After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 95

Xu Chunyu wordlessly pulled Zheng Jinchan’s hand away from her forehead, having no time to bicker now.

Their pursuers caught up, and gunfire erupted almost immediately. The building shielding Xu Chun beside her shattered into rubble, kicking up a thin layer of dust.

Her freshly cleaned face was instantly smeared with grime, nearly unrecognizable.

But she had no time to care. Focused entirely on following Zheng Jinchan through their frantic evasion, she narrowly avoided a stray bullet that grazed her arm, had she not stumbled over loose debris at that moment, she might have been bleeding on the spot.

Finally finding a brief respite, Xu Chunyu’s gaze lingered on Zheng Jinchan’s equally disheveled face, and an uneasy premonition coiled in her chest.

It felt like the calm before a storm, something heavy pressing down on her, stealing her breath.

Yet, seeing Zheng Jinchan’s composed demeanor, utterly unshaken, Xu Chunyu forced the unease down and matched her playful banter, pretending nothing was wrong.

But as days passed, even Zheng Jinchan’s smiles dwindled, her expression turning so grave that Xu Chunyu hesitated to disturb her. Clutching her nearly dead phone, she debated messaging Qin Yao but feared dragging her into danger.

Then Zheng Jinchan spoke: “Send Qin Yao and Zhao Ciying our current location.”

Xu Chunyu looked up. The glamour of her striking features was long gone, though her poise still faintly echoed the grace of a top celebrity.

Under Zheng Jinchan’s steady gaze, she complied. Later, she’d be endlessly grateful for that decision shortly after sending the coordinates, another wave of pursuers closed in, and both her personal and show phones were lost in the chaos, vanishing without a trace.

From then on, Xu Chunyu was completely cut off from the outside world.

Her only hope now rested on Zheng Jinchan. During a rare moment of rest at night, she murmured, “Zheng-jie,  your phone’s still with you, right?” Her lashes lowered. “We can still reach someone out there, can’t we?”

“Mn.” Zheng Jinchan’s reply was brief, offering nothing more.

Xu Chunyu didn’t press. At least, there was still hope, wasn’t there? Some truths, if dug too deep, could be too cruel to bear.

She changed the subject. “Actually, I never got to ask you.” She met Zheng Jinchan’s eyes. “You were supposed to be handling business that day, why did you suddenly come looking for me?”

She hadn’t bought Zheng Jinchan’s earlier excuses.

To understand how busy Zheng Jinchan was, one only needed to look at Qin Yao as a reference. Moreover, Zheng Jinchan frequently traveled abroad, so she must have had some awareness of the situation here. Even under normal circumstances, most people wouldn’t let their guard down, let alone during such a critical time. Yet, despite knowing the danger she’d face, she had come without hesitation to save Xu Chun’s life multiple times. Xu Chun didn’t believe that the simple reason Zheng Jinchan had given could justify such actions.

Xu Chun looked at her, meeting the stubbornness in Zheng Jinchan’s eyes. Zheng Jinchan’s lips twitched as she stubbornly stuck to her earlier explanation: “Just a coincidence.”

“If I’d known there’d be so much trouble, I wouldn’t have come,” she said, glancing sideways at Xu Chun, her tone unyielding. Seizing the chance to shift the topic, she turned the question back on Xu Chun, “Who exactly did you piss off? Someone really wants you dead.”

Xu Chun fell silent. Zheng Jinchan pressed on, rambling, “When is Qin Yao coming? What did she say to you earlier?”

“Didn’t get a chance to check, lost my phone,” Xu Chun replied.

After a brief silence, Zheng Jinchan couldn’t help but sigh. Over the past few days of fleeing, their path had grown increasingly remote, and their group had dwindled. The bodyguards Qin Yao had assigned to them had either gotten separated along the way or been injured, forcing Xu Chun and Zheng Jinchan to leave them behind with instructions to regroup with their contacts once the pursuers were diverted, recover from their injuries, and relay the news as soon as possible.

Now, their only hope was Qin Yao.

The incident had blown up online, and Qin Yao had been informed immediately. Logically, she should have arrived by now, but days had passed without a word from her, deepening Xu Chun’s unease.

Qin Yao, like Xu Chun, was just a stepping stone for the protagonists. If Xu Chun had ended up in this state, was Qin Yao faring any better?

The thought made Xu Chun restless. Unable to sit still any longer, she abruptly stood up and began pacing, her face etched with anxiety.

Zheng Jinchan, dizzy from the movement, groaned, “Stop moving around you’re making me nauseous.”

Xu Chun opened her mouth to retort but suddenly froze. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly crouched down, her voice urgent. “Are you hurt?!” she shouted, cutting herself off mid-sentence.

The wet, sticky liquid on her palm confirmed her suspicion in an instant.

Her careless touch elicited a muffled grunt from Zheng Jinchan. Startled, Xu Chun jerked her hand away, her expression tense. “Does it hurt?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how pointless they were. Of course it hurt, would Zheng Jinchan react like this if it didn’t?

