Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 44

“Man-jie, did you hear Yin Xue tried to kill herself?”

 

Xu Jinman frowned. “Explain clearly. Did she die or was it just an attempt?”

 

“She’s alive, she’s alive,” Chen Bo replied. “She’s in the hospital. It happened last night. Yin Xue is an orphan with no relatives. Since I gave her some things a few days ago, the police called me, worried she might be emotionally unstable, and asked me to come… Do you want to go?”

 

It was clear he was hoping for an affirmative answer. Without hesitation, Chen Bo added, “But what good would it do if I went? She listens to you most. If you went, she wouldn’t even think about suicide—she’d probably jump up and down with joy.”

 

Xu Jinman didn’t find the remark amusing. Yin Xue’s suicide attempt was shocking, yet somehow not entirely surprising.

 

Chen Bo’s mention of her being an orphan stirred a pang of sympathy. After all, anyone who grew up like Yin Xue and the original Xu Jinman must have endured inhuman experiences.

 

Climbing the stairs, Xu Jinman settled into the wooden chair on the balcony.

 

After showering, Shen Shu glanced at Xu Jinman before returning to her bedroom. A few minutes later, she opened the door and walked onto the balcony, settling into the wooden chair.

 

“She’s quite pitiful,” Shen Shu remarked.

 

“Pitiful indeed,” Xu Jinman replied. And hateful.

 

Any single act Yin Xue had committed was unforgivable.

 

“Do you want to go see her?”

 

“No,” Xu Jinman said.

 

Chen Bo had sent a WeChat message, explaining that Yin Xue had attempted suicide by slitting her wrists with a smoothed-down toothbrush. She was discovered in the bathroom in the middle of the night and, thanks to timely intervention, survived. But Xu Jinman had a premonition that visiting her would only invite further trouble.

 

Though Yin Xue was detestable, she was still a human life.

 

Xu Jinman’s heart wasn’t made of stone; she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

 

Last night, she had forgotten to turn off the ringer.

 

As dawn broke, Xu Jinman was jolted awake by an unfamiliar phone call. She hung up once, but answered on the second ring.

 

“Hello, is this Xu Jinman?”

 

“Who’s calling?”

 

“I’m a police officer from Rongcheng No. 2 Special Management Office…”

 

As Xu Jinman listened, she rubbed her temples and sat up in bed. “Which hospital?”

 

 

As Xu Jinman prepared to leave, Shen Shu emerged from the bedroom.

 

“I need to go to Rongcheng,” she said simply. “Yin Xue woke up and is causing a scene on the hospital rooftop, threatening to jump. She wants to see me.”

 

Shen Shu paused, then replied, “I’ll go with you.”

 

“Don’t you have a meeting with the Director this afternoon?” Xu Jinman asked.

 

Shen Shu had already turned back into the bedroom. A minute later, she reappeared wearing a simple dress. “Let’s go.”

 

In the elevator, Xu Jinman couldn’t help but say that Shen Shu didn’t really need to come. The round trip would take over two hours, and she still had to meet with the Director later. It was a lot of trouble.

 

Shen Shu’s gaze drifted to the mirrored elevator door, where Xu Jinman was watching her sideways. “Zhou Pei isn’t here,” Shen Shu replied calmly. “If something happens, I can help.”

 

“Oh.” Xu Jinman’s lips curled slightly. “You’re worried about me?”

 

As she spoke, Xu Jinman suddenly turned her head and met Shen Shu’s gaze in the mirror.

 

Shen Shu’s eyelashes flickered almost imperceptibly, but her gaze didn’t waver. “Mutual assistance,” she said slowly. “Is that so wrong?”

 

Xu Jinman nodded. “Whatever Miss Shen says.”

 

A faint hint of amusement lingered in the air.

 

The moment of lightness vanished as quickly as it had come.

 

The car sped toward Rongcheng. As they drew closer, the silence inside the vehicle deepened. Midway, the police called twice to inquire about their location, a clear indication of the urgency of the situation.

