After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 58

Xu Chun had no idea whether the tension between Qin Yao and Zhao Ciying had suddenly arisen or been brewing for a long time. Frozen in place, she clutched the script in her rocking chair, her heart pounding so violently it felt ready to burst from her chest.

Faced with Zhao Ciying’s domineering presence, Xu Chun forced a smile. “President Zhao, I really need to get back to filming.” Afraid she wouldn’t be believed, she reflexively raised two fingers in oath. “I swear.”

Then she pointed at He Qingli, who had been quietly trying to slip away when she sensed the situation turning sour. “If you don’t believe me, ask her!”

He Qingli froze mid-step when suddenly singled out by Xu Chun. Instinctively straightening her posture, she mustered a brave smile and vouched, “It’s true. The director only gave us half an hour for a break.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “And our time’s almost up.”

“President Zhao, you must have heard how strict Director Wang is during shoots especially with actors,” He Qingli continued, struggling to keep her voice steady. “If we’re late, he’ll tear into us mercilessly.”

She widened her sincere eyes, hoping to appeal to Zhao Ciying’s sympathy.

Zhao Ciying’s stance did soften slightly, but instead of agreeing immediately, she seemed intrigued. Tilting her head, she studied He Qingli with leisurely amusement. “Oh? How strict is he, exactly?”

Her slender, jade-like fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest. “I’d love to hear the details.”

He Qingli shot a glance at Xu Chun, who was frantically signaling with her eyes. Clearing her throat, He Qingli racked her brain and listed two or three fairly mild criticisms nothing too harsh, just enough to placate Zhao Ciying. But to her surprise, Zhao Ciying suddenly smiled after hearing them. “I’ve noted everything you just said.”

“When I see Uncle Wang later, I’ll be sure to pass along your regards.”

“Uncle Wang?” He Qingli blinked in shock. “???”

They were related? She refused to believe it, how could Zhao Ciying and Director Wang possibly know each other, let alone be close relatives?

He Qingli’s vision darkened as she wished she could vanish from existence.

Frantically reviewing her words, she reassured herself that she hadn’t said anything too extreme just some widely accepted industry critiques. More importantly, her instincts had kicked in, and though she’d framed it as criticism, her remarks had actually been subtle praise, acknowledging the director’s achievements and dedication.

After mentally replaying her words several times, He Qingli finally exhaled in relief.

Thank goodness her career was safe.

Only now did she realize her palms were drenched in cold sweat. When she dared to look at Zhao Ciying again, she found the woman smiling brighter than ever.

Her strikingly beautiful and captivating face was a sight to behold, yet those alluring eyes constantly revealed a hint of madness, making her entire presence resemble an unpredictable time bomb that sent chills down people’s spines and filled them with dread.

Zhao Ciying truly lived up to her reputation, she was an absolute lunatic.

The moral principles and judgments that applied to normal people were utterly ineffective on her. She was used to doing as she pleased, lawless and unrestrained, completely uncontrollable.

At this moment, He Qingli desperately wanted to flee. But before figuring out how to escape, she didn’t forget to plan how to bring Xu Chun along with her.

Zhao Ciying watched with great amusement as He Qingli’s expression shifted like a vibrant palette, but she didn’t push her too hard. “Fine, you two can go.”

Xu Chun immediately stood up upon hearing this, and she and He Qingli both sighed in relief, their faces mirroring the same look of having narrowly escaped disaster only for Zhao Ciying to add, “After all, for the rest of today.”

She smiled faintly. “I’ll be keeping Uncle Wang company here.”

Xu Chun promptly performed an impressive trip-and-fall right in front of everyone. Zhao Ciying kindly reached out to steady her, her smile radiant, even the corners of her eyes brimming with mirth. “Be careful, Miss Xu.”

Whether it was Xu Chun’s imagination or not, those words were uttered with an especially ambiguous tone, like the tender whispers between lovers in bed. Xu Chun recoiled in fright, her anxious gaze instinctively darting toward Qin Yao.

