After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother - Chapter 98 (END OF MAIN STORY)

Xu Chun thought Jiang Zhaolie was a bit of a weirdo not just that, but also particularly annoying. The colder Xu treated her, the more enthusiastically Jiang would cling to her, practically throwing herself at Xu.

Faced with Jiang Zhaolie’s peculiar behavior, Xu Chun was truly at a loss for words.

Just as she was staring at Jiang, unsure how to respond, good news came from the neighboring hospital bed, Qin Yao had woken up!

At that moment, Xu Chun couldn’t care less about Jiang Zhaolie or anyone else. Her eyes lit up as she immediately threw off the covers, hopped into her wheelchair, and sped toward the next room. In the blink of an eye, she had dashed out of the ward. Jiang Zhaolie watched her retreating figure, an unconscious trace of loneliness flickering in her eyes.

Of course. In Xu Chun’s heart, Qin Yao would always come first.

Jiang Zhaolie fell silent for a moment before suppressing the restless emotions in her chest. With a composed expression, she followed after them.

When Xu Chun saw Qin Yao lying weakly in bed, her eyes stung involuntarily. Hearing the noise at the door, Qin Yao turned her head with some effort. The faint confusion in her just-awakened gaze melted into visible relief the moment she saw Xu Chun safe and sound.

Xu Chun wheeled over in a flash and threw herself onto Qin Yao’s bed. “Sister Qin, you’re finally awake!”

Her voice trembled slightly, thick with lingering fear. Even now, with Qin Yao conscious before her, Xu Chun’s fingertips still shook when she recalled the events of the past few days.

And precisely because Qin Yao was now lying safely within her sight, Xu Chun felt even more terrified unable to imagine how she could have endured the suffocating outcome if even the slightest mistake had been made.

Instinctively, Xu Chun grasped Qin Yao’s cool fingers, staring at her with a choked-up throat, unable to utter another word.

Qin Yao gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. “I’m fine now.” Then, lifting her gaze to Jiang Zhaolie, she asked, “Where’s the doctor?” She tried to prop herself up on her elbows, but Xu Chun stopped her. With a resigned sigh, Qin Yao settled back and said to Jiang, “Go call the doctor for me.”

Jiang Zhaolie nodded. “I’ll go right away.”

She had already been planning to slip away quietly. There was no point in her staying any longer, she was nothing more than an unwelcome third wheel, starkly out of place between the two lovebirds.

After stepping out of the ward and summoning the medical staff, Jiang Zhaolie lingered at the door for a long while before taking a deep breath and reentering to inquire about Qin Yao’s condition.

Her recovery was better than expected. Qin Yao had always been in excellent physical shape, never neglecting exercise no matter how busy she was, so her body bounced back much faster than most. Aside from some lingering weakness from severe blood loss, she was practically back to normal.

So once the doctors had all left, Qin Yao immediately began exchanging updates with Jiang Zhaolie, as if ready to dive straight back into work.

Xu Chun opened her mouth, wanting to tell her to rest for a couple more days, but Qin Yao seemed to read her mind. Turning to face her seriously, Qin Yao said, “I’m not uncomfortable at all right now. I promise, if I notice anything wrong with my body, I’ll call the doctor immediately.”

“But right now, I have to work.”

The woman’s tone was gentle yet firm, making it hard for anyone to refuse. Xu Chun had no choice but to nod and say, “Then I’ll watch over you from the side.”

She raised a threatening fist, “If I find out later you’re just toughing it out, you’re dead.”

Qin Yao’s pale face immediately lit up with a soft, delicate smile that nearly dazzled Xu Chun, “Alright.”

Qin Yao was a busy woman, and after several days of delay, who knew how much work had piled up at the company. At first, Xu Chun listened attentively, keeping a close eye on Qin Yao’s condition. But before long, it felt like listening to an old professor’s lecture in a university classroom, Xu Chun couldn’t help but grow drowsy.

After several failed attempts to stay alert, she simply gave up and lay back, turning to her phone for distraction.

Her manager had immediately sent a WeChat message upon hearing Xu Chun was awake. After confirming Xu Chun was fine, she sighed in relief, Stay put in the hospital for now. I’ll come see you as soon as I finish up here.

I’ve already requested leave for Director Guo’s variety show for you. If you recover in time, you can rejoin. Otherwise, we’ll just let it go. The manager couldn’t help but feel regretful, what should have been a great show had been plagued by accidents and arrests. Director Guo was probably losing his shirt this time.

All the goodwill he’d built up over his last two projects was likely to vanish in an instant.

Xu Chun quickly grasped the implications of her manager’s words. She still felt grateful to Director Guo. If not for his leniency back then, she wouldn’t have been able to ramble on during the dating show, exposing Yu Sui’an and Jiang Zhaolie’s true colors and salvaging her own reputation.

