After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 50

Yu Sui’an had come here tonight to accompany her wealthy patron and the woman’s clients for dinner. The patron had always been extremely generous to her, granting her every request, so when necessary, Yu Sui’an would fulfill her duties as a “pet.”

This included livening up the atmosphere at banquets, facilitating business connections, and securing deals.

She excelled at this, earning the patron’s increasing trust. The woman now took her to every occasion, and over time, Yu Sui’an had accompanied her from negotiating small projects worth a few million to massive contracts worth hundreds of millions.

The deals she helped broker grew larger and larger, to the point where the patron would call her first for any business dinner. Yu Sui’an almost always agreed, regardless of whether she actually had the time. If she didn’t, she would cancel her own plans just to prioritize the patron.

The woman always covered her breach-of-contract fees, so over time, Yu Sui’an became even more reckless.

Commercial activities and other shoots still happened, but a patron who treated her this well was one in a million. The woman didn’t want her body, her beauty, or her money only her ability to charm clients at the dinner table. For Yu Sui’an, this was already the best possible arrangement.

What she feared were patrons who not only demanded her help in business but also wanted her body, her looks, and her money in private nothing short of outright robbery.

Tonight, she had accompanied the patron to negotiate a deal with Jiang Banxia’s father, Mr. Jiang.

Because of Jiang Banxia, Yu Sui’an didn’t like the man at all. Earlier, she had gone all out to set traps for him, working in tandem with the patron to take advantage of his drunkenness and swindle a hefty sum from him.

Mr. Jiang’s losses meant Jiang Banxia would suffer in the future. Remembering how the actress had treated her on set, Yu Sui’an had even recorded a video of Mr. Jiang’s embarrassing behavior, saving it for future use against Jiang Banxia.

With the deal secured, her mission was accomplished. After informing the patron, she left first, she still had a shoot tonight. Thanks to the patron’s connections, she had been hopping from one production to another without pause. One project had just wrapped, and another was about to begin.

It was easy to predict how frequently she would dominate screens next year and how explosively her popularity would rise.

Yu Sui’an was determined to push her career to the limit until her fame and reputation matched Xu Chun’s excellence.

She privately believed that once she and Xu Chun were equals, the other woman would surely be willing to reconcile, to take her hand again as she once had. Then, their reunion would become the stuff of legend, an enviable romance in the entertainment industry.

So she threw herself into every opportunity, all for the sake of one day standing before Xu Chun with dignity, begging for another chance.

Yet who could have guessed that she would run into Xu Chun right here, right now?

Yu Sui’an’s fair and innocent face involuntarily broke into a faint smile. “Sister, what a coincidence.”

Her pale lips curled slightly as she spoke in a clear voice, “I never thought we’d meet here again.” Her eyes sparkled with delight, her hands fidgeting nervously from sheer excitement.

Tugging at the hem of her clothes anxiously, Yu Sui’an felt her heartbeat quicken, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much after all this time.” After a brief pause, her expression turned slightly aggrieved. “You didn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls before… Do you really dislike me that much?”

Her eyes reddened, glistening with unshed tears. “I know I was wrong. Please don’t ignore me anymore, don’t give me the cold shoulder, okay? If there’s anything I did wrong, just tell me. I’ll change anything, as long as it makes you happy.”

“Really.” Afraid Xu Chun wouldn’t believe her, she took an urgent step forward. “I’ll change anything for you.”

Yu Sui’an’s sudden closeness made Xu Chun instantly aware of the sharpening intensity of Qin Yao’s gaze on her. A chill ran down her spine, and she hastily retreated half a step, desperate to distance herself. “I’ve been too busy lately to check my phone.”

“Besides, it’s over between us. There’s no future.” Under Qin Yao’s deadly glare, Xu Chun forced herself to continue, “Stop bothering me. You’re only making me dislike you even more.”

“You should find someone new instead of wasting time on me.” Before she could finish, Yu Sui’an cut her off emotionally. “No! In this world, I only want you, Sister!”

