After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 40

Xu Chun’s vision momentarily darkened.

No, no, no, things aren’t what you think! Let me explain! Her heart pounded as she spoke, “President Zheng, listen to me.”

“Go on.” Zheng Jinchan smiled at her, though the warmth didn’t reach her eyes, carrying instead a cold, oppressive edge. Her voice was light, almost amused. “You’d better give me a reasonable excuse.”

Xu Chun immediately racked her brain, scrambling for an explanation.

Her brows furrowed in deep concentration, her expression strained enough to make onlookers anxious. Qin Yao stepped forward, subtly blocking Zheng Jinchan’s gaze from Xu Chun, her smile just as devoid of warmth. “President Zheng, there’s no need to tease her.”

“She’s still young.”

For some reason, Jiang Zhaolie’s mind involuntarily supplied the thought, She’s still young, so don’t let her off the hook.

The moment the idea crossed his mind, he snapped back to reality, shooting Xu Chun a strange look. He silently thanked himself for bringing Qin Yao over quickly, otherwise, with Xu Chun’s meager skills, she’d have been devoured by Zheng Jinchan without even realizing it.

Was Zheng Jinchan someone so easily handled? Those who had tried to manipulate her in the past had all ended up crushed under her heel instead.

Dreaming of negotiating or making deals with Zheng Jinchan was nothing short of delusional unless the sun rose from the west.

Zheng Jinchan hadn’t actually intended to take Xu Chun seriously, but the moment she noticed Qin Yao’s protective stance toward the girl, she changed her mind. A faint smile played on her lips as she glanced past Qin Yao at the few stray strands of hair sticking out from Xu Chun’s head, her tone innocent and pure. “But she was the one who approached me first.”

Qin Yao turned her head slightly, and Xu Chun stiffened before hurriedly whispering an explanation, “That’s not what happened! It was an accident. I was just having a great conversation with President Zhang when President Zheng suddenly walked over, shooed him away, and then—”

By this point, Qin Yao had already pieced together the gist of it. A cryptic smile curved her lips as she extended an invitation to Zheng Jinchan. “Care for a drink?”

Zheng Jinchan had already made plans for the evening, but Qin Yao’s unexpected olive branch was hard to refuse. After a brief consideration, she agreed readily.

The Qin Group held considerable prestige both within and outside the industry. Though Zheng Jinchan had once entertained the idea of collaborating with them, several factors had deterred her lack of a mediator, conflicting schedules (both she and Qin Yao were perpetually swamped), and the fact that, while the Qin Group was impressive, it wasn’t her only option.

Amid these complications, Zheng Jinchan had gradually shelved the idea.

But now, things were different. First, she’d encountered Xu Chun, and now Qin Yao had followed. Perhaps this was a signal of potential cooperation. Since Zheng Jinchan had time to spare tonight, she saw no harm in sitting down for a drink and a casual chat.

If something came of it, all the better.

“Sure,” she nodded, then glanced at Xu Chun, who was mostly hidden behind Qin Yao. “She’s coming too.”

Xu Chun peeked out from behind Qin Yao. “Me?”

Zheng Jinchan stared at her face. “Is there anyone else here?” Her sharp brows and eyes carried an intimidating air, even though she didn’t mean anything by it at the moment. “By the way, you should properly explain to me what’s going on between you and Jiang Banxia.”

“My daughter has been mentioning you every single day recently,” Zheng Jinchan said meaningfully.

Zheng Yanran mentioning her every day? Xu Chun nearly choked. Shouldn’t the person she talked about daily be Jiang Banxia? To be constantly brought up in front of Zheng Jinchan… that was practically inviting her hatred.

The group moved to sit at a nearby corner. Jiang Zhaolie called over a waiter to order drinks. She sat next to Qin Yao, as Qin Yao and Zheng Jinchan were bound to discuss some business matters tonight. Sitting across from Zheng Jinchan was both a courtesy and a form of subtle dominance.

