I Became the Female Lead’s Current Obsession - Chapter 2

Roses swayed gently in the breeze, the mansion nestled amidst a sea of crimson, beautiful to the point of unreality.

Yet Hou Xue wasn’t drawn to the scenery—she spared it only a fleeting glance before looking away.

Just like how she had looked at Jiang Qing earlier—without lingering.

Even as servants passed her along the corridor, not a single one greeted her. It was as if Hou Xue’s presence didn’t register at all.

She didn’t seem to mind. Silently, she climbed the stairs and entered her room. Everything moved according to its usual rhythm—calm, untouched.

At least, that’s what she thought before she closed the door.

“Hou Xue.”

She looked up.

Jiang Qing stood at the doorway, leaning her arm against the frame. She must’ve rushed over because the impact echoed audibly. A few booklets were in her hand, and she smiled at Hou Xue.

It was Jiang Qing.

“Can we talk for a bit?” she asked.

“What is it?” Hou Xue lowered the hand resting on the doorknob but didn’t step aside—clearly unwilling to let Jiang Qing in.

Something about Jiang Qing felt…off today. The way she looked at her, the way she moved—it was all unfamiliar.

But the face was still the same. The person hadn’t changed.

If it were the Jiang Qing from before, Hou Xue wouldn’t have stopped her from entering. In fact, that Jiang Qing likely wouldn’t have even needed to ask. But this version—Hou Xue instinctively blocked the doorway.

“I just…” Jiang Qing caught the guarded look in her eyes and hesitated. She hadn’t realized the original Jiang Qing had left such a bad impression. She quickly changed her approach. “I just wanted to ask you to explain a few problems to me.”

It was a compromise. Emotions could take time, tutoring could take time—but asking someone to explain a couple of questions wasn’t overstepping. She didn’t think Hou Xue would refuse.

Especially since Hou Xue had once tolerated far worse from the original Jiang Qing.

“Alright.” Hou Xue agreed without hesitation and extended her hand. “The questions.”

“It’s just today’s homework, really,” Jiang Qing replied, pulling her gaze away from behind Hou Xue. “So… how about we go to my room?”

Hou Xue was silent for three seconds before stepping forward. Jiang Qing wisely moved aside. Hou Xue closed her door behind her and followed Jiang Qing to her room.

The two rooms were on opposite ends of the house—Jiang Qing lived in the west wing, Hou Xue in the east. Between them were Jiang Qing’s sister Jiang Yan and her younger brother Jiang Xing.

To be fair, Jiang Bin hadn’t played favorites. Jiang Qing’s room wasn’t much different from Hou Xue’s—just better lit.

Still, when Jiang Qing opened her door, she felt slightly embarrassed. The contrast in lighting was hard to ignore. She coughed, about to say something, when a loud male voice interrupted.

“Jie!”

It came from downstairs.

Jiang Qing flinched and turned to see her younger brother Jiang Xing bounding up the stairs, long legs taking two steps at a time.

His hair was dyed a brash yellow.

Jiang Xing was in his first year of high school but had ended up at a regular school because of his poor grades.

Jiang Qing honestly had no idea what Jiang Bin was thinking. He never interfered with the kids. Even Jiang Xing’s ridiculous dye job had received no objection. As long as it wasn’t murder or arson, Jiang Bin seemingly turned a blind eye.

Up close, Jiang Xing really did resemble a golden retriever.

“What, miss your sister?” Jiang Qing ruffled his hair naturally. It was unexpectedly soft—very much like petting a golden retriever.

Jiang Qing was already tall, and now that Jiang Xing had had a growth spurt, she was only slightly shorter. Petting his hair felt natural and unforced.

But Jiang Xing didn’t respond. He had just noticed Hou Xue, standing quietly by since he called out. Her presence annoyed him—he clearly didn’t want her seeing this side of him.

“You’re quite obedient,” he muttered at Hou Xue, then turned to Jiang Qing. “Jie, what’s she doing at your door?”

Jiang Qing’s brows furrowed. She stopped playing nice with the golden retriever and smacked him on the back.

He wasn’t expecting it and let out a cough, looking confused. “Jie, why’d you hit me so hard?”

“Hou Xue is your sister too. Don’t be rude,” Jiang Qing scolded.

“…Huh?” Jiang Xing was stunned. He pointed at Hou Xue. “Wait, she—”

“No pointing at people. It’s rude.” Jiang Qing slapped his hand down, clearly out of patience. She dragged him to his room, pushed him inside, and shut the door. “Go do your homework. Your sister and I need to study.”

Sister Hou Xue?

Had he lost his mind, or had his sister?

What kind of nonsense was this?

Jiang Xing’s face twisted with disbelief. It looked fierce but was really just pouty.

His sister had scolded and hit him over an outsider. Since when was she ever willing to do that? She never even liked Hou Xue before—why the sudden change of heart?

But Jiang Xing didn’t dare challenge Jiang Qing. She told him to go study, so that’s what he did. Still, before the door closed, he shot Hou Xue a glare full of resentment—like he was warning her.

“All right then.” Jiang Qing clapped her hands as she shut the door and turned to Hou Xue. “Let’s start studying, shall we?”

