Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 29

The moment Shen Shu entered the room and saw Xu Jinman, her eyelashes flickered slightly before she lowered her gaze, concealing the surprise within.

 

“A-Shu.”

 

The low voice of the woman behind her drew Shen Shu’s attention. Xia Chun asked, “Can we talk later?”

 

“I’m sorry,” Shen Shu interrupted, glancing toward Xu Jinman.

 

Xu Jinman watched the two women talking at the entrance, her gaze lingering for a moment before she noticed Shen Shu suddenly looking up at her.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Shen Shu approached.

 

“I’m late.”

 

Xu Jinman suppressed her surprise, chuckled, and replied, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

 

Shen Shu raised the corner of her eye, giving her a sidelong glance. “I just wanted to see if you’d bring another woman.”

 

Hearing that playful, coquettish tone, Xu Jinman felt a tickle in her throat.

 

“How could I dare?” Xu Jinman teased.

 

“Miss Xu.”

 

The slightly lowered voice, warm and gentle, came from Xia Chun, who was following behind Shen Shu.

 

Xu Jinman glanced at Xia Chun as if noticing her for the first time, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Ms. Xia, we meet again.”

 

“This time, Miss Xu finally remembers me.”

 

Xu Jinman smiled, lowered her gaze to Shen Shu, winked, and said, “And this time, Ms. Xia knows who I am too?”

 

The smile on Xia Chun’s face faltered.

 

Xu Jinman didn’t truly care about Xia Chun; she merely wanted to assert her dominance in front of the crowd.

 

“I forgot to thank you last time,” Xu Jinman said. “My Shu Shu caused you a lot of trouble on set.”

 

“You’re welcome,” the other woman replied. “Taking care of her was my pleasure.”

 

Xu Jinman’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

 

There was an underlying meaning in those words.

 

“See? She knows how well I’m being taken care of,” Shen Shu said, suddenly looping her arm through Xu Jinman’s. “You should treat me better from now on.”

 

Shen Shu’s elbow brushed against Xu Jinman’s waist, causing her to pause. Her gaze flicked down to the snow-white hand entwined around her arm.

 

“Am I not treating you well enough already?” Xu Jinman murmured, her voice low and intimate, meant only for Shen Shu’s ears. She kept her head bowed, leaning close so their words wouldn’t carry.

 

To onlookers, they appeared like a pair of young wives playfully bickering.

 

There was a hint of grievance in Xu Jinman’s tone. Shen Shu paused, unable to immediately discern whether it was genuine or merely an act.

 

Xu Jinman glanced at Xia Chun, whose expression remained neutral.

 

Previously, she had found it odd that Xia Chun, despite being the official love interest in the original novel, hadn’t appeared until the latter half of the story. Logically, their current relationship should have been merely that of senior and junior colleagues.

 

Yet, in both their encounters, Xia Chun had displayed unmistakable hostility.

 

Though Brutal Lover was a yuri novel, it followed a strong female lead narrative. Apart from the original host’s self-destructive romance with the protagonist and a few minor subplots involving other female characters… Xia Chun’s name had barely been mentioned more than once.

 

Seeing this reaction, Xu Jinman suddenly considered another possibility: could they have known each other all along?

 

Watching Xu Jinman and Shen Shu interact, Xia Chun struggled to maintain her composure, but the complex emotions in her eyes were difficult to conceal.

 

Just then, Han Wenling, the eldest daughter of the Han family, had someone call for her, so she excused herself and left.

 

“Enjoying the show, Second Miss Han?” Xu Jinman asked, glancing sideways at Han Wenfang.

 

Hearing this, Han Wenfang acted as if her earlier teasing had never happened. She promptly summoned a waiter and had a glass of red wine delivered to Shen Shu. “Miss Shen, it’s good to see you again.”

 

Shen Shu accepted the wine, her lips curving into a faint smile as she lightly clinked glasses with Han Wenfang in acknowledgment.

 

Han Wenfang wasn’t one to hold grudges. Realizing her earlier teasing had nearly offended someone, she simply laughed it off and moved on.