Most importantly, when Yu Sui’an’s team had pressured him, Director Guo hadn’t caved, giving Xu Chun a fighting chance.

Never forgetting one’s roots was paramount. Xu Chun immediately put down her phone, sneaked out to ask the doctor about her condition, and then racked her brains for ways to return to the show.

Qin Yao saw right through her little escapade. By the time Xu Chun returned, having rehearsed countless excuses in her head, Qin Yao spoke first, “Focus on recovering in the hospital these next few days. Once the Qiao family is dealt with, you can return to work.”

“Then, whether you want to rejoin the show or do something else, I won’t stop you.” Qin Yao’s expression was stern. “But not now.”

Her tone brooked no argument.

Xu Chun thought it over and decided not to gamble with her life. “Alright.”

Besides, this was a critical moment in Qin Yao’s battle with the Qiao family. Xu Chun couldn’t help much, but at least she could avoid adding to the chaos. The Qiao family was already like a rabid dog, if they’d been so brazen before, they’d likely be even more unhinged now.

Yet, thinking of the barely adult, still-childish Qiao Wan, Xu Chun couldn’t help but sigh. After everything that had happened, she wondered how the girl could possibly carry on.

On one side were her flesh-and-blood parents; on the other, the aunt she’d idolized since childhood. It seemed impossible to choose between them.

The adults, blinded by greed and ambition, recklessly incited conflicts, yet in the end, it seemed only the children were left wounded.

They once had a warm and powerful family atmosphere and lineage, yet in just a few moments, everything was shattered, homes destroyed, lives unrecognizable.

If they succeeded, it might have been bearable, but if they failed, whether it was former relatives or friends, they would all become estranged, even turning into enemies. Such earth-shattering changes were enough to break a person’s psychological defenses.

Xu Chun felt a wave of melancholy until a hand reached out, pulling her into a warm embrace. Qin Yao’s concerned voice came from above, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” Xu Chun shook her head. “I just suddenly thought of Qiao Wan.”

At the mention of Qiao Wan, Qin Yao also fell silent for a rare moment. After a pause, she spoke slowly, “I watched her grow up. She’s not as fragile as you think.”

“Besides, people always have to learn to grow.” Though at such a young age, it might feel like the sky has collapsed in an instant, if they grit their teeth and push through, once they cross that hurdle, it won’t seem so bad anymore.

Once they endure, life becomes resilient and strong, no longer as fragile as a dodder vine.

Xu Chun understood the reasoning, but she just felt that everyone’s growth seemed to come with deep pain. Whether it was love, friendship, or family bonds, everyone seemed to endure suffering before finally seeing the broad road ahead.

Because of this, cherishing every person around them became a mandatory lesson in life.

Otherwise, they would end up like her and Zheng Jinchan, no matter how much regret they felt now, what good would it do? Thinking of Zheng Jinchan, Xu Chun couldn’t help but ask Qin Yao for help. Qin Yao met her gaze and said softly, “I’ve already contacted a renowned international medical team. Once her condition stabilizes in a couple of days, we’ll send her abroad for treatment.”

Qin Yao had more to say, but Zhao Ciying’s untimely arrival disrupted the moment.

Zhao Ciying watched the intimate scene between the two with a forced smile. Xu Chun immediately separated from Qin Yao and scurried away, “…You two talk. I’ll go check next door.”

Under Zhao Ciying’s intense gaze, Xu Chun wished she could speed her wheelchair to eighty miles per hour.

Only after she disappeared did Zhao Ciying withdraw her stare. “Seems like you’re living quite comfortably here,” she said, plopping down across from Qin Yao. “Did I show up at a bad time?”

Ignoring her sarcasm, Qin Yao cut straight to the point, “How did things go?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Zhao Ciying shot her a glance. “With me handling it, of course it was a hundred percent success.” She grabbed an apple from the table and took a bite. “Zhou Shiyu’s interrogation is done, but she’s just a low-level pawn who took money to do the job and was stupid enough to act openly on the show. There’s nothing more to dig out of her.”

“Unconventional situations call for unconventional methods.”

As Qin Yao felt a sense of foreboding, Zhao Ciying grinned. “So just now, my brothers from the underworld used unconventional methods to catch someone.”

“You know how my brothers are they live by the blade, so they can be a little rough. Don’t mind it.” With that, Zhao Ciying played a video on her phone for Qin Yao to see.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but twitch her eyelids. “A bit too heavy-handed?”