Her eyes stung. Xu Chun took a deep breath. “When did this happen?” She leaned in for a closer look but was stopped by Zheng Jinchan’s hand.

“Forgot,” Zheng Jinchan said dismissively. “Probably been a while.”

Her tone was as casual as if she were discussing the weather. Xu Chun wanted to scold her, but the sight of the blood trembling on her own palm made her press her lips together. In the end, she said nothing.

After what felt like an eternity, Xu Chun stood up. “I’ll go find some hemostatic medicine.”

“No need.” Zheng Jinchan grabbed her arm firmly, rejecting the offer. At this point, there was no reason to unnecessarily expose Xu Chun to danger again. Zheng Jinchan coughed weakly, her voice frail, “Sit back down and wait quietly for Qin Yao.”

Wait for Qin Yao? Xu Chun had no idea how long it would take Qin Yao to arrive, nor whether she was even in a position to help. Placing their hopes on someone else at this critical juncture seemed utterly unwise. Unwilling to comply, Xu Chun stubbornly insisted on leaving, “Wait here for me. I’ll be back soon.”

Zheng Jinchan, usually so accommodating, was uncharacteristically obstinate this time and refused to agree.

The two stared each other down, neither willing to yield.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense until one of the bodyguards glanced between Xu Chun and Zheng Jinchan. “I’ll go,” he volunteered. “A young girl like you would be an easy target. I, on the other hand, am tall and sturdy much better at slipping away if trouble arises.”

Given the notoriously poor security in this area, his reasoning made sense. After a moment’s consideration, Xu Chun nodded. “Alright, but be careful.”

“Whether you find the medicine or not, return in half an hour.”

The bodyguard adjusted his coat and slipped away quietly. After he left, Xu Chun stared aimlessly at her wristwatch as she waited. Just as the agreed-upon time approached, rustling sounds finally came from outside. Eagerly, she craned her neck to peek out only to be met with a bullet grazing her cheek, instantly searing her skin with pain.

At that moment, Xu Chun cursed the shooter’s ancestors eighteen generations back. She no longer cared where the bodyguard had gone; her mind was consumed by a single thought: Run! Take Zheng Jinchan and run!

Without a second thought, she spun around and grabbed Zheng Jinchan’s hand, but the woman pushed her away and shook her head. “You go first.”

How could Xu Chun possibly abandon her? She plopped back down beside Zheng Jinchan defiantly. “Not leaving? Fine, neither will I. We’ll die together maybe we’ll even keep each other company in the next life.”

Her childish tantrum left Zheng Jinchan with no choice. Gritting her teeth, she finally stood up and sighed, “Let’s go.”

Only then did Xu Chun rise, her senses on high alert. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on their side today, and they soon found themselves in a dead-end alley. Feeling the weight of the gun she’d picked up earlier and kept hidden, Xu Chun decisively tucked Zheng Jinchan into a hiding spot before crouching on the opposite side, her sharp gaze fixed on the narrow gap ahead.

Figures moved in the shadows, and soon, another body dropped. The attackers hesitated, no longer daring to advance recklessly.

“Good shot,” Zheng Jinchan praised weakly.

Xu Chun grinned and turned to her. “Of course. I trained with an instructor for a while.”

She suddenly felt immensely grateful for her last role in a spy drama and for the firearms training she’d undergone to better portray her character. Without that, even the finest weapon in her hands would have been wasted today.

Xu Chun held the gun tightly and exchanged a few words with Zheng Jinchan before falling silent, her eyes fixed intently on the entrance. So focused was she that she momentarily forgot about Zheng Jinchan. When she finally remembered and turned to speak again, she realized the other woman had already passed out.

Panic instantly gripped Xu Chun as she hurried over in small steps. “Director Zheng? Director Zheng?” she called softly, but there was no response. Examining the wound, she noticed signs of inflammation and swelling around it. If this continued, things would only get worse.

After crouching silently for a long while, Xu Chun gritted her teeth and carefully hoisted Zheng Jinchan onto her back.

By now, only the two of them remained in their desperate escape. The others had either scattered or were too injured to help. Carrying Zheng Jinchan was exhausting. With one hand gripping the gun and the other steadying herself against the wall, Xu Chun surveyed the surrounding paths. Every intersection loomed like the gaping maw of a beast, ready to swallow them whole without a trace.

Closing her eyes briefly, Xu Chun finally chose a direction based on instinct.

Their pursuers hadn’t caught up immediately, but days of relentless fleeing had pushed her to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion. Zheng Jinchan drifted in and out of consciousness, her brief moments of lucidity overshadowed by a raging fever that left Xu Chun deeply worried yet helpless.

Two more days of aimless hiding stretched Xu Chun’s nerves to their limit. By now, even the slightest rustle sent her into a defensive frenzy, her body reacting like a startled animal.

Her magazine was empty. Faced with an endless stream of enemies, she had no idea what to do next.

Should she just accept her fate? No, she refused.

