After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 54

As the words fell, she slowly lifted her head, her deep eyes swirling with emotions so profound that Xu Chun instinctively shrank her shoulders, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Though Qin Yao’s upright and composed demeanor was undeniably alluring, making it hard to resist, the answer Xu Chun sought was anything but this.

Pursing her lips, Xu Chun steeled herself and pressed further, stepping closer to Qin Yao’s desk. From this slightly elevated angle, she gazed down at her. “Sister,” she said, “are you sure we weren’t close before?”

Qin Yao slowly raised her eyelids, her gaze unwavering as it locked onto Xu Chun’s shimmering eyes and slightly furrowed brows. Instead of answering, she countered, “So, what kind of response are you hoping to hear from me?”

This, Xu Chun wasn’t entirely sure herself.

She wanted her suspicions confirmed, yet she also wished she was overthinking things. After all, her mind had been in turmoil these past few days, and the last thing she needed was another complication to add fuel to the fire.

It made her feel as though everything was gradually slipping beyond her control.

Xu Chun’s delicate lashes trembled faintly as she fell silent, unable to speak. Then Qin Yao moved rising abruptly, her tall, slender frame leaning in, her focused gaze lingering on Xu Chun’s plump, rosy lips.

Always the one in control, Qin Yao effortlessly commanded the situation with a single motion, forcing Xu Chun to abandon all wandering thoughts and meet her piercing stare head-on.

Qin Yao’s sudden proximity made Xu Chun reflexively hold her breath, nearly suffocating from the tension.

The close distance heated the air between them, an intoxicatingly ambiguous atmosphere slowly unfurling, sending Xu Chun’s heart into chaos. Nervously, she pressed her lips together before hesitantly murmuring, “It’s nothing.”

This version of Qin Yao was too bewitching, too aggressive and domineering. Unable to withstand it, Xu Chun averted her gaze, a faint flush of discomfort coloring her cheeks.

Of course, she couldn’t outright say to Qin Yao: I suspect you’re a time traveler or a reincarnator. Otherwise, Qin Yao would likely look at her as if she were a fool, dismissing her as someone who’d read too many web novels and lost touch with reality.

Some things didn’t need to be spelled out just as she had done moments ago, keeping her words vague and ambiguous, leaving herself ample room to backtrack if needed.

“Nothing?” Qin Yao leaned in further. Tall and imposing, she braced one hand against the heavy sandalwood desk, the pressure of her presence overwhelming. “You should know I’m busy right now.”

Her breath drew nearer, and Xu Chun felt an inexplicable guilt, her ears burning. Of course she knew but she was too desperate for answers.

Because this mattered to her. It determined whether she could seize control of her fate and alter its course without any unforeseen disruptions.

Qin Yao’s methods, so different from what was written, left Xu Chun uneasy and unsettled.

“Sorry,” Xu Chun forced a faint, apologetic smile. “I’ve been acting unreasonably.”

“Xu Chun.” This time Qin Yao called her name earnestly. “I hope if you have any suspicions or doubts about me, you’ll tell me directly.”

“Otherwise,” the corners of her lips lifted in a faint smile, “I’ll interpret all such behaviors of yours as…” Her eyes darkened, her tone deadly serious, “flirting.”

Xu Chun instantly felt her scalp tingle, as if something had exploded in her mind. Instinctively, she opened her mouth to refute Qin Yao, “I didn’t!”

But what met her was the other’s warm breath drawing near her face, followed by heated lips pressing against her own. The soft contact instantly rendered Xu Chun speechless. Qin Yao gently nibbled at her lips, movements tender, only deepening the kiss gradually when Xu Chun stopped resisting and resigned herself, advancing step by step like an army conquering a city.

The temperature of Xu Chun’s body kept rising her ears, cheeks, her entire being felt as if scorched by fire, while her heart uncontrollably surged with warmth.

The sensation at this moment was peculiar. Qin Yao’s lips burned hot, yet her movements remained gentle, as if carefully considering Xu Chun’s feelings. For some reason, Xu Chun’s eyes stung slightly.

