The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 25

25:

Zhou Lan’s words plunged the already tense room into an eerie silence.

Chu Zhao couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Had Zhou Lan really confessed to her? She had been so sure that Zhou Lan didn’t like her.

Meanwhile, Zhou Lan was racking her brain, trying to figure out how to backtrack from such an absurd statement.

That said, there was some truth to it—Chu Zhao was exactly her type.

She had always been drawn to intelligent, elegant women, and Chu Zhao’s looks were precisely to her taste.

Her gaze at Chu Zhao was filled with admiration, and in this so-called confession moment, she made no effort to hide her appreciation. It almost looked like genuine affection.

Chu Zhao met her eyes but quickly lowered her gaze, unable to hold the stare.

That look in Zhou Lan’s eyes was identical to the ones she had seen from countless admirers.

Zhou Lan, certain that Chu Zhao would never like her back, spoke bluntly, which only made her words seem more sincere.

“It was love at first sight for me. Besides, isn’t it normal to like someone as outstanding as you?”

“Marrying you made me really happy. So at first, I thought that even if we were matched through an arrangement, feelings could develop over time. Isn’t that how it usually works?”

Personally, she believed love should come before marriage. Arranged marriages where love grew afterward were rare.

But she said this to make her words more convincing.

“But you were so cold to me. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. If we weren’t married, maybe I’d understand, but we were married.”

“So when someone provoked me, I made a huge mistake. I’m sorry.”

Zhou Lan was indeed echoing the original host’s thoughts, but she still believed that even in marriage, mutual respect was essential. The original host had been a terrible person.

Now that she occupied this body, the responsibility fell on her.

Zhou Lan bowed her head sincerely. “No matter what, I’m sorry.”

“Helping you is just to ease my own guilt. Don’t feel burdened.”

“What happened before was my fault. Once you succeed, we’ll divorce. I promise I won’t cling to you.”

She meant every word and fully intended to follow through.

“Liking you doesn’t justify hurting you. I truly am sorry.”

“I acted impulsively, and I’ll make up for it.”

Zhou Lan’s eyes were as earnest as a loyal dog’s, making Chu Zhao almost believe her.

Then Chu Zhao let out a cold laugh. So what if she liked her? Some things couldn’t be undone with an apology.

Zhou Lan hurriedly added, “You don’t have to believe me, but I’ll prove my sincerity.”

“Once everything is settled, don’t worry—I’ll divorce you. If you want, we can sign the papers now.”

“You draft the terms.”

This was the only way Zhou Lan could think of to reassure Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao’s heart stirred. This world was lenient toward Alphas. If an Alpha refused to divorce, the process could drag on for years.

She couldn’t afford that.

If they could sign an agreement in advance, it would be ideal.

“You’d really sign?”

Chu Zhao was skeptical. Would Zhou Lan actually go through with this?

Zhou Lan’s sincerity seemed genuine, but nothing was more convincing than a signed divorce agreement.

With it, even if Zhou Lan changed her mind later, Chu Zhao was confident she could finalize the divorce quickly.

Zhou Lan nodded. “You can have a lawyer draft it.”

“One year. When the time comes, I’ll leave with nothing.”

If she remembered correctly, Chu Zhao had taken down the Zhou and Chu families within a year.

By then, she’d be useless anyway—perfect timing for the divorce.

Chu Zhao studied her intently. “Fine. I’ll prepare the contract.”

She owned Chu Yue. If Zhou Lan insisted on dividing assets, it would get messy.

Calculating it, their marital assets were substantial.

Chu Zhao didn’t want Zhou Lan’s things, nor did she want to give up her own.

After a pause, she added, “What’s yours stays yours. No need for you to leave with nothing.”

Zhou Lan tilted her head slightly but didn’t argue.

For now, Chu Zhao seemed slightly less guarded. Once the agreement was signed, a sliver of trust might form between them.

Even if that trust was as fragile as a seedling, easily crushed by the slightest doubt—she would nurture it carefully, ensuring their hard-won peace wasn’t shattered.

