After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 51

“I suddenly feel like maybe I don’t need to leave this family after all.” Zheng Yanran forced a brave smile. “It seems this home still needs my protection.”

Xu Chun stared at her with a hollow smile, which Zheng Yanran deliberately ignored. “My mother is getting old after all. What if you all make her sick with anger?”

More likely she’ll get sick from your antics, Xu Chun thought silently. Too tired to engage in verbal sparring, she turned to leave in search of Fu Xin. Seeing she was being ignored, Zheng Yanran quickly followed. “Don’t ignore me! In this cold, impersonal company, you’re the only person I know.”

“If even you abandon me, who can I rely on? Who can I trust?” She pouted pitifully. “Xu Chun, you wouldn’t be so cruel, would you?”

“Shut up,” Xu Chun finally snapped.

Zheng Yanran fell silent momentarily before theatrically clutching her chest. “You yelled at me?” Her voice trembled with disbelief. “You actually yelled at me!”

“You’ve never raised your voice to me before!” She launched into full dramatic mode, wailing: “Who is it? Which vixen has bewitched you to make you treat me so differently?”

Spotting Qin Yao approaching, Xu Chun tilted her chin toward Zheng Yanran. “Well, there’s your vixen right there.”

Zheng Yanran glared up fiercely only to immediately deflate upon seeing Qin Yao’s icy aura.

“…Sorry to disturb you.”

Suddenly, her grievances seemed bearable after all.

Qin Yao’s penetrating gaze settled on the furtive pair, lingering on Zheng Yanran. Even the usually shameless Zheng Yanran knew better than to provoke Qin Yao, so she turned on her heel without hesitation. “Just remembered something urgent, I’ll be going now!”

As Zheng Yanran fled, Qin Yao’s dangerous gaze shifted to Xu Chun. Though her tone was light, Xu Chun detected distinct jealousy: “You’ve known each other such a short time, yet you’re already so familiar.”

While Xu Chun considered crafting an elaborate eight-hundred-word explanation, she ultimately opted for blunt honesty: “We’re not close. She’s just shameless by nature, always clinging to people.”

“I’m merely her emotional support animal when she’s lonely.”

Unfortunately, her strategy backfired. Rather than accepting this, Qin Yao coolly brought up past grievances. “Then why would she randomly buy you a necklace?”

Qin Yao enunciated each word: “Was she just bored?”

Xu Chun fell silent, cornered. Inspiration struck she recycled Zheng Yanran’s own ridiculous logic. “Because we’ve become sworn sisters.” She delivered the absurd claim with deadpan seriousness. “It was her gift to me as her new elder sister.”

“Sisters and gifts, huh?” Qin Yao’s red lips curled into a smile as she asked, “According to you, you’re her sister, and Zheng Jinchan is her biological mother. So what you’re suggesting now is…” She deliberately drew out her words with an air of nonchalance, “that I should also acknowledge Zheng Jinchan as my mother?”

Xu Chun wasn’t sure how others might feel about this, but she reckoned Zheng Jinchan would be absolutely thrilled without lifting a finger, she’d managed to ascend multiple generations in status thanks to Zheng Yanran’s “gift,” achieving an unprecedented promotion in family hierarchy.

With Qin Yao as her suddenly acquired daughter-in-law, who would dare bully Zheng Jinchan from now on? Even if she went around picking on others, people would be too intimidated by Qin Yao’s status to utter a word of protest.

With Qin Yao by her side, Zheng Jinchan could practically strut around with impunity. Wasn’t this like manna from heaven?

If it were Xu Chun in her place, she’d already be celebrating with drums and gongs.

Finally, Xu Chun tried to convince Qin Yao with her twisted logic: “Sister, think about it, if you and President Zheng became family, wouldn’t that be a powerful alliance? Her, you, plus the Jiang family, the three of you bound together by fate and kinship. Who in this world would dare challenge you then?”

“Not only would you strengthen family ties into one warm, big family, but you could also mutually benefit in business, achieving seamless, risk-free succession. Isn’t that perfect?”