Qin Yao had always been gentle with her, always mindful of her emotions. Whether during the initial conflicts with Jiang Zhaolie or later when she became the butt of jokes and stood alone, Qin Yao seemed to silently support her from behind, minimizing the world’s harm and helping her face its storms with the best possible state of mind.

It was as if she always protected her in her own way.

Even when she mercilessly, almost coldly, exposed the deeply hidden scars in Xu Chun’s heart.

Though that act had left Xu Chun somewhat humiliated and angry, she had to admit that after their conversation that day, she now felt much closer to Qin Yao.

That unfamiliar, intimidating sensation vanished instantly, and the distance between them seemed to shrink abruptly.

Lost in thought, Xu Chun’s closed eyes unknowingly fluttered open, widening as she stared unblinkingly at Qin Yao’s breathtakingly close face.

This woman is truly beautiful, Xu Chun couldn’t help but think. No matter when or under what circumstances they met, she always appeared so exquisitely aloof, unapproachable.

Yet here was this seemingly untouchable person, earnestly and passionately kissing her lips, the scorching heat nearly burning her.

Xu Chun’s distraction didn’t escape Qin Yao, who soon paused and opened her eyes, her voice husky, “Had enough?”

Xu Chun, still dazed, instinctively nodded. Qin Yao’s red lips curved into a smile. “Really?”

This time, Xu Chun’s mind finally cleared a little. Realizing what Qin Yao had asked and what she had just nodded to, her face flushed crimson in an instant, and she turned and fled without a backward glance.

Even the strands of hair fluttering in the air betrayed her panic and bewilderment.

Qin Yao blinked her dark eyes, her voice thick with laughter as she called out, “Come back next time.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Chun nearly stumbled next time? She couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander. But what concerned her more now was whether these subtle actions of hers in front of Qin Yao were really giving the wrong impression, as if she was deliberately hinting at something.

Her cheeks burned as she reflected on it. She had always been quite restrained, hadn’t she?

She had behaved properly, never crossing any lines with her actions or words. So, if anyone was overthinking things, it must be Qin Yao herself.

As Xu Chun walked, she awkwardly responded to greetings from passersby. Without even looking in a mirror, she knew she must look guilty as sin.

But thankfully, today was the last day of the program. After this, she and Qin Yao would likely have few chances to meet, giving her the perfect opportunity to cool off.

After a moment of silence, Xu Chun added in her mind, assuming nothing unexpected happened in the meantime.

Once she had walked a fair distance, Xu Chun cleared her throat and plopped down at her workstation, taking several large gulps from her water bottle.

Interacting with Qin Yao was downright exhilarating, literally blood pressure-raising.

After sitting quietly for a few minutes, the heat in her cheeks gradually subsided. She zoned out for a while before pulling out her phone to check online updates.

Unsurprisingly, the Qin Corporation’s follower count had skyrocketed. What was once an obscure, behind-the-scenes enterprise now had a fanbase nearly rivaling her own. Xu Chun wasn’t sure whether she was underperforming or if Qin Yao was just that impressive, but she couldn’t help feeling happy for her. Though she had been focused on changing her own fate and ending, Qin Yao had truly succeeded in transforming hers.

Now, there was a good chance she wouldn’t be backstabbed by Jiang Zhaolie or end up sewing in prison.

For some reason, the mental image of Qin Yao, dressed in plain clothes, her expression cold and imposing, operating a sewing machine made Xu Chun want to laugh. But then she blinked and imagined Qin Yao stripped of her formal work attire, wearing only loose, casual linen and found the thought even more irresistible.

The morning livestream from the Qin Corporation had featured ordinary products, but the afternoon session was dedicated to medical-grade professional equipment. While the average viewer tuned in for fun, big-name buyers were practically clawing at their screens, eyes glued to their phones without blinking.

The afternoon session was far more intense than the morning. The hosts hit their stride, and with the audience egging them on, everyone got carried away, impulsively snapping up items without a second thought. Only after the livestream ended and the frenzy died down did rationality return leaving them staring at their massive orders in stunned silence, questioning their life choices.

