After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 80

Qin Yao’s expression froze in disbelief, thinking she must be hearing things. Subconsciously, she let out a soft “Huh?”

Seeing no sign of rejection, Xu Chun grew bolder. She even rose on tiptoe, but finding herself still too short, decisively hooked her arms around Qin Yao’s neck and gently pulled down. Those full, lovely lips were now within kissing distance.

Closing her eyes slowly, she tilted her head slightly forward for a brief, butterfly-light kiss before quickly pulling away.

Xu Chun’s beautiful face was somewhat indistinct in the dim light, but her clear eyes burned bright with an almost hypnotic intensity. Forced to meet that gaze at close range, Qin Yao could smell that familiar fragrance – the same obscure perfume brand and roasted chestnut scent as before.

Sweet. Just like the girl herself at this moment, utterly heartwarming.

Qin Yao’s heart skipped a beat, then pounded violently several times, leaving her momentarily dazed.

“Well?” When Qin Yao remained silent, Xu Chun grew anxious. Today she’d finally mustered the courage from alcohol to charge forward for love. Being rejected now would be unbearably awkward.

Her impatience became visibly apparent. Coming back to her senses, Qin Yao asked as if needing confirmation, “What did you just say?”

Xu Chun’s eyes widened dramatically. “You weren’t even listening?” The heartbreak in her voice was palpable. Seeing those darting eyes, Qin Yao knew exactly what wild thoughts were running through her mind and couldn’t help laughing. “Of course I was.”

Tilting her head, Qin Yao pressed their lips together firmly for a long moment before murmuring against them, “My answer is yes.”

Rather than retreating, rather than disappearing completely from each other’s lives with no future connection, she wanted to exist in every second of Xu Chun’s remaining years – to share her tears and laughter, to help rewrite what she called a supporting character’s fate, to walk together until the very end.

Qin Yao acknowledged her own selfish greed. She knew this might lead Xu Chun down the same tragic path as before, yet she couldn’t bear to watch her slip away into someone else’s arms.

Just some Yu Sui’an after all. Qin Yao’s lowered lashes trembled slightly. This time she had absolute confidence in ensuring that woman would never rise again.

Not only that – for everything Yu owed her and Xu Chun in their past life, Qin Yao would make her repay tenfold, a hundredfold. Every heartbreak Xu Chun had endured, every hope crushed just as light seemed within reach, every wound inflicted when Yu dragged her down – Qin Yao would make Yu experience it all firsthand.

To kill the body and destroy the soul – this was Yu Sui’an’s specialty, her most skilled method. Now Qin Yao would use that very technique to make Yu watch her own tower rise, only to come crashing down.

The slight chill in Qin Yao’s expression didn’t escape Xu Chun’s notice. She blinked, about to ask, but Qin Yao had already composed herself without a trace. Distracted by that single “yes,” Xu Chun forgot about the odd moment, asking instead with joyful uncertainty, “Really?”

“You’re not lying to me?”

“Mm.” Qin Yao wasn’t angered by her distrust, merely saying softly, “When have I ever lied to you?”

Xu Chun thought carefully, then shook her head, eagerly taking Qin Yao’s hand and interlacing their fingers tightly. After taking this step, instead of the melancholy and apprehension she had imagined, Xu Chun felt an extraordinary sense of fulfillment and happiness.

It was as if, after drifting aimlessly in this world, she had finally found a sturdy tree she could lean on.

Yet, for some reason, at this very moment, she felt an urge to cry. Blinking hard, Xu Chun suppressed the inexplicable emotion. “So, from now on, we’re in a relationship,” she said.

“Yes,” Qin Yao replied, then gazed at her with smiling eyes and asked, “Can we take it a step further?”

Xu Chun looked at her in confusion, only to hear Qin Yao explain, “When you’re free, I’ll bring betrothal gifts to your parents to formalize our engagement.”

“I’ve already prepared the list of betrothal gifts, and your parents have seen it. Now, I’m just waiting for your approval.”

