Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Vicious Fake Stepmother - Chapter 17

[For whom? Chu Qian?]

Li Zongyi understood at once.

[Yes. But do not tell her I made it,] Zhan Se replied.

Li Zongyi read the message, chuckled softly, and said with warmth, [You little girl, you truly are Mr. Zhan’s daughter. Just like your father, fierce on the outside yet unable to cross the hurdle in your heart when alone.]

[Then I will trouble Uncle Li.]

[Do not worry.]

Hearing that, Zhan Se felt the matter was settled. She was unsure how powerful Li Zongyi really was or how broad his network might be. The only reassurance she had was knowing he stood on her side.

…

When Chu Qian finished tidying the dishes outside and came back in, she saw the little girl curled up on the sofa reading. Not wanting to disturb her, she went into her room for her phone and slipped out quietly.

Her phone rang the moment she stepped out. It was Director Ji.

“Little Chu, what are you doing right now? Are you at work?”

Chu Qian smiled awkwardly and leaned against the sofa in the small living room With a trace of bitterness she replied, “How could it be so fast?”

The voice on the other end brightened. “That is just right. I contacted one of my classmates earlier. Her husband runs a dessert shop near a high school and they need a pastry chef. I remember you are skilled at making many kinds of sweets. I just do not know if you are interested. Do not worry, the work is not heavy.”

Director Ji was about to say more when Chu Qian’s eyes lit up.

“Really? That is wonderful! Thank you so much, Director Ji.”

Chu Qian agreed at once. Having work was already a blessing. After two or three years of being worn down by society, she was in no position to be choosy.

Director Ji was pleased with her answer. After confirming the details and ending the call, she quickly sent the address.

When Chu Qian read it, she paused.

[West Ring Road, Jinchuan High School. Contact: Jin Zheng. Phone number: XXXXX]

Jinchuan High School?

The name sounded familiar.

It seemed that Zhan Se attended that school.

Chu Qian blinked.

Suddenly she remembered Zhan Se’s earlier words [I will make it up to you].

Could this job have been arranged by Zhan Se?

After thinking it through, she found it unlikely. Zhan Se was not the type to be kindhearted. If it were her doing, it would not have been arranged in such a roundabout way through Director Ji. Most importantly, Zhan Se disliked her enough that she would never send her to work at her school. They would run into each other constantly, which would only make things more unpleasant.

By that reasoning, this was not something Zhan Se had arranged, and Chu Qian felt more at ease.

After she called Boss Jin, they quickly agreed on her schedule. She would begin the next morning.

Chu Qian had expected she might need more time to find a job, yet it was settled so quickly she could hardly believe it. The happiness she felt was difficult to put into words.

When the nurse arrived to give Zhan Se her IV on time and noticed the smile on Chu Qian’s face, she smiled as well and asked what had made her so happy.

Chu Qian followed the nurse into the room, chuckling. Seeing Zhan Se sitting on the bed, she lifted her chin and deliberately raised her voice. “Someone tried to get me fired, but I am so outstanding that others are eager to hire me. Just now a bakery owner called and asked me to start work tomorrow morning.”

She ended with a triumphant glance at Zhan Se.

She wanted the girl to see that even if she had lost one job because of her, she could quickly find another, and this one was at her school.

If that did not irritate her, nothing would.

Zhan Se looked at her as if she were a fool.

She lifted her arm for the nurse, received the needle, and had the IV connected. The nurse explained that once these three bottles were finished, she could be discharged in the afternoon, but she should rest well at home and follow dietary guidelines. She even listed clearly what she could and could not eat.

Chu Qian took out a small notebook and carefully wrote everything down.

Sitting on the bed, Zhan Se instinctively looked up. She saw the woman leaning forward, a strand of hair falling by her ear, completely focused on the nurse’s instructions as she recorded each dish.

For some reason, the sight felt a little strange.

…

The last bottles were finished quickly and by the time it was nearly one o’clock, everything was done.

Zhan Se disliked staying in the hospital and wanted to leave immediately.

Chu Qian complained inwardly. The hospital was like a five-star hotel, yet this girl still found it uncomfortable. She was far too fussy.

Carrying the medicine prescribed by the doctor, Chu Qian walked behind her.

After a few steps, Zhan Se looked back and saw Chu Qian moving slowly. She frowned, stepped forward, took the plastic bag from her hand, and strode ahead. As she passed, Chu Qian thought she heard the girl mutter, “Short legs walk slowly.”

When she looked again, Zhan Se was already several paces ahead.

Ah, how infuriating.

At five foot five, how could she be short? That was the perfect height for a woman.

Unlike you, a beanpole who stood out in a crowd.