Xu Chun thought her argument was flawless. The Jiang and Qin families were already related, with their younger generations spanning various fields, an already formidable, unshakable force as vast and mysterious as the ocean. Adding Zheng Jinchan to the mix would be the icing on the cake, all gain and no loss.

No reasonable person could possibly refuse.

Qin Yao remained silent, simply watching her spin this tale. Only when Xu Chun finally ran out of steam did she realize something was amiss and slowly closed her mouth. Seeing her quiet, Qin Yao finally spoke: “Finished?”

Xu Chun shook her head, then nodded, cautiously eyeing her expression: “Yes.”

Qin Yao suddenly flashed an enigmatic smile. “Then come with me.”

“Where to?”

“The CEO’s office.”

Xu Chun’s scalp prickled instantly, and she bolted. Only a fool would follow her there willingly. She was certain that if she obediently went to the CEO’s office today, she’d be carried out horizontally tomorrow.

Their previous intimate encounters had already given her a thorough taste of Qin Yao’s dominance and prowess. In that aspect, Qin Yao mirrored her work ethic ruthlessly efficient with few words.

Whenever displeased or uncomfortable, she rarely voiced it, preferring direct action instead.

Before, Qin Yao had barely restrained herself from taking Xu Chun right then and there. Given another opportunity to act recklessly, Xu Chun could easily imagine her fate.

The sudden surge of survival instinct propelled Xu Chun forward at lightning speed, covering fifty meters in an instant.

Qin Yao stood motionless, watching Xu Chun’s fleeing figure with leisurely amusement, not forgetting to threaten her, “You may escape today, but can you escape forever?”

Hearing this, Xu Chun immediately sped up as if her life depended on it.

Escape now, worry later, as long as she ran fast enough, the battlefield of doom wouldn’t catch up to her.

Qin Yao didn’t give chase, probably too busy to drag her back. After running some distance, Xu Chun leaned against the railing, panting heavily before finally catching her breath. Fu Xin appeared silently in front of her, tilting her head curiously. “Sister Xu Chun, what were you running from?”

“Nothing.” Waving weakly, Xu Chun straightened up, still catching her breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Writer’s block. Came out to enjoy the view and clear my head.” Xu Chun looked up and realized they were at the most scenic spot in the Qin Corporation building. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the bustling streets below, the staggered skyline, and the winding river stretched out before them, a breathtaking sight that instantly lifted her spirits.

The place was indeed relaxing. Xu Chun turned to Fu Xin. Since Qin Corporation had announced a “half-price sale on the final day of the event,” everyone’s attention had shifted to the discounts, and online discussions about her family’s debt had all but disappeared.

The internet was like that trends flared up fast but were forgotten just as quickly. Once the novelty wore off, no one cared anymore.

In this era of rapid information flow, fame rose and fell in the blink of an eye. But unlike others, Fu Xin had the misfortune that any hint of her success would inevitably dredge up her family’s scandals, clinging to her like a persistent shadow.

Unless she left the entertainment industry for good.

Today, Fu Xin was unusually quiet. She stood silently by the window, gazing into the distance before her eyes drifted downward. The sheer height didn’t just overwhelm the senses, it also brought a dizzying, almost hypnotic pull, as if something sinister below was luring her to jump.

After what felt like an eternity, Fu Xin snapped out of it, her back drenched in cold sweat.

Without another word to Xu Chun, her face pale, she turned and hurried away. “Sister Xu Chun, I have something to take care of.” Her tall, slender figure vanished from sight in an instant.

Alarmed by Fu Xin’s strange behavior, Xu Chun immediately pulled out her phone to message He Qingli: “Something’s off with Little Fu today.”

He Qingli, who seemed perpetually glued to her phone, replied instantly: “What’s wrong?”

Xu Chun recounted their encounter and Fu Xin’s abrupt departure. After a long pause, He Qingli responded: “Probably nothing. She was fine when we last talked.”

Then, after another moment: “But I’ll keep an eye on her.”

