After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 73

Xu Chun instinctively glanced at Qin Yao, her eyes filled with deep suspicion. During the days she had been isolated filming, what exactly had Qin Yao secretly taught Jiang Zhaolie? How could the other’s attitude have undergone such a dramatic reversal?

Upon receiving Xu Chun’s questioning gaze, Qin Yao casually glanced at Jiang Zhaolie.

Jiang Zhaolie snapped out of her excitement immediately. Suppressing the joy on her face, she regained her usual composed demeanor, cleared her throat, and considerately took the luggage from Xu Chun’s hands like a perfect gentleman. Then, turning to Xu Chun’s assistants, she said, “We’ll take her from here. You can head back first.”

The assistants looked at Xu Chun, and after seeing her nod, one of them added, “Then I’ll have two bodyguards accompany Sister Xu Chun.”

Jiang Zhaolie was about to speak again, but this time Qin Yao cut her off first, politely declining, “No need. I’ll be responsible for her safety.”

With Qin Yao saying so, though the assistant was still uneasy, she had no choice but to agree since Xu Chun also consented. As the bodyguards and assistants gradually left, Xu Chun’s surroundings quickly emptied. Jiang Zhaolie eagerly and proactively pulled her suitcases, staring at Xu Chun with wide, unblinking eyes, her desire for praise unmistakable.

Xu Chun’s intention to chat with Qin Yao was instantly disrupted. Struck speechless for a moment, she couldn’t help but wonder, what was wrong with this person?

Had it only been a few months since they last met? Why did she suddenly seem like such a bootlicker?

Not particularly keen on meeting Jiang Zhaolie’s sparkling gaze, Xu Chun grabbed the remaining suitcase and prepared to move, only for it to suddenly vanish from her grip. Looking up, she saw it now held securely in Qin Yao’s slender fingers and fair palm. Qin Yao’s expression remained unchanged, as if this were the most natural action in the world. “Let’s go,” she said.

At Qin Yao’s voice, Xu Chun snapped back to reality and hurried to follow, making small talk as they walked. “This place is so remote. Wasn’t it troublesome for you two to come all the way here?”

“Not at all,” Jiang Zhaolie interjected before Qin Yao could answer. “We were already in the area for work.”

Finally having Xu Chun’s attention, Jiang Zhaolie couldn’t help but beam with delight. “It was just a small detour. No need to be polite with us.”

Xu Chun shot her a glance and bluntly replied, “I wasn’t asking you.”

Jiang Zhaolie’s smile froze instantly before fading entirely. Her lips pressed into a tight line, her expression wilting like frostbitten eggplant, visibly deflated.

Her dramatic shift in mood drew another subtle glance from Qin Yao. The air grew heavy for a couple of seconds before Qin Yao decisively dismissed her. “Go bring the car around.”

Qin Yao stopped walking, standing still as she calmly watched Jiang Zhaolie. Jiang Zhaolie blinked in confusion, wanting to refuse, but under Qin Yao’s unyielding presence, her chest tightened. Eventually, she lowered her head in submission and murmured, “Okay.”

She felt a pang of disappointment in her heart. After months apart from Xu Chun, she had hoped to spend more time with her, but Jiang Zhaolie glanced at Qin Yao’s naturally authoritative expression and finally released her grip on the suitcase, reluctantly shuffling toward the parking lot.

Jiang Zhaolie silently comforted herself now that Xu Chun had finished filming, there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. She refused to believe Xu Chun would avoid her to the point of even refusing to see Qin Yao.

At that moment, Jiang Zhaolie felt immensely grateful that Qin Yao had always personally guided her without letting other matters create distance between them. Otherwise, she’d have nowhere to cry her heart out.

After Jiang Zhaolie left, Xu Chun turned to Qin Yao with delight in her eyes and casually asked the question that had been on her mind: “Sister Qin, where are we going for dinner? Your place?”

Since Qin Yao had been the one to suggest the meal, Xu Chun assumed they might be gathering at her home. With Jiang Zhaolie tagging along today and mentioning they had been on a business trip nearby, Xu Chun deduced that Qin Yao had likely arranged her schedule first before coincidentally learning she was filming nearby hence the kind offer to give her a ride back. After all, one more or one less passenger wouldn’t make much difference to her.

But just as Xu Chun finished piecing together this theory in her mind, Qin Yao met her gaze and shook her head seriously. “No.” A faint smile curved her red lips. “We’re going to your place.”

Xu Chun’s mind instantly filled with question marks. “???” Huh?

“My place?” She was stunned and nearly blurted out “why?” when a sudden realization struck her maybe her mother had arranged this in advance. Given her parents’ current collaboration with Qin Yao, it wouldn’t be strange for them to deepen their acquaintance and extend a polite dinner invitation.

Xu Chun nodded to herself. Yes, that must be it.

Qin Yao observed her shifting expressions but offered no explanation. “Yes, I’ve already spoken with Madam Xu.”