With the limited space on the couch, Xu Chun’s heart sank the moment Jiang Zhaolie took her seat. Sure enough, when Qin Yao also sat down, Xu Chun’s eye twitched as she stared at the spot beside Zheng Jinchan.

She stood frozen with a grave expression. Zheng Jinchan looked up, feigning confusion. “Why aren’t you sitting?”

“Are you that afraid of me?” Zheng Jinchan’s gaze bore into Xu Chun. Despite being seated, she somehow managed to exude a commanding presence. “Or do you just dislike me that much?”

“How could that be?” Xu Chun forced a stiff smile, suppressing her twitching face. “I’m just too overjoyed. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d get to sit beside the illustrious, accomplished, and frequently featured Zheng CEO who graces the covers of financial magazines every week.” She clutched her chest dramatically. “I’m simply overwhelmed with excitement right now.”

Her exaggerated tone even made Qin Yao glance up at her.

Zheng Jinchan was no stranger to flattery, but people usually tiptoed around her, carefully watching her reactions lest they offend her and jeopardize their futures.

But Xu Chun was different.

Clearly not meaning a word she said, the girl still insisted on spouting such nonsense and her acting was so transparent she didn’t even bother hiding it, adopting a “take it or leave it” attitude toward her own forced compliments.

Completely unlike the sycophants Zheng Jinchan usually encountered.

Zheng Jinchan’s sharp eyes studied Xu Chun with interest. Her artificial manner was refreshingly different from those self-righteous hypocrites outside.

Her stare lasted a beat too long. Qin Yao slid a drink toward her and raised her glass. “I heard you’re planning to collaborate with the Lin Corporation recently?”

Drawn back to the conversation, Zheng Jinchan didn’t deny it. “Indeed.” She elegantly lifted her glass to clink with Qin Yao’s. “I won’t hide it from you, I’ve arranged to meet with Lin’s representative tonight. That illegitimate son he insisted on recognizing years ago against his wife’s wishes, to be precise.”

Xu Chun caught barely any of the business talk, her ears perking up at the juicy high-society gossip instead. She silently sipped her drink, appearing to space out while secretly listening with rapt attention.

“President Lin lacks integrity, and future collaborations would likely be fraught with troubles. With a better option like the Qin Corporation available, why should President Zheng take the risk of partnering with such a company?”

“I understand the reasoning,” Zheng Jinchan countered without backing down, her fingers lightly tapping the table with composed confidence. “The question is, how much sincerity can President Qin demonstrate?”

Qin Yao’s narrow eyes fixed on her, her smile faint and effortless. “Collaborations have always been about mutual benefit. I believe a partnership between Qin Corporation and Zheng Corporation would be a win-win.”

Zheng Jinchan studied Qin Yao for a long moment before suddenly laughing, her tone ambiguous. “President Qin truly lives up to her reputation, utterly unwilling to yield.”

“Whether I yield depends on the other party’s capabilities,” Qin Yao replied, slowly swirling her wine glass. “If President Zheng is interested, we can schedule a detailed discussion.” Her red lips curved slightly. “I’d be delighted to see our mutual interests maximized.”

Zheng Jinchan’s eyes darkened briefly before she agreed after a moment’s hesitation. “Very well.”

“President Qin is decisive, and I’m happy to hear more. Why wait for another day? I’ll still be here tomorrow does President Qin have time?” Qin Yao had extended the olive branch, and as a shrewd businesswoman who never acted without profit, Zheng Jinchan naturally wanted to see returns as soon as possible.

“Agreed.”

With that, their verbal sparring came to an end, leaving Xu Chun wide-eyed at how quickly it had concluded.

Zheng Jinchan had another appointment. Glancing at the clock, she offered an apologetic smile. “My apologies, but I must meet with the Lin Corporation representative now. I’ll take my leave.” She smiled again. “Though I very much look forward to tomorrow’s discussion with President Qin.”

