Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Vicious Fake Stepmother - Chapter 21

Zhan Se and Qin Ru entered the classroom one after the other.

When the rest of the class saw them together, their expressions shifted subtly. The three girls who had been gossiping about Zhan Se earlier lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Qin Ru noticed the reaction. She blinked, her large innocent eyes filled with a quiet smile as she looked around the room.

“Why is everyone looking at us like that?”

She curved her lips into a smile. When she reached her seat, she stepped slightly aside and said, “Zhan Se, you go in first.”

Her tone was warm and familiar with no sign of awkwardness.

The other students in the class continued to watch the two of them closely.

Qin Ru acted as if she had not noticed. She took out a red exercise book with gold lettering from her desk, the same one Zhan Se used in class.

“Zhan Se, I heard you are very good at your studies, especially in math. There is a question here I find quite difficult. Could I ask for your help?”

Zhan Se looked up at Qin Ru, then swept her gaze across the classroom, noting the expressions of the others.

With a calm expression she accepted the exercise book and asked, “Which question?”

Qin Ru pointed to a problem with a smile. “This one.”

Zhan Se glanced at it, then picked up a pen to calculate on a piece of scrap paper.

Her handwriting was bold and powerful with a trace of unrestrained flair, yet on closer look it appeared sharp and commanding, much like her demeanor.

Qin Ru rested her chin in her right hand, her gaze fixed on the girl’s strikingly beautiful and well-defined face.

She let out a quiet sigh.

Qin Ru: 4521, what should I do? I am so troubled. The villainesses in this book are all so good-looking, nothing like the ugly, fake sweethearts from previous worlds. Which one should I go after?

4521: Stop it! She is the villainess! Host, please follow the plot seriously!

Qin Ru: Tsk, tsk, tsk…

Qin Ru clicked her tongue and chose to ignore the cat jumping around in midair.

4521 was fuming, its chubby little fingers moving quickly as it searched for something before making a decision.

4521: Host, I checked. You are right, Chu Qian is acting strangely. In the original plot she should have taken the money and run by now, yet she is here instead, which does not match the story. I contacted headquarters and confirmed she is not one of our colleagues, so she should not be a task performer.

Qin Ru: She is not?

Qin Ru’s gaze grew cold. Her slender fingers tapped lightly against her chin.

That makes it interesting.

Zhan Se handed her the scrap paper with the calculations. Qin Ru’s curiosity faded instantly and was replaced with an innocent clarity. She smiled as she took the paper, and when she saw the clear and concise solution she was genuinely surprised.

The thought process was clear and the calculations were precise.

This villainess was indeed highly intelligent.

“Thank you, Zhan Se. I think your explanation is even clearer than the answer key.” She smiled as she tucked the paper into the book, her manner polite yet neither too familiar nor too distant.

“You are welcome.” Zhan Se’s tone was calm as she went back to her own work.

The rest of the class, who had been watching, found this interaction between desk mates unusually strange.

Zhan Se had always been cold and unapproachable. No one dared to ask her questions even though they knew her grades were exceptional. She had long held one of the top two positions in the school.

If she was not first, then Jiang Yuanyang from the neighboring class was.

To the second-year students at Jinchuan High School, the two of them seemed like figures standing at the very top of the pyramid.

The others were content to compete for third place.

Now, however, the icy goddess was helping someone with their homework.

The class was astonished.

The bell for the noon study session rang.

Jinchuan High School had no official nap time, but it did have a noon study session from 12:30 to 1:30 when students could read, do homework, or rest at their desks.

While Qin Ru was working on her homework, a folded note slid onto her desk from Zhang Miao, the girl seated in front of her.

“How did you dare to ask Zhan Se for help with a question?”

Qin Ru raised an eyebrow and replied, “I think Zhan Se is very approachable. You should try it as well.”

Zhang Miao was shocked when she read the note.

In the entire class, only Qi Yao ever spoke to Zhan Se.

Zhang Miao had spoken ill of Zhan Se at noon. Now she felt guilty and wanted to apologize, yet she was still afraid of her. She had been hesitating for a long time.

Encouraged by Qin Ru, she finally turned and offered her exercise book.

In a soft voice she asked, “Zhan… Zhan Se, could you please help me with this problem? I… I do not understand it well.”

Zhan Se leaned on one hand while scrolling through her phone.

The screen was filled with message after message from Chu Qian.

It was giving her a headache.

“You must get along well with your classmates, especially your desk mate. Remember that.”

“Do not be so cold when classmates ask questions. Learn from Qin Ru.”

“If you smile a little, your relationships will improve a lot.”

…

Her head ached.

How irritating could this woman be? She was always mentioning “Qin Ru.”

At that moment she heard Zhang Miao’s request. She was about to refuse when another message appeared on her screen.

“Especially when a classmate asks a question, help them more. That way, you will build good connections.”

Did this woman have a third eye?

“Unbelievable,” she muttered in annoyance.

Zhang Miao thought she was being scolded and quickly tried to pull the book back. The next moment, a long slender hand took the notebook instead and the pen moved swiftly across the page.

Zhang Miao watched as Zhan Se lowered her head and explained the problem step by step while writing on the scrap paper. Her mouth formed a silent “oh.”

The entire class was stunned.

They had lived to see the day the ice queen helped someone.

While the rest of the class was still recovering from the surprise, Qin Ru observed something unusual. Zhan Se had been impatient earlier, yet after receiving a particular message she began to help.