Zhao Ciying, now looking at the nearly unrecognizable person in the video, felt a twinge of guilt but it didn’t matter. She had always been thick-skinned. Under Qin Yao’s skeptical gaze, Zhao Ciying nodded without batting an eye. “This time, it really was a bit too much.”

“But…” she pivoted, “who knows? Maybe your dear friend resisted too fiercely.”

“Bullets don’t discriminate these things aren’t exactly within human control.”

Faced with Zhao Ciying’s glib excuses and sophistry, Qin Yao fell silent for a moment before dropping the subject and asking instead, “Where is he now?”

“Being transported back to the country,” Zhao Ciying replied, taking another bite of her apple. “Should arrive by tonight.”

“Good.”

Xu Chun quickly slipped into Zheng Jinchan’s hospital room. She still hadn’t woken up, lying peacefully in bed with steady breaths, as if merely asleep.

Xu Chun sat beside her for a long time, watching, until Zheng Yanran pushed the door open and asked, “Have you eaten? Want to join me?”

Following the voice, Xu Chun saw Zheng Yanran casually holding a simple, modest boxed meal. She looked up. “You’re eating that?”

“Just something quick,” Zheng Yanran shrugged. “As long as it fills me up.” She forced a smile. “At a time like this, who has the luxury to be picky?”

Fair enough. With all the company’s affairs now weighing on Zheng Yanran’s shoulders, finding time to eat was already an achievement. Gone were the days when she could dress to the nines, flit between high-end venues, snap photos, record videos, and chase after Jiang Banxia.

Xu Chun’s gaze dropped, and she remained silent for a while, unsure of what to say.

After taking a few bites, Zheng Yanran spoke up. “My mother’s going abroad for treatment in a couple of days.” Noticing Xu Chun’s lifted gaze, she smiled faintly. “Hope everything goes well.”

“And you…?” Xu Chun hesitated.

“Of course I’m staying in the country,” Zheng Yanran replied, taking another bite. “There’s too much here that can’t be left unattended.”

Her tone was light, calm, and composed, a far cry from the reckless heiress she once was. It was as if, overnight, this once-feared young lady had matured into someone steady and reliable.

Perhaps Xu Chun’s expression was too complicated, because Zheng Yanran changed the subject. “Yu Sui’an is dead. Are you going to her funeral?”

“I should…” Xu Chun wrestled with the decision. Reason told her to pay respects after all, the dead deserved dignity. But emotion reminded her that every hardship she’d endured had been orchestrated by Yu Sui’an, making her reluctant deep down.

Even in death, past grievances and wounds couldn’t simply be erased.

Especially when she herself had just narrowly escaped death.

Noticing her hesitation, Zheng Yanran chuckled. “Though it probably won’t happen.” Under Xu Chun’s questioning look, she added softly, “Once the time comes, Jiang Banxia will bury her in the suburban cemetery not the Jiang family plot.”

“You know how it is. Old Man Jiang is dead too. As a somewhat prominent businessman, there’ll be no shortage of mourners.”

Compared to the lively scene at Old Jiang’s side, Yu Sui’an’s funeral was pitifully desolate. Most people are quick to flatter the powerful and kick the fallen with Old Jiang’s passing, his successor Jiang Banxia became the new target of their sycophancy. As for Yu Sui’an, an unknown illegitimate daughter, who would bother paying her any attention now?

Xu Chun ultimately didn’t make an immediate decision, only saying, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

Zheng Yanran gave a faint smile, understanding her hesitation.

The two chatted for a while before Zheng Yanran, her takeout meal barely touched, was interrupted by sudden work. Xu Chun, too, was soon called away by her manager. After exchanging some concerned words, they spent a long time discussing future work arrangements.

The manager fully respected Xu Chun’s wishes, so when she heard Xu Chun wanted to return to the variety show, she only hesitated briefly before agreeing. For both Xu Chun and Director Guo, this was a reasonable choice there was no reason to object. Still, she warned, “But you absolutely must be careful when you go back.”

“Never act alone, no matter what.”

Xu Chun chuckled wryly. “Even if I wanted to, I doubt anyone would let me after this.”

Crude as it sounded, it was true Xu Chun had practically given everyone a nervous breakdown this time. The manager laughed along before saying, “Then get some rest. I’ll announce your return to the show soon.”

The manager acted swiftly, releasing the news online without delay.

Public reactions to Xu Chun’s decision to return to work before fully recovering were mixed.

[Honestly, she doesn’t have to continue with the show. Sister Xu almost lost her life, why take the risk again?]

[But if she doesn’t go back, what then? At the end of the day, Xu Chun’s just an ordinary worker. The breach-of-contract fees alone would cost her months of wages.]

[How heartless can the production team and her company be? How can they push an artist to return before she’s even fully healed? They’re treating her like she’s disposable!]

