The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 40

40:

Never in her wildest dreams had Zhou Lan imagined her solitary stroll would lead to Chu Zhao playing the hero.

The sheer combat prowess on display—capable of taking down ten Alphas single-handedly—left her thoroughly impressed. So much, that she found herself suddenly interested in boxing and martial arts. Even if she never reached such skill levels, it would at least improve her fitness.

In her past life, she’d rarely exercised beyond occasionally lifting dumbbells at home before quickly losing motivation, the quintessential modern youth who feels exhausted just imagining physical activity.

But witnessing Chu Zhao’s effortless dominance sparked genuine motivation. Her current body, ravaged by the original host’s alcohol abuse and sleepless nights, remained in poor condition despite recent efforts to maintain regular meals and sleep schedules. True recovery would require months of discipline.

What truly bewildered her, however, was how her solo music festival trip had somehow become a duo outing. Chu Zhao didn’t strike her as the type to enjoy such events.

Yet the thought of attending with Chu Zhao specifically sent an unexpected thrill through her, an almost giddy sensation of inviting someone into her personal sanctuary. Music had always been Zhou Lan’s world, and festivals were among her greatest joys.

Having only ever attended alone in her past life, this shared experience carried novel significance.

After parking near the festival grounds, they navigated through the midway crowd where a rap performance had just resumed. The bass-heavy beats vibrated through the air, creating an atmosphere more akin to an open-air nightclub.

Chu Zhao initially winced at the sensory overload, while Zhou Lan remained unfazed, content simply to absorb the music regardless of visibility.

“Look! It’s Little Bear!” someone shouted.

The underground-turned-mainstream rapper’s arrival sent the crowd into frenzy, her name chanted so loudly the current performer awkwardly finished two songs before retreating.

Zhou Lan’s eyes lit up at the mention. She’d followed Little Bear’s career, a talented lyricist who used hip-hop to critique societal darkness while delivering electrifying performances.

Recently, the artist had struggled transitioning to mainstream acceptability, forced to sanitize lyrics that lost their edge in the process. Her latest album’s poor sales explained her presence at this mid-tier festival rather than major venues.

Zhou Lan recognized the creative stagnation, if only they could exchange ideas beyond commercial constraints. The backstage access from The Rolling Eggs’ tickets might facilitate such a meeting.

Lost in thought, she instinctively moved toward backstage when a hand closed around hers.

Ready to retaliate against what she assumed was harassment, Zhou Lan whirled around—only to freeze at the sight of Chu Zhao’s stern expression.

“Don’t wander off,” Chu Zhao admonished over the noise, having seized her hand to prevent separation in the crowd.

The accidental contact left them both flustered, though Chu Zhao maintained an air of composed authority, as if scolding a misbehaving child.

Between the deafening music and her own embarrassment, Zhou Lan caught only fragments—something about being remembered? She feigned ignorance rather than admit forgetting she wasn’t alone.

Old habits died hard, solo festival routines didn’t account for companions. The Little Bear meeting would have to wait.

“Let’s go somewhere less crowded,” Zhou Lan shouted, pointing toward the periphery where attendees lounged on picnic blankets or played with water guns amidst food stalls offering everything from burgers to skewers.

After securing bottled water and a ground cloth from a vendor, Zhou Lan spotted trouble—a garishly dressed Alpha making advances toward Chu Zhao.

The man’s oil-slicked hair and cheap cologne made even the original Zhou Lan’s loudest shirts seem tasteful by comparison. When Chu Zhao’s visible disgust failed to deter him, Zhou Lan sprang into action.

First, she triggered the vendor’s emergency alarm. Then, after securing her purchases, she positioned herself between them just as the Alpha approached.

“Excuse you,” Zhou Lan said pointedly, letting her bag swing forcefully into the man’s ribs.

Enraged, the Alpha and his three companions closed in—until festival security arrived in response to the alarm.

Internal tickets carried weight. After verifying Zhou Lan’s credentials, security promptly ejected the harassers without ceremony.

As the confrontation dissolved, Zhou Lan missed the complex emotions flickering across Chu Zhao’s face—no one had ever stood so resolutely in her defense before.