a soft white edge that extended just about a millimeter past the fingertip.

Qin Yushu’s hands were beautiful too but in comparison, hers suddenly felt a little lacking.

Such clean, lovely hands held so close… Something about that untouched whiteness stirred thoughts she shouldn’t be having.

Desire, out of nowhere.

Qin Yushu’s lashes fluttered. She lowered her gaze, pressing those feelings back down. “Mm.”

Lu Ningshuang’s technique was gentle. First, she carefully swept the long strands of hair away from Qin Yushu’s cheeks, tucking them behind her ear.

She curled her fingers, checking to make sure her fingertips were warm enough—didn’t want to freeze her boss then lightly placed them against Qin Yushu’s temples, pressing in with practiced precision.

Being this close, Qin Yushu caught the faint scent of Lu Ningshuang’s pheromones.

A whisper of lime. Crisp, clean. Just like the girl herself.

She remembered it from last night.

Back then, the scent had been stronger, probably mingled with her own. The combination was sharp and refreshing, with just a touch of lingering sweetness that made her own instincts stir in return.

Thank goodness she’d used a suppressant.

Lu Ningshuang must’ve used one too, because Qin Yushu couldn’t pick up her own scent on the girl at all.

The Alpha-Omega bond had its roots in primitive biology, something raw and instinctive. But human society had evolved. Technology now offered all sorts of ways to navigate gender dynamics more gracefully. One of the most widespread was the Omega suppressant especially popular among those who weren’t bonded. Alphas often kept some on hand too.

No one wanted to be sniffed and immediately exposed. What they did last night, who they did it with… A single whiff could betray everything. Carrying someone else’s scent like a brand was invasive, almost dehumanizing.

Of course, some people liked that kind of territorial marking. That was their kink.

But in general, it was a relic of the animal side of things. As human beings, they preferred a layer of civility.

That’s why more and more Alpha-Omega couples after bonding, still used sprays to cover the scent. There were downsides, sure. You couldn’t tell if someone was single just by sniffing them. But that’s what communication was for. Ask, and if they’re honest, everything’s fine. The pros outweighed the cons.

That, among other things, was why Qin Yushu had been able to go out to dinner with Huo Yunyi today.

She really was tired. Things hadn’t stopped since last night. So she relaxed a little and allowed herself to enjoy the Alpha’s service.

From time to time, Lu Ningshuang would ask gently, “Is the pressure okay? Do you want it a bit lighter or harder?”

Qin Yushu didn’t hold back. She gave honest feedback, never worrying about being troublesome.

The Alpha didn’t seem annoyed at all. She took each correction seriously, made adjustments, and never once slacked off. Who knows how long it went on for, but since Qin Yushu never said she was done, Lu Ningshuang didn’t dare stop.

“Enough.”

Qin Yushu spoke suddenly. She opened her eyes and met Lu Ningshuang’s focused, serious gaze.

“Lu Ningshuang,” she said, “has anyone ever told you you’re way too easy to push around?”

********

Alphas are born with an instinct for dominance and destruction. Even if they wear civility like a well-tailored suit, it still leaks out in the little things especially when they’re around Omegas. That sense of superiority feels carved into their DNA, something they don’t even need to learn. It’s just there.

Like what happened earlier with Huo Yunyi.

But with Lu Ningshuang… even when Qin Yushu was in heat and asked for a mark in that moment when instinct should’ve overridden reason,  the girl had stayed gentle. Rational. Soft.

An Alpha like that? Almost unheard of. It didn’t follow the script written in biology and yet, she existed.

Just like Qin Yushu herself.

“No,” Lu Ningshuang answered honestly.

Qin Yushu casually lifted a strand of Lu Ningshuang’s hair. It was a gesture she found herself doing often.

Touch. Even something as simple as playing with someone’s hair brought her a kind of comfort. It helped her get through heat cycles she’d long endured alone, relying only on suppressants. Hair wasn’t quite body contact, but it was enough. Intimate, without the danger of getting lost in it.

They’d ended up sitting much closer than expected during the massage. Now, it almost looked like an Alpha holding an Omega in her arms.

As Qin Yushu twirled the strand of hair between her fingers, her voice came low and rough, as if coaxing memories of that hazy, sultry night back into the air.

And even in that suggestive closeness, her presence remained unshakable, poised, self-assured, magnetic.

“That must be it. You’re so easy to push around, and the others are probably afraid if they call you out, it’ll make things awkward later,” she said, eyes narrowed in thought.

