Transmigrated as the Cannon Fodder Boss of the Disabled Heroine (GL, ABO) - Chapter 9
Pei Yujiang suddenly hesitated about whether she should step inside.
Zhao Manlin hadn’t noticed her presence outside and continued frowning as she vented to her colleagues:
“Her favorite type is pretty Omegas sometimes she doesn’t even spare Alphas. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, try to stay out of her way if you can.”
Someone winked suggestively:
“Manlin, you’re overthinking it. Maybe she’s not even interested in anyone from our department. What about that blind trial makeup model, Liu Huanran’s girlfriend? She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?”
Zhao Manlin’s expression shifted.
“Seriously? That’s wild. Last time she came to the company, didn’t she even flirt with Liu Huanran?”
“Little Pei really has no standards, huh?”
Since hardly anyone visited at this hour and they were all from the same department, they spoke freely, laughing and teasing without restraint.
Pei Yujiang listened until she could barely stand it any longer. If she didn’t step in soon, her reputation would be completely ruined.
So she cleared her throat softly, pretending she had just arrived, and strolled leisurely toward them from the direction of the elevator.
The first to notice her was an employee sipping soy milk, who nearly choked in surprise. She quickly elbowed the person beside her and began tidying up her desk.
Yuerong had a cafeteria, and given the high hygiene standards of a cosmetics company, eating breakfast in the office was strictly prohibited. However, for the sake of convenience, some early arrivals would eat there before cleaning up, and most supervisors turned a blind eye.
Remembering the original character’s personality, Pei Yujiang didn’t give them a friendly look as she entered. The moment she pushed open the door and caught the strong scent of food, she frowned:
“Why are you bringing breakfast into the office? Next time, eat in the cafeteria.”
The group, who had just been gossiping about her while eating already a violation fell silent. Some hastily put their food away, while others tossed it straight into the trash. After a quick cleanup, they scattered back to their workstations.
Pei Yujiang, who despised food waste the most: “…”
Zhao Manlin coughed lightly and glanced at her. Seeing that Pei Yujiang was neatly dressed today even wearing Yuerong’s standard work uniform, she realized the young mistress was serious about working today.
But whether this determination would last or was just for show remained to be seen.
Zhao Manlin tentatively called out to her:
“First day on the job, should I go over the work arrangements with you?”
Pei Yujiang brought a notepad and pen and sat in Zhao Manlin’s office for a full two hours, listening as she explained the workflow.
The planning department for cosmetics wasn’t responsible for product development but mainly focused on promotional activities, closely tied to the marketing team. Yuerong had a detailed division of labor the two departments handled different tasks, but with small teams, they often worked together.
In short, the planning team devised campaigns, and the marketing team executed the promotions. Zhao Manlin initially kept it simple, not expecting Pei Yujiang to pay attention. When she saw her scribbling notes, she assumed the young mistress was growing impatient. Just as she was about to say, “Let’s call it a day here,” Pei Yujiang signaled with her eyes for her to continue.
Zhao Manlin had been working at the company for several years passionate, driven, and sharp-eyed. Though she wasn’t particularly fond of the young mistress, she knew she was the beloved daughter of Yuerong’s CEO and couldn’t afford to offend her. So, she patiently explained everything in detail.
Two hours later, the deputy director left for the morning meeting, while Zhao Manlin headed to the product department to verify issues with the new line. Before leaving, she discreetly glanced at the notes Pei Yujiang had sprawled across the desk.
Tsk. The handwriting was messy, filled with scribbled symbols she couldn’t decipher. What kind of alien script was this?
She harbored deep suspicions about whether Pei Yujiang was here to chase pretty women or actually do any work.
Pei Yujiang arrived just in time to witness the tense atmosphere of the morning meeting. Though it was just a routine session, an air of gloom hung heavily over the room.
After listening for about ten minutes, she realized this was the turning point for Yuerong in the original plot.
When Pei Jinhuai first took over the family business, she was still a college student full of energy and ambition. Young people always seemed to have boundless vigor, personally testing products late into the night.
But later, perhaps due to a heartbreak and the toll childbirth had taken on her health, her spirit waned. Her attention to the company slipped, and after a failed creative venture led to clashes with other executives, she gradually withdrew from daily operations.
In this era, beauty products flooded the market. Yuerong had once been a reputable brand, but ever since the influenza outbreak two years ago, many companies had collapsed. Women rushed out with little time for makeup, and masks became a long-term necessity, drastically reducing demand for beauty products.
Now that the pandemic era had finally ended, Yuerong was already weakened. This quarter, they faced an even bigger problem unsold inventory.
After all, lip glosses and foundations only came in so many shades, and Yuerong’s formulations weren’t drastically different from competitors’. The brand had always maintained strict quality control, but to preserve profit margins, they couldn’t slash prices too low.
