After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 87

Xu Chun entered Qin Yao’s study to find the desk cluttered with items. She stood frozen at the doorway, hands clasped demurely in front of her, her bright eyes fixed unblinkingly on Qin Yao.

Qin Yao looked up from her documents, studied her for two full seconds, then asked, “They’ve all left?”

“P-probably,” Xu Chun answered uncertainly. Jiang Zhaolie had no reason to stay any longer, and Zhou Yuying even less so.

She pricked up her ears and listened carefully until she heard the sound of the door opening and closing. Finally certain, she confirmed, “They’re all gone.”

A faintly amused glint surfaced in Qin Yao’s eyes. Xu Chun fidgeted awkwardly with her fingers before shuffling over to sit on the sofa. With exaggerated seriousness, she said, “Sis, I want to keep you company here.” She blinked up at Qin Yao with pleading eyes. “I won’t disturb you, will I?”

“You won’t.” Qin Yao set aside the documents she’d finished reviewing and remarked casually, “The Qin Corporation has become too conspicuous lately.”

Xu Chun was momentarily taken aback before understanding dawned. The Qin Corporation had ridden the wave of variety shows to surge ahead, significantly boosting its strength and firmly establishing its dominant position in the industry. Initially, others might have been too wary to entertain any ulterior motives, but over time, as the actual data revealed how much of a threat Qin Corporation posed, the number of people looking to retaliate and take a bite out of it would multiply like fish in a river.

An individual’s power might be insignificant, perhaps posing no real threat to the Qin Corporation. But what if those people united against it?

Then, no matter how powerful the Qin Corporation was, it might still fall victim to schemes and capsize in a ditch.

The taller the tree, the stronger the wind, this principle has held true since ancient times.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Chun suddenly thought of a possibility. “Right now, we’re…” She hesitated. “Surrounded by enemies on all sides?”

She remembered her former rumored love interest, Qiao Wan. The Qiao family seemed to be in the same business as the Qins. Xu Chun racked her memory: the Qiao Group was a renowned pharmaceutical conglomerate, second only to the Qin Corporation. Together, these two giants controlled nearly 80% of the pharmaceutical market.

If ordinary pharmaceutical companies could claim 10% of the market, then the Qiao and Qin groups split the remaining 40% and 50% respectively, a position virtually unshakable. But these were the figures before the Qin Corporation’s variety show appearances and further expansion. By now, the Qiao family’s market share had likely been squeezed down to just 20-30%.

So it made perfect sense for the two families to turn against each other at this point.

Qin Yao nodded, inevitably recalling her past life when Xu Chun, sharp-eyed and keen-eared, had single-handedly uncovered numerous Qiao family spies within the company. She caught them one after another with such precision that Qin Yao often wondered if she had some special talent.

Back during the variety show, Bai Xianxian, who had been on good terms with Xu Chun, had been sent by the Qiao family. The reason Qin Yao had made such a grand spectacle on the show was twofold: first, to warn the Qiao family not to overstep their bounds, and second, to buy time for the company to grow and strengthen itself while the Qiao family, duly warned, hesitated to act rashly until the company became powerful enough to be impervious to any threats.

Over the past period, Qin Yao had already cleaned up the company personnel based on the list of spies Xu Chun had identified in their previous life. Recent personnel changes had caused quite a stir, making everyone nervous for a while. But now, all key positions were filled with people she could trust.

Qin Yao had made such a bold and public display of her actions that even if some harbored discontent, they could only swallow it. With the entire Qin Corporation now under public scrutiny, the slightest movement would immediately attract media attention. So Qin Yao was confident they wouldn’t dare overreach.

Now that Qin Yao had completed most of the necessary purges and reorganizations, the company had largely met her expectations. There was no need to keep it exposed to public view any longer.

“Innocence invites trouble when one possesses treasure.” The Qin Corporation was such a lucrative prize that few would remain indifferent.

So her next step was to shroud the entire Qin Corporation in shadow, cutting off all information leaks. With the enemy in the light and herself in the dark, her room for maneuvering and counterattacks would be much greater.

