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This Stepmother Who Loves to Be a Stepmother: Second Update
Seizing the moment while “Shorty” was too stunned to throw her tantrum, Wang Xiao quickly slipped out of the room.
She took a swift step forward, grasping Zhang Yan’s shoulder with genuine sincerity. “Sister Xiaoyan, I know everything now. You shouldn’t keep suffering like this. Didn’t you tell me to boldly pursue love? That modern women should follow their heart’s calling? Since you also like Brother Ruan, why not bravely chase after your own love?”
Just then, the Wang family’s front door swung open. Everyone in the room and those standing at the doorway stared in wide-eyed disbelief.
What was going on? Wasn’t Zhang Yan already seeing someone? That young man Xiang Dong might not work at a state-owned factory, but he’d leased a counter at the department store and was making money by the sackful. How had she gotten entangled with Wang Xiao’s fiancé now?
Zhang Yan panicked, instinctively shrinking back as she stammered, “Y-you… Wang Xiao, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you saying such strange things?”
She had specifically brought Jiaojiao along to stir up trouble at Wang Xiao’s wedding.
Heh, just look at this impressive apartment – two bedrooms and a living room, complete with a kitchen and bathroom. In the entire steel mill, only the homes of the factory director and party secretary could rival the Wang family’s living conditions.
Once Wang Xiao married into the Ruan family, she’d be squeezing three generations into a 15-square-meter attic room, separated from her in-laws’ bed by nothing but a cloth curtain. She’d have plenty to cry about later.
The mere thought of this sent thrills of excitement through Zhang Yan, more exhilarating than performing the Black Light Dance.
Who could have predicted Wang Xiao would seem possessed today, as if she’d been replaced by someone else? Not only had she stopped trying to please her and beg for help with Jiaojiao, but she’d even exposed Zhang Yan’s secret feelings.
Wang Xiao certainly wasn’t about to let her off the hook. She called out to her mother, “Mom, bring that paper airplane from our balcony.”
Mrs. Wang was more confused than their guests, but she instinctively hurried to the balcony as her daughter instructed.
Sure enough, there was a paper airplane there, likely flown onto their balcony from some child’s home.
“Mom, read it aloud for everyone,” Wang Xiao instructed.
She turned back to Zhang Yan with an expression of utmost sincerity. “Sister Xiaoyan, you were right – true love is always the purest and most beautiful thing. Life is precious, but love is priceless. No one can stand in the way of true love. Don’t worry if you lack the courage to confess your feelings. After all, we’re best friends! Today, I’ll make sure your love is fulfilled and help you speak your heart directly!”
Under Wang Xiao’s intense gaze, Zhang Yan sensed danger and instinctively tried to stop Mrs. Wang. “Auntie—”
But Mrs. Wang had already noticed the scrap paper used for the airplane was covered in writing. The first sentence she unfolded and read aloud made everyone frown.
“My dear Rui, I’ve called you this countless times in my dreams, yet I can never say it to your face……”
Mrs. Wang couldn’t continue. This was a love letter! Hadn’t Xiao Xiao just told her she absolutely wouldn’t marry that Ruan fellow? Why was she involved with something like this now?
Wait – this wasn’t Xiao Xiao’s handwriting. That scoundrel Ruan was truly despicable, two-timing her daughter while stringing along another girl!
Whose child was this? Had they no sense of propriety or shame? Everyone knew her Xiao Xiao was going to marry Ruan Rui – how could this person write such a nauseating love letter!
Zhang Yan was utterly terrified after hearing just two sentences. When she clearly saw the paper used to fold the airplane, her limbs went weak, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.
How could this be? She had clearly torn this diary page and thrown it into the wastebasket—why did it reappear in the Wang family?
Of course, she didn’t know that her younger brother had retrieved the discarded paper to make a paper airplane, which then flew into the Wangs’ yard.
