After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 97

Jiang Zhaolie also realized she had spoken out of turn and immediately shut her mouth, falling silent.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ciying withdrew her gaze and turned her attention back to Xu Chun, who was still clinging to her without any intention of letting go. Judging by the situation, Xu Chun wouldn’t relent until she acknowledged her as her mother. Zhao Ciying initially considered forcefully shaking Xu Chun off to free her legs, but then an image flashed through her mind, Qin Yao following Xu Chun’s lead and calling her “Mom” as well.

Better not.

A sudden shiver ran down her spine. The thought was amusing, but Qin Yao probably wouldn’t comply so easily.

Besides, hearing someone as mature and composed as Qin Yao call her that it just felt bizarre. If Qin Yao actually did it a few times, Zhao Ciying was certain it would take years off her life.

Still young and full of vigor, she had no intention of meeting an untimely demise.

Rather than seeking petty verbal victories over Qin Yao, tangible benefits in business were far more satisfying. After all, if love wasn’t going her way, at least the corporate world could offer her a few triumphs.

In the end, Zhao Ciying ruthlessly pushed Xu Chun away. “Careful, or Qin Yao might rush over and give you a domestic beating.”

Xu Chun’s lips twitched. Domestic violence? That was a bit extreme. While she didn’t believe Qin Yao would ever stoop to such undignified behavior, she couldn’t rule out the possibility of retaliation in other forms.

So, like Jiang Zhaolie, Xu Chun promptly sealed her lips, refusing to utter another word on the matter.

Xu Chun had just regained consciousness and still needed rest. But her thoughts were preoccupied with Qin Yao and Zheng Jinchan, so she tugged at Zheng Yanran’s sleeve and asked for updates. Upon learning that Zheng Jinchan remained unconscious and might never wake up condemned to a vegetative state, Xu Chun fell silent for a long moment before struggling to rise from the hospital bed. “I want to see her.”

Zhao Ciying and Jiang Zhaolie disapprovingly tried to stop her. “You’re not fully recovered yet, and it’s not like she’s going anywhere.”

“I want to see her,” Xu Chun repeated firmly, lifting her gaze to meet theirs.

After a long pause, Zhao Ciying and Jiang Zhaolie relented and let her go. Jiang Zhaolie moved to support her, but Xu Chun sidestepped the gesture, leaving her awkwardly retracting her hands. “I’ll take you there,” Jiang Zhaolie offered.

“Thank you,” Xu Chun murmured, pressing her lips together. Though still weak from her illness, her slender frame stood straight as she walked slowly but resolutely toward Zheng Jinchan’s room.

Zheng Yanran opened her mouth to call out to her, but no words came. By the time Xu Chun stepped inside, it was already too late.

Had she ever resented Xu Chun for what had happened to Zheng Jinchan? Maybe a little after all, the woman lying in that bed was her mother. But Zheng Yanran also knew, with painful clarity, that even if given another chance, even if Zheng Jinchan had known the consequences, she would have rushed forward without hesitation, stretching out those warm hands of hers to shield Xu Chun.

Because on that fateful day, no one else could have saved Xu Chun.

If even Zheng Jinchan had turned a blind eye, Xu Chun would have been left with no escape from death. So without a second thought, she had stepped forward, wrapping the younger woman someone neither too close nor too distant securely beneath her protective wings.

Zheng Yanran’s throat tightened with emotion. Seeing Xu Chun return safely, she finally felt a weight lift from her heart. Yet if heaven truly favored good people, she wished her mother could also awaken smoothly.

Jiang Banxia gently patted her shoulder. “We’ll find the best doctors in the world to treat Aunt Zheng.”

“At any cost,” Jiang Banxia said firmly, enunciating each word. Zheng Yanran forced a weak smile. “Thank you. If Mom knew so many people were working tirelessly for her, she’d be overjoyed.”

Jiang Banxia studied her for a long moment. “Aunt Zheng will recover.”

Xu Chun would move heaven and earth to ensure Zheng Jinchan’s recovery, and Qin Yao would spare no expense to bring her back to consciousness. Neither of them were ungrateful souls Jiang Banxia trusted them and her own judgment.