Qin Yao was truly cunning. She must have planned this deliberately. People were already irrational when faced with discounts, and with others chiming in,  it was a recipe for disaster.

Now that the purchases were made, the items weren’t particularly useful. But returning them felt like losing out on a fortune, after all, they’d gotten such a steal, and the competition had been fierce.

Thus, those who managed to snag the items but had no use for them came up with the idea of reselling them at a higher price. After all, they’d bought them at half price even if they sold them at 80% or 90% of the original price, they’d still make a profit.

But this had nothing to do with Qin Yao. She looked at the data on her computer aside from some overstocked inventory, the newly developed products had also achieved impressive sales. Thanks to a single show and a live broadcast, the company had even saved on advertising costs.

No matter what intentions the buyers had, as long as they used the products and found them effective, word of mouth would solidify the Qin brand’s reputation. Once that happened, no matter how fierce the market competition became, it would have minimal impact on the Qin Corporation.

Qin Yao shifted her gaze from the laptop screen to a stack of paper documents beside her.

This battle had been an overwhelming victory.

As the clock neared 7 p.m., Director Guo’s new workplace variety show officially came to an end. The guests gathered together, and before Director Guo could even begin the closing remarks, Qin Corporation employees arrived carrying large and small gift bags. Under the watchful eyes of the live audience, the company presented lavish gifts to every guest and even the staff, flaunting the grandeur of a wealthy enterprise.

The barrage of comments instantly turned into a sea of sour lemons, with viewers expressing their envy and resentment.

Director Guo’s face nearly split from grinning. He was deeply convinced that Xu Chun was his lucky star, his benefactor. Though he had produced many variety shows in the past, none had gained much traction even when he decided to make a dating show, he hadn’t held much hope for it.

Yet who could have predicted that Xu Chun’s participation would make the dating show explode in popularity, breaking out of its niche? Not only did it attract massive viewership during the live broadcasts, but even the edited episodes later shattered historical records for variety show ratings. That day, everyone sent him congratulatory messages, but Director Guo knew the truth, his success was entirely thanks to Xu Chun.

So when he later planned the workplace variety show, he didn’t hesitate to invite her again. And sure enough, this time, the ratings soared even higher. Despite his mental preparation, he couldn’t help but feel exhilarated in this moment.

He had never imagined he would become a sought-after director with two blockbuster shows under his belt, nor that he would one day rake in money and fame beyond his wildest dreams.

Director Guo looked at Xu Chun and took a deep breath. He had to strike while the iron was hot plan a new project and invite her again.

He had already decided: as soon as he got home today, he would plaster his walls with Xu Chun posters. From now on, he, Director Guo, would be Xu Chun’s number one die-hard fan! If anyone dared to slander her, throw shade, or pit others against her, he would go after them without hesitation!

After a moment’s thought, Director Guo discreetly changed Xu Chun’s contact name to: [Fortune-Bringing Child].

Gazing at Xu Chun’s profile picture now fittingly adorned with the God of Wealth, Director Guo nodded in satisfaction. Yes, this was much more harmonious.

After receiving the generous gift bags from the Qin Corporation, both the guests and staff members had brighter smiles on their faces even Fu Xin was no exception. Xu Chun couldn’t resist glancing curiously at her, and Fu Xin, perhaps because she was in exceptionally high spirits today, lowered her voice to share a secret: “Yesterday, I found an antique in an old box at home. My friend appraised it at 500 million.”

Xu Chun gasped in genuine astonishment. “Can I come visit your place sometime?” she asked earnestly. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t turn your house upside down looking for treasures.”

Fu Xin couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course,” she replied, her eyes crinkling with amusement, the usual frail aura around her dissipating. “You’re welcome anytime, Sister Xu Chun.”

Now, if she could just sell that antique, she could pay off more than half of her parents’ debts. A few more years of hard work, and she’d be completely debt-free. A glimmer of anticipation flickered in her eyes then, she could finally confess her feelings to He Qingli openly, with a clean slate. No longer owing anyone, having earned everything through her own efforts, she could give her a bright future.

