After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 82

Yu Sui’an’s face turned ashen, her mood plummeting to rock bottom. Perhaps due to the alcohol, Jiang Zhaolie was acting particularly arrogant at the moment, even pointing at Yu Sui’an with schadenfreude. “Your days of comfort are over, you know that?”

“You showed no mercy when you framed Xu Chun before. Now that my mother is with her, she’ll definitely settle old scores with you on Xu Chun’s behalf.” Jiang Zhaolie smiled brightly, her expression appearing utterly detestable in Yu Sui’an’s eyes. Oblivious to her own unwelcome presence, Jiang Zhaolie continued provoking: “Once my mother makes her move, it won’t matter if your biological father comes begging not even the mightiest immortal could save you then.”

Though Jiang Zhaolie’s words were unpleasant, they likely reflected the probable course of events. The thought that everything Yu Sui’an had painstakingly built could be effortlessly destroyed by Qin Yao finally shattered her composure.

Clenching her teeth, Yu Sui’an retaliated with sarcasm, determined to make Jiang Zhaolie equally miserable. “What difference is there between you and me?”

“Haven’t you done plenty to hurt sister before? Not only did you dislike her, but you publicly declared your hatred during a live broadcast, unilaterally breaking off the engagement in front of all those social elites, humiliating her and turning her into a laughingstock.” Yu Sui’an’s voice was icy. “Do you really think you’re any better than me?”

“Not much better, I admit,” Jiang Zhaolie didn’t deny it. “I acknowledge I’ve done many things I shouldn’t have to her.”

Her gaze burned with disdain as she stared at Yu Sui’an. “But from now on, I’ll respectfully call her ‘Mother’ every single day. Can you do that?”

Perhaps it was Yu Sui’an’s imagination, but she thought she detected a hint of pride and smugness on Jiang Zhaolie’s face. “Not only that, I’ll devote the rest of my life to serving her without complaint. Could you do that?”

“In fact, I’m willing to hand over all my wealth even my life to her. Could you possibly match that level of commitment?”

Jiang Zhaolie’s unexpected barrage of three pointed questions left Yu Sui’an speechless on the spot. With a mocking smile, Jiang Zhaolie added, “You refuse to make any sacrifices or amends, yet you keep claiming how deeply you love sister, pretending to be so devoted. The truth is, you don’t love her at all. You’re just brainwashing yourself to ease your guilt.”

“Yu Sui’an, you’re something else. You’ve deluded yourself for so long that you’ve almost started believing your own lies,”

“Shut up!” As if struck by her words, Yu Sui’an suddenly exploded in fury. After a moment, realizing her raised voice had drawn attention from those nearby, she pressed her lips together and lowered her tone, threatening Jiang Zhaolie. “Stop lecturing me.”

“My affairs are none of your business.”

Her gaze darkened, her eyes filled with venom as she glared up at Jiang Zhaolie. Unfazed, Jiang Zhaolie retorted, “Don’t flatter yourself. Don’t think for a second that I care about you or anything like that.”

Jiang Zhaolie curled her lips, “You’d better show me some respect from now on, or I’ll have my mom deal with you later.”

After a pause, she continued, “And I’ll go straight to Xu Chun and give her a vivid description of your true colors, making sure she feels sick at the mere thought of you and never forgives you in this lifetime.”

“You!” Yu Sui’an seemed genuinely provoked, grabbing a wine bottle from the table as if to hurl it at her. Jiang Zhaolie swiftly dodged to the side, staring at her in disbelief, “You actually dare to raise a hand against me?”

Yu Sui’an froze, instinctively setting the bottle down. Unrelenting, Jiang Zhaolie picked up her coat, not even daring to finish her drink, and headed for the exit while muttering incessantly, “Yu Sui’an, you’re done for. My two moms no, all four of them, won’t let you off the hook!”

“Just wait till I finish complaining to my three living moms. Then I’ll go burn incense at my birth mother’s grave and have her teach you a lesson from the afterlife!”

“It’s downright unjust that a wicked person like you is still alive and well today.”

