The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 13

13:

In the novel, Chu Zhao’s plan was a high-stakes gamble—she threw herself into the game, using the Zhou family to suppress the Chu family while simultaneously gathering evidence of the Zhou family’s crimes. A two-birds-one-stone strategy.

It was a brilliant plan in theory, but execution was far more difficult.

As Zhou Lan had pointed out, Chu Zhao’s investigation had been flawed from the start.

Then again, the evidence Zhou Xianling had erased could have buried the Zhou family for good.

In truth, anyone unaware of the full picture would have made the same choices as Chu Zhao.

Tax evasion, bribery—to ordinary people, these were unforgivable crimes. But even with proof, the Zhou family could easily produce scapegoats.

Unless their political backing collapsed, leaving them exposed.

As long as the Zhou family’s protectors remained in power, their current misdeeds could be covered up. Without evidence from the past, toppling them would be nearly impossible.

Zhou Lan recalled how, in the novel, Chu Zhao had eventually succeeded in dismantling both families—but the process was grueling, and she had nearly lost herself in the struggle.

Now that Zhou Lan knew the full story, she could help Chu Zhao avoid unnecessary detours. Of course, her motives weren’t entirely selfless.

Her reasons for partnering with Chu Zhao were numerous: both were desperate to escape their toxic families, Zhou Lan carried a sliver of guilt toward her, most importantly—Chu Zhao was the protagonist.

No matter how many hardships she faced, Chu Zhao would ultimately prevail.

Zhou Lan’s goal was simple: reduce Chu Zhao’s suffering while securing her own freedom, ensuring she didn’t repeat the original Zhou Lan’s tragic fate.

In her eyes, Chu Zhao was already exceptional. She didn’t need those trials to succeed—they felt like unnecessary torment, as if the author had designed them purely to break her.

She hated that kind of forced misery.

What she admired wasn’t the novel itself, but Chu Zhao’s resilience and brilliance—a highly intelligent, independent woman who overcame every obstacle with her wits.

Yet some wounds never fully healed. By the novel’s end, Chu Zhao still carried the scars.

A woman like her deserved happiness, not a life shackled to the past.

—

Zhou Lan wanted an alliance.

But Chu Zhao doesn’t trust her, not one bit.

Gaining her trust wouldn’t happen overnight.

Today’s meeting had three purposes:

1. To correct Chu Zhao’s misguided investigation.
2. To clarify her own stance.
3. To redefine their relationship.

—

When the car stopped outside the noodle shop, Chu Zhao tensed.

She had asked to be dropped at the subway, not some random restaurant.

What is Zhou Lan planning?

Her fists clenched. The only reason she’d gotten into this car was confidence in her own combat skills.

In a fair fight, she could take on ten Zhou Lan.

Hearing Chu Zhao’s internal threats, Zhou Lan hastily exited the car.

“I haven’t had a sip of water since morning,” she said. “Let’s talk over noodles?”

Noodles?

Chu Zhao suddenly remembered the untouched bowl from yesterday’s dining table.

She’d seen Zhou Lan’s message but, in her fury, blocked her immediately. She’d noticed the noodles, only to feel another wave of disgust. Eating them was out of the question.

Her expression was frosty, Chu Zhao remained silent.

Her natural aura was already intimidating—a gray pinstripe blazer, a sleek belt emphasizing her waist, not a hair out of place, flawless makeup, and towering heels that forced Zhou Lan to tilt her chin up slightly to meet her gaze.

Chu Zhao’s eyes were mesmerizing, capable of making hearts skip.

But paired with her stay-the-hell-away demeanor, Zhou Lan felt utterly pinned.

There was no denying it, Chu Zhao was exactly her type.

A career-driven ice queen, her gaze brimming with arrogance, as if looking down on the world from the clouds.

Everything about her—her looks, her presence—was a direct hit to Zhou Lan’s heart.

But she doubted her own emotional capacity. Even if she could date, she’d probably botch it.

And with Chu Zhao’s obvious loathing, maintaining distance was wiser.

Love could spark at first sight or grow over time, but it required mutual effort. Given Chu Zhao’s hatred, they’d be lucky to manage basic civility.

Zhou Lan shook her head, dispelling the absurd thoughts. She felt a twinge of shame for her shallow attraction.

Despite Chu Zhao’s violent inclinations, curiosity won out. She followed Zhou Lan inside.

—

The noodle shop was unremarkable, the kind of humble eatery found on every street corner.

In her past life, Zhou Lan had frequented a similar place near her apartment. The owner had even created new dishes just for her, sometimes letting her bring her own ingredients.

These small, family-run joints often served the most authentic local flavors.

Their luxury car and designer outfits clashed with the shop’s simplicity, but thankfully, the mid-afternoon lull meant no gawking bystanders.

The owner glanced up from his phone. “What’ll it be?”

“Beef noodles,” Zhou Lan said, then turned to Chu Zhao. “And you?”

“Not hungry.”

Awkwardly sipping water, Zhou Lan held up two fingers.

The owner nodded. Soon, two steaming bowls arrived.

The broth was fragrant, topped with thinly sliced beef and scallions. After skipping two meals, Zhou Lan’s stomach growled.

She submerged the beef beneath the noodles, soaking in the soup made it even better.

Chu Zhao stared at her untouched bowl, then deliberately looked away.

She hadn’t eaten lunch either, having been summoned by Ling He’na for an “emergency” that turned out to be another lecture.

Her friend had warned: if the Zhou family discovered she’d moved out of the marital villa, it could jeopardize her plans.

That villa was a wedding gift from the Zhou’s. Leaving might provoke unpredictable consequences.

But staying meant enduring Zhou Lan’s presence, a nausea-inducing prospect.

A lose-lose dilemma.

—

Zhou Lan understood her conflict.

She devoured her noodles, savoring the warmth in her stomach, then glanced at Chu Zhao’s full bowl.

“Eat while I talk,” she said gently.

Chu Zhao hesitated, then picked up her chopsticks—a subconscious move to mask her unease.

Only after taking a bite did she realize her blunder: “I just refused to eat!”

Zhou Lan tactfully pretended not to notice the adorable slip.

“The key to our goal is simple,” she said. “We need proof that the Zhou family is manufacturing suppressants illegally. Once we have that, others will handle the rest.”

In the novel, Chu Zhao had handed the evidence to her allies, triggering the Zhou family’s political downfall.

Only the two pharmaceutical giants cared about counterfeit suppressants, meaning Chu Zhao’s partner had to be one of them.

Chu Zhao frowned. She had considered this angle, but the Zhou’s had kept her at arm’s length, denying her any opening.

With Zhou Lan’s involvement, things might actually work.

But one thing puzzled her: Why is Zhou Lan so eager to cut ties with her own family?

Catching her momentary lapse, Chu Zhao quickly lowered her head, using the noodles as a distraction.

Zhou Lan continued as if nothing happened.

“I can get the evidence. The rest is up to you.”

Then, the crucial pivot:

“Chu Zhao, I want our relationship to change—from a marriage to a partnership.”

“Think of it as a contract. Once we’ve both achieved our goals, we terminate the agreement… and divorce.”

That was her true objective.

From this moment forward, they would be allies—nothing more.