After Transmigrating into a Redemption Novel as the Evil Stepmother - Chapter 15

Considering that Zhou An’an had to rush back to school for class the next morning, Ming Jiayue took her back to Riverside No. 6.

The butler of No. 6 was waiting at the entrance. Ming Jiayue spoke a few words to him after getting out of the car, then gave a distant nod toward Ji Shuangci before leading Zhou An’an inside.

Under the butler’s guidance, Ji Shuangci drove the car into the villa’s underground garage.

Carrying a small gift the butler had given out of courtesy, Ji Shuangci walked out of the villa complex with her little assistant.

The rain had stopped, and the air felt exceptionally clean.

Nearby, greenery clustered and the river murmured; in the distance, tall buildings loomed with brilliant lights.

Ji Shuangci looked around. This was a piece of land that sought quiet amidst the noise. The landscaping and infrastructure within the community were superb—it was clearly the kind of astronomical real estate that many people couldn’t afford even if they worked hard for a lifetime.

And Ji Shuangci had seen four houses like this belonging to Ming Jiayue.

In H City alone, she didn’t know how many more properties Ming Jiayue owned.

The little assistant looked around with novelty, her face full of envy and wonder. “I only just realized there were houses like this inside the Second Ring Road. Tsk tsk, look at this greenery—if you didn’t tell me, I’d think it was a national forest park. The life of the rich is truly amazing.”

As she spoke, the assistant took a deep breath. “Ah, the air without car exhaust is so fresh. A natural oxygen bar. If I could have a house here in the future, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams.”

Ji Shuangci smiled. She had been living in Jingyuan No. 2, and after seeing much of the world over the past two years, she was no longer the helpless, insecure, and lost girl she once was. She walked with composure, tracing Ming Jiayue’s mannerisms in her memory as she slowly headed out.

“Then I wish you get what you desire.”

Infected by Ji Shuangci’s calm demeanor, the assistant replied with newfound confidence, raising her voice.

“I wish we both get what we desire!”

“Alright.”

The two looked at each other and laughed, their laughter scattering into the night sky with the wind.

After Zhou An’an finished her shower, she returned to the guest bedroom on the second floor. She went to the balcony first; seeing that Ji Shuangci had indeed left, she turned back to sit on the bed.

Her phone screen lit up occasionally with unread notifications. It was the paid Q&A post she had made on a certain website before her shower.

[Question: I’m a girl, and I think I might like an Auntie twelve years older than me. What should I do?]

Since Zhou An’an offered a high reward, there were nearly a hundred replies by the time she came out.

“Just go for it! Direct approach from the younger one—I suggest a straight confession.”

“Twelve years isn’t a big gap. Is the OP an adult? If you are, chase her bravely. If not, wait until you are.”

“As expected, lesbians always love older sisters, aunties, or mothers. The inescapable law of the circle, hahaha.”

“…”

Zhou An’an scrolled down, finished reading the replies, and typed an update after some thought.

[Update: She’s my stepmother. They aren’t divorced yet, but it’s a marriage of convenience with my father—they’ll divorce sooner or later. Recently, I discovered another girl seems to like her. What should I do?]

As soon as she posted the update, the thread exploded.

“???”

“???”

“Wait, for real? I like reading taboo romances in novels, but in reality…”

“Don’t do it. You’re really daring. Strictly speaking, you have to call her ‘Mom’.”

“I can’t relate to this in reality at all. I suggest OP see a psychologist; is this a mother complex?”

“Upstairs, not necessarily. OP said it’s a marriage of convenience. Liking older aunties is quite common; they’re truly ‘fragrant’.”

“Then I suggest OP makes them divorce quickly. Once they’re divorced, see if you have a chance!”

“I’m different. If she has stunning looks, I’ll ship it even in reality!”

The discussion below was heated, and the suggestions grew increasingly “rebellious.” Zhou An’an finished reading with a flushed face and threw her phone aside. She buried her head in the quilt, her toes curling as she rolled around shyly.

