After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 30

Jiang Zhaolie’s fingers jerked back as if burned, quickly releasing Xu Chun and taking two steps back. Her eyes darted about before turning to He Qingli with a mix of embarrassment and anger, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Her evasion was so swift that no one had time to react.

Jiang Zhaolie had originally wanted to avoid suspicion after all, Xu Chun had been scheming about her mother in front of her day after day, so the moment He Qingli made that remark, she instinctively tried to distance herself from Xu Chun. Though her mind hadn’t fully processed the situation yet, her subconscious warned her that this was wrong, that she shouldn’t do it.

She thought her intention to stay away from Xu Chun was clear enough, but then she felt Xu Chun’s gaze boring into her, accompanied by a sudden look of realization. “Oh!”

“So this is how you really feel about me,” Xu Chun straightened up, feigning a hint of remorse. “My apologies, I’ve been neglecting you lately.”

“I didn’t realize you’d secretly developed such morally corrupt thoughts about me. You’ve suffered.”

Jiang Zhaolie flushed with fury, indignation burning in her chest as she prepared to argue her case, but Xu Chun merely waved a hand dismissively. “No need to explain, I understand.” She repeated emphatically, putting on a sympathetic, understanding expression. “I understand completely, dear.”

Jiang Zhaolie nearly choked on her rage, her brows knitting so tightly they could crush a fly. “Stop twisting my words! I have absolutely no such thoughts about you!”

“Then swear it,” Xu Chun shot back, pointing at her with lightning speed.

Without hesitation, Jiang Zhaolie raised her right hand, locking eyes with her. “I swear.”

“Good, that’s a relief.” Xu Chun exhaled dramatically, looking at Jiang Zhaolie. “Because if you really did feel that way about me, I’d be in quite the predicament.”

Jiang Zhaolie: “…”

For a moment, she felt an indescribable mix of emotions. When Xu Chun had challenged her, she’d sworn without hesitation to prove her innocence something that should have been satisfying. But seeing Xu Chun sigh in relief, her expression light and unburdened, suddenly left her unsettled.

Did Xu Chun really want to cut ties with her so badly? To sever their connection and throw herself into another woman’s arms?

Hadn’t she once claimed to love her, to be devoted and unwavering? And yet, in such a short time, she’d shifted her affections to her mother, no less.

Jiang Zhaolie’s expression darkened, though whether it was from Xu Chun’s betrayal, her designs on her mother, or both, she couldn’t say. Right now, her entire being was consumed by Xu Chun’s whims, momentarily forgetting the presence of Yu Sui’an, someone she’d once cared deeply for, making exceptions time and again.

Yu Sui’an’s wary gaze had been fixed firmly on Jiang Zhaolie, but the way the latter had unhesitatingly and righteously denied any connection with Xu Chun gave her pause. Could it be that Jiang Zhaolie didn’t share her own… inclinations toward Xu Chun?

Just as her suspicions wavered, she suddenly noticed Jiang Zhaolie stealing several complicated glances at Xu Chun. Yu Sui’an immediately grew vigilant again, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Zhaolie, terrified the other woman might try to steal her sister away.

After all, the two had once been engaged, and the matter of their childhood betrothal still hadn’t been completely resolved. It would be perfectly normal for old flames to reignite.

Coupled with Jiang Zhaolie’s unusually cold attitude toward her today, Yu Sui’an couldn’t help but overthink things.

While she was lost in her thoughts, Xu Chun frowned and swept her gaze over Yu Sui’an’s petite face. “Can you let go of me now?”

Yu Sui’an didn’t hear her at first. When Xu Chun tried to pull her hand away but found herself still trapped, she had to wave her free hand in front of Yu Sui’an’s face. “Yu Sui’an, are you listening to me?”

Snapped out of her thoughts by the movement, Yu Sui’an was startled to hear her full name spoken in such a flat, emotionless tone. She couldn’t help but look up at Xu Chun. “What?”

“Can you let go of me?” Xu Chun pointed at her own arm, staring fixedly at Yu Sui’an’s face.

Yu Sui’an instinctively loosened her grip, her mood darkening in that moment. Finally regaining control of her body, Xu Chun couldn’t help but show a faint smile. “Thank you.”

Subtly shifting closer to He Qingli as if to distance herself from the two female leads’ threats, Xu Chun felt slightly more secure and prepared to make her escape. “It seems you two still have things to discuss.” When both Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui’an turned to look at her, Xu Chun shivered and tightened her grip on He Qingli’s arm. “We’ll take our leave now and not disturb your reunion.”

Without giving them any chance to explain or stop her, she quickly dragged He Qingli away at a near-run, as if fleeing some monstrous pursuer.