But Qin Yao’s dark eyes merely rested calmly on the spot where Zhao Ciying had touched Xu Chun, her expression indifferent, showing no particular reaction.

Seeing this, Xu Chun’s heart sank, and she nearly screamed internally: I don’t want this arm anymore! I’ll chop it off right now!

Fortunately, Qin Yao soon averted her gaze from Xu Chun’s hand, her voice cool. “Go ahead, don’t delay the shoot.” Her tone suggested she intended to settle things privately with Zhao Ciying later.

Xu Chun and He Qingli immediately acted as if they’d received a royal pardon, hastily linking arms and sprinting away without looking back.

They were terrified that even a second’s delay would prompt Zhao Ciying to call them back.

Only after putting considerable distance between themselves and Zhao Ciying did they dare to stop, glancing back with lingering fear. “Zhao Ciying is terrifying,” He Qingli said, wiping nonexistent sweat from her forehead. “No wonder everyone in the industry is afraid of her.”

With a lunatic like that around, it’d be strange not to be afraid.

Xu Chun nodded emphatically, quickly grabbing a nearby bottle of water and gulping down several mouthfuls. “I really admire Yu Sui’an now not only did he manage to get close to her, but he’s also survived under her thumb for so long.”

With utmost seriousness, she raised the water bottle in a mock toast. “I’ll punish myself with a drink for my earlier recklessness.”

He Qingli: “Your previous ideas were indeed a bit naive.”

Zhao Ciying gave off the aura of a temperamental tyrant, one moment she could be smiling and chatting, and the next, for reasons unknown, her expression would darken as if she were about to behead someone and exterminate their entire family. Who wouldn’t panic in the face of that?

Although Zhao Ciying hadn’t reached such an extreme level, she wasn’t far off. The same deranged temperament and tyrannical aura emanated from her, making people feel genuine dread and instinctively keep their distance.

Xu Chun nervously gulped down more water before asking He Qingli with a glimmer of hope, “Her and Director Wang!” She swallowed hard, “They’re not actually related, are they?”

He Qingli blinked, “Should we go ask Director Wang then?”

After two seconds of silent contemplation, Xu Chun agreed, “Alright.” It would be better to clarify just in case Zhao Ciying was deliberately trying to scare them, and they ended up spending the whole day in terror, paralyzed with fear.

Holding onto hope, they had no idea that the moment they mentioned Zhao Ciying’s name, Director Wang’s face lit up with excitement. “Xiao Ci is here? Where is she now?” he asked eagerly.

Seeing his reaction, Xu Chun and He Qingli immediately understood. Their eyes rolled back as they nearly fainted on the spot.

Director Wang quickly grabbed them, confused. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Maybe you should rest for another half hour.” Before he could finish, the two of them jolted upright like terminally ill patients miraculously revived, shaking their heads frantically. “No, no! We just had a momentary discomfort, but we’re actually in great shape!”

“Director Wang, when do we start filming today? We feel like we’re in top form, we could even pull an all-nighter without any problem!”

Impressed by their enthusiasm, Director Wang nodded approvingly. “Good, good.” After a pause, he added kindly, “Since Xiao Ci is here today, I’ll take you both to dinner with her after filming. Let me tell you, our Xiao Ci is incredible, she has connections, influence, and endless resources. If you can get on her good side, you won’t have to fear anything in the entertainment industry, no matter how much trouble you stir up.”

Xu Chun: “?”

He Qingli: “??”

Before they could stir up any trouble, they’d need to survive first.

How had they ended up back here? After barely escaping the tiger’s jaws, they were now being forced to walk right back into the trap. Their faces turned ashen, their hearts aching with despair.

Under Director Wang’s urging, the two numbly threw themselves into filming.