Fearing Yu Sui’an might chase after her with the bottle to crack her skull open, Jiang Zhaolie bolted. Yu Sui’an stood rooted in fury, glaring venomously at her retreating figure.

Why?

Why could Jiang Zhaolie make so many mistakes yet be forgiven and protected by everyone, while she, after just one misstep, was despised and loathed, trampled into the mud with no hope of ever rising again?

Jiang Zhaolie was clearly worse than her!

Yu Sui’an clenched her fists tightly. She refused to accept this. She wouldn’t submit to fate and let these people humiliate and oppress her.

Lowering her lashes, the only solace she had now was her identity as the Jiang family’s illegitimate daughter though scorned, she didn’t care. Winners took all, and one day, the entire Jiang family would be hers.

For now, the most urgent matter was to attend to the remaining clients.

Thinking of those lecherous, ill-intentioned rich second-generation heirs, Yu Sui’an frowned deeply.

If not for needing their help, she’d gladly smash a beer bottle over each of their heads.

Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile back on her face and turned around. As long as she endured this period, her future would be bright and full of promise.

Outside the bar, the cold air sobered Jiang Zhaolie slightly. She immediately regretted provoking Yu Sui’an so much, but then again, what was said couldn’t be unsaid. So be it.

At least she’d avenged Xu Chun by infuriating Yu Sui’an.

At the thought of Xu Chun, Jiang Zhaolie’s eyes dimmed. There was no turning back now from today onward, she could only address her respectfully as “stepmother.”

She sighed softly, recalling her own words spending the rest of her life serving Xu Chun wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, apart from her mother, she was the only one who could get close to Xu Chun, and the one most intimately connected to her by status.

Not the worst outcome.

Xu Chun lay in bed sneezing several times in a row, utterly baffled about which bastard was badmouthing her behind her back. After mentally running through a list of suspects, she pinpointed the likely culprits, Yu Sui’an’s few remaining fans.

No one else would hate her this much.

After muttering a few curses in retaliation, she got up to wash her face and brush her teeth. Gritting her teeth against the soreness in her body, she moved slowly, step by step, like an eighty-year-old grandmother, shuffling out of the room.

Her gaze swept the surroundings, but there was no sign of Qin Yao. She picked up her phone, about to ask if Qin Yao had already left, when suddenly the study door next to her swung open from the inside. Xu Chun was startled by the unexpected figure.

Only after recognizing Qin Yao’s face did she freeze, hesitating over whether to throw herself into her arms.

But Qin Yao was far more decisive, she pulled Xu Chun into an embrace. “Awake now?”

Xu Chun nodded.

“Lunch is ready,” Qin Yao said. “Let’s go.” She took Xu Chun’s slightly chilled hand and took a step forward.

When Xu Chun didn’t move, Qin Yao simply scooped her up in a princess carry and strode toward the dining room.

Xu Chun’s vision blurred for a moment before her line of sight abruptly rose, expanding her field of view. The unfamiliar height fascinated her, and even after Qin Yao set her down, she still felt reluctant to let go.

So this is what it feels like to be tall lofty, as if everything is under control. She gazed at Qin Yao with envy.

After seating her, Qin Yao instructed the housekeeper to bring out the prepared dishes, then proactively shared her plans for the afternoon. “I’m heading to Zhao Ciying’s company later.”

Xu Chun understood, she was going to collect a debt.

“Do you want to go out for some fresh air?” Qin Yao asked politely.

Xu Chun immediately shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Qin Yao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Then rest well at home today.”

“There’s plenty of snacks just ask the housekeeper if you want anything. Or if you’d rather be alone, I can have her stay in her room so she won’t disturb you.”

Xu Chun didn’t mind either way. What she cared about more was, “What time will you be back tonight?”

“Probably around nine or ten, barring any surprises.” Qin Yao gave her a meaningful look. “But if I can wrap things up quickly, I’ll try to come home earlier.”

The suggestive tone made Xu Chun’s ears burn, and she shivered uncontrollably, nearly dropping her chopsticks.