 

Rongcheng First People’s Hospital.

 

Xu Jinman and Shen Shu were escorted by the police to the stairwell outside the rooftop. The officers explained the current situation:

 

Yin Xue had been perched on the edge of the rooftop for over forty minutes, straddling the outer wall with extreme vigilance. Firefighters had attempted two rescue attempts, but she had detected them both times, making further attempts too risky.

 

After briefly questioning the nature of their relationship, the police said, “She’s only willing to see you. Any other approach will trigger violent resistance. We need your cooperation to stabilize her, distract her, so our firefighters can carry out the rescue operation.”

 

Xu Jinman nodded, instructing Shen Shu to remain at the stairwell entrance and reminding her to prioritize her safety. Then, she opened the rooftop door.

 

Three police officers were already on the rooftop, including two female Betas to lower Yin Xue’s guard. However, Yin Xue had ignored all their attempts to communicate. Before Xu Jinman’s arrival, she had repeated only one phrase: “I want to see Xu Jinman.”

 

When Yin Xue spotted Xu Jinman, her dangling legs paused momentarily. Then, her heels resumed tapping against the wall, producing a rhythmic tap-tap-tap.

 

Yin Xue remained silent, watching Xu Jinman approach with a smile until Xu Jinman stood three meters away.

 

In less than half a month since the incident, Yin Xue had become a completely different person. She was gaunt, her face and neck marked with scratches, and her complexion and lips were deathly pale from excessive bl00d loss.

 

“Manman, long time no see. Did you miss me?” Yin Xue tilted her head, her voice weak as she braced herself with her palms. “I missed you terribly.”

 

Xu Jinman watched Yin Xue sway precariously with each movement of her legs, as if on the verge of falling.

 

Yin Xue, ever perceptive, kept glancing down, making it difficult for the firefighters below to find an opportunity to intervene. The immediate priority was to get her down.

 

Xu Jinman’s expression softened. “Really?” she asked softly.

 

Yin Xue froze, perhaps unused to such gentleness. Her eyes lit up as she nodded. “Really, I missed you so, so much… It drove me mad. You don’t understand, the Special Management Office was so dark, just like back then.”

 

“Back then?” Xu Jinman took a step forward, drawing Yin Xue’s attention more fully to herself.

 

“Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten everything I told you? You have that b1tch now, so you’ve forgotten everything. You don’t love me anymore… I know it. You don’t love me anymore, Xu Jinman! Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!”

 

She had been calm at first, but suddenly she erupted into a frenzy.

 

Her voice pierced the air, her eyes burning with complex hatred. Her hand pressed against the wall, the bl00d seeping through the gauze wrapped around her wrist, nearly staining it crimson. She strained upward, her fury boundless. “Xu Jinman, tell me! What do you love about her?! I’ve done so much for you! I’ve ruined myself, I’ve staked my entire life on you… I’d even face death just to see you!”

 

As she spoke, she seemed about to stand up.

 

“Yin Xue!” Xu Jinman called out.

 

Yin Xue froze at her shout, her eyes rimmed with red as she pleaded mournfully, “Manman, come back to me. I can forget everything. I can pretend Shen Shu doesn’t exist, I can even ignore your marriage—just come back to me. Don’t abandon me, please?”

 

“Come down first,” Xu Jinman replied. “We can talk properly.”

 

Yin Xue’s state was dangerously unstable, and Xu Jinman’s heart pounded in sync with her erratic movements and volatile emotions. “Come down,” she repeated. “Let’s talk.”

 

“Manman, how long has it been since you last saw Xiaoyueya?” Yin Xue asked abruptly, as if she hadn’t heard Xu Jinman’s words. Her voice still trembled with sobs.

 

Xu Jinman instinctively froze, never having heard that name before.

 

Yin Xue’s bloodshot eyes locked onto Xu Jinman, her agitated energy suddenly calming. After a long pause, she said slowly, “Then come here. Come here and get me… and I’ll come down.”