Jiang Zhaolie inwardly cursed the old fox even after securing a backup plan, she couldn’t resist playing the field, even using outside distractions to pressure the Qin Corporation.

But Qin Yao was never one to be coerced, so Zheng Jinchan’s little scheme was likely doomed to fail.

Xu Chun, still holding her wine glass, was lost in thought about the juicy details regarding the Lin Corporation that had surfaced during their exchange. She had been frozen in the same posture, smiling and sipping her drink, for quite some time. After Zheng Jinchan left, Qin Yao set down her glass and stood to leave. Noticing Xu Chun hadn’t followed, she paused. “Let’s go.”

“Huh?” Xu Chun looked up, meeting Qin Yao’s cool, emotionless gaze, and immediately snapped back to attention. “Coming, coming!”

Oh no, had she been caught slacking off?

Qin Yao had specifically brought her along, even going through the trouble of dressing her up, yet she hadn’t been of much use. This wouldn’t do. Xu Chun quickly pulled herself together, determined to work hard and prove her indispensability to Qin Yao… or at least make her feel that having her around made things twice as easy.

Qin Yao’s sole target for the evening seemed to have been Zheng Jinchan. In the subsequent business conversations, Xu Chun could clearly sense her lack of engagement. The woman’s formal speech occasionally carried a lazy, almost flirtatious undertone. In the dim lighting, she resembled a lion lazily at rest, quietly observing others tiptoeing around her with cautious performances.

Though she appeared gentle and harmless now, everyone still trembled before her usual authority and presence, not daring to overstep even slightly.

Xu Chun was staring so intently it was almost indecent. Jiang Zhaolie pinched the bridge of her nose and stepped between Qin Yao, blocking Xu Chun’s line of sight. “Your eyes are practically glued to my mother,” she snapped.

“Then call the police,” Xu Chun retorted shamelessly, utterly unfazed. “Your sister hasn’t said anything, why are you butting in?”

Jiang Zhaolie was momentarily speechless, defeated. She had indeed overstepped. No matter how Xu Chun looked at Qin Yao, it was her mother’s private matter. If her mother didn’t object, she shouldn’t interfere. Yet, watching from the sidelines, she couldn’t shake a faint, inexplicable discomfort.

She refused to admit it was resentment or jealousy, telling herself she simply wanted to keep someone like Xu Chun away from the Qin family… Wait. It dawned on Jiang Zhaolie belatedly that Xu Chun might not be as terrible as she’d imagined.

Yu Sui’an was too skilled at deception and manipulation. Perhaps all her biases against Xu Chun had been subtly implanted by Yu Sui’an’s insidious influence, deliberately poisoning her perception of Xu Chun over time.

In the past, her interactions with Xu Chun had been mostly uneventful, without any major conflicts. After knowing Xu Chun for so many years, she’d never noticed any significant flaws in her character just a bit old-fashioned, lacking warmth, and somewhat stubborn. She certainly hadn’t harbored such intense dislike, let alone hostility, toward her.

But ever since meeting Yu Sui’an, her aversion to Xu Chun had grown uncontrollably, until they became irreconcilable enemies.

The realization sent a cold sweat down Jiang Zhaolie’s spine. She couldn’t fathom what had possessed her back then to become so obsessed with and protective of Yu Sui’an, a woman she’d barely known. It was utterly unbelievable.

Was she really so easily swayed by strangers? No.

Not only did she rarely trust outsiders, but she also maintained constant vigilance against anyone who approached her. Yet, all her defenses had inexplicably failed when it came to Yu Sui’an.

She had become someone she didn’t recognize, a stranger to herself.

Jiang Zhaolie suddenly fell silent, her face twisting into an uneasy expression. Xu Chun quietly inched closer to Qin Yao, pressing against her arm cautiously. Had she encountered another ghost?

Qin Yao noticed Xu Chun’s movement immediately. She glanced down at her, then casually observed Jiang Zhaolie’s dazed state before subtly shielding Xu Chun from view. The banquet was crowded, with men eager to approach Xu Chun, but most hesitated under Qin Yao’s intimidating presence, weighing their chances before backing off.