 

As soon as Han Wenfang left, Xu Jinman took Shen Shu’s red wine and replaced it with a glass of fruit juice.

 

“Your mother sent you, didn’t she?” Xu Jinman asked.

 

Shen Shu took a sip, her gaze darting around the room. “Did you see her?”

 

“Mm-hmm,” Xu Jinman replied. “She told me you’d be here.”

 

“Then why are you so surprised?” Shen Shu asked.

 

Xu Jinman’s gaze inexplicably drifted to her wrist as she drawled, “I thought you’d bring a female companion.”

 

But a second glance revealed her mistake: Shen Shu was walking ahead alone, not with Xia Chun.

 

“I just ran into her at the entrance,” Shen Shu said calmly.

 

“I know,” Xu Jinman replied. “Were you going to find Madam Wei?”

 

Shen Shu shook her head. “Now that you’re here, there’s no need.”

 

Xu Jinman looked at her. Shen Shu continued, “My father made a mistake, and someone needs to smooth things over with the Han family. My mother originally wanted me to bring you along…”

 

A banquet of this scale wasn’t enough to warrant Xu Tao’s personal attendance; it was usually Lu Yun who represented him. But Lu Yun had been hospitalized and couldn’t attend.

 

That’s why Wei Wuqing dared to turn her attention back to Shen Shu.

 

“Then why didn’t you ask me to come with you?” Xu Jinman asked, unconsciously leaning closer to Shen Shu. As she spoke, her arm brushed against Shen Shu’s through the heat-resistant fabric of her dress. Shen Shu withdrew her hand under the pretense of setting down her glass.

 

“How’s your mother doing?” Shen Shu asked, changing the subject.

 

“She’s fine,” Xu Jinman replied. “Don’t worry about the investment. The eight million yuan isn’t just my money; you have a share in it too.”

 

“What?” Shen Shu was taken aback.

 

Xu Jinman watched her stunned expression, a faint smile curving her lips. “All that money was earned after we got married. Strictly speaking, it’s marital property. So, I only contributed four million yuan.”

 

Shen Shu: “……”

 

“Just don’t tell your mother that,” Shen Shu warned.

 

Xu Jinman could already anticipate Lu Yun’s reaction to these words.

 

“Alright, I won’t say anything,” Xu Jinman said lazily. “But I can’t change the facts. It’s the law.”

 

Her lip makeup was a shade redder than usual, a velvety matte crimson that matched the color of her strapless, high-slit gown—a rare sight in black. Her wristwatch was a dark green quartz timepiece.

 

Despite her casual demeanor, she exuded the commanding aura of someone in a position of power. Combined with her tone and the words she spoke—that subtle indulgence and permissiveness—there was an unspoken contrast.

 

Shen Shu said, “If they can’t repay the debt, do whatever you need to do.”

 

Xu Jinman tapped her fingertip against the corner of her lip. “As you wish.”

 

“……”

 

Shen Shu looked up and stared at her for a moment. “You’ve been acting a bit strange lately.”

 

“How so?” Xu Jinman asked.

 

“You’re being too agreeable.”

 

“……Is that a bad thing?”

 

Shen Shu didn’t answer directly. Of course it was good, but it felt too good, almost unreal. The icy atmosphere that had hung between them before yesterday seemed to have suddenly thawed.

 

After a moment’s thought, Shen Shu realized this feeling wasn’t so bad after all.

 

Xu Jinman rarely attended such banquets, naturally becoming the center of attention. Many unimportant people came to offer toasts, but Xu Jinman didn’t even need to acknowledge them.

 

After a moment, Xu Jinman glanced at the time. “Let’s leave in five minutes.”

 

Shen Shu murmured, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 

Her voice was soft, yet Xu Jinman, standing right beside her, inexplicably detected a hint of tenderness.

 

She didn’t even pause to consider the remark.

 

Suddenly, someone called out, “Miss Xu.”

 

Xu Jinman looked up to see Xia Chun approaching with a woman in a purple gown. Judging by the surrounding greetings, this must be Han Wenling, the eldest daughter of the Han family.