The room fell quiet again. Compared to the earlier tension, the atmosphere now, though silent, was more comfortable.

Except Chu Zhao still refused to sleep.

Zhou Lan understood. A few words couldn’t erase Chu Zhao’s wariness. But as long as she started believing her, that was progress.

She picked up her phone, but before she could unlock it, Chu Zhao stood and turned off the lights.

Zhou Lan quickly realized why keeping the lights on so late might invite suspicion from the Chu family.

She stayed silent, scrolling on her phone.

Chu Zhao leaned against the bed, seemingly handling work.

With everything said, they each focused on their own tasks, coexisting surprisingly harmoniously.

In the darkened room, the glow of their phones illuminated their faces.

Occasionally, Zhou Lan glanced at Chu Zhao, who did the same in return.

In the dim light, Chu Zhao looked exceptionally beautiful, but Zhou Lan didn’t dare stare too long, afraid of ruining their fragile peace.

She kept looking up partly because the second light source made her uneasy, but mostly because Chu Zhao was still wary.

Time passed quietly. The night wasn’t as agonizing as Zhou Lan had feared, it even held an odd comfort.

Being in the same space as Chu Zhao felt… safe.

And so, they waited until dawn.

—

At around 5 a.m., Zhou Lan stood to stretch her stiff limbs.

After running around all day and staying up all night, her body felt like a machine that had been running nonstop for 24 hours. Every movement ached.

The moment she moved, Chu Zhao’s sharp gaze snapped to her.

If Zhou Lan was exhausted, Chu Zhao was worse—her nerves had been on edge all night.

Both were in terrible shape, radiating low energy.

Zhou Lan walked to the window, stretching her creaky joints while taking in the view of the Chu family estate.

Then she grabbed the clothes the Chu’s had provided and said to Chu Zhao, “I’m going to shower.”

If they walked out in yesterday’s clothes, suspicions would definitely arise.

The Chu family was full of shrewd people. Until Chu Zhao’s mother was safely out, they had to be cautious.

Chu Zhao ignored her, keeping her eyes on her phone.

Zhou Lan blinked innocently and headed to the bathroom.

Under the shower’s spray, her mind finally began to clear.

She closed her eyes, washing lethargically.

She had dozed off briefly during the night, but the sofa chair was so small she nearly fell off.

Startled awake, she found Chu Zhao watching her. Flushing, she smiled awkwardly and returned to her phone.

Eventually, she downloaded a game to keep herself awake.

The sound of running water slowly revived her.

Staying up wasn’t usually hard for her, but last night had felt endless—maybe because of the discomfort.

After about 30 minutes, once she felt fully alert, she turned off the shower, dried her hair, dressed, and stepped out.

Seeing her fully clothed, Chu Zhao relaxed slightly.

Zhou Lan grabbed her phone. “I’m going for a walk. My body’s stiff from sitting all night.”

If she stayed, Chu Zhao wouldn’t shower. She wasn’t that oblivious.

The moment she left, she heard the lock click behind her.

“…”

At least the Chu estate’s scenery was pleasant. The morning breeze cleared her foggy mind as she wandered aimlessly.

She planned to circle the estate and return in about an hour.

The sprawling grounds took at least 30 minutes to jog around. At her leisurely pace, an hour was perfect.

Zhou Lan wasn’t interested in the estate’s grandeur. Half-lidded, she focused only on retracing her steps to avoid getting lost.

Just as she was about to head back, a shrill voice cut through the air.

“Why does that woman get to be the legal wife? I want her to suffer! If she leaves with that little b1tch Chu Zhao, how can I torment her?”

It was Liu Qing.

Legal wife? How brainwashed was she? This wasn’t ancient times, who talked about wives and concubines anymore?

But it was clear that half of Chu Zhao’s mother’s torment came from this woman.

Zhou Lan didn’t want to stir trouble. After breakfast, they’d take Chu Zhao’s mother away. No need for complications.

She turned to leave but then heard Chu Yanqing’s voice. “Let her go. As long as the Chu family is mine, whether you marry Dad or not doesn’t matter.”