This made it hard to compete with budget brands that relied on high volume and low margins.
Yuerong’s biggest issue now was being stuck in the middle, unable to break into the high-end market where customers would pay premium prices, yet unwilling to stoop to the dirt-cheap prices of student-targeted brands.
Later, a manager surnamed Miao proposed a new plan: reformulate products to cut costs. But quality control slipped, and that batch primarily foundations was supposed to offer lightweight coverage. Instead, many users developed long-term latent allergies, leading to a massive collapse in Yuerong’s reputation. The brand was even publicly criticized on a national TV exposé.
This scandal would erupt months later. Before that, the original Pei Yujiang’s relentless bullying had already driven Liu Huanran to quit in frustration.
Seizing the opportunity, Liu Huanran later launched a new product line at her new company, effectively replacing Yuerong’s position. She even borrowed from Yuerong’s best designs, marketing them as “Yuerong dupes” and ultimately burying the already struggling brand for good.
Liu Huanran, an employee in the product department, was present at this morning meeting. When the topic of unsold inventory came up, she raised her hand and launched into a lengthy proposalsuggesting they take inspiration from competitors, like Doumi Beauty’s original mermaid-toned shimmer lipstick, and repurpose it as a blush to create a new product line. They could then bundle old stock with promotions like “buy two, get one free” to clear inventory.
Pei Yujiang was deeply disappointed.
She had thought Liu Huanran, as the main protagonist, would have some brilliant insights.
Liu Huanran’s idea, to put it nicely, was about “extracting the essence,” but to put it bluntly, it was outright plagiarism.
When Pei Yujiang read this part of the plot, she initially thought Liu Huanran’s business ethics were questionable. But later, after seeing the way Liu Huanran drooled over Yu Zhiwan, she decided to retract her earlier assessment.
That scumbag Alpha was just plain terrible in every way.
In the story, there was even a disgusting plotline where Liu Huanran left Yu Zhiwan, pregnant and drenched in the rain late at night collapsed at the doorstep, only to later chase after her in a dramatic “burning bridges” reconciliation.
Even if Liu Huanran eventually reformed, could that ever make up for the harm she caused Yu Zhiwan?
The answer, of course, was no.
**
After joining the company, Pei Yujiang no longer had the luxury of leisure. She spent an entire week buried in work just to get a basic grasp of the company’s operations.
Working in an office was completely different from patrolling or fighting on the battlefield, it was a war without gunpowder. One day, Pei Yujiang submitted a report, and the next day, she strictly enforced a rule against eating breakfast in the office. She ended up catching violators in every department, fining each person 100 credits, which added up to a few thousand in penalties.
Naturally, the people in the planning department weren’t too fond of her.
Pei Jinhuai returned with Fan Zhaozhao over the weekend and immediately reserved a private dining room for a family gathering to bond over a meal. When Pei Yujiang reported on her work at the table, Pei Jinhuai was stunned at first, then sighed and patted her daughter’s shoulder helplessly:
“Xiao Yu, a new broom sweeps clean, but you don’t have to sweep so aggressively. If you’re just here to play around, that’s fine, but if you plan to stay long-term, those people definitely won’t like you.”
Pei Jinhuai knew her daughter well, she had always been domineering and unlikable. Now, on top of that, she had fined so many people right off the bat. Making friends was out of the question.
Deep down, Pei Jinhuai didn’t expect much from her daughter. The fact that Pei Yujiang was willing to work instead of being unemployed nearly moved her to tears, so she was practically indulgent toward her.
Her mother’s attitude seemed to stem from Pei Yujiang’s poor health as a child, combined with a failed marriage and her own busy career when she was younger, which left little time for family. As a result, the original Pei Yujiang had grown up with a somewhat extreme personality, making Pei Jinhuai feel even more guilty.
Just as Pei Yujiang was about to speak, Jiang Wenxian, who had been silently playing a game with her head down, suddenly looked up and shrugged carelessly:
“If they don’t like you, just beat them up. Problem solved.”
Fan Zhaozhao immediately shot her a disapproving look and scolded:
“Watch your mouth, child! We’re eating, why are you still playing games?”
Jiang Wenxian put away her brand-new gaming console and, while slipping it into her bag, subtly winked at Pei Yujiang.
After being disciplined by Pei Yujiang that one time, she had at least become more polite on the surface whether she truly respected her or not was another matter. The two parents missed the sarcasm in her words, and Fan Zhaozhao, ever the gracious host, served Pei Yujiang more food and complimented her warmly.
Pei Yujiang observed Fan Zhaozhao discreetly.
Fan Zhaozhao was Pei Jinhuai’s new partner, an Omega with a gentle, pleasant demeanor and striking peach-blossom eyes that could convey both warmth and reproach. She spoke softly to Pei Jinhuai, and the two clearly had a good relationship.
