After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 93

Zhou Shiyu pretended not to see the barrage of comments in the live stream, maintaining a gentle smile as she nonchalantly exited the vehicle.

Xu Chun was briefly roused by the noise but ultimately succumbed to the medication’s effects. She hazily caught a glimpse of Zhou Shiyu’s blurred figure before uncontrollably drifting back to sleep.

The bus continued onward, heading toward an unknown destination.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Yao immediately called Xu Chun, but there was no response from the person on the other end. With a darkened expression, Qin Yao ignored Zhao Ciying’s attempt to console her with, “Isn’t the production crew there?” and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Suppressing her inner turmoil, she issued a command to the head of security, “Go after her immediately. Bring her back.”

“Disregard the show. Her safety comes first.”

Her stern tone made Zhao Ciying straighten up instinctively, her mind racing with conspiracy theories. How could Xu Chun have coincidentally caught a cold at this exact moment? How could she have taken medication right before boarding public transportation? And why had Zhou Shiyu conveniently failed to wake Xu Chun when getting off?

Having navigated society’s complexities for years, Zhao Ciying quickly sensed something amiss. The series of coincidences seemed too orchestrated, as if someone had meticulously planned everything behind the scenes.

She glanced up at Qin Yao’s visibly agitated demeanor and finally understood why she was treating this as a crisis.

“Don’t panic. I’ve already arranged for discreet protection overseas.” Before she could finish, the office television screen showed a chaotic crowd suddenly swarming in front of the bus. Then, without warning, gunfire and explosions erupted violently.

On the large screen, flames usually only seen in dramas erupted in an instant. The deafening gunfire grew closer, and figures strapped with explosives charged into view. Everyone’s hearts clenched in that moment, breaths held unconsciously.

No way.

This couldn’t be happening.

That was everyone’s initial thought. It was just a variety show, how could such a horrific situation occur? And of all times, why when Xu Chun was alone without any assistance?

She was still sick!

Back at the hotel, Director Guo nearly fainted at the sight. He grabbed his walkie-talkie, frantically ordering his trusted team, “Quick! Contact local authorities immediately! Get them to rescue Xu Chun now!”

If anything happened to Xu Chun on his show, he’d never forgive himself.

Terror-stricken, Director Guo was overwhelmed with regret. He should have insisted on Xu Chun having a bodyguard. At least then, in an emergency, someone could have protected her. Now! He sighed heavily, praying Xu Chun would be spared by sheer luck and emerge unharmed.

As everyone watched the screen with bated breath, Xu Chun was finally jolted awake by the intensifying gunfire.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she had returned to the film set from months ago. But as her vision refocused and she took in the chaotic scene before her, along with the familiar store signs lining the street, the realization struck her, she was currently recording a variety show.

The passengers on the bus had already panicked upon facing the suicide bomber, pushing and shoving desperately to escape. The disorderly rush clogged the rear exit completely. Those trying to flee, those halfway off the bus, and the relentless pushing from behind soon someone fell to the ground, trampled mercilessly under countless feet in the chaos.

Xu Chun, still not fully alert, watched helplessly as the fallen person struggled before going completely still. A bone-chilling dread seized her.

It was only when her phone rang again that she snapped back to reality. Hastily pushing open the window, she clumsily clambered out and jumped down, stumbling a few steps before regaining her footing. The instant she steadied herself, she saw the assailant charging toward her. Without another thought, she turned and bolted into a nearby alley.

Though her head still throbbed painfully, the brief nap had helped somewhat. As her mind cleared slightly, she pondered the situation, the more she thought, the more bizarre everything seemed.

How could a terrorist attack erupt so suddenly in such a peaceful place?

The area’s security had always been excellent. Whether it was Director Guo, Qin Yao, or even herself, they’d all thoroughly researched it beforehand. Yet today’s events had clearly blindsided everyone.

Xu Chun couldn’t help suspecting these attackers had come for her personally.

But aside from Yu Sui’an and Shen Shutong, she couldn’t think of anyone else who might hold a grudge. Zhou Shiyu? They’d only met days ago. Even if Zhou wanted to harm her now, wouldn’t she fear immediate retribution upon returning to China?

Unless she planned to abandon her career back home.

