I Became the Female Lead’s Current Obsession - Chapter 38

For the past half month, Jiang Qing hadn’t been idle—aside from staying at the hospital with Hou Xue, she’d been quite busy.

Most of those involved hadn’t escaped unscathed—either their families went bankrupt or Jiang Qing personally broke their hands.

Miao Xiao got off the lightest. Jiang Qing merely sent her abroad. Jiang Qing wasn’t someone who lashed out irrationally just because she was angry. Miao Xiao wasn’t a main instigator in this incident; most of the time, she even tried to hold Zhu Yao back.

In a way, Jiang Qing should be thankful that it was Miao Xiao who intervened—otherwise, Hou Xue might have been more seriously hurt.

The incident had made quite a stir.

At the very least, Zhu Yao—the ringleader—was backed by the Zhu family, a prominent name in the city. Despite their recent moves to shift their investments elsewhere, their influence was still considerable. That power was exactly why Zhu Yao dared to throw her weight around at school—she had the backing to do so.

But now, everyone in their social circle knew: the second young lady of the Jiang family had, for the sake of an outsider, uprooted the Zhu family entirely.

When Xu Miao got wind of this, she called Jiang Qing immediately, analyzed the situation in great detail, only to be shut down by Jiang Qing’s casual, “Oh. So what?”

Xu Miao was left speechless.

Jiang Bin confirmed the events with Jiang Qing in person. Upon hearing her affirmative response, he looked unusually emotional. He sighed and said, “You’re just like her when she was young.”

Then, after a moment, he added, “But in the end, she still regretted it.”

Jiang Qing didn’t fully understand what he meant, but it didn’t matter—she knew this was his way of giving his approval.

Jiang Xing, on the other hand, was thrilled. He even brought a few underlings along to help “take care of” people. After spending so much time with him, Jiang Qing realized her younger brother wasn’t as dumb or innocent as he seemed. What she was curious about now was why he didn’t try to stop her this time when it came to defending Hou Xue.

“You’d already made up your mind,” he shrugged. “What good would it do for me to stop you? Might as well join in.”

“Fair point.”

Jiang Qing was experiencing life as an older sister for the first time. It wasn’t bad.

When she beat up Zhu Yao, the moment was particularly vivid.

The second Zhu Yao saw her, she started screaming incoherently, but the core of her rant was clear:

“Jiang Qing! Why are you doing this to me? This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!”

Jiang Qing was speechless. She dislocated Zhu Yao’s arm and casually asked,

“Then how is it supposed to be?”

“I did what you wanted to do! Why are you hitting me…” Zhu Yao stared at her, completely at a loss.

She couldn’t understand. It hurt so much.

What exactly had she done wrong in Jiang Qing’s eyes?

“Hou Xue is mine. Which eye of yours saw me trying to punish her?” Jiang Qing bent down, leaning on her knee, and smiled coldly.

“You’re crazy!” Zhu Yao, her eyes already red, burst into tears. “I liked you so much, and you hit me? What do you mean she’s yours?! You hated her!”

She lunged at Jiang Qing, eyes burning with a kind of desperate ferocity, like someone determined to go down swinging.

Jiang Qing quickly stood back, utterly baffled.

“I think you’re the crazy one.”

Jiang Xing couldn’t resist the drama and gave Zhu Yao a good kick.

He didn’t believe in chivalry—equal rights for fists.

Jiang Qing waved him off and started to leave.

“You can’t leave, Jiang Qing! You ruined me—how can you just walk away?” Zhu Yao screamed hysterically. Her voice was pitiful, but no one there felt the slightest sympathy.

Jiang Qing turned back one last time.

“Too bad I don’t like you. The only thing I want is for you to get as far away from me as possible.”

Jiang Xing froze for a second.

His sister was really mad this time.

It was almost out of character.

Later, after giving it some serious thought, he concluded:

Yeah… better not mess with Hou Xue. She’s a walking landmine.

Jiang Qing never told Hou Xue about any of this.

She didn’t want the girl to remember that afternoon.

This revenge—it was hers to carry, not Hou Xue’s.

Though the story suggested that Hou Xue would never avenge herself, Jiang Qing didn’t care.

She only knew one thing: by taking down the Zhu family before Hou Xue ever could, she had altered the plot.

And that was a good sign. It meant she had the power to change fate.

She could protect Hou Xue.

Still, she remained cautious and asked Ye Man to keep an eye on Fan Ya.

Overall, Jiang Qing was in a very good mood.

The only blemish?

Hou Xue had grown increasingly cold toward her. She spoke less and less each day.

Jiang Qing, in contrast, had become especially warm since the Zhu Yao incident.

After sending Miao Xiao away, she even arranged to sit next to Hou Xue. The two of them already had little personal space—now they were practically glued together.

Jiang Qing gave the homeroom teacher a very convincing reason: Hou Xue’s injured hand needed her stepsister’s help. The teacher bought it.

She spent a whole class coaxing Xu Miao, then promptly switched seats as soon as class ended.

Hou Xue was indifferent about the whole thing, barely sparing her a glance.

But that didn’t deter Jiang Qing’s one-sided enthusiasm. She’d become so used to serving Hou Xue these past few weeks that now, with a single gesture, she could anticipate her every need.

