The Stepmother Who Changed the Plot

Close to midnight, a lone figure of a girl appeared on the deserted road. Her steps were unsteady, and she clutched a bottle of white liquor in her hand, taking a swig every few steps. The scene was peculiar and undeniably desolate. Lam was utterly exhausted with this life. Toiling from dawn till dusk just to repay the mountain of debt left by her gambling father and addicted mother. And every month, she had to spend a sum on him just to cling to a false sense of happiness. You're so stupid, Lam, stupid to the core. Thirty years of living had only made her a failure. The girl's steps grew increasingly erratic, and then she stumbled and fell into the canal right beside her. And just like that, the life of an unknown person ended. Lam squeezed her eyes shut, still unable to adjust to the glaring light. She reached around, trying to find her phone. But she suddenly realized that the bed she was lying on was unlike any she had known – larger and softer. Lam sat up abruptly, her eyes wide as she took in her surroundings. The room she was in seemed designed in a medieval style, with Greek-style stone pillars and a princess bed draped with curtains. Lam thought in bewilderment, "Where is this? I've never seen a hotel decorated like this. Or did some kind rich person take me home?" A flurry of questions spun in her mind. Suddenly, Lam glanced to her left and saw a braided red rope hanging freely in the air. Lam wondered if it was a bell to call for someone. Curiosity piqued, Lam pulled on it, and a clear, melodious chime rang out. As soon as the bell stopped ringing, the room door opened. The wooden door had beautiful patterns, but that didn't surprise her as much as the group of people who entered. They were dressed like young people cosplaying as maids, in black dresses and white aprons. The person in the lead approached Lam and stopped, bowing low. "Good morning, young lady," they said. Lam nodded in acknowledgment of the greeting. Just as she was about to ask where she was, she suddenly heard the sound of someone running from afar, getting closer. She hadn't seen the person yet, but she could already hear their voice. "Mama!" It was the clear voice of a child. Then, two figures stood peeking outside the door, but they seemed hesitant to come in. Lam recognized them as two children, a boy and a girl, with blonde hair, and they looked like twins. She looked up at the group of people who had just entered, wanting to say, 'Your children are looking for you, go to them quickly.' But those people seemed startled. A maid hurriedly stepped forward and said to the children, "Young masters and mistresses, you shouldn't disturb the young lady like this." The little girl with pigtails tried to tilt her round head up and said, "But we want to see Mama." The maid coldly refused again, "My lords and ladies! You really shouldn't." The little boy pulled the little girl's hand, stopping her from speaking further, his big eyes looking at the maid. "We won't go in!" The maid seemed relieved. "Yes! I will take the two of you to see the nanny." Before leaving, the two children turned their heads back to look at Lam, a hint of unspoken loss in their eyes. Lam looked at the children in confusion, equally bewildered by the maid's words and the interaction with the twins. Suddenly, something flashed through Lam's mind. She abruptly stood up and said to the girl closest to her, "Please lend me a mirror." The head maid looked at her young mistress in confusion but still obeyed, taking a hand mirror from the bedside table drawer and handing it to Lam with both hands. Lam tremblingly took the mirror, hoping that all her conjectures were wrong. But when she saw the reflection, all hope shattered. In the mirror was a beautiful blonde girl. Her eyes were as blue as the vast ocean, her lips were rosy, and her skin was fair and delicate, looking no older than eighteen. This was the complete opposite of Lam's true self, a girl with black hair and yellow skin. But with her many years of experience navigating the outside world, Lam forced herself to regain her composure as quickly as possible. "You may all leave, I want to rest a little longer," she said. The maids didn't dare disobey and quickly retreated, assuming that the young lady was just tired after seeing the young masters and mistresses. Lam waited until the wooden door was completely closed before finally relaxing her body, sinking down to sit on the floor. She ruffled her hair, making it as tangled as silk. Lam quickly tried to sort out everything in her mind. She had transmigrated, and into a book no less. Even the book she was currently editing. Lam couldn't cry, but she had to suppress her moans so that the people outside wouldn't hear. Lam was a novel editor for a publishing company. Although she managed many authors and their novels, Lam could never forget the work she had transmigrated into. Why? Simply because it was too melodramatic, even surpassing those eight o'clock family drama series.