At The Beginning Of The Novel, The Villain Forced The Protagonist’s Step-Mom To Bear His Children

Chapter 82: The Heroine and the Vicious Female Partner! Using Unconventional Means Against the Female lead:

Just as Xiao Wanling was about to take the final step, she suddenly regained her senses. She quickly opened the car door and ran away like a frightened rabbit. Xu Hao watched her leave with a calm gaze, not making any move to stop her. 

He knew that Xiao Wanling had already shown signs of being willing to accept him. It was just that she hadn’t been prepared for today’s situation. He was confident that the next time they met, she wouldn’t be as resistant.

…

That night, Xu Hao’s beautiful wife, Su Wanqiu, appeared to be in a gloomy mood. 

“What’s wrong? Who upset my little nurse?” 

Today, Su Wanqiu was dressed in a nurse’s dress, appearing both obedient and alluring. Xu Hao gently lifted her chin, and she reluctantly raised her head, clearly unhappy.

“I just had a conversation with Xinrui…” Su Wanqiu started.

“What happened? She’s not agreeing?” Xu Hao asked curiously. 

It wasn’t just a simple disagreement. Despite their close friendship, Yao Xinrui had shown strong resistance to even the smallest suggestion. Her condition seemed to have worsened.

After listening to Su Wanqiu’s explanation, Xu Hao became thoughtful. Dealing with a condition like male-phobia wouldn’t be easy. Simple methods wouldn’t work; they would need to try something different.

Xu Hao pressed down on Su Wanqiu’s head gently. “Since she doesn’t agree, you’ll have to handle it alone for now.”

Su Wanqiu pouted. “Out of all the beauties, am I the only one you care about?” 

Despite how she felt, it was becoming harder to bear his stamina. She couldn’t handle it on her own any longer and decided she needed help.

Talking on the phone wasn’t enough. Su Wanqiu figured it would be best to meet Yao Xinrui in person and talk things through. If Yao Xinrui still didn’t agree, then she could consider getting help from her daughter’s best friend, Xiao Wanling. 

Xiao Wanling had always been sensitive and aware of the things around her. Su Wanqiu had noticed how the young girl looked at Xu Hao, but since Xiao Wanling was her daughter’s best friend and much younger, Su Wanqiu hadn’t initially considered her as a target.

But if Yao Xinrui continued to refuse, she might have no choice but to pull Xiao Wanling into the situation.

…

A new day had begun, and the rising sun brought light to the world. Xu Hao left home and got into the car that had been waiting for him. As they drove, his personal bodyguard, Bai Ling, reported the information he had gathered on Yao Xinrui.

“Yao Xinrui, female, 35 years old. Home address…” Bai Ling began. “She married Chu Xiong, the head of the Chu family, ten years ago. Although they are husband and wife, their relationship is more distant than it appears. While they seem affectionate in public, there’s a significant emotional gap between them.”

Xu Hao already knew some of this from Su Wanqiu.

As the female lead of the novel, Yao Xinrui remained pure. Even though she was married, her husband was like a eunuch to her, allowing her to keep herself untouched, waiting for the true protagonist. Of course, this didn’t apply to certain protagonists who enjoyed taking advantage of others. 

Xu Hao reflected on this, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.

Wasn’t this exactly what he had been like before his memories were awakened? If things had gone differently, his fate might have been even worse than that of his old friend Chu Xiong.

That’s right.

Xu Hao not only knew Chu Xiong, but they were also quite close.

Xu Hao had built his success from scratch, while the Chu family had risen to prominence long before. Chu Xiong, as a second-generation heir, had taken over his family’s business. Despite their different backgrounds, they had often found themselves participating in the same business activities.

One day, Chu Xiong had approached Xu Hao for a conversation. Xu Hao, maintaining his gentlemanly facade, had welcomed the interaction. Over time, they had become well acquainted. They would often sit together at business events, discussing the details of the marketplace.

Xu Hao had been too focused on his own growth to keep in touch with Chu Xiong recently, but this investigation into Yao Xinrui had made him think about it again. Perhaps it was time to reconnect with his old friend.

Bai Ling continued his report. “I sent someone to investigate her company’s records, and we found a significant change in the accounts. A dead man who was skilled in hacking found the problem. Yao Xinrui had been creating false records, transferring money into a private account. Over ten years, she’s embezzled around 300 million yuan.”

Xu Hao’s eyes narrowed.

Falsifying accounts and embezzling public funds?

This female lead was quite bold.

He smiled, thinking of Yao Xinrui’s situation.

Embezzling public funds was illegal, and if her husband, Chu Xiong, found out, her situation would become dire. 

Could he use this secret to control her?

“Madam, you wouldn’t want this getting out, would you?” Xu Hao mused.