Yet when she heard Qin Yao say “home,” warmth inexplicably bloomed in her chest. Her turbulent life, adrift and unsettled, seemed to have finally found a place to take root.

After lunch, Qin Yao left without delay. Curled up on the sofa, Xu Chun stared at the luxurious but unfamiliar emptiness of the house, her emotions tangled. She didn’t know if she had gambled right, but in this moment, she truly felt happy.

She lounged comfortably on the sofa, scrolling through her phone to catch up on all the news she’d missed while filming. Just as she was engrossed, her manager’s call suddenly came through. “Resting?”

“Mhm,” Xu Chun answered the call. “What’s up, Sister Yang?”

“You remember the promotional schedule for Secret Crush, right? Next week.” The manager answered her own question, “Use these few days to focus on your figure and image management, don’t slack off.”

“Remember to watch your diet and exercise.”

“Got it, got it,” Xu Chun interrupted. “And avoid stirring up trouble, right?”

The manager chuckled. “Smart girl. By the way, Yu Sui’an won’t be appearing during promotions you knew that, right?”

“Huh?” Xu Chun blinked this was news to her. The manager’s voice turned cold through the speaker, “Since she’s already left the industry, there’s no need for her to get involved in entertainment matters anymore.”

“I’m sure the production team will communicate with her to issue a statement voluntarily. You don’t need to worry about this; the team will handle everything before promotions officially begin.”

Xu Chun nodded. Working with Sister Yang was reliable, she hadn’t faced any real worries in over a year.

After a brief exchange, Xu Chun hung up and happily resumed scrolling. Meanwhile, when Yu Sui’an received the production team’s call and understood their intentions, she gripped her phone in disbelief. “What do you mean?”

“Sorry, I don’t quite follow.”

“I’m the female lead’s counterpart, even if I’ve left the industry, I’m still one of the main actors. You have no right to stop me from participating in promotional activities.” Yu Sui’an burned with anger, but she had to keep her tone polite. “Besides, without me, the main cast is incomplete. The audience won’t accept it.”

“That’s not your concern, Miss Yu.” The other party ignored her words. “We simply hope you’ll voluntarily post a statement on Weibo to briefly explain the situation.”

“This drama is your hard work too, you wouldn’t want it affected because of personal reasons, right?”

Yu Sui’an felt her entire body ache with fury. Her voice unconsciously lowered. “What if I refuse?”

“You’ll agree.” The other person chuckled, hinting pointedly, “Your father doesn’t want you involved with the entertainment industry anymore, does he? Given your current circumstances, you can’t defy him, can you?”

“Besides, your reputation isn’t what it used to be. If you force your way in, it’ll only make things difficult for us.”

His words were blunt. Yu Sui’an clenched her teeth. “What exactly are you implying? Are you threatening me on behalf of the production team?”

“I’ve said all I need to. Please consider carefully.” With that, he added meaningfully, “Don’t lose more than you gain over something trivial, Miss Yu. It’s not worth it.”

Yu Sui’an was furious and wanted to shout at him, but the other party hung up decisively, leaving her no chance at all. Distraught, she smashed her phone in anger. Had it really come to this where just anyone could push her around now?

Her father’s constant meddling in her life was distressing enough, and the relentless pressure from his illegitimate children only added to her frustration. It seemed that ever since she returned to the Jiang family, nothing had gone her way.

Her face darkened with rage, her mood hitting rock bottom at that moment.

Yet she refused to believe the production team would drop her so easily. After all, her influence in the entertainment industry had once been second to none. Suppressing her agitation, she waited to see their final decision.

But before she could calm down for long, her father called to check on the task he had assigned her earlier. “Have you won over those people yet?”

“No,” Yu Sui’an replied after a brief silence. Almost the instant the word left her lips, her father exploded. “Useless! Can’t even handle such a simple task!”

“Are you still dreaming about returning to the entertainment industry? Forget it. Get your ass back home now. Just looking at you all pisses me off, a bunch of good-for-nothings!” His harsh words twisted her expression, and for a fleeting moment, she regretted her hasty decision to leave the industry.

Had she not acted so impulsively back then, perhaps she wouldn’t be in such a dire, helpless situation now.

