Chapter 104 From a Scumbag’s Ex-Girlfriend to His Stepmom (Part 3)

Song Linxian gazed calmly at Yu Liuxue. She noticed the redness and swelling around her eyes, as if she’d buried herself under the covers crying her heart out the night before. Her lips were pale, her face bloodless, and she looked completely drained and lifeless, as if she’d faint after saying just a few words if she weren’t sitting down right now.

Song Linxian dropped one hand, tapping her fingers idly on the table. Was Mu Wan looking like this today because she had forced her to leave her son?

Half-lidded eyes, Song Linxian scoffed inwardly. Clearly, she still couldn’t let go of her son, yet she dared to stand before her and say she liked her, claimed it was love at first sight, and that she wanted to spend her whole life with her. Song Linxian arched a brow slightly; her gaze gradually sharpened. She asked softly, “Mu Wan, why aren’t you saying anything? Hm?”

That faint, drawn-out “hm” made Yu Liuxue shiver from head to toe. Gritting her teeth, she shut her eyes and began spouting nonsense: “It’s all because Sister Linxian, you’re just too beautiful today! You look like a goddess descending to the mortal world. The moment I laid eyes on you, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of inferiority. So I didn’t dare get close—I was afraid I’d disturb you and make you return to the heavens. I was scared I’d lose you forever, never able to imprint your face in my heart again.”

System: “……?!” dazed.jpg

You’re so extra.jpg

Song Linxian frowned at the wrong moment. Of course she didn’t believe a word of Yu Liuxue’s nonsense—what goddess, what heavenly descent, it was pure baloney.

Her expression darkened slightly. Yu Liuxue looked uneasy, tugging at her pale lips and deliberately changing the subject: “Sister Linxian, why are you here too? What a coincidence! Have you eaten? How about I treat you to—”

“What do you think?” Song Linxian lifted her eyelids, smiling coldly without warmth.

Yu Liuxue blinked in confusion. After a moment of thought, her eyes lit up. She leaned forward with anticipation, intentionally closing the distance between them. “Sister Linxian, did you come here on purpose to see me?”

Her heart fluttered with joy. She blushed and lowered her head shyly. “Sister Linxian, now I don’t even know what to do with myself…”

Her performance hadn’t ended before it was interrupted. Song Linxian couldn’t be bothered to expose her. She leaned back against the cushion, legs crossed, looking toward the woman who had entered, dressed to the nines. “You’re here.”

Xu Cen nodded coolly. She glanced at Yu Liuxue with a hint of displeasure tugging at her lips. “Who’s she?”

Only now did Yu Liuxue notice her. The woman looked about the same age as Song Linxian, but Yu Liuxue’s sharp eyes caught the huge diamond ring gleaming on her finger. Her eyes lit up. “……!” Another rich lady?!

She quickly stood and offered her seat with a sweet smile. “Sister, please sit.”

Xu Cen’s sharp gaze swept over her. Without politeness, she sat right where Yu Liuxue had been. Setting down her bag, she raised her chin with authority. “Song Linxian, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’ve got Liu Yan.”

Yu Liuxue, who was just about to sit, perked up her ears. “……?”

She instinctively looked at Song Linxian, who remained calm. Upon hearing the words, she even chuckled lightly, arms folded, unfazed. “Xu Cen, if you came today just to say that…”

Yu Liuxue was starting to piece things together. She boldly guessed: Could this Xu Cen be the new wife of Song Linxian’s fake marriage ex-husband? If that’s the case, and she came here to stir up trouble, she probably wouldn’t leave quietly.

Yu Liuxue frowned in distress and said to the System, “Oh~ System! How could I stand by and watch the sister I love most get bullied by another woman? System, Sister is so kind and beautiful to me—I have to help her!”

System: “……Host, wait a sec!” Erkang hands.jpg

You staying quiet would be the biggest help you could give your beloved Sister Linxian, okay? Please don’t make things worse!

But it was too late. Yu Liuxue had already put on a fresh coat of lipstick, instantly brightening her complexion. The hint of vibrance on her otherwise delicate, weak-looking features made her appear even more alluring, like a siren on earth.

Her body went limp as she leaned bonelessly against Song Linxian’s arm. Tilting her head up, her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Song Linxian with deep affection and focus. Song Linxian instinctively looked down at her. The moment she did, Yu Liuxue beamed like a pet receiving its owner’s attention. Her voice turned soft and coquettish. “Sister, my waist is soooo sore~”

Xu Cen: “?”

She finally noticed the young little fox spirit who’d given up her seat. Xu Cen’s sharp eyes examined Yu Liuxue up and down, then looked at Song Linxian. “So this is your taste now?”