 

The woman had single eyelids, yet her beauty was striking, with eyes like a fox’s.

 

As Han Wenling stared at Xu Jinman, Xu Jinman felt a sense of danger.

 

Xu Jinman’s lips parted slightly. “Miss Shen.”

 

Shen Shu raised an eyebrow.

 

She noticed that Xu Jinman used this formal address whenever she wanted to say something flattering or ask her to do something.

 

Xu Jinman’s smooth skin brushed against Shen Shu’s arm, as if signaling her.

 

When she leaned in again, she tapped Shen Shu’s arm twice. For some reason, Shen Shu felt a strange sensation—as if Xu Jinman were being coquettish.

 

Uncomfortable, Shen Shu instinctively recoiled slightly and linked arms with Xu Jinman just before Xia Chun and Han Wenling approached.

 

In those brief seconds, the pair had already reached them.

 

Han Wenling was tall, even a few centimeters taller than Xu Jinman. “It’s so difficult to catch you at an event.”

 

Her intentions were hard to discern. Xu Jinman smiled faintly and steered the conversation toward Xia Chun. “It must have been quite a feat to persuade Ms. Xia to attend.”

 

Han Wenling smiled, her fox-like eyes tilting upward as she glanced at Xu Jinman, then at Shen Shu. “We’re all old friends here,” she said. “Our Han family’s wine isn’t bad, is it? Why haven’t either of you taken a single glass?”

 

As she spoke, she handed Xu Jinman a glass first. “This isn’t like you at all. You usually start with at least three glasses, right?”

 

Xu Jinman remained silent.

 

Her health was still unstable. The handcuff incident at the hotel last time had likely been caused by drinking too much.

 

She definitely couldn’t touch alcohol today.

 

Xia Chun suddenly chimed in, half-jokingly, “Miss Xu’s alcohol tolerance isn’t very high. She got drunk after just three glasses last time.”

 

“Impossible,” Han Wenling retorted. “Her tolerance starts at three bottles of brandy!”

 

Xu Jinman remained silent.

 

Just as she was about to speak, Shen Shu interjected first:

 

“Manman isn’t feeling well today, Miss Han. I’ll raise a glass to you on her behalf.”

 

With that, Shen Shu took a glass from the waiter’s tray, leaned slightly toward Xu Jinman, and asked with a dazzling smile, “Is that alright?”

 

Xu Jinman’s heart fluttered slightly.

 

Han Wenling’s gaze swept across their faces. “Of course, but one toast won’t do. How about three?”

 

This put them in a slightly awkward position.

 

Xia Chun’s eyes fell on the wine glass in Shen Shu’s hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she was about to speak up for her.

 

But in the next instant, the glass was snatched by Xu Jinman.

 

Xu Jinman said calmly, “We have matters to attend to at home. We’ll leave after this drink.”

 

Han Wenling stared at her for a few seconds, then flicked a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a manicured finger. Her other hand, still holding her wine glass, clinked against Xu Jinman’s. “Just kidding! This isn’t a drinking party—no one’s forcing anyone to drink.”

 

After they finished their drinks, someone came to find Han Wenling. She turned to Xu Jinman with a brisk farewell. “I have some business to attend to. I’ll treat you both to dinner next time. Please do me the honor of accepting.”

 

Once Han Wenling left, Xia Chun didn’t linger either, though her expression was even darker than when she’d arrived.

 

While the red wine wasn’t harsh on the throat, Xu Jinman still paused to catch her breath after downing half a glass in one gulp.

 

A server approached carrying several glasses of juice, bending down to ask if they wanted any. Xu Jinman casually took the grape juice, and also grabbed a glass of water for herself.

 

Xu Jinman had exceptionally beautiful hands.

 

Pale, smooth, and slender, their perfect proportions made them instantly memorable.

 

Against the deep purple juice and crystal glass, her fingers glowed with a captivating visual appeal.

 

“Aren’t you going to drink it?” Xu Jinman asked.

 

Shen Shu took the glass, gazing silently at the juice in her hand.