Xu Chun was utterly shocked: “???”

Huh?

She had just started dating, and now she was about to get married?

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared into Qin Yao’s deep gaze. “You’re joking, right?”

In response, Qin Yao gave her a “harmoniously kind” look. “Do I seem like I’m joking right now?”

Xu Chun: “…” Not really. But she had just mustered the courage to confess she hadn’t expected to jump straight into engagement and marriage!

Knowing Xu Chun’s inexplicable wariness in this regard, Qin Yao didn’t push her. “I’m just telling you my thoughts so you clearly understand my intentions, I want to be with you for the long haul. And I want you to know that no matter what happens, I’ll always be your support.”

“As for everything else, I’ll always respect your feelings.”

“I won’t force you. You can give me your answer whenever you’re happy and ready. And no matter what your answer is yes or no, I’ll love you unconditionally and give you everything I can.”

Qin Yao’s words were gentle, yet to Xu Chun, they struck like thunder, reverberating in her mind.

She couldn’t believe Qin Yao would be so direct and sincere in revealing her true feelings, nor could she fathom that Qin Yao had already made so many preparations for her without expecting anything in return.

The suppressed urge to cry surged up again, but this time, it was from overwhelming emotion.

After the broken engagement and the online harassment, Xu Chun had lost almost all trust in people. Yet Qin Yao seemed to know this, laying bare her heart so openly and unreservedly, piece by piece.

Even though Xu Chun’s parents in her original world were deeply in love, making her yearn for such a relationship, she had never imagined she’d be lucky enough to find someone like Qin Yao someone who cared for her wholeheartedly and loved her so completely.

Unable to hold back, Xu Chun buried herself in Qin Yao’s embrace, sniffling. “You prepared all this in advance does that mean you’ve had designs on me for a long time?”

Qin Yao smiled at her. “Probably.”

“Perhaps the ties from our past life weren’t completely severed, so in this lifetime, after learning you’d broken off your engagement with Zhaolie, I couldn’t help but want to claim you for myself.”

Qin Yao had always been so proper, where did this roguish, shameless side come from? Xu Chun’s ears burned at her words, and she couldn’t help but glare, muttering, “You’re being indecent.”

Qin Yao chuckled, then abruptly changed the subject, bringing up old grievances. “This afternoon, I recall you saying something like ‘children make choices, adults take everything,’ wasn’t it?”

Xu Chun’s expression froze instantly as she tried to weasel her way out. “I didn’t. You must have misheard.”

“Is that so?” Qin Yao hooked an arm around her slender waist. “But I remember it quite clearly. After all, you said it right to my face.”

Just as Xu Chun was about to protest, Qin Yao’s scorching kiss descended upon her like a storm. Unable to resist, she eventually gave in, surrendering wholeheartedly until they finally broke apart much later. Qin Yao gazed at her deeply before decisively ordering, “Get in the car.”

Xu Chun immediately lost her nerve, but Qin Yao seemed to read her mind, swiftly scooping her up and carrying her inside despite Xu Chun’s futile protests.

The car’s interior was unlit, the faint scent of Qin Yao’s perfume lingering in the air cool and aloof, giving off an unapproachable vibe. Qin Yao carried Xu Chun straight to the backseat, where in the darkness, every sensation was amplified. The slightest, gentlest movement stoked the fire burning within Xu Chun until it raged uncontrollably.

Overwhelmed, Xu Chun straddled Qin Yao’s lap and pleaded, “No more.” She struggled to steady her voice, her face burning as she whispered, “It’s too much.”

Qin Yao abruptly stilled, her voice low and husky, magnetic. “Let’s go home first.”

Xu Chun had initially intended to return to her own place, but after considering her disheveled appearance looking thoroughly ravished she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. Since it would come to this eventually anyway, she resigned herself and nodded obediently, hastily smoothing her clothes and hair before moving to the front seat with Qin Yao.