Her reputation had spread. The whole class, already gossip-hungry, now saw Jiang Qing’s legendary feud with the Zhu family, her rivalry with Zhu Yao, and her complicated relationship with Hou Xue in a new light.

Finally, they were convinced—this cold, fierce second daughter of the Jiang family truly wanted to protect her stepsister.

Now in class, Jiang Qing paid attention—but only half the time. The rest, she spent staring at Hou Xue.

Brazenly. Her gaze wandered all over Hou Xue’s profile.

Hou Xue didn’t react. That, in itself, was a kind of silent permission. Jiang Qing certainly never held back.

Ever since discovering that she could change the narrative, Jiang Qing had been like a wild horse set free, incapable of restraint.

A little more can’t hurt, she kept telling herself.

Because truly—she couldn’t help it.

She scanned a QR code and bought two things: a popsicle and an ice cream bar.

It was early September.

The city was still sweltering with the leftover heat of August—unbearable.

“Want me to feed you?” Jiang Qing teased as she unwrapped the frozen treats, sauntering over to Hou Xue.

She’d been throwing out these flirty remarks more and more lately. She said them casually; Hou Xue ignored them just as casually.

Sure enough, Hou Xue took the ice cream bar with her right hand and didn’t respond.

Jiang Qing wasn’t offended. She took a bite of her popsicle and turned to find a trash can.

It was milk-flavored—crunchy with a cold bite.

Sweet. Almost too sweet.

But when Jiang Qing turned away, she didn’t realize Hou Xue’s gaze was locked onto her.

Dark. Predatory. Like a hunter eyeing its prey.

Chilling.

It was hard to believe that just seconds ago, that same girl had seemed so emotionless toward her.

Hou Xue’s eyes never left Jiang Qing.

Her grip on the stick tightened, knuckles white.

This Jiang Qing—she’s mine.

She didn’t move until a chill spread through her palm.

Looking down, Hou Xue saw the ice cream melting, the sticky white liquid trailing down her hand.

She didn’t bother cleaning it. Just kept watching.

Eventually, Jiang Qing found a trash can and happily tossed the wrappers in.

She turned around—

At that moment, Hou Xue slightly furrowed her brows and brought her lips to the second knuckle of her thumb.

Innocent enough.

But in Jiang Qing’s eyes?

Something far more suggestive.

My stepsister just kissed her finger. In front of me.

Why?

She didn’t know.

Hou Xue still had her finger near her lips, face turned to the side, eyes lifted toward Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing had never appreciated her sharp eyesight more.

She caught Hou Xue slightly tilting her chin.

The white residue from the ice cream left no stain—just a faint pink shimmer that flickered in and out of sight.

She actually licked… her… finger.

Licked her finger.

White liquid…

Hou Xue’s lips were so soft—Jiang Qing knew that.

Was that… was that seduction?

It had to be, right?

If possible…

She wanted to taste it herself.

Jiang Qing’s expression shifted wildly. She was so startled by her own thoughts that goosebumps prickled her arms.

“Let’s go,” she said hastily, rubbing her nose and chomping on her popsicle like it could cool the burning in her mind. It didn’t—it made her mouth feel like it was on fire.

“Mm.” Hou Xue replied calmly, took her first bite of the ice cream, and said, “Sweet.”

Jiang Qing walked behind her, rubbing her ears.

No way… are they red?

In the car, Jiang Qing’s mind drifted completely.

All she could think about was Hou Xue licking her finger.

She completely forgot about the upcoming exams.

Finger. White. Pink.

She felt like a pervert. The more she thought, the more wrong it seemed.

Her associations—the impulse that flared up when she saw that image—were not normal.

Hard to accept, but undeniable.

She began to wonder:

Could it be that…

Just maybe…

She wasn’t entirely…

Straight?

Sitting in the car, Jiang Qing replayed the moment. Truthfully, Hou Xue hadn’t done anything outrageous. It was just a normal gesture—anyone else would’ve thought nothing of it.

But her filthy mind had turned the whole scene suggestive.

From that moment, all her thoughts were wildly inappropriate.

Totally uncalled for.

Jiang Qing admitted she’d always felt a strong possessiveness over Hou Xue. That wasn’t new. But she’d never questioned the nature of that desire.

Now she wondered if it came from something darker, something less innocent.

Truly shocking.

Her most recent experience with same-s3x affection had been with Zhu Yao.

Zhu Yao liked her.

But Jiang Qing had felt nothing.

Which made sense. She was straight.

But if she imagined those same words—“I like you”—coming from Hou Xue…

She didn’t dare think further.

It was like a mysterious switch had been flipped inside her.

She’d always had a soft spot for Hou Xue. She assumed it was natural. She had no experience with love, so she never questioned it.

But in reality, feelings between two people come in many forms.

Family. Friendship. Romance.

Hou Xue didn’t have to be her sister. Or her friend.

No.

That thought set off warning bells in her mind.

She wanted Hou Xue to be her sister. She wanted her to be a friend.

But maybe…

That wasn’t all.

Jiang Qing pondered for a long time, then slammed her hand on the table.

She’d figured it out.