The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 43

43:

The Zhou household was suffocatingly tense. Staff moved silently, not even daring to let their footsteps be heard.

Clearly, recent events had left everyone on edge—the atmosphere grew heavier by the day.

Exchanging a glance with Chu Zhao, Zhou Lan entered the living room.

It was past 7 p.m., and the Zhou family had already finished dinner—dashing her hopes of mooching a meal.

But Chu Zhao hadn’t eaten either, so she flagged down a passing maid. “Could you make us two bowls of noodles, please?”

The maid nodded promptly. “Right away, Miss.”

Neither of them had eaten. Whatever was coming, they’d face it on full stomachs.

They’d just arrived when Ling He’na, alerted to their presence, descended from upstairs.

Her expression darkened at the sight of them. “What, if your father hadn’t called, were you planning to never come back?”

“No appearances at the company, no trace of you anywhere. At this rate, Zhou Corp will end up in outsiders’ hands.”

Her words were aimed at Zhou Lan, but the subtext jabbed at Chu Zhao.

Some people should really learn when to shut up.

“Who inherits Zhou Corp is Chairman Zhou’s decision, not mine to dictate,” Zhou Lan retorted. “Why did you call us here?”

Ling He’na bristled but glanced upstairs and swallowed her temper. “Your father’s waiting in his study. Talk properly.”

“As for Chu Zhao, I need a word with her.”

Splitting them up? Zhou Lan balked.

“We—”

Before she could object, Chu Zhao nudged her arm and murmured, “It’s fine. Go ahead.”

Chu Zhao wasn’t afraid. Handling Ling He’na was easy.

Zhou Xianling was the real challenge, a young fox was no match for an ancient one.

Often, Chu Zhao wondered if their plans had already been detected.

But even if they had, it was too late to back out now.

If she didn’t act, the Sang family’s shadowy figure would. The Zhou family’s downfall was inevitable, she was merely riding the wave.

If not her, someone else would.

Her only concern was how Zhou Lan would be affected.

Someone accustomed to luxury, suddenly bankrupt—would she resent those responsible?

Zhou Lan now seemed eager to distance herself from the Zhou family, but what about later?

The thought of future hatred from Zhou Lan left an odd ache in Chu Zhao’s chest.

Yet once the wheels were in motion, there was no stopping them.

Her resolve hardened. She wouldn’t alter her plans for anyone, no one.

Nearby, Ling He’na watched Zhou Lan ascend the stairs with grudging approval.

Zhou Xianling’s study was off-limits to all, even cleaning required his supervision.

Previously, only Zhou Lan’s brother had access, groomed as Zhou Corp’s heir.

Now Zhou Lan could enter freely. What did that signify?

In Ling He’na’s eyes, it meant Zhou Xianling now viewed Zhou Lan as equal to her brother.

She didn’t know what Zhou Lan had done to earn this shift, but she welcomed it.

Ling He’na dreamed of her children inheriting Zhou Corp, becoming its true rulers.

Both Zhou Lan and her brother had once been obedient.

But now, things have changed. Zhou Lan only heeded to the woman beside her.

Ling He’na’s gaze sharpened as it landed on Chu Zhao’s calm demeanor.

She hated that look—the same detached expression Zhou Xianling wore when she raged, neither comforting nor scolding, as if she were the unreasonable one.

When the Ling family assets were seized, when Zhou Xianling cheated—always that same infuriating calm.

“Chu Zhao, putting you in Zhou Corp was to groom you as Zhou Lan’s support. Know your place.”

“After your family’s scandal, the Zhou’s allowing you to remain married is already mercy. Remember that.”

“Assist Zhou Lan properly, and you’ll lack for nothing.”

Assist? Chu Zhao nearly laughed. Did Ling He’na think Zhou Corp was some imperial throne?

She couldn’t be bothered to respond, until a sudden nausea sent her bolting to the bathroom.

Ling He’na, seeing Chu Zhao ignore her and flee, exploded.

“Can’t even tolerate elders speaking? No manners at all!”

Chu Zhao heard the tirade but couldn’t risk opening her mouth without vomiting.

Ling He’na was mid-rant when a maid ventured, “I think Miss Chu might be expecting.”

“Expecting? Expecting what?”

For a moment, Ling He’na was too furious to process the words. Then it clicked.

Her first reaction wasn’t to call a doctor but to snap, “Miss Chu is merely unwell.”

Despite despising Chu Zhao, she knew Zhou Xianling valued her—soon to be promoted to VP.

Her daily verbal jabs were to keep Chu Zhao from overshadowing Zhou Lan, to maintain her own dominance.

