The Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Alpha Decides to Go On Strike (GL) - Chapter 13

Hearing these words, Su Li’s mind went blank for a moment.

Shen Mo stepped onto the stairs first. After coming back to her senses, Su Li hurried up a couple of steps to catch her: “What do you mean?”

Taking a deep breath, Su Li confirmed: “What happens if I don’t perform well? Will you just decide not to cooperate with Su Corp?”

Shen Mo nodded: “It’s possible.”

“You…” Su Li froze in place.

On the other end, Shen Mo had already stepped onto the carpet of the second-floor hallway. Realizing Su Li hadn’t followed, she turned to look back.

Sunlight shone through the stained-glass windows, fragmented into irregular geometric shapes by the arched panes. Shen Mo stood exactly at the border between light and shadow, with shattered specks of light under her feet.

Fine dust motes drifted in the air. Su Li, standing in the shadow, felt a hard lump caught in her throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out, causing a dull ache in her chest.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Mo lowered her head to ask, her expression unreadable.

Su Li remembered the book-scented room not long ago.

On the slightly worn bedding, the stiff Shen Mo and her incredibly soft lips.

She gritted her teeth and walked up a few more steps, reaching Shen Mo’s side: “Our marriage has a huge connection to the cooperation project, doesn’t it?”

“Maximizing benefits,” Shen Mo nodded.

When she said this, her star-like eyes shone with pure light, as if she didn’t feel there was anything wrong with mixing marriage and profit.

Su Li pursed her lips, tasting a metallic, rusty flavor in her mouth.

The two didn’t speak the rest of the way, entering Shen Zhong’s study one after the other.

Zhou Muxin had drawn the curtains half-open, and the dim sunlight illuminated the study. Shen Zhong sat behind the massive desk, fiddling with a basketball-sized globe in front of him.

An unfamiliar sandalwood incense permeated the air, making Su Li instinctively dislike the place.

Shen Zhong got straight to the point, asking about various aspects of Su Corp, including its current scale and future outlook. Su Li hadn’t anticipated this grilling before coming, but she quickly adopted the professional attitude she used with major clients, answering fluently without any missteps.

Finally, Shen Zhong nodded, turning to Shen Mo: “Alright. Put more effort into it. If there are no issues, arrange for the project to proceed.”

Shen Mo nodded: “Mhm.”

Beside them, Zhou Muxin belatedly snapped back to attention.

She glared fiercely at Su Li, then suddenly spoke: “Brother Zhong! Didn’t we agree that the S.G. project entering the new technology field would be managed by me?!

“Why are you letting Shen Mo interfere with this?”

Zhou Muxin was a subordinate who had married up. Her own resume was quite impressive, and she was once a highly valued and capable core manager within S.G.

Of course, she later leaped from a minor executive to the Chairman’s wife, becoming a total industry legend.

In previous years, after Shen Mo returned from her studies, and coupled with Zhou Muxin’s distraction in caring for her son at home, Shen Mo managed to swallow up most of her influence. Now, Shen Mo had become the de facto head of S.G., while Zhou Muxin was almost forgotten.

Unable to infiltrate the old power structure, she could only beg Shen Zhong to put her in charge of the newly developed sector.

In fact, before the variable of Su Li appeared, she was very close to succeeding.

Zhou Muxin hadn’t known that Su Corp, which Su Li represented, was Shen Mo’s intended partner, and thus hadn’t taken Su Li seriously.

It was only during the discussion in the study at this moment that she realized things were not so simple.

“Be quiet. What kind of behavior is that?” Shen Zhong slapped the table.

He glanced at Zhou Muxin and said faintly: “Su Li and Shen Mo are about to get married. Do you think it’s appropriate for you to manage the cooperation project with Su Corp?

“It’s better not to interfere with the young people’s affairs.”

Zhou Muxin frowned: “But, but you promised me…”

“Wait for the next time. There will always be other new projects,” Shen Zhong decisively put an end to the matter.

Zhou Muxin felt a knot of bitterness in her stomach, nearly biting through her teeth.

