After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 57

Jiang Zhaolie seemed stunned by her words, the grip on Xu Chun’s wrist gradually loosening. Xu Chun felt weak all over, her head spinning, and had no energy to engage in this pointless argument. Her pale face maintained a mocking expression as she stared fixedly at Jiang Zhaolie.

Just as Jiang Zhaolie’s fingers were about to pull away, Xu Chun had barely begun to relax when the loosened grip suddenly tightened again. Jiang Zhaolie’s dark eyes bore into her. “Don’t think I don’t know,” she said in a low voice.

“You and my mother haven’t actually done anything yet.”

“So what?” Xu Chun tilted her head leisurely, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips. “Your mother and I are in love. Even if nothing has happened yet, isn’t it only a matter of time?”

She smiled faintly. “And you think that justifies your disrespect, your audacity in coveting your own stepmother?”

Jiang Zhaolie suddenly fell silent. She clutched Xu Chun’s wrist tightly, lips parting as if to retort, but under the other’s unwavering gaze, no words came out. Every argument she had seemed to choke in her throat, leaving her in silent agony, unable to utter a single sound.

Xu Chun raised the hand with the IV drip and mustered all her strength to pry Jiang Zhaolie’s fingers off one by one. “You really are just like Yu Sui’an,” she sneered mercilessly.

“What a shame you two didn’t end up together.”

She couldn’t fathom what madness had taken hold of these two. They were so alike, so attuned to each other cut from the same cloth yet they had ended up bitter enemies, refusing to have anything to do with each other for the rest of their lives.

They should have been locked together just like in the book, left to ruin each other.

Xu Chun’s emotions surged slightly. Her chest rose and fell as she closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. Though she wasn’t cruel enough to wish for their immediate deaths, she had never forgotten the things they had done. She remembered it all deeply but refused to interfere in their karma.

She just wanted to see what retribution they would face in the end karma that had nothing to do with her.

But Jiang Zhaolie seemed Xu Chun’s bloodless lips curled into an ambiguous smile.

That cold, emotionless smirk pierced Jiang Zhaolie’s eyes like a blade, and her earlier words stabbed straight into her heart. Jiang Zhaolie trembled all over, as if struggling against some overwhelming emotion, one that left her suffocated, miserable, and in unbearable pain.

The color drained from Jiang Zhaolie’s face, her body suddenly devoid of strength. Staring into Xu Chun’s stubborn yet resolute eyes, she forced a bitter smile. “So that’s what you really think of me.”

In a daze, she murmured, “I see.”

As if rationality had abruptly returned, shackling her once more with morality and propriety, she took slow steps back, putting distance between them. “About earlier, I’m sorry.”

With that, she fled the room as if escaping, as if by doing so, Xu Chun might forget everything that had just happened as if none of it had ever occurred.

As soon as Jiang Zhaolie left, Xu Chun’s tightly wound nerves relaxed, and an overwhelming fatigue immediately washed over her. She lay on the hospital bed like a limp rag, her unfocused eyes staring blankly at the ceiling as her headache grew worse.

Yet, despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t fall asleep her hands and feet were icy cold, making rest impossible.

She remained motionless in bed for a long time, drifting in and out of a hazy slumber. Each time she briefly awoke, dizzy and disoriented, she instinctively reached for her phone, but Qin Yao still hadn’t replied to her messages.

After checking two or three times, she finally gave up and sank into a deep sleep.

In her dreams, she felt a warm hand press against her forehead, then gently hold her IV-drip hand. Next, the blanket seemed to lift slightly as someone tucked a warm hot water bottle beside her. After finishing, the person lingered for a while, waiting until her body temperature gradually rose before placing something warm against her back.

Xu Chun struggled to open her eyes, but the sudden warmth, combined with the drowsy side effects of the medication, lulled her into a peaceful sleep.

She slept soundly and comfortably, only waking again when the sky outside had darkened and a light rain had begun to fall. Instinctively, she turned her head and saw He Qingli devouring a plate of braised pork with great relish.

The greasy smell nearly made Xu Chun nauseous. She frowned and asked hoarsely, her voice rough from sleep, “How can you eat such heavy food right after recovering from a cold?”

He Qingli quickly had her assistant open a thermos for Xu Chun and explained, “It’s really good!” She even offered a piece with her chopsticks. “Want to try some?”

Xu Chun shook her head. “No, I can’t eat it. The smell alone makes me sick.”

He Qingli immediately had the food taken away and reached for an air freshener spray, but Xu Chun stopped her. “It’s fine, you can keep eating.”