As the car started moving, Qin Yao focused on the road, her demeanor the picture of propriety. But after their earlier intimacy, Xu Chun knew all too well that this seemingly indifferent exterior hid a far more passionate nature.

Remembering those lingering, heated kisses, Xu Chun’s heartbeat raced uncontrollably once more.

Qin Yao owned countless properties, all regularly maintained, and since it was late, she chose the nearest one. The car soon pulled into the residential parking garage. Turning to Xu Chun, who had been staring at her in a daze the entire ride, Qin Yao softly announced, “We’re here.”

“Huh?” Xu Chun snapped out of her thoughts and hastily mumbled an acknowledgment, gathering her clothes as if to exit.

Qin Yao stopped her, handing over the coat from the backseat. “Put this on.”

Xu Chun instinctively glanced down at herself, then stole a look at her reflection in the mirror before silently accepting the offered coat. While she could afford to be mischievous momentarily, running into someone and having the incident exposed online would be rather troublesome to handle.

After all, her new drama was about to premiere soon, so it was best to avoid unnecessary complications at this critical juncture.

Come to think of it, she and Qin Yao should keep things quiet tonight, Xu Chun mused absentmindedly, since she would soon begin promotional activities following the production team’s schedule.

Lost in these random thoughts, she didn’t realize she had already stepped into Qin Yao’s home until she snapped back to reality. Her eyes darted around, failing to spot Qin Yao until she felt a light tug at her ankle. Only then did she notice the other woman crouching down to help her change shoes.

Xu Chun nearly jumped back in refusal, but Qin Yao was too quick, swiftly completing the task. Standing up, Qin Yao immediately towered over her, though her voice remained gentle. “I’ll get you some sleepwear to change into.”

Sleepwear to change into Xu Chun’s mental bus abruptly accelerated to over a hundred miles per hour, her heart pounding wildly.

Fortunately, she had just undergone full-body skincare treatments earlier that day, so a simple wash would suffice now. Dazed, she carried the clothes Qin Yao handed her into the bathroom. After Qin Yao briefly explained the setup, Xu Chun glanced at the vanity and nodded. “I know how everything works.”

Noticing her distracted state, Qin Yao said, “Let me know if you need anything later.”

“Okay.”

Once Qin Yao left, Xu Chun meticulously washed herself from head to toe. By the time she changed and stepped out, Qin Yao was in the study attending a meeting. Xu Chun instinctively softened her footsteps, picking up her phone to browse only to see a message from Qin Yao telling her to make herself at home and not be too formal.

Xu Chun replied with a simple “Okay,” before finally noticing a message from Xu Wei:

“[Sis, Mom’s already home. Why aren’t you back yet?]”

“[You promised to bring me snacks!]”

Xu Chun: “!” Oh no, she had completely forgotten.

“[How about tomorrow? I’ve got something going on today,]” she quickly replied before switching to another app.

She idly scrolled for what felt like ages until Qin Yao reappeared. Xu Chun noticed that the other woman seemed to have quietly freshened up. The flawless makeup had been completely removed, revealing her naturally well-maintained fair skin. The new smoke-gray sleepwear she wore accentuated her porcelain complexion, giving her an air of cool elegance tinged with warmth.

As Qin Yao slowly approached, Xu Chun couldn’t help but tense up.

Gazing at her nervous expression, Qin Yao was suddenly reminded of their wedding night in their past life, when she had barely stepped into the bedroom before Xu Chun pounced on her, stripping her clothes off without even letting her take a sip of water.

Stunned, Qin Yao hadn’t had a chance to resist before being pushed onto the bed, utterly helpless to escape.

Now, watching Xu Chun’s innocent, clueless expression, the corner of Qin Yao’s lips twitched.

Meanwhile, under Qin Yao’s gaze, Xu Chun felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine. She scrutinized Qin Yao’s expression, baffled. “…?”

Why did she suddenly feel like she was in danger tonight?

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