She looked up at Shen Mo, only to find the other woman smiling slightly.

Sensing her gaze, Shen Mo glanced back in response, then lowered her head, casually turning the dazzling silver diamond ring on her finger.

Others might not know, but Zhou Muxin was well aware that the focus of S.G. for the next three to five years would be on the new technology sector. Losing control of this project meant she would be unable to make a comeback for the next three to five years!

Thinking this, she stomped her foot in anger, then rushed out of the study, covering her face without regard for etiquette.

“Oh dear!” Shen Zhong maintained his authority in front of the junior. “Honestly, she gets more unreasonable as she ages.”

Shen Mo spoke coolly from the side: “You indulge her too much.”

Shen Zhong began to sigh deeply, pointing at Shen Mo: “If only you were an Alpha, how great would that be? Would I be worrying like this now?”

“It’s the same whether I’m an Alpha, Beta, or Omega,” Shen Mo’s presence was no less imposing.

She put both hands on the desk, looking down at Shen Zhong: “Father, what needs to change is the outdated thinking in your head. This world is no longer an era where only Alphas can rule everything.”

Shen Zhong breathed heavily, agitated.

He came out from behind the desk and walked over to Su Li: “Get a prenuptial agreement notarized. Also, the first Alpha child you give birth to must bear the Shen surname.

“Only those two points. I have no other objections.”

With that, without waiting for Su Li’s reaction, he also left the room in a huff.

Su Li felt like a pure spectator.

The events that took place in the study seemed closely related to her, but in reality, she couldn’t participate in any step and had no voice.

From beginning to end, she stood in place, watching the entire plot unfold.

When she heard Shen Zhong say that the cooperation could move forward, Su Li didn’t feel much joy.

She kept her head down, her peripheral vision only catching the hand Shen Mo used to turn her ring.

The ring was truly too big for her. Even though Shen Mo wore it on her index finger, the gap between the skin and the silver band was still clearly visible.

Many things were wrong from the start, yet they inexplicably progressed along a discordant path.

Shen Mo walked up to her.

She reached out and stroked her face, as if giving a reward, and praised her warmly: “Good performance.”

Su Li took a step back, avoiding her palm.

Shen Mo’s raised hand met empty air. She looked at Su Li with confusion: “Su Li?”

Su Li looked up at her.

What could she do?

She imagined herself storming out right there, telling Shen Mo: “Excuse me, our Su Corp is not desperate enough to acquire your cooperation deal through an arranged marriage. Goodbye!”

Then she would turn and stride out of the room, leaving this castle that felt so wrong in every way.

But she couldn’t.

Su Corp desperately needed this cooperation.

Without Su Corp, S.G. had countless other options. But missing this chance, Su Corp would struggle to find a second S.G., even in another ten or twenty years.

No matter what Shen Mo thought or did, from the very beginning, Su Li and the Su Corp behind her had no choice but to cooperate.

No, not just cooperation, but bowing in gratitude—grateful that Shen Mo had thrown this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity their way.

Su Li felt deflated all at once.

“What’s wrong with you?” Shen Mo leaned in, scrutinizing her expression. “Why are you unhappy?”

“I’m happy,” Su Li forced herself to cheer up.

Her gaze was still involuntarily drawn to the silver ring on Shen Mo’s hand: “I passed the test, and Su Corp can successfully secure this cooperation deal, right?

“I’m quite happy.”

Shen Mo frowned, examining her.

Su Li bent down and took her hand, gently rubbing the ring on her index finger with her thumb.

Shen Mo explained: “My ring finger is too thin, so I’m wearing it here for now.”

“It’s still not a good fit,” Su Li murmured softly. “Let’s change it another day.”

“No need,” Shen Mo withdrew her hand. “I like this one very much.”

Su Li pursed her lips.

She recalled the day of the accidental proposal. Shen Mo’s eyes were also pure that day. Taking advantage of Su Li’s moment of foolishness, the noble head of S.G. nodded, surprising everyone, and simultaneously orchestrated this clever plan that served two purposes.

And Su Li herself was a beautiful chess piece.