Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Vicious Fake Stepmother - Chapter 27

Qin Ru heard the voice of 4521 and followed it. She narrowed her eyes as she looked toward the side of the field where Class Three stood. A group of students had gathered in a corner.

The sports field of Jinchuan High School had been built against the campus wall. A bamboo grove grew nearby, and with thick leaves hiding the corner, no one outside could see what was happening. The gathered students had blocked the only view.

At the center, Sui Nai was surrounded. She kept her head low, her eyes dull, and her lips pressed together without a word. In front of her stood a tall, sturdy girl, almost 1.7 meters, with arms crossed and a fierce glare. Her rough voice barked, “Sui Nai, why did you run last night? Did you think I would eat you?”

She raised her hand and slapped Sui Nai’s face with sharp smacks. She was strong, her palm heavy with fat, and soon Sui Nai’s face turned red with marks. Her thick hands looked menacing, and her vicious expression was hard to challenge.

“I am speaking to you. Are you mute? Can you not answer?”

Sui Nai lifted her eyes. Her bright gaze showed defiance yet lacked courage. She lowered her head again, shrinking back. That fleeting glance appeared as provocation to the broad-faced girl Zhang Zhaonan.

“Hey, you dare glare at me? Sui Nai, you have grown bold.”

Zhang Zhaonan swung her hand for another slap, but Sui Nai dodged just in time. Missing her target, Zhang Zhaonan cursed and raised her hand again. Before she could strike, Su Jianing kicked her aside with impatience.

Zhang Zhaonan had been ready to use force, yet Su Jianing’s sudden kick caught her off guard. She staggered and almost fell. When she turned to curse, she saw who had struck her and quickly forced a smile. “Ah, it is Sister Su.”

Su Jianing rarely attended class. She usually appeared only during PE when she could show off and attract boys from the next class. Today was no exception, but instead of lingering before Jiang Yuanyang of Class Ten, she had come to this corner.

Su Jianing gave Zhang Zhaonan an annoyed glance. “Move aside. I need to talk to Sui Nai.”

“Alright then.” Zhang Zhaonan dared not provoke her. Everyone in Jinchuan knew she was the Su family’s spoiled daughter. She was beautiful, hot-tempered, and cruel, yet she bewitched half the boys in school. Even Xue Dong, leader of the local gangsters, followed her like a lapdog. He had repeated a grade just to stay with her and even vowed to wait another year if necessary. From the moment Su Jianing entered Jinchuan High, he had been her protector.

Accustomed to running rampant, Su Jianing needed only one look to push Zhang Zhaonan aside. She twirled her golden curls and lowered her eyes lazily toward the girl before her. “You are working part-time at the dessert shop, are you not?”

Sui Nai lifted her head in confusion. Her lips tightened nervously as she nodded, afraid of being struck.

Su Jianing raised her brows. “Then you must know Chu Qian from that shop. What is your relationship with her?”

Sui Nai could not understand why Su Jianing asked about Chu Qian, who was not even a student at the school.

“Speak up.”

“It is ordinary. Sister Qian is very kind.”

When Sui Nai praised Chu Qian, Su Jianing sneered. “And what about her relationship with Zhan Se?”

Sui Nai had not known Zhan Se before, though she had heard of her. In recent days, she had often seen her at the shop. “They seem close. They eat together every day.”

“Close in what way? Be specific.”

Sui Nai grew more uncertain about her purpose, but still answered. “They eat together daily, but Zhan Se speaks little. Chu Qian and Qin Ru seem closer. They are friends.”

“So Zhan Se and Chu Qian never argued or fought?”

“No.”

After asking for so long, Su Jianing still had not heard what she wanted. Her face darkened, and she cursed. “Impossible. That wretch Zhan must hate that little tramp. You are lying to me!”

She seized Sui Nai’s hair and snarled.

Terrified, Sui Nai shook her head. “No, I told the truth.”

Su Jianing released her violently and shoved her away. “From now on, if anything happens between those two, you must report it to me. Understand?”

Before Sui Nai could reply, a calm voice came from behind.

“If you want to know about my relationship with Zhan Se, why not ask me directly? Sui Nai would not know such things.”

Su Jianing spun around and saw Chu Qian holding up her phone, filming them.

The girls panicked and tried to hide their faces.