Who could have sent that message?

Was this person truly that important to Zhan Se?

…

At the dessert shop, Chu Qian did not realize her stream of messages had been so effective.

She feared Qin Ru’s presence might make things more difficult for Zhan Se.

She knew the story well. The protagonist, Qin Ru, was lively, kind, warm, and beautiful. Yet, her well-meaning actions often pushed the second female lead, Zhan Se, into deeper social isolation and worsened her relationships.

As earlier at the shop, Qin Ru likely had no ill intent and only wanted to apologize to Zhan Se.

However, excessive sincerity could sometimes harm others unintentionally.

Because of your kindness, my lack of generosity might be seen as a flaw.

Small cracks like these, once revealed, could eventually accumulate until they crushed Zhan Se and forced her toward her original tragic fate.

She sighed.

Still, she worried her messages might have annoyed Zhan Se.

She had just put her phone away when a familiar figure appeared at the door.

The person peeked inside and waved excitedly.

“Qian Qian!”

Chu Qian looked up and saw Zhou Liangyu. Surprised, she smiled at once.

“Liangyu!”

The two friends were thrilled to see each other.

Zhou Liangyu hurried in, wrapped her arms around Chu Qian, and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

“Ahhh, Qian Qian, I am so happy to see you. My coworker told me there was a new dessert chef here, very pretty and with the surname Chu. Then I saw your photo of the school playground on social media and thought it might be you. I cannot believe it really is.”

Chu Qian was just as surprised. “So you have been working at Jinchuan High School’s infirmary all this time?”

“Yes, I told you before, remember?” Zhou Liangyu pouted.

Chu Qian scratched her head in embarrassment. She had forgotten.

It was still wonderful to meet a friend here.

They sat down, and Chu Qian told the cashier to charge the bill to her account. She brought Zhou Liangyu a drink and a small cake, and they began chatting about recent events.

Zhou Liangyu took a bite of the cake with delight. “Qian Qian, your baking has not lost its touch. It is even better than before. This is delicious. So, who are you living with now? I envy your roommate.”

Chu Qian’s expression darkened. “That little brat does not appreciate it at all. I put in the effort to make good food for her, and she is still picky.”

She waved her hand as if brushing the matter aside. “Forget it. She is a relative’s child and also attends this school.”

“Really? Yuan Jin’s younger brother is here too, in Class 10 of the second year. His name is Jiang Yuanyang.”

Pfft.

Chu Qian nearly spat out her tea, just managing to avoid hitting Zhou Liangyu’s face, though she coughed violently.

“Cough, cough. Who did you say? Jiang Yuanyang is the younger brother of Yuan Jin, your best friend?”

“Yes, her real brother.”

Zhou Liangyu blinked in innocence.

Chu Qian found it hard to believe how small the world was.

Jiang Yuanyang was the male lead of this world. His sister Yuan Jin had little presence in the story and left home with her girlfriend after a dispute over her orientation.

The author had briefly mentioned that her girlfriend was also her best friend.

Chu Qian’s gaze shifted to Zhou Liangyu.

“Liangyu…”

“Hm?” Zhou Liangyu tilted her head. “What is it?”

“So you are only Yuan Jin’s best friend, nothing more?”

Zhou Liangyu nodded. “Yes, we have been best friends since childhood.”

Chu Qian was at a loss for words.

Well, good luck to you.

She gave Zhou Liangyu a look of pity.

Zhou Liangyu suddenly felt like prey caught under the stare of a predator.

…

The two spent the afternoon together, either wandering around or playing games in Zhou Liangyu’s office. The time passed quickly.

As the end of the school day approached, Chu Qian began packing her things.

“You are not going to finish this game?”

“No, I have something to do. I will blow myself up and you can take my gear.”

“…You are terrible.”

Chu Qian stuck out her tongue playfully before hurrying off.

When the dismissal bell rang, students streamed out of the building toward the cafeteria.

Chu Qian walked faster. Along the way, she greeted Sui Nai and went straight to the school building.

She remembered that Zhan Se was in Class 9 and made her way there.

When she reached the second-year building, she spotted Zhan Se’s tall figure moving toward the school gate.

It was fortunate she had walked quickly, or she would have missed her.

She rushed to catch up, panting. “Why are you walking so fast?”

Zhan Se turned to see her, raised an eyebrow, and said bluntly, “I was trying to avoid you. Too bad.”

Chu Qian rolled her eyes.

“Didn’t we agree to leave separately? Why are you here?”

If it were not for you, I would have left long ago. I finish work at five but I waited until six for you, and you still complain.

She kept the thought to herself. Instead, she took hold of Zhan Se’s sleeve and glanced behind them. “Why are you not walking with Qin Ru?”

Zhan Se looked at the hand on her uniform sleeve yet did not shake it off.

“She has nothing to do with me.”

“But you are desk mates.”

“So what if we are?”

Chu Qian felt exasperated.

“I told you that since you are desk mates, you should get along. How do you think she feels when you act so cold?”

“Why should I care what she thinks?” Zhan Se replied.

“Because she is Qin Ru, and you need to get along with her.” Chu Qian’s tone was urgent. She wanted to shake Zhan Se by the shoulders and shout, She is the protagonist. She controls your life and mine!

Zhan Se studied the shorter woman standing before her, who looked deeply worried, then bent down until their faces were close.

“Do you like her?”