Qin Yao withdrew her gaze from Xu Chun’s distant, blurred figure, and in the next instant, her composed expression turned sharp and icy. A faint smile lingered on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It seems you’ve already forgotten the lesson from before.”

Her voice was slow and deliberate, her magnetic tone and lazy cadence at odds with the dangerous glint in her eyes.

Zhao Ciying smiled brightly in return. “I owe it all to you, President Qin.” Her words dripped with praise and admiration. “You taught me such shrewd ways of dealing with people.”

“Your kindness is so great, I might as well call you my mentor now.”

“No need for that.” Qin Yao’s smile remained cool, unimpressed. “Some things are best not taken too far.” Her smile faded gradually. “If I could bring you down once, I can do it again.”

Even when her scars were mercilessly brought up by Qin Yao, Zhao Ciying showed no sign of irritation. Instead, she asked with great interest, “You’re telling me all this today could it be because of that Miss Xu?”

Qin Yao’s deep eyes silently gazed at her without a word.

Zhao Ciying immediately had her answer. It was as if she had heard something both rare and amusing. “Well, isn’t this the sun rising from the west?” She leisurely clapped her hands. “Who would have thought that even you, Qin Yao, would have a weakness now.”

Her lips curled into a radiant smile. “Do you really think I’ll just let it go as you wish?”

“I don’t think so. But I do think that if you have psychological issues, you should see a therapist more often,” Qin Yao said, her beautifully shaped lips parting slightly. “Instead of running around the world acting like a madwoman.”

As her words fell, the temperature around them instantly dropped, as cold as the depths of winter, almost enough to freeze a person to the bone.

Qin Yao’s dark eyes bore straight into Zhao Ciying. “I’m not mocking you, nor do I mean anything malicious by it.” Her expression was serious now. “I’m genuinely concerned about you.”

Zhao Ciying stared back at her with icy detachment for a long, long time before suddenly bursting into laughter and clapping her hands. “Well said. Truly well said.”

She thanked her politely, “Thank you so much for your heartfelt concern, President Qin.” Zhao Ciying smiled faintly. “It’s just a shame that I won’t be taking your advice.” She rose slowly, looking down at Qin Yao with a commanding gaze. “You’d do better to worry about yourself, President Qin.”

“Lest you stretch your arms too far,” she leaned in slightly, her bewitching eyes carrying a frosty chill, “and end up losing your most trusted allies.”

Unfazed by Zhao Ciying’s provocation, Qin Yao slowly lifted her head and asked with composure, “Are you referring to your sister?” She met Zhao Ciying’s strikingly beautiful fox-like eyes. “She’s doing very well now and is quite content with her life, so she has no other intentions at the moment.”

Zhao Ciying’s expression darkened instantly, her smile not reaching her eyes. “Then I really must thank you for taking such good care of my sister all these years.”

“No need. She’s helped me a great deal over the years.”

Zhao Ciying had remained composed and retaliatory throughout their exchange, but at those last words, she finally lost her composure. With a furious stomp of her high heels, she stormed off.

Her teeth clenched in anger. Her sister would rather busy herself for an outsider, serve another person for so many years, than come home to see her even once. Fine. Just fine.

But none of that mattered anymore because she had found a new source of amusement.

If Qin Yao could steal her dear sister away, why couldn’t she turn the tables and steal Qin Yao’s prized possession? Besides, she thought with a gleeful smile, that little thing was quite interesting too.

The only nuisance was Yu Sui’an.

At the thought of Yu Sui’an, Zhao Ciying’s hostility surged uncontrollably. A mere celebrity, yet she dared to openly defy her? Given an inch, she was taking a mile.

Zhao Ciying smirked coldly. If she could lift Yu Sui’an to stardom, she could just as easily drag her down into the dirt. But simply making her fall wasn’t satisfying enough. Her eyes glinted as she leisurely picked up her phone and dialed a number. “Ever heard of Yu Sui’an? Blacklist her across the entire industry.”