“Do not bother hiding. I have been filming for some time, and it is useless now. Group bullying on the school field with the PE teacher nearby shows remarkable courage.” Chu Qian put away her phone and smirked coldly at Su Jianing. “If I show this video to the principal, all of you will be punished, and graduation may be out of reach.”

The girls turned pale. Su Jianing’s face grew uglier. The memory of that kitchen knife against her face still haunted her. She forced herself to sneer. “What nonsense. We were only asking Sui Nai questions. Do not slander us. Do not think that just because you were once my uncle’s mistress, you can claim a share of our family property. Keep dreaming.”

She stamped her foot and left, though guilt was written on her face.

Chu Qian realized at once that this was the influence of Zhan Minghui. Without a parent whispering in her ear, how would a niece even think of inheritance?

She did not reply. Instead, she turned to Sui Nai in the corner. “Are you alright?” Her eyes blinked kindly, and her voice was deliberately soft.

To be honest, Chu Qian despised herself a little. When she had invited Sui Nai to lunch earlier, it had been genuine, yet now her concern felt staged.

Sui Nai nodded hesitantly. “I am fine. Thank you, Sister Qian. I… I should get to class.” She was used to being bullied, and this sudden kindness left her awkward and unsure.

Chu Qian smiled and let her go.

Zhou Liangyu, standing behind, had also heard Su Jianing’s words. She looked at Chu Qian with suspicion. “Qian Qian, she just said you were her uncle’s mistress. Her uncle is from the Zhan family. Are you… Zhan Se’s…”

That look froze Chu Qian. She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Do you think that is possible?”

Zhou Liangyu paused, then laughed. She hooked her arm through Chu Qian’s. “You scared me. That Su Jianing talks nonsense.”

Chu Qian forced a smile, though inside she felt guilty. Because it was true.

If she stayed here, then Su Jianing would become trouble.

…

Qin Ru heard the signal from 4521 and prepared to step in to rescue Little Sister Number One. Yet before she could act, Chu Qian was already holding Sui Nai’s hand and speaking warmly.

4521 sulked. “Chu Qian stole your storyline.”

“I think so too.”

“Do you not feel she has strayed too far?” 4521 scratched its head in frustration. The mission it shared with Qin Ru was called [Female Lead Experience Task]. It had been meant as a welfare bonus for someone as powerful as Qin Ru. She only needed to follow the plot in each world and live steadily. But neither the system nor the taskholder possessed a complete script. They had only the introduction and the next step, while the rest remained unknown. Even though she was the female lead, she could move forward only step by step without a clear view of the entire plot.

“Why do I feel that Chu Qian always acts outside the script, even moving ahead of you?” 4521 rested its chin on its hand.

Qin Ru narrowed her eyes before smiling. “Perhaps she is simply kind and stumbled into it.”

“Kind? I do not believe that. You are just lovesick.” 4521 huffed.

Qin Ru stuck out her tongue playfully, yet her gaze on Chu Qian grew deeper.

…

Chu Qian walked across the field toward the dessert shop. On the way, she met Zhan Se.

“What did you say to Su Jianing?” Zhan Se’s face was icy.

Chu Qian shook her head. “Nothing much. I only told her not to trouble Sui Nai.”

She glanced at Zhou Liangyu, who understood and left for the infirmary.

When she was gone, Chu Qian voiced her worry. “I may have offended Su Jianing. She must have realized I was the one who scared her with the kitchen knife. She even said… she said I was your father’s mistress.” She forced the words out, guilt tightening her voice.

As expected, Zhan Se’s face grew darker.

The air turned heavy. Chu Qian’s identity had always been a thorn between them.

After a long silence, Zhan Se pressed her lips together. “I will make Su Jianing keep quiet. Do not interfere. For now, stay away from Sui Nai.”

Chu Qian was surprised but nodded at once. Zhan Se was ruthless yet dependable. She had ruined Chu Qian’s job easily when she despised her. Silencing Su Jianing would be just as simple.

Her guess proved right. Five minutes before dismissal that afternoon, Su Jianing’s name rang out from the principal’s office through the loudspeakers. Her list of offenses was read aloud, including fighting, bullying, smoking, visiting internet cafes, cheating and truancy. With so many charges, the school expelled her immediately.

Chu Qian was left speechless.