 

As she spoke, she reached out to Xu Jinman.

 

Xu Jinman calculated the distance, paused for two seconds, and took a step forward.

 

The police officer behind her called out, “Wait!”

 

Before Xu Jinman could respond, Yin Xue roared, “Get out! All of you, get out!”

 

She was easily provoked.

 

Shen Shu stood at the stairwell entrance, where platform police officers were equipped with miniature cameras. Through the screen in the officer’s hand, she could see Xu Jinman’s back and hear her conversation with Yin Xue.

 

When Xu Jinman agreed, Shen Shu held her breath, her brow furrowing into a small mountain.

 

Outside, Xu Jinman raised her hand in a reassuring gesture. Once she grasped Yin Xue’s hand, she could easily pull her down.

 

Xu Jinman approached cautiously. Yin Xue waited quietly like a well-behaved child. The moment Xu Jinman’s hand closed around hers, Yin Xue flashed an innocent smile.

 

A wave of unease washed over Xu Jinman. Without a moment to think, she yanked Yin Xue down with sudden force.

 

Yin Xue offered no resistance, allowing Xu Jinman to pull her down easily. But just before they landed, she reached out and pressed her wrist against Xu Jinman’s nose.

 

The contact lasted barely a second before police officers rushed in and pulled them apart.

 

Xu Jinman seemed to have inhaled something. For an instant, the veins all over her body bulged outward—a sensation disturbingly familiar.

 

The reaction vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

 

At that very moment, Shen Shu burst through the rooftop door, following the others.

 

“Xu Jinman!” she cried, rushing to Xu Jinman’s side.

 

Yin Xue, held by two officers, her legs limp but her upper body straining upward, watched Xu Jinman rise to her feet. She glanced at Shen Shu, her brow furrowed with concern.

 

Suddenly, she erupted into maniacal laughter.

 

“You don’t care about anything anymore, do you? In your eyes, I’m just a fucking joke! Everything I’ve done is a joke! You think you can just shake me off like that?! Keep dreaming! I won’t let you go, Xu Jinman. You’ll be entangled with me for the rest of your life… Just wait and see! If you’ve got the guts, lock me up forever… Otherwise, you’ll regret this!”

 

After taking a brief statement, Xu Jinman left with Shen Shu.

 

Her mood was unsettled. Yin Xue’s repeated shifts in demeanor felt like they followed a pattern, yet her mind remained stubbornly clouded.

 

As they got into the car, Shen Shu asked from the driver’s seat, “Are you alright?”

 

Xu Jinman was about to nod when a sharp ringing pierced her ears, followed by a searing nerve pain that felt like someone was prying her skull open with tweezers. Her face paled as she clutched her head, bracing herself against the dashboard with one hand.

 

“What’s wrong?” Shen Shu unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to support her.

 

The ringing drowned out Shen Shu’s voice. Xu Jinman’s head throbbed violently, as if it were cracking from within. The pain was so intense that her entire body trembled. At first, she gritted her teeth, but soon the agony overwhelmed her, forcing a primal scream from her throat—a sound like a mournful wail.

 

A torrent of images flooded Xu Jinman’s mind: the sting of whips, the suffocating terror of drowning, the emptiness of a room where she was the only occupant, panic, fear…

 

She instinctively curled into herself, pushing away anyone who approached.

 

“Xu Jinman, Xu Jinman…”

 

Xu Jinman shoved the person away violently. In the next instant, she found herself enveloped in warmth. Someone was holding her tightly, refusing to release her despite her struggles.

 

She caught a familiar sweet scent, comforting and familiar.

 

Shen Shu felt Xu Jinman’s arms tighten around her from behind, the grip growing increasingly painful. Enduring the constricting pain, Shen Shu gently patted Xu Jinman’s back. “Don’t be afraid,” she murmured. “Xu Jinman, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

 

Xu Jinman quickly succumbed to a splitting headache and lost consciousness, collapsing weakly against Shen Shu’s shoulder. Her cold cheek and soft hair brushed against the skin of Shen Shu’s neck.