She reassured herself: “Maybe the online backlash from the past few days got to her. Once I’m free, I’ll check on her and give her some counseling.”

Hearing this, Xu Chun raised an eyebrow: [You’re making a special trip just for her?] She secretly wondered how far these two had progressed behind the scenes. [Don’t you have work?]

[Of course I do.] He Qingli suddenly said with deep resentment: [I did have work, but thanks to your crazy ex-girlfriend’s meddling, she’s snatched all my resources.]

Clutching her phone angrily, He Qingli gritted her teeth: [Because of her, I’ll be twiddling my thumbs at home for the next month.]

Xu Chun frowned at the message, puzzled. What exactly did Yu Sui’an’s rumored sugar daddy see in her? Was it her outwardly pure and obedient demeanor, or the rebelliousness and ruthlessness that lay beneath that docile surface?

Yu Sui’an’s resources were now enviably abundant so much so that even Xu Chun occasionally felt a twinge of jealousy. The only saving grace was Xu Chun’s close ties to the Qin family, which made her resources untouchable by Yu Sui’an’s backer. Others weren’t so lucky. No matter their status or fame, if their resources could be snatched, they were fair game.

Because of this, Yu Sui’an’s sugar daddy quickly earned the resentment of other celebrities in the industry, fueling growing dissatisfaction with her domineering behavior.

It was baffling how Yu Sui’an always landed on her feet. When she was a nobody, she clung to Xu Chun for benefits. Now, after finally breaking up with Xu Chun and being thoroughly exposed by Xu Chun’s fans, what happened? Lo and behold, she found an even more powerful backer than Xu Chun.

Yu Sui’an was like an unkillable cockroach, utterly disgusting.

Though her overbearing actions had earned her widespread disdain in the industry, causing her reputation to plummet, neither she nor her sugar daddy cared. What impact did others’ opinions have on her? Practically none.

The only things that truly mattered to her were what she could grasp, what she already had in her hands.

As for others’ opinions? Apart from Xu Chun’s, Yu Sui’an couldn’t care less.

Xu Chun was shocked to learn Yu Sui’an had grown so brazen. [She even went after your territory?]

He Qingli sighed irritably: [Exactly.]

She had never provoked Yu Sui’an before. Besides, Yu Sui’an was an actress, while she was just a singer their fields didn’t even overlap. The chances of conflict should have been minimal.

Yet just days ago, Yu Sui’an had shamelessly snatched a piano endorsement from her. An obscure actress like Yu Sui’an probably couldn’t even read sheet music, what business did she have endorsing pianos?

He Qingli’s resentment ran deep. It wasn’t that she couldn’t reclaim what was rightfully hers, but when she had defied her family to pursue music and boasted about making it big in the entertainment industry, how would they see her if she went crawling back for help over someone like Yu Sui’an?

They would undoubtedly seize the chance to pressure her into giving up her dreams and returning home to marry and settle down.

He Qingli didn’t want to, especially since Fu Xin was still watching her. Even if it was just for Fu Xin’s sake, she had to keep going.

Xu Chun couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on was there really no one in this world who could rein in Yu Sui’an? Logically speaking, she was barely even the second female lead, so how could she be this arrogant? Then, Xu Chun’s gaze suddenly froze. Yu Sui’an might only be a secondary lead, but Jiang Zhaolie was the true protagonist of this novel!

The person who could keep Yu Sui’an in check was none other than the one right in front of her.

Xu Chun’s eyes lit up. [I’ve got an idea. Leave this to me.]

He Qingli: [? What idea? Sis, don’t do anything reckless! You’re still filming a live-streamed variety show right now. Just look at all the outrageous things you’ve done on camera before if not for your sheer dumb luck, you’d have been canceled ages ago.]

She sent Xu Chun multiple messages trying to dissuade her, but Xu Chun didn’t reply because she was already eagerly tapping on Jiang Zhaolie’s profile: [Long time no see, Xiao Jiang.]