“Think long-term. Stop fixating on her. If Chu Zhao takes her away, even better. Once I inherit the Chu family, you’ll be the only lady of the house.”

No matter how little Chu Zhao’s mother was favored, the world saw her as the Chu family’s matriarch. Liu Qing was nothing, a mistress everyone looked down on.

But if you chose this life, you couldn’t silence the gossip.

Zhou Lan smirked and walked away. These two were delusional. The Chu family was on the brink of collapse, yet they were still scheming.

As she turned, she nearly collided with a tall man.

Recognition flashed, one of Chu Meng’s sons.

Had he overheard Liu Qing and Chu Yanqing?

Zhou Lan didn’t chase after him. She’d done nothing wrong. She’d just accidentally heard something.

But the man stopped and looked back.

Zhou Lan frowned. “Something wrong?”

The man stammered, “I’m Chu Yanhe… Chu Zhao’s younger brother.”

“Okay.”

And? Was this pitiful act for her benefit?

Chu Yanhe looked like a kicked puppy, as if Zhou Lan had bullied him. It was ridiculous.

She turned to leave, but he called out, “They’re evil. They’ve always bullied Auntie.”

Zhou Lan rolled her eyes. “They bully you too, don’t they? You stopped me to get me to fight your battles?”

“Why should I? If you want revenge, do it yourself. No one’s going to help you.”

Chu Yanhe was like a low-tier schemer, egging others on while playing innocent.

And his tough-guy appearance clashed hilariously with his meek tone.

Chu Yanhe persisted, “Don’t you want to avenge Chu Zhao? They’ve hurt her!”

“If my wife needs anything, she’ll tell me herself. She doesn’t need an outsider speaking for her.”

Zhou Lan stretched and walked away.

Finally, Chu Yanhe raised his voice. “Liu Qing is cheating! With her so-called cousin!”

Zhou Lan paused but didn’t look back.

As she walked, she mulled over his words.

They still had a year. After Liu Qing’s vile words, Zhou Lan refused to let her off easy.

In the novel, Chu Zhao had exposed Liu Qing’s affair, leading to her banishment by Chu Meng. That confirmed Chu Yanhe’s claim.

Once the scandal broke, Chu Yanqing lost his standing too.

Zhou Lan decided to accelerate the timeline. Some people didn’t deserve their lavish lives.

Maybe they had too much free time, scheming instead of reflecting.

As for Chu Yanhe’s motives? She didn’t care. A man who played the victim while seeking revenge wasn’t a threat.

Pulling out the original host’s phone, she scrolled through the contacts.

The original host’s useless friends had to be good for something. For this, they were perfect.

She found Tong Kai, a female Alpha from a mid-tier family desperate to climb the social ladder.

If Tong Kai could secure projects from the Zhou or Chu families, her status at home would rise.

After relentless sucking up, she’d become one of the original host’s lackeys—though only for errands.

Since Zhou Lan arrived, she’d ignored Tong Kai.

Now, she messaged her directly:

[Investigate Liu Qing’s affair. Focus on her ‘cousin.’]

She included key details to speed things up and transferred 20,000 yuan.

Tong Kai came from money but was cash-strapped personally. She’d spent a fortune trying to ingratiate herself with the original host.

Though the original host occasionally paid her back, it was never enough.

20,000 wasn’t much, but it covered past debts.

Tong Kai replied instantly:

—Got it.
—Boss, this is nothing. Keep the money, I’m good.
—I’ll have results by tomorrow.

Zhou Lan replied:

—Take it.

Tong Kai’s family was wealthy, but as the unfavored child, her allowance had been cut off after she started working. Her salary was under 20,000 yuan a month.

For ordinary people, that was plenty. But for social climbers, it wasn’t enough.

She’d spent most of her savings trying to join Zhou Lan’s circle.

The 20,000 yuan wasn’t much, but it felt like acceptance.

Tong Kai accepted the transfer, her impression of Zhou Lan shifting slightly.

