Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Vicious Fake Stepmother - Chapter 26

Qin Ru did not care about her actions. She only laughed softly as she watched Zhan Se walking toward her. “Sometimes, when people cannot understand their own feelings, it is actually a very pitiful thing.”

Zhan Se did not understand what she meant, nor did she intend to find out.

Qin Ru was already used to Zhan Se’s indifference. She raised her brows, moved closer, and whispered, “But your wish will eventually fail. Do you really think that just because you signed up for three thousand meters, you can defeat me?”

“Heh, then let us see.”

“Fine then. Whoever loses is not allowed to have lunch with Chu Qian for one whole month. How about it?” Qin Ru looked at Zhan Se provocatively.

Zhan Se’s brows twitched. She wanted to ask what kind of ridiculous bet this was. It was only about not having lunch with Chu Qian for a month, was that really such a big deal?

“Alright. It is a deal.”

Qin Ru raised her brows again, and an unspeakable smile spread across her face.

…

At noon, Chu Qian, as usual, had lunch with Zhan Se and Qin Ru. Today’s four dishes covered sour, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors.

“Se Se’s stomach illness should be almost healed. You can eat properly again. Try today’s flavors.”

Chu Qian placed the dishes in the center of the table. They were fish with pickled cabbage, sweet and sour pork, spicy pork intestines, and cold cucumber salad.

Zhan Se raised her brows when she heard Chu Qian call her “Se Se,” yet surprisingly, she did not feel much dislike.

She tasted a piece of sweet and sour pork. The sour and sweet flavor was excellent. She followed it with cold cucumber salad, refreshing and delicious, freeing her taste buds that had been dulled for days.

Qin Ru kept acting cute, constantly trying to please Chu Qian, making her laugh throughout the meal.

Chu Qian now thought that this female lead was actually quite easy to get along with. If things continued like this, her little life would surely be safe. Happily, she used public chopsticks to place some fish with pickled cabbage into Qin Ru’s bowl.

Qin Ru saw Chu Qian serving her and raised her brows at Zhan Se proudly. Zhan Se’s face darkened immediately.

The three of them chatted.

Suddenly, the door opened and a girl walked in. She kept her head down and entered the back kitchen.

It was Sui Nai.

Chu Qian’s smile stiffened for a moment when she saw her. She stood up and walked into the kitchen.

The little girl looked nervous when she saw Chu Qian enter. She quickly tried to put away her iron lunch box, anxiously wanting to hide it.

“Sister Qian.” Sui Nai’s voice was hoarse.

Chu Qian could hear at once that something was wrong. Her voice sounded as if she had been crying. She kept her head down, clearly not wanting anyone to see her face.

“Why are you eating here? Come out and eat with us.”

Chu Qian’s gaze fell on the old iron lunch box. It was covered with scratches from years of scrubbing with steel wool, looking like it belonged to the last century. In this school, even children who brought their own food used clean and pretty lunch boxes.

And…

Chu Qian had just glimpsed inside and thought she saw two dry steamed buns squeezed into the gap of the box.

She remembered what Uncle Zheng had said, “If she does not work part-time, she cannot even attend school.”

A wave of sorrow rose in her heart.

Chu Qian had grown up an orphan. She had known the hardships of life and hunger. When she first left school to work, after paying rent, she lived on instant noodles for an entire month. That was why, once she had the ability, she only wanted to help others as much as she could.

If she could help, then she would. In other people’s eyes, she might seem overly saintly, but the world already had too little kindness. Why should she not try to create more of it?

“I cooked a lot today. The three of us cannot finish it all. Come and eat with us.” She warmly reached out to take Sui Nai’s hand, but the girl pulled away.

The little girl kept her head down. Her hair was messy, covering her face. Chu Qian could not see clearly, but she noticed that the hair ends were uneven, as if someone had chopped them off with scissors.

Chu Qian’s eyes grew cold.

“No need, Sister Qian. I brought my own food. I will just eat here.” Sui Nai’s voice trembled. She nervously glanced outside. Only then did Chu Qian see the tear stains on her face and the mark of a slap.

Chu Qian’s anger flared, though she held back her words.

She frowned and went out to drive the other two girls away.

Zhan Se looked slightly displeased, while Qin Ru held her bowl and pouted. “Ahh, Sister Qian, I do not want to go back so soon. Can I at least have another bowl of coconut sago pudding? It is so delicious.”

She smiled sweetly. Her long lashes fluttered like the wings of a fallen angel.

Chu Qian almost relented, but then she thought of Sui Nai in the kitchen and shook her head. “No, no. Out you go.”

No matter how much Qin Ru acted spoiled, Chu Qian did not allow her to stay.

Qin Ru sighed. “Alright then. I will see Sister Qian after school.”

Chu Qian had not yet understood what she meant before Qin Ru left.

