10

The "old woman" Pei Yuzhang referred to was Fan Zhaozhao. The original Pei Yuzhang was very unhappy with her mother's marriage to Fan Zhaozhao, much like many children in blended families, wishing they would separate as soon as possible.

The original character had always been worried that Fan Zhaozhao's child would compete with her for the family inheritance. But in reality, Jiang Wenxiu, though an Alpha, was not ambitious at all. She had no interest in either makeup design or running a company, and spent her days indulging in leisure. So, the original Pei Yuzhang's concerns were entirely unfounded.

As for Fan Zhaozhao, Pei Yuzhang couldn't quite figure out what her attitude toward her was, and her mother's attitude was equally ambiguous.

Even when Pei Yuzhang inexplicably wanted to hold a mid-year party, Pei Jinhuai agreed without hesitation, even allocating a budget and encouraging her to enjoy herself.

It seemed the dynamics in this family were more complicated than they appeared.

The summer mid-year party was held at the clubhouse as planned. Except for a few employees who couldn't attend, even Yu Zhiwan, who was blind and disabled, made it to the event.

Even in a crowd, Yu Zhiwan stood out as the most striking person in the club, naturally drawing attention wherever she was.

Yu Zhiwan was cleanly dressed, not at all like she was there to party, but rather as if she had come to quietly read in a library.

The dim lighting cast shadows on her beige knitted cardigan, adding a faint melancholy to her appearance. The gold-rimmed glasses she wore gave her delicate features an air of intellectuality, making her seem soft yet distant, almost aloof.

The lights shimmered on the pool's surface, reflecting the vibrant colors of the party. Fanghua Club was an expensive place, but Pei Yuzhang had generously covered all expenses for the night. The young employees eagerly took the opportunity to indulge in luxuries they usually couldn't afford.

But Yu Zhiwan was completely out of place in the noisy crowd.

Her pale skin, rarely exposed to the sun, and long lashes cast shadows over her eyes, making it hard to discern her emotions. Yu Zhiwan's face was beautifully proportioned, with a small oval shape and delicate features. Her smile was soft and understated, barely lifting the thin layer of skin beneath her eyes, which were a gentle almond shape.

Yu Zhiwan didn't need heavy makeup or filters to enhance her appearance. Her natural elegance was enough to make her stand out in any crowd. Under the dim lights, her translucent, snowy skin seemed as fragile as glass, tempting anyone to reach out and shatter it.

But her body was frail, her thin legs dangling weakly from the wheelchair, a constant reminder of her limited freedom. Those unforgettable eyes saw nothing of the world around her.

Yu Zhiwan was incomplete in more ways than one.

In her previous life, besides her military career, Pei Yuzhang often helped the local security team maintain order. She once heard the security captain remark that excessive beauty was not a blessing for Omegas who lacked the ability to protect themselves—it was a sharp knife hanging over their heads.

Most Omegas were naturally weaker in physical strength compared to Betas and Alphas. In this era, many Omegas became full-time homemakers, retiring early to focus on raising the next generation. An Omega like Yu Zhiwan, who was disabled, was especially vulnerable.

Even with Liu Huanran by her side, many people in the club still cast their eyes on the Omega sitting quietly in the corner.

Liu Huanran was fussing over Yu Zhiwan, offering her drinks and snacks, but the Omega seemed uninterested.

What Pei Yuzhang didn't know was that ever since Liu Huanran started showing her sudden enthusiasm, Yu Zhiwan had grown more distant, wary of the unexpected attention.

Though they were both women, Liu Huanran was an Alpha, and the power difference between Alphas and Omegas was significant. With her disabilities, Yu Zhiwan had to be even more cautious.

Liu Huanran tried multiple times to hand her food, but Yu Zhiwan, unwilling to accept anything from her, subtly declined with a slight frown.

"I'm going to the restroom. Don't follow me."

In the ABO world, restrooms were generally divided into six categories: male and female AB, and male and female Omegas, to accommodate the specific needs of each gender.

The music blared loudly from the speakers, faint fragrances filled the air, and the sound of dice rolling in glasses echoed in the background. Everything was designed to stir up excitement and desires.

Despite her beauty, Liu Huanran's attempts to warm up to Yu Zhiwan had been met with cold indifference, making the Alpha's frustration grow. Feeling slighted after her invitation was rejected, she turned away and didn't respond to Yu Zhiwan's request.

As Yu Zhiwan wheeled herself to the restroom, Pei Yuzhang, who had been discreetly observing them, received a series of notifications from the system.

"Attention, attention. The plot is officially unfolding. The new 'Cannon Fodder Value' has been activated! Keep performing tasks that make the main protagonist jealous to boost her motivation!"

"Touching the protagonist's hand: +1 Cannon Fodder Value."

"Patting the protagonist's head: +1 Cannon Fodder Value."

"Drugging the protagonist: +10 Cannon Fodder Value."

"Telling the protagonist, 'Come to my room': +2 Cannon Fodder Value."

"Taking the protagonist to your room: +10 Cannon Fodder Value."

"Completing all tasks: Additional +2 Cannon Fodder Value."

711 was ecstatic, urging Pei Yuzhang:

"Once your Cannon Fodder Value reaches 100, you'll be able to disappear from the plot in style without facing any of the protagonist's wrath. Don't miss this chance—go for it!"

Pei Yuzhang had a natural affinity for numbers. Even if she didn't fully grasp the situation, she quickly calculated that the tasks added up to over twenty points.

711 projected the task board into her mind. Pei Yuzhang only needed to close her eyes to visualize it. However, she quickly noticed that the "Drugging the Protagonist" task had been crossed out, grayed out to indicate it had been removed.

A sense of dread washed over Pei Yuzhang, and she hastily asked:

"What does this mean?"

"The system detected that this task has already been completed by someone else," 711 responded matter-of-factly. "You've lost the opportunity to complete this task. Please wait for the next chance or complete other tasks."

"Damn it!"

Pei Yuzhang recalled her lackey's sly laughter, swearing under her breath.

The employees were mingling and enjoying themselves in groups. Pei Yuzhang was tucked away in a semi-private booth, unnoticed by the crowd. She quickly stood up and rushed toward the restroom.

As she approached, the strong scent of roses and raspberries wafted into her nose. Pei Yuzhang stared at the door of the women's Omega restroom, but hesitated, stopping just short of barging in.