Her phone vibrated. Jiang Zhaolie, busy with work, reluctantly tore her gaze from the computer screen to glance at her phone, which she had set aside. Just as she was about to ignore it and return to work as usual, she paused.

“…?”

Xu Chun?

What was she doing, messaging her out of the blue?

Jiang Zhaolie instinctively furrowed her brows, deeply convinced that this was a case of “a weasel paying respects to a chicken” definitely up to no good.

She turned her attention back to her work, ignoring the message. But Xu Chun, relentless as ever, seemed incapable of taking a hint and sent several more: [When are you free? Come home and let’s have a family dinner.]

[Your mom misses you.]

[By the way, have you started dating anyone while you’ve been away? If you have, bring your new girlfriend home sometime so we can meet her. You’re not getting any younger, it’s time to start dating again. Don’t let those two past failed relationships scare you into giving up.]

[Because you’ve experienced heartbreak before, you should be even braver now, go out there and find your true love, savor the sweetness of romance.]

Jiang Zhaolie’s temple twitched as she stared at the screen. After a long silence, Xu Chun seemed to have finally given up when she received no response.

But while Xu Chun had gone quiet, Jiang Zhaolie’s mind was anything but calm. She stared blankly at her phone for a long time before finally picking it up with an impassive expression, thinking: Fine, let’s see what nonsense my ex-fiancée and my almost-ex-girlfriend have been up to lately.

Ever since learning the truth about her origins, Jiang Zhaolie had stopped overthinking. She had sealed off her heart and the world, forcing herself to focus solely on work. From then until now, she had drowned herself in tasks, leaving no room for anything else.

The assignments Qin Yao had given her would normally take at least two months for an average person to complete. Yet, she had managed to wrap everything up in just over twenty days, bringing everyone involved firmly under control.

In the past, her methods weren’t particularly ruthless. But perhaps due to the recent overwhelming and intense events, Jiang Zhaolie found herself with pent-up frustration and nowhere to vent it. Unconsciously, she unleashed all her resentment and anger on the employees at the branch company.

She showed no mercy when they were harsh, she was harsher; when they were arrogant, she outdid them in arrogance. In this rule-of-law society, Jiang Zhaolie refused to believe they could defy the heavens.

After a series of iron-fisted measures, the troublemakers at the branch finally realized Jiang Zhaolie was just as formidable as Qin Yao. Under her relentless pressure, some left voluntarily, while those who stayed were forced to behave. But Jiang Zhaolie had no intention of keeping any of them their presence would only bring harm and hidden dangers to the Qin Corporation.

Seizing the momentum, she went a step further and replaced even those who had fallen in line, completely subduing the branch within a month and firmly taking control.

Her reputation within the Qin Corporation soared once more, and whispers began circulating that she was “Qin Yao’s future successor.”

Jiang Zhaolie had no doubt Qin Yao would eventually hand the company over to her unless Xu Chun managed to bear Qin Yao a child. But even if they did have a child, it would take years for them to grow up and be capable of leading the Qin Corporation. By then, who knew how old they would be?

More importantly, Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t even imagine what kind of person Xu Chun’s temperament would raise.

Regardless of whether Qin Yao gave her the company or not, Jiang Zhaolie would accept it silently. After all, she had already received so much from Qin Yao her current position was already a blessing. Whatever decision Qin Yao made, she would remain grateful.

Besides, as long as she had the capability and resources, she could shine no matter where she was or what she did.

A few days ago, after dealing with the troublemakers at the branch, Jiang Zhaolie had planned to return to the Qin Corporation. Unexpectedly, Xu Chun beat her to it and sent a message asking about her return. After some thought, Jiang Zhaolie booked a flight for two days later.

But before heading back, she needed to thoroughly catch up on the recent happenings of the two women who had played such pivotal roles in her life.

Xu Chun, having casually dropped a spark in Jiang Zhaolie’s direction, paid it no further mind. With the variety show nearing its end, she busied herself coordinating future schedules with her manager while still idling away at the Qin Corporation. At the same time, she kept a keen eye on Yu Sui’an’s movements online because the day after the show ended, they were both scheduled to attend the same commercial event.