But blackmail wasn’t his style. He found such tactics distasteful and unworthy of him. He didn’t just want to control Yao Xinrui’s body—he wanted to win her heart as well. By doing so, she could become a valuable asset and help him run his company. 

Though blackmail could get him what he wanted, it wouldn’t earn her loyalty. In the past, Xu Hao had always conquered female leads with kindness and gentleness. But Yao Xinrui was different. Her intense male-phobia made ordinary methods ineffective. No matter how well he treated her, she would still look at him with disgust.

So how was he supposed to handle this? The answer was clear—he would have to use different methods.

Xu Hao’s kindness was always strategic. If a situation could be won through gentleness, he’d use that approach. But if not, it was time to change tactics. This was an opportunity to experiment with being the villain, embracing his true nature. If it led to greater emotional points, he could continue down this path.

Meanwhile, back at Xu Group, an unexpected development was taking place…

To speed up operations and improve the company, Xu Hao decided to fire a large number of employees who lacked competence or had poor performance. This led to numerous job vacancies in the company, prompting recruitment drives at major talent markets. 

When news of the Xu Group’s recruitment spread, it caused a huge stir.

As one of the leading companies in the Magic City, founded by the legendary businessman Xu Hao, the Xu Group attracted countless young professionals eager for an opportunity to work there.

After multiple rounds of screening, only two candidates remained for the marketing director position. Both had made it to the final round and were invited to the company headquarters for the final interview. However, there was only one position available, and the outcome would depend entirely on their performance.

The two candidates were Li Yunshu, who came from an ordinary background, and Xu Fangfei, whose family owned a garment factory with an annual income of tens of millions.

Li Yunshu left the interview room with a serious expression, feeling quite anxious. In contrast, Xu Fangfei seemed relaxed, as if she was already certain of her success. Noticing Li Yunshu’s anxious look, Xu Fangfei couldn’t resist sneering.

“Tsk… Li Yunshu, what are you so afraid of? Aren’t you a top student and the campus belle? It’s just an interview. Don’t tell me you’ve lost all your confidence.” Xu Fangfei taunted, a smug smile on her face.

Their rivalry was clear from her tone. Both had attended the same school and were even in the same class. Before Li Yunshu transferred in, Xu Fangfei had been the undisputed genius of their class—beautiful, academically excellent, and admired by many. But once Li Yunshu arrived, everything changed.

In terms of looks, Xu Fangfei was just the class beauty, while Li Yunshu was crowned the campus belle. Academically, Li Yunshu outshone her, often winning awards and praise. To make things worse for Xu Fangfei, many of her admirers shifted their attention to Li Yunshu. It seemed that Li Yunshu surpassed her in every way, leaving Xu Fangfei feeling overshadowed.

This long-standing dissatisfaction fueled Xu Fangfei’s resentment. She couldn’t understand why someone like Li Yunshu, who came from a modest background, was able to outshine her, a girl who wore designer brands and came from a wealthy family. This jealousy drove Xu Fangfei to constantly scheme against her.

During school exams, she would cheat and spread false rumors about Li Yunshu on campus forums. She even manipulated one of Li Yunshu’s admirers to turn against her.

However, Li Yunshu remained indifferent to all of Xu Fangfei’s provocations, never letting them bother her. Xu Fangfei felt as if she had been punching into thin air, unable to get the reaction she wanted.

After graduation, Xu Fangfei thought she had left her old rival behind for good. But to her surprise, they crossed paths again, both competing for the same job at the Xu Group.

Although Xu Fangfei was capable in her own right, she knew Li Yunshu was even better. Yet, this wasn’t school anymore. In the real world, success wasn’t only about ability. Xu Fangfei had learned that connections and manipulation could get you further. This thought made Li Yunshu uneasy. She knew she was confident in her abilities, but she feared that Xu Fangfei might try to sabotage her.

In the interview room, the interviewer sat at his desk, holding both candidates’ resumes and frowning in thought. The interviews had already taken place, and Li Yunshu had clearly outperformed Xu Fangfei. But Xu Fangfei had hinted at offering him a million in bribes. In the past, such an offer would have been tempting enough for him to accept without a second thought. 

However, Xu Hao had just fired several employees and was restructuring the company, making the interviewer hesitant. The one million yuan bribe was equivalent to several years of his salary, and the temptation was strong. He glanced at Li Yunshu’s resume again. With no powerful connections or background, she seemed like an easy target. He could reject her, and she wouldn’t be able to do much about it. 

Gritting his teeth, the interviewer made a decision. He set aside Li Yunshu’s resume and called her into the room.

Li Yunshu clenched her fists, ignoring Xu Fangfei’s taunts as she opened the door and entered the interview hall.