However, there were always those who refused to heed the warnings.

Like Sheng Yigui, the playboy son of a local crime boss in City A. The Sheng family wielded immense power, dominating the city’s underworld. Sheng Yigui was notorious for his insatiable appetite for women, cycling through them like clothes and ruining countless lives each month. Bored with local conquests, he often traveled elsewhere to prey on unsuspecting women or exploited those visiting City A, coercing them into submission through threats and bribes.

Given that Sheng Yigui’s grandfather was a retired mayor and his father served as the director of the procuratorate, Sheng had managed to live unscathed despite his numerous misdeeds, no one dared to touch him.

Accustomed to getting his way, he would stop at nothing to obtain any woman he set his eyes on. Lately, however, the women he encountered had been mediocre at best, leaving him disinterested and listless even while drinking. Tonight, finally stumbling upon a rare beauty, how could he possibly let her slip away?

From childhood, Sheng Yigui had always gotten whatever he wanted, never facing real setbacks or hardships. So, it never crossed his mind that his pursuit tonight might fail. Other men hesitated, too timid to approach but Sheng Yigui was different. In City A, few dared to refuse him face.

Besides, she was just a minor celebrity.

If she knew what was good for her, he might even generously offer her some resources or give her career a little boost. With this in mind, Sheng strode confidently toward Xu Chun, flashing what he believed to be a dashing, charming smile. “Good evening, miss. Might I have the pleasure of treating you to dinner tonight?”

To say Sheng Yigui’s looks were unimpressive would be an understatement. The moment Xu Chun noticed him approaching, she raised her live-streaming phone high, nearly shoving it into his face.

The audience, abruptly assaulted by the sight of his greasy, unpleasant features, immediately sensed Xu Chun’s deliberate malice:

[Xu-jie, let’s talk this out, can you not ambush us with psychological warfare like that?]

[Holy crap, who is this guy? Looking at him is gonna ruin my appetite for dinner!]

[Agreed! I’m about to throw up yesterday’s lunch just seeing him. Is this creep seriously trying to hit on her? With that bloated face and crooked nose, he looks like he’s been overindulging in every vice definitely not a decent person.]

[Keep this trash away from our Xu-jie, please!]

Sheng Yigui was irked by Xu Chun’s action. His smile vanished instantly, replaced by a dark, displeased expression. “Miss, what exactly do you mean by this?” He swatted away the phone she was holding up. “Are you trying to humiliate me?”

“If that’s how you choose to interpret it, sure,” Xu Chun replied earnestly, meeting his gaze without flinching.

His chest heaved with anger. A man of little patience, Sheng’s temper flared at her defiance. “Don’t push your luck. Everyone in City A knows who I am. With just one word from me, not even a god could escape my grasp tonight.”

His tone dripped with arrogance, brimming with absolute confidence. Having wielded power unchecked for so long, Sheng genuinely believed no one could challenge him. Even if the tall woman beside Xu Chun seemed formidable, he paid her no mind.

This dazzling, exquisite star tonight, she would be his, no matter what.

Xu Chun instinctively wanted to retort, but the moment she opened her mouth, she remembered Qin Yao standing beside her. Immediately, she switched to a trembling, fragile act, throwing herself into Qin Yao’s arms and clinging tightly. “President Qin, he’s so scary, I’m terrified!”

She lifted her fair, delicate face, causing Sheng Yigui’s heart to flutter with wild fantasies. Xu Chun’s fingers clutched at the expensive fabric of Qin Yao’s suit as she leaned against the other woman with boneless softness, her body trembling slightly as if genuinely frightened, her small face turning pale.

It had to be said that Xu Chun’s acting skills were truly exceptional. If not for Jiang Zhaolie’s deep understanding of Xu Chun’s mischievous nature, even she might have been fooled.