Better safe than sorry, who knew what schemes Yu Sui’an, that blackened, yandere white lotus, might be plotting?

However, what Xu Chun didn’t expect was that she would cross paths with Yu Sui’an again even before the event. Jiang Zhaolie was returning on an early flight today, and upon hearing the news, Xu Chun volunteered to pick her up, claiming it was to “bond with her future child.”

Zheng Yanran, never one to miss out on drama, immediately raised her hand and shamelessly tagged along in the car to the airport.

Along the way, Zheng Yanran couldn’t contain her curiosity. “To be honest, I still can’t figure out why Jiang Zhaolie would give you up for that Yu Sui’an.”

Xu Chun remained unmoved. What else could it be? Fate’s predetermined match, of course.

When two female leads end up together, it’s only natural while a villainess like herself was destined to become the universally despised abandoned wife.

She didn’t respond, prompting Zheng Yanran to scrutinize her. “Honestly, that Yu Sui’an doesn’t seem half as cunning as you…” Under Xu Chun’s death glare, Zheng Yanran quickly clarified, “Don’t get me wrong, I mean cunning in a good way! You’re smart, sharp, and brilliant.”

Xu Chun finally averted her withering stare. “That’s irrelevant,” she said expressionlessly. “I couldn’t care less about her anyway.”

Zheng Yanran nodded. “True. Whether it’s Aunt Qin, my mom, or me, we’re all better than Jiang Zhaolie.”

Xu Chun immediately reacted with the same confusion as Hong Shixian: “?”

Qin Yao and Zheng Jinchan were one thing, but what was this sneaky person doing here trying to join in? She immediately raised her hands to tightly cover her chest, her expression full of wariness. “What do you want? Speak! What exactly are your intentions toward me? I’m warning you, you’d better behave, or I’ll tell Jiang Banxia to teach you a harsh lesson!”

Zheng Yanran: “…Pfft!”

She rolled her eyes without a care for her image. “You think too highly of yourself. In this lifetime, apart from Jiang Banxia, I could never like anyone else.” Knowing they were live-streaming, Zheng Yanran deliberately put on a serious face and declared with heartfelt emotion, “My devotion to her is as clear as the heavens above!”

Not forgetting to turn the tables, she added, “If anything, I’m the one worried you might have ulterior motives toward me.”

Xu Chun responded with a faint smile, “Do you think you can compare to President Qin, or to your own mother?”

Zheng Yanran felt as if she’d been struck in the chest. “…” This topic wasn’t worth continuing, so she immediately shut her mouth and deftly changed the subject.

When Xu Chun arrived, she saw Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Suian standing together, apparently in some heated argument, shouting at each other at the top of their lungs.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of passersby.

Xu Chun and Zheng Yanran were momentarily stunned, but without hesitation, Xu Chun grabbed Zheng Yanran and rushed over, positioning themselves protectively in front of Jiang Zhaolie. Xu Chun glared at Yu Suian. “What are you doing?”

Yu Suian panicked at her sudden appearance. “No, sister, it’s not like that.” She instinctively tried to explain to Xu Chun, but Zheng Yanran, acting as the protective guardian, blocked her with an outstretched arm, eyeing her with hostility. “Stay where you are. If you have something to say, say it from there.”

The unfamiliar girl before her was exquisitely beautiful, exuding an air of nobility, with every item on her body being expensive. The panic on Yu Suian’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, inscrutable expression. Her voice lowered immediately. “Who are you?”

Zheng Yanran gave her a sidelong glance and scoffed. “None of your business.” She looked Yu Suian up and down, twisting the situation. “What’s a celebrity like you doing causing a scene in public? Bullying someone without fans?”

Jiang Zhaolie stared blankly at Xu Chun, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.

In this moment of isolation and confusion, she suddenly thought having a stepmother might not be so bad after all. At least when Yu Suian bullied her and left her speechless, there was someone to stand up for her.

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