Behind her, Xu Fangfei smiled coldly, watching with confidence. She had spent a lot of money—one million yuan from her personal funds—for this chance. But to her, the investment was worth it. Getting into the Xu Group wasn’t about the salary; her family’s business was already profitable. She wanted the position to network and enter the upper-class social circle. For Xu Fangfei, finding a suitable partner was her primary goal.

She had always been practical, scoffing at the idea of dating boys at school with no money or connections. To her, finding a wealthy and powerful partner was the only way forward. Though she had many suitors, she kept them all at a distance, never letting them get too close. She was saving herself for the perfect match.

“You are both highly capable,” the interviewer began, praising both candidates. Then, turning to Li Yunshu, he added, “But we only have one position available for the marketing director, and unfortunately, we cannot offer it to you, Ms. Li Yunshu.”

Li Yunshu felt like her head was spinning. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her voice trembled with frustration as she protested, “I’m not convinced!”

The interviewer frowned, preparing to dismiss her with a few polite words, but Xu Fangfei jumped in, eager to rub salt in the wound.

“Not convinced? Why not?” she said mockingly. “Just because you had better grades than me doesn’t mean anything. This isn’t school anymore. Grades don’t matter in the real world.”

Xu Fangfei laughed triumphantly. For the first time, she had finally gotten under Li Yunshu’s skin, and the satisfaction was indescribable. 

The interviewer’s expression shifted as he listened, uncomfortable with the turn of events.

“What the f**k?! Sister, do you even realize you got in through the back door? That’s nothing to brag about,” someone muttered bitterly. “Stop acting so arrogant. If you draw too much attention from the higher-ups, you’re finished.”

The interviewer’s face turned pale with regret. If he had known how reckless Xu Fangfei could be, he would never have agreed to this shady deal. But it was too late now. All he could do was carry on with his decision and get it over with as quickly as possible.

“Alright… This is the final decision of the interview. You can leave now, or I’ll have security escort you out.” The interviewer said firmly.

Xu Fangfei smirked, a mocking grin spreading across her face. She thought she had won. Li Yunshu stood frozen, her face pale and expression filled with disbelief. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a voice echoed from the doorway.

“An interviewer, yet you’re speaking with such arrogance… That’s quite bold.”

The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a chilling authority that sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The interviewer whipped his head around, startled by the interruption. Standing at the door was a man whose presence was unmistakable—the chairman and CEO of the Xu Group, Xu Hao.

The moment Xu Hao entered the room, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck the interviewer. His body went limp, and he slid from his chair, collapsing to the ground in fear. He knew at that moment his career was over.

Both women, Xu Fangfei and Li Yunshu, turned their heads to see who had spoken. Xu Hao’s demeanor was as calm and composed as ever, but the expressionless look on his face betrayed his anger. He exuded an aura of authority that made everyone in the room feel small.

Xu Fangfei’s heart raced in panic. Realizing that she had been caught trying to bribe her way in, her eyes darted nervously. Though she came from a wealthy family and was accustomed to being treated like a princess, she was nothing in front of someone like Xu Hao. With a single word, he could ruin her family’s business and take away everything they had.

Just moments earlier, Xu Hao had arrived at the company for an inspection. As he passed the interview hall, he overheard the argument inside. Curious, he had stepped in to see what was happening.

The first thing he noticed was two young women standing before him. One of them, Li Yunshu, had an unmistakable aura surrounding her—a halo of luck that identified her as the heroine of the story.

…

Name: Li Yunshu  

Identity: Female lead of [Transmigrated into a novel world and become the villain’s lackey]

Charm: 93 (out of 100)  

Strength: 10 (average for ordinary people)  

Physique: 10 (average for ordinary people)  

Spirit: 11 (average for ordinary people)  

Favorability: -10

…

“Transmigrated? Could that protagonist is transmigrator like me?” Xu Hao thought to himself, frowning slightly.

He found the situation amusing. Regardless of whether protagonists were transmigrators or people reborn into this world, Xu Hao had no intention of letting any of their female leads slip through his grasp. All the female leads would eventually be his.

His gaze then shifted to the other woman—Xu Fangfei. Her appearance and figure were comparable to Li Yunshu’s, but her face was filled with arrogance. Something was strange, though. Despite her beauty, there was no aura of luck around her.

Without the aura of luck, she couldn’t be the female lead in the novel. Given her behavior and the fact that she was in opposition to the true female lead, Xu Hao quickly deduced that she must be the vicious supporting character, the one destined to lose.

The moment had arrived, and Xu Hao decided to intervene. His words and presence had already changed the atmosphere in the room.

This was the beginning of a downfall for those who relied on arrogance and cunning.