The Evil Stepmother Dressed as the Heroine of a College Romance Novel

Song Lingxi is a transmigrator who has inhabited the body of a fictional character for over a decade. In the original novel, she was the biological mother of the second villain, Xie Qiao, and the lover of the protagonist, Zong Xuecheng. Her role was tragic: she was destined to die early after being framed and abused by the antagonist, Wang Ruowei, which led to her son Xie Qiao turning dark and seeking revenge. Despite her knowledge of the plot, Song Lingxi has failed repeatedly to escape her fate. She lives a quiet life with her son, trying to avoid the main characters, but her existence is constantly threatened by the rigid plot forces and the predatory nature of Zong Xuecheng, a cold and calculating businessman who views her as a disposable mistress.

The story begins with a violent confrontation at Golden Wing High School between Xie Qiao and Zong Fei, the son of Zong Xuecheng. Zong Fei, the male lead of the novel, is a genius heir who has always been overshadowed by Xie Qiao’s superior intellect. The fight is instigated by Wang Yizhi, a jealous classmate who manipulates Zong Fei into bullying Xie Qiao. Song Lingxi arrives at the school office to face Director Zhao, a corrupt official who blindly sides with the wealthy Zong family. Instead of submitting, Song Lingxi aggressively confronts the director, recording his threats and using psychological warfare to dismantle his authority. She exposes the hypocrisy of the school staff and forces the opposing parties to apologize, displaying a fierce protectiveness over her son that shocks everyone present.

During the incident, Zong Fei apologizes to Xie Qiao, acknowledging that the fight was a result of his own pride and jealousy rather than any wrongdoing by Xie Qiao. This marks a shift in their relationship, as Zong Fei begins to see Xie Qiao not just as a rival but as an equal. Meanwhile, Secretary Qian, Zong Xuecheng’s aide, attempts to intimidate Song Lingxi into accepting a settlement and remaining silent about her status. Song Lingxi counters with a verbal barrage that strips away his pretensions of class superiority, leaving him humiliated and speechless. Her actions disrupt the expected narrative, causing Zong Xuecheng to take notice of her changed behavior.

The conflict escalates when Song Lingxi’s biological family suddenly appears at her apartment. Her parents and brother, whom she has not seen in ten years, are revealed to be greedy opportunists who were manipulated by Wang Ruowei. They attempt to extort money from Song Lingxi and smear her reputation, claiming she abandoned them. Xie Qiao and Zong Fei jointly intervene to expel the family, demonstrating a newfound alliance between the two rivals. Song Lingxi threatens her mother, implying she knows about Wang Ruowei’s involvement, and warns them to stay away. This encounter highlights the external threats conspiring against her, as Wang Ruowei seeks to destroy Song Lingxi to eliminate competition for Zong Xuecheng’s affection.

Zong Xuecheng arrives and invites Song Lingxi to a family banquet at the Zong estate, a significant deviation from the original plot where she was never allowed such access. He intends to use the event to humble her and reinforce the social distance between them, but Song Lingxi accepts with unexpected confidence. The story moves toward a confrontation with the Zong family’s patriarch and the broader Wang family conspiracy. As Song Lingxi navigates these dangerous waters, she remains determined to survive and protect her son, refusing to accept the tragic fate written for her. The dynamic between the two genius boys, Xie Qiao and Zong Fei, continues to evolve, complicating the original redemption arc and altering the course of their futures.