“Don’t leave her any opportunities.” Zhao Ciying’s tone was gentle, sounding quite agreeable, yet every word carried an undertone of ruthlessness. “Otherwise, I’ll hold you accountable.”

Yu Sui’an soon learned from her agent that she had been blacklisted by Zhao Ciying.

Life had been difficult for her lately to be precise, ever since the conflict and argument with Zhao Ciying began, her days had been nothing but hardship. Compared to before, it was like the difference between heaven and earth. Where she had once basked in success and smooth sailing, she now found every step a struggle, her strength failing her.

If possible, she wouldn’t have wanted to defy Zhao Ciying. After all, Zhao Ciying was undeniably an excellent and perfect patron. But Zhao Ciying had taken an interest in Xu Chun.

Her feelings for Xu Chun weren’t the same as those she had for Yu Sui’an, where Yu Sui’an had merely been a tool for profit, Xu Chun was a coveted prey, a target of fierce possessiveness, someone Zhao Ciying was desperate to claim.

This filled Yu Sui’an with an overwhelming sense of crisis.

She even feared that if she didn’t resist, Zhao Ciying would brazenly make her move on Xu Chun. Zhao Ciying knew full well how deeply and persistently Yu Sui’an loved Xu Chun, yet despite that, she still reached out with her claws.

With Zhao Ciying’s power, obtaining someone required little effort. But Yu Sui’an had underestimated Zhao Ciying’s resolve, to get Xu Chun, she had so easily cast Yu Sui’an aside, simply because she was in the way, an annoyance.

Yet Zhao Ciying wasn’t serious. It was only because she hadn’t yet obtained Xu Chun that her interest grew stronger. The moment she did, it wouldn’t be long before she grew bored and discarded Xu Chun just as ruthlessly as she had Yu Sui’an.

And if Xu Chun dared to protest, Zhao Ciying would repeat the same tactics blacklisting her across the industry, leaving her no room or hope.

Thinking of Zhao Ciying’s vast connections, Yu Sui’an sat frozen on her couch at home. She had nothing left now. Zhao Ciying had taken back everything she had ever given, leaving her penniless. Worse, she had stripped Yu Sui’an of even more, leaving her future bleak, reduced to sitting in despair, waiting for ruin.

By now, Yu Sui’an had even considered swallowing her pride and seeking help from Jiang Zhaolie or Jiang Banxia. As long as Xu Chun wasn’t harmed by Zhao Ciying, she would do anything.

But even Jiang Zhaolie or Jiang Banxia would be powerless against Zhao Ciying.

Yu Sui’an’s mind was in turmoil, her distress so great she couldn’t even eat. Just then, her agent stormed in, having used the passcode to enter, and berated her without mercy: “Yu Sui’an, what the hell are you trying to do?!” The agent’s voice was sharp, leaving no room for dignity. “What’s this tantrum about?!”

“Didn’t you want to climb to the top of the entertainment industry? Didn’t you want to stand above everyone else? You finally managed to latch onto Zhao Ciying, gaining the capital and opportunity to rise, yet for the sake of a mere ex, you’ve lost your mind and even dared to offend Zhao Ciying. I think you’ve got a death wish!”

“You must be under some kind of curse, you’re out of your mind!”

The agent was so furious he was practically incoherent, hurling several more insults at Yu Sui’an before finally calming down a little. Ignoring the murderous glare Yu Sui’an was giving him, he coldly tossed a contract onto the table in front of her. “The company is terminating your contract. Tell me, what do you plan to do now?”

“Anyway, I’m no match for Zhao Ciying. Once she’s made up her mind, not even the gods can save you.” The agent was exasperated by her foolish behavior. “While there’s still room for negotiation, I suggest you go apologize to Zhao Ciying properly. If she lets it go, then this matter will be over.”

“Otherwise, I won’t lift a finger to help you.”