In the original story, the female lead had already spotted this paper airplane and intended to pick it up. But just then, the groom Ruan Rui entered and casually picked it up, stuffing it into his pocket. For years afterward, he complacently enjoyed Zhang Yan’s secret crush, using it to validate his masculine charm. Moreover, this scumbag frequently compared the female lead to Zhang Yan, believing that only the well-dressed, meticulously groomed Zhang Yan could be considered a real woman.
Disgusting! If not for witnessing Zhang Yan’s affected demeanor, Wang Xiao would have nearly forgotten this plot point from the book.
Now, she was going to fully enjoy the benefits of having the transmigrator’s god’s perspective.
Zhang Yan was so frightened her hands trembled. She forced a stiff smile and looked ingratiatingly at Wang’s Mother: “Auntie Chen, we shouldn’t miss the auspicious hour. Look how many guests have come to offer congratulations. Xiao Xiao hasn’t even changed her clothes or done her makeup yet. On this happy occasion, Auntie, let’s not make things unpleasant.”
What happy occasion? Chen Yanqiu, Wang’s Mother, wished nothing more than for today to descend into complete chaos—she had never approved of this marriage from the beginning!
She raised her voice even louder as she read: “I think I’ve gone mad. Why did I introduce that bitch Wang Xiao to you? I’m madly in love with you. Every night I fall asleep cherishing my affection for you. Only in my dreams can I be intimately entwined with you.”
Heavens! The neighbors who had come to offer congratulations were stunned.
By the time the love letter reached this point, even a fool could tell it wasn’t written by Wang Xiao, but by the matchmaker instead.
Everyone wore strange expressions, secretly glancing at Wang Xiao. Ah, this poor girl—on her wedding day, getting a green hat slammed right on her head.
Those who had good relationships with Wang Xiao’s parents actually showed pleased expressions. Better to see the truth early so the young woman could turn back before it was too late. Better than having children later and being unable to leave the marriage because she couldn’t bear to part with them.
As for Zhang Yan—well, if the person who did this wasn’t ashamed, why should they cover for her?
Although, everyone had come to celebrate a happy occasion—was this really appropriate content for their ears? This was even more explosive than what they showed in Hong Kong movie tapes, and they hadn’t even had time to give their red envelopes yet.
A young man standing at the doorway looked grim, striding forward to peer at the letter.
Wang’s Mother, afraid that Zhang Yan’s fiancé might destroy the evidence in his humiliation, quickly pulled back while echoing her daughter’s words: “Yes, Xiang Dong. Since they have mutual feelings, don’t make things difficult for Xiao Yan. There are plenty of other fish in the sea! You’ll definitely find a girl who truly suits you.”
Xiang Dong’s eyes were fixed on the letter, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly.
Wang Xiao felt her own heart racing along with them.
Oh dear, she naturally understood that exposing this publicly would humiliate Zhang Yan’s fiancé.
After all, when a woman gets cheated on, public opinion generally sympathizes with her. But when a man gets cheated on, the words “pathetic and incompetent” are stamped on his forehead, making him a laughingstock.
As the saying goes, better you die than me. Right now, she was in a critical life-and-death situation—of course she had to prioritize herself.
Besides, a short pain was better than a long one.
It was better for Xiang Dong to lose face now than to end up lying in the ICU, needing money to save his life, only for his wife to have funds to support a gigolo but none to pay for his medical bills.
By the time everyone scraped together enough money to send to the hospital, he would have already breathed his last. The family fortune he had worked so hard to build would ultimately fall into the hands of his wife, who spent her days shopping, getting beauty treatments, and playing mahjong.
She had to expose this in front of everyone. That way, even if only for the sake of his dignity in public, he wouldn’t look back. This would prevent the man from holding onto lingering feelings, letting Zhang Yan sweet-talk him into forgiving her emotional betrayal, which would ultimately cost him his life.
After all, he had once helped the original host, advising her to think twice before acting.
Moreover, he was charitable and philanthropic—a rare conscientious capitalist who allocated over a third of his earnings to his employees’ salaries and benefits.
Wang Xiao didn’t consider herself as noble-minded as him, but no one disliked having a good person as a friend, especially when that friend was filthy rich.