Only when they were far enough that Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui’an were out of sight did Xu Chun slow her pace and heave a long sigh of relief. “That was close. I almost lost my life back there today.”

He Qingli looked at her in confusion. “Are you afraid of them?”

Xu Chun nearly blurted out, “They’re the female leads of this world they can do whatever they want without consequences. Of course I’m afraid!” But meeting He Qingli’s inquisitive gaze, she caught herself in time. Straightening her back, she scoffed, “Me? Afraid of them?”

“What a joke.”

Once she rose to power, she wouldn’t fear even ten Jiang Zhaolies each marrying ten Yu Sui’ans! With her seniority established, she refused to believe the younger generation would dare bully their elders.

Xu Chun’s attempt to appear composed while holding her head high made He Qingli roll her eyes. But remembering Xu Chun’s previous antics on the dating show, she found this behavior perfectly normal.

After the two left, Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui’an remained standing there, staring at each other in silence. At this point, it seemed they had nothing left to say unlike before, when even the most ordinary topics could spark hours of animated conversation. That soul-deep connection, that feeling of having found a kindred spirit, had vanished without a trace, as fleeting as a dream.

After standing in silence for what felt like an eternity, Jiang Zhaolie finally spoke first. “Let’s go. We’re almost there.”

But Yu Sui’an didn’t move. She lifted her pale face, her clear almond-shaped eyes unreadable. “Zhaolie,” she said, her voice slightly drawn out, “what are your thoughts about… my sister now?”

Jiang Zhaolie was baffled. “?”

A moment later, understanding dawned, and her expression darkened. “You suspect there’s something between us?” Before Yu Sui’an could respond, Jiang Zhaolie continued, her voice sharp, “So all this time, your coldness and distance, it’s just because you think I’m still entangled with Xu Chun?”

Yu Sui’an remained silent, but the look on her face made it painfully clear that Jiang Zhaolie had hit the nail on the head this was indeed the root of their estrangement.

Jiang Zhaolie had never felt so wronged in her life. Since childhood, hardly anyone had ever falsely accused her. Her face darkened like the bottom of a pot, frost creeping into her gaze. “Is that really what you think of me?”

“Have you not seen how I’ve felt about you all this time? The emotions I’ve poured into you, the efforts I’ve made?” Her words grew more heated, edged with frustration. “When you were slandered and maligned, do you think you could have weathered it so easily if I hadn’t been working behind the scenes to protect you?”

“If I hadn’t secretly arranged for people to guard you, to keep you from being bullied, do you think securing those resources would have been so effortless? A delicate young woman like you without me, who knows what those powerful businessmen might have done to you. After everything I’ve done, you latch onto baseless suspicions and shut me out over some imagined detail? You!”

Her anger boiled over, but after that torrent of words, she faltered, speech failing her.

There was so much more she wanted to say, but the sight of Yu Sui’an’s calm, unfamiliar expression choked the words in her throat. That look made her feel like a desperate, hysterical fool, begging for love and lashing out in fury.

Her upbringing and self-restraint wouldn’t allow her to grovel or discard her dignity.

As the heir to the Jiang and Qin families, she could disregard her own pride, but not the honor of her lineage. She couldn’t let her personal actions tarnish the family’s reputation.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Zhaolie forced herself to regain composure. “One last question,” she said quietly. “Tell me honestly, have you never loved me at all?”

Yu Sui’an’s lashes trembled slightly. With their relationship now fractured beyond repair, she met Jiang Zhaolie’s gaze stubbornly. “Answer me first. What are your true feelings toward my sister?”

Jiang Zhaolie was so angry she almost laughed. After uttering “good” twice, she replied with an icy expression, “From beginning to end, I’ve never had even a single thought about her. Not in the past, not now, and certainly never in the future.”

“That’s good to hear.” Yu Sui’an smiled faintly, as if relieved, but the curve of her lips felt like a knife twisting in Jiang Zhaolie’s heart.

“Now it’s your turn to answer me.”

“I did like you,” Yu Sui’an lifted her gaze calmly, speaking softly. “You’re wonderful kind, good to me, perfect in every way. But right now, I still can’t forget my sister in my heart.”

“I’ve tried very hard to let go of her, but as you can see, I haven’t succeeded yet.”

Her frankness, her complete lack of pretense, shattered Jiang Zhaolie’s heart into pieces. “Suisui, do you think… I’ll never feel hurt?”

“I don’t,” Yu Sui’an’s smile faded slightly. “I know I’ve deeply hurt you this way, but I don’t want to hide the truth from you. Because one day you’ll find out anyway. So rather than deceiving you with a well-meaning but false lie, I’d rather you live with clarity.”

