Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 31

Xu Jinman hastily pulled up the hem of her gown, but the zipper snagged a few centimeters below her shoulder blades, leaving only the front partially covered.

 

With no time to fuss over details, she hurried to the bedroom door. The pheromones inside surged like a waterfall of fragrance, overwhelmingly potent.

 

Xu Jinman’s veins throbbed, her nerves buzzed, and her glands pulsed—the instinctive reaction of an Alpha facing irresistible temptation.

 

Gritting her teeth, she pushed open the door. On the bed, the Omega lay with her eyes tightly shut, her brow furrowed as if enduring some torment.

 

Shen Shu seemed to be searching for an escape, her body already shifted to the edge of the bed, the thin blanket having slipped to the floor.

 

Still wearing the dark green gown, the skin exposed by the dress flushed pink from the fever, an especially glaring sight.

 

Her body trembled violently.

 

“Shen Shu?”

 

Xu Jinman forced herself to stop a few steps away, her mind already dulled by the Omega’s overwhelming pheromones.

 

After a two-second pause, Shen Shu didn’t respond. Instead, her expression grew more pained, her breathing short and rapid, accompanied by an unconscious, low moan.

 

Each groan made Xu Jinman clench her teeth.

 

She bit down on the soft flesh inside her mouth, desperately trying to stay conscious. Professor Qin had warned that even after taking a suppressant, some individuals might still experience feverish symptoms or agitation.

 

In such cases, a second dose could be administered.

 

Xu Jinman retrieved another suppressant from the drawer.

 

Taking two deep breaths, she turned to see Shen Shu slowly curling her legs on the bed, her thighs lightly rubbing against the sheets.

 

Shen Shu’s emerald green dress only reached her knees.

 

As the silk slipped down to her hips, her pale pink legs pierced Xu Jinman’s heart like deadly needles.

 

She could hear her own heartbeat pounding fiercely, her entire body drenched in sweat.

 

Shen Shu’s feverish period had come on quickly and intensely.

 

In just a few minutes, her consciousness had already become clouded by the heat. Her moans grew more fervent, her movements more daring…

 

Even though Xu Jinman knew Shen Shu was acting unconsciously, her own body felt like it was about to go mad. This damned pheromone compatibility would be the death of her sooner or later.

 

Panic-stricken, Xu Jinman leaned down, gently pinching Shen Shu’s lips between her thumb and forefinger while using her other hand to place the pill in her mouth.

 

Xu Jinman felt the softness and warmth at her fingertips. Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, a warm, wet tongue gently slid across her skin.

 

Her body stiffened, a surge of heat coursing through her lower abdomen.

 

She gazed at the person on the bed and said bitterly, “You’re really making this difficult for me…”

 

Xu Jinman straightened up, her eyes unfocused as she glanced at her fingers. They were now stained with the Omega’s sweet scent, and her mind buzzed with an unnatural excitement.

 

She closed her eyes, trying to block out thoughts of the person on the bed, and decided to go get Shen Shu a glass of water. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shen Shu roll over… Her heart leaped, and she instinctively crouched down, reaching out to catch her.

 

A muffled thud and ragged breaths filled the bedroom.

 

Xu Jinman lay on the tile floor, her arms wrapped protectively around Shen Shu, cradling her in her embrace.

 

The Omega’s face pressed against her ear, her urgent, burning breaths burrowing into Xu Jinman’s glands. Even more dangerously, Shen Shu’s hand was now fumbling between her legs.

 

The movements were small, but Xu Jinman sensed she had reached her breaking point. She jolted violently at Shen Shu’s touch.

 

Immediately, Xu Jinman gripped Shen Shu’s shoulders and pushed her upright, intending to lift her back onto the bed. But then she saw Shen Shu’s feather-like eyelashes flutter open…

 

Through her lashes, Xu Jinman met Shen Shu’s gaze, her pupils dilated with a mixture of confusion and pain.

 

Shen Shu’s delicate brows furrowed as she murmured weakly to Xu Jinman, her voice tinged with suffering, longing, and resentment.

 

“…Don’t look at me like that,” Xu Jinman said helplessly. “I can’t withstand your gaze.”

 

She mustered her strength and helped Shen Shu to her feet.

 

But before Shen Shu could fully rise, she wrenched her hand free from Xu Jinman’s grasp.

 

A chill ran through Xu Jinman’s chest.

 

The formal dress, along with the adhesive bra beneath, was yanked down from above, exposing Xu Jinman’s sweat-soaked upper body to the air. Her mind still reeling, Shen Shu suddenly pressed her palm against Xu Jinman’s racing heart.