Seeing Xu Chun’s nervous expression, Qin Yao’s stern demeanor softened slightly. “It’s nothing major. I have it under control.”

“I’m just giving you a heads-up. The company will be fine, so don’t worry too much if you see any negative news about it later.”

Xu Chun suddenly understood. So that was it.

She nodded, then remembered the contract her manager had sent her that morning. “If all goes well, I should be going abroad next month to film a variety show,” she explained. “It’s Director Guo’s program again.”

Director Guo had denied the online rumors about the show having a campus theme. Instead, it would be a two-month journey around the world, aiming to showcase different countries’ cultures and customs through travel, emphasizing the concept of a global village.

For Xu Chun, who had been exhausted from filming for most of the year, this immediately translated to, a fully funded vacation to relax and unwind.

So she signed the contract without hesitation. “Opportunities once missed are missed forever.” If she let this chance slip, there wouldn’t be another.

Moreover, she and Director Guo seemed to work well together, achieving mutual success. Every time she appeared on his shows, her popularity soared. His programs were like her golden finger, a loophole that allowed her to resist the original plot’s constraints.

Whether it was the dating show or the subsequent workplace variety show, they had all propelled her fate forward significantly. So this time, her expectations for the filming were unprecedentedly high.

Qin Yao frowned upon hearing this. According to the information Zheng Jinchan had provided, many foreign countries weren’t very safe lately.

Some nations were in turmoil, others embroiled in wars. She wanted to stop Xu Chun from going, but seeing the eager look in her eyes, Qin Yao pressed her lips together and finally gave a slight nod. “I’ll arrange more bodyguards for you then.”

Xu Chun didn’t refuse. In fact, she agreed happily. She figured she might go on a shopping spree during the trip, so having extra bodyguards around would be perfect for carrying her bags!

Xu Chun’s face instantly lit up with joy, as if she could already see herself enjoying a happy life traveling abroad.

Qin Yao watched her silly grin and couldn’t help but sigh softly, deciding to have a proper talk with Zheng Jinchan when things were less busy in a couple of days.

Sitting on the sofa, Xu Chun went on a shopping spree across various shopping apps.

She clicked on Xu Wei’s profile, initially intending to ask her to receive the packages. But after some thought, she changed the delivery address to her current location instead.

By the time she finished her enthusiastic shopping spree, the sky had darkened, and it was time for the latest episode of “Secret Heartbeat.” So Xu Chun switched to hugging her phone, engrossed in catching up on her drama.

To be honest, ever since Qin Yao secretly re-edited the melodramatic plot of the show, the storyline had become incredibly satisfying. Watching Yu Sui’an’s timid and helpless demeanor in the drama, Xu Chun inexplicably saw flashes of the original host being cornered by Yu Sui’an desperately pleading but ultimately unable to save herself or her family from despair.

A sharp pain surged through her heart. Xu Chun furrowed her brows slightly and silently comforted herself: [It’s okay. I’m here now, and I won’t let history repeat itself.]

As this thought settled, the pain in her chest gradually subsided.

After this episode, Xu Chun lost interest in the drama. She glanced at Qin Yao, then quietly slipped out of the study and onto the balcony, staring blankly at the night sky.

But she didn’t get much time to space out before He Qingli’s message popped up: [Sister Xu Chun, my parents have me under house arrest. Can you come pick me up tomorrow and say you’re taking me out to play?]

[Given your parents’ status, my folks will definitely let me go with you.]

Xu Chun was shocked. [How could they do this?]

He Qingli clutched her phone, distressed. The day before, her parents had lured her home with the excuse of her grandfather’s illness, only to lock her in her room and forbid her from leaving. She had tried throwing tantrums and having heart-to-hearts with her mother, but nothing worked.

Now, she was stuck waiting in her room for the so-called blind date her parents had arranged someone she had never met and had no interest in. Unwilling to comply, she could only think of Xu Chun as her way out. Given the Xu family’s rising influence, her parents would at least show some respect.

