Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Vicious Fake Stepmother - Chapter 12

Chu Qian ended the call with a sharp snap and gave Zhan Se no chance to respond. She wiped her tears, picked up her suitcase, and took a taxi to Yunlan Villa.

At the other end, Zhan Se paused at the explosive outburst and abrupt hang-up. A slow smile curved her lips before she set the phone aside. She did not care whether Chu Qian was angry. Her only focus was on achieving her goal. She would not waste time on the feelings of someone she disliked, especially someone who disliked her as well and had once harmed and deceived her father.

An hour later, the doorbell at the Zhan family villa rang without pause. The sound was relentless, like a faulty circuit, and its piercing tone pounded in her head. Zhan Se had been upstairs working on a math problem. Already irritated, she decided to ignore Chu Qian for a while and put on her headphones to block out the noise.

A sudden crash of shattering glass followed.

Her entire body stiffened, and the pencil in her hand snapped cleanly in two. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes turned cold. She hurried downstairs and found the floor-to-ceiling window scattered with shards of glass. A large red suitcase lay in the middle of the living room floor.

The culprit stood outside with her arms folded and chin lifted.

Zhan Se’s brow twitched sharply. She pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation before walking to the front door.

Chu Qian stepped inside as the door opened. Meeting Zhan Se’s eyes, she glared with fury and shouldered past her with a hard bump. “I did not know Miss Zhan valued me so much that you would resort to such disgraceful methods to bring me back. I will reluctantly fulfill your wish and stay here.”

She removed her shoes, found a new pair of slippers in the cabinet, and slipped them on without hesitation. Zhan Se’s brow twitched again, and displeasure flashed in her gaze. Passing Chu Qian, she spoke coldly. “Clean the living room. Then go upstairs and stay there. Do not let me see you.”

Without waiting for a reply, she went upstairs to her study.

Chu Qian tilted her head back and rolled her eyes. If I stay here any longer, I might not resist beating this brat to the ground, although I probably cannot win. She carried her suitcase to the third floor with effort.

The room was exactly as she had left it. Last time she had left in a rush and had not looked closely, but now she saw clearly how gaudy it was. The clashing purple décor was overwhelming. Inside the closet lay the leopard-print lingerie she had tossed aside before. The sight made her stomach turn, and she shut the door quickly.

An idea came to her. She went downstairs and knocked on the study door.

Zhan Se opened it, her face full of impatience. “What?”

Seeing that look delighted Chu Qian. You wanted me here? Fine, we will annoy each other.

“I need to talk to you about the will.”

Zhan Se’s head throbbed. She opened the door wider and told her to go downstairs first. She did not want Chu Qian in her study, which was the only peaceful place in the house.

Chu Qian had no desire to enter. She had never liked studying and preferred reading cookbooks. She went downstairs without complaint.

When Zhan Se came down with the will, she saw Chu Qian seated on the sofa with her back straight, arms folded, and one leg crossed over the other. A trace of restrained anger remained on her face, a sharp contrast to the timid woman she had been before.

Zhan Se placed the will on the coffee table. Chu Qian picked it up, read it swiftly, and carefully photographed each page. She returned it, her expression more defiant than before.

“So, according to this will, I must live with you for three years, and you must keep me happy. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can assume that as long as my requests are reasonable, you cannot refuse them?”

“Yes.”

“All my expenses during these three years?”

“The Zhan family will pay.”

“Anything I wish to buy?”

“The Zhan family will pay.”

“And if I decide to marry after three years?”

“The Zhan family will provide the dowry.”

Before Chu Qian could speak again, Zhan Se’s tone grew impatient. “As long as you do not covet the Zhan family’s assets and all your requests remain reasonable, I will ensure you live without worry for three years and will provide a generous dowry when you marry.”

“I have one more condition.” Chu Qian drew an A4 sheet from her pocket and placed it firmly on the table. “I signed a guarantee before. Now you will sign one for me. For three years, you will not harm me, and after three years, you will not kill me. No matter when or where, under any circumstances, you will not lay a hand on me.”

Zhan Se stared at her in disbelief. Kill Chu Qian? Was she out of her mind? Without a moment’s hesitation, she signed, eager to silence her.

Chu Qian’s heart leapt with excitement, but she kept her face calm. She gave an “OK” gesture. “Since Mr. Zhan’s will demands it, I will agree. For three years, I will not touch a single cent of your family’s property. In return, you will keep your word and take good care of me.” She bit down on the last words.

Zhan Se ignored her and went upstairs.

Chu Qian watched her leave with a cold smile. She tucked the guarantee into her pocket, keeping it close. She had been timid at first, afraid Zhan Se might kill her in the end, but now she had both the will and the guarantee to protect her. As long as Zhan Se wanted the inheritance, she would have to follow her father’s wishes.

Even if she provoked her for three years, she could still survive. That was not such a bad bargain. Life after leaving university and entering society had taught people to choose the path that offered the greatest benefit. When facing a powerful enemy, it was wiser not to resist head-on. Instead, wait for an opening and then strike back with full force.

Zhan Se, just wait.