When she looked up again, her eyes were misty and her face was flushed, looking quite overwhelmed.

Zhou An’an had lost her mother at birth. Her father was busy with work, so she was mostly cared for by nannies. From a young age, she knew she liked people older than herself, whether as friends or lovers.

They usually had independent thoughts and rich experiences, like a vast ocean or a mysterious, infinite starry sky. They had been refined by time, exuding a reassuring charm that attracted people to approach, explore, and understand them.

Ming Jiayue’s appearance perfectly matched Zhou An’an’s fantasy of a future partner.

She covered her face and ran to the living room to gulp down a glass of cold water before she could calm down a bit.

As she was about to head back, Zhou An’an somehow changed direction and crept to the door of the master bedroom on the second floor. The door was closed. She licked her heated lips and knocked three times gently.

No one answered.

Feeling like a thief, Zhou An’an pressed the door handle. With a tiny click, the warm yellow light from the garden’s streetlamps entered her view.

The bed was neatly made; no one was on it.

Zhou An’an dithered at the door for a moment, closed it, and walked toward the study.

Sure enough, before she even got close, she saw the light peeking through the crack of the study door.

The Ming and Zhou families had been collaborating on a transition over the past two years. The future economic outlook was not optimistic; markets like investment banking and real estate were shrinking, with wave after wave of layoffs. Ming Jiayue had set her sights on the energy and technology industries, which few had delved into yet.

Father Zhou still had some vision; he and Ming Jiayue shared the same ideas. They hit it off and began drastic reforms.

Consequently, Ming Jiayue’s workload had increased rather than decreased. Working through the night was a common occurrence.

Ming Jiayue only had the desk lamp on. She had a bit of an astigmatism, so she wore a pair of thin-framed glasses. Through the crack, Zhou An’an saw her in a dark sweater, her hair falling behind her shoulders, looking focused and serious as she frowned in thought.

The light made her profile look very still, exuding an intellectual, scholarly air—much like a university professor.

At this moment, Zhou An’an realized she was “hopeless.” Unable to help at all, she turned and went to the first-floor kitchen, heated up a bowl of bird’s nest soup, and walked back.

She knocked and entered.

“Auntie Ming, I heated up some bird’s nest. Have some.”

Zhou An’an was a bit embarrassed. Ming Jiayue was usually very strict when working; even if her expression was peaceful and she didn’t anger easily, one could still feel an increasing majesty in her decisiveness.

Over these two years, Zhou An’an had heard the children of wealthy families vividly describe how their elders portrayed Ming Jiayue more than once.

A smiling tiger, ruthless methods, never bluffs, leaves no room…

Of course, that oppressive aura never fell on Zhou An’an.

Zhou An’an placed the bird’s nest on the table and put her hands behind her back, lowering her head bashfully.

Her pajamas were all fluffy styles; today she was wearing a pink bunny set with two short, round ears on the hood—very cute.

Ming Jiayue felt no displeasure at being disturbed. She took off her glasses and, feeling Zhou An’an’s proactive concern, a smile spread across her face.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Zhou An’an had serious procrastination; she usually didn’t shower until nearly midnight and went to sleep right after.

“I couldn’t sleep alone tonight, so I wanted to come and keep Auntie Ming company.”

Zhou An’an was an expert at acting spoiled in front of Ming Jiayue. As she spoke, she squeezed in to sit right next to her.

Ming Jiayue picked up the spoon and took a sip of the bird’s nest. Her gaze accidentally swept over Zhou An’an’s feet—no shoes, no socks, her fair toes turned red from the cold.

Although the heater was on, the temperature wasn’t that high. On an early winter night, stepping on the floor with bare feet made it easy to catch a cold.

Zhou An’an’s mind was already wandering. Suddenly seeing Ming Jiayue’s expression turn serious, she panicked. She blinked blankly, and the skin touching Ming Jiayue through her clothes felt like it was on fire.

Did Auntie Ming discover something? Is she finished?