Yu Liuxue: I feel deeply insulted.

Song Linxian smoothly pulled Yu Liuxue closer and let out a gentle laugh. “Isn’t she lovely?”

She then glanced meaningfully at Yu Liuxue. After meeting her gaze, Yu Liuxue lowered her head in thought for a moment, then excitedly whispered to the System, “Sister Linxian must want me to help her save face!”

She nuzzled against Song Linxian’s shoulder. “Sister, I already spent half of the 50 million pocket money you gave me yesterday!”

As soon as she finished, a young man arrived carrying a massive bouquet of flowers. He glanced at the three women and asked, “Excuse me—which one of you is the impossibly gorgeous goddess? Your flower delivery is here.”

Yu Liuxue immediately raised her hand. “Me, that’s me!”

Taking the bouquet, she turned around with a sweet smile and handed it to Song Linxian. “Sister, this is for you.”

Both Song Linxian and Xu Cen wore equally indescribable expressions. Song Linxian hesitated, but in the end accepted the flowers and set them aside. She gave Yu Liuxue another look. Yu Liuxue immediately quieted down. “Sister, you two chat. I won’t get in the way.”

Xu Cen could hardly believe her eyes. Song Linxian had actually stooped so low as to associate with this kind of little fox spirit?

She scrutinized Yu Liuxue from head to toe, utterly unable to figure out what about this girl appealed to Song Linxian. Was it her youth? Her supposed enthusiasm in bed? But that was Song Linxian’s business, not hers. Xu Cen withdrew her gaze and looked back at Song Linxian, her attitude aggressive, as if trying to assert her status.

“I’ve already arranged a blind date for Liu Yan. She’s the treasured daughter of the Chi family—Chi Yang.”

Yu Liuxue froze. Chi Yang and Liu Yan were going on a blind date?

Song Linxian deliberately watched her reaction. Seeing her stunned face, she lightly pressed her red lips together and asked casually, “When will they meet?”

Xu Cen replied fluently, “At Dad’s birthday party in a couple of days. If they like each other, it’ll be decided right away. First an engagement, then once the timing is right, they’ll marry. After the wedding, Liu Yan will return to inherit his father’s company, and Chi Yang, as his wife, will assist him until he finds his footing.”

Yu Liuxue suddenly understood—it was a business marriage!

But if Chi Yang and Liu Yan’s marriage was arranged by their parents, then why had Chi Yang worked so hard to steal Liu Yan away from Mu Wan? Yu Liuxue frowned. Something didn’t add up.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she said to the System in a flash of insight, “Wait—does Chi Yang like Mu Wan? Watching the one she loves submit to Liu Yan must’ve been torment. When she found out Liu Yan was about to marry Mu Wan, the pain exploded like a volcano, and she couldn’t suppress it anymore. So she sacrificed herself to steal Liu Yan from Mu Wan, took her place in the Liu family, and now she can monopolize Mu Wan completely—making sure Mu Wan never forgets her for the rest of her life.”

System: “???”

Song Linxian had no objections to Chi Yang. After reaching an agreement with Xu Cen, the latter stormed off as aggressively as she had arrived. She still carried that guarded demeanor, as if afraid that Song Linxian, leveraging her status as the ex-wife, might suddenly come back and take everything away. Since divorcing Song Linxian, the man had focused entirely on his career. The company quickly went public, and after years of development, he was no longer the penniless guy he once was.

Back then, Xu Cen and Song Linxian were very close. Xu Cen only did those foolish things in a moment of weakness. Though she felt guilty toward Song Linxian, it didn’t stop her from always staying on high alert, wary that the fiery-tempered Song Linxian might launch a surprise counterattack.

Liu Yan was Song Linxian’s son. Although custody had been awarded to the man, Xu Cen still consulted Song Linxian about everything concerning him before making decisions.

Before leaving, Xu Cen frowned and gave Yu Liuxue a long look. Yu Liuxue wore an innocent expression and even flashed her a brilliant smile. “Take care, Sister.”

Xu Cen walked off even faster.

After meeting with Xu Cen, Song Linxian only had to go collect rent one by one. She grabbed her bag and stood up. Yu Liuxue quickly picked up the flowers she had left on the seat and caught up. “Sister Linxian, you dropped something.”

Song Linxian turned and looked at her stubborn expression. After a moment of thought, she took the flowers. “Don’t waste money.”

Yu Liuxue beamed. “It’s okay.” After all, I used your money anyway.

