After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 56

Zhao Ciying’s words sounded more like a forceful notice. Xu Chun smiled politely in response, “There’s probably nothing about me that would interest you.”

She redirected Zhao Ciying’s attention back to Yu Sui’an: “The secrets Suisui carries are far more worthy of your exploration.”

“Nothing at all?” Zhao Ciying shifted into a more relaxed posture. In the dim light, her striking features took on the menacing aura of a serpent, her piercing gaze fixed intently on her prey. “The mere fact that you harbor no ulterior motives toward me is intriguing enough.”

“Don’t you think?” Outside these walls, countless people fawned over her, flattering and groveling, all desperate to extract whatever benefits they could from her. Yet those very same individuals trembled in fear at the mere mention of her name due to the rumors circulating about her.

Previously, Yu Sui’an had been the first person who neither feared her nor sought to exploit her like the others. All Yu Sui’an wanted was to better herself, make a name in the entertainment industry, and win Xu Chun back. It was precisely because of this that Zhao Ciying had, for once, shown mercy and extended a helping hand.

Of course, she expected something in return but Yu Sui’an had performed admirably, so Zhao Ciying saw no issue in maintaining their mutually beneficial arrangement.

Xu Chun, however, was different. On the surface, she seemed interested, yet her words vehemently denied it. Upon closer inspection, Zhao Ciying realized Xu Chun’s curiosity about her was minimal at best.

Unlike the sycophants outside and even Yu Sui’an, Xu Chun gave Zhao Ciying the distinct impression that she was more perplexed by her presence, as if Zhao Ciying shouldn’t have appeared before her at this time, in this place.

Now that was interesting.

Zhao Ciying couldn’t help but grow intrigued. So, where did Xu Chun think she should be right now? What should she be doing? Or perhaps, what did Xu Chun believe her life story ought to be?

This burning curiosity made Zhao Ciying instinctively want to seize Xu Chun and not let go until she had her answers.

Aside from that incident years ago, it had been a long time since anyone or anything had stirred her emotions so intensely. Her dark, ink-like eyes narrowed slightly, her determination to possess the truth laid bare.

Hearing this, Xu Chun’s mind flooded with even more question marks: “?”

Was this woman made of ninety-nine pounds of defiance out of a hundred? The more someone resisted her, the more she insisted on opposing them. And now, not being interested in her wasn’t even allowed?

As more and more eyes turned their way, Xu Chun swallowed hard and reluctantly amended her words: “Actually, I do have some interest in you, President Zhao.” She smiled faintly, about to fabricate something to dissuade Zhao Ciying’s inexplicable fixation, when Zhao Ciying straightened up with a pleased hum. “Oh? That’s wonderful.”

The woman’s radiant, striking face curved into a mature, alluring smile. “How about we head to a hotel after the event?”

Xu Chun’s eyes widened: “?!” That escalated quickly.

There was no way she could entertain such a suggestive topic in front of so many people. She immediately declined, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m joining a film crew tomorrow, so I need to rest early tonight.”

“No rush.” Zhao Ciying smiled faintly. “We can have a detailed chat whenever you have time.”

Clearly, she wouldn’t give up until she achieved her goal.

Xu Chun forced a stiff smile, not directly agreeing but only saying she would likely be very busy for a long time afterward. Zhao Ciying listened without much reaction neither agreeing nor disagreeing leaving it unclear what schemes she was brewing inside.

Seizing the chance, Xu Chun quickly distanced herself from Zhao Ciying, afraid she might get entangled and unable to leave.

Yu Sui’an watched in silence as the two leaned close, whispering intimately. Her hands clenched tightly, her gaze unwaveringly following Xu Chun’s movements until suddenly, another sharp, spine-chilling stare pierced through her. Reflexively turning her head, she locked eyes with Qin Yao’s deep, unfathomable gaze.

Her eyes stung as if cut, and she swiftly averted them, lowering her head so that her long, loose hair concealed all emotion on her face.

Xu Chun took the opportunity to stick close to He Qingli. Whether it was Zhao Ciying or Yu Sui’an, seeing her not alone would likely make them think twice before acting so brazenly. However, He Qingli was utterly baffled by her sudden closeness. “Sis Xu, what are you doing?”

She stared at Xu Chun’s arm naturally looped through hers and blurted without hesitation, “Idol, please maintain some dignity.” She decisively pulled her arm away and stepped back. “I’m practically a taken woman now.”

“No matter how much you like me, no matter how infatuated you are, nothing can happen between us,” He Qingli declared righteously.

Xu Chun: “?” What kind of act are you putting on now?

We haven’t even started filming, and you’re already in character?