 

Xu Jinman gasped sharply, a tingling sensation flooding her entire body.

 

In the next disoriented moment, the feverish Omega pushed her back down to the ground.

 

“Shu Shu, please, just give me a way out,” Xu Jinman pleaded, her voice trembling as she spoke into Shen Shu’s ear. Despite the desperate restraint in her tone, there was still a hint of coaxing.

 

Xu Jinman swallowed hard, her throat parched with thirst and a desperate craving for something more.

 

I can’t hold on much longer, she thought.

 

Shen Shu sank into the sea, the water scorching hot from the sun. She desperately reached for something to hold onto.

 

That desperation surged from every corner of her body, pulling her like a hook. She couldn’t resist, and perhaps because it offered a sliver of comfort, she instinctively obeyed…

 

She wanted to escape the burning heat, to find relief for her body.

 

But she couldn’t find it, and the pain was unbearable.

 

At the depths of her despair, she touched a patch of cool, soft water. It carried the scent of the sun yet felt exceptionally pure, and its temperature drew her closer, closer…

 

Xu Jinman’s lips brushed against the Omega’s gland. She felt the Omega’s lips part slightly, twitch, and then the tip of her tongue licked across it before her teeth briefly grazed the edge as she pulled away.

 

The Omega whimpered, a sound of pain and helplessness.

 

Xu Jinman shuddered violently, her rationality shattering completely.

 

Her gaze locked onto the Omega’s nape and ears, focusing on that central point—the Omega’s gland, now passionately open.

 

It struck her with lethal force.

 

The Alpha’s most primal, most vicious instincts erupted within her body, driving her mad.

 

Only one thought consumed her: Overpower her! Mark her! Claim her!

 

Xu Jinman’s fingers dug into Shen Shu’s shoulders as she abruptly flipped her over, pinning her down. Sweat dripped from her forehead, her breathing already several times heavier than Shen Shu’s.

 

In the next moment, she saw Shen Shu’s slightly opened eyes slowly close.

 

“…”

 

Fvck!

 

Xu Jinman’s furious frustration erupted from her madness.

 

But the next second, as she stared at the unconscious Shen Shu, reason and awareness slowly returned.

 

She exhaled sharply, biting her lip hard as she scooped Shen Shu into her arms and quickly laid her back on the bed. Draping a thin blanket over her, she didn’t dare linger.

 

Then she checked Shen Shu’s temperature—it was alarmingly high.

 

Xu Jinman immediately called Professor Qin, who promised to come right away. Glancing back at Shen Shu, her brow furrowed in anguish.

 

Her own clothes were now a sticky mess, so she grabbed yesterday’s black T-shirt from the laundry basket and threw it on.

 

What offered Xu Jinman a sliver of relief was that the pheromones in the room finally began to dissipate after ten minutes. But Shen Shu’s fever remained stubbornly high.

 

She wiped Shen Shu’s face and arms several times with a damp towel. When she reached her lips, the soft, pink flesh of her mouth, the wetness of her tongue…

 

Xu Jinman closed her eyes. Let tonight end quickly.

 

Finally, twenty minutes later, Professor Qin arrived with his assistant.

 

“Is Miss Shen’s fever period unstable?”

 

“I don’t know,” Xu Jinman replied. “She was affected by the Inducer. She was fine on the way here, but the fever started as soon as we got back.”

 

Professor Qin examined Shen Shu and concluded, “This has been delayed too long. Normally, taking medication within half an hour of the fever’s onset can completely control it. But if the fever has already peaked when the medication is taken, she may need a second dose.”

 

“You’ve told me that before.”

 

Xu Jinman paused, then added, “But there’s something strange. Her temperature spiked very quickly, and she lost consciousness almost immediately after the fever started.”

 

Professor Qin’s expression tightened slightly. He instructed his assistant to draw a bl00d sample. “We’ve given her antipyretics. She’ll likely sweat profusely later tonight, so keep an eye on her. But what you’ve described is indeed unusual. I’ll have the bl00d analyzed when I get back.”

 

Xu Jinman had never found Professor Qin’s voice so soothing.

 

As Professor Qin led his team away, Xu Jinman asked, “Is there any kind of fast-acting medication? Something that can stop the fever immediately?”

 

The suppressant was taking too long to work. Shen Shu was suffering for too long, and Xu Jinman felt like she was prolonging her victim’s ordeal.

 

Professor Qin turned back and said quietly, “There are such medications, but nothing works faster than the marking process itself.”