Song Linxian didn’t pursue the earlier incident, which made Yu Liuxue breathe a huge sigh of relief. Just as she escorted Song Linxian to the car and was about to leave, Song Linxian suddenly called out to her. Yu Liuxue quickly turned back, pretending to be cheerful. “Sister, is there something else?”

Song Linxian stared at her with a cold, fake smile for a long while. Just as Yu Liuxue’s face began to freeze, she finally spoke slowly, “In a few days, when Liu Yan and Chi Yang meet for their arranged date, you should be there too. I expect by then, you’ll have already broken up with Liu Yan.”

Yu Liuxue didn’t dare say anything. She nodded quickly and obediently. “Don’t worry, Sister. I’ll break up with Liu Yan as soon as possible. You’re the only one in my heart.”

Seeing her spout nonsense again, Song Linxian nodded coolly, rolled up the car window, and the car sped off like an arrow from a bow. Yu Liuxue stood there in disappointment. “Did she run away too quickly? Does she really think I’m that scary?”

System: At least you have some self-awareness.

Song Linxian wanted Yu Liuxue to break up with Liu Yan as soon as possible. Yu Liuxue did call Liu Yan, but he seemed so traumatized by her that he refused to meet no matter what. Not only that, to completely shut her up, he even lied without hesitation: “Mu Wan, I’m sick. Seriously ill. I’m going for intensive treatment, so I won’t be able to see you for a while.”

After saying this, afraid that Mu Wan might investigate him, he added, “Let’s talk again after I’m discharged.”

Yu Liuxue: ???

She hung up, thinking, it’s not that I’m not breaking up with him—he’s the one who doesn’t want to meet.

After Liu Yan ended the call, he was still shaken. When Chi Yang heard him say Mu Wan’s name, her face immediately darkened. Once he was done, she approached gently and asked, “Liu Yan, is Mu Wan upset again after finding out we’re together? I…”

Liu Yan shook his head. At that moment, he didn’t want to hear Mu Wan’s name at all, so he interrupted her, “Let’s not talk about her. Did you come find me for something important?”

Chi Yang’s expression dimmed. She clutched her clothes tightly, looking a little aggrieved. She pursed her lips and said sadly, “Liu Yan, I’m going on a blind date. My parents arranged it with a guy around my age. We’re meeting in a couple of days. If they approve, I’ll be engaged.”

As she spoke, she watched his reaction carefully. Sure enough, Liu Yan was stunned when he heard this. His emotions became complicated. He’d known Chi Yang for a long time—longer than he’d known Mu Wan. They’d always stayed friends, and he never thought of her that way.

But for some reason, hearing that she was meeting another man made his chest ache faintly.

He asked instinctively, “Do you know who it is?”

Chi Yang’s eyes instantly turned red. Choking back tears, she said, “I don’t know.” She looked up, eyes shimmering, and took a step forward, grabbing his hand like it was a lifeline. “Liu Yan, I’m scared. I don’t want to go on this date.”

Liu Yan hurried to comfort her, but the more he tried, the harder she cried. Seeing her cry like a flower in the rain, he felt deeply unsettled. Once she’d cried enough, she lifted her tear-stained face and asked cautiously, “Liu Yan, will you pretend to be my boyfriend that day?”

Pretend to be her boyfriend? Liu Yan was stunned.

Afraid he’d figure out her real intentions, Chi Yang quickly added, “Just for one day. Just help me avoid the date. If that guy sees I’m not single, he’ll back off.”

Liu Yan didn’t answer for a while. Chi Yang’s heart began to sink bit by bit. She sighed in disappointment, then used her trump card. “Sorry, Liu Yan. I was too forward. You already have a girlfriend. How could I ask you to pretend to be mine, even for something so small…”

Liu Yan suddenly came to his senses. Looking at Chi Yang’s dejected face, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Mu Wan? He’d been wanting to break up with her for a while, just hadn’t found the right time or excuse. Chi Yang was his best buddy—of course he’d help her out.

Besides, pretending to be his buddy’s boyfriend… it actually sounded kind of thrilling.

He steadied himself. “Okay.”

Chi Yang was still rambling, “It’s all my fault. I was being naive, you obviously—” She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening in disbelief. “Liu Yan, what did you just say?”

She looked ecstatic, like she’d been reborn. Her beautiful face lit up with joy. Liu Yan felt incredibly satisfied inside.

He repeated, “Chi Yang, I said okay.”

As soon as he finished, Chi Yang threw herself into his arms and began crying again. Tears streaming, she said, “Liu Yan, you’re the best. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. Thank you so much. If Mu Wan ever misunderstands, I’ll explain everything to her myself.”