Zhan Se was the last to go. Before leaving, she glanced meaningfully at Chu Qian and then toward the kitchen before stepping out.

When the two had gone, Chu Qian cleared the table. Only then did she open the kitchen door and say to Sui Nai, “They are gone. There is still food left. Come eat with me.” Afraid the girl would feel uncomfortable, she gently pleaded, “Just keep me company and eat a little, alright?”

Sui Nai lowered her head and held the lunch box tightly. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to speak but said nothing.

This time Chu Qian grasped her wrist firmly and the girl did not resist. She guided her gently into the chair opposite and fetched another pair of chopsticks and a bowl.

Zhan Se and Qin Ru often came to eat so Chu Qian had already prepared three sets. By chance she had bought one more and now it was just right.

She passed the set across. “No one has used this one. As for the food, I do not know if you mind. If you do, I can make a fresh meal for you.” Chu Qian rose as if to go.

Sui Nai quickly shook her head.

When she lifted her face, large tears rolled down.

“Thank you, Sister Qian, but really there is no need…””

“What is there to thank? Eating alone feels lonely. From now on do not bring food. Share with us instead. The more people the better. I never finish everything anyway. You know I have been eating too many desserts recently and need to diet.”

Chu Qian blinked playfully as she spoke. She worried that her words might offend.

She did not realize this was the first time someone had warmly invited Sui Nai to a meal. The girl’s eyes turned red again. She lifted the hot rice bowl and while she ate, her tears dropped into it.

Chu Qian’s heart ached. She quickly placed more food in the girl’s bowl with clean chopsticks.

The lunch break was short so Sui Nai had to hurry back to class. Chu Qian did not ask about her injuries. She only made sure the girl was full before sending her off.

In the afternoon, the dessert shop was quiet as usual, and Zhou Liangyu came to play games with Chu Qian. They played until the bell for the third class rang. Both were tired, and after dying many times in the game without reaching the top ten, they lost interest.

Chu Qian leaned back in her chair to nap while Zhou Liangyu rested on the window and gazed outside.

Across from the dessert shop stretched a large sports field where students had physical education classes.

When Zhou Liangyu noticed something, she nudged Chu Qian with her elbow. “Hey, is that not your relative’s class? It looks like my best friend’s younger brother’s class is as well. Are the two classes having PE together?”

“What? That is Sui Nai’s class. I see her!”

Chu Qian sat up immediately and looked outside.

The field was lively today.

Classes 9, 10, and 3 were having PE together.

The male and female leads were present, and Zhan Se, the female second lead, was also on the field.

Yet Chu Qian’s gaze rested only on Sui Nai standing in the corner.

She remembered the slap mark she had seen at noon and her chest grew heavy.

“You have been at this school for a while. Have you ever heard anything about Sui Nai?” Chu Qian leaned on the windowsill beside Zhou Liangyu.

Zhou Liangyu propped her chin in thought. “I recall that child always seemed to carry many injuries. She often appeared hurt. When I had PE with her class before, some students came to my infirmary to avoid running and spoke about her. From what I heard, her parents divorced when she was little. Her mother left with another man, and her father drank heavily. Later, her father got into a fight and was beaten to death. Her mother returned and took her to a new home, but when she had a second child, she died in childbirth. Now Sui Nai lives with her stepfather. Unfortunately, the baby boy born at that time is disabled.”

“Her stepfather gambled, smoked, drank, and lent money at high interest. With a handicap, his temper grew worse. He often beat and scolded Sui Nai. From what I observed, she was withdrawn and rarely smiled. Because of this, her classmates disliked her and usually left her out.” Zhou Liangyu sighed.

Chu Qian lowered her head, and her heart ached even more.

She had known Sui Nai for less than a week, yet the most vivid memory was the child’s smile when she lifted her face on Chu Qian’s first day at work.

Suddenly, a line came to her mind. She does not hate the world, but the world has never stopped abandoning her.

Wait. Why did this line sound so familiar?

Chu Qian suddenly realized something.

Was Sui Nai one of the female lead’s best friends?

She quickly reviewed the plot in her mind and understood everything at once.

Sui Nai had been born poor but would later rise in power and become a strong businesswoman. She was Qin Ru’s greatest support in her struggle against her family.

Later, during Qin Ru’s conflict with Zhan Se, Sui Nai played an important role. One could even say that Zhan Se’s downfall was largely because of her.

Who would have thought that the future domineering president Sui Nai was now such a pitiful and timid girl?

Zhou Liangyu noticed the sparkle in Chu Qian’s eyes and froze. “Do not tell me you plan to help her.”

Chu Qian blinked and smiled.

“It would not be bad to win over a future business tycoon ahead of time.”

At the same time, beside Qin Ru, the system 4521 electronic voice sounded.

“Host, please note that the first little sister has logged in. Please capture her.””