Strangely, Xu Chun’s thoughts grew razor-sharp in this crisis. She considered one possibility, if someone offered massive funds to stage an elaborate scheme against a target, with guarantees of complete deniability, wouldn’t someone like Zhou Shiyu desperately needing money likely agree?

This explained her instinctive distrust of Zhou from their first meeting she’d sensed the danger radiating from the woman.

But who stood behind Zhou Shiyu? Why go to such lengths against her  though perhaps it wasn’t excessive effort. Killing her abroad would be far simpler than doing so domestically.

Chaos was expected overseas. If she died here, people would merely lament her tragic fate, a rising star cut down in her prime, her youth and life frozen at this moment.

But why should she accept this?

After struggling so hard to break free from destiny’s shackles, why should she submit to this predetermined death?

Xu Chun hid inside a nearby house, took down her live-streaming phone, and stared unblinkingly at the screen with her dark eyes. Her slightly pale lips curled into a bright smile. “Sister Zhou, I hope the next time we meet, you can explain to me why you left me alone in the car.”

“Was it because you thought I was safe and it didn’t matter, or was there some other special reason?”

With that, she decisively ended the live stream and retreated into the darkness alone. If someone truly wanted to harm or kill her, continuous live streaming would only hasten her demise.

Every move she made would be exposed under the enemy’s watchful eyes, making it effortless for them to track her down and erase her from this beautiful world.

The screen plunged into darkness. Qin Yao gazed at the blackness for a long while before suddenly letting out a soft chuckle. She was still the same unchanged from her past life unyielding even in the face of death, determined to tear a few chunks of flesh from others before going down.

But Xu Chun’s actions were highly effective. In an instant, the hashtag #ZhouShiAndXuChun# trended on social media. Netizens, having never encountered such a shocking scandal on a show before, couldn’t help but spiral into conspiracy theories under Xu Chun’s subtle guidance. [What did Sister Xu mean just now? Does someone want her dead? And is Zhou Shiyu in cahoots with them?]

[No way, this is the entertainment industry, not some lawless wasteland. If Zhou Shiyu really did this, what happens when she returns to the country?]

[What happens? She’ll stay abroad forever, living off her dirty money in hiding.]

[Is there a chance those people never expected Xu Chun to lay everything out so blatantly for all of us to see?]

[Possibly, but my Sister Xu is such a popular star, how could she still face threats like this?]

[What’s so surprising? The more famous you are, the bigger the threats. It’s an age-old rule. All we can hope for now is that Xu Chun stays safe and returns home unharmed.]

Since this was the first time anyone had encountered something that seemed straight out of a TV drama, the entire internet erupted into heated debates and wild speculations about “Who wants Xu Chun dead?”

Big shots and conspiracy theorists alike jumped into the fray, digging up every domestic and international faction, nearly exposing their deepest secrets in the process.

Amidst this frenzy, certain individuals who had initially remained calm, assuming everything would go smoothly, finally began to panic.

Yu Sui’an stared at the news on her phone with mixed emotions. She had endured too much lately her father’s coercion and emotional blackmail, the aggressive pressure from his other illegitimate children, and Jiang Banxia’s cold indifference to her pleas for help. Each burden weighed on her like a boulder, suffocating her.

In this state of mental collapse, Yu Sui’an couldn’t help but resent Xu Chun.

If it weren’t for Xu Chun, she would still be the beloved star of the entertainment industry, living a glamorous life where everything went her way, basking in endless success.

But ever since Xu Chun showed her no respect and completely tore off all pretenses on the dating show, everything had changed. It was like an omen, causing her once bright future to suddenly take a drastic turn for the worse, spiraling downward until she reached the miserable state she was in today.

Every time she woke from a nightmare in the dead of night, Yu Sui’an couldn’t help but think, if only Xu Chun had never existed. No, if only she had been more ruthless back then, if she had acted faster and ensured Xu Chun was blacklisted overnight, erased from the entertainment industry, she would never have ended up like this.

Some thoughts, once they take root, become impossible to suppress. Especially now, when Yu Sui’an had been cornered by everyone, her mind was nearly consumed by the desire for Xu Chun to die.

Why was she the one struggling so miserably while Xu Chun thrived in the spotlight, basking in success?

Why was she forced to hide like a sewer rat, unseen and unwanted, while Xu Chun was surrounded by admirers, living in glory?

Yu Sui’an seethed with hatred and resentment. She wanted Xu Chun to suffer the same fate no, worse.