 

“…Goodbye.”

 

Professor Qin cleared his throat and said no more, though he remained puzzled. Why hadn’t Xu Jinman touched her wife yet? She was certainly a ruthless woman.

 

Xu Jinman carried the guest room’s blanket to Shen Shu’s bedside and expertly made a makeshift bed on the floor.

 

Shen Shu had quieted down. After the fever-reducing medication, the heat in her face had subsided, though damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks, adding a touch of vulnerability.

 

Asleep, Shen Shu lost her icy edge, resembling a kitten caught in the rain.

 

She always evoked a sense of tenderness, making one want to soothe her pain and loneliness.

 

Xu Jinman, leaning against the bedside, unconsciously reached out and gently stroked Shen Shu’s head. “Sleep now, little kitten,” she murmured softly.

 

An hour later, Xu Jinman received a call from Professor Qin.

 

“Miss Xu, the bl00d test results are back. Everything looks normal, but I checked Miss Shen’s medical records and found she received a Pheromone Blocker injection a month ago. That’s likely the cause.”

 

Xu Jinman, unfamiliar with the substance, asked for clarification. Professor Qin explained briefly, then added, “After a Pheromone Blocker injection, proper rest is crucial. Overexertion can trigger side effects, especially in female Omegas. It can disrupt their heat cycles, causing irregularities. Her rapid onset of heat today is one such side effect.”

 

“Why did she get the injection?”

 

“I wouldn’t know. You’ll have to ask Miss Shen herself.”

 

Xu Jinman hung up and returned to the bedroom, refraining from showering. She feared a repeat of the Lu Yun incident—that if she left Shen Shu alone, something might happen again.

 

After the extreme excitement, exhaustion inevitably followed.

 

Shen Shu fell asleep almost immediately, though her rest was restless.

 

When she opened her eyes, her body still felt weak. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, and she stared blankly for a few seconds.

 

Then it struck her: her heat had come last night.

 

Her mind jolted awake. Xu Jinman must have been here too.

 

She sat up, relieved to find her formal dress still on. Last night, she’d had a dream where she pinned Xu Jinman down and couldn’t resist biting her neck…

 

A shiver ran through Shen Shu at the memory.

 

How could I have such a dream?

 

She rubbed her head, suddenly sensing something. Turning her gaze, she saw Xu Jinman lying on her side under the bed, facing her. Her expression was serene, her breathing even.

 

With her slightly upturned phoenix eyes closed, she possessed an alluring charm, unlike her usual commanding aura or languid indifference.

 

Whether it was Shen Shu’s movement or her direct gaze, Xu Jinman stirred, as if waking.

 

As expected, Xu Jinman rubbed her eyes and looked at Shen Shu.

 

“You’re awake? How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable?” Xu Jinman’s voice was slightly hoarse from not speaking for a long time.

 

As she spoke, Xu Jinman sat up.

 

The three consecutive questions, delivered with genuine concern, stirred a long-dormant warmth in Shen Shu’s heart.

 

“I’m okay, just a little weak,” Shen Shu replied, noticing the faint dark circles under Xu Jinman’s eyes. “You stayed up all night watching over me?”

 

Xu Jinman explained, “Professor Qin said you took a Pheromone Blocker. He thinks the side effects caused your fever to spike so quickly yesterday.”

 

“Alright,” Shen Shu said.

 

“Why did you take it?”

 

After a moment’s pause, Shen Shu replied, “It was a special circumstance.”

 

Sensing her reluctance to elaborate, Xu Jinman stood up, massaging her aching back. “Are you still going to the film set today? You should rest if you’re not feeling well.”

 

Shen Shu shook her head. “Everything’s scheduled. If I, a minor character, take a day off, who would ever hire me again?”

 

She added a casual “huh?” at the end of her sentence.

 

Yet Xu Jinman sensed that Shen Shu’s attitude had reverted to the warmth of their earlier days, perhaps even more gentle than before.

 

Xu Jinman snapped out of her daze and said, “I’ll have Zhou Pei take you home today.”

 

“Okay,” Shen Shu replied without objection.

 

Only when Xu Jinman stood up did Shen Shu notice the black T-shirt she was wearing. “Didn’t you change out of that yesterday morning?” The clothes in the laundry basket were supposed to be washed last night.

 

“This is more comfortable,” Xu Jinman said casually.

 

It was the truth. Her skin had felt sticky, and the dresses in her closet weren’t made of cotton, making them far more uncomfortable than the T-shirt. Wearing the dirty one was preferable.