There was a flicker of surprise in Hou Xue’s eyes.

The scene that had just unfolded had clearly caught her off guard. When Jiang Qing looked at her again, she hadn’t fully recovered. She touched her lips and coughed softly before regaining her usual composure.

“Mm,” she replied.

Jiang Qing caught that subtle shift in expression—and her spirits lifted slightly. Two days in, and this was the first time Hou Xue had shown a reaction different from her usual calm.

Golden retriever—or rather, her conveniently dramatic little brother—had actually done something right.

Hou Xue set her bag beside the desk and took a seat. Jiang Qing followed, placing the booklets in front of her.

“Chemistry and physics,” Jiang Qing said cautiously. “Disaster zones. You might have to start from the beginning.”

“You…” Hou Xue hesitated. “You don’t know any of them?”

Jiang Qing immediately felt embarrassed. A grown adult being questioned by a high schooler—how could she not feel ashamed, even if the girl was the female lead?

“Maybe I know a few of the easy ones,” Jiang Qing lied quickly, spinning up an excuse. “Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you. A few days ago, I got hit in the head by a basketball and… well, my memory’s been patchy since. Including school stuff. You get what I mean?”

Not a word of it was true. The basketball incident was complete fiction. But it was the kind of random, unverifiable excuse with low risk. Just a throwaway lie—unlikely to be challenged.

Hou Xue thought for a moment. “Then you should see a doctor.”

“No way. Finals are coming. Seeing a doctor would take too long. Learning on my own might be faster,” Jiang Qing said, pushing the booklets toward her. “Please help me?”

Hou Xue’s hand clenched slightly on her lap, then relaxed. After a pause, she replied softly, “Up to you.”

Jiang Qing had a feeling Hou Xue didn’t believe her.

Not that it mattered. Even the worst lie wouldn’t stop her from getting tutoring. A few questions today, a few more tomorrow—it would naturally evolve into proper study sessions. A promising future lay ahead.

But before they could get very far, a servant knocked on the door.

“Second Miss, dinner is ready.”

Jiang Qing hadn’t felt hungry before, but at the sound of it, her stomach immediately responded. She checked the time and called back, “Coming.”

Hou Xue didn’t react at all, but Jiang Qing asked, “Coming with me?”

That got a reaction. Hou Xue paused, put down her pen, and looked at Jiang Qing.

“What is it?” Jiang Qing asked, confused by the sudden scrutiny.

Hou Xue spoke slowly. “Second Miss forgot? You said I wasn’t allowed to eat Jiang family meals.”

Jiang Qing blinked. Wait—was that in the original storyline?

After a moment’s thought, she vaguely recalled that, yes, that was something the original Jiang Qing had said. But it was the kind of petty detail she hadn’t remembered until now.

What a child. Who even denies someone a meal?

“…That was my fault,” Jiang Qing mumbled, taking the blame for the original’s pettiness. “From now on, eat at home.”

When she opened the door, the servant had moved on to knock on Jiang Xing’s room. But she still glanced sideways—

And nearly jumped.

Hou Xue was walking out of the second miss’s room?!

What was going on? Were they going to dinner together?

Had Second Miss upgraded from occasional bullying to constant bullying?

The servant was full of questions but didn’t dare react. She simply knocked politely and continued calling for the young master.

By the time Hou Xue and Jiang Qing made it downstairs, Jiang Xing’s door finally opened.

He stared at their backs, feeling sour. He suspected his sister was bringing Hou Xue to dinner—but he couldn’t stop it. With childish defiance, he rolled his eyes dramatically at Hou Xue’s back and stomped downstairs.

Technically, the table was only set for the siblings—there was no place for Hou Xue. But the Jiang family loved appearances. Dinner was extravagant enough that adding one more person didn’t matter.

Jiang Qing watched dish after dish appear and thought it a waste. But Jiang Bin had money, and what he did with it wasn’t her business.

At least the meal was uneventful.

Hou Xue was naturally reserved. Jiang Xing, unsure of his sister’s motives, said nothing. Jiang Qing, out of habit, remained silent—she had grown up with strict table manners, where speaking earned you a tap with chopsticks.

After dinner, Jiang Qing took Hou Xue upstairs to study. Jiang Xing, disheartened by the lack of attention, slinked off to his room.

Hou Xue still wasn’t sure what Jiang Qing was up to, but she had promised to help. So once seated, she began explaining the problems, quietly and diligently.

…

Once they were done, Jiang Qing felt completely refreshed. The female lead really was something—her explanations were sharp, her logic crystal clear, and her voice easy to follow. And best of all—free. Where else could she find a tutor like this?

“Thanks, Hou Xue,” Jiang Qing whispered, leaning in close to her ear.

The warmth of her breath brushed over Hou Xue’s ear and down her neck, tickling slightly.

Hou Xue responded with a neutral hum, then grabbed her bag as if to leave. Jiang Qing quickly caught her hand.

“Where are you going?”

“I finished the questions,” Hou Xue said.

“Wait—can’t I check my answers while you’re here? What’s the rush?”

Hou Xue paused, as if considering something. Then, silently, she sat back down.