Gradually, her nose adjusted, and the aroma actually became somewhat appealing.

She hadn’t planned on eating, but watching He Qingli enjoy the meal so much, she couldn’t resist trying a couple of pieces, though she stopped once she was truly full.

As she recovered, Xu Chun noticed the two heating pads stuck to her back. No wonder she had felt extra warmth while sleeping. She peeled them off and stared at them thoughtfully.

He Qingli, seeing her lost in thought for ten minutes, finally spoke up. “President Qin came to see you while you were asleep.”

“That hot water bottle at your feet and those heating pads, she put them there for you.”

Xu Chun paused, then instinctively asked, “Where is she now?”

“Already left. With Jiang Zhaolie.” At the mention of Jiang Zhaolie, He Qingli’s expression flickered slightly before quickly returning to normal. “I asked Secretary Zhao apparently, they still had an unfinished meeting today, so they were in a hurry and couldn’t stay longer.”

“But once they’re done, they’ll probably come back to check on you.”

He Qingli didn’t dare tell Xu Chun about accidentally overhearing her argument with Jiang Zhaolie. Though burning with curiosity, she thought it best not to get involved in such a dramatic family soap opera.

Who would’ve guessed her usually quiet idol had been secretly involved in something so sensational?

Xu Chun let out a disappointed “oh,” regretting having missed Qin Yao while asleep. But with her health improving, her emotions had stabilized, no longer as fragile as before.

Remembering how she’d nearly cried from missing Qin Yao before dozing off, Xu Chun flushed with rare embarrassment. Her fair skin made even subtle changes painfully obvious. Noticing her bashful expression, He Qingli tactfully averted her gaze, women in love were all the same.

Glancing at her phone, He Qingli sighed. Fu Xin was still running around trying to pay off her parents’ debts.

After selling a family antique worth 500 million to clear most debts, He Qingli had playfully urged, “Why not check your old house again? Might find more valuables like golden nanmu furniture or ancestral gold bars buried in the yard.”

Though doubting her luck, Fu Xin obediently searched and indeed uncovered more treasures. Reluctant to sell heirlooms but with parents emigrated and grandparents passed, she alone remained these items served no purpose now. The debts would only burden He Qingli.

After brief hesitation, Fu Xin resolutely liquidated everything. Thanks to ancestors’ foresight, only negligible debts remained, soon to be cleared entirely. He Qingli shared her joy.

Yet Fu Xin’s delayed replies lately stung. Knowing she worked tirelessly to avoid being a burden didn’t always ease the loneliness. Today especially, feverish and aching, He Qingli yearned for Fu Xin to abandon work and visit.

As if reading her mind, Fu Xin suddenly appeared at the ward door, arms laden with packages, calling shyly yet firmly, “Qingli.”

Xu Chun tactfully rose. “I’ll take a walk been lying down too long.”

That night, Xu Chun slept alone in a cold, empty bed.

With the schedule set and filming progress not to be delayed, Xu Chun and He Qingli returned to shooting early the next morning. Fu Xin stayed behind to accompany He Qingli for several days, during which the weight she had lost quickly returned. Meanwhile, Xu Chun could only watch the two whispering intimately, pitifully engaging in deep soul-searching with her script.

Her weight didn’t bounce back, but due to her extreme thinness and the intense physical demands of recent days, her face and eyes grew even more resolute.

Like gemstones in the night, dark yet gleaming, captivating to the soul.

Those large, bright eyes, occasionally shimmering with determination, struck straight to the heart with their beauty, nearly bewitching fans.

Fans couldn’t help but tease:
“Sis Xu isn’t filming a drama, she’s participating in a transformation show, right? How else could her aura change so drastically in less than a month?”

“My wife used to be delicate and charming, but now she’s fierce, cool, and domineering her presence rivals any male star in the industry. My heart can’t take it!”

“A beautiful face is beautiful, regardless of gender.”

“Sis Xu has been killing it lately! When will her drama finally air? We’re withering from waiting!”

“Probably not anytime soon. Seems like Sis Xu films one drama, rewards herself with a variety show, then films a variety show and rewards herself with a bunch of endorsements. By the time her drama drops, we’ll be old and gray.”

“Isn’t that fine? Taking breaks with variety shows is good for relaxation. Besides, we get more interaction with Sis Xu that way. Speaking of which, Director Guo seems to be planning a new campus variety show, wonder if Sis Xu will join?”