 

Shen Shu stared in silence.

 

To an outsider, it might have seemed like some kind of reality show.

 

The Xu Family’s most pampered Third Miss, reduced to scavenging for sleepwear from the laundry basket.

 

“Have you treated the wound on your leg?” Shen Shu asked, noticing the dried bl00d smeared across Xu Jinman’s pale skin, forming small crusts.

 

“Oh, I forgot,” Xu Jinman replied. “Do you want to shower first?”

 

Seeing Shen Shu’s momentary hesitation, Xu Jinman realized her words could be misinterpreted, carrying a suggestive undertone, as if she were inviting Shen Shu to shower with her. She quickly added, “I meant you should shower first.”

 

Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinman’s expression of utter disdain and said, “You go ahead.”

 

Xu Jinman didn’t bother with false modesty this time. She opened the closet and picked out a relatively comfortable dress from among the several hanging there. Shen Shu added, “You can take a nap here. I have another dress in the closet that I’ve only worn once.”

 

Xu Jinman paused, turning back. “Alone?”

 

“…What else?”

 

Xu Jinman tilted her head slightly. Could Shen Shu letting her stay alone in her home be considered a sign of trust?

 

She was indeed exhausted. She hadn’t slept well the previous night, waking up several times and managing only two or three hours of fitful sleep.

 

Opening the closet, she took a pink nightgown off the hanger. Xu Jinman’s usually composed face flickered with surprise. “…This?”

 

The pale pink nightgown featured a large white rabbit printed across the stomach.

 

Xu Jinman: “……”

 

“Mm, Cai Ying bought it,” Shen Shu said, watching Xu Jinman’s expression with amusement. “Just make do with it.”

 

She recalled the first time she’d given Xu Jinman those slippers, and the woman had worn the same expression.

 

Xu Jinman seemed a bit sensitive to cute things.

 

Indeed, Xu Jinman was quite sensitive. She actually loved cute things, especially adorable animals. However, when the object of affection turned to herself, that was a different story.

 

With a leg injury, she couldn’t shower directly and had to use a shower cap.

 

After a simple yet complicated shower, she slipped into the nightgown and stood before the mirror in the outer room for a quick glance.

 

“…So O.”

 

When Shen Shu emerged from her shower, she found Xu Jinman by the sofa, her light brown hair half-dried. Xu Jinman was leaning slightly forward, the pale pink nightgown against her cool, white skin creating an unexpectedly… pure silhouette.

 

Xu Jinman and “pure” just didn’t seem to fit together. It felt almost surreal.

 

Shen Shu noticed Xu Jinman pouring alcohol onto her leg, a trash can positioned below.

 

“There are cotton swabs inside.”

 

“This is faster,” Xu Jinman replied.

 

Shen Shu said nothing, settling into the armchair beside her.

 

Xu Jinman’s nose twitched. Despite using the same shower gel, the scent emanating from Shen Shu was far more alluring than the one lingering on her own skin.

 

Perhaps it was the subtle sweetness that mingled with the milky fragrance.

 

“Oh, right, there’s something I wanted to ask you first.” Xu Jinman finished applying the ointment to her leg and noticed a bit of bl00d she hadn’t cleaned properly. She grabbed a cotton swab to wipe the edges. “I’m planning to start with Song Ronghui regarding yesterday’s incident. Do you have any thoughts?”

 

“What are your thoughts?”

 

“Teach her a lesson in manners.”

 

Zhou Pei had sent a message earlier confirming that Song Ronghui had met with Yin Xue last night. Combined with what Shen Shu had overheard, Song Ronghui was the first confirmed participant in this scheme.

 

“She wants to play dirty? I’ll play even dirtier.”

 

Xu Jinman paused her cleaning, her phoenix eyes narrowing dangerously, her voice low and menacing. “The real decision-maker in the Song Family is Old Master Song. The rest are useless. That’s why he hired a financial manager long ago to manage the family’s assets. I know all their holdings and heavily leveraged contracts.”

 

In short, Xu Jinman had obtained the Song Family’s trump card.

 

Now, it was just a matter of how she planned to play her hand.

 

Shen Shu was slightly startled. Gathering such detailed information couldn’t have been done in just one night.

 

“You’ve been planning to deal with her for a while?”

 

“No,” Xu Jinman replied, her tone returning to normal. “If yesterday hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have done this.”

 

It was only after uncovering the Xu Family’s problems that she began investigating the major families of Beicheng.

 

The early chapters of the novel had already established that these families maintained a superficial harmony with the Xu Family, concealing deep-seated animosity.