Recognizing the urgency, Xu Chun immediately replied with an agreement, informed Qin Yao, and set off early the next morning to drive to the He residence.

The He family lived in an upscale villa district. After navigating for a while, Xu Chun parked nearby and walked up to ring the doorbell alone. A security guard peeked out. “Who are you looking for?”

Xu Chun turned slightly. “I’m He Qingli’s friend, Xu Chun. I’m here to discuss some work matters with her.”

The security guard instinctively raised his hand to shoo her away, but upon hearing the surname Xu, he became more cautious. “Wait a moment,” he said before turning to pick up his phone and make a call. After a brief murmured conversation, seemingly having received approval, he nodded at Xu Chun. “You may enter.”

Xu Chun smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

The He family’s wealth was evident in their luxurious estate. Xu Chun walked for several minutes in her flats before reaching the entrance. Just as she was about to enter, someone approached and gestured, “This way, Miss Xu.”

Glancing inside at the shadowy figures, it seemed there were guests. Remembering He Qingli’s instructions from the night before, Xu Chun nodded silently and followed without a word.

They wound through a maze of paths until Xu Chun began doubting whether this person was truly sent by He Qingli. Finally, they stopped before a small building. “Miss Xu, Qingli is waiting for you inside.”

Xu Chun studied the door before stepping in slowly.

He Qingli was on the second-floor balcony. Spotting Xu Chun, her eyes lit up as she rushed over. “Sister Xu Chun, I’m so sorry to trouble you like this.” Her voice choked slightly. “I really didn’t want to bother you, but I had no other choice.”

“It’s alright,” Xu Chun reassured her. “Shall we leave now?”

He Qingli’s expression turned troubled. “The man my parents arranged for me to meet and his parents have already arrived.” She gave a self-deprecating smile. “They’re probably having a wonderful conversation right now.”

With guards at the main gate, leaving now would likely require force. Xu Chun frowned slightly, she should have brought more bodyguards. As she considered calling Qin Yao for help, He Qingli took a deep breath. “I’ll go down and tell them clearly.”

Whatever the outcome, she had to try.

Seeing her determination, Xu Chun didn’t stop her. “I’ll go with you.”

As they descended, they encountered He Qingli’s mother. The matriarch studied her daughter, then Xu Chun, finding her vaguely familiar but unable to place her. Turning back to her daughter, she asked, “And this is?”

“Sister Xu Chun, here to pick me up,” He Qingli replied.

At this, Madam He immediately grabbed her daughter’s wrist tightly. “Absolutely not! You’re not going anywhere with her!” After snapping at her daughter, her gaze turned hostile toward Xu Chun. “Miss Xu, I sincerely hope you won’t interfere in other families’ matters. It won’t end well for you.”

Xu Chun arched an eyebrow. “I regard Qingli as my younger sister. Her concerns are mine.” Her eyes shifted to Madam He’s grip on He Qingli’s wrist. “Madam He, as an elder, I respect you. That’s why I don’t wish to cause any conflict today.”

Madam He sneered. “Spare me your pretty words, Miss Xu. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

“Mom!” He Qingli cried out. “I don’t like him at all! Why do you keep forcing me? Do I have to die before you’ll be happy?!”

Her voice instantly drew everyone out of the room. But at this moment, He Qingli seemed on the verge of a mental breakdown, unable to stop herself from shouting at Mrs. He, “Am I really your daughter, or just a puppet in your hands? Does being your daughter mean I have to keep sacrificing myself for the family’s benefit?”

“Do you even see me as your child?!”

Being publicly humiliated by his daughter like this, Mr. He’s face immediately darkened. His expression grim, he strode forward, about to speak, when a screeching brake sound came from outside.

Almost simultaneously, Mrs. He’s phone rang. The security guard’s panicked voice came through, “Madam, it’s terrible! That friend of Miss He’s, Fu Xin, seems to have been hit by a car at the gate. There’s so much blood.”

Support