“Of course she will! Director Guo is her biggest fan. Haven’t you seen his bio? ‘Sis Xu, my one and only queen.’”

“Even if Director Guo is cringey, I’m totally here for their third collab.”

With poor signal in the mountains, Xu Chun rarely checked her phone, dedicating most of her time to the script. After Fu Xin left, He Qingli joined Xu Chun’s efforts, and the two spent days and nights discussing how to perfect their characters.

The director was deeply impressed. He had initially assumed actresses like Xu Chun and He Qingli would be too delicate for such grueling work, yet even when hospitalized, neither uttered a single complaint.

His respect for them grew, and he even considered mentoring them seriously, swallowing his pride to secure resources from his connections.

Finding such raw, moldable talent was rare. Yu Sui’an, whom he had worked with before, also had potential but,  he frowned. That one was too obsessive, a temperamental liability.

If she succeeded, fine. But if she got tangled in scandals, all his efforts would be wasted.

Compared to that, Xu Chun and He Qingli were far more reliable choices.

He had always known Xu Chun was a good actress, so he wasn’t particularly surprised. However, He Qingli was truly unexpected. He never imagined this sweet-voiced, beautiful young girl would be so competitive in acting and possess such remarkable talent.

This time, he had really struck gold.

The director was in such a good mood that his expression softened considerably today. The actors, who had been scolded mercilessly by him these past few days, were both curious and terrified, afraid to ask too much in case this was just the calm before the storm.

That day, as Xu Chun and He Qingli sat together discussing the plot and character development, Zheng Yanran with whom Xu Chun hadn’t been in contact for a long time suddenly bombarded her with urgent calls. Xu Chun stood up, thinking Zheng had something important to tell her, only to hear the other girl exclaim excitedly, “Did you know? Yu Sui’an is about to be blacklisted!”

“Why?” Xu Chun raised an eyebrow in surprise. Although Zhao Ciying had mentioned wanting to drop Yu Sui’an for her sake, Yu had recently brought Zhao quite a few benefits. Businesspeople valued profit, and without any reason since Yu hadn’t defied her or caused any losses, Zhao shouldn’t have been so quick to discard her.

Who would willingly give up someone obedient and profitable? Most people wouldn’t easily pick a fight with such a person, right?

“It’s because Yu Sui’an got too bold,” Zheng Yanran said. She had been keeping a close eye on Yu’s every move lately. Previously, Yu had hidden things well, leaving Zheng with no leads until today, when she suddenly dared to defy Zhao Ciying openly, arguing with her in front of everyone. That was how Zheng finally caught wind of the news.

“Apparently, they’ve had minor conflicts before, but Yu always swallowed her anger, she seems like the type who can endure a lot. But for some reason, today she blew up over something trivial and went all out in a screaming match with Zhao Ciying.”

“You have no idea, the way they fought in front of so many people, just hearing about it secondhand gave me chills.”

At this moment, Zheng Yanran couldn’t help but admire Yu Sui’an’s audacity. To dare provoke Zhao Ciying? She must have a death wish. If Zhao wanted, Yu could vanish from the world without a trace, and no one would even ask questions.

Xu Chun was momentarily speechless. “You don’t even know the reason, yet you came to tell me? Are you deliberately teasing me? Do you know how bored I’ve been, stuck in the mountains filming every day, cut off from the world? I’m already suffering, and now you won’t even let me enjoy the full scoop of gossip.”

“Girl, you really have a cruel heart!”

Zheng Yanran was left tongue-tied. “I’ll go dig up more info right away.” She straightened her back, a sense of duty surging within her. “Wait for me.”

Today, even if it cost her a fortune, she would unearth every last detail about Yu Sui’an’s family history.

After Zheng hung up, Xu Chun’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued. Her eyes gleamed as she stared at He Qingli for a long moment. Just as He was about to ask why she was staring, Xu Chun dumped the entire gossip on her without caring whether she wanted to hear it or not.

Three minutes later, the film crew instantly gained another gossip enthusiast whose curiosity was thoroughly piqued by only hearing half the story, leaving them itching for more.

He Qingli’s eyelid twitched violently, she’d have been better off going deaf earlier.

But since she’d already heard half of it, she had no choice but to wait patiently with Xu Chun for Zheng Yanran’s next update. Zheng Yanran reported twice more about new information she’d gathered, but both times it was mundane. After Xu Chun brushed her off with a “keep digging,” Zheng Yanran disappeared for over half a month.

Coincidentally, the crew was also preparing to relocate to a new filming location.