She could treat this as a daily act of kindness to accumulate merit. Perhaps the God of Wealth would look favorably upon her for it, allowing her to thrive in 1990 as well.
Xiang Dong didn’t say a word, nor did he even glance at Zhang Yan. He turned and walked out of the Wang family’s home.
He had specifically put aside his business today to come and help the Wang family—and he certainly hadn’t come in vain.
Zhang Yan was terrified out of her wits. Dragged firmly by Wang Xiao, she couldn’t chase after him and could only watch her fiancé’s retreating back, shouting, “Xiang Dong, let me explain! It’s not—it’s not what you think!”
She truly hadn’t planned to marry Ruan Rui. After all, she was getting married to live a life of luxury and ease, not to rush into being a drudge, serving an entire family’s every need.
But Xiang Dong had already vanished beyond the door without hesitation.
Just as Wang Xiao was quietly sighing in relief, firecrackers erupted downstairs, and someone shouted, “The auspicious hour has arrived! The groom is here to fetch the bride!”
She immediately steeled herself, preparing for the next battle.
Perfect. The scumbag and the bitch were gathering in one place, saving her the trouble of dealing with them separately and wasting effort.
But Old Mrs. Wang gave her no chance to act, shoving her and her suitcase directly into her husband Wang Tiejun’s hands. “Take her away, quickly! The farther, the better!”
She couldn’t let her stay at home to be cornered. That Ruan Rui had clearly cast some kind of spell on her daughter. Her Xiaoxiao was usually perfectly fine, but the moment she laid eyes on Ruan Rui, her brain turned to mush, and she’d do anything he said.
They had to leave quickly—they absolutely couldn’t let this girl cross paths with Ruan Rui.
As for herself, she naturally had to stop Zhang Yan from trying to escape. With the male lead about to make his entrance, how could the female lead disappear? The adulterous pair deserved to be stuck together till the ends of the earth, so they wouldn’t harm anyone else.
Caught off guard, Wang Xiao was dragged forward by her father, who had been standing by silently like a human backdrop.
Good heavens—this old man ran like a whirlwind, charging downstairs as if sweeping stars and moons along with him.
Unfortunately, it seemed that doormat-type saviors were hard to come by, and shameless martyrs who let their husbands suck their entire families dry were even rarer. The scumbag was probably afraid that if he missed this chance, there wouldn’t be another. The groom’s party was unusually eager, already ascending the stairs without any delay downstairs.
While rushing downstairs and heading upward, the two sides collided head-on.
Wang Xiao had braced herself for another confrontation, but she hadn’t expected her father, Old Wang, to be a man of few words and swift action. Without any hesitation, he charged straight into the fray. Before she could even gather her thoughts, her father had already bulldozed through, sending the groom tumbling head over heels.
The wedding party cried out in dismay, scrambling to help the groom—who had a red flower pinned to his suit pocket—back to his feet, too flustered to stop the one who had caused the chaos.
Old Wang gave them no chance to react. Swinging the suitcase in his hand, he swept the barely-standing groom off his feet again. Without breaking stride, he charged forward, pulling his daughter along as they dashed downstairs in the blink of an eye.
Before Wang Xiao could even get into the groove, the fight was already over.
She glanced back reluctantly and saw the man who had rolled down the stairs clutching his mouth and groaning in pain, blood visible on his face. It seemed he had taken quite a heavy blow.
Worried that his daughter might soften upon looking back, Old Wang immediately picked up the pace, dragging her out of sight from both parties.
Wang Xiao had no choice but to console herself as she ran: Well, if I can’t torment his soul, I’ll settle for tormenting his body.
Besides, her mother was still around.
As long as the original host didn’t hold them back, she was confident that her sharp-witted aunt, Chen Yanqiu, could single-handedly sweep through a thousand troops.
Still, winning without lifting a finger? Relying on others to carry the day?
For someone like Boss Wang, who had been independent since childhood and believed in relying on herself for everything, this kind of treatment felt… novel.
And honestly, a little uncomfortable.