It wasn’t until Ming Jiayue got up to get a pair of slippers and tapped her forehead, telling her to put them on, that Zhou An’an snapped out of it.

Her mood was a roller coaster of ups and downs. Zhou An’an realized late that she had broken into a cold sweat, yet her face was still steaming, and her ears had turned beet red at some point.

She stood up stuttering and shrank toward the door. “Oh, I… I forgot to wear them. I’ll… go… go soak my feet.”

With that, Zhou An’an ran away like a rabbit.

Ming Jiayue looked at the doorway, her lips unconsciously curling upward.

Her feelings for Zhou An’an had quietly changed at some point; it was no longer purely for the mission. Zhou An’an was very cute, and Ming Jiayue sincerely hoped she could continue to live such a carefree life.

To always be happy, like a little sun.

Zhou An’an didn’t dare stop for a second. She scurried back to her room, rolled onto the bed, and covered herself completely with the quilt, her heartbeat thundering in her chest.

Ming Jiayue was caring for her more and more. Zhou An’an’s heart felt as sweet as if it were wrapped in honey. She cowardly cheered herself on: Everything is possible!

Early the next morning, after having breakfast at the villa, Ming Jiayue sent Zhou An’an to school as usual.

Ji Shuangci was waiting even earlier at the school gate. Standing in a corner, she quietly watched the familiar car approach and saw Zhou An’an give Ming Jiayue a heavy hug before skipping into the school.

Zhou An’an loved sharing every bit of her life with Ming Jiayue on social media. As soon as Ji Shuangci woke up, she saw the breakfast Ming Jiayue had made for her.

It was exquisitely and richly paired—far beyond a simple bowl of clear soup noodles.

After dropping off Zhou An’an, Ming Jiayue didn’t get back into the car immediately but walked a short distance along the camphor-lined road.

Her business suit was very formal. She kept her head slightly lowered, her brow furrowed, appearing quite exhausted.

Ji Shuangci, wearing a mask and hat, followed from a distance. Thinking of the endorsement offer she received this morning from the Ming family’s new energy vehicle brand, she guessed that Ming Jiayue had likely stayed up all night.

It was her style.

Ji Shuangci’s gaze was complex—somewhat fortunate, yet somewhat resentful. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who needed this traffic; the Ming family needed it too. In their interactions, both were calculating.

Ji Shuangci never stepped forward. She quietly watched Ming Jiayue get into the car and then called her assistant to pick her up.

Once in the car, Ji Shuangci suddenly mentioned a script.

“I’ve finished reading the script for The Cage. Let’s accept it.”

“Oh! Okay. I remember they invited you to play the ‘crazy’ antagonist who can’t get what she wants.”

“Mhm.”

Ji Shuangci’s gaze was faint as she added, “I suddenly had some insights recently and want to give it a try.”

The little assistant was unexpectedly excited and chimed in.

“I read the original novel for this script! Actually, rather than the main couple’s romance, I prefer the antagonist’s master-disciple line! The master is cold and aloof, the disciple is crazy. Unable to get her love, the disciple falls into demonhood and turns dark. After her cultivation surpasses the master’s, she starts playing ‘confinement’ games. It’s almost daily ‘forced love.’ During the days I read that novel, I had a ‘ship’ grin on my face every day!”

“Pain, love, and hate all intertwined—that kind of complex emotion is so addictive!”

“Especially the two lines of ‘last words’ the antagonist says when she dies and her master asks if she regrets it! I love it so much—so crazy and impactful! I love ‘crazy’ stories like this! It’s a pity it’s an old-school trope; modern authors don’t write it much anymore.”

Ji Shuangci didn’t remember it clearly. Seeing the assistant so excited, she took out her phone to search for the original text of those two lines.

“Regret? I do not. The world knows I am rebellious and have defied the laws of nature. But Master, what lies at the end of the road has never been important.”

“I only want… I only want that after thousands of years, whenever the world mentions you, they will think of me. Master, we shall leave our names in history together. You will never… ever be able to get rid of me!”