This time, their destination was a city rich in history and culture. The director insisted on authenticity, so after coordinating with the relevant authorities, the entire crew checked into nearby hotels.

The city had seen a recent surge in visitors, with tight security and luxury cars everywhere. Xu Chun soon learned that some high-profile conference was being held here, requiring attendance from all major corporate leaders without exception.

Before long, Xu Chun received another update from Zheng Yanran: her mother, Zheng Jinchan, had arrived in S City that morning. Along with her, Qin Yao, Jiang Zhaolie, Zhao Ciying, Jiang Banxia, and even Xu Chun’s parents had all gathered here, a veritable assembly of elites and luminaries.

Xu Chun’s heart skipped a beat. With so many influential figures in one place, she couldn’t shake a growing sense of foreboding.

To make matters worse, the filming site was uncomfortably close to the conference venue just a few streets away. Rubbing her temples, Xu Chun resolved to stay out of trouble, focusing solely on filming and avoiding unnecessary excitement.

After a brief rest at the hotel, filming officially began the next day. The director kept the schedule tight, leaving Xu Chun with no time to explore, despite her curiosity.

However, on the second day, Zhao Ciying unexpectedly appeared on set.

At first, when her assistant mentioned it, Xu Chun thought it was a joke until Zhao Ciying approached, her tall frame blocking the sunlight as she loomed over Xu Chun, casting a cool shadow. Only then did Xu Chun realize she was really here.

Noticing the lack of delight on Xu Chun’s face, Zhao Ciying leaned down slightly, her tone amused. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

Happy? Xu Chun blinked. More like startled.

Pressing her lips together, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did you come here just for me, President Zhao?”

“Naturally.” Zhao Ciying casually took a chair offered by her assistant and sat down, resting her elbow on the armrest. Her index finger traced her well-shaped lips thoughtfully. “Your ex-girlfriend has been making quite a scene for you lately, defying me at every turn.”

Her eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable. “I’d love to know how you made her so obsessed with you, enough to challenge me, even oppose me.”

With that, Zhao Ciying lowered her hand, sat up straight, and leaned slightly forward. “This has piqued my interest greatly. After much deliberation, I decided to come and meet you in person.”

She spoke lightly, as if driven by pure curiosity without any ulterior motives.

Yet Xu Chun unconsciously tightened her grip on the script, distancing herself from Yu Sui’an. “I’m not entirely sure either. We’ve long since lost contact,” she said with a faint smile. “Perhaps you should observe her more closely you might uncover something interesting.”

She desperately tried to distance herself from Zhao Ciying, who simply gazed at her with a faint smile. Only when Xu Chun was about to lose her composure did Zhao Ciying let out an almost imperceptible sigh. “Must I spell it out for you? Yu Sui’an was merely an excuse. The real reason I came is, I missed you.”

Zhao Ciying seemed utterly unaware of how shocking her words were as her expression softened, her eyes gentle. “Not seeing you for so long made each day feel like a year.”

He Qingli abruptly stopped in her tracks, hesitating whether to announce, “Sister Xu, President Qin is here.”

But Xu Chun had already caught sight of the approaching figure from the corner of her eye. When she recognized Qin Yao standing beside He Qingli, she nearly fainted on the spot.

Why now of all times?!

She did want Qin Yao to visit, but not at this exact moment!

Qin Yao walked forward as if oblivious, leisurely taking the chair offered by the perceptive assistant. The bright sunlight made her usually deep eyes appear lighter, their hypnotic allure belying a dangerous edge that warned against any rash actions.

Slowly shifting her gaze, Qin Yao finally settled on Zhao Ciying. “President Zhao has too much free time?”

Zhao Ciying met her gaze calmly, lips curving into a smile after a long pause before retorting, “President Qin, our private conversation bothers you?”

Xu Chun felt the temperature and pressure around her plummet instantly, her instincts screaming to flee.

Yet today, Qin Yao seemed determined to confront Zhao Ciying head-on. Without blinking, she stated coldly, “Yes, your very presence bothers me.”

“In every possible way.”

In an instant, Zhao Ciying’s languid demeanor vanished, replaced by a razor-sharp aura so tangible it might have physically wounded Xu Chun.

As the two unexpectedly locked horns, Xu Chun nervously suggested, “Perhaps,  you two should talk privately? I’ll excuse myself.”

Before she could finish, both women turned toward her simultaneously. Zhao Ciying smiled sweetly. “Thinking of leaving?”

“Don’t even consider it.”

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