 

Shen Shu couldn’t help but inhale sharply, but her comforting strokes never faltered.

 

Holding Xu Jinman close, Shen Shu waited for what felt like an eternity before hospital staff finally arrived.

 

Given Xu Jinman’s special status as an Omega, Shen Shu had first called Professor Qin. The hospital staff who arrived were students arranged by Professor Qin, led by a Doctor Fang.

 

Xu Jinman’s vital signs were abnormal, showing traces of poisoning.

 

“This toxin contains stimulant components similar to psychotropic drugs, but its effects are far more potent. Fortunately, the dose was small and you called in time…”

 

Shen Shu asked, “If I hadn’t called in time, would her life have been in danger?”

 

Doctor Fang replied, “Not immediately, but it could have caused neurological damage, severe headaches, and in severe cases, mental instability.”

 

In short, she was a lunatic.

 

Shen Shu’s hands and feet turned icy as she stared at Xu Jinman on the bed, overwhelmed by lingering fear.

 

Xu Jinman saw a white wall adorned with heart-shaped cartoon photos. Below it stood a pink crib, and across from the crib was a pink desk. A girl, no older than four, sat at the desk, her hair in a bun, her head bobbing gently.

 

Colorful crayons lay scattered across the desk as she drew.

 

The door opened, and Yin Xue entered.

 

The little girl looked up. “Mommy Yin Xue, look at my drawing! It’s our family—the three of us!”

 

Yin Xue, her nails painted crimson, took the drawing and passed it back. Another figure emerged from behind her, a woman with the exact same face as Xu Jinman—her original self.

 

The original Xu Jinman took the drawing, glanced down at it without emotion, and said, “No more drawings with three people! And don’t call me ‘Mommy.’ I’m not your mother.”

 

“What are you doing?” Yin Xue went over and patted the little girl’s tear-streaked cheek. “It’s okay, Xiaoyueya. Your drawing is wonderful. I love it. Next time, Mommy will bring you candy, okay?”

 

After the original Xu Jinman left, Yin Xue followed her out, and the two began to argue.

 

“You were the one who wanted a child, so I had her. Why are you being so heartless? At least I gave birth for you.”

 

The original body replied coldly, “You know exactly how this daughter came to be. Don’t you find it disgusting?”

 

Yin Xue blocked her path. “I paid such a high price for you, and you see it as disgusting? I’m an Alpha! I underwent that dangerous gender reassignment surgery, transforming from an A into a frail Omega, all for your sake. And you call it disgusting?! Xu Jinman, do you even have a heart?!”

 

“A heart? When have I ever had such a thing? I never said I liked Omegas. You were the one who thought you were being clever, and you were the one who did it willingly. It has nothing to do with me… Though I must admit, I do enjoy seeing you beneath me.”

 

The original body lowered her gaze, meeting Yin Xue’s reddened eyes. Her expression softened slightly as she cupped Yin Xue’s cheeks and said, “You only called me here because you know I’m marrying Shen Shu and you’re afraid I’ll forget you. Don’t worry, even after I’m married, we can still be together. But if you keep acting up and doing these pointless things… then you won’t be cute anymore. Understand?”

 

 

Yin Xue stormed out, leaving the original owner standing at the door. After a moment, she pushed open the pink bedroom door and sat on the bed.

 

Four-year-old Xiaoyueya sobbed, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry, I won’t draw anymore. Please don’t fight. It’s my fault, waaaah… Will you stop visiting me? I’m sorry… waaaah…”

 

The original owner stared at her blankly for a moment, then grabbed a tissue from the table and roughly wiped Xiaoyueya’s face. Unaccustomed to such gestures, her movements were clumsy and harsh.

 

Xiaoyueya’s face flushed red from the rough wiping. The original owner paused slightly, then irritably tossed the tissue to the floor. “Stop crying!”