When Xu Chun didn’t respond immediately, He Qingli couldn’t resist hugging her arms and leaning in slightly. “Sis,” she said hesitantly, scrutinizing Xu Chun. “You’re not, actually harboring some feelings for me, are you?”

“How did you know?” Xu Chun smiled faintly. “How did you know I’m seriously considering tossing you straight into Yu Sui’an’s arms right now?”

He Qingli’s expression instantly fell. “After all the camaraderie we’ve shared, you’d really be so heartless? Willing to throw me to someone else?”

Seeing Xu Chun nod without hesitation, He Qingli immediately turned to leave. “Bye!”

But before she could take two steps, Xu Chun yanked her back because Yu Sui’an was heading their way. At the sight of her, He Qingli grew even more nervous than Xu Chun, her heart practically lodged in her throat as she stared fixedly at the approaching figure.

Xu Chun winced as He Qingli’s grip on her arm tightened painfully. “If you’re nervous, pinch yourself,” she muttered sideways. “Why are you pinching me?”

Snapping out of it, He Qingli quickly released her grip upon realizing what she’d done to her idol. “Sorry, sorry!” She hurriedly checked for nail marks on Xu Chun’s arm but froze under Yu Sui’an’s deathly glare, not daring to get any closer.

Though Yu Sui’an longed to approach Xu Chun, the memory of her earlier disgusted expression made her suppress her desires and impulses, forcing herself to walk past without stopping. But before she could, she caught sight of He Qingli’s overly affectionate and intimate posture with Xu Chun and instantly, her mood soured.

Is my sister someone just anyone can touch?

I haven’t even been able to get close to her, so why should others? Thinking that He Qingli had no power or influence, making her an easy target, Yu Sui’an didn’t hesitate her hostile gaze immediately locked onto the other woman, as if she wished to bore holes through her body with her stare.

Feeling the undisguised malice and threat from Yu Sui’an, He Qingli shuddered before turning a sympathetic look toward Xu Chun. “Sis, you’ve really suffered before.”

“I should have been more accommodating earlier and not messed around with you.”

Her words instantly gave Xu Chun the tragic feeling of a widow whose husband’s estate had been seized by malicious relatives, leaving only her and her child to struggle through life alone.

Touched by the understanding of her closest female fan, Xu Chun reached out to take He Qingli’s hand. “Qingli, you’re truly such a good sis!” Before she could finish, He Qingli swiftly distanced herself from Xu Chun under Yu Sui’an’s murderous glare, which seemed ready to tear her apart on the spot.

Xu Chun: “…”

She turned to Yu Sui’an, her brow furrowing slightly.

The malice in Yu Sui’an’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a pitiful, aggrieved expression. She stood there staring at Xu Chun for a long moment, but when Xu Chun remained unmoved, she finally lowered her head in dejection and shuffled away.

He Qingli watched in awe, Yu Sui’an’s face-changing act was nothing short of masterful, easily ten times more impressive than any intangible cultural heritage master. She couldn’t help but sigh, “In this world, only you, sis, could make her behave so obediently.”

“Don’t! ” Xu Chun immediately denied it. “I don’t have that kind of power. Believe me, if she ever snaps, I’ll be the first one to die horribly.”

And so, the two took the opportunity to discuss “100 ways to be murdered in modern society disguised as accidents,” continuing until the event ended.

Since Xu Chun had pulled He Qingli into the group last-minute, the latter left immediately after coordinating with her manager to pack her things at home. Meanwhile, Xu Chun waited in the lounge to bid farewell to Qin Yao and Jiang Banxia.

After all, the next filming project would take at least half a year, and according to the schedule, she’d likely be traveling all over the country. With intense physical demands and a packed shooting plan, Xu Chun might not see them for at least six months. So since they’d crossed paths today, she figured she might as well say goodbye properly.

She didn’t have to wait long before Qin Yao and Jiang Banxia approached from the other end. Prompted by her assistant, Xu Chun stood and walked out of the lounge. “President Qin, Banxia.”

She called out to them, “Let’s walk together.”

Jiang Banxia was surprised by her uncharacteristic behavior, but since Qin Yao remained silent, she didn’t joke around with Xu Chun either. Holding up her skirt, Xu Chun walked beside them. “I’m joining the crew tomorrow. Though I don’t know all the filming locations yet, the director mentioned most scenes will be shot in the mountains.”

“So if the signal is bad, there’s a high chance I won’t be able to reply immediately,” she said, unable to resist teasing again, “But if you can’t reach me for several days, remember to fly over and rescue me, okay?”

Qin Yao turned to look at her intently, responding with utmost seriousness, “Okay.”

