The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 19

19:

The Zhou family estate remained unchanged, a bastion of suffocating tradition amidst the city’s vibrant modernity.

Zhou Lan despised such oppression. Freedom was her creed—whether choosing laziness or passionate pursuits, all decisions should be hers alone. Yet every Zhou seemed obsessed with controlling others’ lives.

Just days of exposure had cemented her resolve to escape.

As predicted, the butler ushered her directly to the dining hall.

The gathering included:

– Zhou Xianling & Ling He’na: The patriarch and his wife
– Chu Zhao: Sitting silently, only smiling politely when addressed
– Zhou Xianzhi: An obese, unctuous man (Zhou Lundao’s father)
– Madam Zhou: Thin-lipped with suppressed fury (Zhou Lundao’s mother)
– Zhou Lundao: The golden child—impeccably suited, academically brilliant

At first glance, Zhou Lundao embodied perfection—until one remembered the original Zhou Lan’s memory: him torturing a dog with calculated cruelty.

The kind of monster who hid behind respectability.

Zhou Lan’s gaze lingered on Chu Zhao, quiet yet luminous amidst the decay.

—

The “apology banquet” was farcical. Zhou Xianzhi groveled before his brother, barely acknowledging Chu Zhao.

Zhou Lan deliberately cleared her throat, drawing all eyes as she took the seat beside Chu Zhao.

“Where are you hurt?” she asked softly, ignoring the others.

Chu Zhao stiffened. “…I’m fine.”

Her reluctance was palpable, but to observers, they appeared intimate.

Zhou Xianling’s temper flared. “Why are you here?”

Ling He’na intervened hastily: “Our daughter belongs at home!”

Unfazed, Zhou Lan countered, “My wife’s here. Why wouldn’t I be?”

The term “wife” made Chu Zhao’s spine prickle, and Zhou Lan’s ears burn. She’d rehearsed this en route, yet saying it aloud still mortified her.

“Have they apologized to my wife yet?”

Zhou Xianzhi froze. Earlier “apologies” had been directed solely at Zhou Xianling. Kowtowing to a powerless woman? Unthinkable.

Yet his niece was unpredictable. With Zhou Xianling offering no lifeline, he forced a smile and produced an access card.

“A humble gift, our new downtown apartment. Consider it compensation.”

Zhou Lan inspected the keycard coldly. “Transferred ownership? Signed donation contract? No? Then it’s worthless.”

She’d pieced together the truth during the drive:

1. The Accident: Likely Zhou Lundao’s family orchestrating Chu Zhao’s “mishap.”

2. Zhou Xianling’s Game: Using evidence to intimidate both sides, preventing alliances against him.

The apartment transfer proceeded with unnerving speed, Zhou privilege at work.

But Zhou Lan wasn’t finished.

“Uncle, what exactly are you apologizing for?” she pressed. “Running my wife off the road?”

Zhou Xianzhi’s smile cracked. “A… misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” Zhou Lan’s voice turned lethal. “Would you accept a ‘misunderstanding’ if someone tried to kill you?”

Each “wife” rolled easily off her tongue. Chu Zhao noted this, and the unexpected advocacy. Was Zhou Lan genuinely… protecting her?

Zhou Xianzhi bristled. “I swear, I never intended—”

“Just maim her then? Keep her from the company?” Zhou Lan sliced through the platitudes. “Think if I stay away and Chu Zhao’s eliminated, your son inherits by default?”

She delivered the killing blow:

“Father’s only fifty-nine. With average lifespans, he’s got twenty years minimum. Will you even outlive him?”

Zhou Lundao finally interceded, smooth as ever:

“Cousin, uncle merely offers us learning opportunities. You’re welcome to join.”

A masterstroke—reminding Zhou Xianling of her prior refusals.

“Enough!” Zhou Xianling’s roar silenced the room. His gaze pinned Zhou Lan. “Final chance. Join the company or not?”

Ling He’na trembled, fearing another rejection.

Zhou Lan surprised everyone:

“Let Chu Zhao manage operations. If you will share it with me later… Perhaps I’ll accept.” She shrugged. “Twenty years is long. Minds change.”

This strategic retreat served dual purposes:

1. Chu Zhao’s Access: Ensuring her reach into Zhou Corporation’s core.
2. Self-Preservation: Avoiding total estrangement that might trigger surveillance.

Beneath the table, Chu Zhao’s fingers curled. Zhou Lan’s gambit was clear—paving her path into Zhou Corporation’s heart.

Against all logic, she began reconsidering their… partnership.