 

Recalling Shen Shu’s earlier reaction, Xu Jinman raised her eyes, a hint of amusement in her gaze. “You didn’t have to shield me from the alcohol, did you?”

 

Shen Shu glanced at her, saying nothing.

 

Xu Jinman suddenly turned serious. “Can I ask you something?”

 

Shen Shu looked at her, puzzled. “What is it?”

 

Xu Jinman leaned closer, her gaze pressing down. “In your eyes, am I particularly… useless? No, not useless… particularly weak?” Xu Jinman raised an eyebrow, struggling to find the right word.

 

Observing her expression, Shen Shu replied calmly, “At least your tolerance for alcohol isn’t great.”

 

Xu Jinman: “……”

 

Tsk.

 

Xu Jinman gestured for Shen Shu to move aside. Though playing with handcuffs had been ruthless enough, she still asked, “Did I do anything else at the hotel that day?”

 

Shen Shu hadn’t noticed it before, but now, with Xu Jinman so close, she caught a faint scent of sunlight emanating from her.

 

Anything else?

 

That day at the hotel, her glands had been under Xu Jinman’s fingertips…

 

A sudden shiver ran down Shen Shu’s spine.

 

Her gaze froze on a figure moving through the crowd: Song Ronghui.

 

Snapping back to attention, Shen Shu said quickly, “Be careful of Song Ronghui lately.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Xu Jinman was taken aback by the abrupt change in topic, pausing slightly.

 

Most of the guests were gathered around the bar and food areas, but a few had scattered around the perimeter. Shen Shu leaned closer, her cheek brushing against Xu Jinman’s ear. “She suspects you’re faking your alpha identity and knows about your Failed Differentiation.”

 

She briefly recounted what she had overheard near the emergency exit that day, though she hadn’t heard everything clearly, only the gist of the conversation.

 

She had originally planned to discuss this with Xu Jinman yesterday.

 

“Their methods are dirty. You should be careful.”

 

“I will.”

 

For Xu Jinman, it didn’t matter what the people outside suspected. After all, she was now undeniably an Alpha.

 

But Shen Shu was different.

 

Xu Jinman’s gaze naturally lowered. Shen Shu wore a dark green qipao with frog-button closures, her hair pulled up, and her back exposed. Xu Jinman could easily see the smooth nape of her neck—a highly alluring spot for Alphas.

 

Xu Jinman averted her eyes, wondering if she should clarify things here and now.

 

As people moved around them, Shen Shu straightened up. Suddenly, someone bumped into her, and Xu Jinman swiftly caught her. The person, pale-faced, apologized profusely.

 

Due to the momentum, Shen Shu and the deep purple liquid in her glass crashed into Xu Jinman’s arms.

 

The movement was so sudden that the cold, wet liquid nearly splashed all over Xu Jinman.

 

Half of it seeped in above her chest, while the other half flowed down along the curve of her torso. Xu Jinman felt the cold liquid trace a path across her stomach and lower abdomen, finally stopping about a hand’s breadth below her navel.

 

Two seconds later, the coldness turned to heat.

 

Xu Jinman’s hand slid off the Omega’s smooth back. Shen Shu straightened up, her eyes falling on the mess on Xu Jinman’s body. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

 

Xu Jinman met her gaze. “What are you apologizing for? It’s time to go back anyway.”

 

The deep purple grape juice, slightly pulpy, had left a glistening, eye-catching stain on her chest.

 

Shen Shu looked away. “Your hands are covered too. They’ll get sticky soon. You should wash them in the restroom.”

 

Xu Jinman nodded. “Alright.”

 

They were near the lobby’s outer edge, and the restroom was about half a minute away.

 

A few minutes after Xu Jinman left, a small-eyed waiter approached Shen Shu politely. “Miss Shen, Miss Xu is in room 209 on the second floor and asked you to come up.”

 

Shen Shu instinctively glanced at the restroom on the first floor, puzzled. “Why would she go to the second floor? What does she want me for?”

 

“She went to the restroom. The one on the first floor is under urgent repair. Something seems to have happened to her clothes. She called me just as I was coming downstairs and asked me to tell you.” The waiter nodded slightly. “I’ll get back to work now.”