As the meal drew to a close, the conversation among them dwindled. The two parents were lost in their sweet bubble, while Jiang Wenxiu chatted away between bites. Fan Zhaozhao had grown accustomed to her daughter’s behavior, but instead turned her attention to Pei Yujiang’s life.
“Xiao Yu, have you gotten yourself a girlfriend lately?”
Pei Yujiang wasn’t sure what she meant by that. Raising an eyebrow, she glanced over.
“Not yet.” She paused. “Why the sudden interest, Auntie Fan?”
Fan Zhaozhao exchanged a look with Pei Jinhuai, who chuckled.
“Well, you’re already in your early twenties. It’s about time you settled down with someone. But it’s good for a woman to have her own career too. If you’re serious about working in the company, I won’t push you.”
Her words carried a hint of indifference. Pei Yujiang was no fool, she could tell her mother had ulterior motives but pretended not to notice.
Pei Jinhuai drove them all home in her private car.
Pei Yujiang had been staying at home recently to reassure her parents, and it was indeed more convenient. Once back, Jiang Wenxiu immediately retreated to her room to game online with friends. Pei Yujiang pretended to head upstairs but soon doubled back, crouching at the stairwell’s corner to eavesdrop from an unseen spot.
Pei Jinhuai had summoned her personal assistant, Zhou Shuyue, for a report. The women had been speaking softly earlier, but now Pei Jinhuai’s voice rose in agitation.
“How could I have known Xiao Yu would resort to kidnapping? Zhaozhao, you mustn’t tell Xiuxiu about this. She’s too young to keep secrets, if word gets out, it’ll be disastrous.”
Fan Zhaozhao hesitated before asking, “If she’s really that infatuated with that Omega, maybe we should just let her marry her?”
“You don’t understand Xiao Yu. She’s always been one to lose interest quickly…”
Pei Jinhuai, well-acquainted with her child’s troublesome nature, dismissed the idea but still felt a pang of concern for Pei Yujiang.
Pei Yujiang’s personality differed too much from the original host’s. Not being a professional actress, even her best efforts couldn’t replicate the original perfectly. Her recent changes were attributed to “growing despondent over unrequited love for Yu Zhiwan.”
Listening in, Pei Yujiang found the situation both laughable and frustrating.
Just then, her phone vibrated in her pocket.
To avoid detection, she had set it to silent mode before sneaking downstairs. With the conversation below still ongoing, she crept back to her room unnoticed.
The call was from a subordinate more accurately, one of the original host’s opportunistic lackeys who had followed her during her influential days, aiding in all sorts of misdeeds.
Pei Yujiang was reluctant to answer but pressed the button anyway, responding curtly, “What?”
“Boss, the mid-year meeting is all set for next week. That work for you?”
Pei Yujiang was baffled. “What mid-year meeting?”
The subordinate chuckled. “You called this meeting just to get Yu Zhiwan, right?”
Worried she might have forgotten, the subordinate considerately asked if anyone else was around. After confirming she was alone, they switched to speakerphone. Pei Yujiang’s own voice, dripping with casual arrogance, oozed through the line, words laced with sleazy intent.
“Xiao Zhu, go organize a half-year gathering for me. Call it a summer party and invite all the employees to Fanghua Clubhouse. No one is allowed to take leave without special reasons. When the time comes, get some drugs to put in Yu Zhiwan’s drink. I’m going to ruin Yu Zhiwan, hahahaha!”
That string of laughter at the end was especially maniacal and grating, unpleasant to the ears.
The original host had also spewed several vulgar remarks, all of them lustful fantasies about Yu Zhiwan.
Pei Yujiang’s lips trembled for a long time without managing to utter a word.
The original host was blinded by lust, but even in her previous world as an Alpha, Pei Yujiang had never even properly held an Omega’s hand.
During wartime, everyone feared for their own safety, yet many Alphas still indulged in pleasure either living extravagantly or desperately trying to continue their lineage as if they wouldn’t survive tomorrow, drowning in debauchery with Omegas.
Pei Yujiang, however, had always been ascetic and looked down on such Alphas who avoided the battlefield to indulge themselves. This was supposed to be a peaceful era, yet the original host harbored such predatory intentions toward an Omega…
She couldn’t outright break character, but she also refused to do anything illegal to Yu Zhiwan. Instead, she directly ordered her subordinate Xiao Zhu:
“The party will proceed as planned, but forget about those shady schemes. I’ll make Yu Zhiwan come to me willingly drugging someone isn’t a real achievement.” Pei Yujiang quickly analyzed the original host’s personality and mimicked her tone. “Besides, if that old woman catches wind of this, wouldn’t she make me suffer?”
After receiving the orders, the person on the other end of the call flattered her a few times before hanging up to make arrangements. Pei Yujiang sighed in relief but couldn’t help feeling a headache coming on.
Just how many landmines had the original host left for her?