My Gloomy Stepsister Has Her Eyes on Me - Chapter 4

“Miss Zhen is truly talented. My judgment was narrow-minded,” the conductor couldn’t help but exclaim. He had initially run away to avoid taking responsibility, never imagining Zhen Zhu would actually pull through.

Zhen Min’er clenched her fists tightly.

The performance concluded flawlessly.

Zhen Zhu stepped off the stage and asked her stepsister to help adjust her skirt. Once it was straightened, she handed over the sheet music.

“You…”

“Sister, you were amazing!”

Her stepsister looked up, her amber eyes sparkling with admiration. “Sister, you’re so beautiful.”

“…”

Zhen Zhu’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the side. She cleared her throat and casually withdrew the sheet music. “Hmph, it was nothing special.”

Clutching the sheet music, Zhen Zhu quickened her pace as she left the backstage area. Not to avoid her stepsister, but simply eager to return home.

“Miss Zhen!”

Just as Zhen Zhu was leading her group out of the Celia Theater, she heard a shout from behind. Turning around, she saw Director Lu, his fat jiggling as he ran, panting and calling out her name.

Zhen Zhu didn’t particularly want to deal with him, but—

“Ah!”

Hearing the cry behind her, Zhen Zhu whirled around to see Director Lu grabbing her stepsister’s arm, who was walking at the back of the group.

She strode forward, yanking Director Lu’s hand away. “Director Lu, what do you think you’re doing?”

Zhen Zhu pulled her troublemaking stepsister behind her, glaring at him. “I haven’t even come looking for trouble with you, yet you’re the one starting it?”

“No, no,” Director Lu stammered, his hand freezing mid-wipe across his sweaty forehead. He shook his head frantically. “I just wanted to apologize.”

“It was our mistake. I hope you can understand…”

“Why should I understand you?” Zhen Zhu cut him off with a cold snort. “I paid you. You took the money and failed to deliver.”

“You expect me, the one who paid for the performance, to understand your difficulties?”

“You have no shame. I find you disgusting.”

After speaking, Zhen Zhu glanced past the deathly pale face and looked at the faint figure in the distance. “I only have one thing to say,” she said.

“I hold grudges.”

Then, she pulled her stepsister, who was still trying to steal another glance, away.

Once inside the car, Zhen Zhu immediately withdrew her hand from Zhen Min’er’s wrist.

The slightly cool hand had barely left… Zhen Min’er, out of habit, reached out to grasp that coolness again, but just as her fingers were about to close, she pressed them down with her other hand.

I can’t. My sister would be upset.

Zhen Zhu was indeed furious.

The mere thought of Zhen Min’er opening her mouth, looking at her with pleading eyes as if begging for mercy…

…made Zhen Zhu seethe.

Ungrateful! Is this what a naive, innocent female lead is supposed to be like?

Then I’ll just stick to being the villainous supporting character!

“Hey, do you know the full novel script?” Zhen Zhu asked the System in her mind. “Are you sure a naive, innocent white lotus won’t just get ground to dust by Jining Lan’s family?”

Jining Lan’s family, though slightly less wealthy than the Zhen Family, was still a formidable elite clan—only a tier below.

If you only know how to cry and retreat when faced with trouble, you’ll end up being devoured without a trace.

“I don’t know~ The Main God didn’t tell me~” the childish voice chirped innocently. “Host, why are you so worried? The Male Lead will take care of her, right? Are you worried about the Female Lead?”

“Who’s worried about her?!” Zhen Zhu retorted immediately. “I just want to know the plot so I can plan my next steps!”

“Then all you need to do is get the Male Lead and Female Lead together~ After all, in stories, the Male Lead and Female Lead live happily ever after once they’re together~”

The childish voice seemed pleased with its answer. “Anyway, the Female Lead’s Happiness Value will definitely change because of the Male Lead.”

“Fine.”

Zhen Zhu fell silent.

If I have to play matchmaker, so be it. The first step is…

Breaking off the engagement.

I wonder if Father’s back yet? Zhen Zhu thought, when suddenly something warm pressed against her arm, radiating a gentle heat.

Before she could process the sensation, Zhen Min’er blurted out an apology, her voice frantic, “I’m sorry, Sister! I accidentally bumped into you just now.”

Zhen Zhu instinctively frowned, glancing at her stepsister beside her, who was frantically trying to unbuckle her seatbelt. Doesn’t she even understand basic safety?

“Alright, stop moving.”

“It was just a brush against your arm.”

“…Thank you, Sister.”

The moment Zhen Zhu finished speaking, her stepsister’s eyes shimmered with tears. She stopped moving, her warm body pressing against Zhen Zhu’s bare skin.

…

Zhen Zhu’s health wasn’t robust; she often felt cold. As the eldest miss of the Zhen Family, maintaining a presentable appearance was essential for her outings. Such formal attire, like evening gowns, inevitably left some skin exposed. Gradually, she had grown accustomed to the chill.

Yet now, the warm body beside her brought a faint sense of warmth.

Zhen Zhu suppressed her instinctive urge to lean closer to Zhen Min’er, a strange memory surfacing from the past—

Hadn’t her stepsister always leaned against her like this?

Ding-dong! The female lead’s Happiness Index has increased by 5! It’s now at 35%!

The System chirped happily, “Quick, quick, strike while the iron is hot, Host!”

Strike while the iron is hot? Oh, right, the Male Lead. Zhen Zhu, her thoughts interrupted, immediately understood the System’s meaning and said calmly, “Zhen Min’er.”

“Sister?”

Leaning against her sister’s cool skin, feeling its chill and… softness, Zhen Min’er felt deeply comfortable, her joy overflowing in her eyes.