She purposely mentioned Mu Wan again. Liu Yan frowned and suppressed the annoyance rising in him. “You don’t have to worry about her. If she misunderstands, I’ll explain.” And while I’m at it, I’ll break up with her and finally ditch that unstable woman.

Chi Yang looked at him with tears of gratitude. Liu Yan felt like a hero. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m around, no one’s going to bully you.”

Yu Liuxue scoffed at this. She waited two more days and still didn’t get a call from Liu Yan. Tilting her head, she wondered, “So he really plans to play Chi Yang’s boyfriend before breaking up with me?”

The system knew what she was about to say and calmly replied, “It’s not like this is the first time you’ve run into scumbags.”

Yu Liuxue: …This stupid AI makes too much sense. I’ve got nothing to say.

Until Song Linxian texted her, reminding her to prepare to attend Xu Cen’s father’s birthday celebration together, Yu Liuxue still hadn’t received a breakup message from Liu Yan. She sighed. “The female lead must be meddling.”

Her heart remained calm—maybe even a little excited.

The system, seeing her expression, knew disaster was looming. It had long given up hope for her. Now, it only wished she wouldn’t try to become the male lead’s stepmother and steal his girlfriend in this world.

That day, Yu Liuxue dressed up elaborately. Today was the day she would successfully latch onto Song Linxian by staging an “accidental” encounter and make everyone—except the male and female leads—believe she was Song Linxian’s little girlfriend. The thought alone made Yu Liuxue’s blood surge with excitement.

Song Linxian didn’t come herself. She sent her assistant, Xiao Zhi, to pick up Yu Liuxue. The moment Xiao Zhi saw her, envy filled her eyes. So the boss really was secretly in love with the young master’s girlfriend. Otherwise, why would she bring her along to flaunt even on such an occasion?

She’d heard that Mu Wan came from a very poor background. Even after dating the young master for years, he rarely bought her anything. But things were different now—Mu Wan had won the boss’s favor. Not only did she give her generous pocket money, she even sent a car to fetch her, afraid she’d get tired or suffer in any way.

Suddenly, Xiao Zhi sighed wistfully. It was a pity that the mother-son relationship between the young master and the boss doomed this love to end in heartbreak.

Yu Liuxue, puzzled by Xiao Zhi’s alternating expressions of envy and sorrow, cautiously asked after getting in the car, “Xiao Zhi, does Sister Linxian know I haven’t broken up with Liu Yan yet?”

Xiao Zhi blinked in surprise, turning her head sharply. “Mu Wan, you’re breaking up with the young master?”

Yu Liuxue blinked back. “Yeah. You know my family’s in bad shape. Liu Yan’s rich, we’re from completely different worlds. Even if I forced it, there’d be no good outcome.”

She lowered her head, looking crestfallen. “Besides, Liu Yan seems to be interested in another woman lately.”

Forcing a smile, Yu Liuxue asked, “Do you think I should still hold on?”

Xiao Zhi couldn’t care less about whether the young master liked someone else—her mind was reeling. Mu Wan is breaking up with him? Then the boss has a chance again! As Song Linxian’s longtime assistant, Xiao Zhi started seriously considering this turn of events. “Actually, breaking up might be for the best, Mu Wan. You’ll meet someone better. Open your eyes—you’ll find someone who’s been silently protecting and cherishing you all along.”

Yu Liuxue pretended not to understand. “I’m so poor, my family’s a mess—who would ever fall for a burden like me…”

Xiao Zhi nearly blurted out a confession for the boss, but thankfully held back. “Don’t lose heart. Someone will, I’m sure of it!”

Yu Liuxue smiled. “Thanks, Xiao Zhi. You’re really kind.”

The Xu family was a prestigious clan, and Grandpa Xu’s birthday banquet was grand and extravagant, drawing nearly the entire circle of elites. Yu Liuxue navigated the crowd with ease, moving so fast Xiao Zhi could barely keep up. Then the System that had been tagging along with Yu Liuxue suddenly spoke: “Host, look! It’s the male and female leads!”

Yu Liuxue paused mid-step and looked in the direction the System indicated. Sure enough, she saw Chi Yang clinging affectionately to Liu Yan, the two looking like a couple head-over-heels in love. Yu Liuxue scoffed and quickly ditched Xiao Zhi, deliberately circling around to pass in front of Chi Yang. Just as she expected, Chi Yang noticed her immediately.

Chi Yang blinked, unsure if she’d seen wrong. Was that Mu Wan? What was she doing here?

Liu Yan, noticing her expression, leaned in with concern. “Chi Yang, you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”

Chi Yang nodded absentmindedly, eyes glued to Yu Liuxue’s retreating back. “Liu Yan, wait here. I’ll be right back.”