 

Xiaoyueya gasped, retreating fearfully to the table. Her face was flushed, and her breathing came in ragged, uneven gasps.

 

The original owner’s expression softened slightly. “Yin Xue is your mother, not me. You’re not allowed to draw family portraits anymore. You can call me Auntie Manman, but never ‘Mom.’ Understand?”

 

Xiaoyueya nodded. “Auntie Manman, please don’t be angry. I… I understand.”

 

Hearing this, the original owner smirked in satisfaction and handed Xiaoyueya another tissue. The little girl glanced at her fearfully for a few seconds.

 

“Your face is covered in snot. It’s disgusting. Wipe it off now.”

 

Urged by her, Xiaoyueya reluctantly took the tissue.

 

The original owner stood up and picked up the drawing from the floor. It depicted two adults on either side of a child, with vibrant crayon colors and a shining sun overhead.

 

Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression as she tore the drawing in half. “Mothers are the most terrifying things in the world. They have fangs and are man-eating demons who will peel your skin and drain your bl00d bit by bit… Do you know what’s even scarier than a mother?”

 

Xiaoyueya shook her head in terror.

 

“Her other half. You know… like the two people you drew.”

 

The original owner said, holding up the separate portraits of the two adults.

 

Under Shen Shu’s palm, the hand trembled slightly. She looked down and saw Xu Jinman’s brow furrowed in her sleep, her rest clearly uneasy.

 

Shen Shu couldn’t help but think that Xu Jinman’s past experiences might have been even worse than she had imagined.

 

Such a good person shouldn’t have had to endure so much.

 

Without realizing it, Shen Shu’s thumb gently brushed across Xu Jinman’s forehead, her touch surprisingly tender.

 

Xu Jinman’s skin was as smooth as a baby’s. With a gentle touch, the wrinkles seemed to flatten out as if ironed.

 

Just as Shen Shu was about to withdraw her hand, Xu Jinman’s wrist was gripped tightly.

 

Xu Jinman opened her bloodshot eyes, startled to see Shen Shu. She paused, then realized she was clutching Shen Shu’s hand and immediately released it.

 

Shen Shu showed no reaction, asking if she was feeling unwell.

 

“My head hurts,” Xu Jinman said. “What happened to me?”

 

Shen Shu explained the entire incident, then added, “The police suspect it was something on Yin Xue’s wrist bandage.”

 

“Suspect?” Xu Jinman tried to sit up, but the IV drip in her arm stopped her. She gave up. “I did feel something at the time—like I’d inhaled something. It was too brief to react to, so I didn’t pay attention.”

 

Shen Shu said, “The bandage wasn’t found, and there were no traces of any drugs on your hand. Without evidence, we can only say it’s a suspicion.”

 

Her concise words immediately caught Xu Jinman’s attention. “Someone helped her cover it up.”

 

“Exactly,” Shen Shu replied. “The surveillance cameras didn’t capture anything either. She was extremely well-prepared.”

 

Yin Xue had made up her mind to drive Xu Jinman mad.

 

Love turned to hatred.

 

It was a terrifying thing, and Yin Xue had taken it to the extreme.

 

Xu Jinman remained silent, acutely aware of someone lurking behind Yin Xue’s every move. From Yin Xue’s first climb onto the hospital bed, the Imperial Grand incident, the banquet, to this latest incident, Xu Jinman sensed a hidden hand at play.

 

This person was remarkably clever, almost always leaving no trace.

 

Seeing Xu Jinman lost in thought, Shen Shu rose to fetch Professor Qin.

 

Professor Qin entered alone, holding a sheet of test results. He glanced at the door before whispering, “Miss Xu, this was far too dangerous. Your Alpha indicators are spiking—your Rut is imminent, you know? It’s fortunate you didn’t trigger Stress Syndrome, or your true identity would have been exposed.”

 

Xu Jinman touched her gland. “I’ve been feeling rather strange these past few days.”

 

To be precise, her gland’s reactions had become less intense recently, even occasionally feeling… comfortable.