She’d initially only wanted connections, but Zhou Lan had been a spoiled brat who only knew how to party.

But now, Zhou Lan was actually paying her for a simple task.

Maybe sticking with her wasn’t so bad.

Zhou Lan had no idea her random generosity had earned her a loyal follower.

Once Tong Kai got the evidence, Chu Meng wouldn’t tolerate a cheating wife.

Liu Qing and her son’s downfall would mirror the novel’s.

—

Back in the room, the door was now unlocked. Chu Zhao was ready and brushed past her without a word.

Zhou Lan: “???”

So cold.

She trailed behind like a meek spouse.

Breakfast was filled with tedious small talk. Zhou Lan played the arrogant rich heir flawlessly until it was time to leave.

No acting required, just be obnoxious.

By the end, the Chu family treated her with even more deference, afraid to provoke her.

So when they left, their party of two became three.

Only when Chu Zhao’s mother was safely in the car and they’d driven away did Zhou Lan and Chu Zhao relax.

Every extra minute in the Chu estate had felt like Chu Meng might change his mind.

Zhou Lan had driven separately to avoid last-minute tricks.

Her two-seater sports car would be returned by the Chu’s. The car they took now was a Chu family vehicle—untampered with, since the Zhous’ wrath wasn’t worth risking.

Still, a car followed them, with Chu Yanqing inside, escorting them all the way back to the villa.

Chu Meng had also sent two nurses to monitor Chu Zhao’s mother.

They’d taken her away, but the Chu family’s surveillance remained.

Still, it was better than leaving her alone in that house.

Chu Zhao could now provide proper care and find doctors.

Her mother’s mental issues were trauma-induced, not innate. Zhou Lan believed she could recover.

At the villa, Chu Zhao settled her mother in, arranging everything meticulously.

Zhou Lan hovered uselessly before retreating to the living room. She ordered groceries and stocked the fridge.

The newlywed villa was already stocked with luxury clothes, towels, and supplies—enough for a year.

But since she didn’t know Chu Zhao’s mother’s preferences, she could only do so much.

With the deliveries arranged, Chu Zhao was still busy.

Zhou Lan pondered treatment options. A hospital visit would alert the Chu’s.

Then she remembered Dr. Gao Anying. The only doctor she knew here.

She drafted a message:

—Dr. Gao, this is Zhou Lan. I have a psychiatric patient who can’t go to a hospital. Could you evaluate her privately?
—Fee is negotiable. This isn’t a Zhou family matter.

The Zhou’s paid top dollar for Dr. Gao and Dr. Feng’s services.

Setting her phone down, Zhou Lan suddenly felt like an intruder. Maybe Chu Zhao was uncomfortable with her presence too.

She should give them space.

Before leaving, her first task was dismissing the two nurses. Their presence was a liability.

If Dr. Gao couldn’t come, she’d find another doctor online—though she preferred someone vetted.

Leaning on the couch, she eyed the nurses before heading to find Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao was chatting with her mother, who hadn’t stopped smiling since they left.

Seeing Zhou Lan, Chu Zhao’s smile vanished, but her mother brightened and grabbed Zhou Lan’s hand.

“Daughter-in-law, we’re family.”

Family? Zhou Lan froze. In the car, Chu Zhao’s mother had repeatedly called them a family.

In her simple mind, Zhou Lan was her daughter’s wife—that made them family.

Zhou Lan smiled softly. “Yes, we’re family.”

Chu Zhao relaxed slightly. She’d worried Zhou Lan’s temper might hurt her mother.

To her surprise, Zhou Lan had been patient and kind the entire time. Their dynamic almost felt genuine.

But they could never really be family.

Zhou Lan was no longer fazed by Chu Zhao’s internal judgments.

From wanting her dead to mere skepticism was progress.

Besides, Chu Zhao was right—they were never meant to be.

What had happened between them ensured their love stories would never intertwine.

Finding someone who perfectly matched her ideal type was rare. Zhou Lan couldn’t deny her attraction.

But it stopped there. Nothing more would come of it.