She rushed off, quickly catching up to Yu Liuxue, who was walking slowly on purpose. Chi Yang scrutinized her for a while. Though she had changed outfits, the face was unmistakably Mu Wan’s. Chi Yang’s expression darkened. She blocked Yu Liuxue’s path. “Mu Wan, what are you doing here?”

She had gone through so much trouble to get Liu Yan to pretend to be her boyfriend, just to force him to confront his feelings for her and propose. There was no way she’d let Mu Wan ruin it now!

Chi Yang pointed toward the exit, bluntly telling her to leave. “This isn’t a place for you…”

But then she paused. Wait a minute—wasn’t this the perfect setup? If Mu Wan saw Liu Yan pretending to be her boyfriend, she’d be furious and demand a breakup. And once the scene blew up, Liu Yan would have no choice but to cut ties cleanly.

After all, she and Liu Yan were a perfect social match. The adults would approve of her even more.

With this thought, Chi Yang’s eyes sparkled with smugness. She suddenly changed her demeanor and affectionately took Yu Liuxue’s arm. “Mu Wan, Liu Yan’s nearby. Let me take you to him.”

Using Yu Liuxue’s own tactics, she paraded her in front of Liu Yan, successfully catching his attention. Liu Yan’s brows knitted together—had he just seen wrong? Why were Chi Yang and Mu Wan together?

Instinctively, he followed.

Chi Yang knew this was a path the elders would soon walk through. She timed it perfectly and brought Yu Liuxue and Liu Yan there on purpose. As soon as she reached the spot, she teared up and began sobbing, “Mu Wan, let me explain. It’s not what it looks like…”

Liu Yan walked in just in time to see the scene. Without thinking, he marched up to Chi Yang and stood by her side, frowning in disapproval. “Mu Wan! What did you do to Chi Yang again?!”

Chi Yang immediately grabbed Liu Yan’s arm and humbly explained, “No, Liu Yan, Mu Wan didn’t do anything to me. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked you to pretend to be my boyfriend to avoid a blind date. It’s only natural that Mu Wan would be upset and jealous.”

Yu Liuxue was more wronged than Dou E. Watching Chi Yang’s dramatic performance, she thought, If you want to act, then let’s play. She instantly put on an angry face and even reached out as if ready to drag someone, yelling, “Liu Yan, what’s going on?! If you don’t explain this to me today, we’re do—!”

Before she could finish saying “done,” Chi Yang deliberately shoved her mid-argument. Yu Liuxue lost her balance and twisted her ankle, falling backward.

As she fell, she was full of questions. “System, is this body really this fragile?”

But the expected pain didn’t come. Instead, she landed in a soft embrace. Instinctively, she opened her eyes—and upon seeing Song Linxian’s cold, beautiful face, she couldn’t help but smile. Then, as a wave of grievance hit her, her eyes welled with tears. She clutched Song Linxian’s clothes and looked up with misty eyes, softly calling out, “Sister…”

Xu Cen looked at Chi Yang and Liu Yan’s disheveled appearance, her expression darkening visibly. Did they think this occasion was some kind of joke?

Her gaze swept coldly between the two. Chi Yang immediately lowered her head in guilt. Then Xu Cen turned to Liu Yan, the son under her name. “Utter nonsense!”

“Mu Wan is your mother’s girlfriend—your future stepmother! It’s bad enough that you don’t show her respect, but now you even dare to push her?!”

…Wait a second!

Liu Yan and Chi Yang turned in shock toward the weeping Yu Liuxue in Song Linxian’s arms. Mu Wan… wasn’t she Liu Yan’s girlfriend? When did she become his mom’s girlfriend?!

Liu Yan couldn’t recover from the blow. “Mu Wan is my future st–st–stepmom?!”

————

“Erkang hands” (尔康手) is a Chinese meme from the drama My Fair Princess, where the character Fu Erkang dramatically reaches out with both hands toward someone.

It’s used online to humorously express desperate longing, exaggerated emotion, or dramatic frustration — like saying “Nooo! Come back!” in an overly emotional way.

——

Dou E (窦娥) is the tragic heroine of the Yuan-dynasty play “The Injustice to Dou E” (窦娥冤) by Guan Hanqing.

She’s a poor widow falsely accused of murder and executed after a corrupt trial. Before dying, she swears three signs will prove her innocence — snow in midsummer, her blood rising instead of falling, and three years of drought. All come true, symbolizing heaven’s judgment on human injustice.

Her story became a classic symbol of wrongful suffering and divine justice in Chinese culture.