Her sudden solemnity caught Xu Chun off guard, but fortunately, the topic didn’t linger long before the assistant reminded her, “Xu-jie, it’s time to head back.”

Xu Chun had no choice but to bid them farewell and make her way to the door, boarding the waiting van.

Xu Chun and her assistants spent several hours packing at home. Xu Wei happened to be absent today perhaps lurking again in Yu Sui’an’s fan group with her girlfriends. Since they had an early departure the next morning, the three assistants accompanying Xu Chun stayed overnight in the guest rooms.

At dawn the next day, the group arrived at the airport with their luggage in tow. After meeting up with the rest of the crew, they all set off together for the filming location.

Their first stop was a remote southern town nestled among green mountains and clear waters, with scenery more pleasant than Xu Chun and He Qingli had imagined. No sooner had they settled into the hotel than staff came to fetch them for makeup and styling, diving straight into a hectic work schedule.

Initially, both actresses struggled to adapt. Though filming had always been demanding, they’d at least remained clean and fresh by day’s end. But in this production, they were perpetually grimy from head to toe, looking more like roadside beggars than glamorous stars.

Rain made everything worse drenched, filthy clothes and hair clinging icily to their skin created an unbearably sticky discomfort.

Compounded by travel fatigue, stomach troubles, and unappetizing local food, both women lost over ten pounds in just two weeks. The drastic weight loss and exhaustion culminated in simultaneous collapses feverish, coughing, and utterly spent, they were rushed to the hospital.

As intravenous fluids dripped into her veins, Xu Chun shivered from the cold medication. The small, aging hospital with its dated decor only heightened her discomfort.

Curled on her side with her head resting on bent arms, she found herself longing intensely for Qin Yao for her scorching warmth, the comforting scent lingering in her hair and neck. With Qin Yao nearby, even the sky falling seemed inconsequential; her presence guaranteed everything would be alright.

Illness weakened both body and mind, leaving her defenses vulnerable to waves of yearning. Eyes burning, Xu Chun suddenly wished with desperate intensity for Qin Yao to be by her side.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when she’d become so dependent on Qin Yao. Was it when Jiang Zhaolie publicly humiliated her, and Qin Yao had subtly stepped in to protect her dignity? Or was it during every single moment they’d spent together since then?

Perhaps it was more recently, when Qin Yao had unhesitatingly torn down her facade, exposing her truest self and forcing her to confront both her own heart and the feelings between them.

Xu Chun’s fever-addled mind struggled to make sense of it all.

He Qingli remained asleep due to the medication, only waking briefly when thirst compelled her to drink some warm water. After exchanging a few words with Xu Chun, she drifted off again.

Their assistants kept watch by their sides, and when the manager called to check in, she asked, “How are they doing now? Any improvement?”

“Better,” Xu Chun replied, though she didn’t feel much different. Not wanting to worry her manager, she nodded anyway. “I just don’t have much appetite yet.”

“You can’t go without eating!” The manager frowned deeply. “I’ll arrange for a nutritionist to come and prepare meals tailored to your condition.”

Xu Chun was about to decline, but then she thought of how thin both she and He Qingli had become. In the end, she agreed weakly, “Alright. Thank you, Sister Yang.” Her voice was hoarse and faint.

Yang quickly hung up to contact the nutritionist, while Xu Chun picked up her phone, hoping to distract herself from the discomfort by browsing entertainment news.

During her intense filming over the past two weeks, there had been plenty of good news online.

The day before she entered the set, her styling and beauty had been wildly praised by fans and netizens, dominating the trending searches. Her photos went viral across platforms, inspiring countless makeup tutorials and further boosting her popularity. Then, Director Guo’s workplace variety show Looking Up at the Big Shots in the Office released its edited version, breaking his own dating show records to become another massive hit. This cemented Xu Chun’s status as a top-tier celebrity in the entertainment industry, bringing her both fame and fortune.

By now, Xu Chun’s standing was nothing like the previous year. She was no longer someone Yu Sui’an could easily crush with a few tweets.

Today, even ten Yu Sui’ans combined wouldn’t be able to shake her position or popularity.

Additionally, the old-school melodramatic sapphic drama she’d filmed with Yu Sui’an was about to air, entering its pre-release promotional phase. Xu Chun estimated that once she wrapped up filming here, she’d return just in time for the official promotions.

After casually reposting an update from the official account, Xu Chun idly scrolled through all her social media apps.

Yu Sui’an had been relatively quiet lately. But just as Xu Chun, dizzy and exhausted, was about to put her phone down, she stumbled upon a post claiming that Yu Sui’an had recently fallen out with her sugar daddy. That was why she’d disappeared for half a month, her resources dwindling compared to before.