“At least this way, we can still remain friends.”

She lowered her eyelids slowly. “You know I’m not good at lying.”

Jiang Zhaolie knew that all too well, but everything that had happened today was too much to bear. She didn’t even remember how she left. By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting dazedly in her car, gripping the steering wheel with one hand, lost in thought.

After a long while, Jiang Zhaolie slammed the steering wheel hard, her anger and sorrow with nowhere to vent.

How had things come to this? How had they spiraled so far out of control? Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t understand. Everything had been fine before their relationship had been steady, progressing step by step, on the verge of reaching a happy ending. But now…

Jiang Zhaolie clenched her fists tightly. Was it because after the breakup, Yu Sui’an had been working closely with Xu Chun? Seeing each other day in and day out must have rekindled old memories of their sweet past, making Yu Sui’an’s feelings for Xu Chun flare up again instead of fading away.

The more Jiang Zhaolie thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Regret washed over her. If only she had stopped Yu Sui’an from taking that script back then. If they hadn’t been in such close contact, if they hadn’t spent every moment together on set, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Yu Sui’an stood in place for a long time.

She had wanted to maintain a good relationship with Jiang Zhaolie. She hadn’t intended to burn bridges completely, originally, she had planned to keep the same distance as before, neither too close nor too distant, which would have been the most beneficial arrangement for her. But in that one decisive moment, between Xu Chun and Jiang Zhaolie, she had chosen Xu Chun without hesitation.

She had already lost Xu Chun once. She couldn’t bear to lose her a second time, because she had a sinking feeling, if she didn’t seize this chance now, she would lose Xu Chun forever, never to have her again.

Under such a sense of crisis, Yu Sui’an had no choice but to painfully give up on Jiang Zhaolie. Though she felt regret, there was nothing she could do even though Jiang Zhaolie had indeed treated her exceptionally well.

With a complicated sigh, Yu Sui’an lifted her foot and turned to walk away in the opposite direction of Jiang Zhaolie.

Losing Jiang Zhaolie was a setback, but fortunately, her superficial “sister” had recently introduced her to a wealthy woman with a powerful network, sharp skills, and high social status. As long as she obeyed her, she would never have to worry about work again. This way, she could secure her future while also having ample time and energy to win back Xu Chun.

The thought of successfully reconciling with Xu Chun softened Yu Sui’an’s tense expression, and a faint smile finally appeared in her eyes.

…

The secretary quickly tracked down the target’s whereabouts and sent the address to Qin Yao, who immediately forwarded it to Xu Chun: [Your friend is here. She hasn’t left today.]

After repeatedly expressing her gratitude, Xu Chun handed her phone to He Qingli. “Here, this is the place.” She checked the map. “She’s still in the country and didn’t leave with her family. The location isn’t too far from here. Sister Qin said she hasn’t gone out today, so if you leave now, you can still make it…”

She rambled on before proactively sending the address to He Qingli. But when she looked up again, He Qingli was already gone.

Xu Chun: “?” So much for abandoning friends for love.

With He Qingli gone, Xu Chun felt utterly bored, as if life had lost all meaning. To pass the time and make her days on set more bearable, she resorted to chatting aimlessly with the screenwriter and the original author.

Just as she was about to lose her mind from sheer boredom, Jiang Zhaolie’s grandfather, Jiang Peiyuan, suddenly called. Xu Chun hesitated briefly before answering, “Grandpa Jiang.”

Jiang Peiyuan was actually quite embarrassed. Despite having weathered many storms, Jiang Zhaolie’s recent behavior had brought shame to him and the entire Jiang family. However, the arranged marriage between the two young women was too important to ignore, forcing him to step in personally. “Xiao Chun, I called today to ask about your relationship with Zhaolie…”

“There is no relationship anymore,” Xu Chun replied without hesitation. “She’s deeply in love with my ex-girlfriend. I don’t even exist in her eyes now.”

Jiang Peiyuan was momentarily speechless, unprepared for Xu Chun’s bluntness in laying out Jiang Zhaolie’s misdeeds. After a pause, he managed to say, “I can find a way to resolve this…”

Xu Chun raised an eyebrow. “So, Grandpa Jiang, are you planning to resolve Zhaolie, me, or my ex-girlfriend?”

Jiang Peiyuan faltered again before finally conceding, “I understand. Once you’re free, I’ll personally visit to apologize.”

Xu Chun was reasonable enough, but the mere thought of Xu Chun’s grandfather, a stubborn and unreasonable man made Jiang Peiyuan’s entire body ache with dread. It was easy to invite a god but hard to send one away. Given the old man’s fiercely protective nature, the Jiang family would undoubtedly lose a significant chunk of their hard-earned wealth legacy painstakingly built by their ancestors!