“I don’t want anyone else but you!” Clenching her fists, her chest heaved with overwhelming emotion. “Even if you don’t like me anymore, even if you’ve lost all feelings for me, I won’t give up so easily.”

“I know you’re someone who values emotions deeply. We’ve been together for so long, I refuse to believe you could forget me just like that!”

Xu Chun’s heart skipped several beats in alarm. She wanted nothing more than to rush forward and cover Yu Sui’an’s mouth. Please, for the love of god, stop talking! Can’t you see there’s someone standing behind me watching you?! To say these things right in front of Qin Yao was she courting death?!

“You’re just still angry with me. You’re resentful, so you’re saying these things to provoke me, to make me upset.” Yu Sui’an pressed her lips together tightly, her tone no longer as firm but instead cautious, almost pleading. “Right, Sister?”

The air around Qin Yao had grown several degrees colder. Xu Chun shivered involuntarily. “Of course not.”

For the sake of her own survival, Xu Chun denied it without hesitation. “From the very beginning, I never liked you.” Her expression was stern. “So I hope you’ll stop harassing me and causing me trouble from now on.”

“I don’t want the last bit of goodwill I have left for you to be destroyed by your own actions.” Xu Chun kept her face rigid. “You don’t want that either, do you?”

Yu Sui’an’s face instantly turned deathly pale, her lips trembling slightly as she struggled to speak.

Countless sleepless nights spent tossing and turning, along with deep-seated hopes, were all ruthlessly shattered by Xu Chun in this moment. Yu Sui’an’s mind went blank. She involuntarily took two steps back, lowering her head in utter dejection, unwilling to believe this reality.

She couldn’t believe Xu Chun could truly treat her with such coldness, nor that Xu Chun could actually say these words out loud.

When they were together before, she wasn’t like this at all.

Xu Chun had been completely obedient and indulgent toward her, never refusing any of her unreasonable demands. Even when Yu Sui’an deliberately provoked her, Xu Chun remained endlessly gentle and patient, never showing anger.

How could someone who had doted on her so affectionately possibly utter such icy words?

She refused to believe it.

Yu Sui’an clenched her teeth tightly, she would never believe it, not even in death.

Devastated, Yu Sui’an retreated to the side as Xu Chun seized the opportunity to brush past her and flee with hurried strides. Qin Yao watched Xu Chun’s fleeing figure with leisurely amusement before turning her gaze to Yu Sui’an, who had lifted her head to meet her eyes. Qin Yao’s usually unapproachable expression bore a rare hint of a faint smile.

The moment their eyes locked, Yu Sui’an instinctively tightened her fists, struggling not to let the other’s presence overwhelm her. But how could a grassroots celebrity like her possibly stand against Qin Yao’s years of domineering authority?

In mere seconds, Yu Sui’an was utterly defeated.

Unable to help herself, she averted her gaze, turning her head to stare fixedly at the ground. She desperately wanted to ask what Xu Chun and Qin Yao had been doing alone together, but Xu Chun had already vanished, and Qin Yao clearly wouldn’t entertain such a trivial question.

Helpless, Yu Sui’an could only suppress her frustration as she watched Qin Yao walk away in the same direction Xu Chun had fled.

But… Xu Chun hadn’t been linked to any new romances yet, right? So, there was still a chance for her, wasn’t there? Compared to those who had never dated Xu Chun, she still had an advantage.

At the very least, she knew Xu Chun’s private temperament, preferences, and more.

If she just remained patient, sincere, and persistent, she would surely get what she wanted eventually.

Yu Sui’an’s determined gaze fixed firmly on Qin Yao’s leisurely retreating figure. In this world, no one could stop her from winning her sister back. If anyone dared, Yu Sui’an slowly lowered her lashes, she would methodically eliminate them, one by one.

Xu Chun had bolted away, only stopping once Yu Sui’an was out of sight. Catching her breath, she leaned against the wall to wait for Qin Yao after confirming Yu Sui’an hadn’t pursued her.