 

Knowing the Xu Family’s eventual downfall, she understood that in the ruthless world of business, self-interest reigned supreme. When the time came, anyone in Beicheng would likely seize the opportunity to kick them while they were down.

 

By sheer coincidence, she had stumbled upon an impromptu economic analysis of the novel’s major families on Zhihu.

 

Sure enough, after having her team verify the findings, the analysis proved remarkably accurate, aligning closely with the expert’s assessment.

 

“The Song Family has been entrenched in Beicheng for decades. They won’t be easy to move. You need to think this through carefully.”

 

“I know, don’t worry,” Xu Jinman said, blinking. “The Yin Xue incident didn’t teach them what lines they can’t cross. This time, I’ll make sure they learn the lesson thoroughly.”

 

“If you have no objections, I’ll proceed with my plan.”

 

Shen Shu watched as Xu Jinman applied alcohol to her leg and left it at that. “I have no objections,” she said.

 

“Then that’s settled. Just leave everything to me,” Xu Jinman said. “You just focus on doing what makes you happy.”

 

These words echoed what Xu Jinman had said before.

 

Her tone always carried an undercurrent of indulgence, as if anything were permissible as long as Shen Shu was pleased.

 

At first, she didn’t take it seriously, but now she felt Xu Jinman might genuinely mean it.

 

This gave her the strange illusion of being cherished.

 

Shen Shu finally asked, “Why are you so good to me?”

 

Xu Jinman paused, then replied naturally, “We’re partners, aren’t we? And we’re friends now, right? Shouldn’t I be good to you?”

 

This was one of the truths.

 

Shen Shu remained silent for a moment, watching Xu Jinman prepare to pour alcohol on her foot. She reached out and took the bottle, saying, “This won’t kill the bacteria in the wound.”

 

She grabbed a cotton swab, then looked up. “Lift your foot.”

 

Xu Jinman: “……?”

 

Xu Jinman’s foot rested flat on the sofa. Shen Shu, her eyes lowered, used the cotton swab to clean the wound thoroughly before covering it with a square bandage.

 

After a final glance at Xu Jinman’s leg, she handed her another bandage. “Apply this yourself.”

 

“Okay.”

 

As soon as Shen Shu left, Xu Jinman took the blanket to the guest room and settled into a comfortable nap on the bed.

 

She woke up around noon, made herself a bowl of egg noodles, and then dozed off on the sofa again.

 

By the time she heard the door open, it was already three in the afternoon. She could hear Cai Ying and Shen Shu talking at the entrance.

 

“Even though Xu Jinman is an Omega, I don’t think she’s good enough for you. But she doesn’t seem as bad as the rumors suggest, and she even saved me. You’ve also said she treats you well, so I’m willing to try accepting her. But I want to make it clear: I’m not a fan of Omega-Omega relationships…”

 

Xu Jinman and Cai Ying’s eyes met.

 

Xu Jinman: “……”

 

Cai Ying: “……”

 

Shen Shu: “……I forgot to mention, she’s… home.”

 

Shen Shu hesitated slightly on the last word, as if she were still getting used to associating it with Xu Jinman.

 

It wasn’t entirely Shen Shu’s fault. Cai Ying had asked about her return time, then surprised her by showing up at the door.

 

Cai Ying glanced at Xu Jinman’s clothes, her eyes widening. “These clothes…”

 

Xu Jinman felt deeply uncomfortable, sensing a mix of shock and some other strange, unreadable emotion in Cai Ying’s gaze.

 

“You really are an Omega. And quite cute, too.”

 

Xu Jinman: “…???” Holy sh1t?

 

Cai Ying went to the restroom. Shen Shu walked over to Xu Jinman and whispered, “She was right beside me when I was reviewing your report that day.”

 

Xu Jinman: “…It’s fine.”

 

Shen Shu didn’t press further about Xu Jinman’s identity, but Xu Jinman was already thinking about finding a suitable opportunity to explain.

 

Shen Shu cleared her throat, interrupting Xu Jinman’s thoughts. “She doesn’t know about our agreement either.”

 

Xu Jinman paused. “Okay, I understand.”

 

Xu Jinman understood. Cai Ying was young and genuinely cared for Shen Shu, but her lively personality, quick tongue, and sharp wit made her prone to slip-ups. If she knew about the agreement, she might accidentally reveal it, causing unnecessary trouble.

 

“And…” Shen Shu hesitated. “She’s staying here tonight.”

 

“…So I’m sleeping on the floor again,” Xu Jinman blurted out.