 

Xu Jinman chose a more restrained yet accurate way to describe it.

 

Painfully pleasurable?

 

Professor Qin explained, “Your pheromone compatibility is exceptionally high. You naturally attract and soothe each other. This is normal. The pain you feel, aside from the gland’s internal stimulation, I now suspect is also related to your Secondary Differentiation Stress Syndrome.”

 

After finishing, Professor Qin conducted a few more tests.

 

Yin Xue’s drug hadn’t caused any fundamental damage, but it would leave some lingering side effects, such as physical fatigue, drowsiness, hand tremors, and a weakened immune system.

 

“You need to be especially careful about your weakened immune system. Your Rut is approaching, so make sure to carry your suppressant with you at all times.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Shu entered, carrying porridge and side dishes.

 

Shen Shu set the food on the table, briefly inquired about Xu Jinman’s condition, and, feeling somewhat relieved, said, “Thank you for coming all this way.”

 

Professor Qin waved his hand. “It’s no trouble at all. It’s my duty.”

 

Shen Shu glanced at the report in his hand. “May I see it?”

 

Professor Qin handed it over. He exchanged a brief glance with Xu Jinman, who sighed inwardly. Ever since seeing the ‘Psychology Appointment Form’ in Shen Shu’s drawer, she had been wavering.

 

She had just reviewed the form. Professor Qin had remembered her earlier instructions; the form was specifically meant for Shen Shu to see. That’s why the gender listed was Omega.

 

Shen Shu quickly scanned the form, her gaze lingering briefly on the “Omega” designation before naturally handing it back.

 

“Um… Miss Shen,” Professor Qin said, “there’s something I’m a bit embarrassed to ask, but could you sign this for me? My niece is a big fan of yours, she really admires you.”

 

Shen Shu paused, then smiled. “Of course. Please thank your niece for me.”

 

After signing, she added, “This is actually the first time I’ve ever given an autograph.”

 

Once Professor Qin had left, Xu Jinman stared at Shen Shu for a moment. The joy wasn’t outwardly expressed, but Xu Jinman could sense it—Shen Shu was genuinely happy.

 

Xu Jinman couldn’t help but smile, though the smile quickly faded as something else occurred to her.

 

Even in her wildest dreams, she could never have imagined that Yin Xue was a transgender Omega.

 

And… that child, Xiaoyueya.

 

Xu Jinman’s head began to throb again. She glanced at Shen Shu beside her and called out, a hint of guilt in her voice that even she didn’t realize was there.

 

Xu Jinman pressed her lips together. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

 

Shen Shu lowered her gaze to open her congee. “What is it?”

 

Xu Jinman said, “I might have a child.”

 

Shen Shu: “……”

 

Xu Jinman pressed her forehead, correcting herself, “It’s not exactly… Yin Xue and I… No, it’s more like Yin Xue had a child on her own.”

 

She finally found the right way to phrase it.

 

This wasn’t a dream, just like her experiences at the Xu Family mansion—fragments belonging to her original self.

 

They felt incredibly real, indistinguishable from personal memories.

 

Xu Jinman held nothing back from Shen Shu, sharing every detail that came to mind. After finishing, she glanced at Shen Shu’s reaction and blurted out, “It’s really not my child.”

 

The child was around four or five years old. Back then, her original self was a pheromone-deficient Omega, making it impossible for her to be the parent.

 

Shen Shu replied, “I know. Pheromone-deficient Omegas can’t conceive.”

 

Xu Jinman: “……” It was the truth, but it still felt like she was being doubted.

 

Realizing her words might have sounded harsh, Shen Shu paused, lowered her head, and continued opening the lids of the side dishes. “This child wasn’t born to Yin Xue either.”

 

Xu Jinman fell silent, realizing the same thing.

 

Transgender Omegas can’t bear children.

 

If the child truly belonged to Yin Xue, there were only two possibilities: either Yin Xue had the child with someone else, or she used her pheromones to find a surrogate mother…