This was giving her a headache, why hadn’t Yu Sui’an given up yet? How long had it been? A whole year had passed since their breakup, and she still hadn’t moved on? What’s more, she had been the one to initiate the split, yet now she was shamelessly clinging on.

Xu Chun rested her chin on her hand, pondering. Was this a case of “the grass is always greener,” making her unwilling to let go?

Wasn’t this just like Jiang Zhaolie?

Xu Chun couldn’t help but sigh and shake her head. Truly the female lead their thought processes were exactly the same.

She absolutely didn’t want to have anything to do with these two people anymore, especially Yu Sui’an, it’d be best if he stayed far away from her and stopped adding fuel to the fire of her already chaotic situation.

Just as she was thinking this, Qin Yao’s tall figure slowly approached. Xu Chun immediately stood up, clasping her hands properly in front of her, looking every bit the model student. But Qin Yao had no intention of letting her off so easily. Her magnetic, pleasant voice carried a dangerous edge: “Missed me?”

Xu Chun’s brow twitched. Qin Yao continued, her tone unhurried: “You didn’t reply to my messages. Didn’t answer my calls.” Her words were devoid of emotion, yet they sent chills down Xu Chun’s spine. “Only want… me?”

She might have done it on purpose the way she emphasized the word “me” made Xu Chun’s scalp tingle. Uncomfortable, she turned her face away.

This was bad. If Qin Yao kept talking like this, she really wouldn’t be able to hold out.

“I didn’t know you were such a sentimental person,” Qin Yao said, her tone growing increasingly perilous. “And I certainly never imagined that everything you did before was deliberate just to provoke her, make her angrier, so she’d remember you even more.”

“Is that so?” Qin Yao leaned in, watching with amusement as Xu Chun panicked.

“What? Do you want her to chase after you again?”

Of course not! Xu Chun wanted to explain, but for some reason, her mind flashed to the cliché romance trope where the male lead deals with an unreasonable heroine.

In a moment of impulsiveness, she tilted her swan-like neck and kissed Qin Yao, cutting off any further words.

Silence fell instantly. Xu Chun watched as surprise flickered in Qin Yao’s eyes, followed by an inscrutable darkness. Instinctively, she tried to flee.

But Qin Yao was faster. She grabbed Xu Chun and pulled her straight into the underground garage.

In the pitch-black darkness, every sense was heightened. Xu Chun couldn’t see Qin Yao’s face, but the heat of her breath against her skin was unmistakable.

The unfamiliar warmth of Qin Yao’s body through the fabric, her soft panting each detail frayed the last threads of Xu Chun’s rationality.

Like a spark igniting dry tinder, the entire room burst into flames in an instant.

How long had she been lost in the sea of desire? When Xu Chun finally regained her senses, her lips felt hot and tingling. The buttons on her blouse were half-undone, her bra hanging loosely off her shoulders, barely held up by the straps.

Qin Yao wasn’t faring much better her immaculate clothes were crumpled from Xu Chun’s grip, and a few strands of her neatly pinned hair had come loose, clinging to her flushed cheeks.

Even without seeing, Xu Chun could imagine how irresistible Qin Yao looked without her usual stern demeanor.

Gasping lightly, Xu Chun reminded her in a hoarse voice, “I still have a livestream.”

Qin Yao had left her utterly undone, but as public figures, even the slightest hint of impropriety would be scrutinized, dissected, and held against them.

So even though her heart yearned intensely, she could only suppress those impulses that brought both joy and sorrow.

How many times had they stopped just short of crossing the line now… Xu Chun’s dizzy mind had lost count. But that didn’t stop her from thinking that if this continued, she’d eventually break out in pimples from all the pent-up frustration.

She squirmed slightly in Qin Yao’s embrace, only to be held tighter as the other woman’s equally hoarse voice whispered, “Don’t move.”

Xu Chun immediately stilled, her eyes wide open in the darkness.

After a long while, when both their emotions had settled somewhat, Qin Yao leisurely straightened Xu Chun’s appearance and reminded her, “Don’t forget you have work tonight.”