 

Shen Shu tried calling Xu Jinman, but the line was busy.

 

She paused, then walked toward the elevator on the second floor.

 

Two minutes later, Xu Jinman emerged from the restroom, having been delayed by a malfunction.

 

“Oh, Miss Xu, what are you doing here?”

 

Xu Jinman turned to see an unfamiliar woman. “Someone said you were on the second floor and told Miss Shen to come find you here,” she replied. As she spoke, her expression shifted, as if she had just remembered something.

 

Xu Jinman’s heart tightened slightly. She stopped the woman. “When did this happen?”

 

The woman, intimidated by Xu Jinman’s gaze, stammered, “Just… just now. I was standing nearby… I overheard them. I think it was… 2, 209.”

 

Xu Jinman raced through the hotel’s rear area in her high heels, dialing Shen Shu’s number as she hurried to the second floor. Compared to the bustling lobby, the guest room area was eerily quiet.

 

Too quiet, almost sinister.

 

A staff member emerged from a room just as Xu Jinman arrived. She grabbed the employee and dragged them to the door of Room 209. Even before reaching the door, she could detect Shen Shu’s faint vanilla scent.

 

She pounded on the door, shouting Shen Shu’s name repeatedly.

 

“Shen Shu!”

 

“I’m here…”

 

Xu Jinman heard a faint sound.

 

Her face cold and stern, she snatched the master keycard from the trembling hands of the server and swiped it through the lock. The moment the door clicked open, she burst inside.

 

“Shen Shu!”

 

Bang!

 

Her voice echoed as the door slammed shut behind her.

 

Xu Jinman didn’t bother looking back. The moment she entered, she saw Shen Shu slumped on the carpet.

 

Her face was flushed crimson, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and she looked utterly drained.

 

Xu Jinman knelt beside her, one knee on the floor. “The drug?”

 

“No…” Shen Shu gasped. “It’s… same-type induction…”

 

She had been shoved into the room, which was already saturated with Omega pheromones.

 

Alpha and Omega pheromones influence each other, but the same-type pheromones also exert a powerful effect. Every Alpha and Omega carries this inductive pheromone, a phenomenon known as Same-Type Induction Syndrome.

 

Xu Jinman froze, finally registering the presence of another unfamiliar Omega pheromone in the room.

 

At that moment, she heard a soft moan from the bed. Her eyes snapped up to see a woman she had never met before, her clothes half-undone, gazing at her pleadingly. “Please… mark me…”

 

There was an Omega in heat right here in this room…

 

The Omega’s pheromones grew increasingly potent, saturating the air.

 

With each surge of pheromones, Shen Shu’s breathing grew more labored.

 

Xu Jinman scooped Shen Shu into her arms and rushed to the door, but the electronic lock remained unresponsive. Outside, an eerie silence prevailed.

 

Moreover, all the windows had been sealed with plastic strips, likely to prevent the Omega’s pheromones from leaking out before Xu Jinman’s arrival.

 

Peering through the glass, she saw the hotel’s courtyard below, shrouded in darkness and devoid of any signs of life.

 

From the moment someone bumped into Shen Shu, everything had been meticulously planned.

 

No, it can’t be this simple.

 

Xu Jinman frowned, her thoughts interrupted by the slight trembling of the Omega in her arms.

 

Her own hands, cradling Shen Shu, were shaking as well.

 

At her level, she shouldn’t be easily affected by ordinary Omega pheromones. But if Shen Shu’s heat cycle had been artificially induced, given her body’s limited resistance to Shen Shu’s pheromones…

 

What if I lose control—

 

Xu Jinman took a deep breath, but instead of calming her, her heart began to race faster, her anxiety intensifying.

 

She gently placed Shen Shu back on the sofa and prepared to check if the windows could be opened.

 

Her gaze suddenly froze on a particular spot. She walked over to a standing flower rack in the corner, pushed aside the greenery and artificial flowers, and retrieved a miniature camera hidden within.

 

The red dot inside blinked like a malevolent, prying eye.