Would Mom be deceived by her too…?

With this thought, she turned her gaze toward Qin Yao. Qin Yao’s initially indifferent expression had gradually hardened since Sheng Yigui’s appearance, leaving only a chilling coldness. After Sheng Yigui repeatedly provoked her, impatience even began to surface in her eyes.

Jiang Zhaolie knew that when Qin Yao wore this expression, she was truly angry.

She shot Sheng Yigui a look that said, “You’re on your own.” Clearly, Mom was not someone to be trifled with, yet he insisted on walking straight into the line of fire. If you won’t enter hell, who will?

Sheng Yigui, still oblivious to the danger, continued his arrogant threats. But the next moment, bodyguards appeared and “politely” escorted him out.

Though “politely” might have been too generous a term.

Sheng Yigui was unceremoniously thrown out of the hotel. Cursing, he scrambled to his feet, ready to storm back and settle the score with Qin Yao until his father’s call came through, berating him mercilessly. “You fool! How dare you provoke someone like that? Don’t you realize everyone there today is either wealthy or influential?!”

“You’d better crawl back right now and apologize properly to President Qin and Miss Xu, or I’ll disown you as my son!”

Sheng Yigui had never heard his father speak so harshly. As he hesitated, his lackey rushed over, pale-faced, and shoved a phone in front of him. “Brother Sheng… you’re trending.” The lackey gulped. “The person you just messed with is President Qin of the Qin Group… and Xu Chun, who was once engaged to the Jiang family.”

“If I remember correctly, your dad just secured an investment from the Xu family last month.”

Sheng Yigui froze on the spot, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

After Sheng Yigui was “escorted” away, Xu Chun remained clinging to Qin Yao without moving. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at Qin Yao with unwavering admiration, her voice dripping with adoration. “Sister Qin, you’re amazing.”

Her overly affected tone sent shivers down Jiang Zhaolie and Secretary Zhao’s spines, yet Qin Yao showed no discomfort. In fact, judging by her lack of resistance, she seemed to be enjoying it at least a little. Qin Yao glanced down, the faintest hint of a smile finally appearing on her lips, though her words were firm: “Stand properly.”

Xu Chun didn’t budge. Instead, she seized the opportunity to inch even closer, pressing herself tightly against Qin Yao until there was no space left between them. In a whisper only Qin Yao could hear, she asked, “Sister,  if someone bullies me again in the future, will you stand up for me like you did today?”

She tilted her head slightly, close enough to catch every subtle shift in Qin Yao’s expression.

Unfortunately, Qin Yao remained composed without any unusual reaction. She slightly pursed her lips as if to speak, but Xu Chun quickly interrupted her, pleading pitifully, “Sister, didn’t you say Grandpa had entrusted me to your care?”

Qin Yao studied her for several seconds before replying, “I did say that.”

Without waiting to hear what explanation might follow, Xu Chun immediately beamed, her eyes sparkling with delight: “Thank you, sister.”

Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t hear the whispered exchange between Xu Chun and Qin Yao, but seeing Xu Chun’s triumphant expression made her mood instantly darken. Her heart sank with a sudden dread, had Xu Chun already won over Mom this quickly?

Her heart pounded with anxiety, her breathing becoming slightly erratic.

Qin Yao didn’t refute Xu Chun, so Xu Chun took her silence as agreement. Overjoyed, she left Qin Yao’s side, but the smile on her face froze within three seconds.

Because Zheng Jinchan had unexpectedly returned at some point and was now studying her with a probing, amused gaze. Noticing Xu Chun’s awareness of her presence, Zheng Jinchan remarked with interest, “So this is what you meant by ‘getting close’.”

“But,” she pointed first at Qin Yao, then at herself, “are you up for this?”

Xu Chun responded uncertainly, “…?”

Though it was an utterly ordinary statement, somehow when spoken by Zheng Jinchan’s lips, it carried an ambiguous undertone that invited misunderstanding.

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