Sulking, she trotted after her and entered the villa first out of spite.

Zhan Se watched the short legs moving like windmills and thought, “Childish.”

…

Back at the villa, Chu Qian did not rest. She sat at the dining table and began arranging a menu based on her notes.

When Zhan Se came downstairs after her shower, she saw the woman writing. She walked over and glanced at the paper.

From top to bottom, it was neatly filled with a full week’s menu from Monday to Sunday.

There were three meals a day, each with three dishes and one soup, listing dozens of different options without repetition.

Even Zhan Se found it surprising.

After finishing the last day’s menu, Chu Qian looked at the page with satisfaction. She then added a few desserts at the end of each day before putting down her pen.

When she turned her head, she saw Zhan Se looking at her notebook. She smirked. “Your handwriting is like a dog’s scrawl most of the time, but you take it very seriously when writing dish names.”

Chu Qian rolled her eyes. “If you do not like my cooking, then make your own meals.”

Zhan Se, who could not cook, said nothing.

Chu Qian snorted. “You may have good grades, but mine are poor. Still, when you want to eat well, you have to rely on me, do you not? So why act so smug? In this world, there are always things you cannot do, and in those moments you have to depend on others. Since you need something from others, you should speak nicely and not act arrogant all the time.”

She stood on tiptoe, patted Zhan Se’s shoulder, lifted her chin with pride, and said, “If you want to eat well and avoid stomach problems, you must show respect to your big sister. Keep me happy and you will eat the best and stay in perfect health. Understand?”

Zhan Se remained silent.

She thought she should never have gotten involved with this woman.

As Chu Qian cheerfully headed to the kitchen to wash vegetables, Zhan Se wondered how anyone could feel such passion for cooking.

It seemed that whenever Chu Qian cooked, she was filled with boundless energy.

By contrast, Zhan Se could not think of anything that stirred the same feeling in her.

She pressed her lips together and stared at her hands.

Before long, Chu Qian had prepared three dishes and one soup, including stir-fried potatoes with sweet peppers, scrambled eggs with chives, sweet and sour lotus root, and radish soup She also made a fragrant pot of slightly soft rice.

She placed a bowl of rice in front of Zhan Se, handed her chopsticks, and began eating herself. After staying up all night and waiting until now, she was starving.

Zhan Se looked at the table full of fragrant dishes and felt a warmth in her heart.

In her whole life, the only proper meals she had eaten at home were both made by Chu Qian.

She looked at the woman across from her, who was biting into a piece of sweet and sour lotus root with a bit of sauce on her lips, and thought that maybe she was not so annoying after all.

The meal was especially satisfying.

Afterward, Zhan Se offered to wash the dishes but Chu Qian stopped her.

“Go rest. I will do it.”

Zhan Se looked at the hand holding her back and replied calmly, “No need. I will wash them.”

When she noticed the doubtful look, she added with a hint of awkwardness, “I just need to move around a bit.”

“Oh, suit yourself,” Chu Qian said with a shrug.

She went upstairs for her tablet, then sat on the sofa to watch videos. Zhan Se washed the dishes and went to the study on the second floor to read.

They spent the entire afternoon in peace, something neither of them could have imagined before.

Chu Qian disliked leftovers and always cooked just enough for each meal. By dinner, she prepared a fresh spread once more.

Before the food was even ready, she turned around to find Zhan Se already seated at the table, upright and proper.

Chu Qian could not help but laugh.

The child’s pride had a certain cuteness to it.

After dinner and ensuring Zhan Se took her medicine, they each went to their rooms to rest.

…

The next morning, when Zhan Se came downstairs she saw Chu Qian sitting at the dining table, her chin resting in one hand as she waited. On the table sat a steaming breakfast.

She stopped for a moment.

It was the first time she had ever seen a hot breakfast at her own dining table.

She lifted her wrist to check the time. It was only six o’clock.

Chu Qian had already finished preparing breakfast.

What time had she started?

Meanwhile, Chu Qian was nearly resentful to the point of collapse.

Looking after a high school student was exhausting.

She had risen at five thirty and only just managed to finish breakfast in time.

If she had to keep this up, she would not last.

When she worked, she had thought eight o’clock was early. Now she was getting up at five thirty.

It felt as if she had returned to the misery of her final year in high school.

Indeed, nothing in life was more grueling than being a student, and nothing more exhausting than the final year of high school.

With her eyes half-closed and bread in her mouth, she finished eating in a daze.

As they stepped outside together, the cold wind woke her.

Zhan Se, holding her schoolbag, turned to her with a curious look. “Why are you following me?”

Chu Qian brightened at once and grinned. “I am going to work!”

Zhan Se looked confused.