Though the agent’s words were harsh, he genuinely cared about Yu Sui’an. After all, among all the artists he’d managed, she was the only one who had maintained long-term popularity and could consistently generate buzz by leveraging Xu Chun for clout. The thought of giving up on her pained him.

Thinking this, his tone softened slightly. “Suisui, with so many women in the world, why must you cling to Xu Chun like she’s the only tree in the forest? Aren’t there plenty of women better than her?”

“Besides, I never saw you being all that fond of her before. Why is it that now, after breaking up, you can’t seem to let her go?”

“You don’t understand.” At the mention of Xu Chun, Yu Sui’an finally spoke, her expression cold as she stared at the agent. “I was young and foolish before. I made mistakes and hurt my sister, causing me to lose her.”

“But now I realize my errors. I understand just how good and forgiving she was to me in the past. So,” her gaze hardened with determination, “no matter what, I have to win her back.”

“But she doesn’t like you anymore!” The agent couldn’t help raising his voice.

Yu Sui’an shot him a glare sharp enough to kill. Though startled by her intensity, the agent pressed on earnestly, “If she liked you, how could she bear to watch you get bullied like this? How could she stand to see you chasing after her so pathetically without even glancing back at you?”

“She has no heart! If she did, she wouldn’t let you suffer like this every day.”

The agent’s words left Yu Sui’an silent. She wanted to argue, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out.

Maybe he was right…

If it had been the sister from before, how could she have endured seeing Yu Sui’an so humiliated and mistreated? How could she have let her taste all the bitterness of love?

“And,” the agent added fuel to the fire, “haven’t you heard? Lately, Xu Chun has been getting close to Qin Yao, Zheng Jinchan, and Zheng Yanran. With so many outstanding women surrounding her, do you really think she can resist being tempted?”

“If it were you, betrayed by Xu Chun and turned into a laughingstock because of Jiang Zhaolie, yet suddenly surrounded by many interested suitors from better families, wouldn’t you also look down on Xu Chun and leisurely pick the most suitable, powerful match from among them?”

Yu Sui’an’s nails dug unconsciously into her palms. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “So what do you think I should do now?”

“Go apologize to Zhao Ciying immediately,” the manager said decisively. “And make sure to properly win back Jiang Zhaolie too. Marrying into the Jiang family, I’ve recently heard that Jiang Zhaolie and Qin Yao have a much deeper relationship than we thought. It’s not just the surface-level familial connection we assumed. They might actually be.”

Yu Sui’an instantly turned her gaze toward the manager, who only responded with an inscrutable smile.

After long consideration, for the sake of her future, Yu Sui’an finally relented. “Fine.”

Seeing that Yu Sui’an had truly taken his words to heart, the manager continued, “I’ll handle things with the company for you. But as for Zhao Ciying,” he said seriously, “that’s up to you.”

Yu Sui’an nodded, her voice quiet and subdued. “I understand.”

Yet after the manager left, she still couldn’t shake her unwillingness. Unable to resist, she dialed Xu Chun’s number. Her heart pounded nervously, afraid the other wouldn’t answer only for the call to be picked up instantly this time. The voice she couldn’t forget quickly sounded in her ears. “What is it?”

Yu Sui’an’s heart raced wildly, as if it might burst from her chest.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her tension, and parted her dry lips to ask softly, “Sister, among Qin Yao, Jiang Zhaolie, Jiang Banxia, Zheng Jinchan, Zheng Yanran, Zhao Ciying, or anyone else I didn’t name.” She closed her eyes, her hands unconsciously clenching tight.

“Is there anyone you particularly like?”

After speaking, Yu Sui’an pressed her lips together tightly, like a prisoner awaiting judgment, her head spinning and ears ringing.

Hearing this, Xu Chun couldn’t help but glance at Qin Yao and Zhao Ciying beside her, as well as Jiang Banxia and Zheng Jinchan, who had just arrived. “I like them all quite a bit. Why?”

Yu Sui’an: “?”

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