Clutching her phone, she suddenly felt like laughing at her own arrogance, at her underestimation of the enemy.

But who could have guessed that Jiang Banxia, who appeared so upright and gentle on the surface, would be so ruthless in her methods, relentless until her opponent was driven to the brink?

Qin Yao listened to Secretary Zhao’s report without any visible reaction. “If she won’t post it, then so be it. Inform the team to prepare their explanation in advance.”

By now, every potential ally Yu Sui’an might have relied on had either been pulled into Qin Yao’s camp or, swayed by her current influence, refused to provoke her for the sake of a mere illegitimate daughter. Especially after the rumors she had deliberately spread, most had wisely declared their stance, repeatedly assuring they wouldn’t interfere.

Yu Sui’an was now isolated, incapable of making waves.

After settling accounts with Zhao Ciying over yesterday’s losses, Qin Yao flashed her a smile. “Looking forward to our future cooperation, President Zhao.”

Zhao Ciying felt her blood pressure spike at the sight of Qin Yao. She wanted nothing more than to kick her out of the office immediately, so she remained unmoved by Qin Yao’s charming smile. “Cut the nonsense. When the time comes, I won’t hold back.”

“Suit yourself.” With that infuriating remark, Qin Yao left with Secretary Zhao in tow.

Zhao Ciying watched as her stepsister obeyed Qin Yao’s every whim, her resentment boiling over until she kicked the table. That woman got all the advantages. Arms crossed, she was fuming when her phone suddenly rang. Expressionless, she picked it up and saw the name “Yu Sui’an” glaring back at her.

“You’d better have something important,” Zhao Ciying said through narrowed eyes, her tone sharp.

Yu Sui’an’s carefully rehearsed words caught in her throat, and it took her a moment to find her voice again. “President Zhao, I was hoping you could help me with something.”

“Help you?” Zhao Ciying, already seething with pent-up anger, scoffed at Yu Sui’an’s audacity. “What makes you think you’re in any position to ask me for favors?”

“Yu Sui’an, have you forgotten? I still haven’t settled the score with you for what happened before.”

Yu Sui’an’s last hope crumbled as Zhao Ciying’s words sent her heart plunging into an icy abyss. Her face paled, her body trembling uncontrollably. She wanted to beg again, to grovel, but Zhao Ciying had already hung up without hesitation.

At that moment, Yu Sui’an finally realized with utter despair: she was finished.

All the luck she once had, the influential connections she effortlessly made, the wishes she easily fulfilled they had all slipped away from her bit by bit, unnoticed until now.

Now, she was just an ordinary person, utterly unremarkable.

No, worse than ordinary. Ordinary people at least lived peaceful, content lives. But she was surrounded by enemies, with wolves ahead and tigers behind. One wrong move, and she’d be driven to ruin.

Clutching her phone, her entire body cold, she finally made a decision after a long silence.

Xu Chun had been happily enjoying the drama when, to her surprise, she found herself dragged into it.

Yu Sui’an, who had been absent from the public eye for a while, unexpectedly posted a new Weibo update. The gist of it was an apology for not being able to participate in the promotional activities for “Secret Heartbeats,” along with sincere wishes for the drama’s success and Xu Chun’s happiness and career prosperity. The tone was humble and gracious.

Xu Chun frowned at the post, baffled. Since when did Yu Sui’an willingly post something like this?

It was more shocking than if Yu Sui’an had suddenly turned over a new leaf.

Just as Xu Chun clicked into the comments section, Qin Yao returned. She immediately set her phone aside and stood to greet her, only to be pulled into a tight embrace. A flurry of heated kisses followed, leaving Xu Chun stunned.

“…?!”

Her eyes widened in shock.

Seriously? Was it even possible for someone to pull an all-nighter, work nonstop the next day, and still have this much energy left?

She studied Qin Yao’s radiant, energetic appearance and reluctantly admitted to herself: Maybe, some people could.

Like the one right in front of her.

But just because Qin Yao could handle it didn’t mean she could! Her back and legs were still sore!

Support