After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Female Lead's Stepmother (GL) - Chapter 11

As a well-bred young lady from a wealthy family, Qiao Wan was seething with anger but couldn’t bring herself to curse, her face flushing red. What kind of nonsense was this? Even if Xu Chun and her cousin Zhaolie ultimately didn’t end up together, that didn’t mean she could entertain such thoughts, okay?

Moreover, neither party had mentioned canceling the engagement yet, and Aunt Qin Yao was clearly very satisfied with Xu Chun, having accepted her as her daughter’s fiancée. So these people spreading rumors about her were practically wishing for her early demise!

Qiao Wan gave Xu Chun a resentful look, making the latter feel guilty under her gaze. Then Xu Chun suddenly recalled that Qiao Wan had just called her “cousin-in-law,” and she hesitated uncertainly, “…Cousin?”

What kind of relationship was this now?

How did her supposed romantic interest suddenly become Jiang Zhaolie’s sister? And Yu Sui’an didn’t even know about this?

The audience noticed Xu Chun’s bewildered expression, and someone immediately sneered, [LMAO, can Xu Chun’s PR team at least put some effort into whitewashing her? Shouldn’t they have coordinated their scripts beforehand?! The mistress claims to be Jiang Zhaolie’s cousin, how come Xu Chun, who’s supposedly been childhood friends with Jiang Zhaolie for years, doesn’t even recognize her cousin?]

[I’ve got this, this cousin must be some distant relative Jiang Zhaolie never mentioned in twenty years.]

[Hey, don’t steal their lines! Now they won’t know how to explain themselves.]

[You guys are ruthless. You’ve taken all the bamboo shoots in the world, the pandas are gonna starve!]

[I hereby declare this the most hilarious whitewashing fail of the year.]

After sorting out their relationship, Qiao Wan’s resentment toward Xu Chun lessened considerably. After all, even she, Jiang Zhaolie’s actual cousin, hadn’t known about this connection, how could Xu Chun, an unwanted fiancée, possibly understand the details? In this mess, the only real villains were the unscrupulous media spreading rumors for clicks and views.

And Yu Sui’an, who had deliberately manipulated the situation behind the scenes, ruthlessly dragging both her and Xu Chun through the mud.

Qiao Wan could understand her cousin Zhaolie not wanting to submit to outdated traditions like arranged marriages. But if she wanted to pursue true love, she should at least clean up her existing engagement first. And even then, she ought to be more discerning, not just blindly follow some outsider who’d turn her against her own family.

But clearly, Yu Sui’an, despite her youthful appearance, had more twists and turns in her mind than an ant colony. If she were a few years older, Zhaolie might end up getting sold and still counting the money for her.

Qiao Wan suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Xu Chun. Not only had her fiancée gotten involved with her ex, but the two had even teamed up to humiliate her on a live show, leaving her with no dignity whatsoever. So Qiao Wan asked Xu Chun with utmost sincerity, “Cousin-in-law, what exactly were you hoping to achieve by joining this show?”

Xu Chun was momentarily speechless.

She didn’t want this either! In the original story, this show hadn’t invited Xu Chun at all. It was only after learning that Yu Sui’an would participate as a single guest that Xu Chun eagerly begged her agent to secure her a spot by any means necessary. The agent had no choice but to swallow pride and call in past favors with the director, pleading for an opportunity.

The director initially refused. In their past relationship, Yu Sui’an wasn’t the one at fault, if anything, he was the victim. Inviting him would guarantee both safety and popularity for the show, whereas Xu Chun was a liability. The slightest misstep could lead to official warnings, forced meetings with authorities, and the show’s abrupt cancellation.

But the director had an adventurous streak. Imagining the massive viewership from having this former couple on screen together, he was tempted. High risk meant high reward worth a gamble. If successful, his industry status would skyrocket. After just one night’s consideration, he gave the agent his approval.

The original Xu Chun was so excited she couldn’t sleep for days, fantasizing about countless ways to win Yu Sui’an back. Unfortunately, while the flower was willing, the stream was indifferent, Yu Sui’an had no intention of reconciliation. Her clingy behavior on the show further infuriated his fans and viewers, destroying what remained of her reputation.

Yu Sui’an’s team seized the moment, flooding the internet with distorted narratives that buried Xu Chun in disgrace within days. Later, no one believed anything she said, while Yu Sui’an’s victim image earned widespread sympathy, propelling his career forward.

After a long silence, Xu Chun, now the unwilling inheritor of this mess sighed softly, “Perhaps… there was some momentary lapse in judgment.”

Qiao Wan: “?” Call it what it is, stupidity, not some existential crisis.

Shooting Xu Chun a complicated look, she said, “Then stay here if you must. I’ve got things to do.” Qiao Wan wanted no part in this disaster, preferring to stay far from online drama. Xu Chun quickly called after her, “Cousin, let’s exchange contacts!”

They were connected through Jiang Zhaolie after all they might cross paths again.

Qiao Wan wished she’d never met Xu Chun and certainly wouldn’t add her. At Xu Chun’s disappointed sigh, she instead asked, “Then what’s your name?” When Qiao Wan narrowed her eyes dangerously, Xu Chun beamed with innocent brightness, “I should at least know who my savior is.”

That radiant smile was dazzling. Golden sunlight haloed her, turning stray hairs into glimmering threads as she stood bathed in soft luminescence, beautiful yet surreal. Qiao Wan momentarily lost focus, her expression flickering briefly before she tossed out, “Qiao Wan,” and left.

Xu Chun’s clear voice gently repeated the name. When she lifted her lashes again, her smile had deepened. “Thank you, Miss Qiao. Let’s have dinner sometime.”