At this mention, Xu Chun complained mournfully, “Working so late? You’d better give me a big bonus when the show wraps up.”

“Fine,” Qin Yao agreed without hesitation. “Would you prefer a lump sum or installments?”

Xu Chun doubted her ears for a moment before realizing Qin Yao was steering their conversation into dangerous territory again. She muttered, “If you’re so bold, give it to me now.”

The air grew heavy with silence before Qin Yao’s restrained voice fell by her ear, “Xu Chun.”

“Don’t think I wouldn’t dare.”

Xu Chun’s scalp tingled as her heart clenched suddenly. Flustered, she raised her voice in explanation, “I was joking!”

Though if Qin Yao really took her right here… it wouldn’t be entirely unwelcome.

But the experience would hardly be ideal.

Xu Chun’s mind wandered seriously given the choice, she’d naturally prefer an exquisite experience.

Qin Yao’s dark, unreadable gaze bore into her through the shadows. “You’d better be.”

Not daring to respond, Xu Chun sat quietly as Qin Yao fixed her appearance. When they finally finished, Qin Yao inexplicably started again, delaying them until who-knows-when before they finally got in the car.

After buckling up, Qin Yao pulled down the vanity mirror and handed Xu Chun her bag. “Fix yourself up.”

At first Xu Chun thought she was being cute, until she caught her disheveled reflection in the mirror looking thoroughly ravaged and realized Qin Yao had only spoken up because she couldn’t bear the sight anymore.

Shooting Qin Yao an accusing glare (whose fault was this anyway?), she focused on repairing her appearance for the upcoming camera time. Qin Yao watched her silently from the driver’s seat, her expression inscrutable.

Those eyes seemed to be looking at Xu Chun, yet also seeing something or someone else entirely.

When they returned to the company, the Qin Corporation’s offices still blazed with light. Thanks to their variety show, Qin Corporation had become a household name nationwide from octogenarians to toddlers, everyone could recite something about the company, let alone the prime consumer demographics.

Qin Corporation’s research and sales spanned extensively, covering not just basic medications but also comprehensive medical equipment for various illnesses.

A recent online summary about the Qin Group perfectly illustrates the vast scope of their business.”From the moment you’re born till decades later when you’re laid in your coffin, the Qin Group provides everything you could possibly need throughout life’s journey of birth, aging, sickness, and death.”

This statement resonated deeply with everyone.

Over the past twenty-some days, since the variety show began broadcasting, the Qin Group’s official account had been live-streaming daily introductions to their corporate culture, product categories, and uses without pause.

Even those who didn’t watch the streams or follow the Qin Group could see scattered information about them all over the internet.

After more than half a month, everyone had been subtly influenced, their defenses quietly breached by the Qin Group, mentally labeling it as “comprehensive and reliable.” This perception was further strengthened when the company unexpectedly announced to thank all participants, they would offer a storewide 50% discount on the show’s final day sparking unprecedented online discussions.

The buzz even temporarily overshadowed the show itself.

Qin Yao was undoubtedly an exceptional businesswoman. From the moment she agreed to participate, she turned the tables, transforming the show into a powerful weapon for her unstoppable rise.

If there was one clear winner in this program, it was undoubtedly Qin Yao.

As the show’s sponsor, the Qin Group’s involvement meant that despite some discontent among the production team, their complaints quickly vanished after being showered with Qin Yao’s generous compensation packages.

Qin Yao’s strategic moves had secured her a sweeping victory.

As Xu Chun browsed online, she couldn’t help but marvel at the vast differences between people. Some achieved remarkable success at a young age, while others remained preoccupied with trivial matters of love and couldn’t distinguish right from wrong comparisons like these could truly be frustrating.

Absorbed in her scrolling, Xu Chun barely exchanged a few words with Qin Yao during their journey.

When she stumbled upon her own Weibo page, Xu Chun reflected on herself… she seemed somewhat idle. However, having already signed her next project, she would only have one day’s rest after finishing this variety show before beginning intensive training with her coach, then immediately joining the new production.

She could already anticipate the hardships awaiting her during that shoot.