Just thinking about it made Jiang Peiyuan’s heart ache with regret.

At this moment, he was filled with deep remorse. If only he had urged the family to have more children back then, they wouldn’t be in this predicament, where, aside from Jiang Zhaolie and the underage Qiao Wan, there wasn’t a single suitable marriage candidate left in the entire family.

Jiang Peiyuan’s attitude was surprisingly polite. Xu Chun held the phone in mild disbelief, having expected him to scold her harshly like the overbearing elders in those melodramatic soap operas. She sighed quietly to herself, why hadn’t anyone from Jiang Zhaolie’s side thrown a few million at her to break off the engagement?

The screenwriter, noticing her shifting expressions, asked curiously, “What’s going on?”

“My ex-fiancée’s family just called to sound me out about canceling the engagement,” Xu Chun said offhandedly.

The screenwriter’s eyes lit up. “That Jiang Zhaolie?”

“Didn’t she already get involved with Yu Sui’an?” Pausing, she added in surprise, “I thought you two had already called it off. Didn’t realize it was still dragging on.”

Given how publicly messy things had gotten, if neither family had any real intention of continuing, they would’ve cut ties long ago to avoid further embarrassment. Who would’ve guessed they’d let it drag on this long?

The screenwriter tapped her pen against her chin, suddenly struck by a thought. “You don’t think,  Jiang Zhaolie is trying to have her cake and eat it too, deliberately stalling?” The more she considered it, the more plausible it seemed. “Keeping the marriage for status while enjoying a cozy affair on the side sounds like the perfect life, huh?”

Xu Chun: “?!” That kind of shameless move existed?

A shiver ran down her spine. She quickly opened her phone to message Qin Yao, but after typing a few words, she hesitated, it was too abrupt. Deleting the draft, she began carefully planning her next move.

Before she could act, however, Qin Yao suddenly reached out to Jiang Zhaolie:

[Where are you right now?]

Jiang Zhaolie didn’t see the message until much later. Removing her helmet, she stepped off her motorcycle, sweat-dampened strands of black hair clinging to her pale cheeks. She had just recklessly taken first place in the club’s racing competition, yet she felt no joy.

The high-speed ride had done nothing to ease her mind if anything, it left her more restless than before.

Her failed relationship with Yu Sui’an weighed on her. Her failed relationship with Xu Chun weighed on her. The suffocating pressure made her want to run away from it all.

Only after changing in the locker room did she check her phone and realize Qin Yao had messaged her two hours earlier.

A flicker of panic rose in her chest. Gripping her phone, she replied with forced calm:

[Out. Just got tied up with something and didn’t check my phone.]

Qin Yao didn’t press for details, simply instructing her to inform Xu Chun that the dinner, finalizing the annulment was scheduled for three months from today. Jiang Zhaolie stared at the message in silence, a strange, surreal feeling washing over her.

Though she had always intended to end the engagement, now that it was truly happening, an indescribable mix of emotions churned inside her.

She didn’t know how to respond, nor could she tell whether relief or regret weighed heavier in her heart at this moment. “Okay.”

Jiang Zhaolie relayed Qin Yao’s words to Xu Chun without much emotion. Xu Chun, who had just finalized her plans and was about to execute them, glanced at her phone well, there goes the plan. But this outcome suited her just fine, so she simply replied with an “Okay.”

The other party seemed to have anticipated this response, showing not a trace of sorrow in her tone. Perhaps this situation aligned perfectly with Xu Chun’s wishes, she might have been hoping for exactly this outcome.

At this moment, Jiang Zhaolie suddenly realized in this entire affair, it seemed she was the only one left standing alone, having lost everything.

She couldn’t help but feel lost. [“Mom, tell me was I wrong from the very beginning? Should I not have been so willful, acting on childish whims without thinking things through?”]

She typed slowly: [“From the start, should I never have considered breaking off the engagement with Xu Chun? Should I have just obediently followed the family’s arrangements?”]

[“No.”] Before Jiang Zhaolie’s sorrow could fully take hold, Qin Yao instantly replied. Seeming worried that Jiang Zhaolie might misunderstand those two words, Qin Yao condescended to type a few more characters in explanation: [“You weren’t wrong. Now that you and Xu Chun have no ties, you’re free to pursue the woman you truly love.”]

Jiang Zhaolie’s expression twisted violently after reading the reply. Where could she possibly go to chase after some woman she truly loved? The only woman she’d ever loved had already been quietly whisked away by Xu Chun!

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