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but after she said those words, Qiao Wan seemed to walk even faster, as if she wished she could grow two more legs to sprint away.

[Sigh, I don’t even know what to say about Xu Chun. If you’re trying to clear your name, shouldn’t you at least get the names of your co-stars right? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be super awkward when you slip up like this?]

[Is there a possibility that Xu Chun genuinely doesn’t know Jiang Zhaolie’s cousin? They’re only engaged, not married. If you got engaged to your girlfriend, would you know all her relatives?]

[But didn’t someone claim to be Jiang Zhaolie’s childhood sweetheart? If they’ve known each other for over twenty years, shouldn’t they be familiar with each other’s cousins?]

[Following that logic, if I were childhood sweethearts with my girlfriend, I’d have to know how many pairs of underwear her distant relatives own?]

[That’s just sophistry!]

The barrage of comments quickly turned into a heated argument, with some joining the fray while others watched the drama unfold, creating a chaotic mess. The moment Xu Chun’s manager saw her being cornered and followed by Yu Sui’an’s fans, her heart leaped into her throat. She stared at the live stream on her phone while coldly making several calls. When she saw Xu Chun return safely, she paused her work and pulled her aside, away from the cameras. “Scared?”

“No.” Xu Chun shook her head. Having already had a kidney taken from her, what kind of scene hadn’t she seen? The manager sighed in relief. “Good. Go back to filming. I’ll handle the rest.”

“But,” the manager took a few steps before turning back, “is she really your, no, Jiang Zhaolie’s actual cousin?”

“Probably.” Xu Chun blinked and smiled innocently. “Since she announced it in front of millions of viewers, even if she isn’t, she has to be now.”

The manager: “…” You’re really…

She struggled to find the right word but eventually gave up. There were more pressing matters to deal with, and this was a golden opportunity. If handled well, they could not only dispel the rumors of Xu Chun’s infidelity but also restore her reputation in one fell swoop.

Soon, Xu Chun’s agency issued a stern statement online along with legal notices, suing dozens of the most vocal bloggers who had spread the rumors, with thousands of reposts. The lawyer handling the case was a renowned heavyweight in the industry with an almost flawless track record. The accused bloggers initially thought it was all just a bluff until they received actual court summons. Panic quickly set in.

As more and more people in the PR group reported the legal actions, those who had been paid less to spread the rumors couldn’t withstand the pressure and publicly apologized on Weibo. Once one person started, the apologies snowballed, with bloggers rushing to apologize as if afraid they’d be the next to face a lawsuit.

Xu Chun’s small but loyal fanbase was overjoyed they had always known their idol was framed! This was all Yu Sui’an’s scheming!

But not everyone was convinced, especially Yu Sui’an’s fans. [They’re making it look so real, I almost believed it.]

[Laughing, isn’t it a bit late to try clearing your name now? Who knows how much Xu Chun paid those bloggers to make those greedy wild dogs lower their noble heads.]

[You’d have to ask Yu Sui’an about that. How much did she pay them to frame Xu Chun by any means necessary? They genuinely liked each other at one point, I just don’t understand why Yu Sui’an insists on driving her into the ground.]

He Qingli hurried out of the kitchen after hearing the news. After a few brief words of concern, she asked, “Sister Xu Chun, what are you planning to do about those bloggers spreading rumors online?”

This was what everyone wanted to know. After all, Xu Chun’s response now could indirectly confirm whether she was truly wronged or just putting on an act to deceive the audience.

Xu Chun’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as a faint smile curled her pale lips. “Of course!”

“I won’t let a single one get away,” she declared matter-of-factly. “If I sue them all, the compensation could amount to tens of millions!” That would cover two or three months of her salary.

The audience: “…”

He Qingli: “…”

Only you.

Xu Chun’s answer eased He Qingli’s worries. Since her idol was innocent, clearing her name was only a matter of time. “But how did you get separated from them earlier?”

She had been busy in the kitchen and hadn’t noticed the livestream’s commotion until the other guests mentioned it. Rushing over in a panic, she only relaxed after confirming Xu Chun was unharmed. Just as He Qingli finished speaking, a black sedan slowly pulled into the guesthouse. Jiang Zhaolie and Yu Sui’an stepped out one after another, both looking grim.

“Sister, are you okay?” Yu Sui’an immediately searched for Xu Chun the moment she got out of the car, her expression so full of worry and urgency that even Xu Chun nearly fell for it. Xu Chun couldn’t help but sigh, “This year’s Best Actress award is definitely hers.”

He Qingli nodded in agreement before abruptly shifting the topic. “Actually, Sister Xu Chun, you’re not bad either.”

Xu Chun, suddenly backstabbed by her fan: “?”

Seriously?

“I’m fine,” Xu Chun replied, brushing off Yu Sui’an with a perfunctory answer. Yu Sui’an didn’t seem bothered by the dismissal, her expression unchanged. Instead, Jiang Zhaolie cut in, “How did you get back after getting separated from us?”

Xu Chun couldn’t tell if she was genuinely clueless or pretending. Crossing her arms, she forced a hollow smile. “How? Well, your dear little cousin was kind enough to give me a ride.”

“My cousin?” Jiang Zhaolie frowned. “Which cousin?”

“You’re asking me about your own cousin? Just how many ‘dear cousins’ are you hiding from me out there?”

The more Jiang Zhaolie listened, the more something felt off, Xu Chun made it sound like she was fooling around behind her back. Realizing this, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned to Yu Sui’an. “Suisui, it’s not like that.”

I didn’t! I wouldn’t! She’s making things up to frame me!