She wanted Xu Chun dead.

It had become an obsession. She even indulged in fantasies of staging a comeback, crushing everyone who had wronged her beneath her feet, watching them beg for mercy in tears.

Xu Chun would be no exception.

If possible, she wanted to deal with Xu Chun herself, to watch her suffer a fate worse than death, to see her family ruined.

This was the conviction that had kept her going until now, when she saw the news of Xu Chun facing danger abroad. Her emotions were tangled. Part of her wished Xu Chun would die in that attack, while another part wanted her to return safely, so she could destroy her with her own hands.

But reality gave her no time for such fantasies. Just then, Jiang Zhigang pushed open the hospital room door and strode in, his smile sinister.

“My dear sister, why be so stubborn? Just say the word, and your bright future will be restored. Father will favor you above all else, what could you possibly lose?”

He leaned closer. “After all, out of all his children, you’re the only one who’s a match. The rest of us can only envy such fortune.”

Before he could finish, Yu Sui’an grabbed a vase and smashed it against his head. Her voice was low. “Get out.”

Jiang Zhigang instinctively touched his head his fingers came away wet, and a sharp pain followed. Enraged, he seized Yu Sui’an by the throat.

“Listen here, Yu. Don’t push your luck. Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter the surgery date is already set.”

He laughed coldly. “Let’s see how tough you are next month.”

With that, he flung her aside and stormed out, bellowing, “Nurse! Come bandage this!”

Yu Sui’an collapsed onto the bed, her body icy, her face drained of color.

She refused to believe it, nor would she resign herself to fate. She couldn’t accept that her life would be so wretched, reduced to mere fish on a chopping block, letting others pick and choose what they wanted from her.

Yu Sui’an slowly lowered her head. Want what’s mine? Let’s see if you live long enough to get it.

Xu Chun was actually quite panicked. Due to the drugs, her normally robust body now felt weak and limp, preventing her from utilizing even half of her usual skills. The self-defense techniques she’d been diligently practicing could only muster thirty to forty percent of their usual effectiveness.

Slowing her breathing, she hid in the darkness, watching as group after group of armed people passed by, scanning their surroundings clearly searching for someone.

And that someone being hunted was undoubtedly herself.

Yet no matter how hard Xu Chun racked her brain, she couldn’t figure out who would want her dead so badly. She might have offended some people, but surely not enough to warrant being killed at this opportunity?

Crouching on the ground with her knees hugged to her chest, Xu Chun tried to calm herself.

When one perspective fails, try another. If it wasn’t personal enemies, perhaps it was her parents’ business rivals. But the only names that came to mind, Yang Xingyan and his ilk had long since fled back to their hometowns in disgrace, utterly incapable of mobilizing such manpower abroad.

If not her parents, then the only other person Xu Chun could think of with close ties to her was Qin Yao.

In recent years, Qin Yao’s methods hadn’t been exactly gentle. If someone had guessed about their special relationship and wanted to strike a blow at Qin Yao by eliminating her, it wasn’t impossible.

Xu Chun lightly pursed her lips, inexplicably picturing Qiao Wan’s figure in her mind.

From the moment she arrived, there had been friction with Qiao Wan, yet she’d never once met Qiao Wan’s father, Chairman Qiao.

Though it was unreasonable to suspect someone without evidence, Xu Chun considered how the Qiao and Qin corporations had each dominated their respective market shares for years without change. But now, with Qin Corporation’s rise, Qiao Corporation would inevitably be affected, leading to shrinking market shares.

If that were the case, the Qiao family wouldn’t just sit back. They might even completely sever ties with Qin Yao, triggering a new round of bloody reshuffling.

Where there are people, there are conflicts. Even if Qin Yao and the Qiao family were relatives, brothers turning against each other was hardly rare anymore.

Lost in thought, Xu Chun failed to notice the movements around her until a flashlight beam suddenly illuminated her hiding spot. Every hair on her body stood on end as she instinctively grabbed the nearest object and swung.

Just as the wooden stick was about to connect with the intruder’s head, Zheng Jinchan expressionlessly blocked the attack. “Seeing red? Even attacking me.”

Xu Chun froze mid-motion, then immediately dropped the stick in delighted surprise, springing up like an eager puppy with shining eyes in the dim light. “President Zheng!”

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