Given the project’s uplifting theme and its potential to significantly elevate both her prestige and influence as an actress, Xu Chun was determined to give it her absolute best.

Though she didn’t plan to make acting her lifelong career, she believed in excelling at whatever she undertook, if she was going to do it, she would do it to perfection.

In the original story, Xu Chun had been forced out of the entertainment industry, stripped of the career she loved, forever barred from pursuing her passions. Now, she wanted to completely shatter those narrative constraints.

Not only would she continue acting and performing well, she aimed to reach the pinnacle, becoming an undefeatable legend.

This would make her fundamentally different from the “her” in the book.

They were different people, so their destinies would diverge completely, she would never end up like that other version of herself.

As Qin Yao assigned tasks to Xu Chun, the latter gradually grew accustomed to this work rhythm. Realizing this, Xu Chun immediately sprang up like a carp leaping from water, No! She couldn’t let herself be slowly boiled like a frog in warm water!

After working overtime late at night, she sprinted a hundred meters with her phone to the gym and started lifting weights with all her might. The audience watched in confusion: “…?” Sis, do you really not need to sleep?

A fan hiding in the crowd finally blurted out after much effort, “Wow! Sister Xu is so disciplined! Love it!”

The rest of the audience: “…” How fake.

Xu Chun had just finished an intense workout at the gym partly to stay fit and partly to vent. Only after feeling thoroughly refreshed did she freshen up, change into clean casual clothes, and head home with her things.

The show had about a week left before wrapping up. Though just seven days, with Zheng Yanran around, each day felt like an eternity. Xu Chun often found herself counting down, wishing she could blink and have this nightmare of a time be over.

After that night when Zheng Yanran chased after Jiang Banxia, she returned to the Qin Corporation the next day but Jiang Banxia didn’t follow.

Though technically a guest on the show, Jiang Banxia had picked up Xu Chun’s bad habit of disappearing mid-stream. Now, she’d gone a step further by handing her live broadcast equipment to Zheng Yanran and vanishing entirely.

Her viewers were conflicted but, finding Zheng Yanran somewhat entertaining, decided to tolerate it.

They thought they could hold out until Jiang Banxia returned until Zheng Yanran started rambling endlessly, jumping from grocery shopping to Marxism, then from Schrödinger’s cat and quantum entanglement to springtime and animal mating. It left everyone speechless.

But the real test of their patience came whenever Zheng Yanran and Xu Chun ended up in the same frame.

Xu Chun couldn’t stand Zheng Yanran either, yet the latter clung to her stubbornly, justifying it with, “Mom says you’re cunning, so I should stick around and learn from you.”

“We’ve known each other for 48 hours now calling each other besties isn’t too much, right?”

Xu Chun stared at her blankly. “Who wants to be your bestie?”

Zheng Yanran hesitated before tentatively suggesting, “Then… family?”

Xu Chun’s expression mirrored the classic “old man squinting at phone” meme.

“Who wants to be your family?” She couldn’t follow Zheng Yanran’s logic. “And if we were family, what would that make us?”

Stumped, Zheng Yanran thought for a moment. “You’re older, so obviously my sister. Isn’t that clear?”

Xu Chun raised a brow. “Sisters from different parents?” She nodded. “Fine. But since we’re family now, shouldn’t you show some sincerity? Like—”

Before she could finish, Zheng Yanran cut in, “Nope.”

“You no longer have a sister.”

“Just now, I’ve officially left this family and severed all ties.” She smiled sweetly. “You and my mom can lean on each other for warmth.”

“And if you marry someone, the three of you can stick together through thick and thin. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be out chasing romance and wandering the world.”

Xu Chun: “…” Impressive.

“Then I’ll marry Qin Yao into the family.”

Zheng Yanran couldn’t help but freeze: “???” Marry Qin Yao? Wouldn’t that mess up the family hierarchy?

She glared at Xu Chun are you deliberately trying to disrupt this family’s peace? Are you intentionally trying to break this family apart?

Support After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead’s Stepmother