Is she happy because I’m going to talk to Father about dissolving the engagement later?

Seeing Zhen Min’er’s upturned lips, Zhen Zhu understood. But… the thought of Jining Lan crossed her mind.

“I’ll talk to Father tonight. I can dissolve the engagement.”

“But I can’t help you secure the marriage.”

“Jining Lan’s family—”

Ding-dong—The Female Lead’s Happiness Index has dropped by 5 again! It’s back to 30%!

The System interrupted Zhen Zhu’s words frantically, “Oh my god, Host! How could you say such a thing? Of course it would make the Female Lead sad!”

Wait, is Zhen Min’er really that fragile? I only mentioned it!

Irritated, Zhen Zhu’s expression sharpened, her cold eyes growing even more aloof. Her fox-like eyes, devoid of emotion, spoke: “I will definitely dissolve the engagement. You can rest assured.”

“No, wait!” Zhen Min’er blurted out urgently. Absolutely not! My sister can’t break off the engagement! She said before that if she did, we’d never cross paths again. I won’t accept it!

“Sister, I…”

“Eldest Miss, we’ve arrived,” Master L, the chauffeur, interrupted Zhen Min’er’s unfinished words.

“Alright,” Zhen Zhu replied, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the car. She strode directly toward the villa. The bodyguard had mentioned earlier that their father had already returned home and was likely in his study.

Zhen Min’er quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and hurried after her sister into the villa, determined to catch up.

A soft voice called out, “Min’er…”

Zhen Min’er froze, turning to see the meticulously groomed, dignified, and seemingly gentle… noblewoman.

She was the current head of the Zhen Family, Zhen Hongbo’s second wife.

And Zhen Min’er’s biological mother.

Zhen Zhu knocked on the door and pushed it open.

Seeing the refined middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses sitting at his desk, Zhen Zhu couldn’t help but smile and quicken her pace. She sat down across from him. “Dad, you’re finally back! How was your trip?”

Zhen Hongbo looked up at his daughter, whom he was so proud of, adjusted his glasses, and smiled warmly. “It was fine. Secretary Wu mentioned you resolved a major crisis at Celia Theater today?”

“It wasn’t a major crisis. The lights went out, and everyone panicked. They have no ability to handle emergencies.”

“And?”

Zhen Zhu frowned. “A mere principal of a small theater dared to cut the power during a performance? What kind of trash theater is that?!”

“What? They upset my daughter? That theater doesn’t deserve to exist!” Zhen Hongbo slammed his hand on the desk in anger.

“There’s no need for that. After all, it was the first theater you helped me find.”

“Actually, I came to see you about something else.”

“Hmm?” Zhen Hongbo returned to his usual composure, pouring a cup of freshly brewed tea with a smile. “What trouble has my good daughter run into? I’ll definitely help you resolve it.”

“I want to break off my engagement with Jining Lan,” Zhen Zhu declared bluntly. “Let Jining Lan get engaged to Zhen Min’er instead.”

Zhen Hongbo paused mid-sip, slowly setting down his teacup to gaze at his radiant and beautiful daughter. “Why does my daughter suddenly want to break off the engagement?”

“Has that Jining Lan been treating you poorly?”

Zhen Hongbo’s smile vanished, replaced by an imposing air. “I’ll call the J Family later. How dare they mistreat my daughter?!”

“No,” Zhen Zhu retorted, lifting her gaze and scoffing. “It’s simply that I don’t like him. If Zhen Min’er wants him, she can have him.”

“When are you planning to break off the engagement, Dad?” Zhen Zhu asked, looking at her father. Since childhood, he had always indulged her every whim.

“…I can’t allow it.”

Zhen Hongbo shook his head. “Even though you’re my precious daughter, breaking off an engagement isn’t a simple matter.”

“Why not?”

Zhen Zhu frowned, this being the first time her father had ever refused her request.

Zhen Hongbo sighed and shook his head. “Your sister can’t compare to you. The J Family would never agree. Besides, this has nothing to do with Jining Lan.”

“…Even if the J Family won’t accept Zhen Min’er now, you can still break off my engagement with Jining Lan first.”

“Besides, Jining Lan doesn’t like me either.”

Zhen Zhu’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Whether Zhen Min’er ends up with Jining Lan is none of my concern. I just don’t want to be involved. I want to end my relationship with Jining Lan.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult for you, Father,” Zhen Zhu said. Though she wasn’t involved in the family business, she knew enough to add, “Our family isn’t inferior to the J Family, is it?”

“Ah, my precious daughter,” Zhen Hongbo rose and walked over to Zhen Zhu, ruffling her hair. “Yes, our family is certainly no less powerful than the J Family, but we can’t simply dissolve the engagement on a whim.”

“The Zhen and J Families have many collaborative projects. If we…”

“Are you saying it’s impossible, Father?” Zhen Zhu tilted her head back, meeting her father’s gaze directly.

“But I don’t think so. Yes, our family has many partnerships with the Jining Lan family, but they’re all mutually beneficial. They wouldn’t abandon their hard-earned profits just to uphold an engagement, would they?”

“But, my dear daughter,” Zhen Hongbo returned to his seat, picked up his teacup, and blew on it twice. “Suddenly proposing to end the engagement with the J Family is too abrupt and lacks any justification. Your request is equally sudden and without reason. I need time to consider this.”

“…Didn’t I already explain? Because Zhen Min’er loves Jining Lan, and I don’t like him. Isn’t that reason enough?”

What is Father hesitating about? What kind of reason does he need?

Zhen Zhu stood up, her eyes cold. “When you married my stepmother, Father, did you ever give me a reason?”