Hearing this, Xu Chun mentally gave herself a thumbs-up exactly as she thought. She beamed. “That’s perfect! You’ve helped me so much before, and I haven’t had the chance to properly thank you. Our housekeeper cooks exceptionally well, I’ll make sure she prepares some delicious dishes for you tonight.”

Qin Yao nodded, her eyes softening slightly. “Good.”

Jiang Zhaolie, eager to see Xu Chun again, moved her car over at record speed. After parking, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed to load both Xu Chun’s and Qin Yao’s suitcases into the trunk. Watching her efficiency, Xu Chun nodded approvingly though the girl had been annoying in the past, at least she was somewhat sensible now and knew how to read the room.

As Xu Chun stared thoughtfully at Jiang Zhaolie, the latter suddenly looked up and caught sight of Xu Chun’s oddly benevolent expression. Pausing mid-motion, Jiang Zhaolie hesitated. “…?”

Why was the other person looking at her with such a kindly, almost parental expression?

Before she could dwell on it, Qin Yao opened the rear car door and gestured for Xu Chun to get in. Catching the signal, Xu Chun immediately averted her gaze and climbed into the car without a backward glance, all under Qin Yao’s watchful eyes.

Jiang Zhaolie paused mid-way through loading the luggage, suddenly overcome with an inexplicable pang of bitterness.

So today, she was just an emotionless moving laborer?

Her prolonged delay prompted Qin Yao to glance her way before striding over. With effortless efficiency, Qin Yao hoisted the remaining bags into the car with both hands, then fixed her with a steady gaze. “Get in.”

Snapping out of it, Jiang Zhaolie nodded, only to freeze at the last moment before entering.

Was she supposed to drive?

Her eyes darted between Qin Yao, who had naturally taken the back seat, and the conspicuously empty driver’s seat. Swallowing her pride, she buckled up while mentally coaching herself: Get used to it. This is just the beginning, there’ll be plenty more scenes like this. Adapt quickly to maintain family harmony.

Through this self-hypnosis, Jiang Zhaolie soon resigned herself to dutifully chauffeuring the pair.

Given the unusual circumstances of their return to headquarters, Qin Yao had opted against flying, choosing instead to make the dozen-hour drive. Initially, when Jiang Zhaolie was driving, both Xu Chun and Qin Yao sat together in the back. Later, when Qin Yao took over the wheel, Xu Chun promptly shoved Jiang Zhaolie aside to ride shotgun beside Qin Yao, leaving Jiang Zhaolie abandoned in the back without so much as a glance.

Then when it was Xu Chun’s turn to drive, Qin Yao occupied the passenger seat Xu Chun had vacated, the two moving in perfect sync without leaving Jiang Zhaolie the slightest opening.

As the car stereo played softly, Jiang Zhaolie watched the two in front chatting animatedly despite the grueling journey, gaining sudden crystalline clarity about the saying “human joys and sorrows are not shared.”

She didn’t belong in this car, she belonged under it.

Xu Chun had no objections to Qin Yao’s road trip plan. With her vacation already underway, losing a day or two meant little, and this was a perfect opportunity to reconnect. Though she’d kept tabs on Qin Yao online, the unreported details fascinated her more.

The car’s mellow music paired perfectly with Qin Yao’s rich, melodic voice, making every second together pure bliss for Xu Chun. The atmosphere grew so warm that Xu Chun found herself mesmerized by Qin Yao’s striking features, the actual words flowing in one ear and out the other.

If only that meddlesome third wheel weren’t cramping their style. Xu Chun glanced at the rearview mirror without Jiang Zhaolie, their long-anticipated reunion could have been far more explosive.

Jiang Zhaolie naturally noticed the other person’s disdain toward her. Unable to help herself, she lowered her head in grievance, her heart filled with an unbearably sour bitterness. For a moment, it felt as if a knife were twisting in her chest, her entire body turning cold. However, after this strange emotion surged up once more, Jiang Zhaolie quickly regained her composure and swiftly hypnotized herself into thinking: This won’t do, jealousy makes women lose their rationality.

If she were to act foolishly and stir up trouble, her fate would undoubtedly end up worse than Yu Sui’an’s.

Qin Yao wasn’t as gentle in her methods as Jiang Banxia. Jiang Banxia was still young, after all, and couldn’t bring herself to be truly ruthless. But Qin Yao was different, Jiang Zhaolie had personally witnessed how Qin Yao dealt with people, even if they were her own blood relatives.

Jiang Zhaolie silently resolved to behave herself. Though it would be painful to only look but not touch, at least she could still see Xu Chun every day, talk to her, and interact normally.

Most importantly: It wouldn’t be long before she and Xu Chun became family this was something Yu Sui’an could never match.

The blessings she enjoyed now were beyond anything Yu Sui’an could ever dream of, even in her next life.

Support