Xu Chun felt a complicated mix of emotions. She couldn’t help but think: The love of a capitalist sugar mommy truly is fickle.

When she was in a bad mood or her pet misbehaved, all affection and love could be withdrawn without hesitation. She couldn’t help but wonder was Qin Yao the same? Was everything between them just a fleeting novelty?

Once that novelty wore off, would she too be discarded like Yu Sui’an?

Xu Chun seriously considered this, because honestly, there was nothing about her worth Qin Yao’s lingering attachment.

Lost in these gloomy thoughts, her assistant quietly slipped in. “Sister Xu Chun, someone’s here to see you.”

Xu Chun remained motionless at first. Only after three seconds did she slowly react, lifting her head with a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes as she looked toward the door, could it be Qin Yao?

Isn’t that how it always goes in novels? When a girl falls ill, her partner somehow senses it and appears unexpectedly, offering strength and support.

Her heart pounded nervously. Soon, a tall figure stepped through the doorway, silhouetted against the light.

The figure was striking, but it wasn’t Qin Yao.

Jiang Zhaolie watched as Xu Chun immediately closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, her lips twitching in exasperation. “…” Was she really that unwelcoming? After all, she’d come with good intentions.

Handing the gift to the assistant, Jiang Zhaolie strode toward the hospital bed. “How did you end up like this?”

Her frown deepened as she took in Xu Chun’s pale complexion. Just half a month ago, when she’d last seen her, Xu Chun had been thriving at the Qin residence, even looking slightly fuller and gentler than before. But now, after barely two weeks apart, she looked as though she’d been digging wild vegetables on a mountain for ten years.

The worst were the countless tiny scars peeking out from beneath her hospital gown. Against her fair skin, they looked especially alarming.

It seemed she’d suffered greatly during this time.

Jiang Zhaolie’s heart softened, and she let go of her irritation at Xu Chun’s cold shoulder. Pulling up a chair, she said, “Mom sent me to check on you.”

Sure enough, Xu Chun’s eyes flew open, fixed intently on her.

The sting of realization hit Jiang Zhaolie, she truly didn’t care about her anymore. Bitter as it was, she kept her composure. “Haven’t you been eating properly on set? You’re so thin now.”

She continued, “And what about these injuries? Didn’t the crew take any safety measures?” Anger crept into her voice. “Where’s your director? I’m going to have a word with him.”

“Don’t.” Xu Chun instinctively objected. When Jiang Zhaolie ignored her, she raised her voice. “Stop right there!”

Jiang Zhaolie halted, turning back to stare at her. Xu Chun remained unfazed. “Getting minor injuries during action scenes is normal. Have you ever seen an actor who doesn’t get hurt?”

“But—” Jiang Zhaolie tried to argue, but Xu Chun cut her off. “My affairs are none of your concern. Don’t go causing trouble for me.”

Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t help but fall silent. Had she now become nothing more than a nuisance in her eyes?

Clenching her fists slightly, Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t describe the complex emotions swirling within her at this moment. It felt both like something that was bound to happen, and yet the confirmation still stung. She had suspected this before, but only when all her suspicions were confirmed did she realize she wasn’t as invincible or indifferent as she’d imagined.

The truth was, she cared deeply.

Xu Chun, however, didn’t notice her distress and pressed on, “What else did Sister Qin say?”

Suddenly, an inexplicable anger surged from the depths of Jiang Zhaolie’s heart. Mom, mom, mom was there no one else in her world besides her mother? Could she really see nothing beyond her mother?

Gritting her teeth, she replied tightly, “Nothing else.”

“I didn’t actually come here today because my mother told me to,” she said expressionlessly, staring at Xu Chun. “I just lied to you.”

Xu Chun: “?” What kind of act was this now?

The splitting headache washed over her again, leaving Xu Chun feeling utterly drained. She lay down directly, completely losing any desire to continue speaking with Jiang Zhaolie. “In that case, I’ll rest now,” she said, closing her eyes. “You should go back and attend to your own matters too.”

Jiang Zhaolie’s expression darkened as she watched Xu Chun’s tightly shut eyes. “Do you really dislike seeing me this much?”

In the neighboring bed, He Qingli’s blanket shifted slightly, but no one noticed.

Jiang Zhaolie leaned in closer, her fingers involuntarily gripping Xu Chun’s slender wrist. “You won’t even spare me another glance?” Her voice came out low and strained. “Xu Chun, are you really this heartless toward me?”

The sound of her voice right by her ear made Xu Chun’s head throb painfully. Unable to bear it any longer, Xu Chun’s eyes snapped open as she glared coldly at Jiang Zhaolie’s hysterical face. “What, are you trying to cuckold your mother now?”

“My dear child.”

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