Lu Ningshuang tilted her head, confused. “Really?”

“Mhm~”

The note of playfulness in Qin Yushu’s voice should’ve felt flirtatious, maybe even a little improper but instead, it warmed the air in the car. A tease, light and effortless.

“Then why tell me?” Lu Ningshuang asked.

Qin Yushu released the strand of hair and leaned back just a little, putting a sliver of distance between them. But her eyes stayed locked onto Lu Ningshuang. Dark, calm, and unreadable.

“Because I’m not like the others.”

Lu Ningshuang blinked, unsure what to make of that.

Then, Qin Yushu reached out again. In a deliberate, visible motion, she brushed her fingers against Lu Ningshuang’s slow, almost lingering before pulling back.

The entire move played out clearly in Lu Ningshuang’s line of sight. Every step intentional, impossible to ignore.

There was no coyness in her. No feline, calculating games.

Even the way she looked chin slightly tucked, gaze level and gave off a kind of regal pride. Unshakeable. Certain. As though she knew exactly what she was doing and saw no reason to hide it.

Her voice came low and arrogant: “I wanted to touch you. So I did.”

Lu Ningshuang: “…”

Okay, fine. You’re the boss. Your rules.

Just then, the luxury car turned into the residential complex where Lu Ningshuang currently lived. Her heart was still a little unsettled. She hesitated, but tonight, Qin Yushu seemed more approachable than usual. Maybe she could ask.

“At the hotel earlier… were you and that man on a blind date? Is it for marriage?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Qin Yushu didn’t dodge the question at all. Her tone was surprisingly straightforward. “The way you asked earlier, I thought Miss Lu was quite looking forward to the answer.”

“No! Definitely not!” Lu Ningshuang shook her head so fast she almost gave herself whiplash.

Qin Yushu lightly tapped her finger on the console, as if keeping tempo. “If I were to get married, what would you do? Be my secret lover?”

“Of course not.”

Lu Ningshuang paused, then said more seriously, “Marriage doesn’t have to be sacred, but if two people are going to sign that paper… then at the very least, it should mean exclusivity. For as long as the marriage lasts.”

“And what if it’s a contractual marriage agreed upfront that both parties live their own lives afterward?”

Lu Ningshuang didn’t answer right away. Instead, she said, “Marriage isn’t just between two people. It often involves entire families. There are responsibilities, compromises, and sacrifices. Over time, all those little things can wear down the original feelings. Love, whether it’s there or not becomes secondary.”

“No matter what others do or how they see it, I believe in being loyal after marriage. And I wouldn’t be the one to cross that line.”

“Oh.” Qin Yushu’s tone turned cool, slipping back into her usual distant, businesslike air.

Lu Ningshuang rubbed her nose, wondering if she’d said the wrong thing. But even if she had to say it again — she still would.

She wasn’t the type to be someone’s secret indulgence just because the offer came wrapped in luxury. Sure, if it was a simple transactional relationship, she’d consider it partly for the money, but also because, well… Qin Yushu was stunning.

But if the other person was already taken—married, engaged and dating someone seriously then sorry. No deal.

Fortunately, what happened between them had been at the very start of the story. Before anything official.

Even though she was a little disappointed by Qin Yushu’s reaction, Lu Ningshuang felt more relieved than anything else. Besides… it’s not like Qin Yushu was definitely going to marry that guy, right?

She’d watched them back at the restaurant. They hadn’t seemed all that close, and after dinner, he didn’t even walk her out. Qin Yushu had left and come to see her instead. A so-called one-night stand she was supposedly “sponsoring”…

Eventually, the car pulled to a stop beneath Lu Ningshuang’s building.

“Um… thanks again for tonight, President Qin.”

She already had one foot on the ground when Qin Yushu finally spoke again.

“No need to think it over.”

Lu Ningshuang turned around sharply, ponytail flipping behind her. The urgency clear in how fast she reacted.

The motion made her look a little silly, but the streetlamp outside spilled a warm glow onto her face. Her skin looked soft as polished jade, and her eyes were clear, gentle like an innocent puppy.

That light also danced over Qin Yushu’s features; bold, cold, striking. Her loose waves still bore the imprint of where she’d rested her head earlier, slightly tousled.

She looked wild. Lethal. Breathtaking.

Those dark eyes, those red lips. A goddess with mercy and distance in equal measure, pronouncing her judgment without emotion.

“Miss Lu….” she said, voice unwavering.

“The contract between us? It’s canceled.”