[Let’s not overreact. If Sister Xu wants to go back, it’s her choice. If she really didn’t want to, no one could force her, even with a knife to her throat. Besides, finishing the show is about professionalism both to the team and herself. If she quit over minor injuries, who’d hire her in the future?]

[Minor injuries? Does someone have to die for you to consider it serious? Yu Sui’an died, and none of you even batted an eye…]

The mention of Yu Sui’an instantly shifted the focus.

Her memorial was set up separately from Old Jiang’s. A few of her fans came to pay respects, but the turnout was sparse, nothing like the grand, star-studded gatherings of her heyday.

Xu Chun spent about a week recovering in the hospital. By then, both Yu Sui’an and Old Jiang had been laid to rest. After the funerals, the crowds dispersed, everyone returning to their own lives as if the two had never existed.

For most, they were nothing more than fleeting passersby barely leaving a ripple in the vast ocean of life.

Xu Chun attended the funeral in a wheelchair. Thanks to Qin Yao and Zhao Ciying’s arrangements, no photos from the ceremony were leaked. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she reappeared before the cameras still in her wheelchair.

Director Guo was the first to rush forward and embrace her tightly. “Little Xu! Thank goodness you’re alright!”

The fifty-something man nearly burst into tears on national television. Xu Chun’s eyelid twitched as she comforted him instead. “Director Guo, don’t cry. Everyone’s watching.”

“I’m actually in good health now.”

Despite her words, Director Guo still gave her special treatment, terrified she might have another accident on his show.

Until,

One day, a black shadow suddenly zipped past Director Guo as he exited his room, vanishing in an instant. He stopped his assistant to ask, “What was that just now?”

After a pause, the assistant replied, “That was Miss Xu racing in her wheelchair.”

Director Guo: “???”

He stood frozen for a long moment before mumbling, “…Seems she really is doing well.”

Well, that’s good.

Better than him worrying day and night.

But this was merely the most ordinary display Director Guo would witness in the coming days. Perhaps the earlier incident had triggered something in Xu Chun, because she became wildly daring on the show taking on extreme challenges without hesitation.

While male guests were nearly scared to tears, Xu Chun charged ahead relentlessly, thoroughly overshadowing them.

Following her lead, the others had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept every challenge, no matter how terrifying.

After dragging the entire cast into her whirlwind of adventures, Xu Chun would casually retreat to sample local delicacies, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Director Guo watched her motionlessly. People really could change, especially after facing death. All material concerns paled in comparison to present joy and freedom.

Though Xu Chun might have taken this philosophy too far! Under her influence, the show grew increasingly insane, even pulling the crew into the madness.

What was once a peaceful travel variety had practically transformed into an extreme sports program.

Clutching his tightening chest, Director Guo finally saw the show through to its end along with everyone else’s fervent prayers and bid farewell to this walking calamity named Xu Chun.

On the day Xu Chun finished filming and prepared to return home, the entire crew celebrated as if they wanted to set off firecrackers in her honor. Her radiant smile grew even brighter when she spotted Qin Yao quietly waiting nearby.

Xu Chun hurried over, and Qin Yao naturally embraced her. “Feeling better now?”

The smile faltered slightly on Xu Chun’s face. “Yeah,” she admitted with some resignation.

This woman always saw right through her. Even her simplest actions seemed like meticulously crafted reading comprehension questions to Qin Yao.

And somehow, she always got the answers right.

Xu Chun gave Qin Yao a suspicious glance, silently wondering: Could this person have some kind of mind-reading ability?

Qin Yao silently tightened her embrace under Xu Chun’s peculiar gaze. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. President Zheng has woken up, let’s go see her together.”

Xu Chun’s eyes instantly lit up. “Really?!”

This was truly an unexpected delight! Overjoyed, she couldn’t help but hug Qin Yao tightly, murmuring into her shoulder, “Thank you.”

Xu Chun knew all too well that without Qin Yao tirelessly arranging for top-tier doctors to treat Zheng Jinchan, her recovery wouldn’t have been so swift.

Beyond gratitude, she genuinely couldn’t think of any other heartfelt words to express to Qin Yao.

The greatest fortune of her life was meeting Qin Yao and having Qin Yao love her so deeply. But even luckier was realizing Qin Yao loved her far more than she’d ever imagined, selflessly and without expectation.

What had she done in this lifetime to deserve someone so extraordinary?

On camera left rolling by the oblivious crew, Xu Chun kissed Qin Yao passionately, as if no one else existed. “Once Sister Zheng recovers a bit more, let’s go home,” she whispered. “I want to go home.”

“Home… where you are.”

Qin Yao lowered her gaze, tenderness softening her features. “Okay.”

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