The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 34

34:

Zhou Xianling ultimately accepted Zhou Lan’s terms—with modifications.

She provided the fastest method to annex the Chu family, leaving execution to Zhou Corp.

The Chu Group’s current financial strain had driven them to seek Zhou cooperation. Their joint projects, while lucrative long-term, couldn’t alleviate immediate cash flow issues.

By obstructing Chu loans while prolonging project payouts, Zhou Corp could bleed the Chu’s dry within years—a slow but reliable strategy.

Yet Zhou Xianling’s patience carried risks. Unexpected variables could derail everything.

What Chu Zhao possessed was a game-changer, evidence guaranteeing the Chus’ swift demise.

The Chu family’s core strength lay in generations of real estate holdings—enough to sustain them indefinitely.

To dismantle this, those assets needed forced liquidation.

Beyond stalled joint ventures, the critical pressure point was the Chus’ ten billion yuan flagship project: Second World—a Universal Studios-scale theme park.

The Capital City counterpart earned billions annually, prompting the Chus’ massive investment.

But land acquisition alone cost billions, draining their reserves.

Without operational revenue and with leasing setbacks, the money pit deepened. Delays from frequent “accidents” (many orchestrated by Zhou Corp) compounded losses.

Completion might salvage everything, or become their tomb.

Chu Meng’s refusal to share profits or seek partners sealed this gamble’s fate.

Zhou Xianling would’ve syndicated the risk. Now, he’d let it bury them.

Chu Zhao’s evidence—documenting crimes from unfair competition to buried bodies beneath the Chu estate’s gardens was damning enough with Zhou Corp’s amplification.

Handing this to Zhou Xianling was unleashing a wolf upon sheep.

As Zhou Lan presented the files, her father’s exhilaration was palpable.

The Zhou-Chu feud ran generations deep. This was a checkmate.

—

After delivering the evidence, Zhou Lan didn’t leave immediately.

Her devoted spouse persona required visiting Chu Zhao’s office.

Bounding through corridors like an eager puppy, she drew amused glances.

(The staff’s internal chats flooded with “kdl”—internet slang for “can’t help shipping them.”)

Chu Zhao’s office surprised her, spacious beyond her mid-level position’s norms.

(She later learned it matched VP specifications, surpassing even Zhou Lundao’s setup—fueling his hostility.)

“You skipped lunch?” Zhou Lan chided upon entering.

Chu Zhao blinked. “I had coffee.”

“Coffee isn’t food.”

Though guilty of similar habits, Zhou Lan fumed at Chu Zhao’s self-neglect.

Under her scolding, Chu Zhao inexplicably felt chastised. “I’ll eat after work.”

“That’s dinner! Do you routinely merge meals?”

The guilty silence confirmed it.

Seized by boldness, Zhou Lan hauled Chu Zhao up. “Let’s eat.”

As Chu Zhao instinctively resisted, Zhou Lan whispered, “We’re being watched.”

The reminder stung unexpectedly. (Just acting, Chu Zhao told herself, ignoring the hollow pang.)

“Work first,” Chu Zhao demurred.

“Then I’ll bring you something. What do you want?”

“Something simple.”

Hunger surfaced abruptly, coffee had masked it until now.

Zhou Lan smiled, ruffling Chu Zhao’s hair. “Wait here.”

Their near-identical heights (175cm vs 170cm) somehow made Chu Zhao seem petite in that moment—a rare softening of her usual boardroom intensity.

Chu Zhao inhaled Zhou Lan’s scent absently, unaware her revulsion had faded.

“Thank you.”

“No need.”

Zhou Lan’s departure left the door deliberately ajar—letting the “assistant” (really Zhou Xianling’s spy) broadcast their intimacy company-wide.

By the time Zhou Lan reached the elevators, every non-work chat was spamming kdl.

But staring at her hand, Zhou Lan froze.

That hair ruffle hadn’t been acting.