She had fought tooth and nail to come this far. Neither Yu Sui’an nor Jiang Zhaolie had broken her. Was she really going to let Zheng Jinchan and herself die at the hands of some nameless foe?

The injustice of it burned inside her.

The resentment festered.

Though grief and despair churned within, Xu Chun’s face remained expressionless, her features taut. Clutching a knife she had wrested from someone’s grasp, she positioned herself protectively in front of Zheng Jinchan, believing herself calm and rational. Yet when the enemies finally revealed themselves towering figures who could crush her effortlessly her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Tilting her head up, her body screamed at her to stand and fight to the death. But the weapons in their hands made her reason whisper: Stop struggling pointlessly. At least this way, when Qin Yao finds your body, it’ll still be in one piece.

The leader sized her up briefly, confirmed her identity, and without hesitation raised his gun. A bitter thought flashed through Xu Chun’s mind: TV dramas really are full of nonsense villains who ramble endlessly, villains who die because they talk too much. Stupid tropes like that only exist in fiction.

She refused to close her eyes. Her dark gaze remained locked onto the man as she watched him pull the trigger.

A gunshot rang out but it wasn’t her head that exploded.

Xu Chun froze for a moment before her body reacted faster than her mind. Seizing the opportunity while everyone was still in chaos and confusion, she quickly picked up Zheng Jinchan and found a hiding spot.

The gunfire outside continued, with both sides exchanging fire for about ten minutes before gradually quieting down.

Xu Chun didn’t dare peek outside, fearing it might be the enemy’s trick to lure her out. Holding her breath, she minimized her presence until a pair of boots stopped before her. Strong yet gentle arms enveloped her completely. Cautiously raising her head, Xu Chun saw Qin Yao’s face, her hair slightly disheveled. Tears the size of beans finally burst forth, streaming down her cheeks like a breached dam.

Xu Chun’s lips moved, but no sound escaped her throat.

Qin Yao held her tightly, whispering soothingly, “It’s okay now. I’m here.”

All the grievances of these days surged up like a tidal wave. Unable to control herself, Xu Chun struck Qin Yao several times. “Why did you take so long.” Mid-sentence, rationality returned, and she suddenly remembered Zheng Jinchan beside her. Quickly pulling Qin Yao over, she pressed her lips together worriedly. “President Zheng was shot and now has a high fever. President Qin, please find a way to get her to the hospital.”

Qin Yao glanced back, and immediately, bodyguards stepped forward to carry Zheng Jinchan away.

“I’ve already arranged for a hospital. She’ll be taken there now,” Qin Yao reassured her. “Top doctors will treat her. She’ll be fine.”

Xu Chun’s heart was already adrift like duckweed, so hearing Qin Yao’s words, she silently affirmed to herself, as if self-hypnotizing: Zheng Jinchan will definitely be okay.

She might not trust herself, but she would always trust Qin Yao.

Once Zheng Jinchan’s safety was secured, Xu Chun’s taut nerves instantly relaxed. Suddenly, the world seemed to spin before her eyes, and she could barely stand steady. Qin Yao swiftly caught her, murmuring softly, “Once we leave here, we’ll take a good vacation and rest for a while.”

Xu Chun nodded. “Okay.”

“But before that, you need to be mentally prepared,” Qin Yao said.

Xu Chun looked up, about to ask what she meant, when gunfire erupted in the distance again. Instantly understanding, Xu Chun asked, “What about President Zheng?”

“Get her to the hospital first,” Qin Yao replied, though not to Xu Chun.

As she spoke, a team of bodyguards split off, escorting Zheng Jinchan silently into the darkness, disappearing without a trace.

Realizing Zheng Jinchan was safe, Xu Chun exhaled in relief, feeling as though her long-held obsession had finally been properly settled. It left her feeling lightheaded, almost unreal.

But Qin Yao soon pulled her back to reality. Protecting her while explaining, Qin Yao said, “Tonight is their last counterattack. It won’t be peaceful.” She turned, her deep eyes studying Xu Chun for a long moment. “You’re not in good shape. I’ll take you somewhere to rest.”

“I won’t go,” Xu Chun refused without hesitation.

Gazing into Qin Yao’s eyes, she enunciated each word clearly, “Even if it means death, I want to be with you.”

She never wanted to experience that constant, gnawing fear for someone she cared about ever again. So she’d rather stand by their side, living and dying together. No matter what happened, she wanted to witness it firsthand not be protected like some fragile dodder vine, forced to watch helplessly as they fought alone, her heart aching with nothing she could do.

Even if it meant getting hurt, even if it might cost her life, she was determined to stay by their side without hesitation.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but smile, her usually cool features breathtakingly beautiful in the dim light. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” she said, each word deliberate. She absolutely wouldn’t allow it.

Xu Chun was momentarily spellbound by that smile, her thoughts scattering.

It took her a long moment to regain her composure. She glared at Qin Yao inwardly really, even at a time like this, she had to be lethally gorgeous. But being cherished and protected by someone so beautiful even if she lost half her life today, she’d be happy.

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