Xu Chun grinned. “Deal.”

But despite her enthusiasm, time wasn’t on her side. The thought of tomorrow’s event and the inevitable encounter with Yu Sui’an dampened her excitement slightly. Then again,  her eyes gleamed mischievously as she considered Yu Sui’an’s wealthy patron. What if that person showed up tomorrow too?

Rubbing her hands in anticipation, Xu Chun suddenly felt a gaze settle lightly on her. Instinctively, she turned only to meet Qin Yao’s quiet, unreadable stare. Xu Chun froze.

Surely Qin Yao wouldn’t attend tomorrow, right? She was far too busy.

Xu Chun reassured herself. Besides, it wasn’t like she was after the patron’s looks or anything, she just wanted to clip Yu Sui’an’s wings and settle the score.

That was all.

Having convinced herself, Xu Chun happily wrapped up the show’s finale. Her manager, Sister Yang, came to pick her up, partly to discuss future plans, partly to deliver the gown for tomorrow’s event.

Since it was late, Xu Chun left straight away, skipping the post-show dinner. Before leaving, she went to bid Qin Yao farewell.

“Stay safe,” Qin Yao said seriously.

Xu Chun nodded. “I’ll miss you when we don’t see each other,” she replied perfunctorily.

Qin Yao studied her deeply. Flustered, Xu Chun averted her gaze and quickly changed the subject. “Well, I’m off. See you around.”

Once in the car, Zheng Yanran’s text arrived: [You just left me behind like that?]

In her busyness, Xu Chun had genuinely forgotten about her. [It’s not like we won’t meet again. You can visit me on set, or even cameo in something.]

Zheng Yanran responded with a string of ellipses: [I knew it. You only have eyes for Qin Yao.]

Xu Chun: [?]

[“Don’t think I can’t tell your eyes are practically undressing Qin Yao with how hungry they look,” Zheng Yanran remarked. “You’re the very definition of a lust-driven demon.”

Xu Chun was immediately baffled: [???] Sure, you’re the eloquent one.

Ignoring Zheng Yanran’s sarcastic remarks, Xu Chun put away her phone and asked her manager, “Has Yu Sui’an’s sugar daddy been attracting a lot of attention lately?”

“What, are you interested too?” The manager tore her eyes from the iPad screen and gave her a sidelong glance.

Her ulterior motives mercilessly exposed, Xu Chun chuckled awkwardly. “Just a little curious, that’s all. I’m not like those others with all their messy intentions.” She said with a straight face, “I’m a morally principled celebrity, after all.”

The manager eyed her skeptically: […] Really?

She couldn’t understand why Xu Chun, already involved with Qin Yao, would still covet someone else’s benefactor. Wasn’t she afraid of losing both sides if things went south? So she hinted meaningfully, “Sometimes, certain things are best left untouched.”

“Sometimes, the more you crave, the less you gain, losing both ends,” the manager said cryptically. “One must learn contentment, especially in our line of work.”

Xu Chun was utterly confused: [?] What is she even talking about?

Seeing her feign ignorance, the manager sighed inwardly and changed the subject, briefing her on the details for tomorrow’s event. There wasn’t much to note, just staying vigilant against Yu Sui’an and other actresses who might resort to extreme sabotage out of jealousy.

Xu Chun was already wary. She wasn’t foolish; she knew the entertainment industry thrived on fawning over the successful and trampling the weak, a ruthless battlefield where only the fittest survived.

She felt immensely grateful that the original host had both acting skills and a solid reputation. Otherwise, the situation she’d walked into would’ve been a death sentence.

No one was home today. Her parents rarely returned to this house due to work, preferring their spacious penthouse near the company. Xu Wei, busy with classes most of the time, spent her rare days off shopping and hanging out with friends, so she seldom came home either.

But just as Xu Chun finished unpacking and was trying on the gown for tomorrow’s event with her assistant’s help, Xu Wei suddenly poked her head out from the second floor. “Sis, you’re back?”