Ling He’na understood: Chu Zhao’s achievements at Zhou Corp were being credited to Zhou Lan. That was why Zhou Lan now entered the study.

But if Chu Zhao were pregnant, would Zhou Xianling still grant her the VP title?

Calculations flashed through Ling He’na’s mind. For now, she’d play dumb.

—

In the bathroom, Chu Zhao studied her reflection, puzzled. What’s wrong with me?

Was her body protesting the relentless workload?

In the capital city, she’d have scheduled a checkup immediately. But here in Jiangning, every move was monitored.

Her only option was to wrap things up quickly and return.

To Chu Zhao, Jiangning wasn’t home—nowhere was. She preferred the freedom of the capital city.

Forcing a stiff smile at her reflection, she whispered, “Chu Zhao, hang in there.”

—

Upstairs, Zhou Lan entered Zhou Xianling’s office unaware of the drama below.

Zhou Xianling didn’t mince words. “Are you aware of the recent events at Zhou Corp?”

His certainty suggested he had evidence.

Zhou Lan didn’t deny it, though her thoughts lingered on whether Ling He’na was tormenting Chu Zhao.

“Why don’t you want to inherit Zhou Corp?”

He amended, “At least not currently.”

Zhou Lan arched her brow. “Want the truth?”

“Go on.”

“What if I said I know more about Zhou Corp’s secrets than you think?”

She meant the shady dealings.

Zhou Xianling’s eyes turned razor-sharp. “How?”

His mind raced through potential informants.

A decade ago, these matters weren’t secrets. Now, none spoke of them.

As a child, Zhou Lan couldn’t have uncovered this alone—unless someone guided her.

His disappointment in his elder son stemmed from the boy’s naivety about Zhou Corp’s true nature.

Fortunately, he’d managed to sanitize some operations—though true cleansing would take generations.

If even his heir hadn’t dug this deep, how had Zhou Lan? A plant? A scheme?

“No one told me.”

Zhou Lan read his suspicions effortlessly. To a paranoid man, her words were incendiary.

Coolly, she continued, “These things aren’t hard to uncover for a Zhou curious about family history.”

“The commemorative films Zhou Corp screens annually paint our founders as flawless heroes. Naturally, I got curious.”

“Turns out, the reality was… enlightening.”

“Though frankly, your generation all knew, didn’t you? It wasn’t even difficult to learn.”

Zhou Xianling laughed, genuinely amused. “You’re even more suited to lead Zhou Corp than I imagined.”

“Under you, Zhou Corp could fully cleanse its past and reach new heights.”

“Compared to your brother, you’re the superior successor. Pity…”

“Pity what?” Zhou Lan challenged. “That you never noticed me growing up?”

“Maybe I should thank the neglect. It made me who I am.”

Zhou Xianling waved this off. “The past is irrelevant. What matters is you’re now my chosen heir.”

Zhou Lan scoffed. The audacity.

Before she could refuse, Zhou Xianling cut in, “Don’t answer yet. Tomorrow, I’ll show you something. Decide afterward.”

Unwilling to concede, Zhou Lan stayed silent—though she was curious about this “show.”

Zhou Corp’s darkest secrets? Bring it on.

Noticing her pensiveness, Zhou Xianling rapped his desk. “You and Chu Zhao handled the Chu family well. Her VP appointment is finalized on Monday.”

“Also, Zhou Lundao’s family was in a car accident. He broke both legs, won’t return for a year. Surely you realize I’m clearing your path?”

“You don’t need to join Zhou Corp yet, but produce an heir soon. I’ll personally train them.”

His confidence was almost pitiable. “Under my guidance, your child will become an exceptional leader.”

Zhou Lan barely resisted crushing his delusions. A criminal father was bad enough, my kid won’t have a criminal mother either.

Even if she kept her hands clean at Zhou Corp, would others believe it? Would they let her?

Three silent questions underscored her refusal.

Then Zhou Xianling’s next words demanded attention:

“The Chu family affair was part of a larger scheme, wasn’t it?”

Zhou Lan played dumb. “What scheme?”

The Chu family’s corpse scandal was a domino—toppling them, destabilizing Jiangning, removing the Zhou family’s backers, then targeting the Zhou’s themselves. A meticulous chain where any broken link would collapse the plan.

Zhou Xianling and his allies had assumed Jiangning’s affairs would stay contained, a fatal miscalculation.

Zhou Lan offered no answer; Zhou Xianling asked no further.

But the exchange served as a stark warning: This isn’t a novel. The world is full of sharp minds.