Xu Chun quietly took a seat by Zheng Jinchan’s hospital bed, gazing at the elder woman whose once sharp, meticulously made-up face now appeared gentle and kind. Her eyes stung.

She knew Zheng Jinchan had suffered severe injuries, but she never imagined they would leave her trapped in a coma or worse, conscious yet imprisoned in a broken body, unable to communicate with the outside world.

Unable to convey her thoughts, unable to be understood, she was confined to a solitary prison of her own, isolated and despairing.

Xu Chun almost couldn’t bear to look at Zheng Jinchan’s face, fear driving her to instinctively avert her gaze. But after a pause, she forced herself to look back and whispered, “Sister Zheng, wait for me.”

No matter what it took, she would bring her back.

After speaking with Zheng Jinchan for a while, Xu Chun rose and headed to another ward. Qin Yao still hadn’t woken. The bullet had missed her heart by half a centimeter any further deviation, and she would have met her maker on the spot. Fortunately, she had been blessed with protection.

Yet even if she awoke, the doctors insisted on several days of observation to ensure no complications before discharge. For the next six months, Qin Yao would need to take extreme care, avoiding exhaustion at all costs any strain could still prove fatal.

The news left Xu Chun trembling with both lingering fear and relief.

Had anything happened to Qin Yao, she wasn’t sure she could have endured. At some point, without her even realizing, Qin Yao had become the most vital part of her life. Losing her would have stripped the world of all meaning.

Somewhere along the way, Qin Yao had become her pillar of strength.

She was the force that emboldened Xu Chun to defy fate, to believe in overcoming destiny, and to persevere until now. Without Qin Yao, she might still be that nameless soul struggling helplessly in the mire of circumstance,

Weak and insignificant.

Xu Chun’s thoughts drifted until Jiang Zhaolie entered, interrupting her reverie. “You should go rest.”

Her face was alarmingly pale, her lips nearly bloodless. Jiang Zhaolie half-expected her to collapse on the spot.

Xu Chun was indeed quite exhausted and didn’t argue with Jiang Zhaolie. As she tried to stand up, she suddenly found her ankles in excruciating pain. She collapsed back onto the bed, looking at Jiang Zhaolie with dazed eyes. “Are my legs useless now?”

Jiang Zhaolie followed her gaze downward and after a moment of silence said, “Probably just sprained.”

“Stay here and don’t move. I’ll go find you a wheelchair,” she said before immediately making a phone call. Xu Chun obediently remained seated on the edge of the bed.

She was puzzled the pain hadn’t been there just moments ago.

Frowning in thought, she suddenly realized: Could the anesthesia be wearing off? Was that why the pain had suddenly become unbearable?

Whether it was psychological or not, Xu Chun soon felt sharp pains spreading throughout her body. Clenching her jaw, she tried to maintain composure, but Jiang Banxia saw through her instantly. “The first few days are like this. Try to endure it,” she said, bringing over some pre-prepared porridge. “Or you could eat something and distract yourself with your phone.”

Jiang Banxia kept Xu Chun company for quite some time, chatting with her and watching her finish the porridge. With her attention diverted, Xu Chun found the pain more bearable.

However, after eating and when Jiang Zhaolie returned with the wheelchair, the pain came surging back with such intensity that Xu Chun nearly lost her composure.

Back in her hospital room, with everyone either busy or gone, Xu Chun idly switched between apps on her phone. It was only then she discovered that Zhou Shiyu had been arrested by the police from the very beginning and still hadn’t been released.

Of course with someone as prominent as her disappearing in front of a national audience, even if Zhou Shiyu wasn’t the mastermind or was completely innocent, she would still be investigated. What Xu Chun couldn’t understand was why Zhou Shiyu would do this to her when they had no grudges between them.

A few words from her wouldn’t have posed any threat to Zhou Shiyu.

Moreover, Zhou Shiyu had previously gone out of her way to act like they were close. Wouldn’t abandoning her later be like slapping her own face?

Lying on her side and scrolling through her phone, Xu Chun had just finished reading about Zhou Shiyu’s situation when she came across another shocking piece of news, Jiang Banxia’s father and Yu Sui’an were both dead?!