Her sudden appearance startled everyone. Xu Chun lifted her eyelids, heart still racing. “Could you not sneak around like a ghost? Make some noise next time.”

Xu Wei fell silent. […] “Got it.”

With that, she quietly leaned over the railing, watching Xu Chun change. Since childhood, her sister had always been kind to her, but Xu Wei couldn’t help feeling she was too naïve the world wasn’t as rosy as Xu Chun imagined. Some people out there were downright rotten.

Yet, while she looked down on Xu Chun’s kindness, she also basked unapologetically in her sister’s care. At first, she’d been touched and grateful, but over time, she’d come to take it for granted, even believing Xu Chun was obligated to indulge her unconditionally.

Because she was her blood sister.

But ever since that last incident, when she and Yu Sui’an had completely torn apart all pretense of sisterhood, she finally woke up to the truth, no one was obligated to be kind to her, nor would anyone show her unconditional kindness. All relationships required mutual effort and reciprocity.

Though initially Xu Chun had driven her to the brink, making her furious enough to want to sever ties, looking back now, she realized Xu Chun had only been pulling her back from going astray with good intentions.

Without Xu Chun’s strictness, she might have ended up just like Yu Sui’an ungrateful, believing the world revolved around her, and developing that detestable personality.

She gazed quietly at Xu Chun, and only now did she truly realize how breathtakingly beautiful her sister was.

There are moments so breathtaking they leave you speechless, where you can only stare dumbfounded at her face. If someone like this didn’t shine in the entertainment industry, it would truly be the industry’s loss.

Xu Wei’s eyes flickered slightly as she recalled the information she’d gathered under a pseudonym in Yu Sui’an’s fan group. “Sis,” she called softly, waiting until everyone looked up before continuing, “Tomorrow, that powerful backer behind Yu Sui’an seems to be accompanying her.”

She pursed her lips. “Be careful around them, and remember to keep your distance.”

Xu Chun raised an eyebrow in response, offering a perfunctory “Sure, sure,” while secretly thinking: Tomorrow, she would undermine Yu Sui’an’s support system and leave her isolated.

Xu Wei’s words left Xu Chun too excited to sleep properly all night.

By morning, she was bleary-eyed, yawning repeatedly, but her ruthless manager dragged her out of bed regardless, leaving her at the mercy of the stylist.

By the time she was fully dressed and made up, it was almost time to leave.

Today was the launch event for a new luxury brand, and most of the entertainment industry’s notable figures had been invited. Following Xu Wei’s intel, Xu Chun arrived early at the venue and waited at the designated spot.

When Xu Wei’s message came through, Xu Chun immediately put away her phone, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and pretended to casually pass by her real aim was to strike up a connection with the wealthy patron and make an impression.

A carefully crafted smile graced her lips as she walked with poised, alluring steps. With her current look, she was 99% confident she could captivate anyone even Yu Sui’an’s mysterious benefactor.

Confident and determined, she rounded the corner, only for her smile to freeze instantly.

There was no sign of Yu Sui’an’s powerful backer. Instead, only Qin Yao stood there… Well, no, Jiang Banxia was there too, though Xu Chun had no idea when those two had gotten so chummy.

The face before her shifted expressions like a Peking opera mask, going from radiant to utterly deflated. Noticing this, Qin Yao arched a brow and stated matter-of-factly, “You’re waiting for someone.”

“And that someone isn’t me.”

Jiang Banxia lifted her gaze, narrowing her eyes at Xu Chun’s guilty expression. “Let me guess.” She pretended to ponder. “Perhaps it’s that rumored CEO Zhao everyone’s been talking about lately, right?”

Both women spoke gently, but Xu Chun shuddered all the same. “Who said that?!” she denied shamelessly. “I wasn’t! Why would I wait for her?!”

“Oh?” A new voice interjected with feigned curiosity. “So you weren’t waiting for me after all.”

“Seems you’re not interested in me.”

Xu Chun turned her head and nearly fainted on the spot at the sight of the extravagantly dressed, designer-clad woman who clearly oozed wealth. “…”

She should’ve stayed mute for life.

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