She sat bolt upright in bed, rubbing her eyes vigorously. After rereading the article multiple times to confirm she wasn’t hallucinating or dreaming, she was left utterly bewildered.

How could this be?

Wasn’t Yu Sui’an the female lead? How could she be dead?

Wait. Xu Chun’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as realization dawned. If Yu Sui’an was dead, did that mean, no one could threaten her life anymore?

In the original story, all of the original host’s suffering stemmed from Yu Sui’an. With Yu Sui’an gone and unable to cause any more trouble, did this mean she had completely broken free from the shackles of fate?!

In that instant, Xu Chun’s heart began racing wildly.

Perhaps,  she was truly free now. No longer needing to live in fear fear of her family being torn apart, fear of her parents being implicated by her actions, fear of seeing their lifelong efforts go to waste. Most importantly, she no longer had to fear that at the very moment happiness seemed within reach, she’d be cruelly cast back into despair.

There’s nothing crueler in this world than having hope snatched away. But now, all the obstacles standing in her way would vanish with Yu Sui’an’s death.

As for Jiang Zhaolie, Xu Chun pondered. As long as Qin Yao was around, Jiang wouldn’t dare act recklessly, so she could practically be ignored.

Within a few breaths, Xu Chun had already assessed her current situation. After meticulously reviewing her past, present, and future multiple times, confirming everything was safe, she finally let out a long sigh of relief. It felt as though the dark clouds looming over her had gradually dispersed after the storm, leaving only clear skies.

She had waited for this day for far too long.

So long that she’d begun doubting whether she’d ever succeed. So long that at this final moment, those around her had nearly lost their lives because of her.

Xu Chun clutched her phone tightly, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.

Joy, guilt, sorrow, gratitude this fleeting moment felt richer than most of her life up until now.

She lay back down and had just started browsing netizens’ reactions to Yu Sui’an’s death when Jiang Zhaolie strode in.

“You already know?”

Xu Chun glanced up lazily. “Get to the point.”

Jiang Zhaolie hesitated, then said, “It’s for the best.” She walked closer. “Now that she’s dead, she can’t secretly plot against you anymore.”

Jiang Zhaolie’s feelings about Yu Sui’an’s death were equally complex. Though she had despised Yu, even treating her as a rival to guard against, the sudden loss of such a vibrant life left her unsettled. It made her wonder, would she, too, one day vanish without a trace?

If she were to disappear like Yu Sui’an, would Xu Chun shed even a single tear for her?

Or would she remain as indifferent as she was now, utterly unmoved by Yu’s death?

Anxiety gnawed at Jiang Zhaolie. She wanted to press for answers, but she knew Xu Chun well enough, she’d only provoke her further. Suppressing her curiosity, she changed the subject.

“She fell accidentally during an argument with Chairman Jiang.”

“Probably out of sheer resentment in her final moments, she dragged him down with her.”

Xu Chun frowned. “I thought they were close?”

“Hardly.” Jiang Zhaolie scoffed. “The old man’s health was failing, so he started eyeing his children for organ matches. Yu Sui’an was unlucky, she was a match.”

So it was no surprise she refused to go quietly, especially at the end.

Taking the one responsible for her suffering down with her that was exactly the kind of thing Yu Sui’an would do to settle her grudges.

Little did they expect that after both fell from the building, neither could be saved.

In the end, Jiang Banxia became the unexpected winner, Jiang Zhaolie thought silently.

When Xu Chun learned the truth from Jiang Zhaolie, she couldn’t help but sigh. She had disliked Jiang Zhaolie before, but now, realizing that Yu Sui’an’s downfall was partly due to Jiang Zhaolie cutting ties with her in time never enabling or supporting her some of her resentment toward Jiang Zhaolie finally faded.

Otherwise, today’s outcome might have been ten times worse.

Jiang Zhaolie keenly noticed the shift in Xu Chun’s attitude, though she didn’t understand why. Tentatively, she called out, “…Mom?”

Xu Chun lifted her eyelids and glanced at her. “Speak.”

Her tone was still cold, not exactly warm, but noticeably gentler than when she had snapped at her to spit it out earlier. Suppressing her joy, Jiang Zhaolie cheerfully called again, “Mom! What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you!”

Xu Chun: “?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

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